Judaism

[Kaine for Senate '18]

basically. If the mom is Orthodox the child will have been baptised since she or she was one.

We don't have baptism.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Just something I was wondering: are there any Orthodox or Conservative Jews on the forum?  I'm Reform, and I'm pretty sure the other Jews are as well.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I'm a conservative Jew.

To be precise, I would be something of a "Reconservadox".  I drive on Shabbat, keep strict Kosher, go to a Reform temple, and usually go to temple on Shabbat and high holy days.

That is an interesting mix.  I'm something like that too; I place more emphasis on Halakha than Reform Jews; I believe in a Messiah, which Reform Jews don't; but I don't keep Kosher, I don't go to temple as often as I'd like, and other things.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

My big problem with people claiming the Hebrew Bible justifies the Christian Bible is that the authors of those books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, etc.), knew the audience they were writing for, and so they could have very easily written something in order to fit the whole story.  It's a big problem that none of these people actually knew Jesus; I could write a biography of Mark Warner after everyone who knew him was dead, and claim that he's the Messiah by making events fit with the Hebrew Bible, and nobody could contradict me.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

My big problem with people claiming the Hebrew Bible justifies the Christian Bible is that the authors of those books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, etc.), knew the audience they were writing for, and so they could have very easily written something in order to fit the whole story.  It's a big problem that none of these people actually knew Jesus; I could write a biography of Mark Warner after everyone who knew him was dead, and claim that he's the Messiah by making events fit with the Hebrew Bible, and nobody could contradict me.

Alright but do you deny all the events? I think that religion exists but it has to do more with the mind than the facts.

Yes, I deny the events about Jesus in the Christian Bible actually happened, at least the messianic events.  Perhaps some of the quotes attributed to him were his, but not much more.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I've got a question for the Jews here: do any of you read the Talmud much?  I keep trying to read it, but I haven't found a good copy yet.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

There are a couple of good translations out there, but it'll cost you quite a bit. It's very difficult to study it yourself, even with an English translation. Can you read Hebrew?

I can read it, but not translate.  I'll need an English translation.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

So, what would be your advice?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

It depends what you want exactly. Do you want to study it seriously? Just look at bits of it to see what it's all about?

Eventually, I want to study it seriously.  For now, though, I want to just get my feet wet, so to speak.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Well, it's hard to say what you should do... If you don't mind me asking, are you orthodox, reform or conservative?

I belong to a Reform synagogue, and consider myself Reform, but I have views that belong to all three groups.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I really don't know what to say. I've studied the Talmud since I was 8 years old, and all I can say is that to really understand what the Talmud is can take quite some time and intensive studying. It's not as simple as just opening up somewhere and reading through a few lines. Of course, you can do that, but I have no idea what you should go for.

Thanks anyway.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I really don't know what to say. I've studied the Talmud since I was 8 years old, and all I can say is that to really understand what the Talmud is can take quite some time and intensive studying. It's not as simple as just opening up somewhere and reading through a few lines. Of course, you can do that, but I have no idea what you should go for.

Thanks anyway.

For a line-by-line translation of the Talmud a good company is ArtScroll. It includes the literal translation along with the way it should be read to make sense using commentaries. It is slightly confusing at first to follow what is what, but if you are really interested that would be your best bet. I've used it to help me study the Talmud and it's put together very comprehensively.

Hope this isn't too late.

Thanks; of course not   What denomination are you in?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I have the ArtScrool Tanakh, which is a great edition.  Torah.org is pretty impressive, and I look forward to using it.  Thanks for your help

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Bump.

What are the remaining fast days?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

On the English calendar for the year 2009, the dates are:

Fast of Esther = March 9
[Fast of the Firstborns (only matters if you are a firstborn and opt out of attending a siyum in the morning) = April 9]
The 17th of Tammuz = July 9
The 9th of Av = July 30
Fast of Gedaliah = September 21
Yom Kippur = September 28
The 10th of Tevet = December 27

Explanations of each can be provided if you're interested.

That would be great, thank you

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Thank you   Being Reform, the only time fasting is really followed is on Yom Kippur, so I didn't know about the others.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Bumping back to the first page.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Bumping back to the first page.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I hope everyone had a happy Purim!

[Kaine for Senate '18]

I'd just like to point out the utter stupidity of websites like the one you bring complaining about the Talmud. Firstly, basically all problems like this can be explained easily by anyone with a true knowledge of the talmud, and secondly, the Talmud was written thousands of years ago, and even if all the complaints they make are true, was still far ahead in matters of race, sex etc. then was common at the time!

Well, that's the best Stark has.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Happy Passover everyone!

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Happy Shavuot tonight. While I don't plan on staying up all night learning, I hope those that do enjoy their night and the rest of the holiday.

I don't plan to stay up all night, but I'll be up later than usual, reading.  I haven't decided what to read, although I'll probably read Ruth.  Any other suggestions?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Happy Shavuot tonight. While I don't plan on staying up all night learning, I hope those that do enjoy their night and the rest of the holiday.

I don't plan to stay up all night, but I'll be up later than usual, reading.  I haven't decided what to read, although I'll probably read Ruth.  Any other suggestions?

Numbers 33 has a nice compilation of the travels of the Jews between Egypt and Mt. Sinai.

Thanks.  I'm also going to read Exodus 20, for the Decalogue.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Happy Shavuot tonight. While I don't plan on staying up all night learning, I hope those that do enjoy their night and the rest of the holiday.

you're supposed to pull an all-nighter to celebrate?

Yes.  You stay up all night studying Torah, Talmud, etc.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Well, I missed both fast days during July, which is irritating.  I'm going to try extra hard, though, to make all the remaining ones.