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These are answers that Yiddishkeit has provided in Judaism
| Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 02/28/06 - Term Hi Elliot.
My oldest boy is reading "The Chosen" and doing a report over various aspects of it. One aspect calls for him to do various things relating to the word "apikorson," which I almost certainly have not spelled correctly. Something to do with a Jewish person who is Jewish by name (or race) only, but doesn't adhere to the principles of Judaism.
Could you please:
a. Correct my spelling
b. Give me some insight into what this term means, as well as the general connotations and denotations of using the word. For example, is it perjorative, or neutral? Whatever info I can get to help my son would be most appreciated.
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 03/01/06:DK this summary is from "The Chosen" website
"During World War II two Jewish teenagers in New York meet under unfortunate circumstances. Reuven Malder is the pitcher and Danny Saunders the batter in a baseball game between two rival yeshivas. Danny, the son of the rebbe (or tzaddik) of a strict Hasidic sect, lines the ball straight to Reuven, hitting him in the eye. Later, Danny visits Reuven (the son of a Jewish scholar) in the hospital and they become close friends. The story takes us through the next five or six years of the boys' lives, as the World War ends, the Holocaust is revealed, and the Jewish state in Palestine is born in dissension and violence.
Danny is destined by tradition to follow his father as tzaddik of his community, but he really desires to become a secular psychologist. Reuven is gifted in mathematics, but his desire is to become a rabbi. From his father Reuven learns about the historical roots and practices of Hasidism. At Reb Saunders's synagogue, he experiences Hasidism in practice, especially the practice whereby the Reb makes an intentional mistake in his sermon every week and challenges Danny to identify the mistake and elucidate it from the Talmud and commentaries.
Reuven learns to hate Reb Saunders, who strangely never talks to his son, except when they are studying Talmud. Danny and Reuven both attend Hirsch College. At one point Reuven's father, David Malter, openly supports the creation of Israel and Reb Saunders, who is violently anti-Zionist, forbids Danny to speak with or associate with Reuven.
Meanwhile, Danny has never spoken with his father about his plans to attend graduate school in psychology. Finally, the rebbe asks to see Reuven and for the first time in a year the three men meet in Reb Saunders study. The rebbe explains that he has known about Danny's plans all along. He also explains why he raised his son in silence--it was to teach him to listen to silence, to learn compassion, to develop a soul to go with his magnificent mind."
When I first saw the movie years ago I was really touched. It speaks to me as I can identify with the "Reuven" character. My mothers family was highly educated, but I never got so much into the traditions. I attend shul now and then, mostly Reform. Although I'm a bit less traditional and practicing than my Orthodox peer, I would certainly take offence to the term "apikores." It really must of been used as Elliot mentioned from the Zionism aspect. Another derogatory term we use for apostates and heretics is "shtik goy" or a bit milder term is "sheigetz" which besides non-Jewish boy also is used to describe a wild Jewish boy.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 12/09/05 - Yom Kippur ?? Is Yom Kippur much more than just a fast?.
rolcam. Yiddishkeit answered on 12/13/05:Hi Rolcam-
Yes, it is a spiritual healing time for each Jewish individual and that effects mankind. It is a special time for reflection on the past year, as well as consideration of our future actions.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 12/12/05 - Zohar resources I just bought a reasonably old (early 19th century, I think) Zohar Bereishit and would love to actually learn from it. Reading isn't the problem, but (as you might expect with a Zohar) understanding is. It is full of too many arcane references and its own set of vocabulary. Does anyone know of an online or published set of the Zohar bereishit (not just a vocabulary list and more than just a simple translation, but with explanation of concepts as they flow from the specific translation) so I can move back and forth between the two (and thus increase my ability to study another Hebrew text without help later on)?
thanks Yiddishkeit answered on 12/13/05:See if you find anything useful in these: www.ascentofsafed.com and/or www.safed-kabbalah.com
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | tony052071 asked on 04/08/05 - PETER WHEN IN ISRAEL OUR TOUR GUIDE TOLD US PETER WAS BURIED IN ISRAEL,BUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CLAIMS HE IS BURIED IN ROME. WHICH IS IT? Yiddishkeit answered on 09/07/05:Sorry for being late to answer this! I really do not have a definitive answer for your question. I think the Christianity board may better serve you. As a Jewish person I'll share with you my opinion. I would think if Peter was a missionary to other Jewish populace as Christinity claims, than he most likely died and was burried in Israel. The Catholic church may claim his bodied was taken to Rome, but I doubt Peter spent any part of his life their and they would be hard pressed to prove otherwise.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 09/01/05 - Your prayers are urgently needed. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
--Psalm 91:1-2
Dear Praying Friend,
President Bush is back in Washington closely monitoring relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. He stated on Tuesday that one thing we all can do to help in the long-run is to pray, saying, "The good folks in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama and other affected areas are going to need the help and compassion and prayers of our fellow citizens."
I add my urging to that of the President, inviting you to join with thousands of Presidential Prayer Team participants to pray in the wake of this incredible disaster. As people who pray, we are uniquely poised to impact our nation. Please, join me in praying and let us together watch as God powerfully provides.
ROLCAM
Downunder. Yiddishkeit answered on 09/01/05:
Hi ROLCAM!
When I have time, like today, I'm trying to get back in action by answering a few posts here and there. I want to say your post is welcomed, appreciated, and your thoughts commended!
Fortunatly my prayer life is not dependant upon politicians. We urged these same polticians years ago (and was declined for budget by this current admin) to re-enforce the levee structures that did not hold up in the New Orleans area. This probably has happened on other polticians watch in previous admins as well, Democrat and/or Republican. I think it is a positive sign, though, as you have pointed out that the US president (my president), has come to the conclusion that there is power in prayer. Perhaps it's a better sign that there is an acknowledgement of unity in prayer. In Judaism, the "shema" is a central prayer Jewish liturgy, which comes from passages found in Deuteronomy and Numbers. As an American citizen I'm also certainly proud and honored to know that others, like yourself, have joined us in prayer at our time of need and crisis.
I have a small connection of family in the New Orleans area and thankfully they heeded the early warnings and left the city a few days before the disaster. They are now staying with one my cousins in the Dallas (Texas) area. I know for sure that one of their cars that they had to leave behind is completly under water. I'm sure that their house has severe flood damage, as well. The worst part is they had large trees in their yard that more than likely were forced by the storms strength onto the house causing even more property damage. As soon the governor of Louisana allows the populace to return to New Orleans, my cousin will go there and then we will have a better idea of just what can be salvaged, if anything. My family in that area was fortunate to have their health and survived this tragedy, of course, many others were not so fortunate.
Like 9/11, the Tsunami, Spain's bombing, London's bombing, and Hurricane Katrina, continious threats thrust upon Israel, my brother now coming home from the Iraq war (thank G-d!)...I'm commited to praying for those less fortunate and in need. There are currently many good hearted charities, organizations and independant persons, donating financially, clothing, shelters, food items, and this is much appreciated.
**join me in praying**
Yes! Count me in..already.
Sincerely,
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 03/04/05 - MAN WHO GOT EICHMANN DIES From the NY Post, 3/3/05
Peter Malkin, the Mossad agent who nabbed top Nazi official Adolf Eichmann on a Buenos Aires street in 1960, has died, Israeli media reported yesterday. He died in New York at 77.
The Mossad security agency tracked Eichmann to Argentina, and Malkin stopped him in the street. According to his memoirs, "Eichmann in My Hands," Malkin said to him simply, "Un momentito, señor" (just a moment, sir), before kidnapping him.
Those were the only words Maklin knew in Spanish, according to a Web site of the World Zionist Organization. He grabbed Eichmann's arm and wrestled him to the ground as another agent grabbed his legs, and they stuffed him into a car.
Eichmann was interrogated for 10 days in a safe house before being spirited to Israel on a plane that carried an unwitting diplomat, Abba Eban, later Israel's foreign minister, for a meeting with Argentine officials as a cover.
Eichmann headed the "final solution," the plan to exterminate Jews. AP
--------------
And now, for an Op Ed piece on Malkin, also from the Post, 3/4/05.
BETTER THAN BOND
BY ERIC FETTMANN
ZVI Malchin was not only the single greatest secret agent the state of Israel was lucky enough to produce, he was one of the most extraordinary people one could ever hope to meet.
The world knew him as Peter Z. Malkin, the man who on a cold night in 1960 kidnapped a factory worker named Riccardo Klement outside his ramshackle Buenos Aires home and brought him to Israel — — where he stood public trial as Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi official who saw to it that 6 million Jews were murdered efficiently.
Yet that was just one of hundreds of exploits undertaken by Malchin — who died here Tuesday night at age 75 — during more than a quarter-century with Israeli intelligence, first as an agent and, ultimately, as chief of operations.
Even today, nearly 30 years after his retirement, many of Malchin's most spectacular achievements remain hidden behind the veil of official Israeli censorship. But enough of what he did is publicly known to leave you in awe that one man could have accomplished so much.
Malchin unmasked Israel Be'er, one of the top aides to then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, as a Soviet spy. He bugged a meeting of Arab League heads of states. He uncovered former Nazi scientists who had gone to work for Egypt in the 1950s. He battled Palestinian terrorism in Beirut.
Even in retirement, he outdid active agents.
During the ྂs, he went to Brazil in search of Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor of Auschwitz. While there, he uncovered a Soviet agent who was bribing Brazilian army officers and buying U.S. Army materiel.
"He asked me to notify the CIA," recalled Manhattan DA Robert Morgenthau, who frequently used Malchin as a freelance investigator. "I said he didn't have enough evidence. So he went back and did a black-bag job on the guy — came up with his passport and his visa.
"I called Stanley Sporkin, then general counsel of the CIA. Within hours, the agency had sent people to New York to take the evidence. 'We know all about this guy,' Sporkin told me. 'We just had no idea where the hell he was.' "
How did Malchin know? "After all these years," he told Morgenthau, "I can smell them."
His career alone was exceptional enough. But Zvika, as he was known to his friends, was not some Hollywood stereotype of a secret agent.
Malchin was an artist, whose stunning paintings — including a series of sketches done while he was interrogating Eichmann in Argentina — in recent years have been exhibited in leading museums around the world. (He divided his time between Israel, Florida and New York — he kept a studio here on the Lower East Side and lived in the East 30s.)
"Was being a painter my cover story for the Mossad, or was being in the Mossad my cover story for being a painter? Sometimes, I'm not sure, he joked." (His art can be seen as peterzmalkin.com.)
Malchin was a poet — an irrepressibly funny and always eloquent observer of the human condition. He enthralled audiences around the world as a lecturer; they all wanted to hear how he'd captured Eichmann, but he had much more to say to them.
It's wrong, he would say, to call Eichmann a monster. After all, "a monster can be excused for his behavior. A human being, though — how does a human being become a beast who can kill children, women, the elderly? The problem is not how a monster could do it, but how a human being did it."
"He was a brilliant analyst," said Morgenthau. "For him, information was always much more important than action." No doubt, that's what attracted early Israeli leaders to Malchin — by age 13, he'd been recruited into the pre-statehood Haganah underground.
And though he saw more than his share of genuine dramatic action, Zvika had little regard for popular fiction's idea of a spy. "In 28 years, I never killed anyone," he said. "My most important weapon wasn't a gun — it was my brain."
That, and his engaging, larger than life, personality — which allowed him to talk his way out of some 40 arrests or detentions during his career.
Though he loved being acclaimed for his achievements, he didn't go seeking glory. He was a curious mixture of humility and pride who never demanded recognition, but was always happy to receive it.
You couldn't help being hopelessly charmed by such a man; everyone who met him wanted to spend more time with him. His friends, and I was lucky to count myself as one for more than 25 years, were fiercely loyal.
Last night, many of those friends gathered at the Park East Synagogue to say goodbye to a man who was literally a legend in his lifetime.
Today, he is headed on his final journey back to Israel, the country and people he served so well.
---------
We lost one of the good ones on Wednesday.
Baruch dayan ha'emes.
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 03/04/05:Yisgadel v'yiskaddash sh'meh rabbo......Yisroel, v'imru: Amen.
| | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 02/25/05 - GOD'S BLESSING !! All members on the JUDAISM BOARD !!
God still sits on the throne. Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith. My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked all of you. Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.
ROLCAM.
Yiddishkeit answered on 02/26/05:My family's largest concern has been for my brother. I pray that my brother, a US soldier in Iraq, returns quickly, safe, and healthy to be with his wife and children... and I request that you do the same. You're a very thoughtful person. Thanks for the blessings and prayers.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 02/23/05 - Another question Most of you all know that my faith is Christianity, so please forgive my ignorance of my faith's Jewish heritage. I am trying to learn more about it, but it's slow going.
Anyway, I was watching a video presentation of the Gospel of Matthew, and noticed something that captured my interest. Whenever Jesus would pray, I noticed that he (actually, the character that played him) had a shawl-like garment that he would pull over the top of his head.
What is this garment called? What are it's traditional usages? It seems that I read somewhere about an instruction for men and/or women to pray with their heads covered/uncovered.
What can you tell me about this?
Many thanks again for your patience and knowledge.
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 02/23/05:I can't be for certian what exactly Jesus was wearing in the video presentation, but sounds like it might have been a prayer shawl of sorts. In the Jewish communities the tallit (prayer shawl) is used during prayer services, especially in the more traditional shuls. I have mine packed away in the closet and use it primarly only during the High Holidays. There are numerous laws and reasons for the wearing the of a tallit (Numbers 15:39). Symbolically, putting on a tallit seperates the wearer from daily concerns and provides a visual cue that it is time for prayer. Practically, a tallit serves as a cloth on which to hang the tzizit. The tzitzit is the fringe affixed to the four corners of a tallit. Each tzitzit has 608 strands of thread and 5 knots, totaling 613, the number of commandments in the Torah.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | CeeBee asked on 02/15/05 - Food. As you probably know, the Christians put on potluck or church suppers. Most festivals include food of some kind. I work with three women from India and have found out Hindis have special feasts and dinners. (Attend a wedding someday. You won't be able to move for a week.) The Catholic church here in town sponsors a German Fest in the late summer - lots of food there. My Muslim friends talk about the big feast after Ramadan.
Does Judaism have festivals and celebrations that include food - especially special foods? (I remember babysitting for an Orthodox Jewish family when I was in college. There was something about food during Purim, and of course there's the Seder.) I suppose I could google this question, but I'd really like to hear answers from your lips. Thanks in advance. Yiddishkeit answered on 02/15/05:Yes! With the exceptions being Yom Kippur and Tisha B'av. In addition I think Yom Hashoah is treated by fasting by traditional Jewish families. I find it difficult to eat any regular type of meal just thinking about the victims that lost their lives during the Holocaust.
However, in no particular arrangment, here are some occasions that we do eat at:
In my synagogue, on Shabbos, after the kiddish we nosh on kosher sweets and finger foods.
Pesach (Passover) is commemorated by HaShems commandment to rememeber and we do so by eating certian foods during the seder. The list is a bit long to go through the whole order, but trust me their is plenty of wine and food. Of course no chametz (leaven bread items) is permitted.
Rosh Hashanah is primarily a synogogue-orientated festival. Many families taste a new fruit (one not yet tasted that year). It is also customary to eat an apple dipped in honey, symbolizing the promise off a sweet new year. Usually lots of desserts.
At Hannukah we chow down on latkes coverd in sour cream and apple sauce. This is mainly an Ashkenazic (German, Polish and Russian) tradition. The Sepahrdic (Jews derived from Spain and Portugal) enjoy sufaniyot. I had Sephardic friends that invited to their home for a Hannukah get together years ago and if I recall correctly the sufganiyot was a ball of fried dough then sprinkled lightly sweet. More-or-less it was a doughnut.
Purim. Yes, there are festive foods asociated with Purim. I'm not much of a cook other than BBQ. I found this Purim recipe for Hamantashen in one of my books.
1 pound vegatable shortening
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup sugar
Mix and refrigerate roll of sugared flour. Cut and fill. bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Cream Cheese Filling
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup either nuts, chocolate chips, coconut, or brickle.
Best if chilled. Mix all ingredients. Fill dough and bake.
CeeBee- There are other Jewish holidays that have food associated with them as well. I just touched on a few. Good hearing from you!
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 02/12/05 - Strange question about being a kohen I need substantiated answers on this because I'm looking for the counter-intuitive answer -- gut reactions may be right but I need to make sure.
Here's the scenario -- a kohen has a kid. The kid is a kohen. The kid, a boy, marries a non-Jewish woman. His kid is not Jewish, but is in the paternal line of kohen.
The Kid marries a Jewish woman. Is HIS child a kohen?
Just wondering.
Dan Yiddishkeit answered on 02/15/05:Dan-
There has never been a Kohen that was not Jewish. In Ezra's time the mother lineage determined if the child was Jewish, as is today in traditional communities. However to help your argument here is something to think about...although the Reform movement accepts children as Jewish (even if the mother is non-Jewish), however they will not accept a child of a non-Jewish women as a Kohen.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | excon asked on 02/01/05 - Anti-Semitisim
Hello:
Do you believe, as I do, that anti-Semitism roils just under the surface in ALL the goyim?
Amongst accusations of Jew this, and Jew that, a very, very, long term friend and I just fell out over a stupid business deal. I guess he always felt that way. Why do they do business with us if that's what they think?
excon
Yiddishkeit answered on 02/01/05:If he is a close friend than you have to determine was he jesting or really being anti-semitic and spiteful to you for your ethicity or was he just blowing off steam and said some reckless things during to moment of a bad business deal. In my line of work people say things all the time out of character, yet for the most part they are normally reasonable people. In Vegas we do our best to look past it for busniess sake, although we do have our limitations which can be expressed in many different ways.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | excon asked on 01/31/05 - Lantzman?? or No??
Hello Menches:
I love being a Jew. And, I am very Jewish. But, I'm not a believer and profess atheisim. How can I be both a Jew and an atheist?
excon
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/31/05:By now you must of heard of the Jewish atheist who is quick to tell you, "My grandfather was an atheist, my father was an atheist, I am an atheist, and PLEASE G-d, my children will be atheists." :)
Seriously though...if your mother was Jewish than you are Jewish, regardless of personal view. You would still have a brithright to live in Israel. Perhaps you could answer me this since I'm not an atheist. Is it a normal practice now-in-days in atheism to missionize relgious abiding people to not believe in the Creator? If so there should be a re-call on the "freethinker" model that does a horrible job for the atheist agenda. Due to Elliot, Dans, and my dialogue with him on the religion board he probably already lost his dancing previleges at the next Madalyn Murray O'Hair memorial gala.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 01/30/05 - bat mitzvah parsha Here's the situation -- kid born on erev yom kippur 1999. That year, the upcoming shabbos was first y"t of sukkos, seconf shabbos was y't shmini atzeres and week after was bereishis. Which is the parsha for the bat mitzvah speech? 12 years later, erev yom kippur is friday, so laining on shabbos is yom kippur...next shabbos is chol hamo'ed sukkos and bereishis would be the shabbos after.
I know that the bat mitzvah is no so demanding of precision, but my kids are...
thanks Yiddishkeit answered on 01/30/05:I do not know, my guess is bereishis. Because it is the first full week including the shabbos after birth. I think Avrom has a calandar computer program that may help with bar and bat mitzvah dates.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 01/20/05 - OK, I'LL do it! There was a question floating around on the Christianity board a few days ago, that most likely would have been better served by being here. Since no one else had the 'nads to do it, I figure I will. Note that it is not MY question, though I am somewhat interested in the answer.
___________________________________________________
Christians and Jews Ccl471 01/18/05
I read in the book "The Case for Christ" that Jews think Christians are their enemies. They think this because the Nazi's persecuted them and they think that Germany was a Christian nation at the time. They think that the New Testament is a handbook on how to persecute Jews.
So do they think that all of us Christians are Nazi's?
Many thanks,
C.L.
_____________________________________________
Thus endeth the question as it was written.
I guess we could do without a theologicial peeing contest, though. We all know our faiths, and feel strongly about them, which is good and right. It seems to be more of a relationship type question.
For what it's worth, my position is that Christian anti-Semetism (to whatever degree it exists) is not only foolish at so many levels, it runs counter to what we are directly taught about our relationship with the Jewish people, which is one of common brotherhood and love.
Anyway, there's the question.
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/21/05:To preface my reply I just want to mention that I have not read the book "The Case for Christ." It may be a very interesting read just to see if the author of the book has a clue about Jewish history.
Dennis...you have received excellent answers and there's not much that I can add. The one thing I will say is that I have read the Christian New Testament. I find that it does have views of the Torah, mainly by the character named Paul, that are not accurate to the standards of Judaism. However I have not found a theme of antisemitism, so in my opinion the Christian Testament is not a "How to guide" for persecuting Jews. I do believe though that inaccurate translations and misinterpretations of the NT have resulted in antisemitic actions and history declares such. If you just do a quick looksee at the Christian board you find it's very diverse with opinions about Jews, and most of these views come from proclaiming Christians. Then to complicate matters there have been whole communities that promoted damaging lies because they thought they knew about Jews and Judaism and they ended up giving rise to blood libel type myths.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 01/11/05 - Per your response on another question >>Personally Brian, I know it would be a very spiritually educational experience for you to spend a complete shabbos with a local synagogue.<<
Now, I am not Brian, whoever he is, but this statement got me curious.
I'm sure it sounds like a very stupid question, but would a Christian like me be "allowed" (for lack of a better term) to do just such a thing? I think it would be incredibly enlightening and educational!!
DK
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/11/05:Dennis-
You would be most very welcome to visit and participate in a Jewish worship service. I know of many non-Jews that go to synagogue on a regular basis. Shabbos is a very special time that everyone can worship G-d together. You may find yourself a little lost at first when we go into the Hebrew portions using the siddur (prayerbook), but usually the Rabbi or Cantor gives a brief explaination in English (if not just ask someone next to you). Many of the prayerbooks also have the Hebrew translated to English, as well. You will recognize the spiritual beauty and relationship that each Jew has personally with G-d. Friday night you will learn as you listen and participate in the flow of the service...from the welcoming of the Sabbath and lighting of the candles, recite the Shema, pray for the sick (misheberakh), learn from the Rabbi's drash and devar Torah (sermon usually based on current events and the Torah portion), through to the Priestly blessing. You should also participate in kiddush (bread and wine) and nosh afterwards. Saturday morning you can return to listen to the parashah (Torah portion) being read.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 01/09/05 - Have you seen or heard anything about this ? Saving Jewish Children, but at What Cost?
A newly disclosed directive provides written confirmation of well-known church policy toward Jewish children who had been baptized, often to save them from perishing at the hands of the Nazis.
ROLCAM Yiddishkeit answered on 01/10/05:
I really don't know about this church policy, so I'm guessing this is not about a herendous act of kidnapping.
I could understand a Christian family having the compassion to save a young Jewish baby or child's life, but Jewish children have a born right spiritually to understand their Jewish heritage. I'd hope that these non-Jewish families would be honest with the children about their origins. I think that would be respectful and provide a healthy relationship for all involved. I'm sure the Jewish children, if they are aware of the facts, after growing up would love their adopted parents just the same.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 01/09/05 - Circumcision Decision ??
The Circumcision Decision.
Recently I’ve seen articles referring to circumcision as "abusive, barbaric, torture and mutilation."
Has Circumcision got any Religious Significance ?
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/10/05:Completly based on G-d's Torah! A bris (Brit Malah) is the covenant of circumcision performed on the male Jewish child the eighth day after birth. As a sidenote, being born to a Jewish mother makes a person Jewish, although I've never known a Jewish family that didn't have their male children cirumcized. We were commanded to do so and it it another thing that seperates us apart.
It is nothing of a sort as what those articles claim. I've seen ignorant articles that confused Jewish life with cultures such as some African tribes. People have written the darnest things and have the wierdest ideas concerning Judaism. It's always good to get ask our board so we can seperate the fact from fiction.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 01/09/05 - A Simple Statement ??
Jesus Christ was born a Jew, lived a Jew, and died a Jew.
What are your Judaism views on this simple statement?
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/10/05:**What are Judaism views on that simple statement**
I don't think you understand the greater significance to what Jesus was not in Judaism. You need to know that many people are born Jewish. Some are observant and some are non-observant. Many are buried as Jews...but that doesn't make a person moshiach!
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | Choux asked on 12/29/04 - Elliot and Bobby.. and my Jewish friends. I am very conflicted and need your advice. I am a secular humanist, and sometimes I give atheist arguments denying the existence of God on the Christianity Board. These arguments are for Christians; however, Jewish men give very welcome answers to many questions there and may see my arguments. I have no desire to antagonize any Jewish person anywhere about religion.
What I'm saying, can we still be cyber friends even if I give my *opinion*?? That is all they are. Thanks, for responding. Choux Yiddishkeit answered on 12/29/04:Choux-
To be perfectly frank with you, in all my years on askme and answerway I've never seen the Judaism board antagonized. It's not to say that it hasn't been tried before, but those making the effort left unsuccessful. Thinking back...I believe we have had more frivolous missioniaries stop by than any other groups. Anyway what matters is that we answer the questions concerning our expertese. Sometimes the questions are asked for discussion purposes and sometimes they have a distinct purpose, but we always welcome a meaningful discussion.
Now, on he other hand, there is a continous effort on the religion board by a few that fancy claims that are not Biblically accurate. The most grievous errors are often due to reading comprehension. In fact what I've notice is that the same would be happening if the discussion concerned numerous secular subjects, let alone religion.
I welcome viewpoints and opinions for or against the existence of the Creator, or those that feel that religion is man based or myth. I probably will never be accused of having a passive personality when it comes to sharing my view and although you and I joke around a bit, I can respect you because I know when you are serious, like learning something new, and you share from your lifetime of experiences.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 12/27/04 - CHOICES ?? You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if anyone would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (attributed to Jesus in Matthew 5:38-41, Revised Standard Version)
Where do you stand on these two alternatives ?
I declare my hand.
I stand with the latter choice.
ROLCAM. Yiddishkeit answered on 12/28/04:Through the Noachide laws the "eye for eye" is represented in our civil courts today. In other words, not as a literal revenge, but as equal compensation for damages done and as justice being served.
My concerns, contrary to the New Testament verse, we are supposed to resist evil and "yes" eventually you run out of cheeks. I don't understand the justification in a martydom mentality or being passive, neither of which would promote a healthy society.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Choux asked on 12/08/04 - *private* Aton has insulted you greatly in the last couple of days. I don't know if he has done this to you before, but I'm glad to see you are on his case. He probably fears you cause you know your stuff. Have a good one. Yiddishkeit answered on 12/08/04:**Aton has insulted you greatly in the last few days**
He has? Thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure if this means he is brave or senile.
**I don't know if he has done this before**
Choux, I think he only breaks long enough to reload the pop-cork rifle and round up a posse of water-gun toting sidekicks.
**but I'm glad to see you are on his case**
This must be taking place on the Christianity board and involves the Wolverine. Every once in awhile Elliot (and myself) go over to touch upon subjects related to Judaism, Jewish culture, history, and some politics. I think Elliot does a wonderful job explaining subjects and has the tact in doing so.
**He probably fears you cause you know your stuff**
The Christianity board has some good experts, but there are also some rebel-rousers and attention seekers in the fray. Notice that as Jews (Judaism board), we sometimes disagree with each other over a multitude of issues, but we are always there for each other when push comes to shove in defending our religious heritage.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 12/04/04 - Moshiach Ok, so we have possibly non kosher water, depending on whom you ask...possibly non kosher shechita, depending on whom you ask...non kosher sheitels, depending on whom you ask...a possible sanhedrin in Teveriah, maybe. We have minhagim, mesoras and halachik holdings so widely divergent tat I can't help but wonder -- if Moshiach came tomorrow, would/could we all accept him? Yiddishkeit answered on 12/04/04:Congradulations you've asked the 64 million dollar question! I'm hoping the moshiach recognizes us.:) Just kidding..well sort of. See I believe that it is expected that we live in an unpure circumstance and then proceeds the order to restore complete Torah guidelines, as he reveals himself. So in essence I think he must intiate messiahship and fulfill the qualifications and then we understand better him for acceptance. I'm not sure though how immediate "we all" could accept him though.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | Saladin asked on 10/17/04 - Seeking light and knowldedge ...
I had this sent to me today., It claims to be from Talmud, but it seems not to represent what Talmud really is. Can you confirm its provenance relative to Talmud and/or Judaism?
Thank you.
Saladin
===============================================
"A Woman"
This is written in the Hebrew Talmud, the book
where all of the sayings and preaching of
Rabbis are conserved over time.
It says: "Be very careful if you make a woman
cry, because God counts her tears. The woman
came out of a man's rib. Not from his feet to be
walked on. Not from his head to be superior, but
from the side to be equal. Under the arm to be
protected, and next to the heart to be loved."
Yiddishkeit answered on 10/17/04:From the book titled "The Wisdom of the Talmud."
The Emperor Hardian is introduced as conversing with Rabbi Gamaliel on several religious questions, with the object of casting ridicule on the Bible. Hardian exclaims: "Why, your G-d is represented therin as a theif. He surprised Adam, in his sleep and robbed him of one of his ribs." The Rabbi's daughter, who is present, craves permission to reply to the Emperor. This is granted. "But first let me implore they imperial protection, puissant sire," she exclaims. "A grave outrage has been perpetrated upon our house. Under the cover of night an audacious thief broke into our house and took a silver flagon from our chest of plate and left a golden one in its stead." "What a welcome thief," cried Hadrian. "Would that such robbers might visit my palace every day." "And was not the Creator such a thief as this?" archly rejoins the blushing damsel- "Who deprived Adam of a rib and in lieu thereof gave him a loving, lovley bride?"
Sal- The piece I gave above was from the Talmud. I'm not sure if your piece was originally said by the Tanaim (of the Mishna) or Amoriam (speakers in the Gemara)...but it certainly reflects Talmudic thought.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 10/14/04 - A trule scary article worth reading and sharing http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=15464
An American in London
By Carol Gould
FrontPageMagazine.com | October 12, 2004
Something remarkable has been happening to me in the past nineteen days. Wherever I go, no-one launches abuse at me. When I open my mouth to speak, I am received with civility and the occasional ' Have a good one.' I am not attacked or intimidated to the point of abject fear and loathing. Where have I been visiting for the past two and a half weeks? And where do I live?
The answer lies in a conversation I had with my sister in a charming ice cream parlor in Philadelphia's historic Suburban Station this afternoon. I looked up from my dessert and said, 'My God, I've gone for nineteen days without anybody -- not taxi drivers, shop clerks or waiters -- launching an abusive tirade at me.
Here is the background scenario: Exactly one month ago today, I was traveling on a London bus when a well-dressed woman boarded with her equally-respectable son in his school uniform. Ahead of her was an elderly American woman, who said, 'I beg your pardon, I didn't mean to bang into you.' This prompted a tirade from the Englishwoman -- let's call her Lady E -- that resembled a verbal assault by a brownshirt against a hapless Jewish pedestrian in 1933. The American -- call her Mrs. A -- sat down and cowered as the tirade continued: 'I rejoice every time I hear of another American soldier dying! You people all deserve to die in another 9/11. You are destroying the world.' Mrs A fought back: 'I personally am NOT destroying the world.' This only provoked Lady E more, and as the bus driver and passengers laughed, she screamed into the American's face 'I wish every one of you would leave this country and not set foot in it ever again,' and Mrs A began to wince, crying. 'Thank you for ruining my day and my trip.' At this point Lady E lunged at the American and began to shake her. I jumped up and shouted at the top of my voice for the driver to stop and for her to leave the woman alone, prompting Lady E to come over to me and grab me. 'Another bloody American accent! You come here and think you can strut about, well, you are scum.' Thankfully, the woman next to me pushed her away. I left the bus as the American woman sat sobbing.
Did I imagine this? No. Was the Englishwoman a crazy? No.
A few weeks before, I had attended a party at which I was lambasted, intimidated and mocked by a group of people I had known for some twenty-odd years. It reminded me of a comment made to me by an American expatriate shortly after 9/11: 'Now I know what the Jews felt like in pre-war Germany.'
Frankly, I don't like what is happening in Britain and am shocked and dismayed at the level to which anti-Americanism has peaked in recent months. Does anyone say 'George W Bush' or 'Donald Rumsfeld' or Dick Cheney' when they fly into these tirades? No. In fact, the visceral, hurtful and in-your-face America-hatred goes back long before the days of the Bush 43 regime. When Bill Clinton was in the White House I attended a Human Rights Conference at my local synagogue in St John's Wood. During the tea break I asked a man at one of the booths for a leaflet. Instead of welcoming me and asking for a donation, he had detected my accent and duly launched into a loud and red-faced screeching session about the evils of the American Empire and of the 'Naziism' and 'Fascism' promulgated by the United States. A black man came over and began shouting about America having 'invented slavery' and soon a delicate elderly lady joined the fray to bellow about the Zionists running America (did she mean Robert Rubin, Dennis Ross, Sandy Berger -- after all, it was the pre-Wolfowitz/Perle time zone) and the 'genocides' perpetrated by Americans since the days of William Penn. I remember wondering why I had ventured out on a Sunday to be with like-minded people concerned about human rights issues, only to be reduced to a gibbering jelly as the ugly, strident and deeply uncivil crowd soon grew around me. (Remember what it was like being surrounded in the school playground at recess by all the bullies?) The English are not known for public displays of fury except perhaps at soccer matches, but there is something about an American accent that brings out their pent-up rage.
This brings me to an incident that was the cherry on the sundae. Just before leaving for the United States nineteen days ago, I went to my favorite tape duplicating shop to have copies made for the actors who had appeared in the video of my new play in London. I handed the master tape to the proprietor, whom I have known for some ten years. He seemed unusually agitated and flushed. He looked at the material and snarled, 'Is this another one of your Jewish-Holocaust things?' I was speechless. He scowled and continued, 'You know, Carol, I want to get something off my chest that I've been dying to say to you for years. Number one, just don't say Israel to me. Number two, you people should look at yourselves in the mirror and wonder why every so often there is a Holocaust or massacre or pogrom. You bring it on yourselves. Just look at the way you are and then figure out why the rest of the world wants to flatten you. Number three, America throwing money at Israel has to stop, and hopefully all hell will break loose. Israel is not a country. I just hear the word and I turn peuce.' By this time his anger was so visceral that I wanted to head for the door, but I had to take a stand. 'Let me tell you,' I said, 'If the USA or Israel came under threat I know many Americans who would die for either country,' to which he replied, ' Israel is not a country. The Jews have no right to a country. What makes you people think you have a right to a country? ' Me: 'There are over a hundred Christian countries and fifty-five Muslim countries.' He:' The Jews have no right to a country.' Me:' What, a strip of land the size of Wales?!' He (grinding his teeth and close to hitting me) ' Just say Israel and I can't be depended upon for the consequences of my actions, Carol.' His litany of offences committed by the Jews, Americans and Israel continued for another twenty minutes or so and I came away realizing that a man who had always greeted me with genteel, cheery sweet nothings was actually a rabid Jew-hater.
So, what does this all mean in the scheme of things? I have lived in Europe for all of my adult life and from the day I arrived as a youngster have been aware of an oft-blatant anti-Semitism and resentment of Americans amongst colleagues, teachers, social circle and neighbors. What is significant about this rage is that it emanates not from the great unwashed but from the educated and intellectual classes. We all know about the academic boycotts of Israeli scholars. We all know about poor Philip Lader, former US Ambassador to the Court of St James who was reduced to tears on BBC 'Question Time' on 15 September 2001 as the moderator, Davis Dimbleby, sat and dispassionately watched a crazed studio audience stomping its feet and shouting anti-American epithets two days after the Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. What I find so frightening is that I cannot conduct business or even take a taxi ride in London, Bournemouth or Edinburgh without a scathing tirade about the scurrilous Yanks. The day after 9/11 I was obliged to keep a consultant's appointment and the minicab driver informed me that the 'yellow Americans' on the four hijacked planes were typical of the way 'the Yanks do battle' -- they chicken out and let the Brits do the dirty work. I was in such a state of shock from the events of 9/11 that I could not find an answer, and he continued with a further lecture about the cowardice and stupidity of Americans and their pilots when they are threatened, and added the assertion that had Brits been on those planes, not one would have come down.
Getting back, however, to the 'Independent' and 'Guardian' reading classes, my hunch is that the daily dose of relentless America-bashing in the European media,
combined with the abundance of criticism of Israel has created an atmosphere of anger and hostility that for the first time in my lifetime makes me fearful for my safety in my beloved adopted country, Great Britain. The anger of the video manager went beyond a whining session. He was physically smoldering every time he said 'Jewish,' Israel' or 'Holocaust' ( this is now the tool used by more than one person I have encountered in polite circles to accuse Jews of 'manufacturing an excuse' for a state). The fury of the otherwise elegant woman on the bus fell just short of serious assault.
The paradox is that we have Islamic extremists in our midst in Britain preaching all manner of mayhem and holding 'festivals' to celebrate the 'magnificent nineteen of September 11th.' In 1998, when I was producing a documentary about the three monotheistic faiths, I filmed with ease at the local church and synagogue. When it came time to film at the mosque, my cameraman, a Libyan, beseeched me to stay at home, as I would be 'killed' if I came to the London central mosque on a Friday. He explained that 'the crazies' came out in force on the Sabbath and that if they realized I was American there would be an incident that would reverberate as strongly as the killing of Yvonne Fletcher in April, 1984 outside the Libyan Embassy. He begged me to stay away and I did. It was the first time I had ever stayed away from my own production shoot. Throw your minds back, dear reader, to that date: 1998. There was no wall in Israel and no Intifada. Bill Clinton was President and there were no neo-cons to blame for the Gulf's ills. But event then, the hatred of America and of Jews was already a palpable force in British life.
There are some 260,000 Jews in Britain and more than two million Muslims, but at dinner parties all one hears about is the 'birthplace of terror, Menachem Begin's Israel' and the 'world's number one terrorist state, the United States.' Last November when President Bush visited the United Kingdom and London's Mayor, Ken Livingstone, boycotted the State Banquet, ordinary folk gathered in Trafalgar Square to burn and stomp on the Stars and Stripes.
I hesitate to blame my own profession, the media. However, the 'Guardian' ran a lead article by Faisal Bodi in January 2001 entitled 'Israel Simply Has No Right to Exist,' and on a daily basis Robert Fisk, whom my British friends and colleagues think is God, runs an 'Independent' piece brutally critical of the United States and Israel. I have stopped attending meetings of my trade union, the National Union of Journalists, because I cannot listen to incessant vitriol about the crimes of my native country, the United States and of Israel when we should be dealing with the problems unions are supposed to address. It is likely the readers of this paper do not know that many British trade unions, including that of the teachers, have been adopting resolutions condemning Israel and the United States. Yes, the Sharon government is the one I have loved the least and yes, there is much to worry about in present American policy, but how many American unions spend hours devising resolutions to censure their most trusted and valued ally? How many Americans invite expat Brits to their dinner table only to abuse and intimidate them, especially if they are Jewish? Another mantra thrown at me daily these days is the news that the United States is one giant Fundamentalist Christian nation peopled by raging Bible-thumpers on every street. I have had otherwise enlightened colleagues tell me that the USA is 'running wild with religious extremism that threatens the world far more than bin Laden.' I am also informed that coupled with the religious fervor is the 'dangerous fact that America, Carol, has no culture to speak of, and that is a lethal mix.'
When I am tearfully overcome with emotion when 'Jerusalem' is played every year at the Last Night of the Proms, I am received with considerable bemusement. Many people want to know how on earth an American could 'feel' British and others are very blunt with, 'But shouldn't you people really become Israelis?'
Where will it all end? I know Jews -- including Anglo-Jews -- who have ceased socializing because of the abuse they receive from old friends. The much-loved British actress Maureen Lipman and her eminent playwright husband, the late Jack Rosenthal, attended an Israel Solidarity Rally in London two years ago much to the astonishment of her fans. In her long career Lipman had never been political but one suspected she felt as marginalized as the rest of us who turned up for the rally (it was severely hampered by pro-Palestinian demonstrators with loud-speakers.)
I know expat Americans -- including non-Jews-- who receive punishing dressings-down at social and professional gatherings. The standard reprimand contains the list of American misdemeanors: the Project for the New American Century taking over the world's governments; Wolfowitz, Perle and other 'Zionists' bullying the Bush and Blair Administrations into waging war with Iraq to allow Israel to expand across the Gulf and beyond and American Jews running the world's media, banks and industries. When Barbara Amiel, wife of beleaguered Hollinger executive Conrad Black, stopped writing for the British papers when her husband fell under a cloud there was unmitigated glee amongst the chattering classes and expressions of joy that we would no longer have to read ' Zionist diatribes.'
Here is what I perceive as the explanation: Europe has always been a seething hotbed of anti-Semitism. England, sadly, has the distinction of being the very first country to expel its Jews and initiate the Blood Libel. The Jews were not allowed back into England until the time of Cromwell and feel to this day that they worship by the grace of the Sovereign. It is impossible to convey to Americans inside the United States, or to American Jews, the open loathing of both groups that dominates daily life outside the United States today. What is so disturbing to me is that I am no longer accepted at face value in my daily encounters. If the media set out some years ago -- even before Bush 43 -- to turn the public against America and Israel, they have done a magnificent job. I have stopped counting the number of unfair accusations hurled at both nations in the course of a day on the airwaves or in the print media. Long ago I stopped wearing a flag pin (how wonderful to be able to wear one as I walk down a Philadelphia street without fearing for my life). Just the other day I had a tongue-lashing from an old acquaintance about the 'appalling flags the Americans put outside their homes, like Nazis all over again.'
In a recent review of James Naughtie's book, The Accidental American, Lord Gilmour in The Guardian (18 September issue) asserted that the 'neo-cons' or 'axis of evil' who comprise Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith, Bolton, Libby, Abrams, Perle and others are 'not only passionate about Israel, they are Likudists to a man.' He adds that the American 'Likudists' are happy to let Sharon create more 'apartheid settlements.' Imagine what it is like these days to emerge from one's home to attend a dinner party or tea and be browbeaten about 'Zionists' running America as if it is a criminal offense to be 'passionate' about Israel. And, Dammit, I AM passionate about the remnant of my people who made a go of it after the Euro-generated Holocaust. Lord Gilmour quotes a Blair aide making the other accusation that is hurled at Americans abroad these days: 'the only special relationship is between America and Israel.'
I am aware that many Americans are leaving their homes abroad and returning home after decades in foreign countries. Notwithstanding the loss of free medical care and pills (and that is one hell of a
sacrifice!) afforded by their adopted countries, they can no longer endure the daily abuse and the ugly posters and stickers that proliferate across European cities. When the many anti-war rallies were held in February 2003 young people in European cities were seen wearing headbands with slogans wishing death upon Jews and Israel. I went to hear Seymour Hersh speak and he suggested that Americans with dual nationality value the other passport and to 'keep that villa in Italy.' I see it, dear Sy, from a different perspective: Europe created the Holocaust, the Inquisition and other genocides. Anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism proliferated long before the Bush Administration came onto the scene in 2000. Anti-Americanism is not a result of Abu Ghraib or of a Rumsfeldian pronouncement. It is a disturbing and hurtful form of psychosis that is rapidly eroding the all-important special relationship.
At present I do not yet fear for my life in jolly little St John's Wood, but it sure is heaven strolling around the artists' studios at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia and being greeted as me, not as a bloody American or an accursed Jew.
Yiddishkeit answered on 10/15/04:It concerns me on several levels...
My most basic concern is that being Jewish means somehow eventually getting blamed for the ill's of society. Of course perpetuated by myths, but always dangerous.
I'm concerned that it's not enough that many Europeans appear to see Americans as overtly proud to the point of obnoxious and but that we apprently have done nothing to change that image. I took notice of attitudes world-wide when our US effort in the Iraqi war campaign started receiving less support.
I'm concerned that the US populace appears headed toward civil unrest. Gaps between the haves and the have nots, low paying jobs, insurance costs...such things contributing to strife. The election campaign process has brought forth emotions in conventions, tv ads, and debates. Most website political boards are non-stop with rhetoric from all parties involved. People not sure if their votes will be counted properly, lack of trust issues with the government, confusion and the quagmire in Iraq...a recipe for unrest.
Thanks for sharing the article it was an interesting read.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 09/15/04 - To All Ketivah V'Chatimah Tovah.
May you be written and sealed for goodness.
Have a happy and healthy New Year.
Best wishes to all of you...
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 09/15/04:Sweet and healthy New Year for you and your family...Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 09/03/04 - TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK.!! TEN THINGS GOD WON'T ASK on that day.
1...God won't ask what kind of car you drove, He will ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
2...God won't ask the square footage of your house, He will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
3...God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He will ask how many you helped to clothe.
4...God won't ask what your highest salary was, He will ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
5...God won't ask what your job title was, He will ask if you performed your job to the best of our ability.
6...God won't ask how many friends you had, He will ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
7...God won't ask in what neighbourhood you lived, He will ask how you treated your neighbours.
8...God won't ask about the colour of your skin, He will ask about the content of your character.
9...God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, He will lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
10...God won't have to ask how many people you forwarded this to, He already knows whether or not you are ashamed to share this information.
ROLCAM Yiddishkeit answered on 09/04/04:ROLCAM-
I found the list very inspiring!
Just a sidenote...in Judaism we don't conclude a need for salvation, so to speak, as does Christianity placing the emphasis on Jesus. In other words, in the list above #9 appears to be expressed from a Christian view. Judaism teaches the Torah provides for man the guidelines to life more abundently and the Torah via G-d restores the soul.
Thanks for sharing,
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 08/31/04 - Just be honest ? Do you consider to be a convinced member of Judaism?
What makes you so sure ? Yiddishkeit answered on 09/01/04:
I looked at two possibilities growing up, Judaism and Christianity. Being agnostic or atheist was never a choice. In my adult years I became more involved in learning Judaism. My mother is Jewish, rarely active though and didn't push me one way or other. My fathers side of the family is primarly Christian. My birth obligation to G-d, is as a Jew. I'm only convinced that Christianity lacks understanding of what they call the "Old Testament" and that Judaism places a higher priorty on Torah, which is important to me. Now, I'm not all that observant, but you have to understand that I needed to side with certain issues.
Judaism does not activly persue converts. Rabbis for the most part discourage conversions and only sincere converts are encouraged. Christianity is into attendance numbers, but Judaism believes in allowing a non-Jew to be themselves. Judaism teaches everone, Jew and non-Jew has a part in repairing the world. There are Noachide laws for everyone to abide by. For Jewish people the observant have many, many, more laws and guidelines for life.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 08/30/04 - JUDAICA ?? Can one be a Judaica artist without the necessity
of being a JEW ?
How many different things does a person have to learn
before one is accepted as a judaica artist?
Are there special schools in Israel where one can go and study Judaica?
Would there be many Judaica shops in Tel Aviv?
Thank you!!
ROLCAM. Yiddishkeit answered on 08/30/04:I think you could apply at any institutional Jewish art school, without being Jewish. I'm sure that if you explain your desire to their admitance department with the use of your G-d given talents, the school would more than likely find a way for you to attend.
We have art exhibits in the US that are just for Judaica items. In fact I live in Las Vegas and there are book fairs that also includes artists. There are are tarveling Judism related item museums and just about every synagogue has beautifully designed talits, yarmulkes, and ketubahs. To be perfectly straight with you though these items I believe must be made by a skilled Jewish person, for service use. Now as far as canvas art, murals, and other painting you could become a renown artist even in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, etc.... also I believe (check that with rabbinic authority) a non-Jew is permitted to make a hanakkiah, candles, design kosher food wrappers, ads, magazines, and so forth under Jewish supervision or guidelines. If you live in a fairly large city, just call your local synagogue and ask to meet their rabbi and explain to him what you would like to accomplish.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ROLCAM asked on 08/30/04 - The Sandrehin.?? I am a non-Jew.
I want someone to explain in simple terms what the
Sandrehin was all about.
I read a book called I,JUDAS written by Taylor Caldwell.
In this book the Sanderhin is mentioned quite a bit.
I got the impression that the Sandrehin was the
main political party at the time Jesus was on this earth.
I also got an impression that they were the
government of the day.
There was also a suggestion that the opposition
was the Jesus Party.
Is it true that the apostles of Jesus were the
chief shadow ministers of the time?
ROLCAM. Yiddishkeit answered on 08/30/04:In layman terms the Sanhedrin is the Biblical Supreme Court comprised of seventy elders. It was the legislative body of the Jews in the land of Israel in late Greek and Roman times and was disbanded after the destruction of the Temple.
I've never heard of early Christians called the "Jesus Party." Now the apostles of Jesus certainly may have attempted to use political issues in their day to fashion their new relgious ideas. Generally speaking, as Christianity grew it separated it from Judaism with issues concerning the Torah, Messiahship (messianic age), and G-d. There may had been a rift somewhat on a political scale, but I imagine that had more to do with Romans. The Sanhedrin court is often thought to be a terribly harsh court, but in fact death penalties were actually more uncommon and the court system was extremely fair.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Bradd asked on 08/21/04 - Another Question(s) re Judaism Encouraged by the good replies to my first one - here's more.
1- Judaism being a matrilinear society. Why is this?
2- Stereotypes have staying power because they contain a grain of truth. Jews are often seen by non-Jews as having a disproportionate influence in intellectual circles. I happen to believe this is true. But I don't know why. Since Jews are not genetically exclusive, I assume it comes from something essential about cultural Jewishness. Any takers on this one?
3- Is it an accident of history that Jews seem to be the longest historically-affirmed national/religious group/tribe? Roughly 3-4000 years. The Assyrians are long gone, the Irish (as "Irish") emerged about 500 AD as a distinct group, and no one seriously believes today's Italians and Greeks have maintained classical civilization - having been overrun by other groups over the centuries. I'm hoping not to receive a religious answer to this one but, if you must, you must.
For this last one, an argument could be made for the Chinese, I suppose, but that group has been exclusively ethnic and has contained many different worldviews. Yiddishkeit answered on 08/21/04:1. Ezra, a brilliant leader, joined returnees from the Babylonian exile period. During this time Ezra realized that we needed to perserve ourselves as a people. Since a mother always knows her born children, it became the standard. Therefore if the mother is Jewish the children are Jewish.
2. I read where twenty-one percent of Nobel prize winners are Jewish even though Jews comprise less the one-quarter percent of the world's population. I think the sustaining action behind this is because going way back the many of our most intelligent people were role models, these often being rabbis. It's not uncommon for rabbis to speak multiple languages, three or more. I've known rabbis to speak five and six languages. So the example has been set before us. Another reason is because of our travels into new lands over thousands of years we had to adapt, become accepted, and it was good way to be appreciated by host communities.
3. I think your're right. In my opinion we are long time survivors inspired by traditions, especially knowing that our ancestors took part at Mt. Sinai, that being ingrained into our souls... our spiritual fabric, so to speak. I'm not certain as to how many, if any, other religions or organized belief systems still in a functioning practiced manner are as old as Judaism. Technically I guess the Noachide followers would be for organization purposes, but then again it coincides Judaism and is Torah based. Anyway back to focusing on Judaism. I believe that the unique contribution of the Israelites is the original and oldest. That is the belief and teaching that G-d is the source of all being and in no way is G-d dependent on the world that He created. In other words that G-d did not emerge from any form or power that preceeds Him. He is completely free of the limitations of mythoplogy or magic. Most essential is the idea that the G-d in whom the ancient Israelites, our ancestors, believed was a moral G-d who was not capricious or arbitary. He made moral demands upon His human creation. Thus it is not monotheism alone that set the Israelites apart, but more precisely, ethical montheism. It was a qualitative difference rather that distinguished the Hebrews from other ancient people.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Bradd asked on 08/19/04 - Being Jewish What does it mean to be Jewish? For example, I'm an American and a Catholic. You might say my nationality is American and my religion is Catholicism. The two, while not being exactly mutually exclusive, are certainly separate. The one does not include the other.
Can a Jew be Jewish in religion and not Jewish in nationality? (I understand Jewish people are as American as the next guy, but that's not what I'm asking). Another way of posing the question is - Can a Jew be Jewish without adhering to the faith of Judaism? Is Judaism (or Jewishness) both a faith and a "nationality"? Maybe "ethnic" is the word, but that doesn't work either.
I'm an ethnic - Irish flavor - but the word doesn't seem to work for Jewish people because their national origins are so widespread. My "Irishness" has almost disappeared after 3 generations, but that does not seem to be the case with "Jewishness".
Are there two ways of being Jewish - religious and something else? If so, how do Jews term that "something else"?
I've stumbled around the question, but I hope you get the idea. It is difficult sometimes for a non-Jew to ask questions about Judaism because of the long history of anti-semitism. One walks on eggshells for fear of being misunderstood. Yiddishkeit answered on 08/20/04:Being Jewish is an ethnicity and has cultures based to it...for example: the Ashkenazim and the Sephardim. Jews aren't a nation by definition of citizenship since we reside in many counties. However through Jewish travels the mindset, our hearts, our burden so to speak, has been of the constant reminder of our homeland which is Israel. From generations going way back in that sense we are a nation. Hatikva "the hope" a popular song in the Zionist movement eventually became the national anthem of the State of Israel. Not that every Jewish person is a Zionist, because some Jews are not. But all traditional Jewish people, no matter if Zionist or not, expect either now (Zionist) or eventually (non-Zionist some think to be when Moshiach arrives) that Israel will remain righfully so in existence as promised to us.
In accordance to traditional Judaism if the matrilineal lineage is Jewish you are therefore Jewish. Only the less traditional modern movements (Reform and Reconstructionist) accept patrilineal descent, and that is if there is some active amount of observance.
However to answer your question, I use the traditional standard of the matrilineal descent...which is common to all Jewish communities.
At one end of the spectrum there are some very non-observant Jews and at the other end there are very frum "religious" Jews that practice Judaism with a whole hearted commitment and effort. So from Atheist to Orthodox...a Jew is still a Jew. Also understand this...usually by the end of the conversion process the converts are so well grounded in Judaism that often times they are more learned than some born Jewish.
Just as a sidenote, sometimes the racial idea is promoted by sources outside of Judaism. So I want on that subject just a bit. Those of such ilk as hitler try to propagate myths. There were twelve tribes originally and in my humble opinion we probably had different unique characteristics even way back then. Anyway my point is that according to anthropologist Jews sprang from the Mediterranean subdivision of the Caucasiod race. However over the course of the centuries as a result of migrations, we have developed even more different physical features because of the fusion of other racial blends. Judaism has always readily accepted sincere converts.
Bradd, thank you for a very good question. Please ask all you want.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 08/06/04 - Mado..I mean "Esther"'s new scam According to today's NY Sun, Madonna has plans to make a school in New York. A Kabbalah school.
For children.
I don't have the Sun article, so I'm cutting and pasting this one from the Age in Australia:
Madonna is spending $US21.6 million ($A30.81 million) to set up a Kabbalah school in New York, reports Sky News.
The school, to be named the Kabbalist Grammar School For Children - The K School for short - will teach primary-age youngsters about the ancient Jewish mysticism.
A source close to the singer told The Sun: "The school has been a dream of Madonna's for some time.
"Education means a lot to her and she was keen to make the most of her money by leaving a lasting mark as well as helping kids. She has been really dedicated to putting money away to pay for the building and she's delighted to finally own it.
"The papers have been signed and the school will be opening its doors to the first class in December."
According to The Sun, parents who want their five-year-olds to attend the K School will have to face several hurdles. They must be Kabbalists before enrolling their child.
The strict entry policy will involve an academic test for the child and a probing family interview. Parents will have to pay upwards of $US3,600 ($A5,130) for a term.
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The times article indicated that the family would have to be "practicing kabbalists". What the hell is that?
And who would thik that mysticism which is, at the strictest level, reserved for Torah observant male Jews over the age of 40 who have years of scholarship, could be at all appropriate to 5 year olds.
Normally, I would let her meshugas go, but this is personally insulting as a Jew and an educator. Now Target is selling bindels for 30 bucks...oy.
Yiddishkeit answered on 08/08/04:I'm sick and tired of these new age esoteric celebrity types. If she wants my respect than she needs to learn Judaism and convert or simply donate money into Jewish education institutions already established.
Next thing we will be reading is Mad"Esther"onna will be teaching classes at her new school with a cirriculum that involves healing liquid (tap water) and new age crystals (quartz rocks).
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 08/01/04 - Sanhedrin perek 7 I was discussing the bnei noach with someone and he said that according to the 7th perek of sanhedrin, bnei noach who break on of the 7 laws are dealt with differently by the court in reaching "proof" of their guilt. This person didn't give me much to go on and, never having learned that perek, I don't know.
Has anyone learned that perek and can answer:
1. Do bnei noach get hasroah?
2. Does the court need 2 eidim
3. can the non-jew defend himself if a goy is not a valid witness?
is the burden of proof different and the approach of the court different?
Thanks.
Dan Yiddishkeit answered on 08/02/04:Dan-
I don't have that tractrate to research how much can apply to the non-Jew. I'll share from a book I have that's nothing more than short commentaries and brief history on various orders of the Talmud...
"This universal element could be integrated with any culure and with whatever formal religious expression a people had developed. It's provisions, known 'seven Noachide laws,' include the practices of equity in human relations and the prohibitions of blaspheming G-d's name, idolatry, sexual unchastity, bloodshed, robbery, and cruelty to animals, such as tearing off the limbs while thet are still alive."
I gather, and admittingly I'm using conjecture, is that since there is a basis to make laws throughout the lands set up in foreign countries outside Israel that indeed they are permitted to set their own needed number witnesses and standard for a valid witness. Now as for inside Israel, again I think we would have to study (research) the Sanhedrin, because I'm not sure if they have a unique jurisdiction over the other foreign lands...if you know what I mean. I'm just not sure how the organizations set up for such rulings and where they could currently attend. What you might try is going to a Bnai Noachide site. I was researching sites a few years back for info and recalled there was some better than the basics, and if nothing else you can email their organizations for their answer.
I love your question. I believe Bnai Noachide issues are important to understanding the relations of a complete functioning society.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 06/23/04 - From last week's (Parshas Korach) Torah Tidbits at OU.org Then, and Soon Bimheira V'yameinu, Amen
An almost practical review of a favorite possible situation, which gives us pause to think, and something to pray for with renewed vigor. (BET-BET-ALEF stands for Bimheira V'yameinu, Amen - speedily in our time.)
If we had a Sanhedrin (and the Beit HaMikdash) today... Picture this: TZFAT, Leil Shabbat Parshat Korach, Friday was the 29th of Sivan 5764. Your minyan just finished Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. It's 8:15pm and one of the guys is giving a five minute D'var Torah; Maariv at 8:20pm. You decide to duck outside for some fresh air instead of listening to the DT (the guy giving it is your friend and he tested it out on you earlier.) The air is crisp, the sky is clear, and you are looking towards the west where the recently set sun is changing the sky's color from pink to purple. Higher in the sky you notice the planet Jupiter, an evening star at the moment. Closer to the horizon, you spot a faint, small line of white, in the darkening sky. You realize that you might be observing the first visibility of the lunar crescent. You suspect this because today was the 29th of the month and you read in the Word of the Month box on page 2 of Torah Tidbits that the moon MIGHT be visible this evening. And then it's gone. You don't see it anymore, but when you were looking at it a moment ago, you were conscious of the possibility that it was the moon.
You daven Maariv, go home, and tell your story to your family. Your daughter tells you (in a polite, respectful way) that you must go to Yerushalayim to testify before the committee of Sanhedrin for Kiddush HaChodesh. But it's Shabbat, you object, how can you get to Yerushalayim from Tzfat on a Friday night. Drive the car, she says. On Shabbat? Yes, on Shabbat. But I hurt my arm playing softball this afternoon and I don't think I can drive. I have a license, says your pride and joy. I'll drive you to the Sanhedrin.
And so it happens. Father and daughter drive to Yerushalayim on a Friday night - with complete permission of halacha, so to speak. He testifies in Sanhedrin. Whether his testimony is accepted or not is irrelevant to his halachic permission - actually duty - to travel to Jerusalem to testify. Both father and daughter have left the Shabbat boundary of Tzfat. Since that was done with halachic permission, their movements in Jerusalem are not restricted and they can walk (not drive - it's Shabbat!) to family or friends in the city to spend the rest of Shabbat.
What makes all of this even more amazing than it is already from the details of this tale, is the following fact:
Our friend from Tzfat only thinks he saw the L'VANA B'CHIDUSHA, the Moon in its newness. The first visibility of the Lunar crescent. He's not sure. Maybe it was a comet. Maybe a wispy cloud. Maybe it was the Moon. Maybe not. Meanwhile, in Yerushalayim, the members of the Sanhedrin Kiddush HaChodesh Committee have prepared for their Friday night duty of interviewing possible witnesses. They are armed with computer printouts and diagrams that accurately show them (not predict - show) exactly whether the Moon will be visible, exactly how high above the horizon, in what position relative to the recently set sun, what size and thickness it will be, for how long will it be visible.
In other words, unlike all other kind of testimony, where the witnesses supply facts that the judges do not possess, with Kiddush HaChodesh, the judges have the knowledge (they are required to know the details in advance) and the witnesses are not sure if they do.
Yet G-d, so to speak, graciously allows His Shabbat to be "violated", so that the People can fix their calendar in the preferred way.
This is the relationship that G-d "wants" to have with His people. But not during the period in Jewish History when our sins have resulted in exile and an erosion of the "infrastructure" of Torah life. Then, He has us use a cold calculation to fix our calendar, without our active participation in the process of setting up the calendar and establishing the cycle of Chagim.
When you next look at the Moon, ponder its beauty and its symbolic link to Bnei Yisrael. And say a little prayer for the Beit HaMikdash, Bimheira V'yameinu, Amen
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Hope you enjoyed,
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 06/23/04:I think a modern day Sanhedrin would have there hands full immediately, but eventually it would smoooth out. Technology could be used as a helpful tool, but the Torah would remain the same. That's a thought provoking read...thanks for sharing.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Doc05 asked on 06/23/04 - The many who are joing Kabbalah I have seen articles and heard on the news that more and more famous people are turning to Kabbalah. Ever since I was a young girl I understood that the teachings of Kabbalah were esoteric and only the very knowledgeable of Rabbi's were permitted to read the mystical doctrine. Now, they are selling Kabbalah water, books, mats, T-shirts etc. Do the people who are a part of this new Kabbalah movement converting to Judaism? I would really appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks, Diana Yiddishkeit answered on 06/23/04:Well...good question! I do know that the local Kabbalah Centre also has a form of shabbos services. According to their service announcement in my city (Las Vegas) they do have minyan, healing meditation and Torah readings. I personally believe they are new age fronting Judaism, but I'm sure if you aksed them they would say of themselves that they are traditional Judaism including the mystical aspects.
I really do not know if they even attempt to have conversions, but if they did I don't think traditional Orthodox adherents, Conservative, or the Reform would accept them as Jews, nor would their governing bodies. It is possible though that a non-Jewish person started out investigating the idea of Kabbalah using them, then later actually became interested in Judaism and then converted..let's say through a real Orthodox rabbi. I also would consider them Jewish if they managed to undergo conversion through some of the fewer traditional Jewish rabbi of the Conservative movement or Reform, but I would have to know what exactly that individual shul taught as well, since they vary. I probably come off as judgmental and I am, that's just me, no disrespect to others.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 06/22/04 - Cohen Gadol When the cohen gadol went into the kodesh kodashim on Y"K, he had a rope around his waist. I know that if his avodah was not right, he would die and would have to be dragged out. Would he die if his avodah was good, but the people didn't deserve to be forgiven? Or something like that? What was the purpose of his death?
thanks Yiddishkeit answered on 06/22/04:I think the cohen godal only lost his life based on the fact he improperly did not do his function correctly, regardless if the people were forgiven. Don't qoute me, but I believe for him to maintain proper avodah he was also responsible to the people to inform them (of forgiveness) one way or the other. Most of my recollections of reading on the subject based the death of the cohen solely on his improper work, when that occurred.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 06/21/04 - What I got for Fathers' Day - for those who speak Yiddish A dime, a nickle, 3 pennies and a rooster.
In other words: "chai cock".
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 06/21/04:Wise guy, you just gotta love children. I spent Father's Day working for the next Mother's Day. You know, every two weeks I get paid and then turn around and pay that motha' yentzer and that motha' yenzter...
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 06/07/04 - The Koran and Jews I thought about posting this on the Islam board, but wasn't really interested in inciting a riot. However, if anyone else wishes to, go for it.
I know that many of you have much knowledge in the ways of Islam. How does this interview strike you? Do you foresee these viewpoints taking root and changing the dreadful way things are today? General comments?
I can't validate the source, as I've never heard of them before.
Here's the interview:
The Koran and the Jews
By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | June 3, 2004
Frontpage Interview's guest today is Prof. Khaleel Mohammed, Assistant Professor at the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University.
FP: Prof. Mohammed welcome to Frontpage Interview.
Mohammed: You do me a great honor. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to introduce my views to your readers. As you know, I am interested in a moderate Islam, one that is inclusive and is concerned about all human rights. My mission is to help reclaim the beauty that once was practiced in Islam, a message not currently in fashion amongst more traditional or fundamentalist Muslims.
FP: You are yourself a Muslim and yet, quite unconventionally amongst Islamic clerics and scholars, you teach that the Koran says Israel belongs to the Jews. Can you educate us on this Islamic teaching?
Mohammed: The Qur'an adumbrates several principles that hover around a common theme: God does not love injustice and will assist those who are wrongly treated. And it focuses so much on this that the person most mentioned in the Qur'an is Moses -- who is presented as God's revolutionary, and who leads a people despised and tormented for no other reason than that they worshipped God, out of the land of bondage to the Promised Holy Land.
The Qur'an in Chapter 5: 20-21 states quite clearly: Moses said to his people: O my people! Remember the bounty of God upon you when He bestowed prophets upon you , and made you kings and gave you that which had not been given to anyone before you amongst the nations. O my people! Enter the Holy Land which God has written for you, and do not turn tail, otherwise you will be losers."
The Quran goes on to say why the Israelites were not allowed to enter the land for forty years...but the thrust of my analysis is where Moses says that the Holy Land is that which God has "written" for the Israelites. In both Jewish and Islamic understandings of the term "written", there is the meaning of finality, decisiveness and immutability. And so we have the Written Torah (unchangeable) and the Oral Torah (which represents change to suit times). And in the Qur'an we have "Written upon you is the fast"--to show that this is something that is decreed, and which none can change. So the simple fact is then, from a faith-based point of view: If God has "written" Israel for the people of Moses, who can change this?
The Qur'an refers to the exiles, but leaves it open for return...saying to the Jews that if they keep their promise to God, then God will keep the divine promise to them. WE may argue that the present state of Israel was not created in the most peaceful means, and that many were displaced--for me, this is not the issue. The issue is that when the Muslims entered that land in the seventh century, they were well aware of its rightful owners, and when they failed to act according to divine mandate (at least as perceived by followers of all Abrahamic faiths), they aided and abetted in a crime. And the present situation shows the fruits of that action--wherein innocent Palestinians and Israelis are being killed on a daily basis.
I also draw your attention to the fact that the medieval exegetes of Qur'an--without any exception known to me--recognized Israel as belonging to the Jews, their birthright given to them. Indeed, two of Islam's most famous exegetes explained "written" from Quran 5:21 thus:
Ibn Kathir (d. 774/1373) said: “That which God has written for you” i.e. That which God has promised to you by the words of your father Israel that it is the inheritance of those among you who believe” . Muhammad al-Shawkani (d. 1250/1834) interprets Kataba to mean “that which God has allotted and predestined for you in His primordial knowledge, deeming it as a place of residence for you” (1992, 2:41).
The idea that Israel does not belong to the Jews is a modern one, probably based on the Mideast rejection of European colonialism etc, but certainly not having anything to do with the Qur'an. The unfortunate fact is that most Muslims do NOT read the Qur’an and interpret it on the basis of its own words; rather they let imams and preachers do that for them.
FP: You say that when the Muslims entered the sacred land in the seventh century, “they aided and abetted in a crime.” Can you expand on this a bit? How honest is contemporary Islam with this fact?
Mohammed: How did the Jews lose their right to live in the Holy Land? All reliable reports show that it was by the looting and burning that followed from 70-135 C.E. When the Muslims entered the place in 638, liberating it from the Byzantines, they knew full well to whom it rightfully belonged. But we find that Muslim chroniclers state that the Muslim caliph accepting the surrender of the Byzantine Christian representative, Sophronius, on certain terms, one of them being that the Jews would not be permitted to enter the city. I personally have a hard time accepting this story, and aspects of its historicity because as modern scholarship has shown, Muslim reports about that time were recorded long after the fact and are not as reliable as once thought. And we know too that when the first Crusaders took possession of the place in 1096-1099, they slaughtered Jews and Muslims. If Umar had indeed signed such a treaty, what were Jews doing there?
By aiding and abetting in a crime, I refer to when Abdul Malik built the mosque there, and had false traditions ascribed to Muhammad wherein the Prophet is supposed to have said that a man should set out for a journey only for three mosques, the ones in Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. Now how could the prophet have said this when ALL Muslims agree that when the Qur’an states "this day I have completed for you your religion" (Q5:3), that Jerusalem was not within Muslim geography? The completion means just that...with the Arabic Qur'an for the Arab peoples, and the aspect of conquest of foreign territory NOT an injunction of Qur’anic Islam.
When the Muslims conquered Jerusalem, it should have been left open for the rightful owners to return. It is possible that Jewish beliefs of the time only allowed such return under a Messiah--but that should not have influenced Muslim action. And in contrast to the report of Sophronius above, there are also reports showing that Umar in fact opened the city to the Jews. If this be the case, then the later Muslim occupation and building a mosque on the site of the Temple was something that was not sanctioned by The Qur’an. How honest is contemporary Islam with this? Given the situation in the Middle East, politiking etc stands in the way of honesty.
FP: You lecture at universities exposing these politically incorrect facts. As a result, you have been frequently denounced by Muslim groups. Tell us about their criticism/harassment of you.
Mohammed: The criticism of my work is that I am out of line with the geo-political movement towards fundamentalism. What your readers must understand is that fundamentalism is rapidly becoming mainstream. Moderation is not. A perfect example is in Akbar AHmed's "Islam Under Siege," where he points out that the Taliban are no longer a fringe group in Pakistan; many Pakistanis are finding themselves drawn to their teachings.
Right here in the US, I present a problem to those at mosques who use social pressure to coerce others into accepting their extremism. On the personal level with my family: when my wife, after years of research, decided that she no longer felt that the head covering was mandatory, and chose to venture forth without it, many of the Muslim "sisters" she greeted refused to respond--without even checking on her interpretation. Many Muslims stand against me for no other reason than I say that Israel has a right to exist.
Overall, the criticism of me follows a strange pattern: they are upset that I should give any legitimacy to Israel, assuming that in doing so, I am denying the rights of Palestinians. My answer that I in no way deny that Palestinians have rights. But this is generally not considered by those that criticize my position: because for them, it is either all or nothing.
At a recent lecture in Santa Cruz, Muslim groups put up posters saying that I claim that the Qu'ran says bad things about Jews. In fact this was a gross misrepresentation of facts: I admit that the Qur'an has verses that are polemic, but my view is that the Qur'an in fact respects the Jews (which explains Moses being so often mentioned)...but that it is the oral traditions of Islam (the hadith) that demonizes the Jews. For many Muslims, this is a hard pill to swallow because for almost 12 centuries, they have been taught that acceptance of oral traditions are a creedal element of Islam.
Often, they try to argue with selective quotes from the Qur'an--and here they lose out, because when it comes to exegesis, I have spent years studying that. And then there is the "challenge" aspect...at Santa Cruz they said that they wanted to debate. I agreed on one condition: that such debate be in public. They did not show up. In fact, the few Muslims who were present and had the patience to listen to me, could not find how I had misinterpreted or misrepresented Islam.
In Montreal, I was accused of being racist when I said that 95% of contemporary Muslims are exposed to anti-Semitic teachings. My answer, which the Montreal Gazette refused to print, was that every Muslim had to answer a simple question. Honestly. What is the interpretation of the final two verses of the first chapter of the Quran? "Guide us to the straight path--the path of those upon whom you have bestowed your bounty, not those who have incurred your wrath, nor those who are astray."
This verse has nothing about Jews or Christians...yet, almost every person learns that those who have incurred divine wrath are the Jews, and those who are astray are Christians. What is more problematic is that the average person learns this chapter and its interpretation between the ages of 5-8. And we know that things learned at this stage of life become ingrained, almost to the point of being in one's DNA, if I may put it that way.
I felt that my answer was self-evident. Do you know what the result was? Some of my closest colleagues DENIED that they had been taught this. This was more painful to me than the rejection of some Muslim leaders--for I always ask that if we deny things publicly, at least in private we admit the truth. And when in privacy, my fellow Muslims could not bring themselves to admit that which was obvious to anyone, that was in itself testimony as to how low we have sunk.
Yet, on the issue of criticism and harassment--I must state that it is only in the form of argument, without threats of any physical nature. Whatever problem my fellow Muslims have with my views, they are aware that I am a Muslim. I do not deny my religion, and therefore we can argue. Here at San Diego State University where I teach, the local MSA attempted to have me disciplined for having accused them of anti-Semitism and homophobia. They did not pursue the issue--an astute decision for they would have looked very foolish. Their answer was that they too are Semites, (the writers of the letter were by the way not even Arabs), and that they could not be homophobic since their neighbors are gays and lesbians!
FP: If Islam is going to have a reformation, from what roots will it originate?
Mohammed: The reformation will come from Muslims based in the West, and the voices of women will be loud and pivotal in that reformation. Let us look at some names that are as yet unknown to many, but names that have done so much for changing Islamic thought...names of people who may disagree vehemently with each other, but names of people who, for all their difference have done much to purge Islam of the male chauvinism that has afflicted it for centuries: Fatima Mernissi, Azizah al Hibri, Amina Wadud Muhsin, Irshad Manji, Rifat Hasan, Asma Jahangir. Not that all reform minded people are women: there is Khalid Abou al Fadl, Abdallah al-Naim, Sa'd al din Ibrahim etc. Note that they are, with one exception, all now in the West, and that they have all had a western education.
FP: Prof. Mohammed, it was an honor to speak with you and we would like to thank you for being such a brave voice within the Islamic community, where honest dialogue, unfortunately, is often stifled. We encourage you to keep fighting for a moderate Islam that is compatible with Western democracy -- and we hope your voice will have an increasing impact.
So to finish this interview, why don’t you briefly sum up for our readers -- and for many Muslims who will hopefully read this interview – how Islam actually teaches that Israel belongs to the Jews and that Muslims are obligated, by the Qur’an itself, to accept its existence.
Mohammed: The Qur'an states at the very beginning of the second chapter "this is a book wherein there is no doubt, a guide for the God-conscious." Its contents are therefore to be seen by every Muslim as being divinely ordained, and to be followed. The verses on Israel as in 5:20-21 are not there just to be read; they are there to be followed. In Islam also, there is the elemental maxim "Calamity must be removed" (al darar yuzal). Muslms must face up to reality--in the years since Israel has been established, the focus of the region has been to seek to have it removed. And they have been unsuccessful, and there seems to be no hope for success. The pragmatic, proactive thing to do would be to come to grips with reality: Israel is there to stay, and it can exist in a state of peaceful coexistence, or in a stage of bellicosity. The Qur'an tells Muslims that God will not change their position until they change it themselves--and this is a classic example for putting that edict into effect. Only when MUSLIMS themselves accept Israel will they be following their Qur'an. Israel will negotiate from a position of guaranteed security, and while there may be tension from time to time, at least peace will be the norm.
FP: Prof. Mohammed, thank you for joining us today.
Mohammed: It was my pleasure, thank you for having me here.
Yiddishkeit answered on 06/09/04:I have to make this short since I'm playing host to company from out of town. Elliot made a good point about the word "extremists." Meaning that extremists ae simply very set in their beliefs. For example, the violent extremists, would be a negative description. However, as a positive aspect, a good extremist could be an individual acting extremely peaceful for a cause. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but in general there are Muslims in the U.S. that live and teach a different form of Islam, a peaceful more tolerant Islam, than the one accepted in the Middle-East and other parts of the world.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Doc05 asked on 05/23/04 - Has anyone been to Isreal recently? I am planning on going to Israel at the end of August. My girlfriend just came back and she said that she was afraid of taking buses or any sort of public transportation. She did not have a car there and missed a wedding because of the fear that she has. She also was very anxious when going to malls. I am not afraid, but she is talking me out of it. If anyone was there recently - Tel-Aviv/Jerusalem, did you feel any of that? I am well aware of suicide bombings and the dangers involved, but was she just exaggerating or do people feel that way who visit and live there? I hope that you do not find this as a silly question but what she said really made me feel uncomfortable with taking my daugher with me - yet I want her to experience what I did three years ago - when it wasn't that stable either - yet I felt no more fear there than I do in my own neighborhood here. Yiddishkeit answered on 05/24/04:I have several Israeli clientele that visits the resort from Haifa and Tel Aviv and no one I've spoken with suggested the need for any extra safety measures. I don't think any of the heavier tourist areas are under abnormal amounts of security, other than normal circumstance, at least nothing news worthy lately.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 05/20/04 - Looking for a picture I have seen line drawings (3-D, very detailed) of har habayit in temple times.
I have seen aerial photos of har habayit today
Does anyone know of a good picture which combines the two to show the relationships between ancient buildings/structures and modern ones?
Even better would be an aerial shot with a plastic overlay of the various temple times (1st, second, roman...)
If you know of websites that have these pictures so I can copy them, rescale and print them and copy them onto transparencies, please let me know.
I have Dan Bahat's Atlas of Jerusalem, have looked in a book my Mazar and have been refered to one by a guy named "Tulkashinsky" or somesuch.
Any other ideas are welcome. Yiddishkeit answered on 05/22/04:Hi Dan-
Next time you happen to be at large bookstore, such as a Barnes and Noble or Borders, look for a book titled "The Atlas of Jewish History" by Martin Gilbert. I thumbed through it one day awhile back and I seem to recall some pictures and diagrams...it's worth a shot if your in the bookstore, perhaps the library.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 05/14/04 - Check this out Saw this today, and figured y'all might want to take a look:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pet52555/petition-sign.html Yiddishkeit answered on 05/16/04:I signed the petition and I would gladly donate one of my kitchen table's chairs and a car battery should they need the extra voltage! Truth is even if the petition goes nowhere, the fact still remains that Arafat is long overdue to receive punishment for his evil atrocities against humanity.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 05/13/04 - Kerry What's Kerry's stance or position on Israel? Pretty sure I'm not gonna vote for the guy, but I'm curious.
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 05/13/04:The DNC just mailed out there wish list and apparently since I'm registered Democrat I'm entitled to more junk mail. Anyway to make a long story short I have not heard one peep out of John Kerry directly concerning Israel.
The mailer I received appears to have been written with the mentality of a eleven year old kid pleaing for contibutions with nothing of substance to share in return.
Here's some rethoric from the Kerry camp,
"I plan to bring back jobs by ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas"
Ok so jobs are an issue especially real jobs that don't include the minimum wage slave labor numbers. But who does he think he is fooling? I wonder how many of his overseas companies he will put the clamp on?!!!
"We will end George Bush's reckless assault on our environment and strengthen our clean air and clean water standards"
Shut up already! No has anyone choked on bad air or drank contaminated water. Most of us are buying bottled drinking water because we have been brainwashed and all of us are still bathing in city water. The water in Vegas has actually upgraded in the past two years.
"We're ready to win. And together, we're sending a powerful message all across the nation: George W. Bush's days are numbered - and change is coming to America"
Well I don't know the GW's days are numbered...I'm certainly not voting for Bush and I'm not voting for this clown either. The word "change" has been worn out every four years and means zippo....it's campaign jargon. Truth is he (Kerry) could careless about me and you and if you want change don't expect anything more from him as you did from Bush. My suggestion is that if you really have a burning issue for or against a candidiate then vote your conscious.
Kerry's flyer has listed in bold letters are "Jobs, Health Care, Education, Environment, Civil Rights." Of those five subjects touched upon let's go with Civil Rights since it somewhat might give us a clue.
Kerry says, "We need to guarantee equal and civil rights and say that, here in America, workers have the right to organize - women have the right to choose - and justice belongs to everyone regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation."
My take...
I get the feeling that he seems to think we are still living in the 60's. Kerry is a wealthy man and comes off to me like his persuit of the White House is only to add another trophy to his showcase. He proclaimed recently about the possibilites of John McCain for Secretary of Defence, which suprises me a bit actually. But if I'm reading between the lines correctly I think Kerry would want Israel to convenience the so called Palestinian Arabs in most cases. Anyway the other thing I derived from this is that he is pro-choice. Well no biggy there since most Democratic presidential hopefuls usually are pro-choice. I for one, as a registered Democrat am very pro-life, with the only addendums of choice being that when it saves the mother's life or in the case of rape.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 05/06/04 - To all: a plea from one of our own who is 'over there' Guys,
This is an exerpt from an e-mail that I have received through the grapevine. I know Moshe Sheinfeld well, and my wife has known him a lot longer. I personally vouch for the legitimacy of this e-mail.
If you can, please help lift the morale of the soldiers risking their lives to protect us, especially a frum yid. More detail to follow at the end of his letter:
---------
L"HU
Dear Members of the American Jewish Community:
Greetings from Forward Operating Base Ar Ramadi (formerly Camp Junction City), the western edge of the "Sunni Triangle" in Iraq.
Today (20APR04), our unit, TF 1-16 IN (Iron Rangers), attended a memorial ceremony for our brother, SGT Christopher Ramirez, who was killed in action
while attacking an enemy dug in position during our unit's largest operation on 14APR04.
At the end of the ceremony, the 1st Sergeant (1SG) from SGT Ramirez's company, B Company (Bushmaster), conducted a heart-rendering ceremony called "Last Roll Call." The company of about 100 soldiers stood at
attention and the 1SG called out the name of a soldier and the soldier answered, "Here 1SG!" Then the 1SG called out the name of a different soldier and he answered, "here 1SG!" Then the 1SG called out the name of "SGT Ramirez" and there was no answer. He called out again, "SGT Christopher Ramirez," and no one answered. Just bone-chilling silence that was broken by a 21 gun salute in honor of this "Fallen Hero."
I mention this story to illustrate the great sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice which SGT Ramirez and 7 other Iron Rangers have made in the War on Terrorism, a war to protect us all.
Now, I request from each of you that you make a sacrifice on behalf of the soldiers of the Iron Ranger Battalion and the other soldiers of the Devil
Brigade. I request that each of you prepare a package of food and other items for our soldiers at the front of the War on Terrorism. Every single day, we face enemy direct fire outside the "wire" and enemy indirect fire inside the wire (we are mortared and rocketed on a regular basis inside the base). Your packages will be a phenomenal morale boost.
When our soldiers receive your packages, it's a little bit of home 7,000 miles from U.S. soil. The positive impact of your packages will be immeasurable. Your package will not only express your care and concern for
our soldiers, but also represent a much, much needed break in the monotony we face each day. We eat the same foods on a 3 week cycle, day in and day out. We see the same things day in and day out in our small post exchange.
This is a unique and extraordinary opportunity for the Jewish community of the United States, every temple, synagogue, congregation, and JCC and for each Jew to support the soldiers who are over here. Most Iron Rangers will be deployed to Iraq for up to a year away from family, friends, and home. Can you imagine being away from your wife, your husband, your children,
your parents for a year? It's a tremendous and noble sacrifice.
A principle Jewish value is hakart h'tov (recognition of good, gratitude). Sending packages here to Iraq is a unique opportunity to fulfill this mitzvah, this good deed.
Our soldiers would appreciate the following items: dried fruit, popcorn, candy (hard, soft), Pez and Pez dispensers, gum, cakes, cookies, power bars (EAS, Met-RX), nuts, chocolate (all types of M & M's), coffee (ground coffee, Starbucks would be greatly appreciated, soldiers love and live on coffee!!!), white exercise socks, Gold Bond powder, magazines, newspapers, soft cover books, and anything else you can think of to surprise our soldiers.
Success, victory for this avodah (this labor) will be twofold. One is that this e-mail makes the rounds to every Jew in the U.S. and two is that each member of the American Jewish community responds with a package. If thousands of packages come rolling in, this will be a magnificent kidush h'shem (a sanctification of the name of G-D).
You can send your package to the following address:
Iron Ranger Battalion and Devil Brigade
C/O
CPT Moses Scheinfeld
HHC/1-16 IN
1 BCT, 1 ID (M)
FOB Ar Ramadi/Camp Junction City
APO AE 09394
Please send your packages by priority mail. It will get here faster.
Finally, please continue to pray and say Tehillim (Psalms) for the successful mission and safe return of our troops here in Iraq and in other distant places.
"Rangers Lead The Way, But G-D Is The Way"
CPT Moses Scheinfeld
P.S. The walls of our headquarters are covered with patriotic drawings and expressions of appreciation and thanks from children all over the U.S. Such drawings from kids from Gan Shalom in Chicago, Ramaz in New York, the Beren Academy in Houston, and all the other Jewish schools in the U.S. would mean much. There's still plenty of space on our walls for these.
-------------
OK. Here's a little more information:
When sending these packages overseas, you will need to fill out a 'customs declaration form' (Form 2976 or 2976-A). Articles are liable for customs duty and/or purchase tax unless they are bona fide gifts intended for use by military personnel or their dependents. When the contents of a parcel meet these requirements, the mailer must endorse the customs form, "Certified to be a bona fide gift, personal effects, or items for personal use of military personnel and dependents," under the heading, Description of Contents.
Here is a partial list of items that the soldiers are commonly looking for. It comes from the Operation Military Pride website
http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html
Food Items
*Instant coffee. There are many flavored coffees that are very good.
*Powdered Gatorade.
*Powdered hot chocolate
*Kool-Aid (presweetened of course)
*Tea bags
*Slim Jim's
*Crackers and Easy Cheese. Triscuits and Ritz crackers are great.
*Single servings of bagged chips. (The small bags stay fresh longer.)
*Candy, of course. (M & M's are great, hard candy-anything that won't melt.)
*Little Debbie snack cakes
*Bubble gum
*Rice Krispie Treats
*Dry cereal. (The small, individual serving boxes stay very fresh.)
*Kraft Easy Mac
*Microwave popcorn
*Beef jerky
*Granola bars
*Power bars
*Dried fruit
*Chex mix
*Canned soup
*Tuna
*Spices (Onion powder, garlic powder, spice all, ect )
*Summer sausage
*Oatmeal
*Salsa
*Lollipops
*Marshmallows
*Gum
*Chips
*Ragu Express
*Canned chicken
*Salad dressing
*Instant soup
*Fast food condiments (Hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, salt and pepperpackets, relish, Mayo)
Practical
*Clorox wipes
*Baby wipes
*Razors
*Shampoo, conditioner
*After shave lotion
*Soap or body wash
*Mouth wash
*Deodorant
*T-shirts, underwear and socks, monthly.
*A big fluffy towel
*Eye drops, especially for those in the desert.
*Chapstick
*Lip balm
*Sun block
*Skin so soft (Avon)
*Lotion
*Dental floss
*Baby powder
*Foot powder
*Combs /brushes
*Cotton balls
*Liquid hand sanitizer
*Breath mints
*Contact lens cleaner
*Eye drops
*Nail files
Just for fun
*Send batteries. It sounds simple, but people forget.
*Sunblock
*A stress ball.
*Stamps, paper and envelopes with a nice writing pen might inspire a few more letters home.
*Phone cards (AT&T work best from Kuwait)
*Paperback book or magazines
*Disposable cameras
*Puzzles
*Film
*Journals
*Yo Yo's
*Squirt guns
*Frisbees
*Dart boards
*Small flash lights
*Hackie sacks
*Jump ropes
*Electronics hand held games
*Post cards from your home state
*Handmade items
*Radio head sets
*Portable CD players
*Mini fans
*Jokes and comics
*Balloons
*Hats (Baseball)
*Bandannas
*Socks
*Blankets
*Bug off
*Single sheet sets
*Birthday decorations
*Banners
*Send board games-the ones they have made into key chains.
*With a CD burner, make a CD of favorite songs.
*Send a few toys. Slinky, sidewalk chalk, squirt guns...anything extra silly.
*Send electronic games.
*Make a miniature scrapbook.
*Foam footballs and basketballs, the miniature size. These will be used constantly!
THINGS NOT TO SEND
*Pressurized items (Shaving cream, etc...)
*Chocolates (May melt all over package)
*Liquor
*News for shipments to the Persian Gulf
Thanks, everyone, for taking an interest and helping out our soldiers. This is a great chance to show them that we appreciate their putting their lives on the line for us. Hakaras hatov is a HUGE mitzvah.
Tizku L'mitzvot
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 05/07/04:Caught this one on the Religion board and thanks again for sharing. When I went through Marine Corp boot camp many moons ago they issued everyone Jewish, Christian, Muslim, agnotic, atheists, a Bible...but it was the Christian edition King James with the New Testament included, without choice. Do the soldiers now get a Hebrew Bible (English version Tanakh) if they are Jewish? I would hope that the times have changed enough that our soldiers can have the appropriate spiritual material at hand. Which leads to another question... do our partcipating Jewish soldiers have the time or need that the list could include having a Tanakh (or portions thereof) or book of Songs and Blessings, etc...?
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Doc05 asked on 05/06/04 - Road Map To Peace I was just wondering what would be the ideal way to handle the Palestinian situation, without Israel having to give up any land? I really would appreciate your comments and ideas. Yiddishkeit answered on 05/07/04:Hi Doc05-
Everything is working out just fine. Israel will continue sending the message by blowing up their weak leaders like "sheik old gas bags" and scattering wheelchair parts all over Gaza. I think what probably can eventually happen is that Israel will permit a declaration of sorts to the so called "Palestinian nation" over in the Gaza strip area. That will cool the heathens down for about six months then the idiots will continue to seek their ultimate doom against the mightier IDF. G-d bless you Diane for your Jewish and Israeli support.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | loeblaw asked on 04/14/04 - A New Baby I am happy to announce the birth of our newest daughter, Amalia Rachel, who was born last Thursday night chol hamoed Pesach. Amalia was named on Monday.
She was born 7 pounds and 7 ounces and measuring 19 3/4 inches. Amalia and mother (and 3 big sisters) are all doing well. Never in my life did I imagine I would be the father to 4 wonderful little girls! Yiddishkeit answered on 04/16/04:Congrats! My brother is in the same boat he is o for 2 on having a son. I see lots of gray hair in your future...good luck.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 04/05/04 - To all, Have a happy, healthy and sweet Pesach.
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 04/05/04:Thanks Elliot and as always the very besy Pesach wishes for you and all the mishpocheh.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | koinegreek asked on 04/02/04 - Trying to sort out? 1. I keep hearing that the woman determined Jewishness? Book of Ruth, Hebrews scriptures
says otherwise? Ruth 4:13-22?
2. I keep hearing that there was only a second Temple? First, Solomon; Second, Erza; Third, Herod?
Was not the Temple Herod built legal?
Yiddishkeit answered on 04/03/04:Not much to add here and the question concerning Temples has been covered well. The mother lineage decides if you are Jewish and the father at least biblically chose your tribe affiliation. Also to be a Kohen (Cohen) that is because your father was a Cohen, not the mothers side. If you mother is Jewish like mine and your father is not a Cohen (or non-Jewish in my case) than you simply are Jewish and known as "Am Yisra'el" (people of Israel) a general expression for the wolrdwide Jewish community. Ruth if I remember right was a Moabite who became the first convert and her conversion is recorded in her statement of leaving her people to become a part of the Jewish community.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | koinegreek asked on 04/01/04 - What is the details of this 77th., generation? Herod's reign ended in terror. The monastery at Qumran, the home of the Essenes, suffered a violent
and deliberate destruction by fire in 8 BCE, for which Herod may have been responsible. When the
king fell ill, two popular teachers, Judas and Matthias, incited their pupils to remove the golden eagle
from the entrance of the Temple: after all, according to the Ten Commandments, it was a sin to make
idols. The teachers and the pupils were burned alive. Some Jewish scholars had discovered that
seventy-six generations had passed since the Creation, and there was a well-known prophecy that
the Messiah was to deliver Israel from its foreign rulers in the seventy-seventh generation. The story
about the slaughter of infants of Bethlehem in the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew is not
known from other sources, but it would have been totally in character for the later Herod to commit
such a terrible act.
Yiddishkeit answered on 04/02/04:I don't know that there can be a defining answer to your post. See while the Talmud may make reference to use of the Seder 'Olam Rabba it is is unclear if it the most precise gage, however I not suggesting or recommending that conventional chronolgy is accurate. Also there is a element of gematria used in the Seder 'Olam Rabba, not that I'm suggesting that to be wrong, just another facet to something more complex.
I have two snippets from a book in my home library titled "The Messiah Texts" by Raphael Patai.
1. "In the second year of [King] Ahazia, Elijah was hidden, and he will not be seen again untill King Messiah comes. And then he will be seen but will be hidden a second time, and seen again only when Gog and Magog will come." (Seder 'Olam Rabba, ch.17)
2. "[While waiting for the coming of the Messiah, Elijah] writes the deeds of allthe generations." (Seder 'Olam Rabba, ch.17)
So here we have two small sections from Chapter 17 of the Seder 'Olam Rabba that Mr. Patai attibutes to Eliyahu and the coming of the moshiach.
Getting back to the 77 generation view. That depends on what you think that the certain events were and when they happened and at what point they began dating from an original event and what or where the ending point would be. Which if you could ever figure that out the next thing would be to sit in amazement as to why it's possible that G-d would have made a "little secret" so complicated.
The book of Daniel Ch.9 according to some in Judaism could had been in regards to the upcoming events of Hannukah and I've also read where it suggests the two Messiah theory, suffering and conquering. There may be even other Jewish scholar explainations. Personally I believe the Torah is the ultimate blueprint to human existence and the guide to living.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | koinegreek asked on 04/01/04 - How? 1. I understand that Moses was the law giver. Please correct me?
2. I understand that Moses wrote the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures. Please correct me?
3. I understand that Moses wrote, "Keep the Sabbath day holy." Please correct me?
4. In Israel today the Sabbath day is allowed to be broken. Do you know by whom?
5. The Hebrews[Jews] first built a tabernacle[tent] then the Temple. Please correct me?
6. Since the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., why hasn't the tabernacle[tent] been built?
7. Since the Jews cannot sacrific as commanded by Moses, how can you say you are Jews?
Yiddishkeit answered on 04/01/04:1. G-d is the law giver and Moshe was his messenger, but I understand your reference.
2. It is understood by most Jewish scholars that the majority was written by Moshe, with excpetion to a small portion by Joshua.
3. Out of 613 commandments you are refering to #4 of the 10 Commandments, which Moshe received on Mt. Sinai.
4. Israel,like the US, and other countries of Jewish population have Jewish people that vary in observance. Some Jews are frum (very strict) in observance to the other end of the specrtum which are Jews who wouldn't know what the inside of the shul looks like if you showed them the door. Personally I'm somewhere in between, which I believe to be the average Jew that is not frum. I keep a loose kosher diet and do not attend morning minyans...however I manage to make Shabbos services periodically and understand Holiday observance.
5. Yes the tabernacle was the world's first portable synagogue.
6. Because it is not time yet. It is expected to happen when moshiach arrives and all Jewish people are gather back to Israel and a Torah ran givernemnt is in place.
7. We do sacrifice it happens every Yom Kippur. Your focusing on Moshe when it was Hosea that gave that relayed the message for the sacrificial method currently in use by Jews throughout the word. In the future when there is the third and final temple then other methods mentioned in Tanach will become a part of sacrifice. Current status: Hosea 3:4-5..."for the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or terophim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the L-rd their G-d and David their king. They shall fear the L-rd and His goodness in latter days. Hosea 14:2-3..."Take words with you, and return to the L-rd. Say to Him, Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will render for bulls the offering of our lips."
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | koinegreek asked on 03/30/04 - Was Jesus a Jew that strictly observed the law of Moses? My use of the name Jesus, means the one born in accordance to the Hebrews scriptures, aka, the messiah.
And if he was a Jew according to you, did he receive treatment in accordance with the law of Moses when he was arrested?
And what do you say about "Jews for Jesus" today? Yiddishkeit answered on 04/01/04:1. Jesus Ramirez. He played baseball for the NY Yankees.
2. Well there is the way the Jewish legal system worked during the Second Temple period and then there is the Christian theolgy rendering of Jewish law.
3. A born Jew can wander off into many endeavors, but to distance onseself from Torah is the worse.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 03/31/04 - Here's a Pesach question that occured to me. This one occured to me this past shabbos while eating my gefilte fish.
There is a widespread minhag to not eat matzoh for a period of time before pesach. For some, it is from Rosh Chodesh Nisan on, for others it is a full month before. But pretty much everyone says that we should not eat matzoh durin the period immediately before pesach.
The reason for this minhag is so that when we make the bracha of 'al achilas matzoh' before eating the matzoh, it will be a 'fresh' mitzvah... something with a sense of newness and anticipation.
So why don't we have the same minhag for maror? We make a bracha of 'al achilas maror' too. Shouldn't we be concerned with the 'freshness' of this mitzvah as well?
I'd be interested in hearing any answers you may have. By the way, I have already thought of a few, and upshlugged them myself. So if you can come up with a new one, I'd like to hear it.
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 04/01/04:One of these days I'm going to ask my Rabbi about this. A line from the haggadah reads, "Their lives were made bitter with the hard work and oppression of slavery." Perhaps there should be minhag to avoid bitter corporation slavery a month before Pesach as well (lol). In all seriousness I think it is because we are not commanded to avoid any herbs (even bitter herbs, maror) during Pesach, yet we are commanded to avoid eating leaven bread products.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 03/29/04 - Question about terms Would someone be kind enough to give me a definition of "Zionism"/"Zionist?" I've seen/heard the term tossed around some, but I must admit I'm not sure what is meant by it.
There was another term that I also heard, but I can't remember the name. It was a view or something that opposed or was different than Zionism, but still seemed to relate to Judaism and the disposition of Israel (I think).
Thanks,
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 03/29/04:Zionism refers to a movement for Jews who sought the return to the Jewish homeland from the Diaspora, although there has been a Jewish presence in Israel for thousands of years. Zionists in general believe that Israel is the safer haven as a country and the more traditional rooted Jewish population believe in a religious ownership. There are other very traditional Jews that believe that only when moshich comes shall Israel homeland for all Jewish people. I think you are referring to the organization opposing the Zionist State known as Neturei Karta.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 03/29/04 - Here's another guy's take-- Here's what another guy thinks about the Israel/Yassin situation. He may be kind of famous, but his opinion is that of just an ordinary guy.
Makes a lot of sense to me, though.
>>Defending Ourselves
A couple of days ago Israeli forces sought out and killed a Palestinian named Yassim. He was a pathetic figure, small, emaciated and confined to a wheelchair.
Yet under those innocent looking white robes he wore beat the heart of a wanton terrorist. He was the founder of Hamas and responsible for the murder of hundreds of innocent Jewish women and children, masterminding an untold number of suicide raids against the Israelis.
Yet when the Jews finally take him out world opinion runs from
caustic criticism to outrage. How dare the Israelis retaliate, how dare they take out a terrorist who was dedicated body and soul to their destruction.
Well I don’t care what the rest of the world says, I say, way to go Israel, we could take a lesson from you in this country. What it comes down to is do we destroy our enemies or do we sit back and let our enemies destroy us? And believe me folks, it’s going to be one way or the other, there is no middle ground.
Too long the U.S.A. has yielded to world opinion and political correctness and the inane and feeble edicts of the United Nations. Too long we have ignored our enemies until we find them on our doorstep.
There are parts of the world that are not going to like America
no matter what we do. We could consign fifty percent of our gross national product to them and they would still criticize and hate us.
One of the things which appalls me most is that there are so many people in this country who just don’t get it. They think that if we leave the terrorists alone they’ll leave us alone, that if we placate them they will go away.
Well nothing could be farther from the truth. They’re never going to leave us alone no matter what we do and every little acquiescence is interpreted by them as weakness and in reality, it really is.
There are those who say that America has brought this on herself, that we are a mean and malevolent nation who rides roughshod over the rest of the world. There are even those who would side with the Palestinians who say that we were complicit in the assasination of Yassim.
The Palestinians say that they are going to hold the U.S.A. accountable and start terrorist attacks on American soil and interests.
Well I for one think that at the very first sign of Palestinian
terrorism that a few well placed bombs in the Bekah valley might be in order along with the immediate cutting of all aid to them.
But the best thing we could do is to encourage the Israelis to take the gloves off. They know how to deal with terrorism and are ready and willing to do it if their only ally would just get out of the way and let them have at it.
Pray for our troops.
God Bless America.
Charlie Daniels<<
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 03/29/04:I'm amazed that the idiots that appluaded from the West Bank concerning our tragedy on 9/11 would even suggest the threat of terrorism on American soil. Israel has always had the means to remedy the situations as long as America will abide by their planning instead of trying to be so politically correct. Mr. Daniels is up to speed and right on the money.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 03/23/04 - You gotta see this! Elliot:
You must come over to the Christianity board and respond to this UN propogated garbage.
The question is titled "Assassination" and as you can guess, concerns the victory the Israelis scored a couple of days ago.
I responded best I could, but I think you're more up on things in the geo-political arena than the rest of us.
Go for it! Can't wait to see.
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 03/27/04:DK-
After seeing this post for Elliot...I went over and responded with facts to several subjects using ETWolverines post on 3/25/04 addresing Willbe. You will find out exactly what I think about Yassin in that response.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 01/27/04 - I think I figured out a bug Yiddishkeit - -the graph you gave was neat but strange -- percent and million onthe same axis. It was a roldwide wide population, and not Israel specific, but worthy of reviewing.
Thanks.
I discovered that if you have notofication of a response but instead of clicking on it, you go to the question manulally and respond to the clarification wihtout going through "my new questions" you screw the system up...
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/27/04:Thanks Rosends...about 90% of the time I have gone manually and in the future I'll try leaving a clarfication on questions through the notification process to see if that works.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 01/22/04 - I need two graphs 1. the jewish population of israel over history (broken down by centuries is fine)
2. the ashkenazic vs. sephardic breakdown of current israeli population.
websites with these stats/charts are most welcome.
Dan Yiddishkeit answered on 01/24/04:Give these two sites a shot:
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/statistical/orgb.html
http://www.haruth.com/JewsoftheWorld.html
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | VisionsInBlue asked on 01/17/04 - Out of curiosity... To the best of your knowledge: what is the approximate number of Jews in the world?
Somebody posted 12 million on the Mormonism board and that number seems a little too low to me.
Thanks!
:) Yiddishkeit answered on 01/21/04:Sorry for being late to the party. I would just like to recommend two books:
1. "Jewish Communities of the World" - Get the latest edition because it deals with factual numbers of populations. The World Jewish Congress President was involved with the project.
2. "Who is a Jew?" - Interesting book. It is subtitled 'Conversations, Not Conclusions' and does not imply the reader take side with the issues, only presents various views.
I believe the number is underestimated at 13 million.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | loeblaw asked on 01/08/04 - To Eliot: The Rav Rav Solevetchik issued an opinion in the early 1960's that it was assur for Jews to engage in theological debate regarding Christianity. It was widely understood that his reasoning was that as long as the Christian aim is to convert Jews there was nothing to discuss. This interpretation is understood by many as a prohibition for Jews to even enter into Christian churches. Some (and I believe this is a stretch) have extended the prohibition as applying to a prohibition against entering non-Orthodox synagogues (because as long as there as a debate about the divine origin of Halacha there was nothing to discuss theologically with more liberal Jews).
In recent years some Orthodox Rabbis have questioned the prohibition in light of some Church pronouncements regarding the sanctity of Jewish souls but many Rabbis widely hold the ban as valid and in effect. I'm truly not being critical, and I happen to be of the belief that there is nothing wrong with theological discussion and inquiry I just found it interesting that you asked a theological question on a public site. Yiddishkeit answered on 01/09/04:Hi Loeblaw-
I know you addressed this post to Elliot but I would like to share my view on this interesting topic. My Rabbi related a story of an older Jewish man that told a younger Jewish man to be silent when confronted by a missionary. Basically that we should be secure, learned, and experienced before taking on such tasks.
There have been Jews throughout history to successfully share and debate the viewpoints of Judaism, even publically and sometimes with tragic costs. I don't suggest all Jews should seek this adventure, however for some with a good formal Jewish education and higher learning (Yeshiva), or for the few like myself who have seen both sides and understand most of the arguments (only my mom is Jewish)...I believe we therefore are helping to repair this world. Yesterday when Elliot asked a question on the Religion Board for the Christians to reason there belief in J as part of a trinity, I was surprised to find how little resistance their arguments had. I think Elliot did good by stimulating discussion. I'm careful to share with Christians in a constructive way, although I have had a few exceptions along the way though including a few heated debates. I think my my biggest problem is that I become a litte spiritually zealous at times, however at age 40, I'm trying to become more moderate. Of course my wife says I have numerous other problems, but that's a whole other matter. She says I'm slow, yet the other day I had to stop the DVD twice in the first thirty minutes of watching "The Hulk" to explain to her the plot. I had to throw that zinger in...one for us guys:)!
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 01/04/04 - Some FYI Stuff Hi all -- I often waste my time in Yahoo chatrooms defending the faith and all. I have accumulated sites which are good to have at my fingertips so I can quote all the right stuff quickly.
If you are interested, or have info or good sites to donate, check out the page
www.bitethewaxtadpole.org/chatinfo.htm
and send me stuff through here or the hotmail address.
Yiddishkeit answered on 01/05/04:Hey Bro give me a hotmail address and I'll correspond via email. I just need to put you on my exclusive unblocked email listing. I have viable site resources you maybe interested in.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 12/10/03 - Howard Dean --- Pro-terrorist and Anti-Israel Howard Dean promised that if he is elected president, the United States will no longer support Israel the way it has in the past under both democratic and Republican presidents. In his own words he will insist that the United States be "even handed". This is a term regularly employed by Arafat and his coterie of adherents that means to be anti-Israel!!
Governor Dean made these comments on CNN on September 10,2003 on the Wolf Blitzer show. He has repeated those words since.
If this were not enough, Governor Dean on that same show characterized the Hamas terrorists as "soldiers". For the first time since 9/11 we have someone running for the office of President of the United States calling terrorists soldiers.
I urge you that if you have any love for America and Israel you should not and cannot vote for Howard Dean for the office of President.
This coming election may very well be one of the most important in decades. Please pass this message on to as many of your family and friends as you can.
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 12/11/03:Elliot-
I started to watch a rerun of a Democratic debate the other night on tv, that was until the medicine I'm taking kicked in and I fell asleep. Outside of Joe Liebermen and Pres. Bush, I'm really not up to date on the Democratic or Republican candidates for the upcoming election...but I will start studying them all soon. I can guarantee that my vote would never go to any candidate that considers Hamas a syndicate that needs to be given the respect of compromise or right of negotiation. As you know me well enough that my support for the well-being of our Israeli Jewish brothers and sisters will be a priority. I suspect Gov. Dean will choose his words more wisely in the future and as Loeblaw mentioned Dean has clarified his statement.
In all fairness, I do want to hear about all the Presidential candidates including any independent possibilities this go around before reaching a decision. I'm sure when the election time draws nearer discussion of economics, medicare, military support and funding, budgets, taxes, social security, etc... will be interesting topics for the board.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 11/30/03 - Moshe At the Burning Bush, Hashem says in Shmos 4:14, "Halo aharon achichah halevi" -- Isn't Aharon your brother (or some version of that question). Did Moshe know who Aharon was before this? Did he know he had a family (mother, father, sister) before this? When he was being raised by Yocheved, did she tell him of his true family? I thought he only found out he was Jewish at the bush itself. Yiddishkeit answered on 12/02/03:
I backed up to the first of the chapter 4 where Moshe is given the humbling lecture with demonstrations of miracles. When I came upon Shemos 4:14 I was careful to read the verse twice. I gather Moshe may had thought he had a brother, but never had met him nor did he actually know him. The way I understand 4:14 it is a statement and a declaration. Moshe is told "There is your brother"... and later Moshe is then told "he is setting out to meet you."
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 10/31/03 - Flatbush Eruv Does anyone have the phone number for the Flatbush Eruv? Or perhaps a website for the Flatbush Eruv?
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 11/03/03:I found two sites that look promising mabey they can help...
www.orthodoxcaucus.org
http://www.parkslopeshul.org/eruv2.asp
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 10/28/03 - When did the word first appear? If I am correct, it appears that the word/title/name "Jew" did not appear until the Exile. What is the origin of this word and when, exactly, was it first applied to the Hebrew/Israelite people?
Thanks,
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 10/29/03:Not much to add to Dan's excellent reply. The general thought is that a Hebrew is a descendant of Abraham who "crossed over" the river, in Hebrew, "Ivri." A Jew is a descendant of Judah, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. An Israeli is someone who resides in the land of Israel. The modern day term "Jew" reflects upon all persons born Jewish (could had been descendants of any of the twelve tribes, however mainly of Judah and Benjamin) or converts to Judaism. Coverts are sometimes referred to as "Jews by choice."
According to the "JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words," the term "Jew" came into use after the Babylonian Exile (586 B.C.E.) to refer to those people from Judea as well as to the patriarchs, matriachs, and descendants of Jacob including converts.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | chekhovToo asked on 10/28/03 - Jewish Novels and Writers Can anyone please recommend some good Jewish novelists and or books. I have read six of Chaim Potok's works and found them excellent. Thanks... Yiddishkeit answered on 10/29/03:Some people enjoy Chaim Potok's books and yet others feel he goes a bit for the dramatics. Personally I liked his work in "The Chosen" and "Wanderings." I've been trying to get into Martin Buber, although I find this work a difficult read. Buber was into Jewish philosophy. Try "The American Jews" by James Yaffe.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 10/16/03 - I need help combating dis/mis information I spend time in Jewish chatrooms arguing down people who make baseless or uninformed accusations about Judaism. Hey, it's a hobby...
When they quote chumash, I'm pretty good with the meforshim and such and can give the right context and interpretation.
But tonight, someone pointed to a page which chronicles all the nasty things which the talmud says. Now I know that many of the things on the site are taken out of context or spun the wrong way, but mahy are probably accurate. How do i deal with these quotes -- is there a Jewish site which would give a better understanding of these same excerpts?
I really need help -- I don't like when people cite things like this and I can't at least provide some meaning that is less than damning...
http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/intlpolitics/messages/12682.html Yiddishkeit answered on 10/17/03:Your correct. We would need to read the actual Talmud portions rather than rely on the quotes of the article. It would be interesting to see the circumstance and context to which it is written. For example: my guess is the claim for stealing from a gentile is really finding a lost item. In other words if you don't know whom it belongs to you obviously you can't return the item. The murder quote was nasty and defintely taken out of context. As a general rule when in doubt I accept conise Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) over unexplicable Talmudic passages. Mainly because I know that the reasoning of the Oral should match the Written and therefore the Written is more available to me. What I'm trying to understand is if all the Oral to be taken as G-d inspired or a historical filler with explanations for the Written portions or both. Well I'm afraid I've been absolutley no help in giving you a definitive or authorative answer, but I'll check back and see if one of other experts was able to help. If not I'll try and do some research and get back to you later when I get an opportunity.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | chekhovToo asked on 10/13/03 - How does Judaism differ from Christianity What are the basic beliefs of Judaism, and how do they differ from those of Christianity?
Yiddishkeit answered on 10/13/03:Judaism teaches that every person is responsible for their own actions and that the Torah is the source that G-d has given mankind to guide us through life. Judaism is a purely monotheistic faith. Being Jewish is defined as being born Jewish and/or converting to Judaism. Judaism does not actively seek converts. Judiasm teaches that for a person to be qualified as Messiah, that individual must and will fulfill the criteria which is to bring about G-d's universal kingdom of justice and peace on earth.
Christianity teaches that no matter the actions of a person, that you must accept Jesus whom is fractionalized as one-third divine. Christianity emphasis original sin and an embodied spirit (an angel) called Satan with power to rebel against the Creator and cause destruction upon humanity. Christianity has taught the expected return of Jesus going on some two thousand years after his death. Christianity regularly missionizes.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 09/29/03 - Ed Koch You may have already seen it, but I just now ran across this piece by the former mayor of NYC, Ed Koch. As a Christian who whole-heartedly stands behind the Jewish people and the state of Israel, I found within it many useful bits of information on the thoughts of some American institutions whom I will no longer support. Read on, and I hope you find it useful:
"We are now going through the most virulent anti-Semitic period since Hitler and Stalin. Nearly 60 years after the end of World War II almost every country on the European continent, including England, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and the Scandinavian countries, has seen major outbreaks of physical violence against their Jewish citizens, and against Jewish institutions, including synagogues and cemeteries. At the same time, open hostility toward the State of Israel is at an all-time high.
Only in the United States have we seen a full acceptance of Jews as citizens and the Jewish state treated as a friend and ally by an overwhelming number of fellow citizens. In the U.S., Jews have been permitted to rise and fall based on their individual talents, virtues and faults. In one elite bastion after another, Jews have been selected to head institutions heretofore seen as beyond their reach. Today the presidents of Harvard and Yale Universities are Jews, as are recent former presidents of Columbia and Princeton. Having been elected three times as mayor of the City of New York, I have been the beneficiary of this country's generosity and freedom from bigotry, and I will be eternally grateful. Americans traditionally make New Years resolutions. Before I list my own resolutions, I want to thank President George W. Bush and his advisers, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice for their support of the State of Israel. They could easily have jettisoned Israel as a liability in their efforts to forge an international coalition against worldwide terrorism. I will be forever grateful to them, and I hope that many other supporters of the State of Israel will recognize and appreciate what they have done.
Fortunately for Jews and the State of Israel, American support of the Jewish nation has been bipartisan. Particularly helpful has been the Democratic leadership in both houses including Senator Tom Daschle, outgoing Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, as well as former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton. There are many others on both sides of the political aisle who deserve similar praise.
In the religious sector, I am grateful to the Reverends Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, both of whom have stood up time and again in support and defense of the Jewish nation. Regrettably, there have been many clergy who have unfairly attacked Israel for attempting to defend itself against near-daily terrorist acts against its citizens. We were made privy to the true thoughts of Rev. Billy Graham caught on tape telling President Nixon his real feelings about Jews and Israel. He has since apologized, but what is an apology without contrition and efforts to right the wrong done? Worthless.
Now to my personal New Years resolutions. I will avoid France as a place to vacation. France leads those countries in the Security Council who are the enemies of the State of Israel. So too is Mexico, joining as a consistent supporter of resolutions unfairly denouncing Israel at the U.N. Security Council.
I will not support National Public Radio in any way. NPR¹s reporters and management delight in unfairly attacking Israel.
I will no longer lend financial support to New York¹s Channel Thirteen public television station. That station recently showed a documentary that was blatantly biased against Israel and has refused to acknowledge the bias or to try to correct it.
I will not watch ABC¹s World News Tonight anchored by Peter Jennings. For many years, Jennings has specialized in vicious and unfair portrayals of Israel intended to injure the Jewish state and lionize Palestinians.
BBC News is horrifically anti-Israel and I will shun it completely.
Susan Sontag will occupy the Ninth Circle of Hell for her outrageous assaults on Israel. I will no longer read her works.
Regrettably, there are many others whom I could include on this list, but I will leave that for another day. I must confess I got enormous pleasure from the defeat of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and her father in the recent primary elections in Georgia. In my view, both are anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. No longer able to feed at the public trough, I doubt that either will make a comparable living in the private sector.
I must close now to get ready for my Chanukah and Christmas shopping. I enjoy celebrating those holidays with Jewish and Christian friends whose goodwill and affection I will always cherish." Yiddishkeit answered on 09/30/03:I only wished more people shared Mr. Koch's view....thanks for providing the article. G-d bless.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | wonderin-gurl asked on 09/29/03 - Breaking "the laws" Hello everybody I am in the 9th grade and I am doing a project on jewish laws. I was just wondering what happens when you violate jewish laws?
Yiddishkeit answered on 09/30/03:Thank you for considering the Judaism board when asking this very good question.
Basically we make teshuva (repentance) for missing the mark when it comes to wrongs against G-d. For wrongs commited against our fellow-man we are to ask that person for forgiveness and then G-d forgives the situation. Judaism does not teach that humans are perfect. In fact during the High Holydays we remind ourselves and everyone else that we are not perfect. Everyone fails and everyone makes mistakes from time to time. The point is in life to pick yourself up and keep on going. King Solomon said "The righteous fall even seven times, but they get up each time. the wicked, however, are overcome by evil" (Proverbs 24:16).
Spiritually speaking the consequence of not complying to G-d's Torah is making life more difficult then it needs to be. When the Temple stood and there was the Jewish court system in use other implications then applied.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | ETWolverine asked on 09/25/03 - A Glass Of Milk - A Selichot story The following appears on the Chabad website:
http://www.chabad.org/magazine/article.asp?AID=87202
Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
The chassid Rabbi Shmuel Munkes was traveling to spend Rosh Hashanah with his Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, when he was stranded in a small shtetl over Shabbat.
Soon after Shabbat was over, the village retired to an early bed. Several minutes before midnight, the shamash began making his rounds with a lantern in one hand and a wooden mallet in the other, pounding on the shutters of each home and calling, "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up to the service of the Creator!" The entire village climbed out of bed, dressed swiftly, and hurried to the brightly lit synagogue for Selichot, the solemn prayer that opens the High Holiday season.
In the home of Rabbi Shmuel's host there was much confusion. The entire family had dressed and gathered at the door, prayerbooks in hand, ready to depart for the synagogue; but their prestigious guest had yet to emerge from his room. Finally, the villager knocked softly on Rabbi Shmuel's door. No response. Slowly he entered the room. To his amazement, he found the chassid sound asleep.
"Reb Shmuel, Reb Shmuel," he urged, shaking his guest awake. "Come quickly. Selichot."
Rabbi Shmuel's only response was to burrow even more deeply under the covers.
"Hurry, Reb Shmuel," his host persisted. "They're about to begin in the synagogue any moment now."
"Begin what?" asked Rabbi Shmuel, quite obviously annoyed. "It's the middle of the night. Why are you waking me in the middle of the night?"
"What's the matter with you?" cried the villager. "Tonight is Selichot! A fine Jew you are! Why, if I hadn't woken you, you would have slept through the entire Selichot!"
"Selichot?" asked Rabbi Shmuel. "What is Selichot?"
Rabbi Shmuel's host was beside himself with incredulity. "Are you making a mockery of me? Don't you know that today was the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah? Every man, woman and child of the village is now in the synagogue, trembling with trepidation. Soon the baal tefillah will begin chanting the Selichot prayers and the entire community will burst into tears, praying and begging G-d to bless them with a good year..."
"So that's what this commotion is all about?" asked Rabbi Shmuel. "You're going to the synagogue to pray? What's so urgent that can't keep until morning? What are you praying for?"
"There's so much to pray for, Reb Shmuel," sighed the villager. "I pray that the cow should give enough milk to keep my children healthy. I pray that the oats should fetch a good price on the market this year, for soon I shall have a daughter to marry off. I pray that my horse should not break a leg, G-d forbid, as happened the year before last..."
"I don't understand," interrupted Rabbi Shmuel. "Since when do grown men wake up in the middle of the night to ask for a bit of milk?"
The Villager Was Right
Rabbi Shmuel Munkes wished to impress upon his host that there is more to preparing for Rosh Hashanah than praying to G-d for one's material needs. Rosh Hashanah is the day on which we proclaim G-d king of the universe and commit ourselves to obey and serve Him. It is a time for teshuvah, for repenting for one's sins and failings and resolving never to repeat them. Is this the time to approach G-d with a "shopping list" of our material needs?
And yet, a glance at the Rosh Hashanah prayerbook shows that it abounds with requests for life, health and sustenance. For on Rosh Hashanah, the Divine energy that vitalizes all of creation is "renewed" for another year, and every creature is allotted its share of life, happiness and wealth. The simple villager was right: Rosh Hashanah is the time to pray that the cow should give milk and the oats should fetch a good price in the marketplace.
How, indeed, are we to reconcile the loftiness of the day with the mundane subject of a significant part of its prayers?
But the very concept of prayer carries the same paradox. Prayer is the soul's communion with its Creator, its island of heaven in an otherwise earth-bound day. Indeed, the Hebrew word for "prayer," tefillah, means "attachment," it being the endeavor to rise above our pedestrian concerns and connect to our Divine source. Yet the essence of prayer, the foundation upon which its spiritual edifice rests, is our beseeching the Almighty to provide us with our everyday needs.
The paradox of prayer is magnified a thousand fold when it comes to the prayers of Rosh Hashanah. On Rosh Hashanah, we are not only standing before G-d; we are crowning Him king, pledging to Him the total abnegation of our own self, and all its desires, to His will. What place is there on this day for the very notion of personal need?
A Dwelling Below
As discussed at length in our previous Rosh Hashanah essays, only man can make G-d king, for only man possesses the capacity for free choice--without which the very concept of "kingship" is devoid of significance. By freely submitting to the Divine sovereignty on Rosh HaShanah, we reawaken His desire to be king and infuse a new vitality into His involvement with the whole of creation.
The Divine desire to be king is also described by our sages as a desire for "a dwelling in the lower realms"--a home in the physical world. Why the physical world? Because only in the physical arena does true choice exist. The world of spirit is naturally inclined toward its Divine source. Thus, our service of G-d in the spiritual areas of our lives is a "compelled" service, driven by the natural inclinations of our spiritual selves. On the other hand, when we invite G-d into our physical lives, when we serve Him through physical deeds and with the materials of our physical existence, we are truly choosing to submit to Him, for such servitude goes against the very grain of our physical nature.
Thus, one who considers it "unbecoming" to entreat G-d for milk for his children on Rosh Hashanah rejects a most fundamental aspect of the Divine sovereignty. Crowning G-d king means accepting Him as sovereign in all areas of our lives, including -- and primarily -- our most mundane needs and requirements. It means acknowledging our utter dependence upon Him not only for our spiritual nurture, but for the piece of bread that sustains our physical existence.
Seen in such a light, our needs are not personal needs, and our requirements are not selfish requirements. Yes, we are requesting food, health and wealth; but we are requesting them as a subject requests them from his king -- as a servant asking his master for the means with which to better serve him. We ask for money to observe the mitzvah of charity; for strength to build a Sukkah; for food to keep body and soul together so that our physical lives may serve as a "dwelling in the lower realms" that houses His presence in our world.
Chanah's Prayer
The haftarah (reading from the Prophets) for the first day of Rosh Hashanah tells the story of Chanah, the mother of the prophet Samuel:
Chanah, the childless wife of Elkanah, came to Shiloh (where the Sanctuary stood before King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem) to pray for a child.
She prayed to G-d, weeping profusely. And she vowed a vow, and said: "O L-rd of hosts... If You will give Your maidservant a man child, I shall dedicate him to G-d all the days of his life..."
Eli, the High Priest at Shiloh, watched as she
prayed profusely before G-d... Only her lips moved; her voice was not heard.
Eli thought her a drunkard. And he said to her: "How long shall you be drunken! Put away your wine!" Chanah replied: "No, my lord... I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink. I have poured out my soul before the face of G-d..."
Eli blessed her that G-d should grant her request. That year, Chanah gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel ("asked from G-d"). After weaning him, she fulfilled her vow to dedicate him to the service of G-d by bringing him to Shiloh, where he was raised by Eli and the priests. Samuel grew up to become one of the greatest prophets of Israel.
The "Prayer of Chanah," as this reading is called, is one of the fundamental biblical sources for the concept of prayer, and many of the laws of prayer are derived from it. Indeed, the dialogue between Eli and Chanah touches on the very essence of prayer, and of prayer on Rosh Hashanah in particular.
Eli's accusation of "drunkenness" can also be understood as a critique of what he saw as an excessive indulgence in the wants and desires of the material self on Chanah's part. You are standing in the most holy place on earth, Eli was implying, in the place where the Divine presence has chosen to dwell. Is this the place to ask for your personal needs? And if you must ask for them, is this the place to "pray profusely," with such tenacity and passion?
You misunderstand me, answered Chanah. "I have poured out my soul before the face of G-d." I am not merely asking for a son; I am asking for a son that I might "dedicate him to G-d all the days of his life."
Our sages tell us that Samuel was conceived on Rosh Hashanah. G-d's fulfillment of Chanah's prayer on this day encourages us to indeed avail ourselves of the awesome moment of G-d's coronation to approach Him with requests for our everyday needs. For on this day, our "personal" needs and our desire to serve our Master are one and the same.
Based on the talks and writings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; rendered by Yanki Tauber.
--------
L'shana Tova Tikatev V'techetem B'Sifron Shel Tzadikim l'Chaim Tovim Uleshalom.
Elliot Yiddishkeit answered on 09/26/03:Elliot- May you also be written for a good year. Thanks for sharing the article. It's one of those indepth teaching stories that has me reading a second time.
*To all our board's experts of the tribe..."Shanah tova."
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | curious98 asked on 09/09/03 - copy of my answer to avrom
Boy, you people seem to be very sensitive over this subject; actually on edge, I would say. Which is all the more extraordinary, as you believe, or so you say, Israel had nothing to do with the Sabra and Shatilla massacre.
In the first place, I do not understand why you are so edgy. My AngloSaxon friends from the USA and G.B. like to wind me up quite often when they say the Spaniards killed thousands of Indians – Incas, Maias, Aztecs – during the colonization of Latin America. I pay no attention, of course, because:
a) it is true, but I had nothing to do with it. I do not feel responsible nor ashamed for all the blunders or foolish acts Spaniards have committed along our history. Nor do I get any credit for all the good things we have done, either!
b) My friends, very conveniently always forget their ancestors’blunders; for instance, the close to a million Indians –according to US’s own historical records- that died of famine or were killed between the 18th and 19th centuries, in what now is the USA…! And, of course, I do not choose to remind them of that, for I know they were not responsible either…
In the 2nd place, I said quite clearly “IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY YOU CANNOT HOLD ALL THE JEWS RESPONSIBLE FOR JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION, BUT RATHER THE PRIESTS AND SCRIBES, OR HEROD AND PILATE, BUT NEVER THE ENTIRE JEWISH NATION” and “AND LET US NOT FORGET EITHER THAT BEFORE DYING JESUS’ WORDS WERE
“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.”
IT WOULD BE JUST GREAT THAT WE NOW WOULD CORRECT JESUS’ WORDS OF FORGIVENESS TO SUBSTITUTE THEM BY OTHER WORDS OF PUNISHMENT…”
So, I did answer the question about Jesus…
In the 3rd place, I never say the israely troops were the ones who shot the Palestinians in the concentration camps… I do say, though, that I’m copying a paper I have found on the subject.
I know quite well the actual murderers were the Gemayel’s Lebanese phalangist militia. I happened to be, on business, in Tel Aviv in October 1982, and could discuss the subject with many Israeli friends, who were horrified.
But let me copy you a short passage from the Internet’s Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia:
“At the time, Lebanon was in a civil war involving complex series of alliances. Among them was the alliance between Israel and Lebanese Christians, led by the Phalangist party and militia. They were in conflict with Muslims, including Palestinians represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Massacres among different ethnic groups were not uncommon during that civil war, which has claimed up to 100,000 victims in 1975-1990, but Israel claims its experience working with the Phalanges before the massacres did not indicate a tendency among them for violence against civilians. The Phalangist leader of the time, Bashir Gemayel, extremely popular among Maronites, was actually known to be ruthless and to have massacred potential rivals. He was elected president of Lebanon on August 23. Israel had been training, arming, supplying and even uniforming Phalangist troops since 1976.*
Everybody in Lebanon (and in Israel, too) knew those days that the Palangist militia represented the most radical right wing and that they could not hate more the Palestinians who were occupying the concentration camps in Southern Lebanon.
So, when Ariel Sharon ordered the Israely soldiers to let the Phalangists into the camps which were being watched by Israely soldiers, it is hard to believe he was not counting upon what it actually happened.
But it is not for me to say so. In fact, I’m quoting other reliable sources.
For example, Time Magazine, when it says "Israel Strikes at The PLO in Lebanon".
Or "In 1983, an Israeli state inquiry found Mr Sharon, then defence minister, indirectly responsible for the killing of hundreds of men, women and children at Sabra and Shatila camps during Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon."
Or “On December 16, 1982 the United Nations General Assembly condemned the massacre and declared it to be an act of genocide. Sharon resigned as defence minister.”
Or “The massacre was recently investigated by the BBC and the conclusions were damning. The BBC team reported on their investigation, and included this interesting comment:
"In Beirut we confronted the man accused of leading the slaughter. There was in Lebanon a sense of surprise that we would wish to revisit such an event. As one former militia leader said, 'For God's sake if you prosecuted for war crimes here we'd all be in jail.'"
Or “A British parliamentary motion requested:
"That this House congratulates the BBC for Panorama's recent in-depth analysis of the massacres in Sabra and Shatilla during the war in Lebanon in 1982; notes that following the massacres an internal Israeli commission of inquiry forced the resignation of the then Israeli Defence Minister, Ariel Sharon; believes there is sufficient prima facie evidence to indicate that Ariel Sharon, now the Israeli Prime Minister, should be tried for war crimes; and calls upon the international community to ensure that he is duly charged at the earliest possible opportunity.'”
Or “The motion added "that 400,000 people in Israel demonstrated their horror and disgust at such a crime against humanity"
As I said, I was there practically when this happened and all the people I spoke to (Israeli business friends and/or just acquaintances) were astounded and claiming Ariel had commited a terrible mistake for which it would take time for them to recover.
As your colleague Rosends cites, it was a shameful episode; but it cannot be put –as I said in my previous response- in the debit of the Israely people, as we can hardly put –I think- upon the shoulders of the entire German population the responsibility of the Holocaust. All governments, all countries, all etnias and all religions have had, along history, persons who should be considered as criminal psicopats, who should not be called human beings, and yet the occupied
privileged commanding positions.
But the people who live with them or under them cannot be held responsible for what these animals may be doing. Right now, very few remember that Yasser Arafat was deeply connected and financially helping the Abu Nadal terrorist group, responsible for the terrorist attak in Rome Airport, on Dec. 27,1985, where 17 innocent people were killed…
On the other hand, I quite agree with Mr. Rosends re. the unfair treatment that media everywhere deals with the Israely/Palestinian affair.
But I’m not to be blamed for that behaviour nor can I do anything about it.
Media news that sell (whether in TV or in the daily Press) are those that are prone to argument or debate. It does not matter whether the information given is demagogical or not. The Israely/Palestinian conflict is certainly much more interesting, from a marketing point of view, than the Central Africa or Liberian conflicts.
However, for every Israely or Palestinian who have died because of terrorists actions or in combat, there are, at least, 100 dead in those conflicts and in shorter time span.
When Rock Hudson died of Aids everybody could read or watch the news on the press or on TV. So far, about 80% of some 32 million people dead of Aids in the world, have died in Subsaharian Africa. That means close to 26 millions. Does anybody care? How much time TVs all over the world devote to those poor Africans novody gives a damn about?
International Press and TV Network writes and speak at length about what is going on in Iraq. Very little, if anything, is being said, though, about what is going on in Afghanistan. There are daily killings there, too. And quite a few G.I.s have lost their lives after the war was over. But that is not prime time news, so let’s concentrate on what really sells…
So, please, do not blame me for what is going on in the world to-day, or in Israel, and blame instead Yassir Arafat and Ariel Sharon, and the European and US politicians who do not seem to have much interest in settling the problem.
Imagine, if there were no conflicts nor wars, whom the arms manufacturers would sell their weapons to…?
Regards
Curious98
You can answer me, if you so wish, through the International Relations forum. Thanks
Yiddishkeit answered on 09/10/03:Curious-
Why? Is the International Relation forum anything like the UN's record on Israel? I would hope not. Now this post seems to include the Lebanese Christians Phalangist militia...thankfully. Perhaps earlier you meant well to answer the question drawing upon your view of world events. Bottom line is that, as Jews, we need to constantly monitor and have no choice but to deal with the accusations that effect us as individuals, our families, and future generations. So when you say "Boy, you people" remember we are our brother's keeper.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 09/05/03 - Ascending to the Har Habayit I was sent the following new story but I don't have a source.
Any comments?
Dan
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YESHA RABBIS: A "MITZVAH" TO VISIT TEMPLE MOUNT
The Yesha Rabbis Council issued a Halakhic ruling today not only permitting Jews to ascend to the Temple Mount, but even mandating it, contingent upon proper precautions. Excerpts from the announcement of the ruling:
"...One of the rabbis commented that by refraining from ascending, we are thereby declaring to the world as if we, G-d forbid, have no part in the Mountain of G-d - and we thus strengthen the Arabs' feeling that the Temple Mount is theirs.
"The public is not aware that many rabbis are of the opinion that we currently have the information necessary to enable one to ascend without transgressing, and that therefore those who permit it are not being 'lenient' and are not disputing those who came before them - but are rather clearly relying on that which is now known.
"We therefore call on every rabbi who [agrees with this] to actually visit the Temple Mount, and to guide his congregants in doing so according to Halakhah [Jewish law]. It is a disgrace for us that the Arabs - 'who say let us seize for ourselves the pastures of G-d' [Psalms 88] - ascend to the site by the tens of thousands, while barely any Jews do so...
"All those who continue to feel that it is forbidden did not check the matter sufficiently, and forbade it only because of uncertainty [as to the permitted locations] - but this doubt has been cleared up, and it can be clearly delineated where on the Mount we are permitted to walk.
"It is our tradition that 'we do not add decrees.' In order to forbid something, the Sanhedrin, or all the generation's Torah leaders, would have to convene and make this decision - but that has not occurred, and therefore the Law remains as it was, namely, permitting ascent to the Temple Mount, as Maimonides himself did and as the Meiri testified that it is a 'common-place custom' to do so. Even a prophet cannot uproot a commandment except as a temporary measure.
"Those who wish to be extra careful [should know that] their stringency is leading to a leniency, in that many people who would be happy to follow the Halakhah actually transgress it out of ignorance - simply because the proper laws are not publicized."
The Yesha Rabbis' announcement, which quotes Maimonides' ruling [Biat HaMikdash 3,4], states that one who ascends to the Mount while adhering to three conditions - immersion in a mikveh; keeping the laws of Awe of the Temple (no leather shoes, etc.); and knowledge of the precise permitted areas - is fulfilling a "great mitzvah [Torah commandment]."
The rabbis also praise Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi for his efforts in opening the site to Jews. Yiddishkeit answered on 09/06/03:Dan-
Keep in mind that Halakha rulings is one my weaker subjects. My view is that eventually when the Temple is fully restored all applications of laws then apply. However, as far as the "Temple Mount area" I think that the Rabbi's quote of Maimonides is accurate. I do believe that if any people should be allowed in the area it certainly should be our people. In regards to this subject, I'm not taking a Zionist or non-Zionist view either way. I do know that while I am able to share the knowledge of basic Judaism with others I readily admit that I'm not nearly as frum as some of my fellow peers and would have to really buckle down spiritually and study intensively the laws before I would take on any Temple tasks, that is, once it has been restored. Since I'm not a Kohen or Levite, I expect my part would be less involved though. Ok I'm starting to think way too much and I'm getting off the subject a bit...shalom.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | mr_internet asked on 08/26/03 - Mel Gibson, Jesus, Christians, Jews, and Muslims Please let me know why some Jews spread false information. This is my story:
I have seen Jews appearing on TV against the film directed by Mel Gibson. Why? Well, one of the reasons for that opposition is because they see the movie as anti-semi. They see it as a movie that blames Jews for killing of the Jesus and therefore they say it may spread hate and anti-Semitism. Now here is the interesting part:
One of the reasons they have against this film is that some Jews say this film can cause Muslims to hate and blame Jews.
My question:
Why do they (some Jews) spread misinformation about Islam and Muslims? Do you know what Muslims believe with regard to the death of Jesus?
[Quran 4.157] And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the apostle of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him....
So to the Muslims that movie is nothing more than fiction. It never happened! Jews did not kill Jesus. Jews can't be blamed for something that they did not do. It would be nice if the next Jew who is against the movie explains that Muslims don't believe in crucifixion story and they don't blame Jews.
Yiddishkeit answered on 08/26/03:"...that the film could be easily misunderstood".
I don't think that is a far reach. Just the other day I received mail from the Simon Weisenthal foundation with news of Europe's wave of anti-Jewish crimes.
To be quite frank with you I don't think it takes much to set some people off and I believe that was probably all the Rabbi was implying. You even admit that "if Muslims really hated Jews, they wouldn't need an excuse." What do you mean "if". While there are some great wonderful G-d fearing Muslims who live happily alongside Jews, there are some extremely hateful proclaiming Muslims that are trying to wipe my people off the face of the earth.
But as for your last supposition, we certainly would never support any Nazi propaganda films. Nor do we hold law abiding G-d fearing German citizens responsible for acts they did not personally commit, before or after the filming of any movie.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 08/25/03 - Concerning the making of images So by the law, would it be considered sinful to make or use images of the sun and moon for a science class? Or to use images of animals/people for a social studies lesson?
I'm not trying to shoot holes or make fun, just sincerly curious as this has been brought up before in our Sunday School class.
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 08/26/03:Traditionally the image was an idol, or representation of a deity used in worship.
For example: Psalms 106:20 "They exchanged their glory for the image of a bull that feeds on grass."
My take is that if the item is to help as a temporary study aid and is disposed with after your studies are completed, it therefore is "not an idol". However, having said that, I have known some very dedicated G-d fearing people that would not even allow a picture to be taken of themselves. Also they would not have garden ornaments, 3-D images, etc... On the other hand I've known G-d fearing Cohanim that wear jewelry "Cohanim Hands" necklace, and I wear the Mogan David every once in a while. Perhaps my view is less strict. I apologize for not having a halakhah refernce on the subject.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | mr_internet asked on 08/26/03 - Deuteronomy 13
Deuteronomy 13
6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods that neither you nor your fathers have known, 7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), 8 do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. 9 You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. 10 Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.
How can you see freedom of religion in the above verses? How can somebody possibly say that Jewish religion supports freedom of religion when you have the above verses in the Bible? I am not saying it is bad or good. All I am saying is that there is no freedom of religion in your faith. Do you disagree?
Yiddishkeit answered on 08/26/03:
The focus of the text is remaining faithful to G-d as Jews within our community. Unlike other religions we don't stipulate that everyone must become Jewish.
Back up a few verses...
Deuteronomy 13:2 "If there appears AMONG YOU a prophet or a dream-diviner..."
[and before you ask]
My reasoning is that we don't carry out certain punishments currently within our comunities because we don't yet have the Temple rebuilt or the Jewish court system in place to do so.
*You are correct in that our Faith demands certain guidelines for our benifit. We do, however, have freedom to worship G-d, freedom to study Torah, perform good deeds, and many other freedoms.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | drgade asked on 08/25/03 - Re; Judge's monument Sticky problem isn't it.
As it stands now, there is no solution as you pointed out. Once a law was first made against a religious exercise, the First Amendment lost its meaning in our country.
We either have to obey that amendment and allow free exercise of ALL religions or we have to do the impossible task of defining "religion". Yiddishkeit answered on 08/26/03:There are those that think the Ten Commandments monument is of no value, perhaps they will erect the golden calf propping up the idol using an atheist's blind-mans cane. There's plenty of opposition being a moralist who believes in G-d, no matter if a person is Jewish, Christian, or Muslim.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 08/15/03 - MSS Variants Please be prepared for a reference to this site or at least this letter and chart.
Dan
http://www.geocities.com/freethoughtmecca/hebmss.html
I've seen the letter elsewhere. It isn't out of left field. Yiddishkeit answered on 08/19/03:Dan- I was in a Border's Bookstore about week ago and I believe I came across another one of her sources. If my memory serves me well, it was almost word for word with only a few exceptions from one of the intro pages. I did not buy the book since the notions went outside of Judaism and spent many of the chapters devoted to detailing the Christian's testament. Also, I was following your dialogue with her and appreciate the way you were able to demonstrate her sources unreliable. Thanks again for sharing the additional info sites.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | rosends asked on 08/11/03 - s'char mitzvah Do I get s'char mitzvah from davening from a stolen siddur or is it a mitzvah haba be'aveirah?
Unlike the esrog, the mitzvha of daveing doesn't revolve around the possession of the siddur, but stealing is stealing...
How about this one if the stolen siddur invalidates the davening -- if I stole the book which taught me to read hebrew and used that knowledge to read from a siddur do I get s'char mitzvah for the davening?
What if I stole the glasses which allow me to see the page so I can daven?
While these are hypothetical, they mirror an actual and current situation in which I find myself.
thanks Yiddishkeit answered on 08/12/03:I'll share two Yiddish proverbs:
1. "He stole the book that says...Thou shalt not steal"
2. "It not a crime to take from a theif"
However one interprets these proverbs is by no means conclusive, just neatly put proverbs. I would respect your Rabbi's understanding.
Bobby
| | Question/Answer | | graeylin asked on 08/08/03 - Would you say this: 3pm Thursday is the day before Sabbath? in the Hebrew/Jewish mindset, would you say that 3 pm Thursday was the day before Sabbath? Yiddishkeit answered on 08/09/03:Technically speaking the "day" before the Shabbos is Fri-"day" since at sundown Saturday the Sabbath begins.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | graeylin asked on 08/06/03 - Special Sabbath question My learned Jewish experts, I need your brainpower.
I received the following information about "special sabbaths", and I would like to know more about such things. ALso, I would like to know if there is a perpetual calendar I can check or other resource to determine when such a series of events occured in the Jewish Calendar.
"...there are Jewish Sabbaths which do not fall on Saturday. In all four gospels there is mention made of the day of preparation (Matt. 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14, 31 and 42). This is important to note because it is calling our attention to something unusual. Passover, which occurred on Thursday that year is always followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is also observed as a Sabbath, which would be followed by the regular Saturday Sabbath. This meant there would be three consecutive days in which the limitations of Sabbath would have to be observed."
Is the feast of unleavened bread a special Sabbath? Does it always follow Passover by one day? Is there a timetable that I can research to find in what years Passover has been on a Thursday? Yiddishkeit answered on 08/06/03:I was following your question over on The Bible boardthat's why I needed to put comments under Oscars answer. All seventh day Shabbos must include Saturday and always have for the past 3000 plus years. I have no clue as to how Oscar wanted to suggest otherwise, but it appears to have something to with what Pres. Bush calls "funny math". Shabbos is Shabbos and Pesach is Pesach. We have Kabbalat Shabbos (Welcoming the Sabbath), Havdallah (Ending the Sabbath), Shabbos HaGadol (Great Sabbath) it always occurs on the Saturday before Passover. There are a few other referenced Shabbos, but like the others they all inlcude Saturday.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | graeylin asked on 07/31/03 - How is this interpreted? Jeremiah 33:17
For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Did David break the covenant with the Lord, and that is why no heir of David is currently king?
Yiddishkeit answered on 08/04/03:***Did David break the covenant of the L-rd, and that is why no heir of David is currently king?***
What is being related to in this scripture is our future messiah. This person must be a direct male descendant from King David. Obviously this does not bode well for Christian belief in messiah especially considering as taught by that religion that the person fits a formula part of a trinity and being born to a human women and non-human father. In Judaism, however we anticipate according to scripture the physical lineage of King David to sit upon the throne of the House of Israel.
33:14... "See the days are coming- declares the L-rd- when I will fulfill the promise that I made concerning the House of Israel and the House of Judah."
^Here we have a future event yet to be fulfilled.
33:15... "In those days and at that time, I will raise up a true branch of David's line, and he shall do what is just and right in the land."
^Again we recognize a future time which until this day has yet to happen.
33:16... "In those days Judah shall be delivered and Israel shall dwell secure. And this is what she shall be called: 'The L-rd is our Vindicatior'."
^"In those days". Israel does not dwell secure, yet!
33:17... "For thus said the L-rd: There shall never be an end to men of David's line who sit upon the throne of the House of Israel."
^A direct descendant in lineage to David. In other words G-d says that the royal House of David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel. When the throne is set you can expect that person to be of direct lineage of King David.
This next ties into your earlier part of the question: ***Did David break the covenant of the L-rd...?***
37:24...."My servant David (his direct descendant) shall be (remember in those days) king over them; there shall be one shepard for all of them. They shall follow My rules and faithfully obey My laws. [25] Thus they shall remin in the land which I gave to My servant Jacob and in which your fathers dwelt; they and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, with My servant David as their prince for all time. [26] I will make a covenant of friendship with them- it shall be an everlasting covenant with them- I will establish them and multiply them, and My Sanctuary among them forever. [27] My Presence shall rest over them; I will be their G-d and they shall be My people. [28] And when My Sanctuary abides among them forever, the nations shall know that I the L-rd do sanctify Israel."
^David has not broken a future covenant nor could he. G-d made it clear that this will be an "everlasting covenant".
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | graeylin asked on 07/30/03 - Need a primer in Judaism ETW is providing me with so much information, I have to come ask more! Each answer leads me to more questions, so here is a list of interests I have in learning about the Jewish faith/belief.
Forgive me for generalizations:
What reason do more modern Jews use to justify their actions that do not follow the strict interpretations of Mosaic Law? ie, why do they believe the laws of the Old Testament no longer apply?
Under the Mosaic Laws, Jews cannot eat "blood". Does this mean that Orthodox Jews would not be allowed to eat Sushi? Can Sushi be made Kosher? (okay, it sounds stupid, but this occured to me!)
How do Orthodox Jewery comply with the clothing laws of the old testament (mixing of fibers, etc.)? Do they simply wear all cotton clothing, no plastic fibers, etc.?
Have Jews recognized any "modern" prophets (since the end of the Old Testament)?
Many Christians believe the mark of the beast is the number 666. However, I thought that research into the original Bible discredited that, and that the mark of the beast was mistranslated from the original "Hebrew" (aramic?). What can you tell me about that?
Whew.. I thank you in advance for your thoughts.
Yiddishkeit answered on 07/31/03:The blood is catagorically forbidden by the laws of Kashrut, all meat must be kashered by soaking, salting or grilling (broiling) so that no blood remains. Hearts must be cut open, all veins removed and drain of blood. This is usualy done by the butcher. It is then salted and prepared as desired. A spot of blood in an egg renders it unkosher.
Here is a small rundown on kashering meat...
1.) Place the meat or poultry in a large bowl or bucket as soon as posible aftr purchase, pour over cold water to cover and leave to stand for 30 minutes.
2.) Remove the meat or poultry from the water and place on a plastic drainer, tilted to allow the juice to drain away. Leave 5 minutes, then sprinlkle with coarse kosher salt. leave to stand for 1 hour.
3.) Rinse the meat three times to rid it all blood and salt. Pat dry with kitchen paper, then chill until ready to cook.
When kashering liver...rinse it well under cold water, then sprinkle with salt and grill (broil) on a rack or over an open fire, on each side until the flesh is cooked through.
Since the Tanakh there has not been any prophets recognized in Judaism. My only thoughts on the "beast" portion of your question is that I think that the Christian testament was written in Greek (originally)...so right there would be a mystery as to how they came to conclude this in Hebrew. Tell'em Woody Allen is the beast....just kidding of course.
Bobby
PS. I love gefilte fish. You will find this stocked in the kosher section of your local supermarker in a jar. I recommend the sweet gefilte fish and look for it on sale around Pesach (Passover).
| | Question/Answer | | kindj asked on 07/28/03 - Passover Elliot,
Loved your response concerning OT Law!
Let me preface my question by stating that I am a Christian; albeit one with nothing but the highest respect and regard for Judaism. I'm sure that you probably disagree, but I feel that Christianity is nothing more than fulfilled Judaism. Currently, one of my pet projects is fighting anti-Semetism among uninformed Christians. Anyway, on to my point:
I, and a group of others, enjoy and look forward to an annual Seder meal. I could go into all the reasons why, but due to time, suffice to say that we recognize and are eternally grateful for God's deliverance of the Hebrews out of Egypt. My question is this: Does our observance of this meal offend the Jewish people? That is not our intent, as we all honor, love, and serve the same God. We just feel that it is an important service and meal and should be done. If it does rub someone the wrong way, how might we best smooth the ruffled feathers and ensure they know we mean no harm or disrespect, in fact, just the opposite?
DK Yiddishkeit answered on 07/29/03:In the past I have invited non-Jewish folks over to my family seders. I have felt that the experience may enlighten such guests, helping them to understand why the seder continues to be observed. I feel they are sharing in the celebration of our freedom from slavery also giving thanks to the G-d of Israel.
Bobby | | Question/Answer | | Toms777 asked on 07/05/03 - Jews and Israelites I thought that you might have some input into this question. There is an interesting discusion on the Mormonism board about "What is a Jew", and some are saying that a Jew is only those who are from the tribe or nationa of Judah.
This arose from a discussion regarding the Mormon doctrine that the American Indians are Israelites.
Your opinion would be of interest.
I would like a Jewish perspective. Yiddishkeit answered on 07/08/03:Dear Judaism Experts:
Sorry I've been away for awhile but I'm back to work again doing credit in a large resort in Vegas. I don't have the days off (for now) that I would prefer, but I'm paying my bills. Bobby
************
Toms777 I don't think there is much to add to Elliot's answer, which is excellent. My understanding is that through time we all became known as Jews under the tribe of Judah even by default mostly by affiliation. Some of us may actually be descendants with the tribe of Benjamin and possibly remnants of other tribes that were not part of the asimliation historically of the Israelite Kingdom.
I did read once were there are some writings (characters) on a stone found in New Mexico (USA) with a connection to ancient Hebrew or Aramiac dating back thousands of years. In the country Mexico however there were Indians that did go through a formal conversion process to Judaism {They originally claimed to have been descendants of Jews}. In conclusion unless a Native Americans mother's mother is a Jewish descendant or converted to Judaism, than that person is not Jewish. Then unless that coverted individual moved to Israel after converversion they are not Israelite no more than a Mormon in the United States is a Catholic/Baptist in Switzerland for that matter.
Bobby |
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