The figures I mention would be quite surprised to hear and see some of the stuff that went on at 770 this year, and would be amazed at the fashion.

Reform Judaism dates from the mid-nineteenth century, which is only a hundred and fifty years ago. Conservative is a little younger because it was a reaction to Reform.

Electricity would not have made any sense to Moses until it was explained, and the ruling that it was fire, was explained. As Moses was smart, that would not take more than a few minutes.

The whole amazing thing is that there is a core unchanging vision. It is an invisible vision. Do you like the pun?

In any case you’re right Joseph would be interested in reading Shmarya’s bio. Any discussion about the way Judaism was intended to be practiced or how it was originally practiced needs to look at the controversy between the Orthodox and Beta Israel after Ops Moses and Sheba.

I like Kelsey and hope this generates some traffic for him.

Besides, I understand where Joseph’s coming from and would love to be able to agree with him since it would anchor me and take away so many of my doubts. Since I disagree but still believe I’ve been fair to the folks in these pics, I think he needs to read people who have a much harsher view. It’ll help with his perspective.

failedmessiah....

and

The Kvetcher.

2. Moses would have had a heart attack if he had seen how Maimonides was practicing. He would have been very curious about what these guys in the photo are wearing, though.

3. There’s a good chance that Moses would have been willing to click the camera and take the picture on Shabbat since he wouldn’t have perceived it to be “melacha.”

4. I am young. At heart.

5. I am not a member of the Reform movement. I am not a member of the Conservative movement either, although I pay dues to one of their synagogues right now. Labeling me isn’t going to get you far.

6. Don’t make me send you to Failed Messiah or The Kvetcher cuz then you’ll really take a fit.

2) I must have misread something for one of the previous posts. My sincere applogize for calling you young.

3) Good to know my point rings true.

4) Right again!! Good for you!

5) G-d forbid to even think they have taken away. Thats YOUR job as a member of the reform movement.

1. Reform have been around for 300 years, do you agree with their views as well since they’ve been practicing as Reform Jews for “hundreds of years?”

2. Although there is an image of a young woman at the top of this page, I happen to be a non-angry middle aged man.

3. Yes, I do act as if I know it all. Thanks for noticing.

4. I have no idea whether I’m observing Judaism the way it was meant to be observed, but chances are I’m not.

5. In my opinion, and I stress that this is my personal opinion and I don’t suggest for a minute that I am as learned in Torah or Judaism as the men in that photo – the older ones or the younger ones – they aren’t observing Judaism the way it was meant to be observed either. Parts of it? Certainly. But they’ve added and taken away quite a bit, in large part because the world itself, technology, societies, etc. have changed.

So, T Shirt Jews, be happy, go marry, and have lots of little T Shirt Jews. Do not say anything bad about the Bunny Suit Jews on the other side of town. They may dress oddly, but they are Jews, too. They live the Torah way, too.

I am not asking for Extreme Judaism. Sfad in the summer would be too hot for me, too. But I do the mitzvot, in my quiet little way. Anybody can learn that. It’s not torture at all. It’s better.

I am ALL FOR a not-especially-branded Torah-observant Jew. G-d’s commandments are the point. Not these brand names, like MO or OU or YI or this or that. They are great, and useful, but G-d did not mention them, and people may have to endlessly shop around, while trying to always do a bit more of G-d’s mitzvot, which WORK.

The shopping process may be lifelong. That is fine, as long as you keep doing the mitzvot, writing checks, and not talking bad about anybody.

But you have got to hand it to Chabad. They know their way of life is not for everybody, but, unlike most groups of any kind, they will do anything for anybody, EVEN THOUGH the person is just passing through, and will give little back, or nothing at all.

If Paris was worth a mass, having Jewish grandchildren is worth lighting two candles and forgoing a cheesburger. Shabbat is great. You can adjust to this. You would do a lot more, to have Jewish grandchildren, than singing and eating by candlelight with friends every week.

But of course they had such pictures, so really there is as I said, no point at all to this.

The lubavitch may not be perfect (who is?), but if it wasn’t for them, judiasm would be gone. They are having children and rebuilding the jewish community. How many children do reform jews have?

I have elderly relatives who lives in Crown Heights (neither Lubavitch or chassid). The Lubavitch neighbors have been so kind to them, loving and caring. Of course reform jewish neighbors (like me) would be just as good and kind.

They care for other jews because they’re jews. We shouldn’t trash them because they’re different. How many know they helped during Hurricane Katrina? They don’t ask if your religious or not, they only care that you’re a jew.

That being said, they have their own internal problems like every other jewish group.

Observant T-Shirt Jews of the world, unite!

It’ not about the wool-suiters vs. the t-shirters. I’m not as observant as you and… sigh… childless. But I’m not a t-shirt Jew. Because I don’t wear t-shirts. At least not t-shirts that read Yo Semite under a fir tree even if Sarah’s gonna get a bit of my Chanuka business this year Style-wise (sincerely) I’m more Chabadnik minus the hat. And when I take my friends’ kids to the playground I find it far from boring (although I understand if it’s not every day). If this stereotyping keeps up I’m going to become a bunny-suit Jew.