Thread: Shaving and Orthodox Judaism story

Originally Posted by Englishgent

Is this why you are so self hating, and why you harbour such a grudge against Israel and the Jewish people as a whole??

I was wondering the same thing myself!

Originally Posted by JMS

I was wondering the same thing myself!

JMS, every sentence you write ends with an exclamation point! You must be a very emphatic person!

You and Englishgent are similar in the sense that one believes that the Jews can do no wrong and the other believes that Americans can do no wrong. I would rather see the world as it is than swallow lies. It's a better survival strategy in the long-run.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

JMS, every sentence you write ends with an exclamation point! You must be a very emphatic person!

You and Englishgent are similar in the sense that one believes that the Jews can do no wrong and the other believes that Americans can do no wrong. I would rather see the world as it is than swallow lies. It's a better survival strategy in the long-run.

Methinks you assume too much!
As far as exclamation points, its a habit I never broke myself of and get plenty of grief for!!!

Chimensch, I have a question if you are willing to answer.

what sort of blade is used for circumcision, and isn't it a single blade?

Originally Posted by JMS

Chimensch, I have a question if you are willing to answer.

what sort of blade is used for circumcision, and isn't it a single blade?

Other than my own, I've only attended one circumcision and I really couldn't stand to look too closely but I thought it was a surgeon's scalpel.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

Other than my own, I've only attended one circumcision and I really couldn't stand to look too closely but I thought it was a surgeon's scalpel.

Wouldn't that go against the double, or two blades law?

Originally Posted by JMS

Wouldn't that go against the double, or two blades law?

No, one doesn't have anything to do with other. The bible says don't shave your face. The Talmud interprets this and says that it means don't scrape your face with a knife. From this, the conservative movement said a knife is not OK but scissors are OK, hence, you can't use a straight razor but you can use an electric shaver.

Circumcision, which is cutting off the foreskin, has nothing to do with shaving.

Mark, about sending your son to Hebrew school to prepare for his Bar Mitzvah, I am not Jewish and so may be going out four feet on a three-foot limb, but in your situation I would send him. Judaism is an important part of his heritage and culture--as well as an important part of Western heritage and culture. If he is well grounded in his tradition, he will be ready to make informed choices about how he will live in relation to his heritage, when he is a man according to the Torah and otherwise.

Inching out another foot on the limb, it's my understanding that there is room in Judaism for a little different relationship between "belief" and "being Jewish" than Christians commonly acknowledge between "belief" and "being Christian." In other words, it seems to me that there is a strong tradition in Judaism of respect for skepticism and questioning, and an understanding that one cannot compel belief--even one's own. One can, in fact--or so I have read--be both a Jew and an agnostic, maybe even an atheist. (Again, bear in mind this is an outsider's understanding. I'm sure there are differences on this point among individuals and religious communities.) It seems to me that Judaism is a little more grown-up than mainstream Christianity in this regard.

~Rich

Originally Posted by Chimensch

Other than my own, I've only attended one circumcision and I really couldn't stand to look too closely but I thought it was a surgeon's scalpel.

I'm genuinely surprised that you Chimensch , have not had a foreskin sewn back on. Therefore your rejection of your people, your religion and birthright could finally be complete.

Contrary to your bizzare opinion of me I do not belive that "the Jews can do no wrong", it's just that I am a Jew who loves his faith and Israel and find your postings on this board regarding anything to do with Israel and Judaism strange to say the least.

If, as you so clearly state you have no respect for our people, our our religion I fail to understand your need to constantly chip in with negative opinions, something is very clearly eating at you.

I am sorry that you family rejected you for marrying out, but what did you expect??

A Jewish man is faced with choices from the age of barmitzvah, I am sure that you were taught this as a young man.

You made a choice which would clearly cause your family great anguish. That was your decision .

You have had to live with the consequences of that decision.

Man up, accept that what you did went against the tenants of your familys faith and please stop trying to discredit Jewish people on this forum.

Originally Posted by Englishgent

Man up, accept that what you did went against the tenants of your familys faith and please stop trying to discredit Jewish people on this forum.

maybe, just maybe, marrying the woman he loved didn't violate any of his own tenants, and he is upset with the kind of religious intolerance that would condemn a man for doing so.

maybe he views his anecdotal experiences with Judaism (thru his family) as representative of an underlying mindset of bigotry, and thus he has a problem with the belief system that fosters such unthinking intolerance.

not too long ago, folks thought it was wrong to marry a girl who had different colored skin than yours. that was pretty bigoted and hateful, too. I just hope someday religious folks can understand that neither skin color nor the religion you were brought up in should keep you from marrying the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.

Chimensch, I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but I've experienced a similar thing (although not connected with Judaism) and the shunning that comes with it, so I totally get why you might be angry. Hell, I'm angry too.