LGBT & Judaism

Within Judaism, there are many shades of LGBT acceptance:

The Reconstructionist Movement was the first movement to publicly address the issue on homosexuality and same-sex marriage in their 1988 report. The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College was the first Jewish seminary to accept openly gay and lesbian students.

LGBT Jews and their families are fully included in Jewish communal life. Reconstructionist rabbis are free to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.

The Reform Movement has a long and proud history of working for full inclusion of LGBT people in Jewish life and for their full civil rights. In fact, in 1965, the Women of Reform Judaism were calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality. Resolutions by the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis followed.

LGBT Jews and their families are welcome in all Reform temples. LGBT Jews may be ordained as rabbis. Most Reform rabbis officiate at same-sex ceremonies.

The Conservative Movement used to hold the same position as Orthodox Judaism. However, since the 2000's, they have issued several resolutions in which they affirm that LGBT Jews are an integral part of the movement's families, synagogues and communities. Currently, Conservative Judaism endorses full and equal civil rights for LGBT people.

LGBT rabbis can serve openly since 2006. In the 2010's, the American and British branches of Conservative Judaism formally approved same-sex marriage ceremonies. Nonetheless, the Conservative communities may choose not to conduct same-sex ceremonies.

The Orthodox Movement has a variety of views regarding LGBT people. Its traditional position on homosexuality is well known: two verses in Leviticus (18:22 and 20:13) express unequivocal condemnation of male homosexual sex. The Talmud also disapproves of lesbianism: Shabbat 65a/b and Yevamot 76a.

Orthodox Judaism mostly affirms that Judaism legislates only acts, not orientations. Therefore, homosexual people should not be cast out from the community, even though openly LGBT rabbis are not ordained. It is the homosexual activity that is condemned. Orthodox Judaism opposes marriage equality and will not officiate at a same-sex wedding or affirm same-sex relationships. Even worse, some will even reject LGBT members and/or endorse discredited "reparative therapy."

LGBT Rights

The Stonewall riots were a series of demonstrations by members of the LGBT community against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28th, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn. This tavern, which was frequented by gay men, was located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The riots continued until July 3rd, 1969.

These events marked the first time that gays and lesbians as a group forcefully and vocally asserted their rights to equality under the law. Until then, LGBT people had mostly been harassed, penalized and discriminated against. Therefore, the Stonewall riots are considered as the single most important event that led to the modern movements for LGBT civil rights, which in many countries −mostly in Europe and America− have already achieved equality on topics like marriage and unions, adoption, military service, and anti-discrimination based on sexual orientation.

This historical rebellion is commemorated annually during the month of June in thousands of parades and festivals around the world collectively known as LGBT Pride, which is a positive stance against discrimination, shame, social stigma and violence against LGBT people. Those negative attitudes are still faced by some people, especially in countries in Africa and Asia, ranging from restricted freedom of expression through penalties, including imprisonment and death.

While I was writing this article, on June 26th, 2015, same-sex marriage was effectively legalized in the United States following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Prior to this, there were already 38 states in which same-sex marriage was legal at least to some degree. In this way, the United States joins a list of countries in which same-sex marriage is performed. 

Although not performed, Israel, Malta, and Mexico recognize same-sex marriages performed abroad. Indeed, some Mexican states −Campeche*, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Guerrero*, Jalisco*, Nayarit*, Quintana Roo, and Mexico City− have already legalized same-sex marriages and it looks like the country might be the next to join the list. In the United Kingdom, though, Northern Ireland treats same-sex marriages as civil partnerships so far.

UPDATE (06/08/2016):

I have to add Colombia and Greenland to the list of countries in which same-sex marriages are legal. Keep them coming!!! =)

*added after the article was published

Ex-Smoker

Recently, I have been interviewed by Tabex about my experience as an ex-smoker.

Even though I quit cold turkey, I support any method that has been approved to assist people to give up smoking.

READ: Smoke Free For One Year

I am very grateful for this chance and I hope my example encourages others to stop smoking:

Why did you start smoking?

I started smoking because I thought it was cool. It made me feel less insecure as a person. It felt like it was the perfect accessory when I had to socialize.

For how long did you smoke before you quit?

I was a smoker for 10 years before I quit. I started at 20 and quit at 30.

How many times did you try to quit?

I lost count of all the times I tried to quit. I do recall two failed attempts that lasted approximately 6 months each.

What made you start smoking again?

In those two aforementioned failed attempts, I went back to smoking while drinking at parties and believing that just one cigarette would not matter. But, of course, it did.

How did you manage to quit eventually?

I quit cold turkey. Previously, I had been smoking less and less and reading about quitting and staying quit. That lasted some months until I had the last one at 7pm, April 25, 2014.

What did the process of quitting look like?

The first month, I felt I was nervous all the time and I could not concentrate on anything at all. I had some wild mood changes as well. But the benefits of quitting started as soon as 3 days after I put off my last cigarette.

What were the things that challenged you, while quitting?

The first thing I thought was that I would need to learn how to live again without tobacco since it had been attached to many situations for 10 years. I was afraid of not being able to handle it.

In what way did your life change after quitting?

I started to feel more alive and less stressed. My body started to ask for physical exercise. My self-esteem improved greatly. I started to enjoy a more satisfactory sexual life. I felt cleaner and healthier. My closest ones were really grateful I stopped damaging my health.

Were there any side effects caused by this process?

I would say there were barely any side effects. We all know food smells and taste better when you quit smoking, so… yes, my appetite increased. That made me gain some weight, but not much: 4 kilograms.

Who supported you in the process? What helped you?

My partner was the greatest support I had when I decided to quit. Family and friends were very supportive as well. Indeed, some time later, some of my friends decided to quit smoking too. Reading and discussing it was really helpful.

A lot of people don’t take that in mind, but how hard is it to quit smoking and what was the emotional cost you had to pay while doing it?

When you quit smoking, you have to think that you are making one of the best decisions in your life. Fear of failing and/or not being able to handle it can be very powerful; but if you believe in yourself, you will succeed. After all, why would it be bad for you to quit?

What would you advise people who would want to quit smoking?

My advice for someone who wants to quit smoking is to search for information on how to do it and, then, do it. It is important to know that any moment is fine to start. You do not have to choose a special day or wait until life feels better. There is no perfect moment; and people who have just quit and feel they had to choose a better moment, there is no such moment. Unless you decide to create it yourself: don’t wait to be happy, be happy from right now.

Looking back, what were the biggest harms the smoking did to you and your family?

The biggest harm was that tobacco had started to accelerate my aging: worse teeth than average, more gray hair, more wrinkles, and less energy. I could not handle physical exercise as much as I can do now. Plus that fear that sometimes would pop up and say when I lit a cigarette: will this one start the process of a fatal disease? That type of thinking is not healthy either.

What makes you happy?

Being alive makes me happy. I love life and I want to live a long healthy one.

June Solstice

Today, it takes place the June Solstice, which is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the Southern Hemisphere is the Winter Solstice.

A solstice (from Latin solstitium, meaning "sun-stopping") happens when the sun's zenith is at its furthest point from the equator.

On the June solstice, the sun reaches its northernmost point at about 23.5ºN. In addition, the Earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun. It is also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere.

On this day, the midnight sun is visible throughout the night, in all areas from just south of the Arctic Circle to the North Pole. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, south of the Antarctic Circle there is the polar night: no sunlight at all, on the June Solstice.

Here (Barcelona, Catalonia), the sun is rising at 6:18 am and setting at 9:28 pm, thus making the duration of the day 15 hours and 10 minutes. It is, indeed, the longest day of the year.

However, the earliest sunrise already took place at 6:17 am on June 12th-18th, while the latest sunset will take place at 9:29 pm on June 23rd-July 1st.

What is the reason for this?

Chicago

Part of my family lives in Chicago*.

The city has almost 3 million inhabitants. It is, therefore, the third most populous city in the United States of America, after New York City and Los Angeles. It is the most populous city, as well, in the state of Illinois and the Midwest.

Chicago was incorporated as a city in 1837. Today, it is an international hub for finance, commerce, industry, technology, telecommunications, and transportation; O'Hare International Airport is, indeed, one of the busiest airports in the world.

The city is known for the invention or perfection of several performing arts: improvisational comedy, house music, blues, jazz, and soul. My favorite ever music band, in fact, happens to be from Chicago: The Smashing Pumpkins. Other bands I like that are from the city are Veruca Salt and My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.

Chicago has many nicknames, but the best-known are the "Windy City" and the "Second City."

The origin of the city's name is derived from a French rendering of the Native American word shikaakwa, which can be translated as "wild leek," or "wild onion," or "wild garlic." The first known reference to the site of the current city of Chicago as "Checagou" was by Robert de LaSalle around 1679 in a memoir.

The 1780s saw the arrival of the first known non-indigenous permanent settler in Chicago, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, who was of African and French descent. He is commonly known as the "Founder of Chicago."
If you want to find about more about the history of the city, you need to visit the Chicago History Museum.

Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago lies on a continental divide, connecting the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes watersheds. The average land elevation is 579 ft. (176 m) above sea level.

Tori Amos

As I previously wrote, I am dedicating an entry to each artist I saw live at Primavera Sound 2015.

After writing about Einstürzende Neubauten and Babes in Toyland, today it is about Tori Amos.

I cannot remember exactly, but it was in the mid-to-late 1990s when I listened to "Crucify" for the first time. It had been included in a cassette tape that a pen pal from Germany had recorded for me with her favorite music. It became a favorite instantly and it led me to dig into her work through the next years.

Tori Amos is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and composer of Eastern Cherokee ancestry. She was born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22nd, 1963 in Newton, North Carolina.

At age 5, she won a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory (Baltimore, Maryland). She was the youngest person ever to have been admitted. She was expelled at age 11 for insisting on playing by ear and because of her interest in rock and popular music. At age 13 and chaperoned by her father, she began playing at gay bars and piano bars.

She co-wrote a song called "Baltimore" with her brother Mike Amos for a competition involving the Baltimore Orioles. The song won the contest and became her first single, released as a 7" single that was pressed locally in 1980. It included another Amos-penned composition as a B-side: "Walking with You."

At age 21, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music career after several years performing on the piano bar circuit of the DC area. In 1986, she formed a band: Y Kant Tori Read. The name made reference to her aforementioned days at the Peabody, where she was never successful at reading sheet music. In 1988, their self-titled debut album was released through Atlantic Records, but it was a failure and the group subsequently disbanded. Two singles were released and one, "The Big Picture," had a music video:

Love in the Distance

Absence is to love as wind is to fire; it extinguishes the small and kindles the great. ~ Roger de Bussy-Rabutin

And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. ~ Khalil Gibran

It’s not the distance that’s the enemy, but the endless time I have to wait until I hold you in my arms. ~ Besski Livius

Psychomoon

Mirrored on my window was

Sweet honey psychomoon

Under the pink light

Grew amongst flakes of paper

In her lonely planet

White she lives alone

Blue moods reflect on psychomoon

Light a scar on my heart

Playing the game of queens

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go

Where are the keys?

Where is the dream?

He is long gone

Late is burning smiling

There is never night

Psychomoon is the sun

He gives life to us

If you get closer

You'll be burned and die

Candypoison

Don't find the bones

Psychomoon is sweet

Tori Amos is bitter

Under the pink light

Mirrored on my window was

Never saw the flakes of paper

In her lonely planet

White she doesn't live alone

He looks after her

A cycle that never ends

Where are we going?

To the other side?

Someone is calling

But I don't

Care, care, care, care, care, care, care

Psychomoon sleep between my arms

He slept with the devil

When he loved god

He broke his feelings

To serve you whole

You have hurt him that

He is in the hole

Can't he go out?

He's strong enough

Psychomoon keeps a secret

The queen kissed his scar

I know it

I was lost in my world

The ray came to my window

I had to go on

With psychomoon in my pocket

In my ears and my eyes

Yes, little you

You, you, you, you, you, you, you

I wrote this in August 2003.

Babes in Toyland

As I previously wrote, I am dedicating an entry to each artist I saw live at Primavera Sound 2015.

After writing about Einstürzende Neubauten, today I am introducing you to Babes in Toyland.

This all-female American punk rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The current line-up features original members:

• Kat Bjelland (lead vocals and guitar)
• Lori Barbero (drums)
• And Maureen Hermann (bass), who in 1992 replaced Michelle Leon.

They have released so far three studio albums:

• Spanking Machine (1990)
• Fontanelle (1992)
• Nemesisters (1995)

They disbanded in 2001 but reunited again in 2014. From then on, the band started to write new material and perform live.

I have been a fan of Babes in Toyland since I was a teenager. I was very happy when I learned they had got together and that they were coming to play live in Barcelona (Catalonia) on May 30th, 2015.

Though the gig had some sound issues due to Kat's guitar strings breaking, the band rocked and managed really well to bring back that raw energy from early 90's rock music. The set-list was amazing as well, featuring a great selection of songs.

Concluding on another note, the band members have stated clearly and several times already that Courtney Love was never a member of Babes in Toyland. In reality, Love had often "hung around" the band's practice space until she was asked to leave. The band was never part of the Riot Grrrl movement either since it was based in the Pacific Northwest.

Why Go Veg?

In 2007, I chose to become a vegetarian. Many of you may know, since I have already written about it. If not, I invite you to follow the previous link.

Today, I would like to speak about the different reasons to choose vegetarianism in our lives:

Warding off disease. Vegetarian diets are healthier than the average American diet, particularly in preventing, treating or reversing heart disease and reducing the risk of cancer. A low-fat vegetarian diet is the single most effective way to stop the progression of coronary artery disease or prevent it entirely. Cardiovascular disease kills 1 million Americans annually and is the leading cause of death in the United States. 

However, the mortality rate for cardiovascular disease is lower in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians. A vegetarian diet is inherently healthy, because vegetarians consume less animal fat and cholesterol; vegans, indeed, consume no animal fat or cholesterol. Instead, we consume more fiber and more antioxidant-rich produce.

Keeping your weight down. The standard American diet—high in saturated fats and processed foods and low in plant-based foods and complex carbohydrates—is making us fat and killing us slowly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a division of the CDC, the National Center for Health Statistics, 64% of adults and 15% of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight; and are at risk of weight-related illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Overweight people who start following a low-fat, vegetarian diet will lose an average of 24 pounds in the first year and keep off that weight 5 years later. Therefore, one can actually lose weight without counting calories or carbohydrates, and without measuring portions or feeling hungry.

Living longer. If you switch from the standard American diet to a vegetarian diet, you can add about 13 healthy years to your life. People who consume saturated, four-legged fat have a shorter life span and more disability at the end of their lives. Animal products clog your arteries, zap your energy and slow down your immune system. Meat eaters also experience accelerated cognitive and sexual dysfunction at a younger age.

For instance, Residents of Okinawa, Japan, have the longest life expectancy of any Japanese; and likely the longest life expectancy of anyone in the world, according to a 30-year study of more than 600 Okinawan centenarians. Their secret: a low-calorie diet of unrefined complex carbohydrates, fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, and soy.

Einstürzende Neubauten

As I previously wrote, I am dedicating an entry to each artist I saw live at Primavera Sound 2015.

This one is about Einstürzende Neubauten, a band from Berlin (Germany) that has been active since 1980. The band's name can be translated as "collapsing new buildings". These "new buildings" refer to a style of architecture that started after World War II in Germany: large concrete box-style buildings.

Their trademark is the use of metal plates, electric drills, metal cutters, and circle saws; along with traditional musical instruments, they create a sound which is described as industrial.

They use a logo that consists of a human symbol with two arms, two legs (one much shorter than the other), a thin body, and a big round head with a circle in its middle.

It is an ancient Toltec petroglyph, whose meaning is undefined. It was discovered in a cave in central Mexico and is believed to be created between 700 and 1200 CE (Common -or Christian- Era).

I have always wanted to see Einstürzende Neubauten live since I had been told countless times that their live shows are great and unique. After attending their concert in Barcelona (Catalonia) on May 30th, 2015, I have to say that I was positively impressed.

Even though I had only listened to their early work (like the one featuring Lydia Lunch), I am discovering them little by little and liking them more. And I will be seeing them live again if I have the chance.

Blixa Bargeld, the band's leader, was a member of a band I know much more: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. There, he played guitar and did backing vocals from 1983 until 2003.

Addicted to Anxiety

Psychiatrist Judith Orloff MD has observed that many people are addicted to the adrenaline rush of anxiety, also known as "the fight or flight response", and do not know how to diffuse it.

On her webpage, she asks us to ask ourselves the following questions:

• Do I worry about many things every day?
• Is it difficult to stop watching anxiety-provoking news on TV or the internet, though I try?
• Do I experience separation anxiety when I can’t access my smartphone or computer?
• Do I make problems larger, not smaller?
• Do I worry about things that no one around me worries about?
• When one anxiety is solved, do I immediately focus on another?

If you answered “yes” to all 6 questions, worry plays a very large, addictive role in your life. 4-5 “yeses” indicates a large role. 2-3 “yeses” indicates a moderate role. 1 “yes” indicates a low level. Zero “yeses” suggests that you’re more warrior than worrier!  

She says that in order to quiet anxiety and turn off your fight-or-flight response, it is important to re-train your brain to send chemicals to counteract this powerful biological response. Otherwise, anxiety can become an addiction. In contrast, with calm biology, you can generate endorphins, the blissful natural painkillers in your body.

Chai

Chai (Hebrew: חי‎) is a Hebrew word that means "alive" or "living." It is pronunced as [χai̯].

It is used a symbol, commonly seen on necklaces, and on other jewelry and ornaments. It reflects Judaism's focus on the importance of life. Indeed, the typical Jewish toast is "l'chayim" (meaning "to life").

The word is made up of two letters: Cheit (ח) and Yod (י). Since every Hebrew letter has a numerical value, the letters of chai add up to 18. Therefore, this number has a special meaning in Judaism. Money gifts and donations are usually given in multiples of 18.

You can read more about it here.

Prince

Prince Rogers Nelson (born June 7th, 1958) was an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor. He performed mononymously as Prince, but had also been known by various other names; the most well-known was an unpronounceable symbol (which can be spelled out as O(+>), that he used as his name between 1993 and 2000. During that time, he was usually referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, The Symbol or simply The Artist.

Other aliases that he had used were: Alexander Nevermind, Camille, Christopher, Jamie Starr, Joey Coco, Paisley Park, The Starr Company, and Tora Tora.

Prince was a prolific artist, having released several hundred songs both under his own name and with other artists. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has won seven Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible in 2004.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Prince developed an interest in music at an early age. After recording songs with his cousin's band 94 East, he recorded several unsuccessful demo tapes before releasing his debut album, "For You," in 1978. His 1979 album, "Prince," went platinum due to the success of the singles "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover." His next three records, "Dirty Mind" (1980), "Controversy" (1981) and "1999" (1982), continued his success. These records showcased the incorporation of sparse and industrial-sounding drum machine arrangements, and the use of synthesizer riffs to serve the role traditionally occupied by horn riffs in earlier R&B, funk and soul music. This trademark sound was called the Minneapolis sound and has turned out to be very influential.

 In 1984, he began referring to his backup band as The Revolution and released "Purple Rain," which served as the soundtrack to his film debut of the same name. After the albums "Around the World in a Day" (1985) and "Parade" (1986), The Revolution disbanded and Prince published the critically acclaimed double album "Sign 'O' the Times" (1987) as a solo artist. This was followed up by "Lovesexy" (1988). He released two more solo albums before debuting The New Power Generation band in 1991. After changing his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol, also known as the "Love Symbol," in 1993, he began issuing new albums at a faster pace. He did so in order to remove himself from contractual obligations to Warner Brothers, who had been his record company since 1978. He eventually achieved it in 1996.

In 2000, he began referring to himself as Prince once again. He has published several albums since then. Some of these were never given a physical release. In 2014, he returned to Warner Brothers and released two albums: "Art Official Age," as Prince; and "PlectrumElectrum," under the moniker 3rdeyegirl, which had been Prince's backing band since 2012.


UPDATE (04/23/2016):

Prince sadly passed away on April 21st, 2016 at Paisley Park Studios, where he lived, recorded, performed, and threw parties for other artists.

As a fan, I had written this entry as a tribute to him for his last birthday. I am devastated by the news... Still, we have his legacy forever. Furthermore, he had mentioned several times that he had a lot of unreleased music. Who knows? We may start discovering it if it ever gets published...

On a personal note, I am sharing these two pictures regarding his latest releases in 2015. Although I never had the chance to meet Prince, he surely acknowledged my family through his Twitter account:

Tuc holding "HITnRUN Phase One"

My niece Stace holding "HITnRUN Phase Two"

10 Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking

We all know that smoking is bad for health and that quitting provides many health benefits.

Here are 10 ways your health will be better when you quit smoking:

• Better sex

Stopping smoking improves the body’s blood flow; this, consequently, improves sensitivity. Men who stop smoking may get better erections. Women may find that their orgasms improve and they become aroused more easily. It has also been found that non-smokers are three times more appealing to prospective partners than smokers (one of the advantages, perhaps, of smelling fresh).

• Fertility improvement

Non-smokers find it easier to get pregnant. Quitting smoking improves the lining of the womb and can make men’s sperm more potent. Becoming a non-smoker increases the possibility of conceiving through IVF and reduces the likelihood of having a miscarriage. Most importantly, it improves the chances of giving birth to a healthy baby.

• Younger looking skin

Stopping smoking has been found to slow facial aging and delay the appearance of wrinkles. The skin of a non-smoker gets more nutrients, including oxygen, and can reverse the sallow, lined complexion that smokers often have.

Lydia Lunch

Lydia Lunch (born Lydia Anne Koch; June 2, 1959; Rochester, NY), is an American singer, poet, writer, and actress. Her work usually takes a confrontationalist approach. She has maintained an anti-commercial ethic, operating independently of major labels and distributors. Lunch's moniker was given to her by the rock artist Willy DeVille, because she stole food for her friends.

She moved to New York City in 1976 and started her first band, Teenage Jesus and The Jerks, a short-lived No-Wave band, which has been recently revived at times in the past years. After a couple more bands (Beirut Slump and 8-Eyed Spy), she released her first solo album "Queen of Siam" in 1980. This was an experimental delivery featuring No Wave and Punk Jazz and it is probably her best-known music album. Two years later, she pulled out another album, "13.13," in which she took a darker approach. This trend would continue in subsequent releases like "In Limbo" and "The Drowning of Lucy Hamilton."

Overall, she has been a very prolific artist, either solo, or with other musicians like: J. G. Thirlwell, Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Marc Almond, Steven Severin, Sadie Mae, Rowland S. Howard, Michael Gira, The Birthday Party, No Trend, Einstürzende Neubauten, Die Haut, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. She has also recorded and performed as a spoken word artist. Some of her collaborations feature Exene Cervenka, Henry Rollins, Wanda Coleman, and Hubert Selby Jr.

Lately, she has been recording and touring with her two current bands: Big Sexy Noise, featuring members of Gallon Drunk; and Retrovirus, including Bob Bert and Weasel Walter, in which she revisits all her catalog since the 1970's. She has, as well, collaborated recently with Philippe Petit, Mia Zabelka, and Cypress Grove.