Caste system the untouchables

     In the video the untouchable, it describes the way of the hindu faith. I learned that the caste system is somewhat a system of heirchy. the only difference is that  You are born into a certain class and will remain so forever no matter how good or bad you are. Lower classes serve higher classes. The lower classes's woman and children are not safe because the higher class will do anything with them.
 
  the people who are on the higher caste system are the barahmins. the barahmins are the priests. those who are at the bottom are called sudras. They are the commoners. Then there comes the untouchables. They are followers of the hindu faith, but are not classifyed. Because of this they are the lowest of lows. These group of people are treated terribly then the other people who are in the caste system.

  these group of people have been harrased to the extream that they are ashamed of showing their own faces. Many have tried to flee while others simply gave up on life.

 Iwas so supprised by this video because such things still exist. It is a truely harsh and sad reality

identity

For me having an identity is something i pride myself with. For some an identity is classified by who your family is. Growing up i have found it very difficult in classifying myself. In second grade the 9/11 occurred. Immediately after the next day and the people behind it were told i was being questioned by all my peers both teachers and students. Who are you? Are u Muslim? Why do where the scarf? Being only seven my answers to these questions weren’t professional at all. However I wasn’t that dense I understood immediately that they were hostile towards me. For an example, when I asked for cheese pizza in the cafeteria I was given sausage. I didn’t tell my parents these events right away because there was a problem there. You see my house was raided by the FBI. Both of my parents were hawala people the company they managed in the twin cities and Rochester was al- Barakaat which was recently released out of the blacklist this year. With all of these things happening slowly I have started to withdraw myself. I mean what’s the point. Your teacher’s hate you they are aware about what happened at home but still the do not care in fact they ask. Do you know Osama? I replied saying no of course and said I only saw him on TV. My parents noticed many changes in my behavior. I no longer wanted to be in the book club nor did I want to associate with anyone. In fact subhanallah I even questioned my parents whether or not the Muslims are the ones who did that. My parents know understood they asked me about everything at school and I told them. My parents then decided that staying here for me and my sister was no longer a good idea. And we needed to move as soon as possible. When I remember the effort my parents put in to me in order to appreciate my religion. I am thankful for that. I feel blessed that I am a Muslim and that I am different. 

Video response

1. What are 3 important facts you learned about the video? Women although they have little roles outside their family they carry every thing within it, Worship can be done every time within everything You do so as you mention it is for the sake of God. The talmud for them is the word of God. Hasdic people like to keep within their own commmunities and they do not value luxurious life styles.
2. How did what you watched in these videos help you better understand Asher Lev, his family and the community he lives in? I understoood more the reason why Asher's family and other people objected his drawings because it was something outside the practice of the community.
3. Provide 5 situations you read thus far in My Name is Asher Lev that are directly influenced by what you watched in these videos, of the Hasidim religion.
Stores owned by hasidic, schools, neighborhood, prayer rituals, and strictly traditional
4. Name one thing you would like to further explore. You have must name at least one thing, as we know that these videos do not give us the full picture of the entire religion.
The foundation of hasidism

Poetry Out Loud

Sonnet LV: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments By William Shakespeare

Not marble nor the gilded monuments

Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme,

But you shall shine more bright in these contents

Than unswept stone besmeared with sluttish time.

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

And broils root out the work of masonry,

Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn

The living record of your memory.

’Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room

Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

    So, till the Judgement that yourself arise,

    You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

Themes in Asher Lev

Religon, social norms, desires, obligations, and the essence if ones hobby and desire.

   In my opinion the theme that represents the book is the effect and inevitability of social norms. Without paying much heed at all. How might this happen? Why is it inevitable? These questions are the building blocks of this Story.

  The story begins with Asher of present time introducing himself. After stating his gift, Asher goes on telling about his lineage on hasidic Jews. His commnity is filled with hasidic jews. And his parents are involved in this community. For example his father works for the Rebbe. Now why is this significant?

 From the earilist of his childhood he became acustom to using words such as gentiles. He also new which prayer melodies to sing. He also became acustom to the men with sideburns and the women with wigs. Because this was pretty much all what Asher saw. This is his community his life and all he has ever known. The reason he has become accustom to these things because it was inevitable. It was his parents way of life assended upon him. Is to inherit this.   

  Growing up in this story Asher tends to break these norms. Since the norms of the Hasidic society is build on religious customs. Asher's gift goes against these customs. It is of common knowledge to them that drawing is outlawed  in Hasidic Judiasms. His father who is of these norms tried to sway Asher From this. But Asher who at an early age found fault in society do to world wide events such as stalin or a local one his mothers illness due to her brother's death. With these events playing on him drawing became his salvation and scape goat from society. Losing it ince Asher. Intend to never lose it again.


 

Awesome