TREMBLING BEFORE M_N

The film Trembling Before G-d left me with yet even stronger convictions about my identity as well as the damage that religion does to the integrity of the individual. (Search for the film on portlandphoenix.com.)

It was only pity, not anger, which I felt from this film. The pity I felt was for those arrogant, misguided, bearded old men who called themselves Rabbis (which is supposed to mean Teacher.)

These Orthodox Rabbis search for truth in the archaic writings of a primitive, violent, tribal culture whose social agenda was paternalistic, patriarchal, misogynistic, and homophobic. Then they selectively (almost pathologically, as if they would like to think theirs is a literal interpretation) interpret the relevance of every aspect of daily living through this very limited paradigm.

For example, here is their homophobic license:

If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. — Leviticus 20:13

But, I wonder if these Orthodox believers practice as religiously some of the other verses:

If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death. — Leviticus 24:17

Any volunteers for enforcing the first one?

[It shall be] a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. — Leviticus 3:17

Oy Vey! — all that schmaltz — are we all going to burn in Hell, too Rabbi?

These beautiful and brave people had the courage to do what G-d ultimately wants us all to do — just to be happy. Then they had the courage to ask for love and acceptance from their teachers and family (with family like that, who needs enemies?) who in turn slam their hearts in the door and leave them out in the cold — as if to say they are unworthy of G-d’s love.

Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah. — Leviticus 19:18

Shalom is “Wholeness.” Those Rabbis who have not opened their arms and given love and acceptance to those who look to them for answers are utterly devoid of Shalom. And those who have turned their loved ones away in reward for sharing the happiness of self-discovery have also deprived themselves of Shalom. And because you have attempted to deprive the most vulnerable and blessed of our community of their G-d-given right to Shalom, you have wasted your lives as Rabbis and you have wasted your lives as Jews. And, above all, you have wasted your lives as human beings. If we, as a the human race, are to go on trying to buy our way into heaven by destroying all which is beautiful, then I truly pity us all.

Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me. — Matthew 25:40

The true Voice of G-d does NOT come from any written text or from the dogmatic words of small-minded men. It comes from within the heart of the individual. And it is truly tragic that, in our search for Truth, this true Voice is drowned out by the cruel sounds of irrelevant and ultimately, unspiritual agendas. Only when we learn to tune out this noise will we hear the true Voice of God singing out praises of love for us. So, my brothers and sisters, stop Trembling Before Men and start listening, singing, and rejoicing before G-d in ALL of who you are.

Every day, people are straying away from the church and going back to God. — Lenny Bruce

Chuck Muldoon

Portland, ME

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