Many people that have been through being gay, closeted and SY. Many people have just left the community and moved on. Others have stayed in the community, have married or just tried to have a foot in both worlds. To many young people going through this and thinking they are the "only ones". In the 1980's, the community lost members to the "Aids Crisis". If anyone asked, they would say they had cancer or something to cover it up. What's the point here? The point that needs to be made, people need to be aware.
We have families that left the community and moved on because of many other issues. For some, they felt that they could no longer raise their children in a society that was so dishonest. If people had no issues, they were comfortable. If people had any issue, such as divorce, autistic child, homosexual in the family, pregnancy out of wedlock, abuse issues, bullying in schools and of course people that did not want their children growing up in a world that ignores the world around them. To many, people are happy within this cocoon. What about the others that are unhappy?
Most of the community only prepared people for living inside the community. What happens if you can't stay? What happens if your path is different? What happens if you marry someone from another community and move there? What happens if you are gay? What happens if it is no longer healthy for you to be in the community? What happens if your child tell you they are gay?
The Syrian Jewish Community might want to help prepare it's children for the world, not just the SY world. Do we teach safe sex in schools? Do we teach what contraception is? Do we make university important? Do we just teach our children how to go in the family business or just SY businesses. Are we preparing them for the world? What if they end up in another industry, company or state? Are we preparing our children for life? Do we teach them about drugs? Do we teach them to accept and embrace who they are? Do we push them to find their passion? Do we care if they are happy?
Some might say "who needs that", "If it's not Syrian, then why should we care", "If we open ourselves up, then it will ruin what we have", "All they need to do is learn torah and they will be fine", "We are not Americans, we are special", "We don't want them subject to the world out there".
Have you ever thought about these problems, concerns and questions?
Welcome to the "Jewish Pink Elephant" (Ideas of an American Syrian Orthodox Gay Jew) by Rich Dweck. My goal is to provide a blend of resources dealing with Judaism and Homosexuality, along with important modern Jewish issues. If you would like to receive email updates weekly, please sign up below on the right.
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My Writings
- Rich Dweck: "Speak up or stay silent at the coffee shop?"
- "Acceptance and Inclusion Can Only Bring Gay Jews Closer" by Rich Dweck
- "Nothing has changed, but my entire life"
- "Disgraceful Portrayal of the 'First Gay Son' and Former President": Full Episode of Political Animals on the USA Network enclosed
- "Internalized Homophobia, Tragedy, Spirituality and a Parent's Role"
- Rabbi Shmuley Boteach vs Dan Savage, Misguided Blame!
- "THE PINK ELEPHANT" Use your voice and speak up!
- "Hate Crimes connected to Religious and Political Leaders?"
- "Homosexuality: Nature vs. Nurture"- My story and the video..
- Ignorance is accepted as an excuse in this world.- My Sexuality Classes
- "I Never Thought 'Baseless Hatred' was Inherent"
- Interfaith Leadership Institute Conference part 1
- "MY RESPONSE to 'DECLARATION' against Same-sex Marriage"
- "Ignorance or Plan? Special or Unaware? Preparation or Assumption?"
- COVER STORY: The unknown adventures of Harvey Milk in Dallas
- "ORIGINAL DECLARATION against Same-sex Marriage"
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