Holy fuck shit. When I went to retrieve the morning paper from the driveway today a crazy headline flashed before my eyes.
http://www.triblocal.com/Highland_Park_-_Highwood/List_View/view.html?type=stories&action=detail&sub_id=172444
"Highland Park mom helps Fairytale Wishes come true for kids."
So, I opened it up and started reading. This loony mother is marketing a "monster repellent" for kids who have irrational fears of monsters.
Yeah, yeah. I know. It's a stage and eventually the kids out grow it. But fearing non-existent monsters is an irrational fear, nonetheless.
Referring to her son who was afraid that monsters were hiding in his room she says, "it just makes sense that monsters are terrified of bubblegum, so I put that story behind it and he bought it, hook, line and sinker."
Holy shit. Bubblegum??? This woman is bragging (and promoting) the fact that she was able to lie to her son and he believed her tales. She is in her 30's and her son was all of 4 when she began creating these fictitious stories to ease his fears. Duh. Of course a full grown human could manipulate a little child. Should we be lying to our children from the beginning?
The article mentions that some of the varieties of the monster sprays include a Super Hero Spray flavored with Peppermint for courage and a Happy Camper Spray which has a grape smell.
"Each bottle comes with a mini-fairytale told by the Magic Fairyale Wishes Frog, Freddy, who explains why each particular scent will help the child overcome his or her fear."
This woman is telling her son that these magical potions are a cure for his normal childhood anxieties. Instead of just explaining to her son that there are no such monsters and giving him a night light, she chose to fabricate more creative stories. At 4, her son does not need to be confused about general cause and effect.
She is teaching him that having a special potion and magically spraying it around him, will protect him. This cannot be a helpful idea to be teaching our children.
They may grow up and actually believe that there are magical words or acts that one can say or do to alleviate fears. Shit, that's what praying and religious ritual is all about.
And these fucking monster repellent stories come from WHO? Of course, Freddy the Magic Fairytale Wishes Frog. His job is to explain what each bottle of crap actually does and he makes up back stories for each ailment and it's cure.
Of course little Humans (children) believe this garbage. Their parents are believers of their own fairytale stories. The Torah, New Testament, Koran, Bhagavad Gita, Veda all claim to hold answers and cures to humanities ailments. Who cares that they are lies, right?
Just like the idea of Santa Claus; these so-called innocuous stories primes these children for magical thinking from the get-go. I think that this does a disservice to our children because it teaches them that there are magical fairytale things to start with.
My biggest gripe is that these full grown adults KNOW that they are deliberately lying to their children. And making money from it. Humph.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
The art of Rabbinical spin
Rabbinical Spin - I’m sure you’re familiar with the act of “spinning” when it is related to the way some news channels report the news. (It is also a well known public relations technique) Some news channels have been known to go WAY beyond reporting the news. (FOX) They attempt to fill in the gaps with assumptions, speculations and usually adding a particular slant to the overall picture of the news story.
All those talking heads on CNN, MSNBC and FOX are all spinning a particular news story. (What does this really mean? How does this effect society? What was he thinking or feeling? What are the overall consequences?)
This is what I believe Rabbis do; and they have been doing this for hundreds of years. You have a simple scroll; the Torah; pretty basic stuff. It said what it was supposed to say, to the people who were supposed to get the message. And that’s all there is.
The Rabbis answers to all “problematic” questions is spin because the Torah does not give us this information. One must make inferences, twist and wring the text and basically make up stuff that isn’t there in order to give the Torah the illusion of uniformity. – Not to mention relevance for the modern man.
When you read the Noah story, it is glaringly obvious that there are two different names for God, the verses overlap, are repetitive and the details contradict one another. i.e.: sending out a raven and a dove.
I am sure that they have some elaborate justifications that explain this and each and every “problematic” passage in the Torah. This is an example of Rabbinical Spin. How so?
Well, does the Torah tell us WHY the names Yahweh and God are used at different times in the Noah story? Wouldn’t this be important? The Torah is, after all, all about God and his covenant with his people. Wouldn’t it behoove us to know the NAME of this deity?
Does the Torah even acknowledge the two different set of instructions regarding the pairing of animals in the Noah story? Two or Seven? Shouldn’t Noah have been confused?
No, the Torah (itself) does not explain these glaring contradictions nor even acknowledge the inconsistencies. But we, modern man, can see them and we DO have the desire to understand how these and many other inconsistencies wound up being composed into this allegedly holy scroll.
All the Shabbat laws? Where did they come from? They are not in the Torah. The list of 39 forbidden actions which are listed in the Mishnah are nothing but spin from Ex. 31:14-16. The Torah only mentions NOT WORKING. That’s it.
Throughout the years, Rabbis have extrapolated from this verse that “work” is defined by these 39 acts associated with creating a sanctuary, since that was the “work” which they were doing at the time of the biblical writing. i.e.: sowing, plowing reaping. . .
The rules and laws of the Jewish tradition have been changed and altered throughout the centuries by Rabbis (in the subsequent Jewish writings) in order to make them relevant to modern society. After all, how could you keep the Sabbath and make it holy (God’s orders) without instructions on how to do so? Especially since the punishment is DEATH. And the Torah just doesn’t provide those instructions. Hence the need to just make it up.
No longer do we concern ourselves with winnowing, shearing wool or weaving etc. . . So, modern Rabbis needed to spin it again to continue to make it relevant for the modern era. This is spin upon spin.
The Torah mentions nothing except DO NOT WORK ON THE SABBATH. It was the Rabbis that chose to define what was considered work. It was the Rabbis who chose to codify it into 39 prohibitions and it was the Rabbis who deemed modern inventions such as driving a car as work.
When the Mishnah instructions about how to observe the Sabbath became irrelevant due to the modern industrial era Rabbis must now search to find hidden meaning and wisdom in the text that just isn’t there.
The same spin applies to the kashrut laws. There is nothing in the Torah that instructs the people about the elaborate rituals that orthodox Jews adhere to nowadays. All it says in the Torah is that you can’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk. From that passage, the Rabbis have used SPIN to create an entire tome of kashrut laws applicable to modern times. It is spin because it is extrapolating additional meaning from a simple sentence which, on its face, is quite clear.
All those talking heads on CNN, MSNBC and FOX are all spinning a particular news story. (What does this really mean? How does this effect society? What was he thinking or feeling? What are the overall consequences?)
This is what I believe Rabbis do; and they have been doing this for hundreds of years. You have a simple scroll; the Torah; pretty basic stuff. It said what it was supposed to say, to the people who were supposed to get the message. And that’s all there is.
The Rabbis answers to all “problematic” questions is spin because the Torah does not give us this information. One must make inferences, twist and wring the text and basically make up stuff that isn’t there in order to give the Torah the illusion of uniformity. – Not to mention relevance for the modern man.
When you read the Noah story, it is glaringly obvious that there are two different names for God, the verses overlap, are repetitive and the details contradict one another. i.e.: sending out a raven and a dove.
I am sure that they have some elaborate justifications that explain this and each and every “problematic” passage in the Torah. This is an example of Rabbinical Spin. How so?
Well, does the Torah tell us WHY the names Yahweh and God are used at different times in the Noah story? Wouldn’t this be important? The Torah is, after all, all about God and his covenant with his people. Wouldn’t it behoove us to know the NAME of this deity?
Does the Torah even acknowledge the two different set of instructions regarding the pairing of animals in the Noah story? Two or Seven? Shouldn’t Noah have been confused?
No, the Torah (itself) does not explain these glaring contradictions nor even acknowledge the inconsistencies. But we, modern man, can see them and we DO have the desire to understand how these and many other inconsistencies wound up being composed into this allegedly holy scroll.
All the Shabbat laws? Where did they come from? They are not in the Torah. The list of 39 forbidden actions which are listed in the Mishnah are nothing but spin from Ex. 31:14-16. The Torah only mentions NOT WORKING. That’s it.
Throughout the years, Rabbis have extrapolated from this verse that “work” is defined by these 39 acts associated with creating a sanctuary, since that was the “work” which they were doing at the time of the biblical writing. i.e.: sowing, plowing reaping. . .
The rules and laws of the Jewish tradition have been changed and altered throughout the centuries by Rabbis (in the subsequent Jewish writings) in order to make them relevant to modern society. After all, how could you keep the Sabbath and make it holy (God’s orders) without instructions on how to do so? Especially since the punishment is DEATH. And the Torah just doesn’t provide those instructions. Hence the need to just make it up.
No longer do we concern ourselves with winnowing, shearing wool or weaving etc. . . So, modern Rabbis needed to spin it again to continue to make it relevant for the modern era. This is spin upon spin.
The Torah mentions nothing except DO NOT WORK ON THE SABBATH. It was the Rabbis that chose to define what was considered work. It was the Rabbis who chose to codify it into 39 prohibitions and it was the Rabbis who deemed modern inventions such as driving a car as work.
When the Mishnah instructions about how to observe the Sabbath became irrelevant due to the modern industrial era Rabbis must now search to find hidden meaning and wisdom in the text that just isn’t there.
The same spin applies to the kashrut laws. There is nothing in the Torah that instructs the people about the elaborate rituals that orthodox Jews adhere to nowadays. All it says in the Torah is that you can’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk. From that passage, the Rabbis have used SPIN to create an entire tome of kashrut laws applicable to modern times. It is spin because it is extrapolating additional meaning from a simple sentence which, on its face, is quite clear.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Why Evangelize???
I know that I usually write about Jewish Orthodoxy.
Today, I'd like to explore the concept of Christian Evangelizing.
I do not understand their logic of choosing to witness their beliefs to others.
I propose a question to believers who choose to evangelize:
What happens to the souls of the people across the world who have never heard of your version of the Jesus Christ redemption?
They would typically respond by saying that the people who never heard of Jesus Christ will be judged according to their exposure and knowledge.
[That’s why we need to evangelize, they might say.
Their god being all powerful shouldn’t need THEM or any middle men to get his divine message across. That aside; answer the question]
Will these people who never heard of Jesus end up in the Christian version of Hell?
People who answered “yes” worship an evil deity. A JUST, BENEVOLENT god would never punish a person for not playing by the rules when they did not know the rules to begin with.
But the ones who conclude that a person ignorant of Christianity and Jesus Christ could still end up in the same heaven that the believer believes he will be in tells me that the believer should have left that person alone and never attempted to evangelize and spread the word of Jesus Christ to anyone.
Certainly, the believer thinks that Heaven is a better option than Hell. (It’s a good thing these places are fictitious) They wouldn’t be “spreading the Gospel” otherwise.
People would be better off (in the afterlife) in the Christian scheme of things, if they NEVER hear the lies and promises of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they would never have the “knowledge” to reject it.
Today, I'd like to explore the concept of Christian Evangelizing.
I do not understand their logic of choosing to witness their beliefs to others.
I propose a question to believers who choose to evangelize:
What happens to the souls of the people across the world who have never heard of your version of the Jesus Christ redemption?
They would typically respond by saying that the people who never heard of Jesus Christ will be judged according to their exposure and knowledge.
[That’s why we need to evangelize, they might say.
Their god being all powerful shouldn’t need THEM or any middle men to get his divine message across. That aside; answer the question]
Will these people who never heard of Jesus end up in the Christian version of Hell?
People who answered “yes” worship an evil deity. A JUST, BENEVOLENT god would never punish a person for not playing by the rules when they did not know the rules to begin with.
But the ones who conclude that a person ignorant of Christianity and Jesus Christ could still end up in the same heaven that the believer believes he will be in tells me that the believer should have left that person alone and never attempted to evangelize and spread the word of Jesus Christ to anyone.
Certainly, the believer thinks that Heaven is a better option than Hell. (It’s a good thing these places are fictitious) They wouldn’t be “spreading the Gospel” otherwise.
People would be better off (in the afterlife) in the Christian scheme of things, if they NEVER hear the lies and promises of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they would never have the “knowledge” to reject it.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Rabbi Avi Weiss continues to make headlines
Back when I first started this blog, I wrote several items about Rabbi Avi Weiss -all negative.
They all reflected personal experiences which I had with him and how his crazy Orthodox religious beliefs affected me when he interfered with our medical consultations and interjected upon personal family discussions regarding my mother's care while she was in the hospital on her deathbed.
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009/06/rabbi-weiss-and-his-intrusion.html
I also wrote about how he used religious pseudo psychology to help quell mine and my sister's fears that my father was moving too quickly with getting re-married less than a year after our mother's death and moving to Israel. My sisters and I sought counseling with Rabbi Avi Weiss and I wrote about his crazy logic in this post:
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009/07/r-avi-weiss-and-his-pseudo-psychology.html
My father has subsequently responded with anger. I suppose he feels that Rabbi Avi Weiss deserves some kind of automatic criticism shield whereby people shouldn't speak against or disrespect a Rabbi. I wrote about that presumption here:
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009_08_02_archive.html
I no longer speak to my sisters. My father and I currently have a strained relationship. I know that their religion plays a HUGE factor in their isolating me. So, I have chosen to speak out about all the crap that I went through due to my family's warped beliefs.
Now, it seems that I am not the only one speaking up against Rabbi Avi Weiss:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c41_a18006/News/Short_Takes.html
THE ENTIRE FUCKING RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA is putting R. Avi Weiss' brand of modern orthodoxy into question. Why? Because Rabbi Weiss made a young woman a Rabbi.
Orthodox Judaism is sexist, in general so they can't have any equality. Women must sit separated from their husbands and must wear clothes that cover up their knees and elbows. (Don't you know that knees and elbows are really sexy?)
From the article in Jewish Week: "The RCA (Rabbinical Council of America) has been closing in on Rabbi Weiss for several years, declaring that no rabbi ordained by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, a men’s rabbinical school founded by Rabbi Weiss, can be even be considered for RCA membership."
Wow. That would put my brother-in-law's (Rabbi Jeffrey Fox) Rabbinical qualifications into question since he is an alumni of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/25770098411/9f1057c9/Rabbi/Fox
So, I say to my father, who condemned me for criticizing Rabbi Weiss: Will you have the balls to stand up and criticize the entire fucking Rabbinical Council of America and defend your Rabbi Weiss? Probably not.
But me??? I'm an easy target, right?
Will I get an apology from my father? Probably not.
They all reflected personal experiences which I had with him and how his crazy Orthodox religious beliefs affected me when he interfered with our medical consultations and interjected upon personal family discussions regarding my mother's care while she was in the hospital on her deathbed.
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009/06/rabbi-weiss-and-his-intrusion.html
I also wrote about how he used religious pseudo psychology to help quell mine and my sister's fears that my father was moving too quickly with getting re-married less than a year after our mother's death and moving to Israel. My sisters and I sought counseling with Rabbi Avi Weiss and I wrote about his crazy logic in this post:
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009/07/r-avi-weiss-and-his-pseudo-psychology.html
My father has subsequently responded with anger. I suppose he feels that Rabbi Avi Weiss deserves some kind of automatic criticism shield whereby people shouldn't speak against or disrespect a Rabbi. I wrote about that presumption here:
http://elishasindignancies.blogspot.com/2009_08_02_archive.html
I no longer speak to my sisters. My father and I currently have a strained relationship. I know that their religion plays a HUGE factor in their isolating me. So, I have chosen to speak out about all the crap that I went through due to my family's warped beliefs.
Now, it seems that I am not the only one speaking up against Rabbi Avi Weiss:
http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewArticle/c41_a18006/News/Short_Takes.html
THE ENTIRE FUCKING RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA is putting R. Avi Weiss' brand of modern orthodoxy into question. Why? Because Rabbi Weiss made a young woman a Rabbi.
Orthodox Judaism is sexist, in general so they can't have any equality. Women must sit separated from their husbands and must wear clothes that cover up their knees and elbows. (Don't you know that knees and elbows are really sexy?)
From the article in Jewish Week: "The RCA (Rabbinical Council of America) has been closing in on Rabbi Weiss for several years, declaring that no rabbi ordained by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, a men’s rabbinical school founded by Rabbi Weiss, can be even be considered for RCA membership."
Wow. That would put my brother-in-law's (Rabbi Jeffrey Fox) Rabbinical qualifications into question since he is an alumni of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/25770098411/9f1057c9/Rabbi/Fox
So, I say to my father, who condemned me for criticizing Rabbi Weiss: Will you have the balls to stand up and criticize the entire fucking Rabbinical Council of America and defend your Rabbi Weiss? Probably not.
But me??? I'm an easy target, right?
Will I get an apology from my father? Probably not.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tefillin prayer scare on US Airways
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/01/21/2010-01-21_jewish_teens_tefillin_sets_off_bomb_scare_that_diverts_us_airways_flight_from_la.html
Jewish teen's tefillin sets off bomb scare that diverts US Airways flight from LaGuardia.
This is the kind of shit that pisses me off.
How many people were inconvenienced because one fucking Jew wanted to pray on a god damned plane? On a plane - where there are two inches between you and your seatmate.
He should have gone into the bathroom and closed the door and prayed privately -- and not subjected the rest of the passengers with his primitive horseshit.
What will become of airport security now? Is every $9/hr. TSA security person expected to learn the rituals and props from every single religion in order to avoid mistakenly assuming that a person is a terrorist when they are only doing some form of generational superstition?
I wish these orthodox Jews would step back from themselves and see what they look like to the rest of the world.
Their tefillin consists of a leather binding which you wrap around your arm several times until the blood stops flowing. There is a small box which is attached to the binding which has to lay on the bicep a certain way. You MUST wrap the binding around your arm 7 times.
You are required to say an incantation at this point and not speak to anyone until the job of binding is complete.
They have another leather binding in their prop kit with contains a box that wraps around your forehead and the little box MUST stick out of the top of your head prominently like a horn.
Now they go back to the binding on the arm. -- All in it's proper order, you know. Everything must be done in the strictest of fashion because we all know that god loves the stupid details.
The process continues by now starting to cut off the blood flow at the hand too. http://www.davening.net/tefillin.html%20
First, bring the strap (the one wrapped around the arm 7 times) around and down to the middle finger and around the upper half of the middle finger. Then wrap the strap twice around the lower part of the middle finger.
Inside these little boxes contain some magic words from their Torah. Then they don the tallis --which is a shroud with fringes. It looks ratty and tattered and basically umm -- primitive.
Then the rocking and chanting starts.
Here we have a bunch of supposed adults playing dress-up, talking and praying to their imaginary friend, saying some magical words, from a magical scroll, using their magical (props) phylacteries, taking care to wrap it around their arms a magical 7 times and we are supposed to tolerate this nonsense.
No. I won't. If I was on that plane and a Jew whipped out his magic tefillin prop kit, I would grab it from him and tell him that we do not behave in that manner in public. Be shameful and do your primitive rituals privately in the bathroom where everybody takes a shit.
Jewish teen's tefillin sets off bomb scare that diverts US Airways flight from LaGuardia.
This is the kind of shit that pisses me off.
How many people were inconvenienced because one fucking Jew wanted to pray on a god damned plane? On a plane - where there are two inches between you and your seatmate.
He should have gone into the bathroom and closed the door and prayed privately -- and not subjected the rest of the passengers with his primitive horseshit.
What will become of airport security now? Is every $9/hr. TSA security person expected to learn the rituals and props from every single religion in order to avoid mistakenly assuming that a person is a terrorist when they are only doing some form of generational superstition?
I wish these orthodox Jews would step back from themselves and see what they look like to the rest of the world.
Their tefillin consists of a leather binding which you wrap around your arm several times until the blood stops flowing. There is a small box which is attached to the binding which has to lay on the bicep a certain way. You MUST wrap the binding around your arm 7 times.
You are required to say an incantation at this point and not speak to anyone until the job of binding is complete.
They have another leather binding in their prop kit with contains a box that wraps around your forehead and the little box MUST stick out of the top of your head prominently like a horn.
Now they go back to the binding on the arm. -- All in it's proper order, you know. Everything must be done in the strictest of fashion because we all know that god loves the stupid details.
The process continues by now starting to cut off the blood flow at the hand too. http://www.davening.net/tefillin.html%20
First, bring the strap (the one wrapped around the arm 7 times) around and down to the middle finger and around the upper half of the middle finger. Then wrap the strap twice around the lower part of the middle finger.
Inside these little boxes contain some magic words from their Torah. Then they don the tallis --which is a shroud with fringes. It looks ratty and tattered and basically umm -- primitive.
Then the rocking and chanting starts.
Here we have a bunch of supposed adults playing dress-up, talking and praying to their imaginary friend, saying some magical words, from a magical scroll, using their magical (props) phylacteries, taking care to wrap it around their arms a magical 7 times and we are supposed to tolerate this nonsense.
No. I won't. If I was on that plane and a Jew whipped out his magic tefillin prop kit, I would grab it from him and tell him that we do not behave in that manner in public. Be shameful and do your primitive rituals privately in the bathroom where everybody takes a shit.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Despite Exorcism, Dybbuk chooses to stay inside host's body
I say this with ALL the seriousness that I can muster up. Here is a summary of recent events in the Dybbuk (ghost) story:
There was an attempted exorcism and apparently the Dybbuk wanted to come out of the host's body via his eye but the Rabbi told the ghost to ONLY come out of the man's left toe. The ghost refused.
The Dybbuk decided to stay in the mans body instead.
Holy Shit! What nut bags.
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=44430
Rabbi Batzri: ‘Get Out Dibuk!’
There was a mechitza set up between the many who came to observe and the mekubalim headed by HaRav David Batzri Shlita, who was attempting to remove the dibuk from the Brazilian avreich in Jerusalem’s Yeshivat Shalom on Wednesday night.
“Get out Dibuk!” shouted the rabbonim as shofars were sounded in the background. “Tell us your name”.
Prior to the event, the avreich, who arrived from Brazil earlier in the week, visited a number of Gedolei Yisrael Shlita, including Jerusalem Tzaddik Rav Zundel Kroizer Shlita.
The mekubalim gathered in the ezras nashim of the shul, separated from the crowd by the mechitza that was closed to prevent seeing what was taking place, permitting observers to listen in, no more.
At one point, the dibuk appeared willing to leave the host, via an eye, but Rav Batzri shouted he does not have permission to harm the young man, ordering him to leave via the small toe of his left foot only, with causing any harm to the young man.
The mekubalim did everything they could to compel the dibuk to leave, but apparently, even the special tikunim recited were not enough to extract the foreign entity from the young avreich.
Witnesses report as the tzibur recited Shema and 13 Midos along with the mekubalim, two different distinct voices were heard from the young avreich.
Despite all the efforts, it appears Rav Batzri was unsuccessful in his efforts to remove the dibuk from the avreich.
There was an attempted exorcism and apparently the Dybbuk wanted to come out of the host's body via his eye but the Rabbi told the ghost to ONLY come out of the man's left toe. The ghost refused.
The Dybbuk decided to stay in the mans body instead.
Holy Shit! What nut bags.
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=44430
Rabbi Batzri: ‘Get Out Dibuk!’
There was a mechitza set up between the many who came to observe and the mekubalim headed by HaRav David Batzri Shlita, who was attempting to remove the dibuk from the Brazilian avreich in Jerusalem’s Yeshivat Shalom on Wednesday night.
“Get out Dibuk!” shouted the rabbonim as shofars were sounded in the background. “Tell us your name”.
Prior to the event, the avreich, who arrived from Brazil earlier in the week, visited a number of Gedolei Yisrael Shlita, including Jerusalem Tzaddik Rav Zundel Kroizer Shlita.
The mekubalim gathered in the ezras nashim of the shul, separated from the crowd by the mechitza that was closed to prevent seeing what was taking place, permitting observers to listen in, no more.
At one point, the dibuk appeared willing to leave the host, via an eye, but Rav Batzri shouted he does not have permission to harm the young man, ordering him to leave via the small toe of his left foot only, with causing any harm to the young man.
The mekubalim did everything they could to compel the dibuk to leave, but apparently, even the special tikunim recited were not enough to extract the foreign entity from the young avreich.
Witnesses report as the tzibur recited Shema and 13 Midos along with the mekubalim, two different distinct voices were heard from the young avreich.
Despite all the efforts, it appears Rav Batzri was unsuccessful in his efforts to remove the dibuk from the avreich.
Tales from the Institution - Part 2
As I mentioned before, when I was 15 my parents created an intricate manipulation in order to put me away in a mental institution. I want to continue describing some more mind-blowing events which further traumatized me well into adulthood.
Institutions are run like prisons. There was room check, morning meal, smoking schedules and the infamous prison card game, Spades.
During my second stint at South Oaks mental institution, when I was 17, I earned a weekend pass (one of the rare ones where my parents actually picked me up the Friday before the Sabbath started). That Sunday, my parents allowed me to go "cruising" to the mall in their brown Diesel station wagon. I did have a driver's license.
I had picked up a couple of friends, and they were acting quite loud in the car. I was not concentrating, and I backed into a fire hydrant. I lied to my parents and told them that I parked the car in the mall parking lot and when I came back to the car, there was damage to the rear end. It must have been a hit and run, I told them.
They believed me and filed an insurance claim with the false information that I gave them. A few days later, I felt guilty and decided to "confess" during one of our group therapy sessions in the institution.
Well, that was a mistake. I had all my privileges pulled and I was not allowed any visitors or leave the grounds for any reason. You would think that I was being punished for lying to my parents and having them file a false report with the insurance company, right?
NOPE. I was punished because I failed to follow the Institution's rules: nobody was allowed to drive a car while on weekend pass, regardless of whether or not you had a valid driver's license or had your parents' permission.
It seemed that the rules of the institution extended outside of the institution. How does that happen?
In addition, I was being punished for breaking a rule that I didn't know even existed -- and neither did my parents since, they gave me permission to drive their car.
Of course, I was encouraged to tell my parents that I lied, and I did.
But what I didn't tell South Oaks OR my parents was what I discovered that day at the Smith Haven mall in Lake Grove.
Backstory: There was a very popular staff member (I'll call him Alex) who worked at South Oaks. He was young, handsome and resembled Michael J. Fox from the 80's TV show Family Ties. He had an exceptional rapport with some of the more thugly males in our unit. I always thought it was odd. But I wrote it off as him being male and close to our age.
Alex was hip, used teenage jargon and hosted the many Narcotics Anonymous and Alcohol Anonymous meetings that we were required to attend (even if we didn't have a problem in any of those areas). He related to the kids who seemed to have problems with drugs or the law and offered a consoling ear and adequate advice.
That day, as my friends and I were leaving the mall, we saw Alex. He pulled up to the curb of the entrance to the mall where my friends and I were leaving through the double doors. Alex was in a red sports car and talking on a car phone. Back in the 80's, the only people who had the luxury of having a car phone were important business executives, lawyers or drug dealers.
Alex seemed nervous as we exchanged our pleasantries. His eyes were darting around and he seemed eager to get into his sporty car and leave.
Suddenly, a group of young men approached Alex's car and as they got closer I saw that one of the boys was Tony from South Oaks. (Apparantly he was also on a weekend pass.) Hmmmm. What was a gang member from Brooklyn doing in the suburbs of Long Island?
Tony greeted Alex with a handshake which was popular amongst teens. They didn't seem surprised to see each other. In fact, it seemed that their meeting was prearranged.
Tony reached in his pocket and handed Alex a wad of money. Alex took the money and shook his head, implying that this is not the appropriate time to do whatever they had arranged and said, "Catch ya later."
Well, this wasn't acceptable for Tony, and he blurted out, "I just want my shit, Alex. Give me my shit."
Now I understood what was going on. Alex, who was clean cut, hip, worked as a staff member at South Oaks Psychiatric hospital and mentored young adults with drug and addiction problems was a MAJOR DRUG DEALER in Long Island, NY.
This was information which I didn't want nor need to know, considering that I had to go back to the institution and face Alex. But all was well.
I learned fast at that institution how to stay quiet. I never told anyone, and Alex and I stayed out of each other's way. He was probably walking on eggshells thinking that I would rat
Institutions are run like prisons. There was room check, morning meal, smoking schedules and the infamous prison card game, Spades.
During my second stint at South Oaks mental institution, when I was 17, I earned a weekend pass (one of the rare ones where my parents actually picked me up the Friday before the Sabbath started). That Sunday, my parents allowed me to go "cruising" to the mall in their brown Diesel station wagon. I did have a driver's license.
I had picked up a couple of friends, and they were acting quite loud in the car. I was not concentrating, and I backed into a fire hydrant. I lied to my parents and told them that I parked the car in the mall parking lot and when I came back to the car, there was damage to the rear end. It must have been a hit and run, I told them.
They believed me and filed an insurance claim with the false information that I gave them. A few days later, I felt guilty and decided to "confess" during one of our group therapy sessions in the institution.
Well, that was a mistake. I had all my privileges pulled and I was not allowed any visitors or leave the grounds for any reason. You would think that I was being punished for lying to my parents and having them file a false report with the insurance company, right?
NOPE. I was punished because I failed to follow the Institution's rules: nobody was allowed to drive a car while on weekend pass, regardless of whether or not you had a valid driver's license or had your parents' permission.
It seemed that the rules of the institution extended outside of the institution. How does that happen?
In addition, I was being punished for breaking a rule that I didn't know even existed -- and neither did my parents since, they gave me permission to drive their car.
Of course, I was encouraged to tell my parents that I lied, and I did.
But what I didn't tell South Oaks OR my parents was what I discovered that day at the Smith Haven mall in Lake Grove.
Backstory: There was a very popular staff member (I'll call him Alex) who worked at South Oaks. He was young, handsome and resembled Michael J. Fox from the 80's TV show Family Ties. He had an exceptional rapport with some of the more thugly males in our unit. I always thought it was odd. But I wrote it off as him being male and close to our age.
Alex was hip, used teenage jargon and hosted the many Narcotics Anonymous and Alcohol Anonymous meetings that we were required to attend (even if we didn't have a problem in any of those areas). He related to the kids who seemed to have problems with drugs or the law and offered a consoling ear and adequate advice.
That day, as my friends and I were leaving the mall, we saw Alex. He pulled up to the curb of the entrance to the mall where my friends and I were leaving through the double doors. Alex was in a red sports car and talking on a car phone. Back in the 80's, the only people who had the luxury of having a car phone were important business executives, lawyers or drug dealers.
Alex seemed nervous as we exchanged our pleasantries. His eyes were darting around and he seemed eager to get into his sporty car and leave.
Suddenly, a group of young men approached Alex's car and as they got closer I saw that one of the boys was Tony from South Oaks. (Apparantly he was also on a weekend pass.) Hmmmm. What was a gang member from Brooklyn doing in the suburbs of Long Island?
Tony greeted Alex with a handshake which was popular amongst teens. They didn't seem surprised to see each other. In fact, it seemed that their meeting was prearranged.
Tony reached in his pocket and handed Alex a wad of money. Alex took the money and shook his head, implying that this is not the appropriate time to do whatever they had arranged and said, "Catch ya later."
Well, this wasn't acceptable for Tony, and he blurted out, "I just want my shit, Alex. Give me my shit."
Now I understood what was going on. Alex, who was clean cut, hip, worked as a staff member at South Oaks Psychiatric hospital and mentored young adults with drug and addiction problems was a MAJOR DRUG DEALER in Long Island, NY.
This was information which I didn't want nor need to know, considering that I had to go back to the institution and face Alex. But all was well.
I learned fast at that institution how to stay quiet. I never told anyone, and Alex and I stayed out of each other's way. He was probably walking on eggshells thinking that I would rat
him out and he'd be fired. But I said nothing.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
1985 - My Parents' Betrayal
During my pre-teen and teen years, my family expected me to go to shul every Friday evening, and every Saturday morning was spent listening to the Torah being read and davening (praying) in services for FOUR hours. My sisters and I attended Hebrew School and the only parent-approved social functions were the ones organized by the temple.
We lived next door to the Rabbi and his family and they became a fixture at our house for years. My father was president of Temple Beth Chai and my Mother was active in the Sisterhood and Hebrew School.
The problem with this lifestyle is that I never believed any of the prerequisites of Judaism, and I resented all the restrictions which were placed upon me due to my parents' beliefs. (A lot of Kosher food rules)
I went to a public school but yet I was not allowed to have non-Jewish friends. Well, I had them because my parents couldn't prevent what went on at school. However, I couldn't bring them to my house and spend time with these friends outside of school.
So, I did a lot of sneaking around; especially when it came to dating non-Jews. There was also tremendous arguing which went on in my house over these religious rules that my parents chose to burden me with.
In 1985, I was 15 years old. I had always had a terrible time at school because I was teased endlessly. I have Tourette Syndrome and my tics annoyed the other kids. Plus, kids are just cruel in general, at that age. I was also sent out in the hall to take tests when my tics were really bad. This would never fly nowadays -- we have laws preventing discrimination against students with disabilities.
All I ever wanted during that time period was to attend a different school. I thought that would solve some of my problems. Little did I realize, though, that these problems at school, would have continued where ever I went because my parents were unable/unwilling to advocate for me.
They could have threatened a lawsuit over the bullying I was subjected to. They could have pulled me out of that particular school. They could have demanded that I not be isolated in the hall and discriminated against. Something. Anything to get under the authorities' skin and demand that something change.
The cowardly "solution": deception and betrayal
So, in 1985, my parents told me that I was going to go to a different school. It would be a school where I would actually LIVE there. I was sooooo exited. A new school AND NOT having to live in my parents house with their stupid religious rules. New people, new teachers. I couldn't wait!
So, for Chanukah that year I got all new clothes and nightgowns. After the Holiday break, I packed up my bags with my new clothes and my parents and I went on our way to my new school. I fell asleep in the car, so I missed the sign on the grounds of this school.
When we went inside, I was interviewed with such questions like, "Do you think about killing yourself?" (no) "Do you drink or do drugs?" (no, not at that time, anyway) "Are you depressed?" (a little, but who wouldn't be in my situation?)
That should have been clue #1.
A matronly woman led me down the hall to the area which I would be staying. The lady asked me, "Why are you here?" as she unlocked each adjoining door with a special key. I naively replied, "To go to school." She just smiled.
That should have been clue #2.
When we got to the area where the dorms were, I asked for my luggage. She said that it was being inspected and would be up shortly. Meanwhile, I was introduced to some of the other kids who asked me similar questions as to why I was there. And I replied similarly, "To go to school."
Clues #3 and #4 both eluded me.
When my luggage came up, my makeup mirror, hairdryer, shoelaces and belts were all missing. I asked the lady where the rest of my stuff was. She said, "You can't have them here."
Clue #5 got my attention.
"Where the fuck am I?" I yelled.
She said, "South Oaks Psychiatric Hospital."
Thrown into the nuthouse
HOLY SHIT. I ran into my room and threw myself on the cot and screamed in agony. Almost instantaneously, three men in white coats ran into my room and told me that I was not to behave in this manner. If I did, I would be put in a straight jacket, shot up with Thorazine and sent up to the "Flight Deck," a highly supervised unit where the REAL violent kids were -- or, at least, the ones who were ordered by the court to be there.
Words can't describe the betrayal that I felt. My parents TRICKED me. They told me that I was going to a private school and I end up locked in this mental institution. I couldn't use the phone to call them. I was locked in this hellhole with crazies. I witnessed WAY too much for my sheltered, Jewish upbringing. (that is an entirely different story, in and of itself).
They put me away in here because I wouldn't follow their "house" (religious) rules and I rebelled. I wanted to be a normal teenager. Instead, I couldn't go out (with girls or boys) with non-Jews, couldn't go out on a Friday night or Saturday, couldn't go anywhere to EAT with anybody. Just school and temple.
Depressed? Who wouldn't be?
They told the institution that I was "depressed." That was how I got in.
After 30 days, the doctors reviewed my case and we had a meeting with my parents. Our insurance coverage only paid for the first 30 days UNLESS there was a severe issue which required continued incarceration. (oops, I mean "hospitalization." lol)
The doctors told my parents that they were scheduling me to be released within the next two days, with a prescription for an anti-depressant and to follow up with my psychiatrist.
My parents actually REFUSED to take me home.
I spent 6 months (most of the kids stayed less than 3 months) locked up there, against my will, and my parents paid $5,000 per week, out of their own (and my) pockets, just to keep me there.
I spent my "Sweet 16" locked up in a mental institution. I didn't belong there. All the doctors agreed. I rose up the ranks in their system of "earning privileges." Almost immediately, I was granted weekend passes to go home.
BUT MY PARENTS WOULDN'T TAKE ME HOME.
Why? Because the weekend passes started on Saturday mornings and they won't drive on Shabbat.
So, when the people who "behaved" and followed the rules, got to go home and get the hell out of the locked institution for 2 days, I was alone on the ward with the staff. Occasionally, my parents visited me on Sundays, but we had "Family Counseling" to attend to. This resulted in many unhappy and angry visits.
I didn't see my sisters for six months. More religious abuse.
Stole my money to lock me up
Later, I found out that my parents used ALL MY MONEY that was saved for my future to pay for this incarceration. They also had to take a loss because the cost EXCEEDED the balance in the account.
I had approximately $50,000 - $80,000 saved from bonds from when I was born and gifts from my Bat Mitzvah. I'm not sure precisely how much was there but I was told at least $50,000. I assume that there was some interest which accrued in 15 years.
I was always aware of this money and was informed that was not to be touched. It was for college expenses or a down payment on my first home. Whatever. It was supposed to be MY nest egg.
Everytime I received cash or a check for my birthday it went into that fund. I was assurred that eventually I will be able to spend my money wisely when I'm an adult. I begrudgely accepted this becasue I never lacked for any material things. But I would have LOVED to spend my birthday money on what I wanted to at that time.
Desperation
After finally being released from the hellhole, my parents begrudgingly took me home. Now, my sister Elana took my room and I was told that I was going to be sleeping in the basement with a sleeping bag. One evening I couldn't sleep and wanted to raid the fridge and I realized that my parents locked me down there. I guess they were afraid that I was going to sneak out of the house.
I continued to be "abused" by their religious restrictions, such as their dietary laws, temple and Sabbath restrictions. One Saturday morning when they were at temple and I refused to go, I left. I just packed up my shit and I went to stay with a guy I just met.
Foolish, I know. But I was desperate to get out of my parents' house. After finding out some stuff about this guy, I decided it wasn't smart for me to continue to associate with him. I lived with several different people for the next year, or so. I refused to go home and be subjected to their crazy rules.
I was three months from my 18th birthday and I was not going to school or doing anything productive with my life. My flitting from house to house with strangers just wasn't working out.
Back to the loony bin
I made the voluntary decision to GO BACK TO South Oaks, the mental institution. Yes, I CHOSE to go back to that environment. At that point, ANYTHING was better than living with my parents. I was familiar with the structure of the institution. I excelled there. I liked the staff. They liked me. And I was popular there.
How pathetic it is that I would chose to go back to an institution rather than live with my parents.
Upon my 18th birthday, I immediately signed myself out of the institution, as that is the freedom which adulthood provides. I was allowed to sleep in my parents' basement again, on the floor, in a sleeping bag, for a month, after being released. There were five bedrooms in that house. One was vacant. Yet, I slept in the basement, like a dog.
Oh, and they continued to lock me down there at night, so I couldn't go out (escape). It was then I developed mild claustrophobia, which I still have to this day (although claustrophobia is not difficult to avoid -- just don't put yourself in situations where you would feel boxed in).
It is so sad how far my parents went to try to get me to conform. According to them, I was a bad influence on my sisters. They were glad to have someone else take care of me. It was a high price to pay, but they'd pay any amount so I didn't subject the rest of their little sheep to rebellion.
Three little sheep
It was also a good lesson for my little sheep sisters. (I have three sisters. More about them at another time.) My incarceration in the mental institution instilled in them what precisely would happen if they choose to rebel and think differently than their parents. It said, We will get rid of you and treat you less than human if you do not obey. So, little sheep, don't even think about it.
It worked.
Two of my sisters married rabbis, and the third lives in the same Jewish enclave (when Jews create ghettos for themselves, they're called something else, but the result is the same). Their children all attend the local Jewish day school, where two of my sisters teach.
Judaism is no different from other religions: piety and correct ritual trump good behavior, almost always. My Mother passed on a few years ago. My father now lives in Israel, where he follows as many of Judaism's innumerable rules as possible, considers himself a good Jew, and has no remorse (that I know of) for the inhumane way he treated me.
We lived next door to the Rabbi and his family and they became a fixture at our house for years. My father was president of Temple Beth Chai and my Mother was active in the Sisterhood and Hebrew School.
The problem with this lifestyle is that I never believed any of the prerequisites of Judaism, and I resented all the restrictions which were placed upon me due to my parents' beliefs. (A lot of Kosher food rules)
I went to a public school but yet I was not allowed to have non-Jewish friends. Well, I had them because my parents couldn't prevent what went on at school. However, I couldn't bring them to my house and spend time with these friends outside of school.
So, I did a lot of sneaking around; especially when it came to dating non-Jews. There was also tremendous arguing which went on in my house over these religious rules that my parents chose to burden me with.
In 1985, I was 15 years old. I had always had a terrible time at school because I was teased endlessly. I have Tourette Syndrome and my tics annoyed the other kids. Plus, kids are just cruel in general, at that age. I was also sent out in the hall to take tests when my tics were really bad. This would never fly nowadays -- we have laws preventing discrimination against students with disabilities.
All I ever wanted during that time period was to attend a different school. I thought that would solve some of my problems. Little did I realize, though, that these problems at school, would have continued where ever I went because my parents were unable/unwilling to advocate for me.
They could have threatened a lawsuit over the bullying I was subjected to. They could have pulled me out of that particular school. They could have demanded that I not be isolated in the hall and discriminated against. Something. Anything to get under the authorities' skin and demand that something change.
The cowardly "solution": deception and betrayal
So, in 1985, my parents told me that I was going to go to a different school. It would be a school where I would actually LIVE there. I was sooooo exited. A new school AND NOT having to live in my parents house with their stupid religious rules. New people, new teachers. I couldn't wait!
So, for Chanukah that year I got all new clothes and nightgowns. After the Holiday break, I packed up my bags with my new clothes and my parents and I went on our way to my new school. I fell asleep in the car, so I missed the sign on the grounds of this school.
When we went inside, I was interviewed with such questions like, "Do you think about killing yourself?" (no) "Do you drink or do drugs?" (no, not at that time, anyway) "Are you depressed?" (a little, but who wouldn't be in my situation?)
That should have been clue #1.
A matronly woman led me down the hall to the area which I would be staying. The lady asked me, "Why are you here?" as she unlocked each adjoining door with a special key. I naively replied, "To go to school." She just smiled.
That should have been clue #2.
When we got to the area where the dorms were, I asked for my luggage. She said that it was being inspected and would be up shortly. Meanwhile, I was introduced to some of the other kids who asked me similar questions as to why I was there. And I replied similarly, "To go to school."
Clues #3 and #4 both eluded me.
When my luggage came up, my makeup mirror, hairdryer, shoelaces and belts were all missing. I asked the lady where the rest of my stuff was. She said, "You can't have them here."
Clue #5 got my attention.
"Where the fuck am I?" I yelled.
She said, "South Oaks Psychiatric Hospital."
Thrown into the nuthouse
HOLY SHIT. I ran into my room and threw myself on the cot and screamed in agony. Almost instantaneously, three men in white coats ran into my room and told me that I was not to behave in this manner. If I did, I would be put in a straight jacket, shot up with Thorazine and sent up to the "Flight Deck," a highly supervised unit where the REAL violent kids were -- or, at least, the ones who were ordered by the court to be there.
Words can't describe the betrayal that I felt. My parents TRICKED me. They told me that I was going to a private school and I end up locked in this mental institution. I couldn't use the phone to call them. I was locked in this hellhole with crazies. I witnessed WAY too much for my sheltered, Jewish upbringing. (that is an entirely different story, in and of itself).
They put me away in here because I wouldn't follow their "house" (religious) rules and I rebelled. I wanted to be a normal teenager. Instead, I couldn't go out (with girls or boys) with non-Jews, couldn't go out on a Friday night or Saturday, couldn't go anywhere to EAT with anybody. Just school and temple.
Depressed? Who wouldn't be?
They told the institution that I was "depressed." That was how I got in.
After 30 days, the doctors reviewed my case and we had a meeting with my parents. Our insurance coverage only paid for the first 30 days UNLESS there was a severe issue which required continued incarceration. (oops, I mean "hospitalization." lol)
The doctors told my parents that they were scheduling me to be released within the next two days, with a prescription for an anti-depressant and to follow up with my psychiatrist.
My parents actually REFUSED to take me home.
I spent 6 months (most of the kids stayed less than 3 months) locked up there, against my will, and my parents paid $5,000 per week, out of their own (and my) pockets, just to keep me there.
I spent my "Sweet 16" locked up in a mental institution. I didn't belong there. All the doctors agreed. I rose up the ranks in their system of "earning privileges." Almost immediately, I was granted weekend passes to go home.
BUT MY PARENTS WOULDN'T TAKE ME HOME.
Why? Because the weekend passes started on Saturday mornings and they won't drive on Shabbat.
So, when the people who "behaved" and followed the rules, got to go home and get the hell out of the locked institution for 2 days, I was alone on the ward with the staff. Occasionally, my parents visited me on Sundays, but we had "Family Counseling" to attend to. This resulted in many unhappy and angry visits.
I didn't see my sisters for six months. More religious abuse.
Stole my money to lock me up
Later, I found out that my parents used ALL MY MONEY that was saved for my future to pay for this incarceration. They also had to take a loss because the cost EXCEEDED the balance in the account.
I had approximately $50,000 - $80,000 saved from bonds from when I was born and gifts from my Bat Mitzvah. I'm not sure precisely how much was there but I was told at least $50,000. I assume that there was some interest which accrued in 15 years.
I was always aware of this money and was informed that was not to be touched. It was for college expenses or a down payment on my first home. Whatever. It was supposed to be MY nest egg.
Everytime I received cash or a check for my birthday it went into that fund. I was assurred that eventually I will be able to spend my money wisely when I'm an adult. I begrudgely accepted this becasue I never lacked for any material things. But I would have LOVED to spend my birthday money on what I wanted to at that time.
Desperation
After finally being released from the hellhole, my parents begrudgingly took me home. Now, my sister Elana took my room and I was told that I was going to be sleeping in the basement with a sleeping bag. One evening I couldn't sleep and wanted to raid the fridge and I realized that my parents locked me down there. I guess they were afraid that I was going to sneak out of the house.
I continued to be "abused" by their religious restrictions, such as their dietary laws, temple and Sabbath restrictions. One Saturday morning when they were at temple and I refused to go, I left. I just packed up my shit and I went to stay with a guy I just met.
Foolish, I know. But I was desperate to get out of my parents' house. After finding out some stuff about this guy, I decided it wasn't smart for me to continue to associate with him. I lived with several different people for the next year, or so. I refused to go home and be subjected to their crazy rules.
I was three months from my 18th birthday and I was not going to school or doing anything productive with my life. My flitting from house to house with strangers just wasn't working out.
Back to the loony bin
I made the voluntary decision to GO BACK TO South Oaks, the mental institution. Yes, I CHOSE to go back to that environment. At that point, ANYTHING was better than living with my parents. I was familiar with the structure of the institution. I excelled there. I liked the staff. They liked me. And I was popular there.
How pathetic it is that I would chose to go back to an institution rather than live with my parents.
Upon my 18th birthday, I immediately signed myself out of the institution, as that is the freedom which adulthood provides. I was allowed to sleep in my parents' basement again, on the floor, in a sleeping bag, for a month, after being released. There were five bedrooms in that house. One was vacant. Yet, I slept in the basement, like a dog.
Oh, and they continued to lock me down there at night, so I couldn't go out (escape). It was then I developed mild claustrophobia, which I still have to this day (although claustrophobia is not difficult to avoid -- just don't put yourself in situations where you would feel boxed in).
It is so sad how far my parents went to try to get me to conform. According to them, I was a bad influence on my sisters. They were glad to have someone else take care of me. It was a high price to pay, but they'd pay any amount so I didn't subject the rest of their little sheep to rebellion.
Three little sheep
It was also a good lesson for my little sheep sisters. (I have three sisters. More about them at another time.) My incarceration in the mental institution instilled in them what precisely would happen if they choose to rebel and think differently than their parents. It said, We will get rid of you and treat you less than human if you do not obey. So, little sheep, don't even think about it.
It worked.
Two of my sisters married rabbis, and the third lives in the same Jewish enclave (when Jews create ghettos for themselves, they're called something else, but the result is the same). Their children all attend the local Jewish day school, where two of my sisters teach.
Judaism is no different from other religions: piety and correct ritual trump good behavior, almost always. My Mother passed on a few years ago. My father now lives in Israel, where he follows as many of Judaism's innumerable rules as possible, considers himself a good Jew, and has no remorse (that I know of) for the inhumane way he treated me.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Religiosity and Psychosociological Conditions
I read this great article by Sue Blackmore of the UK Guardian. She talks about Gregery Paul's research http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP07398441_c.pdf
which argues that societies are better off without religion.
I'd like to reprint certain portions of her article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/dec/08/religion-society-gregory-paul
Popular religious belief is caused by dysfunctional social conditions. This is the conclusion of the latest sociological research (pdf) conducted by Gregory Paul. Far from religion benefiting societies, as the "moral-creator socioeconomic hypothesis" would have it, popular religion is a psychological mechanism for coping with high levels of stress and anxiety – or so he suggests.
I've long been interested in Paul's work because it addresses a whole bunch of fascinating questions – why are Americans so religious when the rest of the developed world is increasingly secular? Is religious belief beneficial to societies? does religion make people behave better?
Many believers assume, without question, that it does – even that there can be no morality without religion.
This is where Gregory Paul and his research come in. I have often quoted his earlier, 2005, research which showed strong positive correlations between nations' religious belief and levels of murder, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and other indicators of dysfunction. It seemed to show, at the very least, that being religious does not necessarily make for a better society.
The real problem was that he was able to show only correlations, and the publicity for his new research seemed to imply causation. If so this would have important implications indeed.
In this latest research Paul measures "popular religiosity" for developed nations, and then compares it against the "successful societies scale" (SSS) which includes such things such as homicides, the proportion of people incarcerated, infant mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage births and abortions, corruption, income inequality, and many others. In other words it is a way of summing up a society's health.
The outlier again and again is the US with a stunning catalogue of failures. On almost every measure the US comes out worse than any other 1st world developed nation, and it is also the most religious.
For this reason Paul carries out his analysis both with and without the US included, but either way the same correlations turn up. The 1st world nations with the highest levels of belief in God, and the greatest religious observance are also the ones with all the signs of societal dysfunction.
These correlations are truly stunning. They are not "barely significant" or marginal in any way. Many, such as those between popular religiosity and teenage abortions and STDs have correlation coefficients over 0.9 and the overall correlation with the SSS is 0.7 with the US included and 0.5 without. These are powerful relationships. But why?
The critical step from correlation to cause is not easy. Paul analyses all sorts of possibilities. Immigration and diversity do not explain the relationships, nor do a country's frontier past, nor its violent media, and so he is led to his conclusions: "Because highly secular democracies are significantly and regularly outperforming the more theistic ones, the moral-creator socioeconomic hypothesis is rejected in favour of the secular-democratic socioeconomic hypothesis"; "religious prosociality and charity are less effective at improving societal conditions than are secular government programmes".
He draws implications for human evolution too. Contrary to Dan Dennett, Pascal Boyer and others, he argues that religion is not a deep-seated or inherited tendency. It is a crutch to which people turn when they are under extreme stress, "a natural invention of human minds in response to a defective habitat". Americans, he says, suffer appalling stress and anxiety due to the lack of universal health care, the competitive economic environment, and huge income inequalities, and under these conditions belief in a supernatural creator and reliance on religious observance provides relief. By contrast, the middle class majorities of western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have secure enough lives not to seek help from a supernatural creator.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fascinating stuff. I never could quite understand why the USA, one of the most prosperous nations in the world, would still carry the monkey of religion on it's back.
People will never be 100% anxiety-free and therefore they will continue to invent defense mechanisms - Religion being the ultimate defense mechanism against the reality of death and the knowledge that there is no universal justice. ---- And HUMANS ARE NOT SPECIAL
which argues that societies are better off without religion.
I'd like to reprint certain portions of her article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/dec/08/religion-society-gregory-paul
Popular religious belief is caused by dysfunctional social conditions. This is the conclusion of the latest sociological research (pdf) conducted by Gregory Paul. Far from religion benefiting societies, as the "moral-creator socioeconomic hypothesis" would have it, popular religion is a psychological mechanism for coping with high levels of stress and anxiety – or so he suggests.
I've long been interested in Paul's work because it addresses a whole bunch of fascinating questions – why are Americans so religious when the rest of the developed world is increasingly secular? Is religious belief beneficial to societies? does religion make people behave better?
Many believers assume, without question, that it does – even that there can be no morality without religion.
This is where Gregory Paul and his research come in. I have often quoted his earlier, 2005, research which showed strong positive correlations between nations' religious belief and levels of murder, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and other indicators of dysfunction. It seemed to show, at the very least, that being religious does not necessarily make for a better society.
The real problem was that he was able to show only correlations, and the publicity for his new research seemed to imply causation. If so this would have important implications indeed.
In this latest research Paul measures "popular religiosity" for developed nations, and then compares it against the "successful societies scale" (SSS) which includes such things such as homicides, the proportion of people incarcerated, infant mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage births and abortions, corruption, income inequality, and many others. In other words it is a way of summing up a society's health.
The outlier again and again is the US with a stunning catalogue of failures. On almost every measure the US comes out worse than any other 1st world developed nation, and it is also the most religious.
For this reason Paul carries out his analysis both with and without the US included, but either way the same correlations turn up. The 1st world nations with the highest levels of belief in God, and the greatest religious observance are also the ones with all the signs of societal dysfunction.
These correlations are truly stunning. They are not "barely significant" or marginal in any way. Many, such as those between popular religiosity and teenage abortions and STDs have correlation coefficients over 0.9 and the overall correlation with the SSS is 0.7 with the US included and 0.5 without. These are powerful relationships. But why?
The critical step from correlation to cause is not easy. Paul analyses all sorts of possibilities. Immigration and diversity do not explain the relationships, nor do a country's frontier past, nor its violent media, and so he is led to his conclusions: "Because highly secular democracies are significantly and regularly outperforming the more theistic ones, the moral-creator socioeconomic hypothesis is rejected in favour of the secular-democratic socioeconomic hypothesis"; "religious prosociality and charity are less effective at improving societal conditions than are secular government programmes".
He draws implications for human evolution too. Contrary to Dan Dennett, Pascal Boyer and others, he argues that religion is not a deep-seated or inherited tendency. It is a crutch to which people turn when they are under extreme stress, "a natural invention of human minds in response to a defective habitat". Americans, he says, suffer appalling stress and anxiety due to the lack of universal health care, the competitive economic environment, and huge income inequalities, and under these conditions belief in a supernatural creator and reliance on religious observance provides relief. By contrast, the middle class majorities of western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have secure enough lives not to seek help from a supernatural creator.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fascinating stuff. I never could quite understand why the USA, one of the most prosperous nations in the world, would still carry the monkey of religion on it's back.
People will never be 100% anxiety-free and therefore they will continue to invent defense mechanisms - Religion being the ultimate defense mechanism against the reality of death and the knowledge that there is no universal justice. ---- And HUMANS ARE NOT SPECIAL
Monday, January 4, 2010
Rabbi worship - Reflections on the Dybbuk comments
I discovered a common theme or element within most of the opinions of the religious Jews who commented on Dybbuks. (demon possession) Their opinions seem to be formulated by what their Rabbi tells them is true. It's basically a form of Rabbi worship.
Years ago, I began to think that most of what now passes as Orthodox Judaism is just people following a shit load of rules that some old Rabbis made up throughout the centuries. None of the rules and regulations that the Orthodox adhere to are even mentioned in the Torah.
Where did they come up with all these rules? The ORAL Torah. The rulebook. Basically it is a bunch of Rabbis arguing and making up rules based on what they THINK their GOD really wants. (You know, their god is an idiot and can't communicate properly with his creation)
So, naturally, since they know that their Rabbis created all their rules and regulations, they worship the Rabbis. They will never admit this though because worshipping anything other than their jealous HaShem is a no-no.
But they do, as the comments on my previous post suggest. There is a lot of Rabbi worship going around.
----------------------------------------------------------
My father: Marty and I never had an easy time getting along. From childhood on, I never respected him. I have probably called him every insulting name in the book over the course of my 39 years on this planet. But NEVER did he stop speaking to me.
Marty partook in just as much of the argumentation with me as I did with him. He always had the choice to back down and shun me but whatever we argued about was eventually put aside and forgotten through the course of time.
Recently, when I wrote my feelings about Rabbi Avi Weiss (a few months ago) and his role in my mother's hospitalization and death, my father got so angry that he hung up on me. He said that he is too angry to even talk.
And he hasn't spoken to me since. All because I insulted a Rabbi. - - Not even his Rabbi, just some asshole Rabbi Avi Weiss from Riverdale, NY.
That is abominable Marty.
Years ago, I began to think that most of what now passes as Orthodox Judaism is just people following a shit load of rules that some old Rabbis made up throughout the centuries. None of the rules and regulations that the Orthodox adhere to are even mentioned in the Torah.
Where did they come up with all these rules? The ORAL Torah. The rulebook. Basically it is a bunch of Rabbis arguing and making up rules based on what they THINK their GOD really wants. (You know, their god is an idiot and can't communicate properly with his creation)
So, naturally, since they know that their Rabbis created all their rules and regulations, they worship the Rabbis. They will never admit this though because worshipping anything other than their jealous HaShem is a no-no.
But they do, as the comments on my previous post suggest. There is a lot of Rabbi worship going around.
----------------------------------------------------------
My father: Marty and I never had an easy time getting along. From childhood on, I never respected him. I have probably called him every insulting name in the book over the course of my 39 years on this planet. But NEVER did he stop speaking to me.
Marty partook in just as much of the argumentation with me as I did with him. He always had the choice to back down and shun me but whatever we argued about was eventually put aside and forgotten through the course of time.
Recently, when I wrote my feelings about Rabbi Avi Weiss (a few months ago) and his role in my mother's hospitalization and death, my father got so angry that he hung up on me. He said that he is too angry to even talk.
And he hasn't spoken to me since. All because I insulted a Rabbi. - - Not even his Rabbi, just some asshole Rabbi Avi Weiss from Riverdale, NY.
That is abominable Marty.
What the Devil? Pious Jews comment on demonic possession
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/43702/The+
People have commented on this story on the Yeshiva World's website. The comments are all over the ballpark.
Some, dismiss this ghost story with humor as these first people do:
What next, a talking fish?
Comment by Pashuteh Yid — December 22, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Does the dybbuk need his own visa or can he come in on the avreich’s?
Comment by p_almonius — December 22, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Maybe the shofar they blew on a plane for the swine flue will help him i hope he gets the same plane!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0gvbw1S4Ks
Comment by juda — December 22, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I want to examine some of these other comments to try and understand the mindset of (some) Orthodox Jews.
My father, sisters and their families all practice some version of Orthodoxy (modern orthodox or Sephardic) and I wonder if they hold these wacky beliefs too.
There came a point while reading these comments that I needed to look up many words which were being used (mostly by the illiterate fucks) - some words are purely made up and some words are a version of a Hebrew word or concept. I will attempt to define if it becomes pertinent to the discussion.
These people continuously pepper their writing with such crap (I call it Heblish) that it becomes obvious which people are isolated in their self-imposed ghettos and which may have actually ventured off into the real world: The world which contains THE OTHER (oh no).
More skeptical humor from the comments on Yeshiva World then we'll get to the really loony stuff (I wanted to give somewhat of a fair representation of the comments on Yeshiva World and to show that not all the comments are nutrageous).
All misspellings and other errors in the italicized material are reproduced exactly as written; I have added only an occasional -- sometimes sarcastic -- definition (boldface).
The Mekubal (mystical Rabbis who do the Jewish version of exorcism) failed to remove the dibuk the first time because he used a treif (non-kosher)video conferencing software - Skype. Had he used ShidduchVision™, the only video conferencing software approved for Torah Jews, the whole thing would be over already
Comment by justajew — December 22, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Actually, the best way to remove a dibbuk is not via Skype, as many a dibbuk remover can tell you, the best way is to first clean out your hard drive, then download a reverse anti-virus, dibbuk remover ,I think MacAfee makes one - dibbuk remover 2.0 ( I believe it works with Bluetooth applications)There should be a thirty day money back guarantee, or the dibbuk is yours free of charge!
Comment by holykugel — December 22, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Those were priceless. Thank you, justajew and holykugel, for giving me a laugh out loud moment (lol).
This next comment shows the blatant ignorance of the English language of the ghetto-bred. (S)he isn't even capable of understanding basic capitalization and grammar.
I can’t beleave that a yid can make any jokes when a yid, (wife) are in a Problem !!!And I beleave that there are things that are higher that what we think our small head understands.Those who think they know Everything, Nothing will help them to beleave, they don’t bealeave in Rabis, Tzadikim..I don’t mean that you have to beleave in Everything…Comment by holyland — December 22, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
(**Learn to spell BELIEVE, you retard)
Next comment:
Whether or not this is the a real dibbuk or not is questionable. However history has shown that they did exist. The famous story where the Chofetz Chaim ZT”L had Rav Elchonon Wasserman HY”D, get rid of a dibbuk of a girl was documented by Rav Usher Katzman ZT’L, a former Rosh Yeshiva in Torah Vodaas. Among the particapants where such notables as Rav Chatzkel Levenstein ZT”L. Rav Elchonon would retell the story every year on Purim and would say Kaddish for it on the anniversary of when it left the girl for 19 years. Rav Pittai, a Talmud Muvak of the Ben Ish Chai was know to exorsise dibbukim on at least 2 occasions, as did the Chida.
Comment by chanie T. — December 22, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
As is typical of these types who do not think for themselves, the writers seem to be impressed with name dropping. I would LOVE to see a documented Jewish version of an exorcism. Where can I find it?
Next comment:
I can’t believe how many people are taking this lightly. Even if true or not, the Gedolim (great Rabbis) who are mentioned are Tzadkim. (righteous ones) Dybukkim (plural dybbuk or ghost)for can happen. Unfortunately, as the Rav mentioned, the generations are weaker then the previous holy generations. The facts are for some to believe that after a person is niftar, (dead) there is Din V’Cheshbon. (Judgement day) Do all of you who do not believe really think, that after 120 years, we won’t have to answer to Hashem (god)??
Comment by mazal77 — December 22, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
This writer must live within an eruv (an enclosure around a home or community enabling the carrying of objects out of doors for Jews on the Sabbath). Every sentence here is rich with "in-words." (S)he obviously doesn't get out much because the average person would not comprehend this dense in-group jargon.
Next:
A dibbuk is nothing new. It dates bak to the times of tanoim (Rabbis from the 1st and 2nd century) and even before. Many a story is recorded bout them. This is a neshomo (soul) who needs a tikkun (universal correction) and came down to this person to rectify his tikkun. There was a story bout 7-10 yrs ago of one in Israel and one of the big mekubalim (mystics) got rid of it. Lets hope it doesn’t happen again as it would be………
Next comment:
Hacham Batzri, shlit”a is well known for this type of work. Whether this perticular story is true or not, search on Google for dibbuk HaRav Batzri and you will find the famous ecorcism that this Gadol has done on video - over 80 minutes long. All those that have downplayed any of this either through rude or jokeful words, really should be careful how they speak.
Comment by davidhasofer — December 22, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Oh my Gosh, there is a Jewish exorcism done on video?
Can we find it on Youtube?
I think this person is scared of the ghosts (dybbuks) that he created in his own mind since he wraps up his idiocy with a threat, [they] “. . . should be careful how they speak.”
Jews are very involved with their superstition and believing that words have power. Praying proves this point alone.
But Jews are the only group I know that forbids uttering the name of their god, and they must write the name of their god in this fashion: G-d. Incidentally, nothing has EVER happened to me when I write out the word god, even without capitalizing the first letter.
Next comment:
It doesn’t say much for the level of learning amongst YWN readers if you are scoffing at this story. Dibbuks have happened in the past and surely will again. Why would a simple avreich suddenly invent the whole thing, plus learn to speak in different voices, while not moving his lips. Why would he allow G’dolei HaDor to “waste time” on him; and why would he scare his wife to the extent that she wants a get (Jewish divorce) (this I do NOT understand - if she’s scared she should temporarily remove either herself or her husband from the home, but divorce?)
Comment by shalom in Israel — December 23, 2009 @ 12:25 am
Criticizing a person's “level of learning” is par for the course in Orthodox Judaism. I have heard it numerous times in my own family from my father and from Rabbi Joshua Maroof, my brother-in-law. http://www.mdscbe.org/rabbimaroof.html
They somehow think that if you study with the “right” people and get sucked into their web of thinking you’ll see the truth of Judaism. Bullshit. I don’t have to learn about the entire history of Jewish demon possessions and the Rabbis who were involved with ridding them to critically analyze the concept of Dybbuks (ghostly possessions) and come to the conclusion that it is BULLSHIT.
Referring to the previous comment again: (S)he doesn’t understand why someone would invent the entire story and have Rabbis waste their time investigating the claim of the Dybbuk. REALLY???? I can think of several reasons why. One being that he enjoys all the attention that he is receiving. And the second being that he is mentally ill and needs psychiatric treatment.
Why do people say they have been abducted by aliens? Why do people say that they see Jesus in grilled cheese?
Next comment:
To those here writing in defense of “tzaddikim”, you are not honest with God’s Torah, which teaches that Moshe Rabbeinu made mistakes. If Moshe erred, people today surely err.No Rabbi, Gadol or tzaddik is flawless, and they are certainly no where near Moshe’s level. Tanach (Torah) does not support dibbuk. Therefore, defending it, or today’s Rabbis, is against Torah.Be true to God, not man
Comment by Rabbi Moshe BenChaim — December 23, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Ahhhh, a rational voice within the madness. He claims to be a Rabbi: Rabbi Moshe BenChaim. I doubt it but still he is flamed by his fellow Jews in the next series of comments:
“Rabbi” Moshe BenChaim - I don’t believe that you are a Rabbi and if so your smicha (achievements) is not worth the paper it is written on. Can Tzaddikim (righteous ones) make mistakes? Yes. But why are you instantly assuming that they definitely are in this case? Are you not aware that the Ari z’l, the Gra, the Besht, the R’Shash, the Ramchal, the Maharal, the Chofetz Chaim, and just about every Godol (high priest) in the last several hundred years has held that Dibuks do exist! Who are you to come out with such disrespect to the top gedolim of our generation and state that they are a bunch of morons?! How much Kaballah (mystical sacred book) do you know? Do you not consider that these wise men, who know the ENTIRE Shas and Poskim Baal Peh, also know Tanach with ALL the meforshim Baal Peh as well as a vast library of other knowledge in their heads? If you tell me that you have a vast library in your HOUSE I’d believe you. If you told me that you have a vast library in your head I’d laugh at you! I’m quite sure that you don’t know shas on your finger tips and yet you have the audacity to insult the wisest men of our generation!
Comment by Softwords — December 23, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Oh yes, this one is a doozy. I actually gave up attempting to define some of this horseshit toward the end of his rant. Some of these words he uses don't even exist anywhere else on the internet.
Softwords first tries an ad hominem attack (personal insult) by attempting to discredit the Rabbi by saying that his credentials are not worth the paper they are written on. Then he says that YOU can’t possibly know more than all the Rabbis of old since they are Gadols or important Rabbis -- and he believes it.
He continues to namedrop by telling us that all these famous holy men have believed in Dibbuks so therefore, they MUST know what they are talking about. This logical fallacy has a name too: Argumentum ad populum - if a lot of people or important people believe something then it must be true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy/Appeal_to_popularity
But that is not enough for them to just believe it. They must simultaneously condemn all those who don’t share their silly beliefs.
Softwords, don’t forget to end your comments with the typical threat: [How dare] "you have the audacity to insult the wisest men of our generation!"
Yes, Yes, I do and I will. Fuck your Rabbis and their lies.
Next comment:
To Rabbi Moshe BenChaim: Please, do not insult the Tzadikkim (righteous ones) of today. Please do Teshuva. (repentance) If you do not understand Dibukkim, that’s fine. Stay away from it. HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the holy one, blessed be he) has decreed a Dibbuk to exist at this time with this poor Avreich.
Comment by Arieh — December 23, 2009 @ 9:59 am
This one really seems scared that people are making jokes about Dybbuks and the rabbis who uphold the concept as true. She says PLEASE. PLEASE do not insult the holy men of today. PLEASE, PLEASE repent for your words, she begs.
Why are you so scared of WORDS, Arieh? Maybe because you are taught such nonsense by your retarded rabbis.
I’d like to see Rabbis teach some critical thought or a course on logical fallacies. It will never happen. Rabbis must keep their sheep scared and stupid.
This one is the best so far. There are so many in-group words used here, his thoughts would be unintelligible in the real world.
He starts with using the "No True Scotsman" logical fallacy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman when he compares this situation to a certain sect of Judaism which he believes is not the "authentic" version, thereby dismissing any and all contradictory information.
I think this is a typical way of thinking for Orthodox Jews: they justify every piece of contradictory evidence against their beliefs by using some version of this fallacy. I have witnessed this on many occasions. They dismiss the opinions of others by saying that so and so did not grow up in an Orthodox home, or is a convert, or did not have their Jewish education or that of their Rabbi.
These are all cop-outs and a way for them rectify the cognitive dissonance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
which obviously occurs in their brains in the face of reality in order to continue to hold onto their silly beliefs.
Then he states WHY he thinks this person is not a real Jew - because of the way he chooses to write the word HaShem and how he uses the term 'today's Rabbis.' Give me a fucking break. This is the way he dismisses someone's opinion by judging which superstitions he follows?
Pashuteh Yid - A ger (student) once came to Hillel and ask him to teach him just Torah Shbichsav because he did not believe in Torah Shbaal Peh. Hillel agreed and taught him the first 4 letters Alef, Beis, Gimmel, and Dalled. The next day the ger came back and Hillel showed him the same four letters. This time he taught him that the first letter was a Dalled, the second a Gimmel, third a Beis, and the fourth an Alef. The ger stated, “I don’t understand. Yesterday you told me that that the first letter was an Alef!” Hillel retorted back, “if you trusted me to tell you what an Alef is then why don’t you trust me to tell you that Torah shbaal peh is true as well!” The nimshel - All the gedolim state that Dibukim are real, with NO exceptions! So why don’t you trust them?!?!?!?
Comment by Softwords — December 23, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Well, here is our good old Softwords commentator again. This time he chimes in with a story. Jews and their stories; what can I say?
His story is about authority and trust. The message is that a Jew is to trust and believe everything his Rabbi says. He is not to question.
Afterall, if all the other Rabbis agree that demon possession is a real phenonemom, then it must be so, with no exceptions.
Then he whines at the end, "why don't you trust them?!?! [The Rabbis] (S)he truly doesn't understand why people just don't believe everything their Rabbis say. To Softwords it seems obvious that if the Rabbis say it's so, it must be so. Independent thought eludes this type of person.
Is there any possibility that this man may be suffering from some type of psychosis and needs to be treated by trained physicians, instead?
Comment by Pashuteh Yid — December 22, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Yes, I think that this may be the answer.
People have commented on this story on the Yeshiva World's website. The comments are all over the ballpark.
Some, dismiss this ghost story with humor as these first people do:
What next, a talking fish?
Comment by Pashuteh Yid — December 22, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
Does the dybbuk need his own visa or can he come in on the avreich’s?
Comment by p_almonius — December 22, 2009 @ 12:38 pm
Maybe the shofar they blew on a plane for the swine flue will help him i hope he gets the same plane!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0gvbw1S4Ks
Comment by juda — December 22, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I want to examine some of these other comments to try and understand the mindset of (some) Orthodox Jews.
My father, sisters and their families all practice some version of Orthodoxy (modern orthodox or Sephardic) and I wonder if they hold these wacky beliefs too.
There came a point while reading these comments that I needed to look up many words which were being used (mostly by the illiterate fucks) - some words are purely made up and some words are a version of a Hebrew word or concept. I will attempt to define if it becomes pertinent to the discussion.
These people continuously pepper their writing with such crap (I call it Heblish) that it becomes obvious which people are isolated in their self-imposed ghettos and which may have actually ventured off into the real world: The world which contains THE OTHER (oh no).
More skeptical humor from the comments on Yeshiva World then we'll get to the really loony stuff (I wanted to give somewhat of a fair representation of the comments on Yeshiva World and to show that not all the comments are nutrageous).
All misspellings and other errors in the italicized material are reproduced exactly as written; I have added only an occasional -- sometimes sarcastic -- definition (boldface).
The Mekubal (mystical Rabbis who do the Jewish version of exorcism) failed to remove the dibuk the first time because he used a treif (non-kosher)video conferencing software - Skype. Had he used ShidduchVision™, the only video conferencing software approved for Torah Jews, the whole thing would be over already
Comment by justajew — December 22, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Actually, the best way to remove a dibbuk is not via Skype, as many a dibbuk remover can tell you, the best way is to first clean out your hard drive, then download a reverse anti-virus, dibbuk remover ,I think MacAfee makes one - dibbuk remover 2.0 ( I believe it works with Bluetooth applications)There should be a thirty day money back guarantee, or the dibbuk is yours free of charge!
Comment by holykugel — December 22, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Those were priceless. Thank you, justajew and holykugel, for giving me a laugh out loud moment (lol).
This next comment shows the blatant ignorance of the English language of the ghetto-bred. (S)he isn't even capable of understanding basic capitalization and grammar.
I can’t beleave that a yid can make any jokes when a yid, (wife) are in a Problem !!!And I beleave that there are things that are higher that what we think our small head understands.Those who think they know Everything, Nothing will help them to beleave, they don’t bealeave in Rabis, Tzadikim..I don’t mean that you have to beleave in Everything…Comment by holyland — December 22, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
(**Learn to spell BELIEVE, you retard)
Next comment:
Whether or not this is the a real dibbuk or not is questionable. However history has shown that they did exist. The famous story where the Chofetz Chaim ZT”L had Rav Elchonon Wasserman HY”D, get rid of a dibbuk of a girl was documented by Rav Usher Katzman ZT’L, a former Rosh Yeshiva in Torah Vodaas. Among the particapants where such notables as Rav Chatzkel Levenstein ZT”L. Rav Elchonon would retell the story every year on Purim and would say Kaddish for it on the anniversary of when it left the girl for 19 years. Rav Pittai, a Talmud Muvak of the Ben Ish Chai was know to exorsise dibbukim on at least 2 occasions, as did the Chida.
Comment by chanie T. — December 22, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
As is typical of these types who do not think for themselves, the writers seem to be impressed with name dropping. I would LOVE to see a documented Jewish version of an exorcism. Where can I find it?
Next comment:
I can’t believe how many people are taking this lightly. Even if true or not, the Gedolim (great Rabbis) who are mentioned are Tzadkim. (righteous ones) Dybukkim (plural dybbuk or ghost)for can happen. Unfortunately, as the Rav mentioned, the generations are weaker then the previous holy generations. The facts are for some to believe that after a person is niftar, (dead) there is Din V’Cheshbon. (Judgement day) Do all of you who do not believe really think, that after 120 years, we won’t have to answer to Hashem (god)??
Comment by mazal77 — December 22, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
This writer must live within an eruv (an enclosure around a home or community enabling the carrying of objects out of doors for Jews on the Sabbath). Every sentence here is rich with "in-words." (S)he obviously doesn't get out much because the average person would not comprehend this dense in-group jargon.
Next:
A dibbuk is nothing new. It dates bak to the times of tanoim (Rabbis from the 1st and 2nd century) and even before. Many a story is recorded bout them. This is a neshomo (soul) who needs a tikkun (universal correction) and came down to this person to rectify his tikkun. There was a story bout 7-10 yrs ago of one in Israel and one of the big mekubalim (mystics) got rid of it. Lets hope it doesn’t happen again as it would be………
I had to spend WAY too much time looking up these Heblish words. I can't believe these people actually function in secular society.
Isn't it obvious that Christianity and other religions have the same concept about the soul (another unified fictional entity) being somehow stuck in limbo between the living world and the afterlife?
Let's call GHOSTBUSTERS instead of some dumb rabbi.Next comment:
Hacham Batzri, shlit”a is well known for this type of work. Whether this perticular story is true or not, search on Google for dibbuk HaRav Batzri and you will find the famous ecorcism that this Gadol has done on video - over 80 minutes long. All those that have downplayed any of this either through rude or jokeful words, really should be careful how they speak.
Comment by davidhasofer — December 22, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Oh my Gosh, there is a Jewish exorcism done on video?
Can we find it on Youtube?
I think this person is scared of the ghosts (dybbuks) that he created in his own mind since he wraps up his idiocy with a threat, [they] “. . . should be careful how they speak.”
Jews are very involved with their superstition and believing that words have power. Praying proves this point alone.
But Jews are the only group I know that forbids uttering the name of their god, and they must write the name of their god in this fashion: G-d. Incidentally, nothing has EVER happened to me when I write out the word god, even without capitalizing the first letter.
Next comment:
It doesn’t say much for the level of learning amongst YWN readers if you are scoffing at this story. Dibbuks have happened in the past and surely will again. Why would a simple avreich suddenly invent the whole thing, plus learn to speak in different voices, while not moving his lips. Why would he allow G’dolei HaDor to “waste time” on him; and why would he scare his wife to the extent that she wants a get (Jewish divorce) (this I do NOT understand - if she’s scared she should temporarily remove either herself or her husband from the home, but divorce?)
Comment by shalom in Israel — December 23, 2009 @ 12:25 am
Criticizing a person's “level of learning” is par for the course in Orthodox Judaism. I have heard it numerous times in my own family from my father and from Rabbi Joshua Maroof, my brother-in-law. http://www.mdscbe.org/rabbimaroof.html
They somehow think that if you study with the “right” people and get sucked into their web of thinking you’ll see the truth of Judaism. Bullshit. I don’t have to learn about the entire history of Jewish demon possessions and the Rabbis who were involved with ridding them to critically analyze the concept of Dybbuks (ghostly possessions) and come to the conclusion that it is BULLSHIT.
Referring to the previous comment again: (S)he doesn’t understand why someone would invent the entire story and have Rabbis waste their time investigating the claim of the Dybbuk. REALLY???? I can think of several reasons why. One being that he enjoys all the attention that he is receiving. And the second being that he is mentally ill and needs psychiatric treatment.
Why do people say they have been abducted by aliens? Why do people say that they see Jesus in grilled cheese?
Next comment:
To those here writing in defense of “tzaddikim”, you are not honest with God’s Torah, which teaches that Moshe Rabbeinu made mistakes. If Moshe erred, people today surely err.No Rabbi, Gadol or tzaddik is flawless, and they are certainly no where near Moshe’s level. Tanach (Torah) does not support dibbuk. Therefore, defending it, or today’s Rabbis, is against Torah.Be true to God, not man
Comment by Rabbi Moshe BenChaim — December 23, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Ahhhh, a rational voice within the madness. He claims to be a Rabbi: Rabbi Moshe BenChaim. I doubt it but still he is flamed by his fellow Jews in the next series of comments:
“Rabbi” Moshe BenChaim - I don’t believe that you are a Rabbi and if so your smicha (achievements) is not worth the paper it is written on. Can Tzaddikim (righteous ones) make mistakes? Yes. But why are you instantly assuming that they definitely are in this case? Are you not aware that the Ari z’l, the Gra, the Besht, the R’Shash, the Ramchal, the Maharal, the Chofetz Chaim, and just about every Godol (high priest) in the last several hundred years has held that Dibuks do exist! Who are you to come out with such disrespect to the top gedolim of our generation and state that they are a bunch of morons?! How much Kaballah (mystical sacred book) do you know? Do you not consider that these wise men, who know the ENTIRE Shas and Poskim Baal Peh, also know Tanach with ALL the meforshim Baal Peh as well as a vast library of other knowledge in their heads? If you tell me that you have a vast library in your HOUSE I’d believe you. If you told me that you have a vast library in your head I’d laugh at you! I’m quite sure that you don’t know shas on your finger tips and yet you have the audacity to insult the wisest men of our generation!
Comment by Softwords — December 23, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Oh yes, this one is a doozy. I actually gave up attempting to define some of this horseshit toward the end of his rant. Some of these words he uses don't even exist anywhere else on the internet.
Softwords first tries an ad hominem attack (personal insult) by attempting to discredit the Rabbi by saying that his credentials are not worth the paper they are written on. Then he says that YOU can’t possibly know more than all the Rabbis of old since they are Gadols or important Rabbis -- and he believes it.
He continues to namedrop by telling us that all these famous holy men have believed in Dibbuks so therefore, they MUST know what they are talking about. This logical fallacy has a name too: Argumentum ad populum - if a lot of people or important people believe something then it must be true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_fallacy/Appeal_to_popularity
But that is not enough for them to just believe it. They must simultaneously condemn all those who don’t share their silly beliefs.
Softwords, don’t forget to end your comments with the typical threat: [How dare] "you have the audacity to insult the wisest men of our generation!"
Yes, Yes, I do and I will. Fuck your Rabbis and their lies.
Next comment:
To Rabbi Moshe BenChaim: Please, do not insult the Tzadikkim (righteous ones) of today. Please do Teshuva. (repentance) If you do not understand Dibukkim, that’s fine. Stay away from it. HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the holy one, blessed be he) has decreed a Dibbuk to exist at this time with this poor Avreich.
Comment by Arieh — December 23, 2009 @ 9:59 am
This one really seems scared that people are making jokes about Dybbuks and the rabbis who uphold the concept as true. She says PLEASE. PLEASE do not insult the holy men of today. PLEASE, PLEASE repent for your words, she begs.
Why are you so scared of WORDS, Arieh? Maybe because you are taught such nonsense by your retarded rabbis.
I’d like to see Rabbis teach some critical thought or a course on logical fallacies. It will never happen. Rabbis must keep their sheep scared and stupid.
Next:
You are allowed to ask questions, seems very much like those in the “Jews for yushka” (Jesus) Rabbis who are not authentic Jews. I am making an educated guess at this because of the way he chooses to write Hashem, (god) the term “today’s Rabbis”, as well as the underlying context of a separation between Hashem and any individual, INCLUDING our Gadolim (high priest rabbis) and Tzaddikim. (respected elders) but please, do not criticize it. I beg of you.I know that this dibbuk is false because anybody who believes that another person can come along and criticize a holy kehila (community) in klal yisroel (Israel) who at that very moment is davening (praying) in shul, (temple) no less, is a complete faker. What license is there to tell a whole shul (temple)“You are sinners. Get out!” This is such chutzpah (balls) against pure and righteous yidden, (Jewish people) that obviously whoever said it is full of hot air. Even the Navi Yeshaya was punished for saying Bsoch am tmei sfasayim ani yoshev. How dare any soul criticize people who are in the middle of davening.
Comment by Pashuteh Yid — December 23, 2009 @ 5:07 pm
This one is the best so far. There are so many in-group words used here, his thoughts would be unintelligible in the real world.
He starts with using the "No True Scotsman" logical fallacy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman when he compares this situation to a certain sect of Judaism which he believes is not the "authentic" version, thereby dismissing any and all contradictory information.
I think this is a typical way of thinking for Orthodox Jews: they justify every piece of contradictory evidence against their beliefs by using some version of this fallacy. I have witnessed this on many occasions. They dismiss the opinions of others by saying that so and so did not grow up in an Orthodox home, or is a convert, or did not have their Jewish education or that of their Rabbi.
These are all cop-outs and a way for them rectify the cognitive dissonance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
which obviously occurs in their brains in the face of reality in order to continue to hold onto their silly beliefs.
Then he states WHY he thinks this person is not a real Jew - because of the way he chooses to write the word HaShem and how he uses the term 'today's Rabbis.' Give me a fucking break. This is the way he dismisses someone's opinion by judging which superstitions he follows?
He then BEGS us not to insult the self-appointed holy men and tells us why he thinks this ghost story is false - not because it defies logic or reality but because:
(and this is the best yet) a dibbuk would never even consider entering a faithful Jewish community and interrupt their davening (prayer) session with such falsities.
(After I picked myself up off the floor)
I am not able to see the logic here. As if church walls don't fall down due to storms and kill parishiners who are praying in the pews. Or bombs and tanks don't bombard the holy city of Jerusalem, Right? Because the faithful exist there?
How can that happen to these faithful people? Why? Because nature is random and your god does not exist and therefore cannot use nature to control people as the primitive shepherd people (ancient Jews) actually believed.
Next doozie:
my husband was in Yeshivat Hashalom this evening, and the story goes, that this man is NOT an avreich. (newly married or yeshiva student) He distanced himself from the kehilla (community) and started learning about cults. And then the dibuk (demon possession) hit him. They say the dibuk is from over 100 years ago, someone who murdered his wife and son…No wonder the wife wants a get…But I wouldn’t be so quick to belittle Rav Batzri - he is an Odom Godol. They say that Rabbi David, from Nahariya, stands for him…
Comment by chilliworker — December 23, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Oy Vey. Where do I start?
(S)he starts with the "No True Scotsman" fallacy when she mentions that the man distanced himself from the community and started looking into other cults. (S)he probably means another religion or even atheism. But she is basically saying that this person is not a good, faithful Jew and when he started diverting from the beaten path, BOOM the Dybbuk hit him.
Jeez, it's as if she believes he is being punished by the vindictive, jealous Yahweh by having a demon instilled in this man's body. That is so Catholic sounding.
I can't believe people in this day and age still believe that their fictious god dishes out rewards and punishments as he supposedly did in the Torah.
This commentator also elaborates upon the origin of the Dybbuk. Oh how Jews LOVE their stories. A complete backstory is now being fabricated right before our eyes. . . . this ghost is over 100 years old and murdered his wife. . .
I'd like to know the name of the Rabbi that is passing along this nonsense as fact. It is just not possible for any Orthodox Jew to have an independent thought without hearing it from some Rabbi first. Everything must be filtered through the Rabbis.
Then the poster uses implied threats: "I wouldn't be so quick to belittle Rav Batzri he is an Odom Gadol." (A Big Kahuna.)
She then mentions that a Rabbi David, no doubt some important rabbi for HER, vouches for Rav Batzri, the fool who reported this backstory of the Dybbuk.
I'll repeat myself again: Orthodox Jews are very impressed with the authority which they invest in their Rabbis. Name dropping is a way of life with them.
Pashuteh Yid - A ger (student) once came to Hillel and ask him to teach him just Torah Shbichsav because he did not believe in Torah Shbaal Peh. Hillel agreed and taught him the first 4 letters Alef, Beis, Gimmel, and Dalled. The next day the ger came back and Hillel showed him the same four letters. This time he taught him that the first letter was a Dalled, the second a Gimmel, third a Beis, and the fourth an Alef. The ger stated, “I don’t understand. Yesterday you told me that that the first letter was an Alef!” Hillel retorted back, “if you trusted me to tell you what an Alef is then why don’t you trust me to tell you that Torah shbaal peh is true as well!” The nimshel - All the gedolim state that Dibukim are real, with NO exceptions! So why don’t you trust them?!?!?!?
Comment by Softwords — December 23, 2009 @ 8:45 pm
Well, here is our good old Softwords commentator again. This time he chimes in with a story. Jews and their stories; what can I say?
His story is about authority and trust. The message is that a Jew is to trust and believe everything his Rabbi says. He is not to question.
Afterall, if all the other Rabbis agree that demon possession is a real phenonemom, then it must be so, with no exceptions.
Then he whines at the end, "why don't you trust them?!?! [The Rabbis] (S)he truly doesn't understand why people just don't believe everything their Rabbis say. To Softwords it seems obvious that if the Rabbis say it's so, it must be so. Independent thought eludes this type of person.
Is there any possibility that this man may be suffering from some type of psychosis and needs to be treated by trained physicians, instead?
Comment by Pashuteh Yid — December 22, 2009 @ 11:33 am
Yes, I think that this may be the answer.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Dibbuks (demon possession) of the Jewish variety
Dibuks - the Jewish version of demon possession.
From Yeshiva World Newspaper. (this is not a joke, JesusfuckingChrist)
I attempted to translate some of the "Heblish" (as I call it) which apparently is used very often in these enclaves. My translations appear in the ( ).
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/43702/The+
The Brazilian Jewish community is busy concerning itself with the dibuk (a demon possession) according to a Kikar.net report.
The bizarre report adds that HaRav Dovid Batzri, a known Mekubal, (Rabbi who specializes in the mystical aspect of Judaism) tried to remove the dibuk via Skype, without success, and now, the ‘infected’ avreich (newly married or a yeshiva student) it is on its way to Israel.
The mysterious voice penetrated the Brazilian shul, “I smell many aveiros” and “the end is very near”, prompting mispalalim (fellow Jews?) to look around for the source of the worrisome statements, but there was none to be found.
When the voice was heard again, this time in Yiddish, shouting “Get out sinners!” it was recognizable, an avreich from the community. To the astonishment of the mispalalim, his lips were not moving, and those who know him insist he only knows the local language, not Yiddish, Hebrew or any of the other language that was heard emanating from his body.
The gabbai approached him, hoping to halt the shouts, but he was greeted with Hebrew messages, “you look like you are in pain. It appears that you are worshiping avoda zara. (idoltry) I am truly happy to see you”.
The avreich’s abdomen exhibited movement, but not his lips. In the meantime, the ezras nashim emptied as the frightened women fled. The avreich was taken home. He has become the hot topic of conversation in the kehillah (community) .
When questioned, the avreich explains he simply does not remember any of the event described to him by members of the community.
His wife however heard him shouting in his sleep, this time in German, but she did not understand what he was saying. The question asked is that even if we assume he lost his mind, how did he learn the other languages?
It’s A Real Dibuk
Days have passed but the community is not calming down. The avreich appeared totally normal until that “cursed moment” when something overpowers him, each time in a different language. When the event ends, he does not remember a thing.
His wife has demanded a ‘get’ (Jewish Divorce) since she is simply afraid, but then it remains uncertain if he is capable of giving one in his current [temporary] state.
The community rav was notified, and he contacted HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, with whom he maintains contact. Rav Chaim was briefed at length, leading to many questions, until he began probing seforim, (prayer books) ultimately announcing “this is a real dibuk”.
Rav Chaim explained that the Chafetz Chaim and the Chazon Ish knew how to expel a dibuk, but in our generation, there is only one man, sending them to Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita. “Tell him that by all the signs, this is a genuine dibuk. Perhaps he will know what to do,” Rav Chaim is quoted as saying.
Rav Shteinman also probed and questioned, as well as investigating in seforim, coming to the same conclusion, adding there is a man in Yerushalayim by the name of Rav Batzri who knows how to remove a dibuk, and “perhaps he will know what to do”.
After it was determined that it would be extremely difficult to bring the avreich to Eretz Yisrael, arrangements were made to attempt to remove the dibuk using Skype and a computer, permitting the rav and the avreich to see one another.
Rav Kanievsky was approached again, asked if perhaps he could recite or perform a tikun, (the process of refining, restituting and rehabilitating the materiality of this world) but he declined, explaining he lacks the expertise, explaining the best he can do is to sincerely wish a total recovery. Family members continued to address R’ Chaim to assist, asking if the bring the avreich if he would be able to help. They began explaining the concepts of the modern electronic communications devices, but Rav Chaim stated “it will not do any good since he must be physically present to assist him”.
Rav Chaim explained that he can give the same bracha from here to Brazil as he can in person, but this is all he is capable of doing. The family however is working to bring the avreich here since R’ Chaim did state that one never knows with absolute certainty and perhaps, in front of the patient, a tikun may have an impact.
As of now, the avreich is going to come to Israel and the mekubalim led by HaRav Dovid Batzri Shlita will do what they can to free him from the dibuk.
My comments and opinions will be in my next post.
From Yeshiva World Newspaper. (this is not a joke, JesusfuckingChrist)
I attempted to translate some of the "Heblish" (as I call it) which apparently is used very often in these enclaves. My translations appear in the ( ).
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/43702/The+
The Brazilian Jewish community is busy concerning itself with the dibuk (a demon possession) according to a Kikar.net report.
The bizarre report adds that HaRav Dovid Batzri, a known Mekubal, (Rabbi who specializes in the mystical aspect of Judaism) tried to remove the dibuk via Skype, without success, and now, the ‘infected’ avreich (newly married or a yeshiva student) it is on its way to Israel.
The mysterious voice penetrated the Brazilian shul, “I smell many aveiros” and “the end is very near”, prompting mispalalim (fellow Jews?) to look around for the source of the worrisome statements, but there was none to be found.
When the voice was heard again, this time in Yiddish, shouting “Get out sinners!” it was recognizable, an avreich from the community. To the astonishment of the mispalalim, his lips were not moving, and those who know him insist he only knows the local language, not Yiddish, Hebrew or any of the other language that was heard emanating from his body.
The gabbai approached him, hoping to halt the shouts, but he was greeted with Hebrew messages, “you look like you are in pain. It appears that you are worshiping avoda zara. (idoltry) I am truly happy to see you”.
The avreich’s abdomen exhibited movement, but not his lips. In the meantime, the ezras nashim emptied as the frightened women fled. The avreich was taken home. He has become the hot topic of conversation in the kehillah (community) .
When questioned, the avreich explains he simply does not remember any of the event described to him by members of the community.
His wife however heard him shouting in his sleep, this time in German, but she did not understand what he was saying. The question asked is that even if we assume he lost his mind, how did he learn the other languages?
It’s A Real Dibuk
Days have passed but the community is not calming down. The avreich appeared totally normal until that “cursed moment” when something overpowers him, each time in a different language. When the event ends, he does not remember a thing.
His wife has demanded a ‘get’ (Jewish Divorce) since she is simply afraid, but then it remains uncertain if he is capable of giving one in his current [temporary] state.
The community rav was notified, and he contacted HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita, with whom he maintains contact. Rav Chaim was briefed at length, leading to many questions, until he began probing seforim, (prayer books) ultimately announcing “this is a real dibuk”.
Rav Chaim explained that the Chafetz Chaim and the Chazon Ish knew how to expel a dibuk, but in our generation, there is only one man, sending them to Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita. “Tell him that by all the signs, this is a genuine dibuk. Perhaps he will know what to do,” Rav Chaim is quoted as saying.
Rav Shteinman also probed and questioned, as well as investigating in seforim, coming to the same conclusion, adding there is a man in Yerushalayim by the name of Rav Batzri who knows how to remove a dibuk, and “perhaps he will know what to do”.
After it was determined that it would be extremely difficult to bring the avreich to Eretz Yisrael, arrangements were made to attempt to remove the dibuk using Skype and a computer, permitting the rav and the avreich to see one another.
Rav Kanievsky was approached again, asked if perhaps he could recite or perform a tikun, (the process of refining, restituting and rehabilitating the materiality of this world) but he declined, explaining he lacks the expertise, explaining the best he can do is to sincerely wish a total recovery. Family members continued to address R’ Chaim to assist, asking if the bring the avreich if he would be able to help. They began explaining the concepts of the modern electronic communications devices, but Rav Chaim stated “it will not do any good since he must be physically present to assist him”.
Rav Chaim explained that he can give the same bracha from here to Brazil as he can in person, but this is all he is capable of doing. The family however is working to bring the avreich here since R’ Chaim did state that one never knows with absolute certainty and perhaps, in front of the patient, a tikun may have an impact.
As of now, the avreich is going to come to Israel and the mekubalim led by HaRav Dovid Batzri Shlita will do what they can to free him from the dibuk.
My comments and opinions will be in my next post.
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