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| If you have to go to Vegas, stay at the Palazzo. You won't regret it. |
- Being in a certain space with nearly 1,500 other Jews makes you feel at home.
- There is so much that needs to be done among Jews in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to ensure our Jewish future.
- The conversion and minority Jewish communities (GLBTQ) were highly underrepresented, underinvolved, and almost marginalized.
- Jews need to consider who they are, where they're going, and how they're going to get there.
And on that last night, five-inch heels and a miniskirt with a beyond low-cut blouse are not the way to go. For this, I am certain.
It makes me sad that what stands out most about TribeFest was the ogling men and half-naked women. And these were the attendees -- not the average Las Vegas folk. I might as well have been wearing a burka. Not that I was on the prowl, because, well, I'm happily relationshiped. But it made me sad for all of my single counterparts.
I was also highly disappointed by how "left out" I felt by the entire experience. So much of TribeFest relies on connections from camp, day school, college fraternities, Hillel, Hebrew school, synagogue, b'nai mitzvah, and so much more. For those of us who didn't grow up with any of that -- no memories, no connection, no relation -- there were voids. Grand Canyon-style voids. There was a time for people with certain affiliations to get together for food, friendship, drinks, and re-connecting. There wasn't a single one that I fit into, because I didn't grow up Jewish. Many moments left me wondering, "What about my experiences? Or lack thereof. How do I fit?"
But even still, knowing the shenanigans going on behind the scenes and how insignificant my Jewish experience felt, I had an amazing time with my fellow Colorado Jews. I got to catch up with old friends like @EstherK and meet certain old friends in real life for the first time, like @drewkaplan. I also got the amazing opportunity to meet and spend time with illustrious former SNL comedian Rachel Dratch (a member of the tribe!). I wish I could replicate her reaction to my birth name, which was hilarious. Being told by Rachel Dratch that I should write a book was, honestly, enlightening. Now, if only I could find someone to give me an advance so I can take time off, move to the mountains, and devote my time to book-writing ...
I was able to listen to inspiring stories by a girl who started a multi-million dollar nonprofit at the age of seven, a lawyer who was inspired in law school to bring to light the reality of the abuse of children who are forced into becoming suicide bombers, and an Ethiopian Jewish woman (now an IDF med) who was saved from near-death as a child during her family's harrowing escape to Israel and who turned that experience into her career as a doctor and advocate for Ethiopian Jews.
My reaction to it all? This tweet:
The more people I listen to, the stronger I grow in feeling like I need to do more with my voice. #Tribefest
I know that I have a unique voice for a unique community, and perhaps I don't do enough with that voice. I wanted to use my voice so many times, but my peculiar current circumstances largely prevent me from taking action, or even speaking on things that are important to me. But the experience left me inspired, none the less.
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| QUIZreal winning team, FTW! |
It also left me with a $20 giftcard to Amazon (Colorado rocked QUIZreal, hosted by @thdpr and @hypersem) and a winning record in G-dcast's Pitchfest (again, Colorado rocked it and will be having our pitch made into a video)! I made so many new friends and connections in the Jewish world, and I got to experience the vibrancy of the Detroit and Texas communities (which were heavily represented).
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| DUH! |
The next time around, I hope to see more educational sessions. I can think of a dozen sessions that could happen at TribeFest that would integrate Judaism, social media, Israel, and so much more. Sessions that provide material and ideas as takeaways. I also think that the convert's point of view is one that is both unique, necessary, and was missing and that voice needs to be heard. It's a teaching moment. An elegant, necessary teaching moment.
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| Okay, okay. I was spoiled in THE Sheldon Adelson's private suite. But still, Vegas? Nah. |
Oh, and the ultimate lesson of this trip? I hate Las Vegas. (Not the people, the place.)
6 Comments »
i find it quite ironic you seem so judgmental of the immodestly dressed women at tribefest when you experienced firsthand people judging you for dating a non-Jew, especially when it could be easily argued that dating a non-jew does a lot more damage to ensure our jewish future than wearing five inch heels and miniskirts.
ReplyDeleteIf tribefest had had a session on converts, that would have done 2 horrible things:
ReplyDelete1. It would have clearly done what Judaism prohibits, as we are not to segregate converts.
2. It would have created an "us and them" situation, placing a divide between Jews by choice and Jews from birth.
In addition, I too did not get a bat mitzva nor did I have Jewish friends growing up... You cannot expect your Jewish experience to be as rich as someone who has been in the community for 29 years. Even if you do feel like you have enough Jewish experience, that does not mean you actively have pursued healthy connections within the community.
Tribefest is not responsible for inclusive behavior, it's responsible for being a catalyst in the Jewish nonprofit world. Just by you being there and posting your views here has made tribefest a success.
I definitely agree with you about the voids I also feel at Jewish conventions and meet-ups as a convert, especially ones geared towards a younger Jewish audience, as if we are all fresh from camp that past summer. It is part sadness and maybe a little jealousy but just as much frustration at a missed opportunity to engage people with diverse or unique experiences of Judaism. An "us and them" feeling is already present when Jews who didn't grow up Jewish are assumed to have the same Jewish experience as everyone else. Converts themselves are never the only people interested or concerned about the experience and role of converts in Judaism, and I think that a place like TribeFest would be perfect to engage friends, partners, and converts themselves in a constructive and healthy way.
ReplyDeleteI think you're completely missing the point of what I'm suggesting ...
ReplyDeleteHalakah prohibits reminding a Jew of their actions as non-Jews, and I was in no way suggesting we segregate converts. As a convert, who has given many presentations on being a convert and who has this whole blog devoted to it, and knowing many other converts who are proud, publicly, I can tell you that there's a place for it. Also, as someone who runs a support group for 100+ converts of all flavors, I can tell you that converts offer a lot of insight into the divides that appear between movements in Judaism.
So, as I said, you missed the point completely.
I wouldn't call that irony, but unexpected, perhaps. I was more upset at the immodesty of action rather than clothing. There are plenty of women who can dress in high heels and tiny clothes and carry themselves and act with pride and confidence in themselves.
ReplyDeleteTribeFest is nicknamed "ShtupFest" for a reason: People expect certain things to happen there, and that's the draw for most people.
Exactly. It would have been nice to have an "Out of the Box" summit for Jews who don't fit into the Hillel, Camp, Movements, etc.
ReplyDelete