Can we discuss Judaism without the politics?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rabbi
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Okay, I think I might have actually found a Midrash explaining why his father, Yosef, was a convert. A certain man once by the name of Alexander, who was a P’lishtim from Gaza, befriended someone named Yosef. This Yosef was happy to teach him all he could about Judaism as Alexander was curious. One day, he told Yosef that he wanted to convert, the ceremony happened the day after Shavuot, and Yosef was surprised to hear that his friend took on the same Hebrew name, after all, had not Yosef help bring him to the true faith? Years later, when Yosef the convert was married, he had three daughters and a son, whom he named Akiva. This must be where it came from.
 
Thanks for the update! Not sure what that means either, guess its all up in the air. Personally, it’s more exciting to think that his family were converts, why not? It makes Judaism more open and beautiful to think that a person with non-Jewish background (ethnicity wise, his mother must have been Jewish) would rise to be one of the greatest sages of all time.
 
There wasn’t an actual source, just a Midrash, but I’m sure it’s somewhere. I have to look harder. This is a great day by the way!
 
Kaninchen said:
I think you’ll find that the Romans appointed and deposed High Priests (including Caiaphas).
Click to expand...
Yes, I know that, but I don’y think they cared that much who was appointed as long as he fell in with their line of thinking, did their bidding, etc.
 
Yes, I can easily accept that view, too. I think he stepped on too many toes and handing him off to Pilate solved the problem whether the Sanhedrin or Caiaphas. I don’t necessarily accept that he had large crowds of followers. Just enough to grasp the attention of some authorities, especially if he caused a disturbance in the Temple…another story with some problems.
 
Doesn’t Isaiah remind us that the ways and thoughts of G-d are higher and different from ours? So even if G-d does have emotions, are they necessarily the same as human emotions? G-d also gave us a body: does that mean He has a body? Creating us in His image means, I think, that we are but a pale reflection of the goodness, justice, and compassion that G-d possesses. There is a qualitative difference, not merely a quantitative one.
 
Last edited:
Yes, you’re right, to my way of thinking.

G-d created our spirit, our soul, in his image, not our body. And it is the spirit that is immortal, of course. The body is subject to death and decay, and G-d certainly isn’t subject to death and decay.

Besides the immortality of the soul, we have creative powers and responsibilities to our creations, just as G-d has creative powers and responsibilities to his creation. No, we are not omnipotent like G-d, but we do have the power to destroy that which we have created. A woman even has the power to destroy the life she has had a part in creating. And, if we stop thinking about something, we’ve created or taken responsibility for, it usually dies. If I forget to water my plants, they will die. Iff a mother forgets to feed her child, it will die. If G-d forgets about us, we will certainly cease to be.
 
Last edited:
ConstantLearner said:
Yes, I know that, but I don’y think they cared that much who was appointed as long as he fell in with their line of thinking, did their bidding, etc.
Click to expand...
And yet we’re supposed to accept that Jesus was executed at the bidding of Jews rather than Roman business as usual crucifiers who, supposedly, humbly washed their hands of the business in the face of Jewish demands?

An understanding of Greek drama can often help, by the way.
 
Kaninchen said:
An understanding of Greek drama can often help, by the way.
Click to expand...
I don’t doubt that, and I did have to take classes that involved Greek drama in college,. I hated them. After working six years to get an MA in Theology and one in English Literature, then going on to Hebrew University in Israel for a degree in Biblical Hebrew, I just don’t feel like “studying” anything any longer outside of increasing my knowledge of Judaism. I’ve even limited my reading to books revolving around the Jewish faith such as commentary on the Torah, etc., and the occasional “Inspector Lynley” mystery, though even the mysteries have fallen by the wayside.

I have little-to-no interest in increasing my knowledge of Jesus or his trial when he plays no part in my faith or spiritual life. But thank you very much for the suggestion.

I do not believe in reincarnation, but I do know it is something that sustains much of the world’s population. Should it be a reality, I hope, really hope, I can return knowing what I’ve spent my entire adult life (so far) learning. Biblical Hebrew was not easy, and I even have an advanced class beginning tomorrow.
 
Last edited:
All a ‘world enough and time’ situation for me, I heavily front-loaded my education and it was career-oriented so, apart from keeping my languages up, I stopped at ‘Dr’, with some relief.

I’m not what I’d describe as ‘literate’.
 
Unfortunately, my education was not career-oriented unless I wanted to be a book editor. I did work at that for a time, but the horrid writing made me want to jump off a cliff.

I used to say I was the most educated person I knew who did not have a job. Thankfully, I do have a job now, but it’s one I had to create a need for.

I do not describe myself as “literate,” either.
 
Last edited:
My elder daughter seems to have broken with the family tradition and is quite ‘literate’ (by our standards 😆) having now done a literature degree part-time out of interest.
 
It’s always nice to study something that one finds interesting, and if it leads to increased productivity in the world, so much the better.

There were people at my college studying landscaping and horticulture. I can’t imagine one could support a family with a degree in horticulture, but maybe they can.

My oldest brother was lucky in that he has a passion for IT and studied IT. Of course, he works in IT and probably always will.

My oldest sister specialized in wealthy men, and she is, indeed, the most successful financially.
 
It was all pretty ordinary, really, nothing dramatic. As I used to tell all the would-be authors I edited (before they drove me to the brink of hospitalization), “Your life would not make a good book/movie.”

People are always asking me to write about mine since I’m a personal assistant to one of the 20th century’s most popular singers (he ranks #3 in record sales now, I think). Living in his house and traveling with him for years, I know where all the bodies are buried, but that is information I will take to the grave.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top