How Come Sourcecon Is On Rosh Hashanah

No offence, guys, but how come?

Sourcecon is a privately funded event. Its bosses are free to stage it on any date they choose and no one has a right to tell them otherwise.

I'm just curious. Why is it scheduled to coincide with the high holidays of the Hebraic persuasion?

Comments

[Glenn Gutmacher]

I brought this up with them a while back when they asked me to speak (which is why I'm presenting on day 1 of the conference and will have to leave that night & miss the final day, alas). It was a pure oversight, not intentional, and they promise not to repeat the error in '08.

[Amitai Givertz]

No to be picky or anything, but your thinking is typically occidental. Some of us -- yes I am one of them -- will be going to SourceCon for the duration, and celebrating our non-European traditions:

http://www.geocities.com/afinkle221/Non-Rabbinic/samaritan.html

Just sounding off if you know what I mean.

[Amitai Givertz]

Actually, what I meant to say was:

Animal, not to be picky or anything...still sounding off if you know what I mean.

[Glenn Gutmacher]

Amitai, if you want to celebrate with the minority that comprises non-Rabbinic Judaism and doesn't recognize Rosh Hashanah, go for it. Personally, I feel the value of Judaism comes in large part from the congregational aspect of being part of a religious community that celebrates long-lasting traditions. It helps instill values that ground you (and your children). I suppose one COULD celebrate any religious holiday from anywhere, but that would defeat the purpose when your whole family goes together. (And I'm not one of those jappy Jews that only attend on major holidays -- our family looks forward to Friday nights, and many other events at our active, family-friendly temple -- throughout the year.) SourceCon's planners realize it was a mistake, their oversight was unintentional and has been forgiven by observant Jews who have been involved in the debut event, and they say it won't happen again. For the immediate situation, I appreciate their accommodation to allow me to present on day 1 of the conference.

[Amitai Givertz]

Glenn, I hope my comment didn't cause you or anyone else any offense. In fact, my second comment was to make sure there was no confusion about my
addressing Michael specifically in answer to his question. However, you raise some interesting points that deserve a sincere response:

>>> ...if you want to celebrate with the minority that comprises non-Rabbinic Judaism and doesn't recognize Rosh Hashanah, go for it

You make it sound as if one decided to do that it would somehow be inappropriate. It may not be conventional but that wouldn't make it more or less than a traditional practice, would it?

>>> Personally, I feel the value of Judaism comes in large part from the congregational aspect of being part of a religious community that celebrates long-lasting traditions.

Agreed but not all Jews are part of a traditional congregation or part of a religious community. To long-lasting traditions, does that include the exclusion of women as Cantors or gays in the congregation? I guess
"long-lasting traditions" is all relative as I'm sure you wouldn't condone stoning adulterers, would you?

>>> It helps instill values that ground you (and your children).

With all due respect, that could be said with equal effect for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and even Branch Davidians if you wanted to compress the time-tradition continuum for a modern - albeit apocalyptic - reading of (any) Holy text

>>> I suppose one COULD celebrate any religious holiday from anywhere, but that would defeat the purpose when your whole family goes together.

Glenn, I'm sorry. I can't imagine it was your intent but someone else might read that as a tad condescending. I understand your point and agree with the sentiment but the emphasis on COULD suggests what you really mean is "could not."

>>> And I'm not one of those jappy Jews...

I don't know what a "jappy Jew" is. Is the opposite of an occidental Jew?

Beta Israel - the Falashas of Ethiopia, and more recently Jerusalem no doubt - are most definitely a part of a "religious community that celebrates long-lasting traditions," traditions that would hardly be
recognized in the society of European Jewry.

I counted myself among them in the context of "Falasha" translating as "Stranger" or "Exile" which I grant you is altogether too obtuse as I try explain it here but not lost on Michael I'm sure and to whom the comment was directed. I thought the link would be a good idea, if
nothing else to explain my "sounding off" wisecrack. Whatever...

To the crux of it:

>>> SourceCon's planners realize it was a mistake, their oversight was unintentional and has been forgiven by observant Jews...

Glenn, "mistake," "forgiven," "observant Jews" - puhleeeeeze! It would only be a mistake if the audience demographics were so heavily weighted to the "Hebraic persuasion" -- whatever the that means -- that the date
of the event coinciding with the Jewish New Year meant a drop-off in ticket sales. To the extent that SourceCon is important it is a matter of personal conscience if one weighs up the relative importance of a thing and decides to miss SourceCon altogether because a religious
observance is - and should be - more important than an industry get together.

>>> For the immediate situation, I appreciate their accommodation to allow me to present on day 1 of the conference.

Isn't that a personal arrangement that was made - as you say - as an accommodation for you? In a society where we have separation of Church and State the real question is - in the form of an answer to the original question posed in the post - "Who cares?"

In closing, I quote Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik:

"I may attack a certain point of view which I consider false, but I will never attack a person who preaches it. I have always a high regard for the individual who is honest and moral, even when I am not in agreement with him. Such a relation is in accord with the concept of kavod habriyot, for beloved is man for he is created in the image of God." -

In his learned book, The Lonely Man of Faith Soloveitchik reads the first two chapters of Genesis as a contrast in the nature of the human being and identifies two human types: Adam I, or "majestic man", who employs his creative faculties in order to master his environment; and
Adam II, or "coventional man", who surrenders himself in submission to his Master Soloveitchik describes how the man of faith integrates both of these aspects.

Respectfully...

[Maureen Sharib]

“The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.” ~ Georgia Harkness

[Steve Levy]

The rare times when Glenn lets us view bits of his wry sense of humor should be marked down on our calendars and celebrated each year.

It's an oversight plain and simple - the same way people have been scheduling substantive meetings on 9-11 here in NY. Accommodations were made for Glenn; I don't see a big deal here. If you prefer to celebrate the High Holies - as some sourcers no doubt will - you won't attend.

Ami, when Glenn speaks of "jappy jews", he is referring those who appear to attend Temple Beth Goyim, a special shul where fashion seems to trump everything else. The Shemoneh Esrei is just an opportunity to speak to one's friend because others aren't praying so loud that the conversation can't take place.

[I grew up on the Orthodox side with a very strict European father]

[Recruiting Animal]

I guess that explains why you're out of the box

[Steve Levy]

Or in the spirit of this thread, outside the ark...

[Glenn Gutmacher]

Amitai, if you don't come to SourceCon, I hope to get to meet you somewhere else soon. I suspect we are far more similar in our religious views than dissimilar. Hopefully we will come to know each other at least as well as I know Steve Levy, since he clearly understood where I was trying to draw the line between clarification and humor. All should be clear now, except for 3 points which may fester if unaddressed:

- I didn't mean to imply any form of worship is "less"; one worships where and how one is able to and/or wishes to

- In hindsight, I see that my emphasis on COULD was a mistake, as it lent itself to misinterpretation. It was not a "could not" -- just meant that it makes the community aspect and family feeling of Judaism more difficult to appreciate, imho.

- I do think the holiday overlap may have a meaningful impact on SourceCon attendance, if only because it's the debut year and every person counts. In future years, as the conference (hopefully) becomes more established, the percentage of holiday-observant Jews should become tiny.

I would also like to thank the others who have commented privately to express their understanding/appreciation of my viewpoint. Don't worry, Maureen, we're all still friends around here. Heck, I'm just glad to see some people read posts and comments all the way down the thread!

[Recruiting Animal]

I'm still ready to fight, Glenn.