Social Media from page 38

we know we are saying something
wrong.

Avoiding Gossip
In Judaism, lashon harah — commonly
gossip, but literally "evil language" — is
very much considered to be a sin. In
fact, during the Confession recited on
Yom Kippur, 11 are for sins commit-
ted through speech. While Facebook is
information shared with an approved
audience, it doesn't always mean the
news is meant to be broadcast to others.
Social media are an incredible way
for us to stay connected. We can share
our lives with people whom we don't
get to see often and also have more
interaction with them in this fashion.
But at the core of all of this communi-
cation needs to be the fundamentals
through which we as Jews strive to lead
our lives: with honor and in accordance
to the laws of Torah.
Just as simchahs are an eagerly
shared part of our own and loved one's
lives, we must be sensitive to when
hardships occur and are learned about.
Online access will grant us knowl-
edge that may have been difficult for
someone to share. But just because
you know it, remember: It isn't always
news. And if you truly feel for the per-
son, give them a call to personally be
there for them. That's how we all stay
connected. Li

Rachel Wright of Birmingham received the

2011 Jewish Federation of Metropolitan

Detroit's Mark Family Young Leadership
Award.

Dry Bones

1-16 WI-10 IS
EIGHT DAYS

oLD AMONG

You SHALL sc
CiRcumciSED."

Commentary

Implications Of A Circumcision Ban

should be permitted to override reli-
price of liberty, as Andrew Jackson
gious liberty claims. And given the
said, is eternal vigilance. As long as
ircumcision, or brit milah,
substantial medical evidence that
the practices of any minority faith
has long been the stuff of
circumcision has positive benefits,
are threatened, all of us – religious
cheap jokes and comedy.
that standard cannot be met here.
or nonreligious – are at peril of the
But in recent weeks, what used to be
The referendum has been couched
loss of our fragile freedoms in a
nothing more than harmless fare has
as a vote on male genital mutila-
world of increasing homogeneity and
taken on a much more serious tone.
tion. To frame our age-old practice
conformity.
So-called "intactivists" on the fringe
as genital mutilation is manipulative
And thus to ignore or downplay
left of American
and misleading
the significance of anti-circumcision
politics have
as it precludes
activist groups that would presume
pushed the radi-
any other inter-
to oppose others' faiths or prac-
cal notion that
pretation of
tices, no matter how frivolous or
infant circumci-
circumcision.
outlandish it might appear, would be
sion is an act of
To portray the
not just folly, but a clear and pres-
genital mutila-
issue, as the
ent danger to all of our freedoms.
tion, so unac-
intactivists have,
And thus the time to oppose them,
ceptable in fact
via a suppos-
in concert with all freedom-loving
that it ought to
edly humorous
Americans, is now. I I
be illegal.
cartoon featur-
That such a
ing Foreskin Man
Rabbi Basil Herring is executive vice
Basil Herring an d Joel Finkelstein
notion should
battling Monster
president and Rabbi Joel Finkelstein is
have garnered
Mohel is worse
vice president of the Rabbinical Council of
enough signatures to have quali-
than a bad joke. It is deeply offen-
America, a Modern Orthodox association.
fied for a popular referendum in San
sive and beyond the pale of civilized
Francisco (and potentially elsewhere) discourse.
is deeply troubling. Even if, as
The concern, however, goes far
expected, it will be defeated in the
beyond the right to circumcise
end – like most such California bal-
Jewish or Muslim children.
lots – that will offer scant comfort
Far more troubling and ominous is
to the millions of Americans, Jewish
what would appear to be a gathering
or otherwise, who for good reasons
assault on the religious freedoms
For
circumcise their sons at birth. To
enjoyed by faith minorities in this
them – to us – it defies comprehen-
land that so proudly celebrates the
Israel
sion that, in this land of liberty and
separation of church and state.
And Our
justice for all, seri-
There are many examples: There
ous consideration
are growing efforts to forbid adher-
Jewish
can be given to
ence by Muslims to their Sharia
Community
outlawing the fun-
law; some hospitals and medical
damental practice
care facilities have adopted end-of-
The government of Greece
of Jews since the
life policies that would violate the
showed courage and responsibility
beginning of Jewish
deeply held principles of minority
in early July by preventing Gaza-
history.
faiths relating to life and death;
bound protesters bent on a violent
We thought we
some corporate employment policies
confrontation with Israel from leaving
had left such things
do not allow for "conscience clause
Greek
ports in an attempt to repeat
far behind in our
exemptions" based on religious
last
year's
"flotilla." Please write a
long journey through belief. There are ongoing challeng-
letter
of
commendation
to the Midwest
eras and lands of
es to accommodation of religious
representative
of
Greece:
religious bigotry and
practices such as Sabbath eruv
Consul loanna Efthymiadou, Consulate
cu tural intolerance.
construction.
General
of Greece, 650 N. Saint Clair St.,
The list goes on.
Chicago,
IL
60611-3212
At Issue

New York/JTA

C

standing
guard

Proponents of the
ballot argue that
there is a state
interest in opposing
the consequences
of circumcision. But
to carry any weight,
only state interests
of the highest order
and greatest clarity

Staying The Course

Such crucial concerns should
not be seen as merely the
parochial concerns of some
Jews. To the contrary, like the
First Amendment that so criti-
cally ensured every citizen's
right to free exercise of reli-
gion, they reflect the long tra-
dition of recognizing that the

Phone: (312) 335-3915
FAX: (312) 335-3958
Website: www.greekembassy.org/chicago
Email: chicago@greekembassy.org

Prepared by Allan Gale, Jewish
Community Relations Council of
Metropolitan Detroit

0 July 28, 2011, Jewish Renaissance Media

iN

July 28 • 2011

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