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silverfoxesclub-digest
Monday, November 13 2000
Volume 01 : Number 044

In this issue:

-Apologia
-Boston Bill strikes again!
-Film explores gays' struggle in Orthodox Jewish community
-Opera
-Re: Opera

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Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 10:19:32 -0800
From: "Ben Boxer"

Subject: Apologia

Oops! I just noticed on the posting I forwarded to the list for Bob Feinstein -- or maybe for his guide dog, Harley -- that I neglected to chop off the long reference posting attached to it. Sorry. Don't blame Bob. Blame me. I didn't read beyond his comments and sent it out without thinking of taking a peek as I had just dragged myself out of bed to check the mail after an all-night session with my partner...no, not what you think. His 'puter crashed and his frazzled nerves needed a lot of nursing from me as he babied it back to par.
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Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 16:12:33 -0800
From: "Ben Boxer"

Subject: Boston Bill strikes again!

Here's one I missed and have just now found in the digest as I was putting it on line:
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Dear Ben Landers,

I need some advice from an expert. Sometimes I read messages to which I respond in my own mind by wanting to chop off some body parts of the sender. Does netiquette countenance such responses?

Hugs,
George (aka Boston Bill)
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I wondered what George was talking about when he wrote me privately and asked if he had offended me with the above posting. Boston Bill knows what a sensitive little soul I really am. He was worried because I had not responded to his posting. Well, Mr. Beantown, I just ate a can of Boston Baked Beans, and here's one in your face! FAAAARRRRRTTTT!

Yes, I am deeply offended.

I am NOT my bitch twin sister Ann Landers! I am the OTHER one -- Dear Crabby!!!!!

As for the body part to sever, I recommend you to the Boston specialist, Dr. Cutchercockoff, the only gynecologist for men!

Will you never learn to take me seriously?

TAKE ME! SERIOUSLY!
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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 01:12:11 -0800
From: "Ben Boxer"

Subject: Film explores gays' struggle in Orthodox Jewish community

Headline:
Film explores gays' struggle in Orthodox Jewish community
(Miami Herald, 11/11/00)

Text:
While Conservative Judaism has become more tolerant of homosexuality and Reform synagogues are actively seeking gay members, little has changed in the Orthodox Jewish world. Gays and lesbians still live in the shadows, often marrying to please family members and leading double lives.

''The pressure to get married is very severe within Orthodox life. The pressure to procreate, to build a Jewish people, is enormous,'' said Sandi DuBowski, director of a new documentary about gay and lesbian Hasidic and Orthodox Jews, Trembling Before G-D. ''A lot of people can't stand the pressure and leave Orthodoxy. Or, often they get married and can't tell their husbands and wives.''

Hasidism is a strict, ultra-Orthodox movement within Judaism that began in the 18th Century in southeastern Poland and exists today in small groups throughout the world. Both Hasidism and traditional Orthodox Judaism brand homosexuality as a Biblical abomination.

''Orthodox Judaism is a wonderful, beautiful, spiritual life,'' said DuBowski, whose documentary attempts to capture the emotional struggle gay Orthodox Jews face. ''You're asking people to cut off their arm or cut out their heart. It's an integral part of their being. They want to serve God. They can't leave.''

Trembling Before G-D will be previewed Nov. 19 in Miami Beach as a benefit for the upcoming Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The movie, which will be entered in the Sundance Film Festival, officially opens sometime next year.

''I've been involved with the project for three years,'' said Miami Beach resident Harvey J. Burstein, president and executive director of the Burstein Family Foundation, which gave $20,000 to help finance the film.

''I found it was a story that had to be told,'' said Burstein, who is co-sponsoring the benefit with Congregation Etz Chaim, Temple Israel of Greater Miami and the Havurah at Temple Israel.

Among the Jews featured in DuBowski's film is a lesbian couple in their 20s who fell in love during high school in Brooklyn and later moved to Miami.

''They're scared to be out,'' DuBowski said. ''They would like to have children [by artificial insemination] and send those children to yeshivas or Hebrew day schools.''

Others profiled in the film include a gay grandfather and a married lesbian in Jerusalem.

''Her husband doesn't know. She has seven kids and is having a very tough time,'' DuBowski said. ''She takes antidepressants so her marriage doesn't fall apart.''

Like many other married gays and lesbians, she finds comfort knowing that for two weeks every month during her menstrual cycle, no sex is allowed, according to Orthodox law.

''Your husband isn't allowed to touch, and it's a relief,'' DuBowski said.

But couples are also expected to have sex on other Friday nights after women cleanse themselves in religious baths called mikvahs, he said.

The 84-minute film was shot Jerusalem, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and London.

''It touches a nerve in people who have not experienced Orthodoxy,'' DuBowski said.

Jewish or not, audiences will be able to relate to the Orthodox experience. ''Whether it's Catholicism or Islam or fundamental Christianity, there are parallels to what Orthodox gay and lesbian people go through,'' DuBowski said.

Interior designer Reni T. Rodriguez, a board member of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, agrees:

''In Miami you have the same element, the tightknit Cuban family that lives with this kind of stigma if [one of] their children is found to be gay or comes out. I hope it's going to be interesting and eye-opening to a lot of people.''

Burstein, who was raised Reform, said he has ''learned a little bit more about the struggle for freedom of religion and being able to practice your Judaism the way you want to practice it.

''The passion and the pain people go through being gay and also trying to be Jewish.''
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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 11:18:14 -0500 (EST)
From: Edward

Subject: Opera

Question to the list:

I've been invited to an opera tomorrow, Rigoletto, at Lincoln Center. This is the very first time I am seeing a live opera performance, and I have absolutely no idea what it is about.

Can anyone help fill me in?

Thanks.
Edward
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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2000 17:37:28 +0000
From: leslie E Wellington-Garrett

Subject: Re: Opera

Hi Edward,
Your education is sadly lacking,you need to be put over this Daddy's knee and be educated.

Rigoletto is one of Verdi's finest, Remember that it is not really the plot which is convoluted that matters; what matters is the womderful sounds that are produced,and the drama overlaid with the Orchestra. The singers etc all coming togerther in a glorious whole

The plot concerns The Duke of Manuta,he is a libertine( you will know what that means) His Court Jester Rigoletto and Rigoletto's Daughter Gilda.

The rest of the cast are there to create atmosphere and support.

The Duke has cast a roving eye in the direction of Gilda(who loves him.These women!) and The Duke has her abducted. Rigoletto is furious,and plans to have the Duke killed,hiring an murderer to do the job for him.

Unfortunately Gilda gets in the way(she loves the Duke remember) and gets stabbed instead. At the end of the opera Rigoletto come's to collect the body which has been put into a sack.,hears a moan opens the sack and discovers Gilda. Desperation sets in. End of Opera.

Enjoy,you should have a wonderful evening,and will need to relax afterwards,and I guess you know how to do that

Hugs leslie

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End of silverfoxesclub-digest V1 #44
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