Identity-defining purchases

[bnewman]

I went to the grocery store today after my dental checkup, and bought Chanukah candles and fresh, locally-caught shrimp, and a moderate weight of pre-winter-holiday angst neatly evaporated.

Now, if only my term-project angst would go so easy...

Comments

Interesting juxtaposition

[tovaks.livejournal.com]

Chanukah candles and fresh, locally-caught shrimp

Am I the only one who did a double-take after reading that clause? ;)

Happy Chanukkah, Ben!

Re: Interesting juxtaposition

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I did too- but then I figured that well, it was Ben, and so that sort of made sense, in a Ben-ish way, so I didn't say anything. Happy Chanukkah to you while I'm at it, and to the fabulous owner of this LJ.

[batyatoon]

... okay, but why is shrimp identity-defining?

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

It's a long story... ever since I was a little kid, I have had pretty much the fondest appreciation for seafood of anyone I know, and, silly as it sounds, I have come to think of that as part of who I am. As I've deepened further into Jewish practice over the past few years, I've done some soul-searching on the matter (and G!d-wrestling, which is an interesting story unto itself, but not for right now, I think...).

Anyway, this is what I realized: I had been continuing to eat pork out of inertia, so I stopped. But I had been continuing to eat shellfish out of love. So I thought about how I could place my love of shellfish in creative tension with my Jewish practice (as I had done with my neopagan practice/identity), rather then walling them up in opposite corners of my life and having them not talk to each other.

As Jews, one of the reasons we're here is to bless G!d for all the wonderful things He's placed in the world. In my world — and I fully understand that this is not normative and do not encourage anyone with a halachically defined Jewish practice to join me — one of those wonderful things is yummy, yummy shrimp.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

To help me understand, what's a practical example of putting contradictory practices "in creative tension", as opposed to "wall[ed].. up in opposite corners"?

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

Compare:

(a) "As a Jew, one of the reasons I'm here is to bless G!d for all the wonderful things He's placed in the world, and one of those wonderful things is yummy, yummy shrimp."

(b) "I don't keep kosher."

One of these is a positive statement about Jewish practice, the other is a negative statement about Jewish practice. Both are true about me. The practical example would be my choosing the first statement as more meaningful and informative, not just as an explanation to others but also internally. I can explain further when we pick up that email conversation we've been meaning to have.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

Okie dokie, I see the positive vs. negative, I don't necesarily see exactly what you meant by "tension" vs. "compartmentalization" though.

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe those are the wrong words. I prefer to sharpen the seemingly contradictory parts of myself against each other rather than setting them apart to prevent them from breaking each other.

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

cool got it

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

And Happy Chanukah, btw!!