Comments on: This Book Made My Head Spin: I Am Forbidden

By: The Books I Loved and Hated in 2012 | Kim Werker

The Books I Loved and Hated in 2012 | Kim Werker — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:10:27 +0000

[...] and after the Second World War, it haunted me while I read it and well after I finished. It made me examine and question my identity as a Jew and my relationship with the extreme practitioners of the religion that [...]

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 10 May 2012 00:47:00 +0000

Glad to have you in the club! Great post! Things change a lot for us when we have kids, doesn’t it?

By: Kim Werker

Kim Werker — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:08:00 +0000

Oh, those Cat Stevens mornings at Givah. Love love love.

By: Nancy Cavillones

Nancy Cavillones — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

I downloaded the book last night and read it all in one go. The lesson was obvious but no less compelling. For end of the book, I wanted more about Atara but by the time I finished I understood why there didn’t NEED to be more about Atara. What was left unwritten was just as obvious and I was pretty satisfied with the ending.

As for Hebrew school, I’m thinking the early years are not so bad. It’s those two years before bat mitzvah that really blow, so maybe we’ll go the private tutor route for bat mitzvah preparation.

My favorite memories of Givah are the morning services in the woods, singing the Cat Stevens songs. LOL

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:24:00 +0000

I’ve known several people who have Jewish fathers but not Jewish mothers and were never regarded as Jewish, so they don’t think of themselves as Jewish. I do think that is a loss–or at the very least, a barrier to feeling a connection with something that is part of their history and identity.

By: neena

neena — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:50:00 +0000

It made my head spin, too. I struggled with this book.

By: Kim Werker

Kim Werker — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:17:00 +0000

Thank you, Tonja. A significant aspect of the brand of organized Judaism I grew up in, though not at all as strict as the sect depicted in the book, is one of judging non-Jews as for some reason not as worthy of… whatever. This was a cultural aspect, not one of doctrine. Members of the tribe, so to speak, deserve our help, but gentiles do not. We are persecuted, but we are not really responsible as human beings to advocate for others who are persecuted. From my Jewish days, I learned that first and foremost I am a human being no better or worse than every other human being, and I must live my life to honour that relationship. In that regard, secularism became my religion. How ironic!
(I hope you’ll be back. :)

By: Kim Werker

Kim Werker — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:39:00 +0000

I really suffered through my last few years at Givah. I knew I didn’t believe, but I loved that camp and those kids so very much. In talking with Robin about this book over the last week, I though maybe we might someday send Owen to a Jewish camp if we can find one we like. So many of my worst feelings as a child were felt in a Hebrew-school classroom, I’m not sure I could do it. :)

By: Tonja Brice

Tonja Brice — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Kim, I’ve never commented before but this post is as thought provoking to me as the book seems to have been for you. I will definitely have to put this on my reading list for the summer. I claim to be a Christian, and in fact am currently in seminary, and have no jewish identity in me whatsoever. I feel that the legalism that you describe can be found in many religious practices and think it very unfortunate. I understand the need to keep the cultural identity, but I am saddened by the notion that people “outside” of one faith system cannot be considered “good” people. I will say, however, that when I have found myslef to be challenged by ideas, that this is when I’ve been able to grow and learn the most about myself – so in that regard I think it a very positive thing that you are back to questioning things. I wish you luck in figuring all this out for yourself.

By: melanie

melanie — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:22:00 +0000

i have seen some of the same legalism and restrictions in Christianity. i’m happy to be in a place where questions about God, life and faith are acceptable and entertained…