Researching Orthodox Judaism
Well, I have a job interview tomorrow for a full-time teaching position at an Orthodox Jewish school. They pay as well as the nearby public school districts, and I would really prefer to work at a private school. I did, however, realize that I know next to nothing about Judaism, let alone the Orthodox variety.
Clearly, Orthodox Jews are just fine with computers (except, I suppose, on the Sabbath), as the dean emailed me and left a voicemail on my cell phone. I checked wikipedia and did some reading, and I have mixed feelings. I'm not working with the Jewish equivalent of the Amish, at least.
Orthodoxy being what it is - founded in, even bound by, tradition -- I've always found it to be inflexible and unresponsive to people's needs. I believe tradition can become calcified and because of that, no longer supports people but rules them instead. Heaven knows, Orthodox Judaism has been around more than long enough to accomplish that. Heaven also knows that any other branch of religion, especially Christianity, can outcompete them on that score any day of the week, including the Sabbath.
I have dire, dire disagreements on certain stands, especially regarding homosexuality. As far as I'm concerned, homosexuality is a normal variation in human sexuality and should no more be regarded as sinful, unnatural, or wrong as being green-eyed or left-handed. All that matters to me is if the parties involved are consenting adults. No business of mine and no skin off my teeth.
Reading up on the subject at wikipedia, I was not surprised to find Orthodox Judaism has a decidedly reactionary stance on homosexuality (as one of the "death before dishonor" infractions of Talmudic law and right up there with adultery, murder, bestiality, and disavowing G-d). I was not surprised to find the conservative views regarding women and marriage.
And yet...
Much of what was described in the texts made a great deal of sense. The views on relations between men and women stressed that men and women are different and complementary, and that because there is an innate attraction between the two, caution should be used so that neither, but especially women, are treated as ojects used for sexual gratification. Oh, if only that attitude were more prevalent in today's culture and society.
Modesty is stressed, not only how much skin is covered, but in the idea that one's clothes should not be gaudy or attract too much attention. A great deal of emphasis is placed on being humble, thoughtful, and purposeful.
Again, I disagree with a great deal. I don't believe, for instance, that unrelated men and women should never be allowed to be alone together. I don't believe that a woman should be considered "impure," even in a "ritual" sense, because she menstruates. I don't believe that a woman should, by default, be the one to run the household, as that denies women the chance to strive for achievement in the public world and men the possibility of taking a step back into a more domestic life.
However, there is a definite emphasis on character and quality that is sorely missing from the common world today. I'm curious as to what I'll encounter when I go to my interview tomorrow. I suspect that if I am at all acceptable, I will be offered the job. I would take a job at a Catholic school, if it were offered, but that is mostly because I know there are streaks of defiant liberalism in many Catholics, especially the women. I might even take a job at an Orthodox Christian school, if the atmosphere weren't too repressive. Well, that and they offered health insurance.
I'm curious. What will I find tomorrow?
Clearly, Orthodox Jews are just fine with computers (except, I suppose, on the Sabbath), as the dean emailed me and left a voicemail on my cell phone. I checked wikipedia and did some reading, and I have mixed feelings. I'm not working with the Jewish equivalent of the Amish, at least.
Orthodoxy being what it is - founded in, even bound by, tradition -- I've always found it to be inflexible and unresponsive to people's needs. I believe tradition can become calcified and because of that, no longer supports people but rules them instead. Heaven knows, Orthodox Judaism has been around more than long enough to accomplish that. Heaven also knows that any other branch of religion, especially Christianity, can outcompete them on that score any day of the week, including the Sabbath.
I have dire, dire disagreements on certain stands, especially regarding homosexuality. As far as I'm concerned, homosexuality is a normal variation in human sexuality and should no more be regarded as sinful, unnatural, or wrong as being green-eyed or left-handed. All that matters to me is if the parties involved are consenting adults. No business of mine and no skin off my teeth.
Reading up on the subject at wikipedia, I was not surprised to find Orthodox Judaism has a decidedly reactionary stance on homosexuality (as one of the "death before dishonor" infractions of Talmudic law and right up there with adultery, murder, bestiality, and disavowing G-d). I was not surprised to find the conservative views regarding women and marriage.
And yet...
Much of what was described in the texts made a great deal of sense. The views on relations between men and women stressed that men and women are different and complementary, and that because there is an innate attraction between the two, caution should be used so that neither, but especially women, are treated as ojects used for sexual gratification. Oh, if only that attitude were more prevalent in today's culture and society.
Modesty is stressed, not only how much skin is covered, but in the idea that one's clothes should not be gaudy or attract too much attention. A great deal of emphasis is placed on being humble, thoughtful, and purposeful.
Again, I disagree with a great deal. I don't believe, for instance, that unrelated men and women should never be allowed to be alone together. I don't believe that a woman should be considered "impure," even in a "ritual" sense, because she menstruates. I don't believe that a woman should, by default, be the one to run the household, as that denies women the chance to strive for achievement in the public world and men the possibility of taking a step back into a more domestic life.
However, there is a definite emphasis on character and quality that is sorely missing from the common world today. I'm curious as to what I'll encounter when I go to my interview tomorrow. I suspect that if I am at all acceptable, I will be offered the job. I would take a job at a Catholic school, if it were offered, but that is mostly because I know there are streaks of defiant liberalism in many Catholics, especially the women. I might even take a job at an Orthodox Christian school, if the atmosphere weren't too repressive. Well, that and they offered health insurance.
I'm curious. What will I find tomorrow?