Archived Discussion UsefulNotes / Judaism

This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.

InadvertentAdventurer: Just a little confused about why the edit on Modesty was changed back...can anyone help?

Cidolfas: Because it wasn't accurate. Men are not that concerned about modesty; the way they dress is due to a desire to look presentable, not modest. Even Haredim go around with short sleeves, while women aren't allowed to, and Modern Orthodox men have no problem walking around in T-shirts and shorts in some situations, while women must always cover their elbows and knees. There were also too many parentheses and SHOUTING which I didn't really see the point of; some points were just reiterating what was said in a previous sentence, only louder. Although I wasn't the one who reverted the edit, I approve of the revert.

Likk9922: I had just a couple of questions about details... It says passover falls in the summer in the portion relating to Adar 2? Shouldn't it say spring? Or am I missing some Israel/America seasonal difference (I don't think I am, but better safe than sorry)? It states Orthodox is one of the smallest sects... It's second largest in America, or very close to it after reform (because the conservative movement is shrinking so quickly). And it's one of the largest, if not the largest, in Israel. Ahasueros probably wasn't Xerxes... RuleofFunny?

CK: Edited some stuff on Kashrus to make it a little clearer- because really it doesn't boil down to don't eat pork. Also edited Purim (sorry, this really does bug me), there is no mitzvah to get drunk, just not to be able to tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai. Again, going to sleep will accomplish this. And it's a pity to simplify a holiday to let's get drunk.

Cidolfas: That's a technicality. The Gemara uses the word "l'bisumei" which does indeed mean to get drunk. The idea that one can do it by sleeping was specifically created because the rabbinic authorities didn't like how everyone was getting too drunk.

Cidolfas: I've added a lot of information on the religious aspects, but being Orthodox I am naturally biased. If there's something I'm missing about the other denominations, feel free to add it. However, from my experience most of them are essentially subsets of Orthodoxy (i.e. keeping some parts of it) rather than introducing their own customs and philosophies. Certainly I don't think any of the Orthodox examples should be removed, just balanced if necessary.

Cidolfas: I removed the It Just Bugs Me! about a "bar mitzvah" not being "something you have". Certainly originally this was the case, but nowadays I don't know of anyone who doesn't call the celebration a "bar mitzvah", so it now is something you "have", as well as something you become.

Scifantasy: God, I hope this doesn't end badly...

Noaqiyeum: Well, the other three seem to be just fine so far. I don't think this will be any different.

Silent Hunter: No problem so far.

Stuff to mention:

• Kosher
• The Torah and how it's treated in a synagogue.
• Bar and Bat Mitzvah
• Orthodox and Reform

Janitor: Not sure what, if any, stereotype is being referred to here:

However, some of the media stereotypes of "white people" do transfer faithfully over to Ashkenazi Jews in an Israeli context, for example, Ashkenazim don't eat spicy food.

Scifantasy: I'm guessing that the point was that in Israel, several Western stereotypes of white people (for example, compared to other cultures, white people have a stereotypically low tolerance for spice) are assigned to Ashkenazis.

Filby: I edited the paragraph on "atheist Jews" because, honestly, I'm not comfortable with the assertion that the feeling of being a Cosmic Plaything is what leads most people to atheism, and I think most Jewish atheists would agree.

Xander77: I'm removing the final sentence about translation errors. Either it's stating "funny translation errors happen in general, and they happen when movies are translated from English to Hebrew" which is pointless, or it's stating "there's an unusually large quantity/quality of errors when translating from English to Hebrew" which is blatantly false. Particularly when compared to translation quality in countries where most people DON'T speak English (Asia in general, Russia, Africa)

Count Spatula: Perhaps someone should discuss the theological differences between Judiasm and Christianity. For instance, the fact that Judiasm focuses much less on the afterlife and considers it to be of less importance than Christianity does.

jdreyfuss: I can't think of a better place to put this, but is there anyone else who wants to brag about having a holiday where we have a mandate from God to get sloppy drunk? On a more serious note, I agree with Count Spatula that there should be a mention of the lack of focus on the afterlife. I've always told people who ask me that if you ask four Jews about the afterlife, you'll get five answers.

Rocky_Eastman: There is actually a mistake, in order of stictness reforms are higher up on the chain the reconstructionists. In fact many reconstructionists are called the "hippies" of Judaism. Even in name they hould sound more liberal than reforms. Reconstructionists are literally reconstructing the whole religion. While reforms are just, well, reforming it. We focus more on good deeds and the most important teachings of God rather than many laws and rituals. In fact I know many reform and conservative Jews who, indeed, refer to Reconstructionists as "hippie" Jews. And some reconstructionists refer to God as a she. So, yeah.