tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post8195233890437827967..comments2024-03-20T06:29:27.167-04:00Comments on The Rabbi with a Blog (Rabbi Jason Miller): Judge Kimba Wood Responds to Imbalanced Simchas for Jewish BabiesRabbi Jason Millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-55273691212573584122010-12-16T03:05:12.474-05:002010-12-16T03:05:12.474-05:00I loved the judge's response. I always felt ba...I loved the judge's response. I always felt bad that we didn't make a simhat bat for my first daughter, but she was premature and after her month in hospital we moved house and we just weren't up to making a simha at that point. We made a simhat bat for my second daughter two weeks after she was born. Having made 2 britot 8 days after birth, I felt that I should at least take advantage of the situation and give myself a bit longer to recover! My older daughter's bat mitzva was made a week after her birthday - we would have done it on the date but she was born on the last day of Tammuz. Although she did not layen, she gave a dvar tora in shul on shabbat and her celebration was totally equal to those of our sons.Gilliannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-41986704250148037882010-11-24T16:16:13.531-05:002010-11-24T16:16:13.531-05:00Mark Fass linked to this blog in his New York Law ...Mark Fass linked to this blog in his New York Law Journal article on the Judge Kimba Wood simcha response.<br /><br />In addition to getting the day off, Mr. Epstein is now in the midst of his own 15 minutes of Internet fame. The Wall Street Journal's Law Blog posted an item about the letter, as did The Atlantic ("This is incredibly charming and progressive on Kimba Wood's part"), the Jerusalem Post and, of course,RabbiJason.com.<br /><br />Mr. Epstein said he has received dozens of phone calls and e-mails, from friends and strangers.<br /><br />In a phone interview yesterday, Mr. Epstein said that he has appeared before Judge Wood several times, and did not think the light tone of his letter, or his "secret hope" for a boy, would offend.<br /><br />"It was tongue in cheek and also heart on sleeve," Mr. Epstein said. "I think she has a sense of humor."<br /><br />Mr. Epstein said he has also begun to prepare for the celebration of girls and women in Judge Woods' court, just in case.<br /><br />"There's a poem from the book of proverbs, 'aishes chayil,'" Mr. Epstein said. "It's read on Friday nights, and at weddings grooms sing it to brides. It's a beautiful poem that honors the role of women."<br /><br />Mark Fass can be reached at mfass@alm.comRabbi Jason Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07805550465729805847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-79168554433610666072010-11-23T15:32:44.335-05:002010-11-23T15:32:44.335-05:00I can hardly believe the letter from the lawyer, e...I can hardly believe the letter from the lawyer, even though obviously tongue in cheek. "Muted" joy if it's a girl? Oy vey!!!<br /><br />But it's all too real with families who still say, "if it's a boy, we'll go right away, if it's a girl, no rush." I have four daughters and one son (fourth child) and when I was pregnant with him, a local Jewish matron asked me if my husband and I would "stop" if it were a boy this time. My clever friend said I should have replied, "Stop what?!"<br /><br />I also wrote about ceremonies for girls in my book, "The Jewish Parents' Almanac," by Julie Hilton Danan.Julie Hilton Dananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03163698859864083656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-57506013189345919762010-11-22T17:21:07.351-05:002010-11-22T17:21:07.351-05:00As the mother of 4 girls I always felt that they w...As the mother of 4 girls I always felt that they were cheated out of their official welcome to the Jewish community, although they were named in Shul on the first Shabat after their birth. Nevertheless, they are all marvelous successful women who are making wonderful contributions to the Jewish community and the their communities at large. My 5 granddauhters have all have Simchat Bat celebrations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6003330.post-90615381011274330852010-11-22T11:13:28.871-05:002010-11-22T11:13:28.871-05:00Love it! We also had Eden's Simchat Bat on the...Love it! We also had Eden's Simchat Bat on the 8th day after she was born. Not knowing if she was a boy or girl, we just planned something for that day and stuck to it. We figured, we did it for our son and we'll do it for our daughter too. So glad we did!Kim Levynoreply@blogger.com