Gender-ID.com

I am a Jew. A Reform Jew, to be exact...not reformed! There are many of us out there. I can't speak for anyone else, but I am exceptionally proud of how my synagogue has handled the situation. We don't take every word from the Torah literally. So, while there are troubling passages...we tend to just discount them...or ignore them.

I have been given honors in our services from actually leading services (we have about 125 member families), to reciting prayers at Shabbat services, to serving on various committees, etc. I even typically get an honor during the High Holidays...either on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.

That doesn't mean that things are perfect. We still exclude lesbian and gay couples from being officially considered as a "family" membership (although the board may do so on an individual basis, our forms still state family as a husband and wife). And, of course there are members who are not tolerant...but they seem to be in the distinct minority.

One little girl in our congregation asked me "are you a boy or a girl." A sweet question, and one that I don't know how to answer. If I say "girl" and her parents correct her, she will be confused. And, of course, I can't bring myself to say the "b" word.

I feel sorry for those people who take the "bible" literally. To me, science has proven that the world wasn't created in six days, and the thought that we all came from Adam and Eve has always confused me...since they had two sons, and one was killed, how did the next generation get formed?

With that said, I am proud to be a Jew...because I don't have to check my brain at the door, I am not excluded from fully participating in activities, and nothing makes me feel like I am "less than." Yes, I do sometimes feel "different than," but so do a lot of people.

Anyway, shalom!

That's a great post, Tina. Years ago while taking a class on world religions, it was a Reform Jew who resonated most with me. BTW, it's well documented that in the history of Western chess Jewish people are by a wide-margin represented amongst the strongest players of all time. Yep. Cool to be Jew (hmm... I should come out with a line nifty of t-shirts). I better trademark that... Lessee...

Cool to be Jew™

(er... I'm just kidding all you lawyers out there... I'm kidding!)