Things heated up on the ice last Sunday when Johnny Weir and Evan Lysacek faced off in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, held in St. Paul. The American rivals scored equal totals of 244.77 — an event practically unheard of in the world of figure skating — but Lysacek ended up taking first place, topping Weir in a final free skate tiebreaker. It was an impressive spectacle on all counts, but The Shmooze was particularly struck by one small detail: a gold chain worn around the neck of Weir, adorned with Star of David and hamsa pendants. Nonetheless, Weir’s Jewish lineage is somewhat dubious: In 2006 he told The Washington Post that he considers himself “a little bit” Jewish. He noted that during a reading of his past lives, he learned that he was once a Jewish girl from Poland during Hitler’s reign.
Who cares?
Well, in one of my past lives I was both a moile and the editor for a moile monthly called "The Foreskinner". But I was best known for being able to do circumcisions while skating on ice.
I believe according to the latest Reform responsa on the subject (1983-Marin County) if you were Jewish in one of your past lives you are considered Jewish. None of that silly halachaic matrilineal stuff.
a bit confused wouldn't you say
If a hardworking person wants to identify with us, why stop him? The more friends we have, the more good will that is shared, the better it will be for us in this world and in the world to come.
Oy Vay! A Weir should either convert or cut the masquerade. We cannot let ourselves be fooled by Jews who pretend they aren't or by those who aren't trying to crash the party. Everyone should know who the fake Jews are before counting them in a minyan. We have plenty of Seventh Day Adventists trying to pass themselves off as MOT, even coming to Torah dedications in dress up as Orthodox Jews.
Well, his skating is very Jewish. He's a smart skater.
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