Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Magnes Zionist Takes a Haircut at Age Three

Tonight is Lag Ba-Omer, which, according to Jewish tradition, commemorates the cessation of a divine plague that afflicted the students of Rabbi Akiva because they failed to show each proper respect. Now wouldn't it be nice to have a holiday that celebrates respecting the other? But in fact, as observed today in Israel, Lag Ba-Omer is the holiday of air pollution, since children are encouraged to burn wood in bonfires, a nightmare for the fire department and the environment (especially when non biodegradables are thrown on the bonfire). I am breathing said pollution as I write this from Jerusalem.

Another Lag Ba-Omer custom, but this time less harmful to the environment, is observed in the Israeli town of Meron, where three-year old boys are given their first hair cut. I am not burning any bonfires tonight, but I have been cranking out posts for three years, and it is indeed time for the blog to get a "haircut."

So I am announcing that I plan to improve the look and feel of this website by replacing the old and boring Blogger template with something new. More on that in the weeks to come.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have encouraged me over the past three years to continue cranking out a blog that cannot hope to compete with the big guys – I have a day job that is very time-consuming -- but can hope to earn their approval (and occasionally even to scoop them.)

Through the Magnes Zionist blog I have been able to connect to a coterie of like-minded individuals, bloggers, journalists, students, rabbis, human rights activists, progressives -- men and women, Jew and Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, and, indeed, folks of all nationalities and religions. The letters I most enjoy receiving are from people who express gratitude that the blog exists. But I also enjoy the critics, especially those who have the loyalty to keep reading the blog and commenting.

To celebrate the blog's third birthday, I revealed my alter-ego's identity on the profile for a week. But this was misconstrued by some readers as tantamount to suicide (i.e., Jerry Haber killing himself), and so I have taken the name off the profile again (It now appears elsewhere on the blog, giving the lie to those who accuse me of "hiding" behind a pseudonym.)

A word about the name "Jerry Haber": It began as the name of a character in a fictional dialogue on Israel-Palestine that awaits to be written. But it quickly became a pen name, and – much to my surprise – a bona fide person. As Jerry Haber, I have been invited to conferences, interviewed by the media, even received press credentials. Like John Le Carre, Ahad ha-Am, and (ahem!) Cary Grant, I am properly addressed by the professional name in those situations where my professional persona is relevant. I find it jarring to be called by the Other Guy's name in such situations. And I (both of me) find it rude to have that preference not respected.

Now that I have explicitly told folks how I like to be addressed, I hope that my preferences will be respected on this blog and other blogs.

After all, it is Lag Ba-Omer, the holiday that celebrates respecting the other.

 

5 comments:

Shmuel said...

Mazel tov on your "halakeh". Count me among those who express gratitude.

Seth said...

"I also want to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have encouraged me over the past three years to continue cranking out a blog that cannot hope to compete with the big guys"

Well, I haven't done that, but I should have. Your blog has been one of my "must-reads" since I first stumbled across it a year or so ago. Thanks for the good perspective and the information.

Tamar Orvell said...

Yomuledet sameach. You are wise beyond your three years, which would render you an ilui of sorts;-) Thanks for doing the really hard work so that others might learn more and understand better.

Gene said...

There are times when I miss not being a believer any more like when I have an urge to tell someone: "God bless you!" And yes, thanks for being with us at this point in our human history.

LeaNder said...

Jerry, you've been the voice on the issue that helped me to restore my emotional equilibrium.

I find it jarring to be called by the Other Guy's name in such situations.

Does that mean Jerry, or Jeremiah would be an acceptable address for the blogger double?

It was an accident really that I noticed your alter ego. I checked without knowing it was there, since I know of my sparring partner's, Richard Witty's, huge dislike of anonymous voices on the net. Personally I am more interested in content.

The very, very best and thanks a lot.