Afterburn http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/afterburn/ The Wandering Jew shares his final thoughts on Burning Man—and a photo you’ll want to see. en-us bharris@jta.org Copyright 2009 2009-09-17T;19:00:00-05:00 Comment by Jeffrey Kaye jkaye@sholem.org Mazeltov on an interesting piece of journalism.  As a journalist myself, and as someone involved in a secular Jewish community in Los Angeles, it’s particularly noteworthy that you didn’t fall into the tired trap that many reporters find themselves in when writing about unconventional Jewish practices.  Pushed by editors I’m sure, there’s a tendency to seek comment from one expert rabbi or another about Jewish authenticity.  In an effort to “balance” the story, the common template is for a feature, generally about a non-synagogue activity, to include, near the end, a tut-tutting rabbi explain why this or that expression of Jewishness doesn’t measure up to his or her (generally his) standards or authentic Jewish tradition. Never mind the fact that one unfailing thread in Jewish tradition has been change.  Good luck on future assignments. Mazeltov on an interesting piece of journalism.  As a journalist myself, and as someone involved in a secular Jewish community in Los Angeles, it’s particularly noteworthy that you didn’t fall into the tired trap that many reporters find themselves in when writing about unconventional Jewish practices.  Pushed by editors I’m sure, there’s a tendency to seek comment from one expert rabbi or another about Jewish authenticity.  In an effort to “balance” the story, the common template is for a feature, generally about a non-synagogue activity, to include, near the end, a tut-tutting rabbi explain why this or that expression of Jewishness doesn’t measure up to his or her (generally his) standards or authentic Jewish tradition. Never mind the fact that one unfailing thread in Jewish tradition has been change.  Good luck on future assignments.

]]> 2011-03-29T;21:23:00-05:00 Comment by Ben Harris bharris@jta.org you’re right menachem. much of what happens BM i would want to see of the playa. it’s the naked guys in bicycles i could probably do without. you’re right menachem. much of what happens BM i would want to see of the playa. it’s the naked guys in bicycles i could probably do without.

]]> 2011-03-29T;21:23:00-05:00 Comment by Menachem Cohen fools_folly@yahoo.com p.s. Thanks for all you posts. p.s. Thanks for all you posts.

]]> 2011-03-29T;21:23:00-05:00 Comment by Menachem Cohen fools_folly@yahoo.com Ben, I wish much of what Burning Man is about would happen off the Playa. And it does. The problem is if I encountered a fridge full of beer or anything else on the streets of Chicago I would be suspicious. Here’s to the spreading of trust and community. A sweet and blessed new year to all of you. shalom v’ahava, Menachem Ben,

I wish much of what Burning Man is about would happen off the Playa. And it does. The problem is if I encountered a fridge full of beer or anything else on the streets of Chicago I would be suspicious.
Here’s to the spreading of trust and community. A sweet and blessed new year to all of you.

shalom v’ahava,
Menachem

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