Lee Diamond – The Un-Emancipated Israeli Jew & OOSH or USH?
The Un-Emancipated Israeli Jew
We thought as American “Olim”
-That We could bring
The liberal Jew to Israel
-that we could expose the
Judaism born of the 20th century
To the Israel born of
The same Century.
Israel was still a virgin
Jewish Society
Unexposed to liberal Judaism
Yet a rather liberal society.
Here could be the perfect
Combination of the new Jew
And the new Judaism
Jews who understood the language of their people
-Jews who could speak the language of their ancient culture
But who could create the language of the new Jew.
-Jews-Educated in the history and Traditions of the old, but savvy
To a new world.
-Jews living in Jewish air
Breathing in the fragrance
Of the “sabra” fruit
Yet Who were to become the Sweet taste of the old new land themselves.
-Jews who fit in
-unencumbered with acceptance
Needs.
Natural Jews
Self sufficient Jews
Strong Jews
Jews with power
Of their own
BUT
We never imagined the
Degree to which Israelis
Were unexposed
Or ignorant of the Judaism
Of the very century into which they Were born
Though self emancipated
The Jews of Eastern Europe
-Of North Africa
-Of the Arabian peninsula
Never met
A Judaism
That was Self emancipated
A world in which Jews walked free
Yet able to free
Their Jewish souls
-Israeli Jews who rejected the old Jewish mind
But never to replace it
-Jews content to reject the old Jew
But not to recreate a new Judaism for their day.
Judaism was to be relegated
To the ghettos of Mea Shearim
To B’nai Brak
To the “national religious “
But never to be renewed in itself.
Israelis are Jews of the present
But with Judaism that has been cast into an unacceptable past.
Can there be a new Jew
Without a new Judaism?
Can there be a new Judaism
Without new Jews?
חזק חזק ונתחזק
“Be strong and of good courage and we will be strengthened”
OOSH or USH?
It’s a suffix in Israel.
Probably of Slavic origin
It’s a cute diminutive
Ever hear of a “bat mitzvush?”
It’s a bar mitzvah for a girl
Not called a bat mitzvah
Not called a bar mitzvah
Not at 13
But at 12
And for girls only
No mitzvot required
No Aliya to the Torah
No haftarah or maftir
And only in Israel
And only for secular Israel!
It’s a great party
Full of glitter,
Lots of fun, food and dance
Lots of friends”and
“A BOOK”
Loud music and an MC to boot
A D.J.
Performances of all kinds
Video clips from the famous
And beautiful and handsome stars
It’s an Israeli invention
Because in Israel
Girls are never called to the Torah
Only boys.
Why ?
Because!!!
Why because?
Because of tradition!
We’re secular but…..
Tradition is tradition
Is you daughter equal?
To a boy ?
Of course !
Is she less of a Jew?
Then the bar mitzvah ?
Of course not!
So why a Bat mitzvooosh?
And not a bat mitzvah ?
Because of tradition !
What about Jewish woman’s responsibility?
It’s time for our daughters
To be called to the Torah
As our sons are!
And maybe ,just maybe
They will begin a new tradition
In Israel
Of responsible Jewish women for our nation.
And Maybe they will teach us
PEACE?
