I am Jewish AMA

[Bells3032]

Following answering some Q&As on a thread about the programme Unorthodox thought i'd do an AMA here. I have looked and don't think there's been one since like 2018.

I am a traditional/modern orthodox Jew so not Hasidic like the show but I actually do talks on Judaism as part of my job and I so my knowledge is fairly good and I am rarely embarrassed or offended by questions.

So go ahead AMA

Thanks for this OP I love learning about other religions. I’m not religious but love the idea of having the type of community/sense of family religions have, especially Judaism and Islam which from an outsiders perspective seems something that must be really comforting.

What type of food do you eat on Friday nights?

My entire understanding of Judaism comes from Leon The Pig Farmer, which feels less than adequate.

Enjoying your answers, thanks.

@glitterbiscuits

What do Jewish people think about aethiests? Or other religions?

That depends on the individual. Judaism teaches there are many paths to G-d and you don't need to be Jewish to have a relationship with Him (one reason why conversion isn't encouraged) as long as they follow the seven Noahide laws. There are many Jews who are atheists themselves who think it is correct, more orthodox people may just think they're idiots and others (like me) just believe in live and let live. But they all teach to respect others and they don't preach to others.

What's going on with Muslims and Jews?
I think mainly the Israel-Palestine conflict and a little bit of sibling rivalry.

What the answer to Palestine?
I don't think there is one. I think too much hatred has been built sadly but hopefully eventually everyone can put their differences aside and get along

@LikeDuhWhatever because surnames are a western concept and therefore they get it from their fathers like other western people do. They do, however, get their status - Cohen, Levy or Israelite - from their fathers.

@Lifeaback Friday night dinner is traditionally:
Wine and Challah (a type of sweet bread)
Chicken soup (with matzo balls and lokshen - a type of noodle)
Chicken, roast potatoes, vegs
Dairy free ice cream, cake, crumble and/or fruit

@Paddington68
I am sorry that was your experience. there are around 15 million of us in the world and the vast majority are lovely people but with any community there are also a lot of jerks. Not everyone looks Jewish (something I point out in talks is that people rarely think of a pale, blue eyed, 5'3" woman with long blonde hair when they think Jewish) and your probably haven't even noticed the vast majority of Jews your come into contact with.

@ludicrouslemons

There's a lot of traditional yummy foods to make:

1. Latkas (fried potato and similar to what hotels put out with breakfast as hash browns).
2. Chullent - a slow cooked stew with beef, potatoes, veg and sometimes an egg or two in it
3. Challah - a type of sweet bread that it plaited (who can find lots of recipes online)
4. Salt beef or Brisket as more commonly known in America
5. Jewish chicken soup (it's more like broth)

Personally not a fan of kugel but that's personal preference. Lots of standard foods are quite common in Judaism - roast chicken, roast potatoes, doughnuts at Chanukah time, apple and honey at new year and matza (a bit like a cracker) at Passover

I don't understand why Jewish people were so persecuted and hated during WW2. Why is there still today so much racism against the Jewish race. Obviously there is racism against others in the world still but Jewish people seem to be singled out and treated so badly.

I am not Jewish but grew up in London in the 70's and was very aware of it then. I had a few girl friends who were Jewish and they were all treated horribly by English boys.

Events recently in the news showed that anti-Semitism seems to be rife within the Labour party. Let's hope Keir Starker stamps this out and expels from the party anyone who is involved in this abhorrent prejudice.

Thanks for posting op! I do not know any Jewish people in real life. The show unorthodox showed a divide between men/women would you say this is a fair depiction?

@bells - Thank you for your response. It was an interesting wedding. My cousin who was hugely pregnant with their son (and they knew the gender), invited us at very short notice. We didn't have much any experience with Jewish ceremonies, as the family were mostly all Catholic, but obviously were happy to go to the wedding even though we had almost no idea what to do/say.

They went from being reform Jews to Orthodox keeping strict kosher, including separate sinks, separate counters, separate refrigerator. But this was in Beverly Hills

I don’t get the shaved head of married women. Apparently after an orthodox woman gets married she should shave her hair in order to be attractive only to her husband. But if you shave your hair not even your own husband will find you attractive! Plus women cover their shaved heads with quite nice and attractive wigs, so point being?
I suspect it’s one of the many things to control women with...

Paddington68, OP was politer to you than you deserved.

Do Jewish people have a ‘look’? I’ve been asked more than once if I am Jewish and I wonder what makes people think this. I’m not Jewish, I’m a Christian.

Ooh yes please, I’d like to know more about Cohens, Levys and Israelites.

@potter5 I honestly don't know. it's the oldest hatred and there's no logical explanation for it. there have been many studies. hopefully Keir Starmer will make a stand too

@chunkyrun yes it is accurate, particularly when praying, men and women sit separately so as not to "distract" each other and orthodox synagogues will be separated. Haradi and other similar sects will often separate men and women for other activities too.

@ilovemydogandMrObama it was probably to confirm their marriage in the orthodox community rather than as part of the conversion itself.

@Smartanimal not sure if you read my previous message but it's not about being more or less attractive it's about keeping your innate self and personal beauty for only your husband. it's not the same as the modern conception of beauty and attractiveness. it's about keeping parts of yourself private. Similar to how you wouldn't flaunt your sex organs but cover them up as something personal to yourself and whatever partner you have but you may wear clothes that actually make them look better to the outside world, doesn't mean you are supposed to be less attractive because you keep something private. I am not sure how it would control women to do that - as said many women chose wigs that are far more beautiful than their own natural hair. The shaving is more of a practical thing to reduce bumps in the wigs and reduce the heat they cause - although some sects may encourage it to prevent accidents of hair getting loose etc

@vanadis I think men in particular are assumed to have a certain lock - dark hair (usually curly), pale or olive skin, short and often with big noses. Less so women I think but they also often are dark haired and pale skinned. But saying that I am blonde with blue eyes so what do people know?

I never realised about the electricity. Now the Sabbath mode on my fridge makes more sense!

@MrsSpenserGregson

So back in the times of the ancient temples you would have:

• Cohens who were the priest of the temple and believed to be the descents of Aaron, brother of Moses.

_ Levys who were the helpers in the temple

• Israelites - everyone else

The status is passed on through your paternal line and only relevant for boys (if you don't know your father or you convert you are made an Israelite) but it isn't something that people consider when chosing a marriage partner for example an Israelite can marry a Cohen - it doesn't matter.

In modern life there is very little impact on your day to day life with a few notable exception:

• when the Torah is read in a synagogue there are certain sections that should be said by the different people

• Cohen's can give a priestly blessing which they usually do during certain festivals and on special occasions. For example my maternal grandfather gave us the priestly blessing during our wedding ceremony (even more emotional given he passed away less than six months later).

• Cohens have an extra set of rules including not being able to marry a divorcee or a convert and they cannot be in contact with a dead body so during a funeral they will be in a separate room with a window, they and their immediate families are also buried at the edge of a plot in the cemetery so loved ones can visit them without climbing over graves.

• If a first born child is a boy and neither the father or the father of the mother are Cohen or Levy then they must "pay" a Cohen for their child when they are 30 days old in a ceremony called a Pidyon haben. This was because in the olden days a first born son would be dedicated to the temple but now there is no temple they can't serve so they buy their child's freedom. before you get up in arms the payment is really tiny (5 shekels equal to about a pound) and usually the Cohen is a family member or close friend. it's actually a really lovely ceremony.

I think those are the obvious differences or at least those you come across most often.

That makes sense as I’m dark haired with very pale skin and a larger than averaged sized nose.

Hi, can I ask? I've been watching Shtisel - why do they touch the doorframe and then kiss their hand?

Hello Bells, A member of my husband's family passed away this morning. He was Jewish, we aren't but we try to follow some traditions out of respect of my husband's Dad who was. Is there anything we should be doing as a sign of respect? We have some yahrzeit candles, I wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do to light one today? Or something else? Hope you don't mind me asking, I don't want to disturb the cousins to ask. They are reform if it makes any difference.

Do you think circumcision will be banned or significantly reduced in the next 20 or 50 years or whatever?

What do you think of concentration camps being visited by tourists? Do you think it's a good thing they are open for tourism?

Why are Jewish people generally well-educated?

Thank you for doing this thread - I have always wondered about the Talmud. Being raised as a Catholic, am mostly familiar with the Old Testament, but what is the difference between the Talmud and the Old Testament? Is there more importance put on one than the other?

Also, what do scholars do as jobs after Yeshiva?

Why do Orthodox Jews make up rules for the sole reason to break other rules? Why not just get rid of the first rule? An Eruv is a case in point. I don’t get it!

This is fascinating thank you I'm learning loads.
Why can't a Cohen be in contact with a dead body?