ask a jew

[lostmyface]

Originally Posted by Hare_Geist

The Romans killed Jesus to appease a mob of angry Jews who accused him of being a heretic and were baying for his blood...

you believe your 2000+ year old interpretation of a story, i will believe mine.

Originally Posted by john deer

Anyways, why are you guys so successful in Hollywood and America in general?

i think jews are successful because most of us come from stable homes where education is valued. to be jewish is to have a passion to study, learn, discuss, an read. also we still suffer from the immigrant syndrome of working hard.

as far as holly wood success goes, i think some jews succeed there because we have a great sense of humor as a people.

an i would be hard pressed to find sources for what i am saying. i am not that good of a jew.

[lostmyface]

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

What is the jewish question, and was it answered?

the jewish question meant different things to different people. many agree that is pertains to the negative attitude toward the apparent and persistent singularity of the Jews as a people on the background of the rising political nationalisms and new nation-states in europe. zionism came from the jewish question. apparently the question was answered when israel was founded an reform judaism came about.

[lostmyface]

Originally Posted by Azure

What's with the pointy little hats?

it is to recognize that god is above everyone/thing. also it is a mitzvot to wear one when praying. committing mitzvot move us closer to a perfect age.

[BrokeProphet]

Originally Posted by lostmyface

the jewish question meant different things to different people. many agree that is pertains to the negative attitude toward the apparent and persistent singularity of the Jews as a people on the background of the rising political nationalisms and new nation-states in europe. zionism came from the jewish question. apparently the question was answered when israel was founded an reform judaism came about.

I thought the Jewish question was the refusal of Jews to intergrate fully with cultures they lived in, leading to a close knit community of Jews helping each other become wealthy, which is evidenced in the disproportionate wealth ratio of the Jewish people.

The answer to that was to take over and commit human rights violations against another people occupying the magic land you all wanted?

A rather shitty answer, to a complex question.

[lostmyface]

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

I thought the Jewish question was the refusal of Jews to intergrate fully with cultures they lived in, leading to a close knit community of Jews

i thought that was baislcly what i said. my bad, next time i will try an be more clear.

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

helping each other become wealthy, which is evidenced in the disproportionate wealth ratio of the Jewish people.

this is paranoia

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

The answer to that was to take over and commit human rights violations against another people occupying the magic land you all wanted?

lots of shit went down in that deal an many sides were fucked an fucked each other. i will not excuse the israeli state, their actions are deplorable, an many jews feel this way. but it was not just the jews who played the hand poorly. the british an french royally fucked up the region during the mandate time period. also the other arab nations of the time played the palestinians in a attempt to get money for themselves from the USA or USSR

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

A rather shitty answer, to a complex question.

i could say the same to your response.

[BrokeProphet]

Originally Posted by lostmyface

i will not excuse the israeli state, their actions are deplorable, an many jews feel this way. but it was not just the jews who played the hand poorly.

Perhaps, some jungle could have been clear-cut for you guys in South America, and all of that bloodshed need not have happened and continue to this day.

You could all be farming fruit, sugar, coffee and chocolate and not have a man with bomb blow your granny to bits in a crowded bus.

Shit, thats right, the sons of Abraham never went to South America, it wasn't holy enough.

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What I find deplorable is that the Jewish people had to have the holy land, at any cost. A cost that is being paid to this day, by Israeli and American alike.

Those actions are just Old testament style responses to fulfill a self fulfilling prophecy. How many times have Jews killed whomever, be it man, woman, or child, in the name of that patch of Earth?

[killallthewhiteman]

On the kosher food.

Do Jews believe that these laws are derived from a spiritual transcendental context? (the word/will of God)

It seems to me these laws/rules are derived from material nature rather than the spiritual nature; of course a few millenniums ago at a time very different to this age it would have been practical. But in kali- yuga when there is a vast amount of technology and increasing technology we understand it is understood that the costs to human health for animals who "dont chew the cud" or have "cloven hooves" can be reduces and removed through an understanding of hygiene.

Or are the laws not derived from negative health costs?

please clear this up

[lostmyface]

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

Perhaps, some jungle could have been clear-cut for you guys in South America, and all of that bloodshed need not have happened and continue to this day.

You could all be farming fruit, sugar, coffee and chocolate and not have a man with bomb blow your granny to bits in a crowded bus.

for a while there were plans of having the jews live in what is now either aregentina or kenya. the kenyan deal was very close to happening. but the british decided to play the jews an the arabs off of each other in order to hurt the ottoman empire.(kenya an palestine were both british held territories) most of the european jews moving into palestian did not realize they were pawns. as for the arabs living there, they were shafted not only by the new jewish settlers but also by their own leaders, other arab states, the ottomans, an the west. again my heart an prays, as do many other jews hearts an prays go out to those people.

broke prophet i know you are a troll an there is nothing i am going to say that will satisfy you


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Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

What I find deplorable is that the Jewish people had to have the holy land, at any cost. A cost that is being paid to this day, by Israeli and American alike.

up untill the 1940's many jews did not want to go to palestine. they wanted some other more fertile land. judasim, as a religion had taken a new turn, an was no longer as focused on returning to a physical jersualem, to many zion had become a state of mind, not a actual place. it was only when the brits an french promised the land that jews began to flock to it once again. once the jews arrived, an found out that the brits had lied to them, they fought back. you would have as well. again this is not an excuse, it is how history played out.

Originally Posted by BrokeProphet

Those actions are just Old testament style responses to fulfill a self fulfilling prophecy. How many times have Jews killed whomever, be it man, woman, or child, in the name of that patch of Earth?

before 1945, not for over 2000 years. but i agree many actions carried out by the jewish state are deplorable. i think the actions are based on realist political theory and a desire to keep the land bought/fought/promised them. not so much on old testemant style responses to fulfill a self fulfilling prophecy.

again none of my answers are going to be the ones you want to hear, you make the common mistake of identifying the jewish state an the jewish people as one an the same. when in truth we could not be more separate. so maybe you should just stop reading this thread, m'kay.

Originally Posted by killallthewhiteman

On the kosher food.

Do Jews believe that these laws are derived from a spiritual transcendental context? (the word/will of God)

It seems to me these laws/rules are derived from material nature rather than the spiritual nature; of course a few millenniums ago at a time very different to this age it would have been practical. But in kali- yuga when there is a vast amount of technology and increasing technology we understand it is understood that the costs to human health for animals who "dont chew the cud" or have "cloven hooves" can be reduces and removed through an understanding of hygiene.

Or are the laws not derived from negative health costs?

please clear this up

kosher is a very complex aspect of judaism. i did not do it justice in a earlier post, because it is would require me to write out a few pages to fully explain it, and i dont have the time to do that. an i doubted any of you want to read it. but here i go on a bit more detailed look at whay kosher means.

Kashrut is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods we can and cannot eat and how those foods must be prepared and eaten. "Kashrut" comes from the Hebrew root Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word "kosher," which describes food that meets these standards. The word "kosher" can also be used, and often is used, to describe ritual objects that are made in accordance with Jewish law and are fit for ritual use.

Contrary to popular misconception, rabbis or other religious officials do not "bless" food to make it kosher. There are blessings that observant Jews recite over food before eating it, but these blessings have nothing to do with making the food kosher. Food can be kosher without a rabbi or priest ever becoming involved with it: the vegetables from your garden are undoubtedly kosher (as long as they don't have any bugs, which are not kosher!). However, in our modern world of processed foods, it is difficult to know what ingredients are in your food and how they were processed, so it is helpful to have a rabbi examine the food and its processing and assure kosher consumers that the food is kosher. This certification process is discussed below.

There is no such thing as "kosher-style" food. Kosher is not a style of cooking. Chinese food can be kosher if it is prepared in accordance with Jewish law, and there are many fine kosher Chinese restaurants in Philadelphia and New York. Traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods like knishes, bagels, blintzes, and matzah ball soup can all be non-kosher if not prepared in accordance with Jewish law. When a restaurant calls itself "kosher-style," it usually means that the restaurant serves these traditional Jewish foods, and it almost invariably means that the food is not actually kosher.

Food that is not kosher is commonly referred to as treif (lit. torn, from the commandment not to eat animals that have been torn by other animals).
Why Do We Observe the Laws of Kashrut?

Many modern Jews think that the laws of kashrut are simply primitive health regulations that have become obsolete with modern methods of food preparation. There is no question that some of the dietary laws have some beneficial health effects. For example, the laws regarding kosher slaughter are so sanitary that kosher butchers and slaughterhouses have been exempted from many USDA regulations.

However, health is not the only reason for Jewish dietary laws. Many of the laws of kashrut have no known connection with health. To the best of our modern scientific knowledge, there is no reason why camel or rabbit meat (both treif) is any less healthy than cow or goat meat. In addition, some of the health benefits to be derived from kashrut were not made obsolete by the refrigerator. For example, there is some evidence that eating meat and dairy together interferes with digestion, and no modern food preparation technique reproduces the health benefit of the kosher law of eating them separately.

[lostmyface]

in recent years, several secular sources that have seriously looked into this matter have acknowledged that health does not explain these prohibitions. Some have suggested that the prohibitions are instead derived from environmental considerations. For example, a camel (which is not kosher) is more useful as a beast of burden than as a source of food. In the Middle Eastern climate, the pig consumes a quantity of food that is disproportional to its value as a food source. But again, these are not reasons that come from Jewish tradition.

The short answer to why Jews observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for a Torah-observant, traditional Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim," laws for which there is no reason. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. Others, however, have tried to ascertain G-d's reason for imposing these laws.

Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and defiled, the sacred and the profane, is very important in Judaism. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self control, requiring us to learn to control even our most basic, primal instincts.

Donin also points out that the laws of kashrut elevate the simple act of eating into a religious ritual. The Jewish dinner table is often compared to the Temple altar in rabbinic literature. A Jew who observes the laws of kashrut cannot eat a meal without being reminded of the fact that he is a Jew.


People who do not keep kosher often tell me how difficult it is. Actually, keeping kosher is not particularly difficult in and of itself; what makes it difficult to keep kosher is the fact that the rest of the world does not do so.


Keeping kosher only becomes difficult when you try to eat in a non-kosher restaurant, or at the home of a person who does not keep kosher. In those situations, your lack of knowledge about your host's ingredients and food preparation techniques make it very difficult to keep kosher. Some commentators have pointed out, however, that this may well have been part of what G-d had in mind: to make it more difficult for us to socialize with those who do not share our religion.(i think this is bunk)

Although the details of kashrut are extensive, the laws all derive from a few fairly simple, straightforward rules:

1. Certain animals may not be eaten at all. This restriction includes the flesh, organs, eggs and milk of the forbidden animals.
2. Of the animals that may be eaten, the birds and mammals must be killed in accordance with Jewish law.
3. All blood must be drained from the meat or broiled out of it before it is eaten.
4. Certain parts of permitted animals may not be eaten.
5. Fruits and vegetables are permitted, but must be inspected for bugs
6. Meat (the flesh of birds and mammals) cannot be eaten with dairy. Fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables and grains can be eaten with either meat or dairy. (According to some views, fish may not be eaten with meat).
7. Utensils that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa. Utensils that have come into contact with non-kosher food may not be used with kosher food. This applies only where the contact occurred while the food was hot.
8. Grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten.
9. There are a few other rules that are not universal.

Of the "beasts of the earth" (which basically refers to land mammals with the exception of swarming rodents), you may eat any animal that has cloven hooves and chews its cud. Lev. 11:3; Deut. 14:6. Any land mammal that does not have both of these qualities is forbidden. The Torah specifies that the camel, the rock badger, the hare and the pig are not kosher because each lacks one of these two qualifications. Sheep, cattle, goats, deer and bison are kosher.

[lostmyface]

Of the things that are in the waters, you may eat anything that has fins and scales. Lev. 11:9; Deut. 14:9. Thus, shellfish such as lobsters, oysters, shrimp, clams and crabs are all forbidden. Fish like tuna, carp, salmon and herring are all permitted.

For birds, the criteria is less clear. The Torah provides a list of forbidden birds (Lev. 11:13-19; Deut. 14:11-18), but does not specify why these particular birds are forbidden. All of the birds on the list are birds of prey or scavengers, thus the rabbis inferred that this was the basis for the distinction. Other birds are permitted, such as chicken, geese, ducks and turkeys. However, some people avoid turkey, because it is not mentioned in the Torah, leaving room for doubt.

Of the "winged swarming things" (winged insects), a few are specifically permitted (Lev. 11:22), but the Sages are no longer certain which ones they are, so all have been forbidden. There are communities that have a tradition about what species are permitted, and in those communities some insects are eaten.

Rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and insects (except as mentioned above) are all forbidden. Lev. 11:29-30, 42-43.

Some authorities require a post-mortem examination of the lungs of cattle, to determine whether the lungs are free from adhesions. If the lungs are free from such adhesions, the animal is deemed "glatt" (that is, "smooth"). In certain circumstances, an animal can be kosher without being glatt; however, the stringency of keeping "glatt kosher" has become increasingly common in recent years, and you would be hard-pressed to find any kosher meat that is not labeled as "glatt kosher."

As mentioned above, any product derived from these forbidden animals, such as their milk, eggs, fat, or organs, also cannot be eaten. Rennet, an enzyme used to harden cheese, is often obtained from non-kosher animals, thus kosher hard cheese can be difficult to find.
Kosher slaughtering

The mammals and birds that may be eaten must be slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law. (Deut. 12:21). We may not eat animals that died of natural causes (Deut. 14:21) or that were killed by other animals. In addition, the animal must have no disease or flaws in the organs at the time of slaughter. These restrictions do not apply to fish; only to the flocks and herds (Num. 11:22).

Ritual slaughter is known as shechitah, and the person who performs the slaughter is called a shochet, both from the Hebrew root Shin-Cheit-Tav, meaning to destroy or kill. The method of slaughter is a quick, deep stroke across the throat with a perfectly sharp blade with no nicks or unevenness. This method is painless, causes unconsciousness within two seconds, and is widely recognized as the most humane method of slaughter possible.

Another advantage of shechitah is that it ensures rapid, complete draining of the blood, which is also necessary to render the meat kosher.

The shochet is not simply a butcher; he must be a pious man, well-trained in Jewish law, particularly as it relates to kashrut. In smaller, more remote communities, the rabbi and the shochet were often the same person.
Draining of Blood

The Torah prohibits consumption of blood. Lev. 7:26-27; Lev. 17:10-14. This is the only dietary law that has a reason specified in Torah: we do not eat blood because the life of the animal (literally, the soul of the animal) is contained in the blood. This applies only to the blood of birds and mammals, not to fish blood. Thus, it is necessary to remove all blood from the flesh of kosher animals.

The first step in this process occurs at the time of slaughter. As discussed above, shechitah allows for rapid draining of most of the blood.

The remaining blood must be removed, either by broiling or soaking and salting. Liver may only be kashered by the broiling method, because it has so much blood in it and such complex blood vessels. This final process must be completed within 72 hours after slaughter, and before the meat is frozen or ground. Most butchers and all frozen food vendors take care of the soaking and salting for you, but you should always check this when you are buying someplace you are unfamiliar with.