Oh the irony of it all.
On a night with BG's most notable atheist, Rob Sherman in the audience, religion becomes a focus during the Sept. 21 board meeting
And, as it is to believe, Sherman wasn't even there for a religious reason. He was there to observe the discussion about a proposed ordinance establishing guidelines to recall elected village officials who may, to be polite, fall short of the expectations of the voters.
In other words, it's a way to rid the village of those officials who think they're G-d or walk on water.
The interjection of religion into public debate is little more than whining. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's what it is. Generally, most discussions deal with issues on a secular level to maintain a business-like and professional decorum.
There are those, however, who like to hide behind the Star of David or the Torah to whine, make up for their own inadequacies, or to try and use it for their own political advantage.
Political? Like, say being a trustee on the Buffalo Grove Village Board.
Afraid so.
At the onset of the debate regarding the proposed recall ordinance, trustee Lisa Stone said among other things (see related blog about the ordinance) that she did not have enough time to read it because of the Jewish holiday (Rosh Hashanah). Point well taken. It did start Friday night and, depending on the level of your observance, run until sundown Saturday or Sunday for more observant Jews.
Stone made the point and that should have been the end of the discussion about Rosh Hashanah. Say the secret word and win $100. Should.
But we're talking the Buffalo Grove Village Board and we're talking Lisa Stone here. A point of emphasis is needed here -- Stone is not the only Jew on the Board. As near as I can tell at least four other board members are Jewish. No one seemed to have a problem. Except Stone.
Unless she has been appointed Rebbetzin of the Board (if we're going that route, my vote for Board Bubby goes to Beverly Sussman), there's no need to make a big thing about getting a board packet the Thursday before a Board meeting.
How about this concept? Instead of belittling the staff and colleagues about not having time to read the ordinance, would it not have made sense, sense being the key word here, if someone, in this case I'll toss the ball to Stoney, to have been appropriately proactive and contacted the village manager's office and requested the packets be delivered early because of the holiday.
News flash -- these are not unexpected holidays. For the past 5770 years Rosh Hashanah falls on the first of Tishre in the Hebrew calendar. A quick hop to Hebcal.com and you can find what Hebrew date corresponds to an English date for a myriad of years.
Simple. A piece of cake (let's make it honey cake to stay in the holiday theme).
But we're talking the Buffalo Grove Village Board and we're talking Lisa Stone here.
I take offense to Stone flaunting her Judaic background.
Why? Because I am a Jew.
I am proud of the traditions in Judaism, as well as the state of Israel. However it's a personal thing. The time I spend in synagogue is between me and G-d. While I support and am active in several Jewish organizations and organizations that support Israel, it's not something I flaunt, or even use to prove a point.
And neither should Stone. As a friend told me, she had all day Friday and Monday to review the proposed ordinance and to contact either village staff or her colleagues on the Board to get their view.
She chose note to because, after all, it was Rosh Hashanah. Yes, we know. Stone was upset that she was not notified of the proposal and hinted that she would have liked to have coauthored it with fellow trustee Jeff Berman.
In the midst of her persistence that the world should come to her, religion entered the topic again. Citing the Jewish holidays, Stone revealed to everyone that she was not reform and not orthodox and that she was somewhere in-between.
Huh? I still have no idea what the heck that was supposed to mean. Sources tell me that she and her family are members at Temple Beth Am, a reform temple in the village. Reform. Not in between.
I thought, and hoped, that Stone's faux minyan was over.
The keyword here is hoped.
As the discussion droned on, it was clear that the ordinance would be on the agenda at the next meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5. A full week after Yom Kippur.
This, however, was too soon for the Rebbetzin who said she did not think it was enough time because of Yom Kippur.
Amidst the eye rolling of many people there, a voice called out "Don't bring religion into it."
It wasn't a board member, or a village official. It was resident Leon Gopon who merely said what was probably on the minds of most of people at the meeting.
Whether Ms. Stone heard the comment or not remains to be seen. It was hard not to.
Mr. Gopon's point was more than just well taken -- it was right on.
Stone is looking for any reason to blame anyone for being professional and proactive.
To invoke religion for personal gain and notoriety is wrong and, from a Judaic standpoint, is not what devote practicing Jews would do. They worship and follow the 613 mitzvot in the Torah.
They don't abuse them.
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