We have been engaged in an interesting back and forth with a Jewish young republican. He has raised many interesting questions that we frankly do not have the answers to.
His club has been informed that there is a NYSYR meeting to be held on Saturday, October 5th. The problem for him and several other members of his club is that they are Sabbath observers and can not attend meetings on Friday nights or Saturday mornings.
We informed this Jewish YR that there is a proxy system set up by the NYSYRs. The system allows a delegate to carry one proxy for another member of his or her club up to a maximum of 5 live bodies with 5 proxies.
He then asked- what if my club is predominantly Jewish? How could we possibly be represented at a NYSYR meeting? How could any of us ever hope to be officers of the NYSYRs if all their meetings and elections are held during the Sabbath observances and proxies are not allowed at elections?
We don't know either.
They don't offer kosher lunches so we guess it isn't on the NYSYRs' radar yet.
I challenge this alleged complaint. We've had many Jewish YRs from both within NY and around the nation attend events and meetings on Saturday, and none of them ever expressed concern. Brian Graybow served as executive director of the NYSYR for a number of years. And Moshe Starkman from Maryland simply declined to use electronics (like a microphone) on Shabbat.
ReplyDeleteIts a shame to see these attempts at false divisiveness.
- Jack Strickland
Sorry Jack,
DeleteWe don't do false here at the Watch.
Two questions for you:
Were the people you mentioned orthodox?
Do you speak for the NYSYRs and is this their official position regarding Orthodox Jews?
We will wait for your reply, Jack.
Brian Graybow? This is who you bring up as an example of a "religious Jew?"
Deletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/brent-lang/battered-but-not-beaten-g_b_139998.html
"It was easier to come out as gay to Republican friends than it is to come out as a Republican to other gays," said Brian Graybow, a member of the New York group's governing caucus.
Or to the other extreme, Moshe Starkman from MARYLAND...
DeleteRead his thoughts on "gays"
http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2011/03/noms-maryland4marriagecom-site-we-hope-site-runners-will-be-as-honest-as-its-partisan-faith-motivated-creator.html
Nice.
DeleteWhy not email us and contribute to the blog as a writer?
I guess I will walk to Orange County?
ReplyDeleteJack, that was pretty insensitive. Some of "us" do not use anything mechanical/electrical on Friday night into Saturday evening after sunset.
I will be voting by proxy this time like I always do. Unfortunately there are several of "us" in my club and since each delegate can only carry one proxy there will be many of us that will be disenfranchised.
Microphone or not we can't get to the meeting and we can't participate.