Comments on: Michael Steinhardt Speaks vs. Jewish Organizational Leadership

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:12:29 +0000

I wasn’t trying to knock birthright, I think it’s a great idea. But when this guy starts touting it as the answer to assimilation, I think he’s completely off.

Even Jews in Israel are assimilated, doesn’t help when Birthright prioritizes visiting bedouins to drink tea and smoke nargilas over visiting our holy places.

By: Warren Farrell

Warren Farrell — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:57:06 +0000

WHY MEN ARE THE WAY THEY ARE

By: Birthright is a plus

Birthright is a plus — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:25:51 +0000

I’ll agree with much of the above, but Birthright also makes non-affiliated Jews proud to be Jewish for a change. It sends guys and girls to Israel for free, when they’d otherwise have minimal means of connecting to their heritage. Jewish kids who are used to hiding their identity are free to be among their own for a while, and they realize that Judaism is nothing to hide from. Overall, I don’t think we should suggest it’s a bad program.

By: Heshy Fried

Heshy Fried — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Agreed! mostly

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:48:51 +0000

Birthright is the answer to assimilation? Ha!

First of all, I suggest this clown and his audience put on some kippahs if they are going to criticize assimilation, that’s obviously a “no brainer”.

Next, I suggest that birthright removes silly parts of their curriculum such as visiting bedouins. I has nothing to do with Judaism or Israel. They can replace them with visitng places like Kever Rachel and Mearat hamachpela instead, of course their to wimpy to do that lest they anger our crazy cousins (at least last time I visited in 2003, smack during the middle of the intifada).

If this rich dude is seriously concerned about assimilation, he’s better off funding yeshivas and outreach groups like Chabad, Aish, etc.

By: Abandoning Eden

Abandoning Eden — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:53:49 +0000

well I went on birthrite and it didn’t work for me.

What I did do on birthrite was get drunk for the first time, witness someone smoking pot for the first time, and got my first non-ear piercing. good times!