Go See a Jewish Movie

Earlier this week, a man came to meet with me to talk about converting to Judaism.  I gave him an overview of the process - a course of study, participating in the life of the community, spiritual reflection, and the traditional rituals of initiation.  I also showed him a "syllabus" I've put together with suggested books and activities for those in the process of conversion.  Looking over the list, he said, "I didn't expect you to assign so many movies."

Why not?  Movies are an important medium of Jewish culture.  How many of us learned most of what we know about shtetls from Fiddler on the Roof?  In a few weeks, Jews across the country will participate in the hallowed Passover tradition of watching The Ten Commandments.  I use Woody Allen and Mel Brooks movies to talk about Jewish humor (and neuroses).  Israel, the Holocaust, the American Jewish experience - movies are shared Jewish experiences and great conversation starters.

You may remember from a previous post that I like pop culture lists.  So here are two very different and highly debatable lists (one and two) of "top" Jewish movies.

If there are movies on those lists you haven't seen, think about renting (Netflix-ing, streaming, etc.) one.  Or better yet, go out and see a new Jewish movie that might be a future classic...

Last night kicked off the 3rd Annual Jewish Film Festival at the JCC of Greater Washington in Rockville.  They're showing a different movie every night this week.

For the D.C. contingent, think about seeing Sippur Gadol (A Matter of Size) this Sunday at the DCJCC downtown.  It's about a group of Israelis who decide to become sumo wrestlers.  It's one of my favorite Israeli movies of recent years, and proceeds from the showing will benefit relief efforts in Japan.

Check out the trailer below.  And if you want to LEAVE A COMMENT, I'll give you a topic:  What's your favorite Jewish movie? (Define "Jewish" however you like.)  Why?

On Purim: Don't Forget Those in Need

Flickr user joshbousel

This Sunday is Purim.  As in most Reform congregations, our Purim observance is primarily focused on children.  They wear costumes, sing songs, and of course, there's the Purim carnival.  But Purim is not meant to be only a children's holiday.  For one thing, the themes of the Purim story - antisemitism, assimilation, jealousy, sex, revenge - are far from pediatric.  Purim also has four mitzvot, four commandments that are relevant and potentially quite meaningful for adult Jews today.

1)  Megillah - It is a mitzvah on Purim to hear the book of Esther ("the Megillah," "the Scroll") read in its entirety.  This is a tough one, since a complete reading of the Megillah is not customary in our congregation.  Still, you could read Esther online (or in any Jewish Bible).  You could even listen to a little of the scroll being chanted.

2)  Seudah - It is a mitzvah on Purim to have a festive meal.  This is the mitzvah we fulfill with our congregational celebration.  This is also the origin of the custom of drinking alcohol on Purim - but any festive food and drink will do!

3)  Mishloach Manot - It is a mitzvah on Purim to give gifts of food to family and friends.  Normally, these are ready-to-eat snacks like candy or - of course - hamantaschen!  Sending mishloach manot is a nice way to reconnect with family and friends, or just to reach out and tell someone, "I'm thinking about you."

4)  Matanot l'Evyonim - It is a mitzvah on Purim to give tzedakah to the poor.

This last mitzvah is the one I want to highlight, since I think it is most often forgotten in our celebration of Purim.  At the end of the book of Esther we read:

...observe the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, every year – the same days on which the Jews enjoyed relief from their foes and the same month which had been transformed for them from one of grief and mourning to one of festive joy...observe them as days of feasting and merry making, and as an occasion for sending presents to the poor. (Esther 9:20-23)

Commenting on this mitzvah, Maimonides writes:

One should rather spend more money on gifts to the poor than on his Purim banquet and presents to friends (mishloach manot). No joy is greater and more glorious than the joy of gladdening the hearts of the poor, the orphans, the widows and the strangers. He who gladdens the hearts of these unhappy people imitates God, as it is written: "I am…to revive the spirit of the humble, and to put heart into the crushed" (Isaiah 57:15).

According to Maimonides, it seems that giving tzedakah to the poor should be the MOST IMPORTANT way we celebrate Purim.  Whatever we spend on Purim costumes, we should be giving more to the poor.  Whatever we spend on hamantaschen, we should be giving more to the poor.  Whatever we spend on our festive meal, we should be giving more to the poor.  Our joy in this holiday is best expressed by bringing joy and relief to those in need. 

In the Orthodox community, there are very specific guidelines for matanot l'evyonim, the tzedakah of Purim.  The Reform Movement has generated numerous creative ways to incorporate this tradition into our modern lives and families.

Purim can be a lot of fun, but it also has a serious side.  We deepen and enrich our Judaism when we take our holidays and traditions seriously.  Let's honor and observe this Purim by making a special donation this Sunday to those in need.

What's More Jewish?

Is seltzer the most Jewish?

The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) has launched a website with a game that is definitely worth a look.  It's called "Most Jewish."  The concept is simple:  The site gives you four options, and you have to decide which one is--as you might have guessed--"most Jewish."  Each time you play, the four options change.  The fun is in the diversity of the options; strange juxtapositions abound.

Which is more Jewish:  "Skepticism" or "Young Frankenstein?"  "Teach for America" or "Storytelling?"  Give your answers, and you can see what percentage of players agree with you.  (There's also an option to leave comments explaining your decision.)

Since it was developed by a rabbinical seminary, this is clearly meant to be more than a brief amusement.  How do we decide if something is "Jewish?"  Even if we can't articulate a rationale, the game forces us to adopt one.  Most of the options are geared toward contemporary American society, highlighting the issue of Jewish identity in our integrated community.  Thanks to RRC for a great conversation starter.

For Discussion:  If you play the game, let us know what your favorite "most Jewish" thing was.  Were there any very difficult decisions?  How did you decide?

Have You Ever Thought About Hebrew Fonts?

Flickr user Nir Tober

OK, probably not.  But you probably have thought about English fonts, at least a little.  When you start a new document or a new e-mail, what font do you like to use?  Perhaps there's a font that you absolutely can't stand.  Perhaps there's a font so excellent, they should make a movie about it.

There are some classic Hebrew fonts you might recognize: There's the square script of the Torah scroll.  There's the "Frank Ruhl" of many prayerbooks.  But there aren't many clean, modern options.

All of this is to introduce this great video about the creation of a new Hebrew font.  The artist, Scott-Martin Kosofsky, has attempted to digitally replicate the hand-cut Hebrew type from a 16th-century Bible.  The process is fascinating, and the result is beautiful.

And if you want to see for yourself, Kosofsky's font, "Le Bé," is used in The Selected Poems of Yehuda Halevi, a free e-book from Nextbook Press.  It includes just 35 poems, a great introduction to one of the most important poets and philosophers in Jewish history.  And if the poems spark your interest, I highly recommend Nextbook's Yehuda Halevi, by Hillel Halkin.  Halkin is a distinguished scholar, and the book is a very accessible introduction to its truly exciting and underappreciated subject.

(For now, the official font of this blog is Georgia.)