Posted on 12/25/2002 1:31:14 PM PST by Nachum
Jews are known to be self-deprecating. Jews have always good-naturedly accepted jokes about themselves with a great sense of humor. Self-ridicule and put-downs are common occurrences and, generally, we do not make a "big issue" of barbs aimed at us. We just shrug it away or laugh at ourselves until it hurts. There are times that a joke may hurt or insult, but we, as Jews, have a way of shrugging at the intended sarcasm as simply another foible uttered in jest. In general, we don´t create waves and do not allow these jokes to overly spoil our composure and good sense. After all, it´s just a joke.
However, there are those instances when a statement hurled into the air (especially by our own) makes one wonder whether one should laugh, cry or simply ignore it. There are times when ignorant buffoons mis-speak and thus create a quicksand of gullibility and sheer nonsense from which they, the buffoons, can not extricate themselves. Hearing a statement that is utterly bereft of sense makes one wonder whether this attempt at "joking" was said in jest or is it the sorry effects of encroaching senility. At times, when such outlandish statements are left floating within the range of idiocy and ignorance, a response is called for. To keep silent in the face of such gullibility and total stupidity is deemed nothing less than criminal.
Such misstatement of global stupidity entwined tightly with ignorance and elitism has been shamelessly placed on the table by none other than our example of perpetual failure, Shimon Peres. In a speech to high school students, Mr. Peres, whose consistent anti-Israeli antics have created the havoc Israel and world Jewry today find themselves in, continued on his nonstop rampage of destroying Judaism, in every possible way. If until this moment his obnoxious delusions presented physical dangers to Jews, the latest Peresism is far more dangerous, as it proposes to alter the spiritual. In his latest outrage, Peres ostracized the rabbinical powers for ‘usurping’ the right of determining the legitimacy of a person´s Judaic connection."If the rabbis demand the right to determine who is a Jew," said Peres, "Then we will determine who is a rabbi." It seems that allowing the Oslo War to continue undeterred during his various tenures as Israel´s ambassador to the world, and his latest stage-clearing exit from Israel´s government, has not diminished his egomaniacal desire for self-aggrandizement. It seems that the blood-letting unleashed by his pro-Arafat shenanigans were not enough to chastise his inflated ego. Having failed in his false grand scheme to usher in a utopian "new Middle East", at the bloody expense of Israel and Jews, Mr. Peres has plunged, head first, into attempts to de-legitimize Judaism. His asinine comments continued as he declared that a "legitimate" Jew is one who studies Judaism, serves in the army and perhaps dies for the country. It matters not, according to Peres, whether the person’s mother is Jewish or if a male is ritually circumcised - studying in Israel or, G-d forbid, dying in her defense is quite enough to absorb anyone into the folds of Judaism.
Laughing at these quirky, mentally-hyphenated remarks is not in order. Were these remarks merely the words of a fading old-man who is attempting to postpone his incarceration in an old-age-home, one would attempt to understand. However, these statements were not meant as a joke, but rather as a supplement and addition to the steady and on-going trend of de-legitimizing Judaism and advancing the total disappearance of true Judaism as both a national identifier and a religion. Mr. Peres´ formula of "expanding the ranks" is a gross attempt at obliterating our people once and for all.
Analyzing immediate past history will reveal the fallacy of such attempts at re-casting Jews in the image of the rest of the world. Those intermingling and assimilating are not apt to infuse a proud sense of Judaism, but rather we witness a quick build-up of open resentment and rejection. Mr. Peres, whose failed political fortunes have consistently embarked on a path inconsistent with the tenets of our religion and clashing with its values, is attempting once again to resurrect his fading future by lobbing semi-incoherent absurdities. As old dogs can never learn new tricks, so does Mr. Peres continue on the path of other "enlightened liberals", who are resolved to transform Judaism into a non-religion. He thus has raised aloft the sword designed to cut off our tradition from its roots. This clash that he is launching with his own "pizzazz", intended to make it palatable to the masses of non-Jews already assimilated in Israel, will never happen. Others tried and failed, so shall he.
Mr. Peres, like a splinter embedded in the skin, continues to be bothersome, an irritation and a nuisance. May I suggest, therefore, that Mr. Peres swallow hard before these tasteless words of absurdity become too deeply lodged in his windpipe. May I further suggest that, perhaps, its high time for Mr. Peres to simply fade away into the sunset of his life.
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Isaac Kohn writes from Brooklyn, New York.
As the song goes.....To Shimon Peres: "Na na na na, na na na na, hey heeeyy...GOODBYE
ML/NJ
HF
How's that again??? Chosen by whom, when and where, and for what exclusive purpose?
Chosen, it would seem, to be the world's biggest whiners.
If you read the Bible you will see that people were considered Jewish if their father was Jewish. There were also converts like Ruth. Over time we switched from patrilinial descent to matrilinial descent (which is what it is now), and to laws about what someone must do if they want to convert. We, Jews, argue about the laws of conversion, just as we argue about everything else. My own opinion is that this is a touchy, political subject which should best be argued in private. (My own Rabbi would suggests differently. He wants the Israelis to do things his way; and the Chief Rabbi of Israel doesn't even consider my "Reform" Rabbi a rabbi. It's not pretty.)
ML/NJ
He does believe in a very interesting view of the Celtic people of Europe being the "Lost Tribe" of Israel. He usually appears on threads that have anything theological to say about Jews, Judaism, or Israel.
I am sure he would be extatic to give you a link to his site, post his "evidence", and engage you in every facet of his belief.
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GREAT NATION & BLESSING |
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Genesis 12 was addressed to Abram (later Abraham). Abraham was neither an Israelite nor a Jew. There were no Jews at that time, there were not even any Israelites. There would not be any people known as Jews for another ~1,500 years. It is through other promises to Abraham that the Israelites are named as recipients of the Great Nation and Blessings promise: Genesis 17:19-21 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ish'ma-el, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year. Isaacs seed includes Jacob (renamed Israel), and all those who follow in his chain are called Israelites. The "Great Nation" and "Blessings" provisions are important because since they were promised by God they will come true. It is already happening now. But as we examine Israelite history it is clear those few Israelites called Jews were never a great nation and are not one today. At under 13 Million people they don't come even close to ranking among the worlds great powers. However, the other Israelites, the 1 BILLION people strong Northern Kingdom/ LostTribes/ Celts/ Europeans/ Americans are The Greatest POWER (Nation) in the history of the world. And no nation in history has been a greater blessing to ALL the people of the earth than all these Northern and Southern Kingdom Israelites! |
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"Curious about something Jewish? Check out askmoses.com "
Since Moses was not a Jew, and there were no Jews at the time he was alive (and would not be any for another ~thousand years), how would Moses know about things Jewish?
It is always a pleasure to be teased into a debate by you. I remember your thread (was it yesterday?) that went on for pages on this. No one was persuaded then, and I doubt that anyone would be persuaded tonight.
However, seeing as how you enjoy a good dabate about this, ad infinitem, why not go to the site? There is a Rabbi on 24 hours a day to chat with you. Granted, you would not have the possible wide audience you have here, but you could try your skills on someone who has a fair knowledge of Hebrew, Aramaic, and history.
If that doesn't work out, you could find a goodly number of sympathetic people at certain universities in Israel, Britain, and probably accross the Islamic world. They spend all kinds of time trying to prove Judaism a false religion. Good luck!
She doesn't.
If your mother is Jewish, then, under Jewish law, you are a Jew, whether or not you ever set foot inside a synagogue. Briefly and incompletely stated, if your mother was not Jewish you may still convert to Judaism, but it involves convincing a rabbi of your sincerity and much study. The soc.culture.jewish FAQ has the details.
Hope I helped.
Shalom,
Slings and Arrows
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