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August 23, 2006
KinkyJews: Innovations in Jewish Continuity
[note: links are not work-friendly]
A highlight of the Village Voice is the "Lusty Lady" column by the energetic Rachel Kramer Bussel. Her Aug. 16 column, "The Unexpected Orgy: Spending Shabbat with six half-naked new friends -- in one bed," naturally captured my attention, since I am always interested in innovations in Jewish practice, anything that draws Jews closer to one another.
Very close.
The column reports on Bussel's adventures at an "underwear-only Shabbat dinner" in Queens organized by a group hitherto unknown to me, KinkyJews (more about them later). She writes,
I had no idea what to expect at dinner (all I was told was to bring a vegetarian item, and that undressing was mandatory), and knew only one person there. I was a little bit nervous, but when I was greeted by six very friendly, half-naked Jews and offered lasagna, I relaxed. I'd missed the candle-lighting, but was welcomed into the laid-back group.
You'll need to read the column to learn more about her romps with "Dan" and "Shira." For now, let's talk about Kinky Jews, which describes itself thusly:
KinkyJews brings together hundreds of young Jewish kinksters from across the USA and around the world. We welcome from the curious to newbies to the experienced. Similarly we welcome all sexual orientations and all streams of Judaism. Hip, funky, open minded, interesting and otherwise different genres of Jews are encouraged to expand their horizons with us as well.
KinkyJews' logo, which could fit into an Iranian cartoon festival, comes from the website of a Jewish comedian in London, Ivor Dembina, who has performed a stand-up show with the title "SadoJudaism." Sample joke:
My kink is SadoJudaism. I enjoy being beaten, but not in business.
Anyway, KinkyJews is a wonder to behold, Alexander Portnoy's id run wild and visual. Some of the links bring up disturbing images -- who might belong to Jewish Swingers of South Florida? Nooooo, not Aunt Florence! Not Uncle Benny!
As with Bussel's Shabbat orgy companions, some of the groups take their Judaism seriously. Consider, for example, the home page of the Polyamory Israel group. It says,
This site is dedicated to the exploration of how polyamory can be integrated into the Jewish way of life. This endeavor requires the utmost respect and dedication to the spirit of emancipation that is so central to our true tradition. . .I am not a pagan, I am a Jew, loyal to my God, my People and my Torah. I am struggling with reconciling BiPoly with the Torah. I am not casting the Torah aside in a cavalier manner. I have not yet written on this subject as it is very complex and my thoughts are still nebulous.
Who could argue with that? Well, probably lots of people. Wouldn't it be great, though, if the Israeli masochists could hook up with the Palestinian sadists? Together, they could work for peace in a collaborative spirit. They could give the concept of "the binding of Isaac" a fresh new meaning.
Van | 08/23/06 at 07:43 AM | Categories: Doing Jewish
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Blogs which link to KinkyJews: Innovations in Jewish Continuity:
» In Praise of Kinky Jews from Kesher Talk
Kinky Jews has been the butt (my apologies, unintentional double entendres will abound in this post) of more than a few jokes at this site, but as something of a kinky Jew myself, I feel I must rise (apologies again)... [Read More]
Tracked on August 28, 2006 02:53 PM
» You, Too, Can be a Kinky Jew, at Oyhoo from Kesher Talk
The Oyhoo festival wraps up this weekend in New York. Alas, I won't be able to attend the Satuday night blow-out at the 14th Street Y featuring Kosher ChiXXX. I would gladly gargle with rancid shmaltz to see this show,... [Read More]
Tracked on September 14, 2006 07:27 PM
Comments
Wow....I just don't have the words...
[VW comment: You don't have the words, but I do, Des -- that's why Judith pays me the big bucks.]
DesScorp | August 23, 2006 09:53 AM
Huh. Go figure. We sure are a whacky group of people.
Fern | August 23, 2006 09:12 PM
Well, polygamy was SOP in the Torah (polyandry, not so much), so she's not on completely shaky ground. Monogamy was a much later rabbinic decree, I believe, and not even Talmudic. (Benjamin and Mara can correct me on this.)
"that's why Judith pays me the big bucks."
I wish. Anyone who wants to pay us big bucks please email me with a proposal.
Judith | August 24, 2006 03:28 AM
Remember when innovations in Jewish practices involved changing the seating arrangements in shul? Or really, had anything to do with shul at all?
Not that I don't support Aunt Florence and Uncle Benny getting their groove on, but are we really ready to say that this is a sound way for people to, if I can crib a Bnai Brith phrase, do Jewish?
[VW comment: Omri, thanks for the comment. Myself, I hold to the Torah, mitzvah and chuppah view of what's important in Judaism. But under the right circumstances, shtuppah also can contribute to Jewish practice. Or if not under the right circumstances, under the right Jew.]
Omri Ceren | August 24, 2006 03:57 PM
