March 10, 2016

sunday in the park with Bernie

As a kid, I described myself as a socialist, proud of my (semi) radical roots. In many ways my political goals remain surprisingly unchanged. What has changed is my perspective. I'm way more concerned about employing effective tactics than about being true to my ideals no matter the cost. Sometimes, that makes me look like the bad guy. In today's HuffPost Politics I examine an aspect of the presidential campaign that may be familiar to some of you from your own lives.

I hate being the bad guy. But no matter what I do, there it is. It follows me. Sticks to my shoe like week-old gum, which, even though I've scraped it out with a bamboo skewer, still stubbornly connects with the floor, then lingers for a fraction of a second, holding me back. When I try to run from it, it becomes my shadow, just as fast as I am, but skinnier.

I could blame my kids. The four of them have made my life into an endless series of responsibilities that pursue me even in sleep. I bolt up at 3 a.m., unable to remember if I've filled out the latest form, sent in the appropriate check, without which my child will never get into Princeton. And while I'm up, did I remember to call the plumber about that leak?

January 26, 2016

having the courage of your convictions

by Leah Bieler

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Was a little wary about writing about it, because I thought people might take offense without really reading, but....here goes.

Over the years I’ve taught many kids in preparation for bar and bat mitzvah. One of the challenges is getting them to project and enunciate so that everyone will be able to hear them. Self-conscious and semi-strangers in their own rapidly expanding skin, their voices get smaller as their bodies get larger.

December 8, 2015

chasing away the darkness

by Leah Bieler

It's been quite an introduction to our new community to see how everyone responded to the tragic loss of a teenager in a terrorist attack. It made me think a lot about how we treat each other in the Jewish community at large, and how we handle diversity of opinion. Here are my thoughts in the Times of Israel.

This summer, we moved north. Well, northeast to be exact. We still live in New England, though we are now Boston and not New York centered. I thought that this (nearly) life long New Yorker had considered all the changes that we would need to anticipate. What took us all by surprise is that in these darkest weeks of the year, shabbat begins before 4PM.

November 5, 2015

no thanks necessary - you're welcome.

by Leah Bieler

Should Orthodox women be rabbis? No one is asking ME that question. They already know my answer. But I have another, more complicated question. Where'd they get this idea, anyway? And why is it so difficult for them to tell the real story?

In today's Forward, I discuss what it's like watching from the other side.

I’ll begin by saying this. I’m really excited at the idea that Modern Orthodox women leaders, some of them friends of mine, are getting support pouring in from all corners of the Jewish world. Well, maybe not all, but many. This includes the CCAR, the umbrella organization for Reform rabbis. It is truly inspiring.

So why do I feel so frustrated?

One of my earliest memories is of my mother coming home from a meeting when our Conservative synagogue was debating whether to allow women to open the Torah ark. After hearing all the halachic arguments in favor of women taking on this supposedly controversial practice, a male congregant responded, and I may be paraphrasing here, “I don’t know anything about halacha, but seeing a woman on the bimah makes me physically sick.”