“No matter how fine, noble, and gifted one may be, he cannot command respect or be appreciated by others if he has not succeeded in realizing his talents and communicating his message to society through the medium of the creative majestic gesture.”
R’ Soloveitchik, on Adam I, in The Lonely Man of Faith

I can’t believe I just saw this today! WONDERFUL.

“Jewish fundamentalism, like other religious fundamentalisms, is a recent phenomenon. All fundamentalisms arose in response to modernity, and all grasp onto an invented history and invented authenticity to justify ever more reactionary policies. Even newer is the power that these fundamentalists have. This is not powerless Tevye in an isolated shtetl: These are powerful, focused and highly sophisticated forces.”
Jay Michaelson, Fighting Back Against Fundamentalism, The Forward

(Source: forward.com)

My Christmas story

So my Austin Christmas plans are all set — a movie at Alamo Drafthouse to be digested with some Chinese food. But this piece on Kveller reminded me of a major arc in my childhood. Agnes, in my case, is Antonette and Tony of Yonkers, NY. 

They will leave a legacy of warmth, inclusiveness, and humanism, with no pretense or airs. Ann and Tony are the kind of people who tried to make others feel better, even in moments when they were suffering more. 

As for Christmas Eve? The feast of the seven fish and some kashrut standards meant smelts and pasta were our dinner. Smelts taste really… fishy: