Since LNM lacks that significant sense of Jewishness or belief in any sort of God, few Jewish constructs would be meaningful to him.I wouldn't say Orthoprax is totally off-base but I would put it a different way.
I see Judaism primarily as a vehicle for serving god. I recognize that it also exists on some level as a culture independent of religious practice but I see that culture as a secondary bi-product.
My problem is I find myself struggling to appreciate Judaism simply as a culture when I am practicing it according to strict guidelines (halacha) and as if I believe in the dogma.
Sometimes I really enjoy being Jewish. Recent examples include Purim and Shabbos afternoon Kiddush. Kiddush (the communal snack in synagogue, not the blessing) is a good example of a Jewish cultural event. It is not required by halacha that we eat in shul after Musaf, but a tradition has sprung up (a tradition not strictly adhered to mind you) where Jewish people do.
I general, I have little patience for mitzvos bein adam laMakom (commandments regarding man and god). These practices are founded on the idea that you are doing them for god. When you pull out its foundation (god) these practices become worthless to me. On the other hand mitzvos bein adam lachaveiro (commandments regarding man and his neighbor) are much easier for me to get into even if I don't buy into the source.
Purim is great too. The megillah makes no official mention of god, observance focuses on bein adam lachaveiro, and basically it's a party. Then again maybe it's a party and focuses on bein adam lachaveiro because there is no mention of god/godly commandments. I wonder...
19 comments:
Lubabnomore if you are really so unattached to Jewishness over other identities you wouldn't have Jewishness both as a point of identity and as your point of departure. If you have any NonJewish grandparents in theory I can see how you could be noncommital to any particular branch's identity but there clearly is an inbetween zone with you.
You know churches also have little get-togethers in the social hall after services. Check it out.
I just mean that your version of Judaism seems to be reinventing Presbyterianism.
I don't know about the rest of you guys but I find the crux of the matter is living the orthodox world and not being one myself
I think you should focus on the stuff you like in Judaism, and avoid the rest of it like poison. Aside from the "gastronomic" side, there is also a strong social justice side of Judaism which may resonate with you.
If you have to go to shul to keep the wife happy, sit in the back and kibbitz with a couple of like-minded friends. Show up late. Bring a book. Talk politics. Laugh at the rabbi's ignorance. Give out candy to the kids.
Or go to church instead.
JP,
> You know churches also have little get-togethers in the social hall after services.
Other religious groups also have "houses of worship", special weekend services, and fast days. What's your point?
Lubabnomore do you have any NonJewish grandparent/s?
JP, sometimes I think your history as a ger tzedek leaves you a little naive about what it means to be a Jew for the rest of us. It's not black and white.
Lubabnomore I hope you aren't being petty and immature and so not answering me.
i agree with candy man. everything isnt so black and white. also as he said, try to focus on doing what you like about judaism.
RG,
do you have any NonJewish grandparent/s?
If we're off to asking personal questions here, let's start with you. How old are you really?
Please don't ignore this question. It's "petty and immature" not to respond immediately to a personal question posed in the comments.
CandyMan there was a reason I was asking so your objection is not noted.
RG, there's a reason I'm asking, too. You portray yourself as a grandfatherly type. I'd like to know how old you really are.
I don't see what you have to lose by revealing that kind of information. It's a simple question. How old are you?
CandyMan Lubabnomore was on a topic and I was addresing it. He mentioned about NonJewish relatives. It was important to the topic.
As for my comment about not answering it wasn't based on the present case. It was based on reckoning with bad blood between us. I was saying to get passed it adult like.
If it is too much for him to do that then I guess I will have to wait for when he is older.
If it is too much for him to do that then I guess I will have to wait for when he is older.
LOL
Conservative Judaism teaches that Jewish law is not static, but has always developed in response to changing conditions.
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