Joseph Zitt's blog

In this video, shot at an open mic this past Wednesday, I perform a poem about reading the Torah, "man bends over oblivious books", which was inspired by a line by Allen Ginsberg:

One of my favorite writers, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, has posted a beautiful statement of Jewish identity, "I Belong" to his blog.

The Tiferet Choir is looking for vocalists for a winter performance project. Vocal training is not needed, and you don't have to be able to read music. You do need to be disciplined, spontaneous, and a good listener, to have a good memory, and to be dedicated to Judaism, the arts, and community.

Welcome to everyone who came here from the front pge article in today's Cleveland Jewish News. I'm madly dashing about now preparing for Shabbat (endeavouring to make my first cholent ever) but hope to post something more substantial in the next few days, now that the holidays are finally over and we can return to something like a normal schedule of anything.

Meanwhile, take a look around!

The Brazen Careerist has put up a wonderful post, Intentional non-productivity is a productivity tool  about how taking a serious time-out helps refocus us in our mundane affairs.

The new apartment is beautiful. As Yishai says, we're not quite sure what we're going to do with a space that large, but we have ideas.Yishai arrived last night, and turns out to be as cool and fascinating as he seemed in email. We spent much of today first (and again now) at Phoenix Coffee catching up on email, posting, and the like, then went grocery shopping. He's pretty much a loyal Trader Joe's shopper. I got a few things there, but we then went over to Giant Eagle, a local chain, where I got the rest of my groceries.

In a post today to Jewcy, Philip Smith writes that "Jews Have Disappeared into a Malady of Silence and Surnames". One intriguing quote: "In a way, I am grateful for Madonna and the far right in that both are raising the profile of Judaism beyond moneychangers, owners of the media, controllers of Hollywood and just plain dirty people.  For Madonna and the ultra right, Jews have something to tell the world, something rich and textured, something to be embraced not scorned."

My sister, Hana Forbes, writes in from Herzliya, responding to my comment in my earlier post, My Jewish Life,that she "became orthodox in college":

((((((

Over Shabbat I was thinking about what bothers me about calling me "Orthodox". I am only Orthodox in the sense that I am not-Conservative and not-Reform. I have a  basic philosophical disagreement with them.

On my way home from Rabbi Yakov's house after Shabbat dinner last night, I encountered two rabbits and a skunk. The rabbits stared at me briefly then darted away. The skunk stood patiently and saluted with his tail. I said "Good evening" to him then clearly and unthreateningly crossed the street to the other side.

The Cleveland Jewish FilmFest has begun here. The lineup looks  quite good. I may try to catch several (including possibly Un Secret, My Father My Lord, and The Secrets) that are playing a short walk away at the Cedar Lee Theatre.