A few bouquets and brick bats on a hot Monday in Perth.
First of all, huge compliments to Romy P who wrote a letter to the Maccabean last week about communal unity. Its nice to see some positive energy. Again it is the youth leadership leading by example. Romy made the point that our organisations cooperate in a way that you don’t see in other communities and we are all better off as a result. A very salient point that is well made.
Secondly, a round of applause to the crew at Bagels and Beyond for producing quality kosher poultry and competitive prices. There appears to be competitive forces in the chicken market that helps to keep prices down. Having recently toured the kosher butchers of both Melbourne and Sydney, Jewgle Perth can confirm that our prices are commensurate, which is no mean feat for a small community with limited kosher consumption.
Now for the brick bat. It is dissapointing to see posters in Orthodox Shules advertising a function for the Council of Jewish Women with actress Miriam Margolyes, who will talk tonight at the Jewish Centre. Whilst the Jewish Centre often displays a diverse range of speakers, and the presence of a foul mouthed Jewish lesbian is not out of character with what our community tolerates and celebrates, there are certain Jewish values that are again being shunned in favour of the celebrity status of a visitor. In the past few weeks there have been a number of Jewish visitors to Perth who would have been perfect guests at a CJW function – an Israeli chayelet (soldier) who managed technology for the IDF, a book salesman who has introduced new Childrens learning resources, etc etc etc. These people, who contribute to society, and uphold sound Jewish identities are far more worthy of our attention.
However, on this occasion the CJW have jumped on the bandwagon and lent their name and profile to someone who may be a good actress, but is certainly not a good advertisement for Judiasm. Her image and activities should not be advertised through Orthodox shule newsletters and noticeboards. Here is an example of what I am talking about – from an interview with Andrew Denton on Enough Rope:
ANDREW DENTON: I want to throw another quote at you, to do with Cambridge. “I specialised in oral sex at Cambridge. Afterwards it’s been a very important part of my work.”
MIRIAM MARGOLYES: And I’m terribly good at it. In fact, um
LAUGHTER
MIRIAM MARGOLYES: I think I probably got a degree in it.
LAUGHTER
MIRIAM MARGOLYES: One of the things about Jewish girls is that you don’t get fucked. You do, you do oral sex, that is what you do. And it’s told, you know, almost your parents tell you that. They say don’t get fucked, suck, and then and um¦
LAUGHTER
ANDREW DENTON: Did you parents suggest that to you? Not in as many words, obviously.
MIRIAM MARGOLYES: No, actually, my poor parents would have been shocked out of their mind at something like that. No, I think it’s just, it is a fact though. If you, if you read literature of the 50s youl’l find that that’s what Jewish girls did. And that’s what I did.
ANDREW DENTON: Why Jewish girls though?
MIRIAM MARGOLYES: Well Mummy said that Jewish girls don’t sleep on the ground, and I don’t know if that’s got anything to do with it – which is why she wouldn’t let me to go guide camp.
LAUGHTER
Enough said! Shame on the CJW for bringing perverse and vulgar influences into our Jewish Centre.