David,
That certainly is a mouthful. I imagine you trying to catch your breath between well-ordered tirades. You learned many life lessons—the hard way. But, you learned, many people never do.
I’ve read so many stories of people who moved from cult to cult, from alcohol abuse to drug abuse and back again to pop-religion. Our drive for t…
That certainly is a mouthful. I imagine you trying to catch your breath between well-ordered tirades. You learned many life lessons—the hard way. But, you learned, many people never do.
I’ve read so many stories of people who moved from cult to cult, from alcohol abuse to drug abuse and back again to pop-religion. Our drive for truth and self-realization is both a blessing and a curse.
I ask myself if I could have followed a similar path. At nineteen, that was my parents’ biggest fear for me as I embraced my Jewish legacy with both hands, that heritage that in my parents’ generation was watered down to simply marrying within the religion. Not more, not less, and the more scared them as much as the less.
With me it didn’t begin with the religion, but with Zionism. I heard Rabbi Meir Kahane give a talk at my university and in a split second became, an enthusiast Zionist. He made no claims over me or anyone else I knew. He wasn’t a head hunter, but rather an inspirer of people to fulfill their obligations and to be in the game of history rather than sit in the bleachers. I moved to Israel (after graduating) and realizing it would be hypocritical to live a secular life, I had to redefine myself, and took upon myself to fulfill all my Jewish obligations.
David, it seems your odyssey is complete and you can define yourself properly. Thank you for sharing this. God’s speed.
Thank you so much for your kindness and encouragement Glenn. In some ways my odyssey is just beginning, though. I have much work to do to reinvent my path as a Zionist and start connecting with more people like yourself who share these values and will be allies in this quest. Should you ever be compelled to contribute to our little publication please hit me up. I'd be fascinated to hear more of your perspective and share it with others.
I thank you as well and appreciate your honesty and tenacity. I mentioned in a previous comment [when you mentioned your goal to also publish in the future] that I'm near the end of a memoir, which of course deals with my moving from the States to Israel over forty-years ago. I hope I can also find time to contribute pertinent essays.
David,
That certainly is a mouthful. I imagine you trying to catch your breath between well-ordered tirades. You learned many life lessons—the hard way. But, you learned, many people never do.
I’ve read so many stories of people who moved from cult to cult, from alcohol abuse to drug abuse and back again to pop-religion. Our drive for truth and self-realization is both a blessing and a curse.
I ask myself if I could have followed a similar path. At nineteen, that was my parents’ biggest fear for me as I embraced my Jewish legacy with both hands, that heritage that in my parents’ generation was watered down to simply marrying within the religion. Not more, not less, and the more scared them as much as the less.
With me it didn’t begin with the religion, but with Zionism. I heard Rabbi Meir Kahane give a talk at my university and in a split second became, an enthusiast Zionist. He made no claims over me or anyone else I knew. He wasn’t a head hunter, but rather an inspirer of people to fulfill their obligations and to be in the game of history rather than sit in the bleachers. I moved to Israel (after graduating) and realizing it would be hypocritical to live a secular life, I had to redefine myself, and took upon myself to fulfill all my Jewish obligations.
David, it seems your odyssey is complete and you can define yourself properly. Thank you for sharing this. God’s speed.
Glenn Perlman
Thank you so much for your kindness and encouragement Glenn. In some ways my odyssey is just beginning, though. I have much work to do to reinvent my path as a Zionist and start connecting with more people like yourself who share these values and will be allies in this quest. Should you ever be compelled to contribute to our little publication please hit me up. I'd be fascinated to hear more of your perspective and share it with others.
I thank you as well and appreciate your honesty and tenacity. I mentioned in a previous comment [when you mentioned your goal to also publish in the future] that I'm near the end of a memoir, which of course deals with my moving from the States to Israel over forty-years ago. I hope I can also find time to contribute pertinent essays.
All the best, Glenn
I look forward to reading more of your work soon!