Jewish Discussion Thread בְּ

[Menassa]

Is alligator kosher? It sure is tasty.

For a moment I thought one of the poll choices was "Karate Jew." Dyslexics of the world, untie; you have nothing to lose but your chinas!

(Image)

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

[Western Vale Confederacy]

Is alligator kosher? It sure is tasty.

For a moment I thought one of the poll choices was "Karate Jew." Dyslexics of the world, untie; you have nothing to lose but your chinas!

(Image)

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Do people still unironically follow the entirety of Leviticus's laws, though?

'Cause last time I checked, it was still a bunch of unnecessarily strict laws that would be near-impossible to fully follow in the modern world.

[Menassa]

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Do people still unironically follow the entirety of Leviticus's laws, though?

'Cause last time I checked, it was still a bunch of unnecessarily strict laws that would be near-impossible to fully follow in the modern world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Judaism

[Ethel mermania]

1. That is what I said. The practice was stopped when xtian rulers, and later Muslim leaders killed us for it.

I think that, after over 1,000 years, it’s something we can say we don’t do. Especially considering the last time we did it we primarily targeted fellow Jews.

2. Saved is a really poor term, as there is nothing to be "saved". While we have repentance and mercy, actions in life have more of a bearing on the afterlife than any notion of repentance or acceptance of some sort of godhead as guaranteeing a happy afterlife.

I teach grade 9 world history in Florida. It’s pretty hard to hammer home the point that, in Greek mythology, “good people” didn’t go hang out with Zeus in the sky. It’s also hard to hammer home the point that Hades was not a place for “bad people.”
My points are 1) I’m well aware of Jewish theology on the matter, no need to explain it and 2) the concept of salvation in the afterlife is such a strong concept in western Christian thought that even the irreligious are intimately familiar with it.
And as such it became very easy to use the term “saved” growing up whenever my Christian friends would ask about what Jewish people believe regarding the afterlife. It was a cultural shorthand that got the broad idea across, if not the specifics. Seeing as I wasn’t training any of my friends for careers in Jewish theology? I think it was an effective way to explain Jewish belief on the matter in a way that fit their worldview.

3. The question i am asking of norse worship is do they use idolatry in their worship practice? I dont know the answer, but the answer impacts if we can call a faithful Norse pagan rightous. If they do, we cant, as idolatry is specifically forbidden in the laws of the noahide.

My point is that I don’t feel a need to proselytize to someone who finds their own spiritual fulfillment in somethng like Norse paganism.
Whether or not they’re “righteous” is up to G-d to decide. As I said, I’m unaware of the specifics of Norse pagan worship, but I don’t believe they used/use idols like the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Babylonians, etc... did.
Then again that gets into what one would consider an “idol” vs something else, which is a much larger discussion.

I would say that Moshe ben Maimon’s writings are worth a look. He held that idol worship itself wasn’t inherently sinful. Moreso what was sinful was the belief that G-d was corporal. Which he extended beyond the issue of idols, even arguing that fellow Jews had to be careful when referring to G-d as a King, Ruler, Judge, Architect, etc... These are metaphors that help us understand the Almighty rather than serving as accurate descriptions to our limited understanding of the universe.

1. We still do it targeting Jews, Chabad regularly sends out mitzvah tanks to various neighborhoods in the city. First they ask "are you jewish", if the answer is yes they very much encourage you to participate in rituals such as laying tefillin or during succoth shaking the lulav and estrog. (Which tbh I quite enjoy). If you answer no they say good day.

2. 9th grade history?!? You have my sympathy.

Using saved to describe a Jewish afterlife is still fundamentally wrong. The only proper way to describe it is almost the opposite of saved. We have no concept of salvation via a belief in the lord. Nor anything that matches a xtian heaven and hell.

3. To ask what is an idol is a fair question. I would answer an idol is a manifestation of God, not a representation of God. Xtians dont worship the cross as a God, so I would guess they could be righteous. Where a statue of diana was suppose to be her and worshiped as such, so i would say they couldn't be.

I wish to add, I much enjoyed reading your posts in regards to our past persecutions, I thought it was very well put.

[US-SSR]

Is alligator kosher? It sure is tasty.

For a moment I thought one of the poll choices was "Karate Jew." Dyslexics of the world, untie; you have nothing to lose but your chinas!

(Image)

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Pity. I was thinking alligator scutes might qualify as scales and since it lives more or less in water... Looks like the moving along the ground thing overrides that tho.

[Menassa]

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Pity. I was thinking alligator scutes might qualify as scales and since it lives more or less in water... Looks like the moving along the ground thing overrides that tho.

Yeah they're not fish so...

[Menassa]

Alligator is not kosher.

Leviticus 11:42
You are not to eat any creature that moves along the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is unclean.

Do people still unironically follow the entirety of Leviticus's laws, though?

'Cause last time I checked, it was still a bunch of unnecessarily strict laws that would be near-impossible to fully follow in the modern world.

Bet you didn't know that's where Kosher came from ^.^

[Reikoku]

I would disagree.
Is the person a Jew? If yes then yes, you have a point. They ought to worship G-d.
If someone is not of the tribe of Israel? There is nothing to suggest G-d expects them to follow our faith.

Of course, no gentile is expected to be of our faith.

However they are certainly not allowed to worship idols, or murder, or steal etc.

Does all polytheism fall under idolatry?

[Western Vale Confederacy]

Do people still unironically follow the entirety of Leviticus's laws, though?

'Cause last time I checked, it was still a bunch of unnecessarily strict laws that would be near-impossible to fully follow in the modern world.

Bet you didn't know that's where Kosher came from ^.^

I am aware that kosher came from Leviticus, but some laws in Leviticus are...slightly violent or unnecessarily harsh, not gonna lie.

[Menassa]

Of course, no gentile is expected to be of our faith.

However they are certainly not allowed to worship idols, or murder, or steal etc.

Does all polytheism fall under idolatry?

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.

Bet you didn't know that's where Kosher came from ^.^

I am aware that kosher came from Leviticus, but some laws in Leviticus are...slightly violent or unnecessarily harsh, not gonna lie.

According to your understanding, I'm sure they would be.

[Western Vale Confederacy]

Does all polytheism fall under idolatry?

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.

I am aware that kosher came from Leviticus, but some laws in Leviticus are...slightly violent or unnecessarily harsh, not gonna lie.

According to your understanding, I'm sure they would be.

I mean, I believe in God (a highly abstract interpretation of him though), and really, "don't be a douche" is the core of my moral belief.

[Menassa]

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.


According to your understanding, I'm sure they would be.

I mean, I believe in God (a highly abstract interpretation of him though), and really, "don't be a douche" is the core of my moral belief.

What a robust theology.

[Western Vale Confederacy]

I mean, I believe in God (a highly abstract interpretation of him though), and really, "don't be a douche" is the core of my moral belief.

What a robust theology.

It's worked for me so far.

[Reikoku]

Does all polytheism fall under idolatry?

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.

So there's never been righteous Gentiles, besides a few Noahides? Since even a lot of monotheist religions, like Christianity and Hinduism, would fall under idolatry.

[Menassa]

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.

So there's never been righteous Gentiles, besides a few Noahides? Since even a lot of monotheist religions, like Christianity and Hinduism, would fall under idolatry.

You're forgetting Muslims

And out of all the people who have ever existed on the planet? I'm sure there have been at least a few.

[Reikoku]

So there's never been righteous Gentiles, besides a few Noahides? Since even a lot of monotheist religions, like Christianity and Hinduism, would fall under idolatry.

You're forgetting Muslims

And out of all the people who have ever existed on the planet? I'm sure there have been at least a few.

"Judeo-Islamic gang rise up." - Menassa

It's a pretty hard conclusion for someone to naturally reach, since the paradigms are incredibly narrow.

[Ethel mermania]

Does all polytheism fall under idolatry?

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.
.

I thought idolatry was the very specific practice of worshiping idols as gods. No?

[Menassa]

You're forgetting Muslims

And out of all the people who have ever existed on the planet? I'm sure there have been at least a few.

"Judeo-Islamic gang rise up." - Menassa

It's a pretty hard conclusion for someone to naturally reach, since the paradigms are incredibly narrow.

I'm assuming of course that if you don't 'know' about God then you're probably fine. Like Amazonian tribesmen.

[Menassa]

Worshiping anything that is not God as God would fall under idolatry, even anger.
.

I thought idolatry was the very specific practice of worshiping idols as gods. No?

Not for Jews, for Jews it's a deeper concept than Just refraining from worshiping stone and wood. While those are the exemplars of idolatry and probably warrant the harshest response from God, there are other forms as well. Money over God, ego over God, etc.

[Ethel mermania]

I thought idolatry was the very specific practice of worshiping idols as gods. No?

Not for Jews, for Jews it's a deeper concept than Just refraining from worshiping stone and wood. While those are the exemplars of idolatry and probably warrant the harshest response from God, there are other forms as well. Money over God, ego over God, etc.

Well worship of money sure but no one literally worships money, or would agree they worshipped money, as say a follower of Baal would say. Yes I like Baal.

[Reikoku]

"Judeo-Islamic gang rise up." - Menassa

It's a pretty hard conclusion for someone to naturally reach, since the paradigms are incredibly narrow.

I'm assuming of course that if you don't 'know' about God then you're probably fine. Like Amazonian tribesmen.

Excuse me, got to go and hide the shintai.

[Menassa]

Not for Jews, for Jews it's a deeper concept than Just refraining from worshiping stone and wood. While those are the exemplars of idolatry and probably warrant the harshest response from God, there are other forms as well. Money over God, ego over God, etc.

Well worship of money sure but no one literally worships money, or would agree they worshipped money, as say a follower of Baal would say. Yes I like Baal.

Perhaps making money is more important to the given individual then the worship of God, as in, they put aside the mitzvos to make money?

[Saiwania]

Not for Jews, for Jews it's a deeper concept than Just refraining from worshiping stone and wood. While those are the exemplars of idolatry and probably warrant the harshest response from God, there are other forms as well. Money over God, ego over God, etc.

It is an easy pitfall for people that is understandable. Generally speaking, praying to God isn't going to keep someone from being hungry or give them shelter or health. Only spiritual strength is gotten. With high enough income or assets on the other hand, all of a person's social or material needs can be met. That has more impact for someone who just wants to keep surviving.

[Ethel mermania]

Well worship of money sure but no one literally worships money, or would agree they worshipped money, as say a follower of Baal would say. Yes I like Baal.

Perhaps making money is more important to the given individual then the worship of God, as in, they put aside the mitzvos to make money?

Well yes, that is how we would describe it.

Anyway it is nice to see you again, and a healthy and happy secular new year to you.

[Menassa]

Perhaps making money is more important to the given individual then the worship of God, as in, they put aside the mitzvos to make money?

Well yes, that is how we would describe it.

Anyway it is nice to see you again, and a healthy and happy secular new year to you.

Same to you my friend.

How is your health and that of your family?

Not for Jews, for Jews it's a deeper concept than Just refraining from worshiping stone and wood. While those are the exemplars of idolatry and probably warrant the harshest response from God, there are other forms as well. Money over God, ego over God, etc.

It is an easy pitfall for people that is understandable. Generally speaking, praying to God isn't going to keep someone from being hungry or give them shelter or health. Only spiritual strength is gotten. With high enough income or assets on the other hand, all of a person's social or material needs can be met.

"רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אוֹמֵר, כָּל הַמְקַיֵּם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מֵעֹנִי, סוֹפוֹ לְקַיְּמָהּ מֵעשֶׁר. וְכָל הַמְבַטֵּל אֶת הַתּוֹרָה מֵעשֶׁר, סוֹפוֹ לְבַטְּלָהּ מֵעֹנִי:

Rabbi Yonatan says: Anyone who implements the Torah in poverty, his end will be to implement it in wealth. And anyone that disregards the Torah in wealth, will in the end disregard it in poverty." (Ethics 4:9)