Groups of People

One of the reasons I didn't like growing up Orthodox was the insular nature of the group. Everyone went to the same schools, camps, trips, hotels, bathroom and were only friends with said people.
So I went Conservative -- thinking they would be different. Nope. Same insular nature except women and do what men can do. That's no small statement - but still.
The way I see it there are two types of Jews in the world. Those who stay within and do what the group sanctions and those who venture out. There are two types of wanderers; those who are Jewish proud and act as ambassadors and those who would prefer xmas.
I respect the ambassador.

I hope Cutie, when you read this, you will understand why I made the choices I did.

First Half of Summer the movie

Cutie the first half of summer at 6yo. I should have done this last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgDpe7F_-J4

Summer 2011

What a glorious summer. Cutie started town camp and loves it. It's important to send your child to camp where they don't know anyone.

Cutie is on Clarkstown Swim Team. Since this blog is really for her. I will list her times in the 6 and under category.
Wed 7/8/11
25 Free - 31.90 (Came in 6th)
25 Breast - DQ - Hands below hip line. (8 of 9 DQ) - I don't think they told them how to do Breast stroke.
Wed 7/13/11
25 Free - 27.62 (Came in 3rd)
25 Back - 31.90 (came in 4th)
100 IM - DQ Fly - Alternating Kick (4 out of 5 were DQ). I just can't believe she did as well as she did.

Sometimes the burbs are better

Cutie is in town camp. $1000 for 6 weeks from 8:30-5:30 with early pickup and dropoff option. They sent home a flyer for the annual June 30th Concert & Fireworks display. She said some of her friends were going.

It looked interesting. Inflatable bouncers, Rockland County Radio Control Club Flying Demo, Skydivers and music by The 1910 Fruitgum Company. We loved it. If this was central park, NYC it would be crowded and awful. It was well attended and roomy. Parked 1 block away.

The politician were out in full force. Handing out ice pops and glow necklaces.

5 minute wait for the bouncy things, comfortable spot for the concert as blankets were spread out nicely, were on the football field for the flying demo and skydivers. The children were so excited with the skydivers landed. They ran over to play with the parashoot. Everyone got great seats on the bleachers to watch the fireworks.

I don't think I'll ever go to a concert in Central Park Again. This is the place to be. Let's keep it a secret.

Historic

Yesterday, New York became the 6th state to allow same sex couples to marry. Mazel Tov.

Super Busy Month

We had our first Team Image practice, Cutie passed Free Style 1, 1st grade writers cafe which was brilliant, class trip to Museum Village. And today the town pool opens.

I'm not sure what was most exciting.
I'll post videos as soon as I figure out out how to convert from phone to web.

Elena Kagan and the Siddur Ceremony

Elena Kagan is an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. She was born and raised in NYC, attended Princeton, Oxford and Harvard Law. She grew up Orthodox on the UWS and was a member of Lincoln Square Synagogue. For her Bat Mitzvah she wanted to read from the torah. A girl is not permitted to read from the torah in Orthodox circles. Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who went on to found the city of Efrat in Israel had her read from the Book of Ruth on Friday night, 5/18/73. Today she identifies with Conservative Judism.

About a month ago when they were preparing for the ceremony, Cutie came home and said her teacher said that girls could not be Ariot or the Siddur in the play. I didn't think anything of it at the time, just brushed it off as a misunderstanding. I am sending her to an egalitarian Hebrew School so I won't have to worry about her being a second class citizen.

At the ceremony last week, there were many children who were Ariot and the Siddur and not one was a girl. Could it be that the teacher discriminated against girls? Did this school that identified with Conservative Judism realize that the brilliant (she really is a great teacher) first grade teacher for the past 30 years had a sexist bias? So I called some parents with children in older grades. It is true - no one I spoke with remembers a girl in the leading roles during the Siddur Ceremony.

I spoke with the Head of School. This will be the last time girls won't be allowed to be Ariot. I can't wait for Elena's autobiography to be written. How much as it parental influence and how much was it the feminist movement in the media. BTW - We don't really have kind of feminist agenda that I ascribe to. I don't believe in equal pay for equal work. I do believe in equal pay for the same work.