[Laura Schlessinger] Dr. Laura Renounces Jewish Orthodoxy

religionnewsblog.com ^ | 08/13/2003 | LISA KEYS

[chance33_98]

She always struck me as a female Dr Phil PMS'ing...

[Mr. Mojo]

I haven't known her to do anything less than 100%," Bulka said. "Anything she did, she did fully.

Including, as I've (unfortunately) seen in photos circulating around the web, strip.

[Ann Archy]

Veronica....with all due respect, it's almost impossible to go from believing in Jesus's salvation to NOT believing. That's why there are no converts....they are offered nothing.

Hardly anyone, other than someone who wants to get married....and my guess is that they cross their fingers when doing it, convert to Judaism. You have a true religion, just not a complete one. Truth is truth.....it's not meant to offend.

[Ann Archy]

Genesis...Then God sad, 'Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness, to have dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds of he air, the cattle, all he wld animals on land, and everything that reeps on the earth.'

So WHO do you think US, and "OUR" meant...as in OUR Likeness? It's Jesus he was talking about.

[wardaddy]

Photos that weren't terribly flattering....I believe she was in a lengthy relationship with an older hippie at the time.

[veronica]

Veronica....with all due respect, it's almost impossible to go from believing in Jesus's salvation to NOT believing. That's why there are no converts....they are offered nothing. Hardly anyone, other than someone who wants to get married....and my guess is that they cross their fingers when doing it, convert to Judaism.

"With all due respect" what incredible arrogance and bigotry. It's clear you have no idea what Judaism is about. Though Judaism does not seek converts, many people in fact, do convert to Judaism. Without any evangelizing from members of the Jewish faith.

Just one example, though I should not even bother to respond to your absurd post.

Lessons About Judaism Result in Conversion

---snip----

On June 19, 1998, I converted to Judaism, ending 31 years of spiritual wandering and starting another wonderful journey that will take me the rest of my life to complete, if it ever truly is complete.

The conversion process was wonderful and magical! I had the opportunity to actively open up a whole new world for myself, to explore my thoughts and feelings on many issues and finally find peace with myself. What brought me here? Why did I choose Judaism? Well, read on.

I was born a Protestant Christian. Until about sixth or seventh grade, I believed strongly that Jesus was the Messiah. As I got older, however, I found that I could not accept the divinity of Jesus, or that believing "incorrectly" would send someone to Hell. I had started my break with Christianity. Over time I learned a little about many belief systems, but none fit. I felt lost and lonely and outside. This began to change when I met my fiancee, Ali. My conversion to Judaism was not a condition of our marriage, for which I feel blessed, but she wanted to have a Jewish home and raise Jewish children. Since I didn't have any attachment to a particular faith, I agreed and started to learn something about Judaism so I could be a good husband and father. But I had no intention of converting.

In spring 1997, I spent my first Passover Seder with Ali's family. It was interesting. It impressed me that the emphasis was not completely on the Exodus from Egypt. Resisting oppression and fighting injustice on behalf of all humanity was heavily emphasized.

I thought, "Hey. Now here's a religion that believes in doing something and making a difference!" Later that year, I joined her and her family for High Holy Day services. The High Holy Days are Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), a joyous-somber mix in which you celebrate having lived another year, reflect on your conduct in the past year and atone for your misdeeds.

Two things touched me deeply. The first was that I felt completely comfortable and at home in the synagogue from the moment I walked in. This was someplace that was safe, peaceful, warm and welcoming. No church had made me feel this way in a long time. ---snip---

I was deeply impressed that in Judaism we are empowered, with God's help, to overcome our own sins. There is no taint of any "original sin," and we are not inherently evil. Rather, we are inclined to both good and evil, and it is very much up to us which path we choose. We are ultimately responsible for our own actions. We can't put them off on anyone or anything else.

In fact, according to Jewish teaching, God will not forgive you for a sin against another person until you have first sincerely sought forgiveness from the wronged party. Talk about making you mindful of how you treat others!

In late 1997, I started taking formal classes on Judaism. I still had no conscious intent to convert. My only goal was to learn as much as I could for Ali and for our future family. But I quickly realized that I had found my way into a group of people who valued critical intellectual examination. There is no one required belief about God, God's nature or our relationship with God. There is also no one view of, or preoccupation with, what comes after the death of our physical bodies. Jewish tradition supports ideas ranging from a classical heaven, to reincarnation, to anything in between. Suddenly all of my questions about religion, which had been very unappreciated in Christianity, were very much appreciated. In fact, the one who questions is respected far more than the one who just goes along for the ride.

Finally, I was impressed with the Jewish emphasis on making this world a better place, on focusing on our roles and responsibility here and now, in this life – known as tikkun olam, "repairing the world." Helping those in need is an obligation. In April 1998, I participated in an event at my synagogue called Mitzvah Day. There was a huge turnout, and we split up into teams to go do various things. Some went to help repair homes for the poor, some worked in a food bank and shelter for the homeless. I helped an older couple with yard and housework. As a Jew, I feel that I am finally able to do concrete, meaningful things to make a positive difference. I never really knew how I could do this before. It wasn't until I was involved with my synagogue that I had help with this.

Whatever path you follow, and wherever it takes you, I pray that you find all the happiness, contentment and peace that I have found with Judaism. B'Shalom – go in peace.

This illustrates not only some of the meaning of Judaism, but the utter lack of arrogance with which Jews practice their faith.

[rmlew]

The story of Lilith is later folklore, based on Rabbinic Exigesis. The most common version is fround in Ben Sira
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~humm/Topics/Lilith/

However, in modern Feminist literature, she has gone from Demon to heroin.
. http://www.lilitu.com/lilith/

She has also been inspiration for a leftist feminist re-interpretation of the Bible. http://www.lilithinstitute.com/

[Commie Basher]

Not to put too fine a point on it, and certainly not necessarily to contradict you, but the Romans killed Christ.

Individuals killed Christ. It's as irrational to say "the Romans" killed Christ as to say "the Jews" killed Christ. Individuals of various ethnicities participated, but they remained individuals.

[Commie Basher]

She's actually NOT Jewish. To be Jewish her mother must be Jewish.

I don't think most modern Jews accept that (except when they don't want to consider someone they're ashamed of to be Jewish, like Dr. Laura). I've met any number of Jews in NY and LA, the liberal modern sort, who regard themselves as Jewish or half-Jewish irrespective of which parent is Jewish.

[Commie Basher]

She's actually NOT Jewish. To be Jewish her mother must be Jewish.

BTW, what reason for this rule? A talk radio caller, after discovering her own Jewish roots, claimed to have studied the issue. She said the rule exists because in ancient and medieval times, rape was common. Tribes and warriors would routinely raid each others' villages. So because rape was so common, it was often impossible to tell who the father was, but if you had a Jewish mother, you were certainly at least part Jewish.

Don't know if it's true, but it's an interesting theory.

[Commie Basher]

Genesis...Then God sad, 'Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness, to have dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds of he air, the cattle, all he wld animals on land, and everything that reeps on the earth.'

So WHO do you think US, and "OUR" meant...as in OUR Likeness? It's Jesus he was talking about.

I've heard various other theories:

(1) God was using the "royal we." Monarchs often refer to themselves in the plural. For instance, speaking solely for herself, a queen might say, "We are not amused."

(2) God was speaking to the animals. Man is made in the image of BOTH God and beast. Man has a beastly nature, but a divine spark which allows him to know it, and choose to rise above it.

(3) God was an ancient astronaut, and was speaking to his fellow UFO flight mates.

[Sabertooth]

Yes, the Bible doesn't say that the Jews killed Jesus, but until a few years ago, the Catholic Church did; and Bible-thumpering Protestants throughout the United States and Europe said so, too. Almost every Christian denomination has blamed Jews for the death of Jesus sometime in the past.

It's only been in recent history that Jews have been given the benefit of the doubt in this regard.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, Sabertooth, it's only because you deny history. The Inquisition and the Holocost were justified by attributing Jesus's death to the Jews.

Let's look again at your original statement at #84, as I quoted it...

"She chose Judaism even though most Christians "know" that Jews killed Christ.

The word you chose was "know," which is the present tense.

Here's the greater context of that sentence, in the paragraph in which it originally appeared...

Dr. Laura chose the Jewish religion while working in a Christian nation. She chose Judaism even though most Christians "know" that Jews killed Christ. That took moral courage. Her choice of Judism demonstrates that she uses neither political nor monetary considerations in her search for truth.

Clearly, you weren't referring to the Historical errors of various Christian denominations in the past, you were attempting to describe the attitudes of present day Christians, falsely stating that "most Christians "know" that Jews killed Christ," at the time of Dr. Laura's quite recent conversion to Jewish orthodoxy. Your misattribution of anti-Semitism to present-day Christians was offensive.

[Radix]

The legend of Lilith is one of a number of oral traditions of the Jews. In the episode of Lilith, supposedly woman was originally created equal to man from the same stuff.

That was not ever quite going to be worked out. Therefore God started over, and Eve became the "first" woman. She was to be subordinate as she was taken from man (the rib thing), something like that. There is a lot of information on it, and I am sure that a Google search would help.

I have always viewed it as sort of an inside joke among rabbis and scribes from ancient times.

[Alouette]

Expect an announcement of a divorce and marriage to a "significant other" to follow.

Can you say H*Y*P*O*C*R*I*T*E?

At this point I have more respect for J-Lo. She never pretended to be religious.

[Sabertooth]

Nice copy and paste. Very informative. However, you neglected to properly credit or link to Tracey R Rich, who actually wrote what you've posted here.

I thought I'd do it for you, since I noticed the omission, and am sure you wouldn't want the taint of plagiarism hanging over one of your posts.

[Sabertooth]

So OK, I knew you'd be gracious and grateful, what with that shoe apparently fitting and all. You're welcome!

[William Terrell]

Evidently, she's wishy-washy. Settling on the faith that gives her the best emotional zinger. How human.

[sakic]

More proof that Laura stands for nothing and is a two bit phony.

She sure had real deep religious convictions.