blind faith

Ok folks, this article actually scares me quite a bit.  You see in Judaism we learn that to truly follow our faith we must study it intensely and learn as much as we can about it.  In my brain, living in our multi-faith world also means learning, at least some basics, about the other religions around us.  As a wannabe-Rabbi I want to learn all that I can about those other religions but that is neither here nor there.  A typical "religious" (whatever we want to define that as) person should have knowledge about their religion and some basic knowledge about others'.


Enter: Atheists, agnostics most knowledgeable about religion, survey says - latimes.com

Really people?? This article makes me cry a little bit inside.  Aaaand it also highlights the need for a religious studies discipline in secular schools.  Just as I can major in Religious Studies or take Religious Studies classes at college to educate myself on the topic, so should students at the high school level also have the opportunity.  Now, I would love to have that be mandatory but again, neither here nor there.  It should be an option.  Every child at a public school should have the opportunity to take a basic class of religious studies.  Just some nice broad lessons on the religions of the world or at least the religions of the area (as in USA or Europe, etc.).  9 months of school year could translate to a different religion every month.  Or if you wanted a more detailed class, 6 religions every 6 weeks.  Either way it needs to happen people and here is the proof!  Now let's get legislatin' shall we? :)

Veganism and Sukkot/Simchat Torah

So I know what you're thinking. Here comes the vegan preaching.  Not true, exactly.  If you thought you had a medicine that helps you, wouldn't you want to share it with the world.  Well I happen to think that veganism is the right way to go, so indulge me for a few if you will.


The holiday of Sukkot is closing in on us quick, and I couldn't begin the holiday without a little vegan analytics as it were.


Veggie Sukkot
The above link is an article written by a very wise man named Dr. Richard Schwartz.  He is one of the few modern advocates of vegetarianism AND its relation with Judaism.  There are many connections that one can make between Sukkot and not eating animals.  I am going to make the overall connection which kinda lumps them all together nicely but without any overload.


Notice this Sukkot what kind of decorations are in the Sukkah: fruit, veg, and grain. Night a trace of meat to be found.
Notice what other tools we use to celebrate this holiday: plant life.
Notice that the object of living in a temporary not-so-stable building is to remind us that God is the penultimate provider and guide; and His ideal as set out in the Garden of Eden is a vegetarian (some might say vegan) lifestyle.


As people we (and as an observant Jew me even more) tend to focus a lot on the tiny details instead of the larger picture when it comes to life.  The beauty of Sukkot is that it forces you to think outside of yourself and what is best for the world.  We live outside (in our Sukkot), in direct contact (to some extent) with our planet and the world around us.  We look up and see the stars through our Sukkot coverings (schach) and our reminded of not only our long gone Israelite brethren, but of the larger picture.  Our fellow living beings around us whose existence is all interconnected.


By refraining from eating meat (and being vegan altogether) we are helping to recreate/maintain that delicate and beautiful harmony that existed in the Garden of Eden...WHICH we will be reading about this Simchat Torah.


Even if you aren't vegan or veg, or have no desire to become either.  Spend this Sukkot dwelling on a few ideas that will take you outside of yourself and into the larger picture.  Into the picture as many believe Hashem wants us to see.

This is Not Kosher

I am not really sure how to preface this.  This is one of the many reasons I became a vegan.