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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13 |
Pieter ~
Only the men sing in the Orthodox tradition because a woman's voice raised in song is considered seductive - it would distract the men from their G-dly focus in schul. (Also why women cover their hair.) Poor guys! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> That's also one of the reasons why men and women are separated in schul. Women are traditionally considered "closer" to G-d (something in the story in Exodus re the golden calf...forget the passage at the moment), men must strive to create that closeness and, therefore, must not be distracted from their efforts.
Kind of funny, isn't it, that western cultures look at this and think of it as repression of women, when, in truth, it is because of women's closeness to the Shekinah.
~WhiteFox
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 662
Gecko
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Gecko
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 662 |
White Fox,
Thank you for your interesting and important information to me. I just finished reading "My name is Asher Lev" from Chaim Potok. I receive a newsletter from a Duch Othrodox rabbi every week. A lot of Torah, jewish history, jewish philosophy, talmud, a little bit Midrash and kabala. The core of the message is always how to behave as a rightious jew. Also receive news about the food laws. Every now and than an article is declared kosher or not kosher by a rabbinical council. Living an orhtodox life seems difficult to me, but for an orthodox jew loving g'd with all his heart, soul and mind and living according the law is a very joyful and normal thing to do. Yesterday I saw a BBC documentry about the Kabalah centre of mister Berg (Madonna follows his branch). Other (real) Kabbalists and rabbi's condemned this misleading sect. Judaism interests me, because it is the fundament of the Monotheist world religions Christianity and Islam. I read and learn a lot about religion, because of the books of my former history teacher study.
Again thanks, White Fox, I did not knew what you told us above here.
Pieter
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 161
Jellyfish
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Jellyfish
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 161 |
What are your thoughts and views about intermarriage (intermarriage being defined as a marriage between a Jewish person and non-Jewish person who does not convert)? I agree that it's rarely a good idea, even between a non-observant Jew and non-Jew. The reason is that the Jewish person may grow and change and wish to become more observant, and that's when the trouble begins. I've seen so many marriages that start out with the philosophy, "Oh, we're not at all religious, and we'll rear our children without any specific religion," turn very sour. If the Jewish parent begins to infuse Judaism into the children's education, then the non-Jewish parent feels threatened. If the non-Jewish parents does the same with a different religion, then Jewish person feels guilty because he's contributing to another generation that is snuffing out the Jewish religion. It's about enough when a Reform Jew marries a Conservative Jew! Throw an atheist or Baptist (!) in the mix, and that's one poisonous brew.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,382
Chipmunk
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Chipmunk
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,382 |
Pieter ~
Only the men sing in the Orthodox tradition because a woman's voice raised in song is considered seductive - it would distract the men from their G-dly focus in schul. (Also why women cover their hair.) Poor guys! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> That's also one of the reasons why men and women are separated in schul. Women are traditionally considered "closer" to G-d (something in the story in Exodus re the golden calf...forget the passage at the moment), men must strive to create that closeness and, therefore, must not be distracted from their efforts.
Kind of funny, isn't it, that western cultures look at this and think of it as repression of women, when, in truth, it is because of women's closeness to the Shekinah.
It does not supprise me that women are closer to god. Women have a softer heart by nature but found your post to be interesting because yes as a western woman I thought women were being repressed so thankyou for the enlightment
~WhiteFox Thankyou for this... it does not supprise me that women are closer to god as they have softer hearts and I belive that they deffinatley have more to offer to religion than men realise...I belive some (not all) men are threatened by women in the church for this very reason.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5 |
Hi, my name is Rabbi Yitzchak Goldman and I am an Orthodox rabbi - I would like to commend "kazue" for the comments made about women and men - it is rare to find a more educated understanding of these issues (btw I am originally from South Africa and have been to Marais Road Shul several times, although I am from Johannesburg). I would just like to point out though that the Torah doesn't view either sex as being superior to the other. You are correct that women have a greater sense of instinctual affinity to a relationship with G-d: The Talmud says that women are endowed with a greater sense of "binah" than men. Binah means intuitive understanding. The reason she has this is because the word "binah" is directly related to the word "boneh" (same letters in Hebrew) and "boneh" means to build: Eve was "built" -as the verse describes it - from the side of Adam. So in her very formation she was building onto something - her very essence is to build upon an idea. That is why she has greater intuitive understanding: she takes an idea and is able to process or build upon it naturally. Men however have a different (but not less significant) role. They provide the spark upon which women build. This is why men provide the seed and women nurture and build that seed into a child. All the best Yitzchak Goldman www.souldiet.com
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 62
Amoeba
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Amoeba
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 62 |
Shalom
Intermarriage was warned agains in TOrah. The fact that the children of Israel married and brght foreign wives was not the REAL issue; the IDOLS and CUSTOMS attached to life within EGYPT was the threat.
Anytime you weave two unlike threads together there is a pattern of dissonance between the fibers; even when the threasds SEEM to be he same color most knitters purchase their threads all at once so as to obtain the same color LOT number.
We can also see how few years were in Egypt and how many years it took to take Egypt OUT of Israel.
Baruch HaShem! aTeeDAZ
be fitly blessed, aTeeDAZ
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 62
Amoeba
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Amoeba
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 62 |
~Shalom~
Regarding intermarriage between Jewish and non Jewish parnters*
Certainly there is a difference between light and darkness..yes> Indeed we know that G-d placed all elements of Creation in a fasion that works together for our good and for His glory.
Ultra Orthodox and Orthodox conservative Karite and reconstructionists along with Lubavich Chabbad do NOT agree with intermarriage though seekers into the faith are not discouraged.
Reform Branch does accept intermarriage along with other liberal combinations of relational partnering.
One shortcoming of mankinfd is found in second guessing the move of HaShem/G-d.
Why do we place the intent of The Creator Of the Universe in a box?
His LOVE endures forever; certainly the unfathomale depths of the heart and intent of man are known to the Light Of Life Who blesses and confirms what He sees blesses and proclaims IT IS GOOD.
There is agoney in needing to be declaring separatness yet desiring to be united as one. This is a mystery in the letter CHET.
Contentment with Gdliness is great gain. May we each fnd our lving hope in Him.
Shabbat Shalom.
askarabbi@yahoo.com
be fitly blessed, aTeeDAZ
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 188
Jellyfish
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Jellyfish
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 188 |
It's an issue a couple should definately resolve about BEFORE they get married, espceially if children are involved or they plan to have children.
I am Jewish and have been dating a Christian lady for almost 2 years. Neither one of is the least bit observant. We have no kids and will never have any. I have taken the appropriate step to stop a family (got a vasectomy!).
If having a Jewish wife and raising Jewish kids were important to me, I would be living in Israel like my two older brothers. It isn't. I find all aspects of raising children completely unappealing and have ZERO interest in being a parent. I also enjoy a very active outdoor lifestyle which includes long distance road biking, skiing 120 days a year, ice skating and hiking in addition to a full time job at a land surveying company.
As an aside, I have visited Israel 6 times and speak modern Hebrew passably well. The sports section of Yediot or Ma'ariv will always be more interesting to me than any passage of scripture.
For those who think I am selfish after reading the above paragraphs, I offer the following:
1) I am regular contributor to Hadassah and other charitable orgamizations that the local Jewish center supports. 2) In the past seven years, I have raised over $10,000 in a charity ski race at Taos Ski Valley. Click the links below to read more. BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!
SCREW OPEC AND RIDE A BIKE!
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