Debunking Jewish Taboos and Myths with Rabbi Newmark

Rabbi Joyce Newmark relates common Jewish misconceptions to a game of telephone. In telephone, children sit in a line and whisper a sentence to one another until it gets to the other side, and then compare the two sentences to see how different they ended up.

Similarly to how that game usually ends up, Jewish facts, fictions and practices have been passed from generation to generation, leaving part of the faith to be reinterpreted, misused and changed to conform to society.

Newmark lectured to an intimate group at the Glen Rock Jewish Center to bring light to some commonly misunderstood aspects of Judaism.

“Jewish opinions on anything do not fit on bumper stickers,” jokes Newmark, a graduate of Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, known for her sermons and educational programs.

She's served as a rabbi of congregations in Leonia, and in Lancaster, PA.

Newmark also wrote a weekly column titled “Torah Sparks” for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for three years. She is currently a columnist for the New Jersey Jewish News, and gives lectures on topics of modern Jewish interest.

Adult activities coordinator for the Glen Rock Jewish Center Elaine Ziff Leibman, had seen Newmark give a similar presentation at another event and found her lecture to be enlightening. Soon Newmark was invited to the Glen Rock Jewish Center.

Newmark began her lecture handing out a short true or false survey titled “Jewish Bubbe Meises: Things You Know About Judaism That Aren’t Really True” about common Jewish misconceptions, and revealed once everyone had completed it, that all of the answers were false.

For example, the Star of David is not an ancient symbol of Judaism. Newmark revealed that though it is a very common link to modern Judaism, it originated in the seventeenth century. The oldest and most sacred ancient symbol of the Jewish faith is actually a menorah with seven branches, which was commonly used in temple starting around 1000 B.C.E.

“I feel as though this is an honest understanding of human nature,” Newmark said.

Newmark said she gives this lecture to groups because she feels that everyone should know the truth behind the taboos of their faith.

“It’s good to know and fun to explore. Knowing the truth about Jewish taboos helps them not to be used as weapons in the future, as well as being sensitive to those who still hold onto their customs.”

As Newmark closed her lecture, she encouraged people to not feel shy about asking their Rabbi’s questions about their faith, how they practice it, and about religious taboos.

“Never be afraid to ask questions. We love them!”