Women of the wall - May Update

Women of the Wall, Source 1, Source 2

I wanted to give the latest update on Women of the Wall since the last incidents where they were met at the Kotel during Rosh Chodesh by rioting men and women. The ante has been upped now by vandals who have spray-painted slogans on teh home of one of the leaders of Women of the Wall.

Ladies, my prayers are with you.

Israeli police say vandals have spray-panted slogans on the home of one of the leaders of a liberal Jewish women's group that has angered ultra-Orthodox communities over its demands for equality of worship.
Women Of The Wall Leader Targeted By Vandals, Women's Prayer Group Angers Ultra-Orthodox, Huffington Post

Some of the graffiti sprayed on the door and stairwell of Peggy Cidor’s apartment read in Hebrew: “Women of the Wall are wicked,” “Peggy, your time is up,” “Peggy, we know where you live,” and “Jerusalem is holy,” according to the Women of the Wall.
The words “Torah tag” also were spray painted on the door of the apartment, calling to mind the phrase “price tag” used by extremist settlers and their supporters to describe retribution in the form of vandalism for settlement freezes and demolitions or Palestinian attacks on Jews.
Vicious graffiti sprayed on home of Women of the Wall board member, JTA

 Israeli TV footage showed black writing on the hallway and door of the Jerusalem home. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Monday police were investigating.
Vandals spray-paint slogans against liberal Jewish women’s prayer group in Israel,Washington Post

Tzipi Livni and Naftali Bennet are now involved in the current proceedings with legalizing Women of the Wall's Activities.

Bayit Yehudi party leader Minister Naftali Bennett is working to redefine the “local custom” regarding tefilos at the Kosel. Bennett is reacting to the recent Jerusalem District Court decision by Justice Moshe Sobel in which the court stated that the women of the Women of the Wall (WoW) organization was not in violation of the Supreme Court decision’s definition of the “local custom” vis-à-vis tefilos at the holy site when the women wear tallis, tefilin and read from a Sefer Torah.
Livni Steps in to Protect Women of the Wall Organization & its Kosel Agenda

Until recently, however there was no such voice [for Haredi women who were against WOW]. Nearly all of those who were publicly critical of Women of the Wall were male - which made it easy to argue that if they simply kept to the men’s section of the Wall, there wouldn’t be any reason for them to complain about the WOW’s activities.
Woman vs. Women of the Wall, Haaretz Daily(brackets mine)

The German Homeschool Case

Me, and a few nondescript other homeschoolers

I'm probably not going to earn any brownie points today from any of my readers or family after this post... and I'm sure I know why.

I have been asked repeatedly for my opinions on the Romeike family from Germany that is seeking assistance through the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) for asylum in the USA.

Many people think that because I am a former home-schooler, and especially because I live in Germany (I'll come home before my children go to school and home-school them, right?) that I will be incensed and defend the family.

However, since the story broke, I have pointed out several inconsistencies, as well as the fact that the Romeike family could pursue legal actions for the laws to change in Germany, take it as high as the highest courts in the EU and even go to another European country that is not restrictive towards homeschoolers rather than lying about Germany on their asylum application.

Many might think I'm overreacting by saying that they lied about Germany... especially since my children's foray into education is still very fresh and in the non-mandatory stages of compulsory education. Actually, I've spent many hours looking into their case (not just today!) and into the German educational system when I entered into it, as well as when I found out that I was pregnant. I've asked extensive questions and I've been researching all home-school cases friends and families send me that are out of Germany.

There are four articles I found that sum up every bit of the story very well in a nice tight bow. You can find them here, here, here and here.

As someone who was under the umbrella of the HSLDA, I find it appalling at how they are painting not only the German government, but the laws and schools here - without any regard (Ok, I know they are a pro home-school group, but still! Facts are facts!), and with so much disinformation.

It bothers me terribly that the main thrust of the case all dependent on issues that just throw a monkey wrench in everything. If you want to make a good point, do not invoke Godwin's law.

I know Wikipedia is not authoritative, but honestly, it's the best write-up I've seen in a very long time (in English) about the German educational system. (see here) I love all of you, but Hitler was not the one who made school compulsory in Germany.

Germany wasn't really unified until around World War I. Even as the Federal Republic of Germany, each state has it's own government, laws and practical application until around World War II.  Compulsory Education was actually put into place by Napoleon and the Prussian Empire.  Some of the best minds about children's early Education came out of this market in Germany, Austria and Swizerland. (Friedrich Fröbel, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, Rudolf Steiner)

Yes, the Nazis used compulsory education to their own ends. I definitely do not dispute that. The least I expect is a bit of factual reporting. At this point, most of the information that has covered Germany and homeschooling has been full of holes.

School here is completely different. Government here is completely different.  I'm actually finding it very laughable that they are claiming Christian persecution. Germany is in every sense of the word a Christian nation, even if most/many of the actual citizens are not Christians, and the bulk of the Christians are "nominal" at best. (I really hate using that word.) Many are unaffiliated and therefore not even counted due to various reasons of theological difference and not wishing to pay a flat church tax out of their income. (You pay tithes and offerings, we pay church tax [Kirchensteuer])

All public holidays here that are not explicitly listed as Federal holidays, are Christian holidays. (see here) Most of the political parties have a Christian basis and base. (see here)  Many public schools and kindergartens still have religious symbols up. (Crosses, Crucifixes, Mother and Child)

As it stands, if one does not wish to use the public school closes to them, the following options are available:

• • Waldorf School (206 schools in 2007)
  • Montessori method school (272)
  • Freie Alternativschule (Free Alternative Schools) (85^[7])
  • Protestant (63) or Catholic (114) parochial schools
  Education in Germany on Wikipedia
  

I can semi understand the concern that the Romeike family may have in regards to sexual education... but at some point someone has to tell all children the facts of life, and about how babies are born, marital relations and that sort of thing. With the hours at school being as few as they are, parents have as much opportunity and much more obligation to disseminate this information than schools do.  I wish I could say all parents feel the same, but they sadly do not.

Depending on one's school district, what is covered in sex ed will vary from school to school, state to state. Most of the kerfuffle I've heard from the US or even the UK in regards to sex education in our schools here, actually center around older initiatives or books that are available in the library, but hardly ever checked out. It makes me wonder what the actual point is of those articles and what is covered in the sexual education. . . if anything much.

I do not understand their apprehension and statements about witchcraft and paganism at school. Neither are at this point recognized religions that have religious coursework in either state, but that could possibly (maybe) change in the future.  For now, you have Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Islamic studies offered. If you are non-religious, you can take a social ethics course instead.

I also do not understand their statements about indoctrination at school. The attitudes here as far as education goes is so far from indoctrination that I find it pitiable that such a statement has been made to American mass media, especially those with a religious bent.  As far as the quality of education, their home state is home to some of the most prestigious universities in Germany.  (I would love to know more, but I live in a neighboring state and am also happy with our educational opportunities.)

 There has also been brought up that the family may face fines or prison time for home-schooling. This is only a half truth. If the Romeike family sends their children to school, this will be the end of it. They can home-school after school hours or on the weekends. They will not be penalized for that. They also could move anywhere in the EU that home-schooling is still legal while still fighting for legalization here in Germany.

Another argument the Romeike family raises is that their human rights were breached. I don't see that, the US government and the German government do not see that. Why then do they not appeal to the highest court in the EU and also to the UN? If there was a human rights violation, those are the two best places they have a chance of finding this out, right?


I wish their family no ill will, but I saw several laws being broken, flaunted and then slandered all over international media. My INxJ personality really finds that offensive, and constantly being asked my thoughts, I figured - blog about it, it's out there, you can just reference it next time.

My home-school experience wasn't the best, and I know that there are exceptional, awesome home-schoolers out there. I wish all of them the best, but I find cases like these certainly do not help ours, or for us to be better accepted or trusted by society at large.  As someone pursuing higher education at the moment, I find it difficult not to say something about this.

Now you know.

I'm allowing comments for now, but if it does get heated, or if I find there have been some strange insane remarks made, I do reserve the right to shut down comments and/or delete offensive comments.

Unto the least of these...

I've been mulling over how to answer the call to action for this month's syncroblog:

Whether we realize it or not, lots of people all around us are experiencing great pain and hardship. Maybe someone has lost their job, gotten a divorce, is going through depression, or worst of all, has lost a family member or loved one.
As followers of Jesus, how are we to respond in such situations?

... for the May 2013 Synchroblog, we want to invite you to write a “How to” post about helping Christians know what to do (or not do) and what to say (or not say) when others are going through times of personal tragedy.
Syncroblog: Being with those in pain

I think I mask it rather well, so a lot of people do not know that my face is the face of chronic pain and chronic unseen illness.  I've told a select few people outside of my support groups, especially a select few Christians due to the reactions that I often receive.

You probably know them. In case you do not, I'll illustrate some of the most frequent responses I tend to receive.

"You really should not allow a spirit of illness/fatigue descend on you. Rebuke it in Jesus name!!"

 "You will get better if you act better. Put on your clothes and get out of the house."

 "No matter what, you should ALWAYS be in the church, unless you're in the hospital or on your death bed. No excuses. Any staying out is backsliding."

 "That again! Aren't you over that?"

 "Can't you just take a pill or supplement or drink or something?"

My personal favorites:

"If you just get out to the gym and push through, you'll start having energy!"

 "But, you don't look sick!"

 "SMILE! It looks far better than a frown!" / "Time to turn that frown upside down!"

What these people do not know, is that I have lived my entire life with chronic unseen illness. It started as an infant with several tragedies spaced one after another.


In this entire ordeal I have learned many things, including several key areas that believers and churches in general need to really step up:

• Remember the spoon theory when it comes to members that have expressed unseen illnesses and chronic fatigue disorders. 
• Have compassion and be there for people who have chronic illnesses. We can't always leave our homes and go on fun activities with you all. BUT, we thrive on your friendship, prayers and compassion. 
• For those of us with chemical sensitivities - please remember our requests for when you come over. We want to spend time with you, but not at the expense of a week long sinus flare and gut flare due to the chemicals.
• For those of us with infertility issues, we want to celebrate with you and take joy in your lives! We thrive on the bit of sanity that comes from your love. Don't cut us out just because you are uncomfortable or have questions you are afraid to ask. If we let you in our secret, don't leave us hanging.
•  For those of us with food related disorders, I would simply request that you ask what we need or that you can do, and help plan activities that we can also partake in. If there is one thing that causes us the most pain, it is the loss of friendship due to "complicated table fellowship". We want to participate with you. We do not want to break table fellowship. We didn't do this to ourselves, and it is in no way something we wished upon ourselves or that will simply heal away.
• For those of us with chronic pain issues, know that we didn't do anything to bring this upon ourselves. We just need a listening ear from time to time and someone willing to spend time with us. 
• For those of us undergoing a marital split, be an ear rather than a judge. You have no idea what happened behind closed doors unless you hear it from one of us.
• If we have experienced a death in the family, be there. It takes time to process all of that grief.
•  When we offload our "I'm fine" to you and explain that we are not really fine - believe us. Tell us you do. That is the one thing that we crave the most; someone who believes us. We trust you with this information.
• QUIT GOSSIPING ABOUT US!
• Remember:  "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25) 

 
 
List of other posts in the link-up: 

• Comforting those who Hurt - K. W. Leslie
• Like a Motherless Child - Carol Kuniholm
• Exploding Bridges and How to Help People - Phil Lancaster
• The Ministry of Presence - Glenn Hager
• The Problem of Pain - Chris Jefferies
• How to Be with Those in Pain - David Derbyshire
• When Sorry Seems to b the Hardest Word - Doreen A Mannion
• What Seems to Help in the Midst of Pain - Kathy Escobar
• Mourning with those who Mourn - Jeremy Myers