tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post6286587384664812848..comments2023-12-03T20:14:00.908-06:00Comments on Ima on (and off) the Bima: Real-Life Jewish Parenting: Being Ima on and off the BimaPhyllis Sommerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16654761832717723000noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-24816795254568583522011-08-11T12:22:19.225-05:002011-08-11T12:22:19.225-05:00"I ... trying to be the most fulfilled person..."I ... trying to be the most fulfilled person that I can be."<br /><br />And I thought there was more to life than self fulfillment and ego. In hasidut, the goal is "bitul" or nullification of self for God. In classical Jewish thought, being an "oved hashem" takes the central role. But you have enlitened me to (the dying) Conservative goal -- me. I<br /><br /> guess that is why you chose to blog how great you are. Give it a break. Learn some Torah.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-49721861720305830922011-07-30T23:58:23.123-05:002011-07-30T23:58:23.123-05:00The irony! I was just reading the article above it...The irony! I was just reading the article above it where you describe the arrangement at camp, and thinking how awesome to be able to do that, and have your family with you, and be able to do that with the baby etc etc<br />When Ben was maybe 2-3, Maddie was going to Nicolet and I was going to work in their office up there, and to bring Ben. Steve would have to stay in HP to work in Chicago. It turned out to be so logistically difficult I did not get to go (nor did Ben!) I read your post with a touch of envy because it sounds idyllic, and the video of the singing proves it's the perfect summer plan (not that anyone needs the proof)<br /><br />Never mind those women who don't 'get' we can scratch our heads and rub our tummies at the same time without skipping a beat in motherhood or healthy family design. They don't get it. You do, and thanks for responding with such grace and articulation! <br />Go get 'em, Ima!The Duchesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10529829800781944054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-77153784783658187532011-07-18T11:58:21.103-05:002011-07-18T11:58:21.103-05:00I found your blog through various links around the...I found your blog through various links around the net and I read this piece with my mouth open. I read the original piece by Jill Levy, and wrote a piece about it for my blog (here: http://redefiningrebbetzin.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/making-room-for-ima/), but I hadn't read the second piece until I read your blog post and it struck me as ridiculous. She feels some pressure to work and raise children - as though it were the only option to be a liberated woman. The real liberation though, is to be able to choose. I'm not there yet, so I'm not sure yet if I'll be a full-time working mom, a part-time working mom, a work-at-home mom or something else - but the point is, we can choose - and short of neglect, no one should judge those choices. <br /><br />PS - enjoy camp! It looks lovely!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-52185216617628380752011-07-16T13:29:27.412-05:002011-07-16T13:29:27.412-05:00I'm a mother of 5 who spent my kids' child...I'm a mother of 5 who spent my kids' childhoods in lots of other roles. My daughter is a mother of 4 and a lawyer who nurses her kids for well over a year each.<br /><br />I think you're balancing things just great and a good role model.Batyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09402874037427009327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-52667056494077480972011-07-15T17:25:45.511-05:002011-07-15T17:25:45.511-05:00Here's a link to my response to the Forward op...Here's a link to my response to the Forward op-ed:<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.rabbijason.com/2011/07/motherhood-and-rabbinate-male-rabbi.html" rel="nofollow">Motherhood and the Rabbinate: A Male Rabbi Responds</a><br /><br />Rabbi Jason MillerRabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-51504054192128360452011-07-14T03:02:08.945-05:002011-07-14T03:02:08.945-05:00I'm not a rabbi and my kids are rapidly reachi...I'm not a rabbi and my kids are rapidly reaching the not little stage (sniff) but I too was incredibly offended by the whole tone of the diatribe, I can only imagine how much worse it must have been for you.<br /><br />What a self-righteous, self-important, short-sighted piece of garbage. There are as many paths to take to the same destination as there are wonderfully diverse people to take them. The author has apparently not evolved personally to the extent that she's comfortable enough in her own skin to meet us mere mortals where we are in ours. <br /><br />Sheesh.<br /><br />-----------------------------------<br />My photography is available for purchase - visit <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/aroundtheisland" rel="nofollow">Around the Island Photography</a> and bring home something beautiful today!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409530202277375625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-68090998707416419972011-07-13T22:18:09.462-05:002011-07-13T22:18:09.462-05:00Thank you for your response. As the author of &quo...Thank you for your response. As the author of "Making Room for Ima on the Bima", I really appreciated what you said about the articles and just hearing more about your story. I hope to meet you in person one day.Jillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-6440015460744191052011-07-13T20:15:00.236-05:002011-07-13T20:15:00.236-05:00I agree that mothers in all professions do the bes...I agree that mothers in all professions do the best they can to love, care and tend to their children while holding down responsible positions. How dare anyone question working mother's devotion to their children. I have been a working mother for thirty years and my "children" (now grown and parents themselves) are well adjusted members of the community and dedicated parents. Ironically one of my children is a rabbi, married to a rabbi. I do not think my working swayed them to be either or bad people; it was the attention and love they received. They watched their parents work together as a team to make it work and they learned the importance of pulling together to help each other. These are important lessons. I am not saying that your choice is wrong...obviously it is right for you. But DO NOT assume that your choice is the only one that produces healthy, well adjusted children. Let's try pulling together instead of being critical which only pulls us apart.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-36735798792628352062011-07-13T19:49:48.466-05:002011-07-13T19:49:48.466-05:00Thank you for this piece. I also think that she...Thank you for this piece. I also think that she's working through the choice she made; I found it unfortunate that she had to criticize my choices to do it. I also think her assessment of why congregations didn't hire women this season is bizarre.Paula P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04665870790609816021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-8263117476602556942011-07-13T18:24:45.814-05:002011-07-13T18:24:45.814-05:00Great post Ima! I'm going to write about this ...Great post Ima! I'm going to write about this as well (from a father's perspective). I also think that Chasya went overboard. She is likely trying to justify her own decision, but in actuality is setting the progress women in the rabbinate have made back about two or three decades.<br /><br />If there's one thing that I've witnessed, it is that there are many many very capable and talented women in the rabbinate who are able to balance marriage and motherhood with their rabbinic career. If Chasya feels that's something that she would not be able to balance in her life, then kol hakavod for making that choice. However, it is certainly doable and no woman rabbi should feel she is neglecting her children (or spouse).Rabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-24606977653754426922011-07-13T17:40:26.218-05:002011-07-13T17:40:26.218-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.For(e)mothers: The True Confessions of a Jewish Feminist Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437783708780111109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-43989555616271592802011-07-13T15:39:22.668-05:002011-07-13T15:39:22.668-05:00Kol Hakavod,
thank you for your beautiful respons...Kol Hakavod,<br /><br />thank you for your beautiful response...I too am an ima on the bima with three young children and a fourth on the way ... I found Chasya's article to be offensive on many levels -- being that my kids have a stay at home aba who loves, nurtures and supports them all of the time ...faith717https://www.blogger.com/profile/00186014537268892884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-24448094479232145072011-07-13T14:46:30.836-05:002011-07-13T14:46:30.836-05:00I don't know you. But, after reading your blo...I don't know you. But, after reading your blog, I would certainly like to! Thank you for your truth and for sharing your journey with us!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17908077046351490962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-11148979646013226652011-07-13T14:39:54.795-05:002011-07-13T14:39:54.795-05:00A-men. This is a big deal in Christian circles, to...A-men. This is a big deal in Christian circles, too. I chose to stay home and give up a lawyer career but that does not make me a better mom than someone who didn't. It doesn't make me a better Christian; it's what works for my family and that is what's important. I would never pretend to know what works for someone else's family; it's such an individualized thing. I'm jealous of your children having such an extended family through your work. That is an amazing gift you're giving them.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08933444348029061497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-57019691146690774652011-07-13T13:54:38.132-05:002011-07-13T13:54:38.132-05:00Oh, Phyllis. I think the collective women's ra...Oh, Phyllis. I think the collective women's rabbinate was staring at the screen with jaws on desks at this article yesterday.<br /><br />It was inexcusable, both on Chasya's part and on the Forward's for even printing it in the first place.<br /><br />Everyone is a yechidah. Everyone is doing her best for herself, for her family, for her people. If we don't hold each other up, we'll all fall down.<br /><br />I'm so glad your blog is a place where everyone is held up.Leigh Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827971896088856057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1807022363279638349.post-15794677303218807582011-07-13T13:46:00.935-05:002011-07-13T13:46:00.935-05:00Women rabbis is not something that I want to get i...Women rabbis is not something that I want to get into, but given that you're doing it, as you say - if you stop mothers from doing it, then that means no mothers having any kind of profession. From reading your blog you seem to be combining raising a happy family very well with your job, and I'm sure that the interplay between the two makes you better at both. No-one has the right to attack someone else's life choices publicly - way to go, Ima on the Bima!Mrs Belogskihttp://mrsbelogski.posterous.com/noreply@blogger.com