Comments on: Temple of Doom

By: Heather B. W.

Heather B. W. — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:10:13 +0000

I just learned about a documentary film called “Praying with Lior.” It is about a teenager with down syndrome who is the child of two rabbis. They call Lior “the little Rebbe” because he is so spiritual. Have no idea the tenor of the film, My temple in L.A. is showing it in November and I really hope to see it.

By: Linda Pressman

Linda Pressman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:08:37 +0000

That is so funny – the shofar calling you to donate money! Each year when we go to Kol Nidre suddenly we find ourselves trapped in our seats listening to the synagogue president’s “Yom Kippur Appeal.” I sit there, watching the sun setting behind the stained glass windows wondering if he has to stop the minute it’s officially Yom Kippur. So far, the answer’s no.

By: starrlife

starrlife — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:23:12 +0000

My daughter is very sensitive to physical differences because of her medical traumas. So I know she is uncomfortable with physically handicapped kids. I hope that as time goes on and she is exposed more that I will have the opportunities to shape her social skills around it! Golden rule teachers we are!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:07:30 +0000

I don’t actually believe that religion makes people nice, or empathetic, or any better at following the golden rule of “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” There are far too many counterexamples of deeply religious people who simply aren’t nice.

I happen to think that formal religion is about community, ritual, tradition, heritage… Plenty of good things, but it doesn’t cause niceness.

Your own example of everyday behavior, your own question forcing Sophie to think empathetically: that’s the kind of stuff that causes niceness.