I'm Jewish. Ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, clearly you're not a very knowledgeable Jew if you think being the "chosen people" has anything to do with feeling "entitled".

If you can't answer real questions..(you won't talk about Israel? Seriously?)...then don't start stupid AME threads.

You make the rest of us look bad.

Just an FYI, it's not Ask me Enything....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think there is a look to all ethnicities (NP re: ethnic look here). If Jewish people were not embarrassed by their looks, why do they have so much plastic surgery? Why do they claim to be superior if they so obviously do not feel superior? Don't superior/educated people accept who they are and hang around diverse peoples? Why hang onto the past and not move forward (diversify)? Are Jewish people afraid of being "diluted", like some AAs (marrying other races) and other groups?

This seems like a topic that is the elephant in the room. It is there, everyone knows it, but no one wants to talk about it.

Wow! Is this really what you think of Jews? That they all get plastic surgery because they think they look ethnic? I can guaranty you that there are more non-Jews who get plastic surgery because hey hate the way they look. Jews do not claim to be superior. Christians do. If Jews continue to diversify--marry out of their religion-- there won't be many Jews left in this world. Jews are very accepting of other races, religions and cultures. Always have been and always will be. Jews played a huge role in the civil rights movement, for example. I grew up as a Jew among a neighborhood of Catholics, who referred to me as "you people." I don't have a particular desire to hang out with people who refer to me and others in my religion as "you people." Perhaps this question about diversifying should be asked of Christians and Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me about diversity (non-white persons) within the Jewish community. Have you seen many non-white converting to Judaism. Is diversity embrace?

Haven't you heard of the Ethiopian jews?
On MTV's Real World: Seattle, I was really upset to see that Steven converted to Judaism - he was such an asshole of a guy, I didn't want him to be a MOT.

[Anonymous]

We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

[Anonymous]

13:45 - So you think that of all of one group refers to you the same? WOW. The truth comes out....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

Synagogue attendance is not an important facet of Jewish life. The important/significant practices of Jewish observance take place in the home on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Have you noticed that Jews are the only people who distance themselves that far from Christmas (and Jehovas Witness)? I mean my Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist friends all join in. I take time to enjoy their holidays too, but to many Jews it seems like an "us and them" fight. I am not even religious and for the last 20 years have not had a tree, but I get into any fun holiday regardless of the religion. Now, more and more Jews are distancing themselves from Halloween? Can you all lighten up? Can you invite some non Jews to FUN Jewish holidays? i.e., not Passover. Every religion has fun holidays.

Hindu has no relation to Christian so there is no confusion for their children about religious significance. Muslim incorporates the New Testament and sees Jesus as a prophet so the holiday celebration can be seen as relevant. Judaism becomes Christianity with the belief in Jesus as the messiah, so it is important for some people that they make it clear to their children they don't celebrate. Some Russian Jews put up trees because it is a solstice tradition in Russia. Also, *very* few Jews are Scrooges. I don't put up Christmas decorations but I take my kids to celebrate with friends. Also, Passover is fun for kids. Just a note

Also, only very religious Jews distance themselves from Halloween and they always have.

This too is a cop out. You can't make the argument that Jewish children will be confused by Christmas but children who celebrate other religions are able to understand that people have different traditions. You are selling Jewish kids short by thinking that they need to be especially protected from Christmas. Jews don't have to (and wouldn't be expected to) bring Christmas into their own houses, but there is no reason to keep them from understanding that others celebrate and allowing them to participate in the celebrations of their friends in the manner that we all do with friends of different backgrounds because of worries that they will be confused.

Not the OP. I don't want my child to be tempted in any way to not be Jewish. I would prefer that my kid spend time celebrating his own holiday and learning about his own religion. Every day my kid is exposed to Chritianity. Every day there is one more temptation for him not to want to be Jewish. I have to do everything in my power to make sure my child has a strong Jewish identity. If that means not celebrating a holiday that celebrates the birth of another religion's messiah, so be it. I don't care whether other kids from other religions celebrate holidays that are not theirs. I only care that my child wants to carry on in our religion and marry someone else who is Jewish so that his children will also want to carry on the same way. Hitler killed too many of us. Intermarriage and conversion will take away the rest.

OP, this attitude is the epitome of what is wrong with the Jewish community in America today.

Hmm, I get her point and I'm not religious. Fact is, intermarriage and conversion is common and while diversity is a great thing, loss of culture is a downside to intermingling. Is what it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

As my son would happily tell you, God is everywhere, even in your underwear! Point being, as long as we have a minyan, we can pray anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me about diversity (non-white persons) within the Jewish community. Have you seen many non-white converting to Judaism. Is diversity embrace?

Haven't you heard of the Ethiopian jews?
On MTV's Real World: Seattle, I was really upset to see that Steven converted to Judaism - he was such an asshole of a guy, I didn't want him to be a MOT.

It is true that non whites prefer to avoid Judaism. The fact is that Jews have for the most part come from parts of Europe that tend to be very racist (Poland) and they have unfortunately adopted some of the animosity towards other races, even though they themselves were victims of racism in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

Not the OP. Many Jewish families celebrate Shabbat at home on Friday evenings by lighting the candles and saying the blessings over wine and challah and having dinner together. Going to services every week isn't emphasized as much. Most of the services are conducted in Hebrew and all the "hymns" are in Hebrew. I think many Jews don't feel the same spiritual connection from services that a Christian person might from hearing and understanding prayers and hymns in English.

Also, Jewish kids attend religious school. Not just Sunday school, but Hebrew school. As the kids get older, this is usually 3 days a week every week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do Jewish girls love to give BJ's, you're making the rest of us have to live up to it.

OP here. I can't answer this. Personally hate them and don't give them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

As my son would happily tell you, God is everywhere, even in your underwear! Point being, as long as we have a minyan, we can pray anywhere.

I think it depends on the degree to which each person observes. I grew up conservative and went to more than just the high holiday services. As I've gotten older and come into my own with Judaism, I rarely participate in more that he high holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

Synagogue attendance is not an important facet of Jewish life. The important/significant practices of Jewish observance take place in the home on a daily basis.

As my father would say and I now repeat on a regular basis, being Jewish is a way of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are Christians (plain vanilla Protestants, not Evangelicals) and we attend church on a weekly basis. We have many Jewish friends who are devout in observing Jewish Holy Days, yet they rarely go to Shabbat services otherwise (though they do, of course, attend many services in conjunction with Bar/Bat Mitzvahs). Is this generally true of Jews or is it just the folks we know?

Yeah, but many of your brethren are C and E Christians, as in observe Christmas and Easter (only). So is it surprising that there are many R and Y Jews?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do Jewish girls love to give BJ's, you're making the rest of us have to live up to it.

OP here. I can't answer this. Personally hate them and don't give them.

Could have just said you're married....