The act wasn't funny - it was three raunchy comments, not jokes - and his delivery was totally awkward. The kid won't go anywhere as a "comedian." Nevertheless, the two Howies were thrilled to see a kid in a yarmulka talking sex. The two women judges looked appalled but went along anyway. The whole thing was a massive chillul Hashem.

Forget religion. Any child who talks that way about his parents in front of them and in front of "the world" is an embarrassment to whatever community he comes from.

In any event, he's only twelve, so I don't fault him. His parents are responsible for this disgrace. "Mmom" was thrilled that her family was on TV and was willing to prostitute her family's honor for the privilege. "Dad" just looked like a schlemiel, going along to get along. (Are there any MEN left?)

Unfortunately, gender politics have clouded the real medical issue at hand. The same people who will criticize circumcision as barbaric have no problem with the complete organ removal and sterilization of a twelve-year-old, based on a pubescent decision of who he/she "really" is.

In addition to the Wall Street Journal article mentioned above, everyone should read Margaret Talbot's article in the New Yorker (a liberal safehaven if there ever was one) called "About a Boy." She writes:

"Transgenderism has replaced homosexuality as the newest civil-rights frontier, and trans activists have become vocal and organized. Alice Dreger, a bioethicist and historian of science at Northwestern University, says, 'The availability of intervention and the outspokenness of the transgender community are causing a lot more people to see themselves as transgender, and at younger ages.'

"Alice Dreger, the bioethicist, said, of cross-gender hormones and surgery, 'These are not trivial medical interventions. You’re taking away fertility, in most cases. And how do you really know who you are before you’re sexual? No child, with gender dysphoria or not, should have to decide who they are that early in life.' She continued, 'I don’t mean to offend people who are truly transgender, but maybe a kid expresses a sense of being the opposite gender because cultural signals say girls don’t shoot arrows, or play rough, or wear boxers, or whatever. I’m concerned that we’re creating feedback loops in an attempt to be sympathetic. There was a child at my son’s preschool who, at the age of three, believed he was a train. Not that he liked trains—he was a train. None of us said, "Yes, you’re a train." We’d play along, but it was clear we were humoring him. After a couple of years, he decided that what he wanted to be was an engineer.'”

Transgenderism is a highly nuanced, complicated matter. To simply "root" for one side of the argument because it fits your liberal leanings is sad.

My wife practices the laws of niddah. Are you calling her a cavewoman?

That's mighty intolerant if you ask me.

I can't stand the usage of "HKBH" for God. It looks and sounds too much like DKNY to me.

What's wrong with God (fewer letters), Hashem, or The Almighty (if you want a little more panahce)?

Yeah. How is this content appropriate for the Forward? "Nipples"? Seriously?!

Why attack dogs? Are you a dog-hater? A canineophobe?

While I am rooting for He'atid and I think very highly of GD, it is fair to say that his school has no record yet. That doesn't make one a "hater."

I send my children to "legacy" schools and am extremely happy with the "product"; I wouldn't describe it as mediocre. But it does cost a lot of money. If someone can do it for less - and I hope he can - I'm interested.

Wow! I have a negative 36 p.

Shocking.

Everyone commenting on this blog should be required to read the NY Times OpEd from Thursday that "thatguy" links to above.

Private school tuition by der goyim costs upward of $40,000 and DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF EDUCATING EACH CHILD.

The article ("they didn’t even consult a rabbi before making the switch"), as well as several of the comments (e.g.,"it may be the accepted choice by rabbis, but not necessarily women") points to a severe problem with the Modern Orthodox today - that following halachah takes a back seat to personal choices and comforts.

Everyone is free to make his or her personal choices, but don't label your lifestyle as Orthodox if you're going to flout the rules. Even the Forward understands that it's "sinful" and seems to relish that fact.