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

It’s complicated but some ultra-orthodox are hugely opposed to the state of Israel. This is a good article about it.

www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ultra-orthodox-anti-zionist/amp/

Thank you OP and other Jewish posters who are answering questions so graciously and warmly.

2 questions from me...

• Do you consider criticism of the Israeli State or support for the Palestinian State to be anti-Semitic or offensive?

I ask because I know plenty of people who do, but they are all Christians, or at the very least, cultural Christians.

(Full disclosure - I am a committed, active Christian who supports the Palestinian people and their right to freedom. I believe that both sides have committed atrocities, but that the actions of the Israeli state are particularly abhorrent. I would love to see a 2-state solution in my lifetime, but like you, I just can’t see it happening. To a lot of fellow Christians, what I have just written is unacceptable.)

• Do you consider the use of Cohen as a boy’s first name to be offensive/cultural appropriation?

The name is rising in popularity and I personally know of 3 little Cohens. 2 are from families who I’m pretty certain would have no idea of the origin of the name, but 1 is the son of very liberal christian parents who pride themselves on tolerance and on standing up for the oppressed and marginalised. They are very “woke”. I was shocked when I heard what they had called their son as I know it would be considered cultural appropriation or even offensive to many.

@HvartitoMeetYou thank you, that does explain it well. I'm not too knowledgable on the Israeli- Palestine conflict in general and have heard lots of conflicting opinions on who is in the right, who is in the wrong etc. I really need to do some more reading up.

Sorry that should say @HavartitoMeetYou !

Do you consider criticism of the Israeli State or support for the Palestinian State to be anti-Semitic or offensive?

In and of itself, no. But I think a lot of people hide their antisemitism behind it. A bit like some islamophobes claiming they are against halal slaughter on animal rights grounds when normally they mock me for being veggie. It’s an excuse, an acceptable veneer.

Thank you so much to the OP and all the Jewish posters who have shared their knowledge on here . It's fascinating to learn more about part of my family's background.

So would it be fair to say that you are wary of any such criticism then @AnnaJKing?

I hope I’ve been clear - my issue is with the Israeli state/government - not the Israeli people. Same with the other side - my support is for the Palestinian people - not the state/government.

I guess I ask because I genuinely believe this is a human rights issue and I think that a lot of people across the world, and a lot of governments, don’t speak up about the atrocities committed for fear of being labelled anti-Semitic.

I absolutely understand the need to stamp out any flicker even of anti Semitic action or speech - it is abhorrent - and in light of how the Jewish people have been persecuted - not just in WWII, but for generations before that too - we absolutely do need to be on guard - all of us. That doesn’t mean that the Israeli state should get a free pass though, and I guess I want to know how to call out the injustice in a way which isn’t offensive and which will be heard.

Yes I’m always a little wary when someone criticises Israel, especially when they already know I’m Jewish and/or start ranting. I’ve been the victim of antisemitic treatment and do has my synagogue, so I’m always a little wary anyway.

OP and Pikespeaked, what do you think of Jesus Christ? And what do very religious Orthodox Jews think of him? Is he mentioned, reviled, ignored?

*so, not do

I understand that @AnnaJKing, and I genuinely do apologise if you have read any of what I’ve written as offensive. I’ll shut up now. I guess I wanted to ask the question because it’s an AMA, but I honestly wouldn’t want to offend or hurt anyone.

Thank you OP for a really fascinating AMA. I had a Jewish grandparent who passed away when I was a young teen and I’ve always been really sad not to be able to ask him the sorts of questions this thread has covered. Thank you!

No, please don’t feel the need to do that. I don’t think you’ve said anything offensive at all, and appreciate this opportunity to be open with each other.

It’s complicated but some ultra-orthodox are hugely opposed to the state of Israel.

We have Satmar Hasidim communities in my area who feel this way. It's really counter-intuitive and confusing for those of us who don't grok the theology behind it.

OP and Pikespeaked, what do you think of Jesus Christ? And what do very religious Orthodox Jews think of him? Is he mentioned, reviled, ignored?

Brilliant question! I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the answers.

I find Jewish culture and customs fascinating.

One thing I've sometimes wondered is why such a lot of (what appears to an outsider) troublesome or restrictive customs have evolved. It just seems like such hard work!

How does observant or Orthodox Judaism fit into a modern busy lifestyle?

Does the hard work of it all fall disproportionately on the women while men swan about studying and reading?

I heard of a family whose child broke their arm on the Sabbath and was not taken to hospital until the next day despite an obvious fracture... is that possible?

Please don't be offended if I've worded the above musings tactlessly.

This is a great thread. I'm half way through Shtisel, and I've been trying to find out where the wooded area is that Kive visits with his friend where people are shouting prayers for help. Anybody know? It's a great scene, very funny too.

If it’s okay for me to answer: the Israeli government have no doubt committed atrocities and human rights violations, and I strongly condemn that. But Israel have not done anything other countries have done, yet it’s only Jews who are expected answer for their country’s crimes. I’m a screenwriter and am often told not to put Israel in my work even if it’s nothing to do with politics. No one would ever tell a Chinese girl writing a coming of age movie not to set it in Beijing because of the Chinese government’s human rights violations!

Often Israel is just a tool to attack Jews. The fact you can’t say a word about being Jewish or antisemitism without someone bringing up Palestine is proof. It’s like bringing up the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal whenever anyone mentions being Italian!

Yes, @HavartitoMeetYou, that’s it.

Cohen as a first name? No different to Levi, which has been used by non-Jews for centuries. I have no issue with it.

Criticism of Israel is legitimate, but has the potential to be anti-Semitic. What deeply frustrates me is when people make snap judgements based on one-sided stories. And I don't mean the Israeli 'side' or the Palestinian 'side'. When people get all their info from one source it can never be truly balanced. It is a sad, angry situation and hugely more nuanced than most people realise.

Jesus Christ? Most Jews accept he existed as a man, but all deny any divinity on his part. We do not believe that he was the Messiah. We have no argument with many of his statements, such as love thy neighbour and the glass houses one, but utterly reject the concept that you can only approach god through him, or that he could take the burden of anyone else's sin.

Some of my ultra-Orthodox relatives would not even discuss him or mention him. This, I think, was a hangover from centuries of Christians encouraged to commit violence against Jews in Jesus's name. It is difficult to conceive of an era when this was acceptable, but it was, in my parents' lifetimes.

Personally, I think he was an ordinary but charismatic Jew, influenced by the Essene cult, with a message of peace and focusing on the meaning of Torah over rituals, that was distorted by the followers who came after his death.

Often Israel is just a tool to attack Jews. The fact you can’t say a word about being Jewish or antisemitism without someone bringing up Palestine is proof. It’s like bringing up the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal whenever anyone mentions being Italian!

Quite!

@HavartitoMeetYou that was really well put. Thank you.

FWIW I will call out human rights injustices no matter what country they are in. I agree that there are many more countries who are committing atrocious crimes - (China is a really good example) - and yes, I do see your point, particularly in relation to China because I think people gloss over their regime because it’s convenient.

I honestly don’t know what the answer is - Israel must be held accountable for their treatment of the Palestinian people, and we must fight for the safety, security and freedom of those people. We must also equally fight for the safety and security of the Israeli people however - it’s not one or the other.

This should never be a case of “us and them” // “either/or” mentality - but always “both/and”.

There is so much more to Israel and the Israeli people than just their position on Palestine, and this is even moreso when you consider the Jewish people as a whole - diaspora included.

I guess I just struggle with the concept of shalom - rest, peace, wholeness etc not being the reality for so many in the world - Middle East included. It’s heartbreaking. Shalom is what we should all yearn for and seek.

I heard of a family whose child broke their arm on the Sabbath and was not taken to hospital until the next day despite an obvious fracture... is that possible?

Not in my extended family. At the most they might wait a couple of hours until the Sabbath is over. It is totally antithetical to Judaism to inflict harm on someone in order to observe a rule.

The story you've been told is highly improbable. If the injury happened on Saturday, they would not have waited until Sunday to go to hospital, as Shabbat finishes on Saturday at sundown. I suppose it could have happened on the Friday evening and they waited until Shabbat was over, in which case, again, they would have gone to A&E on Saturday evening.

An adult might choose to wait up to 24h until the Sabbath was over, but no way would this be imposed on a child.

Pikespeaked thank you for your full answer. I am a Christian, so it is very interesting. If I could ask one more question, since you and OP have been so kind, do Jews ever read the New Testament? Or only the Old Testament (Torah). I'm kind of assuming they don't.