Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Friko for her wonderful interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us Friko!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Skeptitcher Rebbe.
Skeptitcher Rebbe is Jewish and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Skeptitcher Rebbe's Introduction:
I grew up in a traditional conservative Jewish home and at a young age being Jewish was very important to me. As I grew older I began to see some of the hypocrisies of my Synagogue. At the beginnning of college career I became more involved in Jewish activities and events and ultimately began living as a Lubavitch Orthodox Jew by the time I graduated from my university.
Part of being a Lubavitcher is an emphasis on bringing other less observant Jews into the fold of Orthodoxy and to push them to achieve greater levels of observance. As I had a full time job, I decided that I am better suited to "help" Jews online in various internet forums. As I began to argue the case for Orthodox Judaism and Chassidus it became apparent that my arguments and beliefs were not as sound or rational as I had once believed. Over time with hours of frustration and continual research I was made aware of many serious problems to Jewish theology and ultimately decided to give up my faith in it, but not my lifestyle as an Orthodox Jew.
I currently am married to a wonderful and open minded woman and have 1 son and another on the way. Although she is still a believer and doesn't yet know the full extent of disbelief, I am slowly informing her of what I have learned and how it is affecting my beliefs.
A few months I also began blogging as a way to sort out many of the feelings and thoughts I must keep hidden in my day to day life in order to stay a part of the community I still wish to live in. It has been and continues to be a great adventure for me both emotionally and intellectually.
1) What religion do you practice?
I am a practicing Orthodox Jew (specifically the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic movement) however I do not believe in the basic tenents of Jewish and Chassidic theology. I do not believe in G-d(s) or any divine or supernatural beings or forces.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised in a Conservative Jewish household. I grew up with some Jewish practices, going to synagogue on Shabbos and holidays, observing many holiday rituals and we kept kosher to a high degree in relation to many non-Orthodox Jews. I became more religious in college and over a few years became a strictly observant Orthodox Jew. Over the last several months I have lost my faith in the truth of Jewish and Chassidic theology.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Judaism does have degrees of observance. Being a practicing but non believing Jew also have the the same levels of observance available, however most non-believing Jews don't practice Judaism at all and those that do are more likely to be less observant rather than more observant.
Some defining differences would be whether or not Shabbos laws, Kosher laws and family purity laws are strictly observed or not. Other than that there are few defining lines that can be drawn between degrees, most differences are scaled in shades of gray.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
Currently I strictly observe a Chassidic Jewish lifestyle. Keeping kosher, shabbos, prayer, etc. I do so currently because this is the lifestyle I am most comfortable with. It is possible my lifestyle may change as my beliefs have.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Afterlife is death. Your conciousness will cease and your body will biodegrade into the the natural enviroment. The memory of your life and actions may live on in the minds of those who knew or knew of you, but ultimately all life is temporal and we are mortal.
This however shouldn't be cause for despair, but a call for enjoying your life and to make the most of what we have and appreciate it.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Everyone's conciousness will cease upon death.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
My beliefs are just what I happen to believe. I can't choose what I find to be true or factual, it is either convincing for me or it isn't. It has nothing to do with it being a good fit or not. If I could choose my beliefs like I can choose food from a buffet line then I would explain, however my response to this question is the same response I suppose most would give to the question "What makes the fact that 1 + 1 = 2 a good fit for you?"
I don't think there is anything in particular that draws me towards an Orthodox lifestyle. It mostly has to do with the way I was raised. A combination of nostalgia and a close community that I enjoy being a part of.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Everyday is a day of great significance. I celebrate it by doing things I enjoy with the people I love and respect.
As a practicing Orthodox Jew, I also participate in the rituals of Jewish holidays, such as Shabbos, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach, Shavuos, etc. I enjoy the festivities and the relaxing mood these holidays bring on.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
If they are my friends then we are friends. I treat others with respect, regardless of religious affiliation. Beliefs aren't of much consequence to me with regards to my relationship with people. Their actions towards me and those I love and respect are what counts.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would depending on the situation. Currently doing so may hurt my relationship with my wife as she is a believing Orthodox Jew, so if she didn't approve of my participation I wouldn't participate out of respect for her and our marriage. I also wouldn't participate if doing so required me to do or say something that I either find immoral or contrary to my beliefs (such as sacrificing an animal for slaughter or singing a hymn in praise of Jesus). Other than those restrictions I wouldn't mind participating in the religious holyday or ritual of others.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I find a burka to be a symbol of suppression of individuality. I am not well versed in Shariah Law to give an informed opinion on it. I have heard that some Shariah Laws are cruel and unfair. I won't dismiss all of Shariah Law on the basis of a few bad apples, I would have to look into it and understand each law on its own and within its own context.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Many Orthodox communities have certain restrictions, namely that women are not allowed to be Rabbis, read publicly from the Torah at services, sing in public or teach certain religious subjects in certain settings. I don't care much for these restrictions. However I recognize that the lifestyle I am living and enjoy wouldn't exist in the same way were it not for these restrictions.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Yes. I actually don't mind it so much. I am less self consious when only around men during davening. It feels more comfortable.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Living as an Orthodox Jew affects my life in many ways everyday, from the way I dress, to what I eat, to what I can say in my community. It encompasses almost every aspect of my daily life.
My beliefs on abortion and gay rights are not developed nor controlled by my religious lifestyle, although it probably help shape it in some ways, as did my environment as a whole. I am for the most part pro-life, but I definitely allow for exceptions. I think that if a woman wishes to have an abortion it must be done in the first few months. After that I can't morally justify the rights of a womans choice of family planning over the rights of the baby still within their mothers womb. I fully support gay rights, including gay marriage.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As long as they are happy and fulfilled and are not hurting others, I will fully support them.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No, everyone ceases to exist after death, regardless of merit.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Religion is mostly a group thing. It gets really complicated since most of the time there is no strict standard for who is and is not in a group, and even when there is a standard many times labels overlap and this causes conflict as to who is in your group or not. It is all pretty tedious and pointless really.
I don't identify myself with any belief system. I am a religion of one. No one claims to speak for me, and I don't claim to speak for anyone else.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not to my knowledge.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Sometimes I feel less important within my Jewish community, however my own personal beliefs don't make me feel less important.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
My mind is constantly in struggle with moments of peace and clarity. I enjoy this arrangement and it gives me a sense of purpose and growth.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. There is no evidence supporting it.
Showing posts with label Judaism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Judaism. Show all posts
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
G*3
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Hesham A. Hassaballa for his very enjoyable interview last week.
Thank you for sharing Hesham!
This week we have a new interview so please welcome G*3.
G*3 is Jewish and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is G*3's Introduction:
Online I go by G*3 (not the catchiest of screennames, but it’s what I came up with on the spur of the moment years ago and it’s too much trouble to change it now).
I currently live in New York in a large Orthodox Jewish community. I have a masters in psychology, consider myself a history buff (particularly of military history), and have an active interest in philosophy, theology, and social psychology. I’ve always been a skeptic, but usually the only one – the only one in my Orthodox Jewish high school, the only one in the post-high school yeshiva I went to, the only one in my family. Then about three years ago I stumbled across the Jewish skeptics’ blogosphere, and I was amazed to find people just like me. About a year and a half ago I started my own blog, http://2nd-son.blogspot.com/ where I write about my experiences, philosophy, and theology, get my thoughts in order, and generally try to convince myself that I’m an intellectual.
1) What religion do you practice?
That’s a little complicated. In practice, I’m a (Modern) Orthodox Jew. I keep pretty much all of the mitzvos (commandments), I’m part of an Orthodox community, and I’m planning on sending my kids to Orthodox schools. But I don’t think that the tenets of Orthodox Judaism are true. My religious views are atheistic. I’m what some people call Orthoprax: I keep the prax (practices) of the Orthodox community, but not the dox (beliefs).
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was born to Orthodox Jewish parents and raised by them in the Orthodox Jewish community, so as far as religion I’m not a convert. As far as my actual worldview, “convert” isn’t really the right word. I’ve only come to identify as a skeptic in the last couple of years, but that’s only about the label. As I wrote above, I’ve always been skeptical. The biggest change is that before I let go of the idea that there is a God, I spent years trying to fit religious truths into the real world. Over the last couple of years I finally let go of the last of the tortured logic and ill-fitting historical timelines that had allowed me to hold on to the idea that there might be something to God and religion after all. Once I realized that there are normal people who think the same way I do, I no longer felt the need to force myself to try and find ways to believe in things that just didn’t fit with the rest of what I knew to be true.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (i.e. Orthodox, conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
To do justice to Judaism’s full range of observance and belief would take a book, so I’ll limit myself to a VERY brief overview of Orthodoxy.
The Orthodox Jewish community can be divided along two axes: communal point of origin and broad theological approach. On the first axis, there are two major groups, the Ashkenazim (Jews from Europe, originally the Germanies) and Sephardim (technically Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, but often used as a catch-all grouping for all Jews who aren’t Ashkenazim). These groups are subdivided into German Jews, Polish Jews, Syrian Jews, etc. Each group has their own practices (called minhagim) in regard to various aspects of halachah (Jewish religious law).
On the second axis, on the far right are the Chareidim, which include the many Chassidic groups and the yeshivish community (the spiritual heirs of the Lithuanian Torah academies). Broadly, they believe in a mostly literal reading of the Bible (to be precise, a literal reading of the Bible as explained by the many commentaries), that the great Rabbis of the past wrote with Divine insight and were never wrong, that today’s rabbis have a similar, though lesser Divine insight, that added stringencies in the observance of mitzvos (commandments) is usually a good thing, that they must try as much as possible to separate themselves from the unholy influences of the outside world (no TVs, no secular newspapers, magazines, books, etc., and internet use restricted to business use only), and that one should ideally spend all of his time studying Torah (to the extent that many men spend a significant portion of their lives, or even all their lives, in yeshiva and never join the workforce). The Chareidim are the ones most people think of when they think of Orthodox Jews: black hats, black suits / coats, Chassidim with their shtreimels (fur hats), etc.
On the far left are the Modern Orthodox, who broadly believe that secular education is a good thing; that the great rabbis of the past and of today are pious men and brilliant scholars, but only human and susceptible error; that one can and should keep the mitzvos while engaging with the world at large, and that driving oneself crazy with added stringencies is not a good thing. The typical Modern Orthodox Jew dresses just like your average American, except that the men will usually wear a head covering.
There’s also kabblah (mystecism), which Chassidim and some Sephardim are into, and different social structures in different communities.
In practice, any given Orthodox Jew will fall somewhere on a continuum between right-wing Chareidi and left-wing Modern Orthodox. There are many different communities with various beliefs/observances that all bleed into one another, so there are informal categories like “stringent Modern Orthodox” and “Modern Chassidish.” And the far left of Orthodoxy bleeds into the Conservative movement…
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
In terms of practice and social identification, I’m somewhere in the middle of the Modern Orthodox segment of Orthodoxy. I grew up somewhere between Yeshivish and Modern Orthodox, and went to right-wing yeshivish schools. My skepticism pushed me towards the left: while I don’t think the religious beliefs of Modern Orthodoxy are true, at least many people in the Modern community are rationalists (as opposed to the mystically-oriented thinkers that dominate the right).
In terms of belief, I’m a heretic.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
There are slightly varying beliefs about the afterlife within Orthodox Judaism, so I’ll describe the version I’m most familiar with. Olam Haboh (literally, “the World to Come” - the afterlife) consists of Gan Eden (literally, “the Garden of Eden,” a figurative expression for Heaven) and Gehenom (literally, “the Valley of Henom,” an area outside Jerusalem that in ancient times had constant bonfires burning, an analogy for Hell).
Gehenom is more like the Catholic conception of Purgatory than it is like Hell. It’s not a place for punishment, per se, but for cleaning the residue of sin left on one’s soul so that it will be fit to enter Heaven. There are Rabbinic opinions that state Gehenom is not a place of physical cleansing and pain, but that in the World to Come everyone will know everything you did, and the shame of having your indiscretions known is compared to the physical pain of being burned in a fire.
Gan Eden is often described as a giant study hall, where we all get to study Torah with God. The more righteous you were in life, the closer you get to sit to God’s throne. The pleasures of Heaven are the intellectual pleasures of Torah study, of working through complicated legal problems and being rewarded with a sudden flash of insight.
From a skeptic’s standpoint, I’ll just note that the Hebrew Bible never mentions an afterlife; the most stringent punishment mentioned in the Bible is “mais yamus” (you will surely die); that there were mainstream Jewish sects during the time of the Second Temple that had no belief in an afterlife; that the ancient Hebrews appear to have believed in Sheol, a shadowy underworld where the dead were stored, similar to the Greek Hades; that the belief in the afterlife and the belief in universal resurrection when the Messiah comes coexist uneasily; and that the conception of Heaven as a giant study hall would appeal to the Talmudic scholars who wrote about it, but to very few other people.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
In my opinion, I see no reason to think that consciousness survives death. Neuropsychology is providing ever-better evidence that our consciousness is an emergent property of our brains. Much like software ceases to function when a computer stops working, so too our consciousness most likely ceases when our brains stop working. Which means that there most likely is no Heaven, no afterlife, and no one goes anywhere. We simply cease to be when we die.
As the Bible says: “Ki afar atah v’el afar tashuv” (For you are dust, and to dust you shall return). ;-)
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
If “your religion” refers to Orthodox Judaism, it’s not a good fit for me, but for the moment I’m stuck with it, and I’m used to it, so it’s not really a burden.
If “your religion” refers to my skepticism/atheism (which of course is not a religion at all, but a worldview) then it’s a good fit because that’s how I think. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything must be proven to a level of certainty in proportion with the demands it makes on me. In other words, if you tell me you have an aunt in China, I’ll take your word for it because it makes absolutely no difference to me. If you’re going to sell me a house for hundreds of thousands of dollars, you better have a deed showing that you own it and can sell it and I’m going to have the house inspected. If you want me to devote my life to a system of rituals and beliefs based on the premise that there is an intangible, omnipotent, omniscient, omni-benevolent Creator who handed down a manual for life at a mountain three and half thousand years ago, you’re going to need some really good evidence.
Question everything, even this.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I celebrate all of the Jewish Holidays. A description of each of the holidays can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_holiday
Here’s my take, in chronological order (omitting some minor fasts):
Shabbos (the Sabbath, every week from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday):
Commemorates God resting on the seventh day of creation. Melacha (literally, “labor:” a large body of activities which includes turning electricity on or off, lighting or extinguishing fires, planting, doing laundry, walking more than about a quarter mile outside city limits, carrying objects outside of an enclosed area, writing, and many other things – you can fill a library with the books written on the subject) is forbidden, and objects which are muktza (things which are used to do melacha – for example, a pen which can be used for writing) are not handled. There are prayer services Friday evening (about an hour) Saturday morning (2 – 2½ hours) and Saturday afternoon and evening (about 20 minutes each).
Personally, I find the crowded, often poorly-ventilated rooms, incessant murmuring and chanting, and the visual stimulation of a roomful of constantly moving people to be very unpleasant, and find muttering prayers in Hebrew - a language I only understand if I concentrate – extolling the virtues of a Being I don’t think is there to be very boring.
Supper Friday night and lunch on Saturday are large family meals served on china, crystal, and silver. They provide good opportunities for having people visit, I try to have guests at the meals as often as possible.
Shabbos typically has a warm family atmosphere, provides a break from a hectic world, and the restrictions force us to do things like read and play games for entertainment instead of watching TV or going online. It’s one of the few things I would really miss if I ever broke with the Orthodox lifestyle.
That said, the long Shabbos afternoons during the summer can drag on and on and on…
Rosh Hashanah (New Years):
A two-day holiday, it shares most of the labor restrictions and atmosphere of Shabbos. Morning prayer services are typically about six hours long, with a break for a snack at some point in the middle. I don’t go much, but my wife likes me to take the kids to shul for an hour or so that they can hear the shofar (ram’s horn) blown.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Twenty-five hours of fasting and roughly twelve to fourteen hours of prayer. This is the day when we tell God what miserable sinners we’ve been and beg Him to keep us around for another year so that we can continue to be His slaves. Only God could get away with something like that.
What do you mean I’m cynical?
Succos
Succos translates as “booths,” which sounds like a silly name for a holiday, but then lots of names sound silly when translated. Abraham literally means “Father of many.” Imagine greeting a friend, “Hey Father Of Many! What’s doing?” But I digress.
On Succos we erect huts and eat our meals in them (and some people sleep in them) for a week. This is supposed to be in memory of the clouds with which God surrounded the Israelites in the Sinia desert during their forty years of wandering. Personally I think that’s about as likely as Jesus having actually been born on the winter solstice. It more likely started as a harvest festival that had biblical significance tacked onto it later.
Simchas Torah
The day after Succos, Simchas Torah celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle in shul (at the rate of one and occasionally two parshios (sections) per week) and the beginning of the next cycle. It is celebrated by dancing with the Torah scrolls in shul, after which every man gets an aliyah (a small portion of the weekly portion read while he stands next to the reader. Historically each person called up to the Torah would read a portion himself, but eventually a system evolved where the entire weekly portion is read by a designated reader, and he reads each sub-section in lieu of the person called up. This was because the masses were illiterate, and this system enabled anyone to get an aliyah.)
Chanukah
This is probably the most well-known and popular of the Jewish holidays, because it happens to fall around Christmas. Then again, it’s possible that it’s not a coincidence that a holiday during which lighting candles is the major ritual falls around the winter solstice, or that both Chanukah and Christmas share features with other Solstice holidays. Chanukah is a minor holiday and has nowhere near the significance that Christmas has for Christians.
Chanukah is celebrated religiously by lighting the menorah (a nine-branched candelabra) each night after sundown for eight nights and culturally by giving gifts and getting together for family celebrations.
It’s interesting that Chanukah is the most likely holiday to be celebrated by non-religious Jews, given that the holiday celebrates the victory of the fundamentalist Chashmonaim over the secularists and assimilationists of the time who wanted Judeans to integrate fully into the Assyrian Empire.
Tu B’Shvat (The fifteenth day of the month of Shvat)
Purim
Pesach (Passover)
Shavuos
The anniversary of the giving of the Torah by God to the Jewish nation at Mt. Sinia
Tisha b’Av (fast on the ninth day of the month of Av)
A day of fasting and mourning that supposedly marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Its historicity aside, this is one holiday that I think can be given real significance, as I wrote about here: http://2nd-son.blogspot.com/2009/07/for-whom-do-we-mourn.html
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
This assumes I have friends. I tend to be asocial, and the only people I would consider friends is a couple I know through my wife.
In theory, I have no objection to being friends with anyone who’s a decent person, but given that most of my very limited social contact happens within the Orthodox community, I don’t see becoming friends with someone of another faith happening in the near future.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Personally, I have no objections. I’m very interested in other cultures, and as long as they didn’t expect me to buy into the religion the holiday is based on, I could definitely see myself watching the festivities. Actually participating would be awkward, both because of my religious conditioning (which produces automatic reactions that are hard to ignore or suppress) that other religions are, well, if not exactly evil, definitely not good, and because as a skeptic I think it would be inappropriate for me to be an active part of something that is meaningful to others and that I view as superstition.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Mostly that it’s none of my business. As a member of a religion that has similar (though less extreme) modesty rules for women and that lives by the dictates of a religious law code, I can empathize with Muslims. In Orthodox communities, it is often women who call for stricter observance of modesty rules, women who organize classes on modesty, and women who justify modesty rules as ennobling, as keeping their beauty only for their husbands and as keeping themselves from being seen as sex objects.
In practice, I’ve found that the stricter the modesty laws in a community, the more sexualized women are. In communities where men and women are strictly separated at all social gatherings and women are covered in loose-fitting clothing from collarbone to wrist to ankle, a bare elbow is pornographic and accidentally brushing against a woman is something that a man will remember for years.
When I was in high school, the (all boys) school I went to had strict rules against any of us having any contact with any girl to whom we weren’t related. As a result, I vividly remember the single time I spoke to a girl during my four years of high school: one morning when my bag dropped on the sidewalk and a girl on her way to one of the Orthodox all-girl schools helped me pick up my books. All I said to her was, “Thank you.” She didn’t say anything. It’s something that would normally be a non-incident, but because I had no contact at all with girls, it stands out well over a decade later.
I would guess that there are Muslim women that champion the burka as ennobling. And I would guess that there are Muslim men who would see a woman in street clothes the same way an American man would see a woman in a string bikini.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
No. Though there was recently an attempt by a single rabbi on the left wing of Modern Orthodoxy to ordain a woman. It didn’t go over well with the rest of the Orthodox community, but we’ll see where it stands in another decade or two.
On the one hand, I think it’s unfair that women are excluded from positions of religious authority. On the other hand, given the way Orthodox Judaism is structured, a version of Orthodoxy that truly allowed women into the religious power structure wouldn’t really be Orthodoxy. It’s a systemic problem, born of the belief that the further back in time a rabbi lived, the more authoritative he is; and the fact that the rabbis of centuries and millennia ago lived in and shared the values of the societies of centuries and millennia ago.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Yes. I don’t have a place that I go regularly, but all Orthodox shuls (synagogues) have separate men’s and women’s sections. Many have the men’s section in the front and the women’s section in the back, because the service is performed exclusively by men and the chazzan’s (prayer leader’s) podium and the aron (usually translated as ark: a kind of a closet, often made of ornately carved wood with an embroidered velvet curtain hanging over the door) where the Torah scrolls are kept are always at the front of the room. Many Modern Orthodox shuls have the divider run down the center of the room instead, so that the sections are right and left instead of front and back and the women’s seating opportunities are equal to the men’s.
Usually when I do go to shul I end up sitting next to a complete stranger and spend half the time worrying that I’m in someone’s seat. I’d much rather sit next to my wife, but for now, at least, that’s not an option.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Orthodox Judaism has a large effect on my daily life. It affects what I eat (kosher only), where my kids will go to school, the kind of clothing my wife will wear, etc. I do give it some thought when I make decisions, but only in a practical (not moral) sense, such as which schools I’m considering for my kids.
Skepticism is just the way I think, and so of course it affects my life, my decisions, and in general the way I evaluate everything and relate to the world.
I’m neither a woman nor gay, so I don’t see that I will ever have to personally make a decision about abortion or gay marriage. If you want my opinion on their morality, I really can’t see how gay marriage harms anyone. As long as no one is being coerced I don’t see how any marriage is anyone’s business besides the two (or three or four or whatever) people getting married. Abortion is trickier, and comes down to your definition of life, at what point someone becomes human, and your take on the idea that every human life has intrinsic value. I can fully support aborting fetuses to save the mother or in cases where the child would live a short and miserable life. Other cases are grey moral areas that require more nuanced answers than “right” or “wrong.”
It occurs to me that the heated debate over abortion may be because people are very uncomfortable with ambiguity in their moral systems. This discomfort causes many on either side to adopt absolutist positions that can’t be justified and can only be defended with invective rhetoric.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
As long as the person they want to marry is a good person who will make them happy, I’m fine with it. Telling their grandparents, though… that wouldn’t be fun.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I used to wonder about this. According to Judaism, any non-Jew who adheres to the Seven Noahide Laws (most of which are basic social rules) has a place in Heaven. But what about the Crusader knight who truly believed that he was doing God’s will when he slaughtered the Jewish communities of the Rhine valley? Or the devout Inquisitor who served the Lord by ferreting out Marranos (Spanish Jews who nominally converted to Catholicism but continued to practice Judaism in secret) and burning them at the stake in an auto de fe? Did God punish them for bringing such sorrow to His chosen people? Did He reward them because their intention was to serve Him?
Today, as I said above, I see no reason to think that the consciousness survives death or that there is any such place as Hell, so the question is moot.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I don’t think there is anyone who publicly claims to speak for Orthodox Judaism. For that matter, I can’t think of anyone in the popular media that claims to speak for Judaism collectively or in any of its forms.
There are outspoken atheists like Dawkins, Dennet, etc. who I often find myself agreeing with, but the disbelief in a concept is a weak bond on which to build a community identity and I certainly don’t feel that any of them speak *for* me.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Nothing serious enough to be labeled a hate crime. I’ve had things like “Jew boy” yelled at me and once, shortly after I graduated from high school and was still wearing the white-dress-shirt-and-black-dress-pants I had been used to in school, I was mugged by a couple of teenagers who “helpfully” suggested that I should wear jeans so I wouldn’t stand out. On average, though, this sort of thing has happened maybe once a decade.
I had a much worse experience nearly a year ago when I foolishly commented on a Chareidi news site challenging some of the premises of an article posted there. I had been hoping for an interesting conversation with the article’s author. Instead I got threats, personal attacks on my character, and anxious comments warning that my identity should be found out so that I could be kept from corrupting the community’s children. I wrote about it here: http://2nd-son.blogspot.com/2010/02/defenders-of-faith.html
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
In a way, I think religion devalues everyone. Accomplishments are attributed at least in part to God, while theodicy demands that people are solely responsible for their failings.
Years ago an acquaintance tried to convince me that Napoleon Bonaparte was a shaid (a kind of demon). The premise seemed to be that a mere human wouldn’t have been capable of accomplishing everything Napoleon did. Leaving aside that Napoleon’s life is well-documented, this kind of thinking devalues the human race as a whole because it denies us credit for our greatest accomplishments.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
No. I don’t think Judaism is true, so there’s no help there. And without any belief in the metaphysical, I find myself groping to find meaning and slipping into nihilism.
Incidentally, the loss of meaning that sometimes accompanies loss of belief in religion is often cited by theists as a reason to be religious. Unfortunately, that’s just a pragmatic argument. It says nothing about whether the claims of the religion are true. As George Bernard Shaw said, "The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. I see no reason to think that there is a soul, and without a soul reincarnation is meaningless.
On the other hand, the material we’re made from is constantly recycled, and some of it will probably end up in some other living creature at some point. For instance, dust mites eat our dead skin cells, and the material becomes part of them. But somehow I don’t think that’s what most people mean by reincarnation.
Please note, if I seemed overly critical of Orthodox Judaism, that’s only because that’s the religion I’m most familiar with and the community in which I live. I have a similar opinion of all theistic religions.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Chaviva G.
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Ven. Jo Jo for sharing his journey with us. A very interesting and indepth piece that I very much enjoyed reading. Thank you Ven. Jo Jo!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Chaviva G.
Chaviva is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Chaviva G.'s Introduction:
Chaviva, a social media devotee, is the the creator and writer of blogs Just Call Me Chaviva (www.kvetchingeditor.com) and the Kosher Critic (www.kosher-critic.com), among others. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, 12seconds.tv, Yelp, and every other social-networking, music, and media platform the web over. Why the vast virtual presence? Every e-avenue is an outlet for explaining, exploring, developing, and expanding the understanding of and experience of Judaism in the 21st century not only for Jews of every flavor, but also for the larger global community.
When she's not blogging or Tweeting, Chaviva, an Orthodox Jew, is a master's student at New York University, and the future holds more academic promise, she hopes. In a past life, Chaviva was a copy editor for The Denver Post, The Daily Nebraskan, and The Washington Post, and Chaviva still manages to mix her passion for proper grammar with Judaism through Jewish-style editing projects.
1) What religion do you practice?
Orthodox Judaism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted to Judaism under Reform auspices in 2006 and under Orthodox auspices in 2010. Before converting, I grew up in the Bible Belt of Missouri and then Nebraska, where my parents raised me largely on the Golden Rule. I attended church regularly, went to Vacation Bible School, and was for all intents and purposes a practicing Christian with the big secret that I didn't believe that Jesus was the son of G-d (not to mention a crop of other Christian tenets). I was a very social person with a big group of friends -- a big group of Christian friends. So I went along, I did the clubs and the retreats, and I got saved a half-dozen times. And then, in high school, I quit. I couldn't fake it. I founded my own religion, my own beliefs, and went a fairly agnostic route. In college, a friend, inquiring about my beliefs, suggested I look into Judaism and thus, I found myself at the doorstep of the house that had truly always been my home.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I consider myself socially liberal, religiously conservative, and politically liberal ... if that exists!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Socially, I'm sort of outside the box compared to my religious beliefs. I believe a lot of things that don't float, according to a lot of right-wing Jews I know, because they don't match up necessarily with the simplest understanding of the text of the Torah (Hebrew Bible). For me, however, I think rights, liberties, and acceptance are the underlying message of just about everything in Judaism, so I choose to be socially liberal. Religiously, I see the binding nature of the mitzvot, or commandments, that are found in the Torah, and I live a Torah-observant lifestyle (keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath, dressing modestly, etc.). I don't think the two -- being socially liberal and religiously conservative -- are out of balance. Add to that, of course, that politically I'm a liberal!
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Nine times out of ten, I think it's how you grew up, what values your parents instilled in you, and how open-minded you are toward a change in those views and sentiments. I think environment plays on people's conservative and moderate sentiments more than beliefs, because we tend to worry more about how people view us and how accepting others are of us than what is right or just.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
In Judaism, there's really no necessarily defined view of the afterlife, what we call olam ha'ba, or the "world to come." Thus, I don't think much about heaven or an afterlife, because as a Jew, my emphasis is on this life, doing good and positive things here, because I know the tangible results that can be had. When it comes to a heaven, it's impossible to know what it entails, so I don't think much about it. I did read a brilliant fiction book by Dara Horn called "The World to Come," in which she suggests that olam ha'ba actually is *this* world, the one we live in. When people die, they spend their lives teaching and preparing souls for this world!
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Since I don't really conceive of it, I don't really have a good answer to this. My inclination is to say, Sure, why not?
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It focuses on doing good and living a commandment-based life, this life, the hear and now. A focus on the present just makes sense to me. Why live for something that might come later, or put responsibility for your life in the hands of someone else? In my mind, G-d gave each of us the gumption to do good and make this world better for a reason, and I found that reason and realization in Judaism.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Do you have a few hours? Hah. Judaism has a lot of holy days; we have FOUR new years! Some of our holy days include Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Each hold historic and religious importance, but going into the details would take me quite some time and probably confuse your readers.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course. All of my high school friends are Christians, I have a few Hindu friends, I have a college friend who converted to Islam. I don't discriminate or not include people in my life for their faith choice. I believe firmly that what is right for me is not right for everyone, and because we can know with no certainty which religion (if any) is "right," then why bother creating divisions or converting others or discriminating? Why not just live your life and your faith in the way that makes you most comfortable.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
There are a variety of restrictions as an Orthodox Jew as to what I can and cannot celebrate, where I can and cannot go, etc. I would love to invite a variety of individuals with varied faiths for a Passover seder or Chanukah party, but I cannot go to a Christian Mass or celebration because of laws about entering churches and taking part in non-Jewish ceremonies.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to answer.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, I don't know enough to answer, but in Judaism, we have this issue with women being rabbis and/or faith leaders.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue does have separate seating, with a mechitzah, which is a sort of walled separation, dividing us. In many synagogues this is a *beautiful* separating structure, made of etched glass or latticework. In some Orthodox synagogues, women have seating upstairs overlooking the main sanctuary where the men are (it's a very Friendship Meeting House sort of kick-back). I actually really love having the separate seating, because it gives everyone a chance to focus on their own prayers, without the distraction of a husband or possible love match. I know that before I became Orthodox, going to synagogue with my then-boyfriend was hard because he wanted to hold hands and talk to me during the service, which kept me from really connecting to G-d on a personal and in-depth level. The separation allows me to sort of climb into my own world with G-d.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion affects EVERYTHING I do -- it affects how I dress in the morning, how I cover my hair, how I leave my house, how I purchase, cook, and eat my food, how I talk and interact with individuals, and more. Judaism allows me to be 110 percent conscious of every small and large thing I do and decision I make. It does play into how I view social and political issues, of course.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion? It would break my heart, but I would understand the need to make one's own place in the world (after all, I did). I would hope, however, that my child would come out of his life at home with the powerful impact of Judaism on his or her heart and mind.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. Judaism doesn't believe in Hell ... there's (pretty much) always a chance to turn back, to make teshuvah.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Not sure I understand the question. There are a lot of people who claim to speak for aspects of Judaism (think Madonna and Kaballah) who really don't represent or express the positive aspects (or even the true aspects) of my religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Thank G-d, no.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The common misconception about Orthodox Judaism is that it devalues women, the modern world, and anything that doesn't float back to our earliest sages and Rabbis. This, of course, is a complete misconception. Don't worry, I haven't been brainwashed. But as with all things, you view your religion through your own, unique lenses and if those lenses are dirty or chipped, then you'll see everything you don't agree with as a stumbling block and not a building block.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
There are a lot of curious aspects of Judaism that cater to an idea of reincarnation in a sort of tangential way, but I don't know enough to speak about it at length. There is a thought that a friend once shared with me that the reason there are so many young Jews returning to Orthodox Judaism, to a Torah-observant life, is because the souls of those who died in the Holocaust are being rekindled in these Jews who are returning to the faith as those souls might have, had they not been killed. It's a unique and beautiful thought, I think.
I wish to thank Ven. Jo Jo for sharing his journey with us. A very interesting and indepth piece that I very much enjoyed reading. Thank you Ven. Jo Jo!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Chaviva G.
Chaviva is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Chaviva G.'s Introduction:
Chaviva, a social media devotee, is the the creator and writer of blogs Just Call Me Chaviva (www.kvetchingeditor.com) and the Kosher Critic (www.kosher-critic.com), among others. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, 12seconds.tv, Yelp, and every other social-networking, music, and media platform the web over. Why the vast virtual presence? Every e-avenue is an outlet for explaining, exploring, developing, and expanding the understanding of and experience of Judaism in the 21st century not only for Jews of every flavor, but also for the larger global community.
When she's not blogging or Tweeting, Chaviva, an Orthodox Jew, is a master's student at New York University, and the future holds more academic promise, she hopes. In a past life, Chaviva was a copy editor for The Denver Post, The Daily Nebraskan, and The Washington Post, and Chaviva still manages to mix her passion for proper grammar with Judaism through Jewish-style editing projects.
1) What religion do you practice?
Orthodox Judaism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted to Judaism under Reform auspices in 2006 and under Orthodox auspices in 2010. Before converting, I grew up in the Bible Belt of Missouri and then Nebraska, where my parents raised me largely on the Golden Rule. I attended church regularly, went to Vacation Bible School, and was for all intents and purposes a practicing Christian with the big secret that I didn't believe that Jesus was the son of G-d (not to mention a crop of other Christian tenets). I was a very social person with a big group of friends -- a big group of Christian friends. So I went along, I did the clubs and the retreats, and I got saved a half-dozen times. And then, in high school, I quit. I couldn't fake it. I founded my own religion, my own beliefs, and went a fairly agnostic route. In college, a friend, inquiring about my beliefs, suggested I look into Judaism and thus, I found myself at the doorstep of the house that had truly always been my home.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I consider myself socially liberal, religiously conservative, and politically liberal ... if that exists!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Socially, I'm sort of outside the box compared to my religious beliefs. I believe a lot of things that don't float, according to a lot of right-wing Jews I know, because they don't match up necessarily with the simplest understanding of the text of the Torah (Hebrew Bible). For me, however, I think rights, liberties, and acceptance are the underlying message of just about everything in Judaism, so I choose to be socially liberal. Religiously, I see the binding nature of the mitzvot, or commandments, that are found in the Torah, and I live a Torah-observant lifestyle (keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath, dressing modestly, etc.). I don't think the two -- being socially liberal and religiously conservative -- are out of balance. Add to that, of course, that politically I'm a liberal!
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Nine times out of ten, I think it's how you grew up, what values your parents instilled in you, and how open-minded you are toward a change in those views and sentiments. I think environment plays on people's conservative and moderate sentiments more than beliefs, because we tend to worry more about how people view us and how accepting others are of us than what is right or just.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
In Judaism, there's really no necessarily defined view of the afterlife, what we call olam ha'ba, or the "world to come." Thus, I don't think much about heaven or an afterlife, because as a Jew, my emphasis is on this life, doing good and positive things here, because I know the tangible results that can be had. When it comes to a heaven, it's impossible to know what it entails, so I don't think much about it. I did read a brilliant fiction book by Dara Horn called "The World to Come," in which she suggests that olam ha'ba actually is *this* world, the one we live in. When people die, they spend their lives teaching and preparing souls for this world!
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Since I don't really conceive of it, I don't really have a good answer to this. My inclination is to say, Sure, why not?
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It focuses on doing good and living a commandment-based life, this life, the hear and now. A focus on the present just makes sense to me. Why live for something that might come later, or put responsibility for your life in the hands of someone else? In my mind, G-d gave each of us the gumption to do good and make this world better for a reason, and I found that reason and realization in Judaism.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Do you have a few hours? Hah. Judaism has a lot of holy days; we have FOUR new years! Some of our holy days include Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Each hold historic and religious importance, but going into the details would take me quite some time and probably confuse your readers.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course. All of my high school friends are Christians, I have a few Hindu friends, I have a college friend who converted to Islam. I don't discriminate or not include people in my life for their faith choice. I believe firmly that what is right for me is not right for everyone, and because we can know with no certainty which religion (if any) is "right," then why bother creating divisions or converting others or discriminating? Why not just live your life and your faith in the way that makes you most comfortable.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
There are a variety of restrictions as an Orthodox Jew as to what I can and cannot celebrate, where I can and cannot go, etc. I would love to invite a variety of individuals with varied faiths for a Passover seder or Chanukah party, but I cannot go to a Christian Mass or celebration because of laws about entering churches and taking part in non-Jewish ceremonies.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to answer.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, I don't know enough to answer, but in Judaism, we have this issue with women being rabbis and/or faith leaders.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue does have separate seating, with a mechitzah, which is a sort of walled separation, dividing us. In many synagogues this is a *beautiful* separating structure, made of etched glass or latticework. In some Orthodox synagogues, women have seating upstairs overlooking the main sanctuary where the men are (it's a very Friendship Meeting House sort of kick-back). I actually really love having the separate seating, because it gives everyone a chance to focus on their own prayers, without the distraction of a husband or possible love match. I know that before I became Orthodox, going to synagogue with my then-boyfriend was hard because he wanted to hold hands and talk to me during the service, which kept me from really connecting to G-d on a personal and in-depth level. The separation allows me to sort of climb into my own world with G-d.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion affects EVERYTHING I do -- it affects how I dress in the morning, how I cover my hair, how I leave my house, how I purchase, cook, and eat my food, how I talk and interact with individuals, and more. Judaism allows me to be 110 percent conscious of every small and large thing I do and decision I make. It does play into how I view social and political issues, of course.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion? It would break my heart, but I would understand the need to make one's own place in the world (after all, I did). I would hope, however, that my child would come out of his life at home with the powerful impact of Judaism on his or her heart and mind.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. Judaism doesn't believe in Hell ... there's (pretty much) always a chance to turn back, to make teshuvah.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Not sure I understand the question. There are a lot of people who claim to speak for aspects of Judaism (think Madonna and Kaballah) who really don't represent or express the positive aspects (or even the true aspects) of my religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Thank G-d, no.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The common misconception about Orthodox Judaism is that it devalues women, the modern world, and anything that doesn't float back to our earliest sages and Rabbis. This, of course, is a complete misconception. Don't worry, I haven't been brainwashed. But as with all things, you view your religion through your own, unique lenses and if those lenses are dirty or chipped, then you'll see everything you don't agree with as a stumbling block and not a building block.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
There are a lot of curious aspects of Judaism that cater to an idea of reincarnation in a sort of tangential way, but I don't know enough to speak about it at length. There is a thought that a friend once shared with me that the reason there are so many young Jews returning to Orthodox Judaism, to a Torah-observant life, is because the souls of those who died in the Holocaust are being rekindled in these Jews who are returning to the faith as those souls might have, had they not been killed. It's a unique and beautiful thought, I think.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Rachel
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up, I wish to thank Rand for his very interesting blog last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Rand!
This week we have a new post, so please welcome Rachel.
Rachel is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her post as well!
Here Is Rachel's Introduction:
I am British, live by the sea and inherit my Jewish ancestry from my father's family although I wasn't brought up as a Jew. I have always been fascinated by Jewish history and Judaism as a religion and felt an inexplicable 'pull' towards becoming Jewish for many years, before acting upon it in 2008 and converting at the end of 2009. I am a committed and enthusiastic member of my synagogue and love every aspect of being a Jew, even when it makes my brain hurt! I live with my partner (who is non-Jewish) and love my life.
My website is my blog - http://shavuatov.wordpress.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am Jewish.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted at the end of 2009. This involved entering into a year of structured study with my rabbi, attending all services including the festivals, learning to read Hebrew and understand it sufficiently to follow the services properly. I then was required to write an essay about what being Jewish means to me and another essay from a range of pre-selected subjects. These essays were then submitted to the Beth Din (Rabbinic Board) of my chosen movement, with whom I met to discuss these essays and also any questions that arose during the meeting. I then immersed myself in the mikveh - a bath used for ritual immersion - to signify my new life as a Jew. I then had a ceremony at my synagogue the following Shabbat (Sabbath/Saturday) to welcome me into my community. I didn't practice any religion prior to this.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
A liberal.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
My movement describes itself as being a Judaism for the 21st century. It welcomes people who are in mixed marriages/relationships, same-sex partners, children whose Jewish inheritance comes from their father rather than their mother (the traditonal determination of 'who is a Jew').
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
A more traditional approach to practices such as eating kosher, education, willingness/ability to mix freely in secular society would indicate a more traditional approach to Judaism. This is just a different way of being Jewish.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
I don't have one, yet.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I can't answer this question, given my answer to (6).
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It instinctively feels right, for me. It harks back to my family heritage and I feel connected with the global Jeiwsh family.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The main ones are:
Purim - where the triumph of Queen Esther over a plot to kill the Jews is celebrated by dressing up in fancy dress and performing a special service where comedy is the key.
Pesach (Passover) - where Moses freed the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt. No food with leaven is eaten during this period and a Seder takes place (a dinner) where special foods and special readings take place from a book known as the Haggadah.
Shavuot - where Moses was given the commandments at Sinai. It is traditional to eat cheesecake in remembrance that the Israelites did not know what meat they could eat at this time as they awaited their dietary laws.
Rosh HaShanah (New Year) - a time for celebration and reflection - one of the High Holy Days spent in synagogue.
Yom Kippur - (Day of Atonement) - fasting and atoning for your sins - the most solemn High Holy Day spent in synagogue.
Succot (Booths) - commemorates the time when the Jews were in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) - celebrates the end of the reading of the Torah scroll - it is unravelled in the synagogue and celebratory songs are sung.
Chanukkah (Festival of Lights) - celebrates the triumph of the Maccabees and the story of one day's oil being sufficient for 8 days light - hence the 8 branched candlestick.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
It depends. I would enter their homes and/or place of worship and enjoy the ceremonies, but not necessarily take part.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to comment fully. I suspect some of the negative portrayals of both and more generally, Islam, are due to media hype.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
This, amongst other issues regarding control of certain groups of people within different faiths does make me feel uncomfortable. 'The establishment' within any religion, or movement within a religion, can be problematic.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, it doesn't.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is with me at all times but it has not changed my views on these sorts of issues. Instead, it provides an additional source of thought than I would have considered previously.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That wouldn't be a problem.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I don't believe in hell. If someone is not of my faith, or of no faith, then I have no problem with that.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
In my opinion, Judaism should not have one person who claims to speak for the Jews in my country. The UK has a Chief Rabbi, but this is (in my opinion) only necessary for liason with government.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not a crime, but a certain level of negative attention since, being Jewish, I am assumed by some people to be an unequivocal supporter of Israel and everything it stands for.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, not at all.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Not as such. It is more a completion of who I am.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. It isn't something I have ever considered.
First up, I wish to thank Rand for his very interesting blog last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Rand!
This week we have a new post, so please welcome Rachel.
Rachel is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her post as well!
Here Is Rachel's Introduction:
I am British, live by the sea and inherit my Jewish ancestry from my father's family although I wasn't brought up as a Jew. I have always been fascinated by Jewish history and Judaism as a religion and felt an inexplicable 'pull' towards becoming Jewish for many years, before acting upon it in 2008 and converting at the end of 2009. I am a committed and enthusiastic member of my synagogue and love every aspect of being a Jew, even when it makes my brain hurt! I live with my partner (who is non-Jewish) and love my life.
My website is my blog - http://shavuatov.wordpress.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am Jewish.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted at the end of 2009. This involved entering into a year of structured study with my rabbi, attending all services including the festivals, learning to read Hebrew and understand it sufficiently to follow the services properly. I then was required to write an essay about what being Jewish means to me and another essay from a range of pre-selected subjects. These essays were then submitted to the Beth Din (Rabbinic Board) of my chosen movement, with whom I met to discuss these essays and also any questions that arose during the meeting. I then immersed myself in the mikveh - a bath used for ritual immersion - to signify my new life as a Jew. I then had a ceremony at my synagogue the following Shabbat (Sabbath/Saturday) to welcome me into my community. I didn't practice any religion prior to this.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
A liberal.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
My movement describes itself as being a Judaism for the 21st century. It welcomes people who are in mixed marriages/relationships, same-sex partners, children whose Jewish inheritance comes from their father rather than their mother (the traditonal determination of 'who is a Jew').
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
A more traditional approach to practices such as eating kosher, education, willingness/ability to mix freely in secular society would indicate a more traditional approach to Judaism. This is just a different way of being Jewish.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
I don't have one, yet.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I can't answer this question, given my answer to (6).
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It instinctively feels right, for me. It harks back to my family heritage and I feel connected with the global Jeiwsh family.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
The main ones are:
Purim - where the triumph of Queen Esther over a plot to kill the Jews is celebrated by dressing up in fancy dress and performing a special service where comedy is the key.
Pesach (Passover) - where Moses freed the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt. No food with leaven is eaten during this period and a Seder takes place (a dinner) where special foods and special readings take place from a book known as the Haggadah.
Shavuot - where Moses was given the commandments at Sinai. It is traditional to eat cheesecake in remembrance that the Israelites did not know what meat they could eat at this time as they awaited their dietary laws.
Rosh HaShanah (New Year) - a time for celebration and reflection - one of the High Holy Days spent in synagogue.
Yom Kippur - (Day of Atonement) - fasting and atoning for your sins - the most solemn High Holy Day spent in synagogue.
Succot (Booths) - commemorates the time when the Jews were in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt.
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) - celebrates the end of the reading of the Torah scroll - it is unravelled in the synagogue and celebratory songs are sung.
Chanukkah (Festival of Lights) - celebrates the triumph of the Maccabees and the story of one day's oil being sufficient for 8 days light - hence the 8 branched candlestick.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
It depends. I would enter their homes and/or place of worship and enjoy the ceremonies, but not necessarily take part.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to comment fully. I suspect some of the negative portrayals of both and more generally, Islam, are due to media hype.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
This, amongst other issues regarding control of certain groups of people within different faiths does make me feel uncomfortable. 'The establishment' within any religion, or movement within a religion, can be problematic.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, it doesn't.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is with me at all times but it has not changed my views on these sorts of issues. Instead, it provides an additional source of thought than I would have considered previously.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That wouldn't be a problem.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I don't believe in hell. If someone is not of my faith, or of no faith, then I have no problem with that.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
In my opinion, Judaism should not have one person who claims to speak for the Jews in my country. The UK has a Chief Rabbi, but this is (in my opinion) only necessary for liason with government.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not a crime, but a certain level of negative attention since, being Jewish, I am assumed by some people to be an unequivocal supporter of Israel and everything it stands for.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, not at all.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Not as such. It is more a completion of who I am.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. It isn't something I have ever considered.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Chanan
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I'd like to thank Jake Collyer for his very interesting interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Jake!
YMR has a new interview today so please welcome Chanan.
Chanan is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Chanan's Introduction:
My name is Chanan, and I’m currently living in Brooklyn, NY, though I’m originally from Minnesota. I got married about nine months ago to Elisheva, who is originally from Wisconsin. We’re only planning on living in New York for a few years, because we both miss grass and trees and the sky actually getting dark at night. At the same time, we’re trying to take advantage of all the exciting things to do in NY on our limited budget.
My blog: www.therealshliach.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am Jewish (orthodox), and am a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic group.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I didn’t have much choice- I was born Jewish.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
There are many streams of Judaism. The most conservative of these is orthodox, which itself is divided into many different levels of observance. In general, the Chassidic group I belong to, Chabad-Lubavitch, tries not to differentiate between different Jews. A Jew is a Jew is a Jew, no matter their level of observance. At the same time, if you’re not Jewish, it doesn’t matter how observant you are, you’re still not Jewish. In general, I would consider myself to be ultra-orthodox, though as I wrote, this is only in terms of practice. I’m as Jewish as Moses, and as the Jew who practices nothing.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
In terms of observance of Jewish law, I’m ultra-orthodox. The word “Chassid” comes from the word “Chessed”, kindness, and it’s generally explained that it means someone who does “kindness” with their creator by being extra careful with everything they do. We try to be extra stringent with everything we do, and make sure to do the 613 Mitzvos, commandments, in the very best way possible.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Someone can be conservative in practice but moderate in outlook, and vice-versa. It’s really difficult to label whole groups of people in an intelligent manner. The word “orthodox” means someone who believes in a conforming manner, while the word “orthoprax” means someone who acts in a conforming manner. The two are often not mutual. There is a Jewish saying, “The main thing is the deed.” This means what counts is the action, not the thoughts behind it. Giving charity for the wrong reason is far better than not giving charity, even if you have the best intentions. At the same time, Maimonides laid out thirteen principles of faith, without which a person can not be said to be an orthodox Jew. So it’s really a very complicated question, and I’m not sure there’s a good answer.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Well, first of all, let me say that I’ve never been there, so how would I know? But seriously, we are taught that heaven is an entirely spiritual place (just like hell is an entirely spiritual place) where souls bask in the light of G-dliness. Heaven is not a reward for good deeds done on earth, but it’s more of a waiting room for the ultimate reward, when all the souls will come back down to earth in the Messianic era.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
As I said, making it to heaven is not the be all and end all of Judaism- it’s a nice place to be, but that’s about it. Judaism teaches that every action has a reaction, a consequence. It’s comparable to a diamond that becomes covered in grime (and worse), and needs to be cleansed. Once a person is cleansed of their sins, then they’re put into heaven. Once the Messiah comes, everyone will come back down to live again. But to answer the question more directly, yes, nearly everyone makes it to heaven. It’s taught that certain people’s sins were so heinous that they will not be resurrected, but in general, the gates of heaven are never closed to repentance.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Hmm, I’ve never really considered this question. I suppose that I was born into it, and though I’ve certainly questioned it many times, I’ve never felt that it didn’t have the answers. If I wasn’t born Jewish, would I have converted? I’m not sure. There are definitely many wonderful things about associated with being Jewish, but at the same time, there are many nice things associated with being not Jewish.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are too many holy days to count! The most important one is Shabbos, Saturday, which we celebrate every week on Friday night and Saturday. Others would include the biblical holidays of Pesach, Sukkos, Shavuos, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. Each one has its unique observances. There are two rabbininc holidays, Purim and Chanuka, as well as four rabbinic fasts, the most solemn of which is Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month Av, when the Beis Hamikdash, the temple in Jerusalem, was destroyed, first by the Babylonians and then by the Romans. There are also many Chassidic holidays, which are celebrated with as much joy and fervor as all the others. The truth is, every single day is special, and has the potential to be the greatest day ever.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I wouldn’t have a problem with being friends with people of other faiths, but honestly, I’ve never had enough time or contact with any single non-Jew to develop a friendship.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would not, because I don’t believe there’s anything positive to be gained from it.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It’s not my place to offer comments on other people’s religions. If it makes them happy, fine, but if they’re forcing it upon people, then I think that’s wrong.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, that’s the Catholic Church’s business, not mine. In Judaism’s case, I firmly believe that while women can and do have a place guiding and teaching, they can not be ordained as rabbis.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
There is separate seating in my synagogue. I believe that it helps me concentrate on my prayer, and does the same for women.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I try to have everything I do reflect my belief in Judaism. It certainly has affected my beliefs regarding most, if not all the issues which currently face America. I believe that abortion, except in extremely limited circumstances (e.g. if the mother’s life is at risk) is wrong, and I believe that homosexuality is wrong in any form. I don’t condemn gays, and I wouldn’t treat them any differently than anyone else (who among us does not sin?), but I would certainly not want to condone in any way their lifestyle. Doing a sin (no matter how terrible) in private is one thing, but to advertise it to the world, to make it part of the country’s laws? I think this is wrong.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It would kill me. I wouldn’t ostracize them necessarily, but I’d certainly sit the traditional seven days of mourning which are done when a close relative dies.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
There are seven laws which apply to all people, called the Seven Noahide laws. They are: prohibitions against murder, forbidden sexual relations, theft, blasphemy, idol worship, eating meat taken from a living animal, blasphemy, and establishing courts of law. If a non-Jew keeps these laws, then they have a place in heaven and the world to come.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
If someone keeps and believes the 613 commandments, then they’re a practicing Jew. I may not agree with all their opinions, but that’s the basic standard. If there is someone who doesn’t follow this standard, then they’re not entitled to speak in the name of Judaism.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have been called names out of passing cars, but that’s about it.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
I’m not sure what this question means exactly, but no, I don’t think my religion makes me any less of a person than I would be without it. In fact, I believe I’m more of a person because of it.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I’m not sure if the purpose of religion is to give peace of mind, or even to make you happy. I believe that my purpose is to make the world a better place through keeping G-d’s commandments. If this makes me feel fulfilled then great, but it’s not the point. Still, I’d have to say that when I do the right thing it makes me feel good, so I suppose that’s something.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
The Jewish understanding of reincarnation is very different from other understandings thereof, much like the Jewish understanding of heaven is very different from others understanding thereof. In general, souls are reincarnated until they've fulfilled all 613 commandments, at which point they get to go to heaven. Heaven itself is merely a waiting room for the Messianic era, when souls will come back down to earth in bodies. Obviously every soul will have been divided into many hundreds of bodies at some time, and it's explained that each person to have had a part of this soul will come down as a unique individual. How is this possible? Each soul is literally a part of G-d. Since G-d is infinite, the soul is infinite, and you can divide infinity as many times as you want.
First up I'd like to thank Jake Collyer for his very interesting interview last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us Jake!
YMR has a new interview today so please welcome Chanan.
Chanan is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Chanan's Introduction:
My name is Chanan, and I’m currently living in Brooklyn, NY, though I’m originally from Minnesota. I got married about nine months ago to Elisheva, who is originally from Wisconsin. We’re only planning on living in New York for a few years, because we both miss grass and trees and the sky actually getting dark at night. At the same time, we’re trying to take advantage of all the exciting things to do in NY on our limited budget.
My blog: www.therealshliach.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am Jewish (orthodox), and am a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Chassidic group.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I didn’t have much choice- I was born Jewish.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
There are many streams of Judaism. The most conservative of these is orthodox, which itself is divided into many different levels of observance. In general, the Chassidic group I belong to, Chabad-Lubavitch, tries not to differentiate between different Jews. A Jew is a Jew is a Jew, no matter their level of observance. At the same time, if you’re not Jewish, it doesn’t matter how observant you are, you’re still not Jewish. In general, I would consider myself to be ultra-orthodox, though as I wrote, this is only in terms of practice. I’m as Jewish as Moses, and as the Jew who practices nothing.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
In terms of observance of Jewish law, I’m ultra-orthodox. The word “Chassid” comes from the word “Chessed”, kindness, and it’s generally explained that it means someone who does “kindness” with their creator by being extra careful with everything they do. We try to be extra stringent with everything we do, and make sure to do the 613 Mitzvos, commandments, in the very best way possible.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Someone can be conservative in practice but moderate in outlook, and vice-versa. It’s really difficult to label whole groups of people in an intelligent manner. The word “orthodox” means someone who believes in a conforming manner, while the word “orthoprax” means someone who acts in a conforming manner. The two are often not mutual. There is a Jewish saying, “The main thing is the deed.” This means what counts is the action, not the thoughts behind it. Giving charity for the wrong reason is far better than not giving charity, even if you have the best intentions. At the same time, Maimonides laid out thirteen principles of faith, without which a person can not be said to be an orthodox Jew. So it’s really a very complicated question, and I’m not sure there’s a good answer.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Well, first of all, let me say that I’ve never been there, so how would I know? But seriously, we are taught that heaven is an entirely spiritual place (just like hell is an entirely spiritual place) where souls bask in the light of G-dliness. Heaven is not a reward for good deeds done on earth, but it’s more of a waiting room for the ultimate reward, when all the souls will come back down to earth in the Messianic era.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
As I said, making it to heaven is not the be all and end all of Judaism- it’s a nice place to be, but that’s about it. Judaism teaches that every action has a reaction, a consequence. It’s comparable to a diamond that becomes covered in grime (and worse), and needs to be cleansed. Once a person is cleansed of their sins, then they’re put into heaven. Once the Messiah comes, everyone will come back down to live again. But to answer the question more directly, yes, nearly everyone makes it to heaven. It’s taught that certain people’s sins were so heinous that they will not be resurrected, but in general, the gates of heaven are never closed to repentance.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Hmm, I’ve never really considered this question. I suppose that I was born into it, and though I’ve certainly questioned it many times, I’ve never felt that it didn’t have the answers. If I wasn’t born Jewish, would I have converted? I’m not sure. There are definitely many wonderful things about associated with being Jewish, but at the same time, there are many nice things associated with being not Jewish.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are too many holy days to count! The most important one is Shabbos, Saturday, which we celebrate every week on Friday night and Saturday. Others would include the biblical holidays of Pesach, Sukkos, Shavuos, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. Each one has its unique observances. There are two rabbininc holidays, Purim and Chanuka, as well as four rabbinic fasts, the most solemn of which is Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month Av, when the Beis Hamikdash, the temple in Jerusalem, was destroyed, first by the Babylonians and then by the Romans. There are also many Chassidic holidays, which are celebrated with as much joy and fervor as all the others. The truth is, every single day is special, and has the potential to be the greatest day ever.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I wouldn’t have a problem with being friends with people of other faiths, but honestly, I’ve never had enough time or contact with any single non-Jew to develop a friendship.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would not, because I don’t believe there’s anything positive to be gained from it.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It’s not my place to offer comments on other people’s religions. If it makes them happy, fine, but if they’re forcing it upon people, then I think that’s wrong.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, that’s the Catholic Church’s business, not mine. In Judaism’s case, I firmly believe that while women can and do have a place guiding and teaching, they can not be ordained as rabbis.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
There is separate seating in my synagogue. I believe that it helps me concentrate on my prayer, and does the same for women.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I try to have everything I do reflect my belief in Judaism. It certainly has affected my beliefs regarding most, if not all the issues which currently face America. I believe that abortion, except in extremely limited circumstances (e.g. if the mother’s life is at risk) is wrong, and I believe that homosexuality is wrong in any form. I don’t condemn gays, and I wouldn’t treat them any differently than anyone else (who among us does not sin?), but I would certainly not want to condone in any way their lifestyle. Doing a sin (no matter how terrible) in private is one thing, but to advertise it to the world, to make it part of the country’s laws? I think this is wrong.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It would kill me. I wouldn’t ostracize them necessarily, but I’d certainly sit the traditional seven days of mourning which are done when a close relative dies.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
There are seven laws which apply to all people, called the Seven Noahide laws. They are: prohibitions against murder, forbidden sexual relations, theft, blasphemy, idol worship, eating meat taken from a living animal, blasphemy, and establishing courts of law. If a non-Jew keeps these laws, then they have a place in heaven and the world to come.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
If someone keeps and believes the 613 commandments, then they’re a practicing Jew. I may not agree with all their opinions, but that’s the basic standard. If there is someone who doesn’t follow this standard, then they’re not entitled to speak in the name of Judaism.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have been called names out of passing cars, but that’s about it.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
I’m not sure what this question means exactly, but no, I don’t think my religion makes me any less of a person than I would be without it. In fact, I believe I’m more of a person because of it.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I’m not sure if the purpose of religion is to give peace of mind, or even to make you happy. I believe that my purpose is to make the world a better place through keeping G-d’s commandments. If this makes me feel fulfilled then great, but it’s not the point. Still, I’d have to say that when I do the right thing it makes me feel good, so I suppose that’s something.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
The Jewish understanding of reincarnation is very different from other understandings thereof, much like the Jewish understanding of heaven is very different from others understanding thereof. In general, souls are reincarnated until they've fulfilled all 613 commandments, at which point they get to go to heaven. Heaven itself is merely a waiting room for the Messianic era, when souls will come back down to earth in bodies. Obviously every soul will have been divided into many hundreds of bodies at some time, and it's explained that each person to have had a part of this soul will come down as a unique individual. How is this possible? Each soul is literally a part of G-d. Since G-d is infinite, the soul is infinite, and you can divide infinity as many times as you want.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Ilene Rosenblum
Hello and Happy Saturday Everyone!
First up, I wish to thank Sarita for her excellent post last week and for sharing with us what it means to her to be a Pagan. I encourage all to read it!
Thanks Sarita!
This week we have a new post so please welcome Ilene Rosenblum.
Ilene is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Ilene Rosenblum's Introduction:
As a child, I found Judaism uninspiring, wishy-washy at some times, and too dogmatic at others. I was also mystified by the Jewish community's fear of assimilation yet seeming inability to answer the question "Why Be Jewish"? While working in Washington, D.C., I was more exposed to Orthodox Jews I could relate to, and I slowly began to attend more Torah study classes and to spend Shabbat with local families. I felt totally out of my league despite having gone to a Jewish day school. I realized there was more to Judaism than I thought and decided that I wanted a Jewish lifestyle -- not simply to go to synagogue or do Jewish activities as a hobby. I chose to move to Israel to study Torah in a full-time, intensive program and have been there ever since.
My blog is at http://www.ilenerosenblum.com/blog. You're also welcome to follow me on twitter @ilenerosenblum.
1) What religion do you practice?
Judaism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was born Jewish, but I grew up practicing differently. I am more observant than my parents, or stricter in according with Jewish law, halacha.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Moderate
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I try to draw the best from strict observance while keeping in touch with the modern "real" world, other Jews and other people of all stripes. There is probably an equal number of Jews would consider me conservative (lower case "c") as there are Jews who would consider me too liberal.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Someone is more conservative if they stay more tied to the law and traditional values. Someone who is more moderate is more tolerant of other ways of doing things besides that which they conform to, and they are also probably more willing to try and accept new things.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Judaism is much more focused on the present life, so I don't think much about heaven. A Jew's mission is to repair this world, which means elevating the physical. Ultimately, in olam habah, the next world, we should be able to be 100% spiritual, and closer to Gd, without being distracted by the physical. Meanwhile, I have my work cut out for me here, and I will deal with that when it comes. I do think about divine retribution from time to time, and owning up to what choices I make in the present. I hope that in the next world, olam habah, I am able to achieve a greater closeness with Hashem, my maker, and a sense of full completeness.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't believe that there are two destinies - heaven or hell. Everyone's soul ends up doing what it needs to do.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It includes absolutely everything. So many people, and Jews in particular, I find, are searching all over for something that will give their life meaning and purpose. This is contained in Judaism, though it often seems to be a well-kept secret these days. It recognizes the cycles of nature, connecting me to a more natural, peaceful way of being. The Jewish holidays are times of meaning and reflection and restoration, when observed properly.
I don't know what I would do without Shabbat, a full day of rest. Without the distractions of e-mail and telephone calls, I can have meaningful conversations with those close to me, take relaxing walks, and read a book. Without an externally imposed day to relax, I probably wouldn't.
Judaism is a religion that encourages open dialogue, with one another and with Gd. While it may seem so from the outside, it is not about strict dogma. To the extent that it is limiting and strict, I find that it provides my life with necessary structure. A child obeys the rules set by a loving parent, and I choose to obey the laws of my Father in Heaven, because I believe that they are for my benefit, even if I do not yet understand why.
I have not studied other faiths extensively, but Judaism makes sense to me. I do not feel a need to look elsewhere.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Explaining all of the ritual and significance in each Jewish holiday would take quite a long time. I welcome those who wish to learn more about Jewish holidays to look at Chabad.org and MyJewishLearning.com.
Most holy days are called "Yom Tov" and they involve the strictures of Shabbat, which create an atmosphere of peace and rest. Families gather for festive meals and pray at synagogue. I try to learn something new about an approaching holiday and add something new to my observance or keep with me a thought that adds spiritual uplift that I may share at the festive meal. Sometimes I buy a new outfit that I will wear for the first time on Yom Tov.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Definitely.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Depending on what the celebrations involved, I would join at least to observe. I believe that tolerance can only be fostered through understanding others, however, at the end of the day, I am a Jew, and I am unwilling, for instance, to eat something non-kosher in a festive celebration or pray to another God.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It seems to me that the burka and Shariah are often used to oppress women.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
In modern society, gender roles are becoming increasingly blurred, for better and for worse. I think that we will increasingly see female priests and rabbis, even in more conservative movements. On the one hand, women often serve alongside men as lay leaders, so it would make sense that they could serve in leading a religious community. On the other hand, I believe that a woman's first priority is in her own home. I cannot comment further on priests specifically, but the Judaism I practice is home, not synagogue-centered. A woman sets the spiritual tone for her home, and if men run services in the synagogue, I do not feel that it is in order to exclude women. It's more of a logical distribution of labor.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Men and women sit separately at synagogues that I attend. At first this bothered me. Eventually, I got used to it. I also internalized that prayer is about deepening my connection to Gd. Therefore, it should not matter who, or even if anyone at all, sits next to me. There are plenty of other times to speak with a male friend, boyfriend, husband, or son. While the prayers at synagogues I attend are led by men, I usually manage to find synagogues that are more architecturally designed to include women, even though they sit separately.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is my spiritual guide and affects practically every decision I make - small ones, as well as large moral decisions. There are often no simple answers about "hot topics" such as abortion. Judaism understands nuances and each individual's personal history and needs. When I think I need help making a decision, I often turn to a trusted teacher or rabbi.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be very upset.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I do not believe that everyone should be Jewish.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
There is not one voice for Judaism. Not myself, and not any rabbi.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Occasionally I feel that some interpretations of Jewish law devalue women. That does not mean that my religion does. Much more often, I come across things that value me as an individual and as a woman.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Although it makes some areas of life more complicated than it would otherwise be, a driving higher purpose does bring peace of mind.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I believe it is possible that if a soul has not finished its work on Earth, that it can return again in another body. This may help explain why innocent young children die. According to Jewish tradition, there were 600,000 Jewish souls that stood at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. These souls would have had to have been somehow been split up and reincarnated in order to constitute the "body" of the Jewish people today. It's not something I fully understand.
First up, I wish to thank Sarita for her excellent post last week and for sharing with us what it means to her to be a Pagan. I encourage all to read it!
Thanks Sarita!
This week we have a new post so please welcome Ilene Rosenblum.
Ilene is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Ilene Rosenblum's Introduction:
As a child, I found Judaism uninspiring, wishy-washy at some times, and too dogmatic at others. I was also mystified by the Jewish community's fear of assimilation yet seeming inability to answer the question "Why Be Jewish"? While working in Washington, D.C., I was more exposed to Orthodox Jews I could relate to, and I slowly began to attend more Torah study classes and to spend Shabbat with local families. I felt totally out of my league despite having gone to a Jewish day school. I realized there was more to Judaism than I thought and decided that I wanted a Jewish lifestyle -- not simply to go to synagogue or do Jewish activities as a hobby. I chose to move to Israel to study Torah in a full-time, intensive program and have been there ever since.
My blog is at http://www.ilenerosenblum.com/blog. You're also welcome to follow me on twitter @ilenerosenblum.
1) What religion do you practice?
Judaism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was born Jewish, but I grew up practicing differently. I am more observant than my parents, or stricter in according with Jewish law, halacha.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Moderate
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I try to draw the best from strict observance while keeping in touch with the modern "real" world, other Jews and other people of all stripes. There is probably an equal number of Jews would consider me conservative (lower case "c") as there are Jews who would consider me too liberal.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Someone is more conservative if they stay more tied to the law and traditional values. Someone who is more moderate is more tolerant of other ways of doing things besides that which they conform to, and they are also probably more willing to try and accept new things.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Judaism is much more focused on the present life, so I don't think much about heaven. A Jew's mission is to repair this world, which means elevating the physical. Ultimately, in olam habah, the next world, we should be able to be 100% spiritual, and closer to Gd, without being distracted by the physical. Meanwhile, I have my work cut out for me here, and I will deal with that when it comes. I do think about divine retribution from time to time, and owning up to what choices I make in the present. I hope that in the next world, olam habah, I am able to achieve a greater closeness with Hashem, my maker, and a sense of full completeness.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't believe that there are two destinies - heaven or hell. Everyone's soul ends up doing what it needs to do.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It includes absolutely everything. So many people, and Jews in particular, I find, are searching all over for something that will give their life meaning and purpose. This is contained in Judaism, though it often seems to be a well-kept secret these days. It recognizes the cycles of nature, connecting me to a more natural, peaceful way of being. The Jewish holidays are times of meaning and reflection and restoration, when observed properly.
I don't know what I would do without Shabbat, a full day of rest. Without the distractions of e-mail and telephone calls, I can have meaningful conversations with those close to me, take relaxing walks, and read a book. Without an externally imposed day to relax, I probably wouldn't.
Judaism is a religion that encourages open dialogue, with one another and with Gd. While it may seem so from the outside, it is not about strict dogma. To the extent that it is limiting and strict, I find that it provides my life with necessary structure. A child obeys the rules set by a loving parent, and I choose to obey the laws of my Father in Heaven, because I believe that they are for my benefit, even if I do not yet understand why.
I have not studied other faiths extensively, but Judaism makes sense to me. I do not feel a need to look elsewhere.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Explaining all of the ritual and significance in each Jewish holiday would take quite a long time. I welcome those who wish to learn more about Jewish holidays to look at Chabad.org and MyJewishLearning.com.
Most holy days are called "Yom Tov" and they involve the strictures of Shabbat, which create an atmosphere of peace and rest. Families gather for festive meals and pray at synagogue. I try to learn something new about an approaching holiday and add something new to my observance or keep with me a thought that adds spiritual uplift that I may share at the festive meal. Sometimes I buy a new outfit that I will wear for the first time on Yom Tov.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Definitely.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Depending on what the celebrations involved, I would join at least to observe. I believe that tolerance can only be fostered through understanding others, however, at the end of the day, I am a Jew, and I am unwilling, for instance, to eat something non-kosher in a festive celebration or pray to another God.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
It seems to me that the burka and Shariah are often used to oppress women.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
In modern society, gender roles are becoming increasingly blurred, for better and for worse. I think that we will increasingly see female priests and rabbis, even in more conservative movements. On the one hand, women often serve alongside men as lay leaders, so it would make sense that they could serve in leading a religious community. On the other hand, I believe that a woman's first priority is in her own home. I cannot comment further on priests specifically, but the Judaism I practice is home, not synagogue-centered. A woman sets the spiritual tone for her home, and if men run services in the synagogue, I do not feel that it is in order to exclude women. It's more of a logical distribution of labor.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Men and women sit separately at synagogues that I attend. At first this bothered me. Eventually, I got used to it. I also internalized that prayer is about deepening my connection to Gd. Therefore, it should not matter who, or even if anyone at all, sits next to me. There are plenty of other times to speak with a male friend, boyfriend, husband, or son. While the prayers at synagogues I attend are led by men, I usually manage to find synagogues that are more architecturally designed to include women, even though they sit separately.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion is my spiritual guide and affects practically every decision I make - small ones, as well as large moral decisions. There are often no simple answers about "hot topics" such as abortion. Judaism understands nuances and each individual's personal history and needs. When I think I need help making a decision, I often turn to a trusted teacher or rabbi.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be very upset.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I do not believe that everyone should be Jewish.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
There is not one voice for Judaism. Not myself, and not any rabbi.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Occasionally I feel that some interpretations of Jewish law devalue women. That does not mean that my religion does. Much more often, I come across things that value me as an individual and as a woman.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Although it makes some areas of life more complicated than it would otherwise be, a driving higher purpose does bring peace of mind.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I believe it is possible that if a soul has not finished its work on Earth, that it can return again in another body. This may help explain why innocent young children die. According to Jewish tradition, there were 600,000 Jewish souls that stood at Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. These souls would have had to have been somehow been split up and reincarnated in order to constitute the "body" of the Jewish people today. It's not something I fully understand.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Abe Solomon
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Ryan for sharing his voice with us. I very much enjoyed reading his interview. Great job Ryan!
This week YMR has a new post! Please welcome Abe Solomon.
Abe is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy his post as well.
Here Is Abe's Introduction:
Abe Solomon is is an Orthodox Jew from NY who recently moved to Houston.
He is a musician who performs Jewish wedding music and helps businesses with credit card processing in Houston and across the nation.
My blog sites are http://jewishmuzic.blogspot.com and http://ethicalmerchantservices.blogspot.com
My business website is http://www.prestigemerchantservices.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Judaism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
Born Jewish - If your mother is Jewish then by Jewish Law so are you
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Conservative
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Anti-big government, pro private industry
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Conservatives believe in free markets, moderates take both liberal and conservative positions
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Getting rid of all physical pursuits and living a totally spiritual one
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
If they don't follow in the way g-d commanded they will not
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Community, sense of purpose etc.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Too many to mention and I celebrate all of them: Passover, Succos, Rosh Hashanah , Yom Kippur, Hannukah Purim, etc.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
No it's against my religion
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I understand the concept but believe it's extreme.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I don't have a problem with it since it's not my religion. Women should be priests too.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue has seperate seating for men and women. I think it's a good idea.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
It affects many decisions especially with food as I eat only kosher.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Very upset
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Anyone who is not orthodox i.e. reform, conservative, reconstructionist are not true practicing Jews as they may not be keeping the important Jewish laws i.e. keeping the sabbath or eating strictly kosher.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have had racial slurs thrown at me in my lifetime. I wear a head
covering that makes me known as a Jew.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes at times
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes it's part of our belief.
First up I wish to thank Ryan for sharing his voice with us. I very much enjoyed reading his interview. Great job Ryan!
This week YMR has a new post! Please welcome Abe Solomon.
Abe is Jewish and I know you're going to enjoy his post as well.
Here Is Abe's Introduction:
Abe Solomon is is an Orthodox Jew from NY who recently moved to Houston.
He is a musician who performs Jewish wedding music and helps businesses with credit card processing in Houston and across the nation.
My blog sites are http://jewishmuzic.blogspot.com and http://ethicalmerchantservices.blogspot.com
My business website is http://www.prestigemerchantservices.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Judaism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
Born Jewish - If your mother is Jewish then by Jewish Law so are you
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Conservative
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Anti-big government, pro private industry
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Conservatives believe in free markets, moderates take both liberal and conservative positions
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Getting rid of all physical pursuits and living a totally spiritual one
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
If they don't follow in the way g-d commanded they will not
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Community, sense of purpose etc.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Too many to mention and I celebrate all of them: Passover, Succos, Rosh Hashanah , Yom Kippur, Hannukah Purim, etc.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
No it's against my religion
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I understand the concept but believe it's extreme.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I don't have a problem with it since it's not my religion. Women should be priests too.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue has seperate seating for men and women. I think it's a good idea.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
It affects many decisions especially with food as I eat only kosher.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Very upset
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Anyone who is not orthodox i.e. reform, conservative, reconstructionist are not true practicing Jews as they may not be keeping the important Jewish laws i.e. keeping the sabbath or eating strictly kosher.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have had racial slurs thrown at me in my lifetime. I wear a head
covering that makes me known as a Jew.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes at times
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes it's part of our belief.
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