Jewish Musings, Tuesday, 11/29

[louise]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

[louise]

The weekend after the election I attended an interfaith service and this coming Sunday I am attending a meeting for Jewish and Islamic women – an all day thing with opportunities to learn together via classes and dialogue. So, this kind of subject is on my mind, as much because in this very upsetting time it’s a way to feel I’m doing something concrete, to reach out and work through differences and open to our similarities. On the Shabbat before Thanksgiving I got to hear Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger, who was visiting our shul, talk a little bit about reasons for interfaith dialogue and present some “Hasidic texts of Passionate Jewish Pluralism”. I would like to share some of that this week. Here are 2 of the reasons he presented for interfaith dialogue:

1. To broaden, deepen, and refine my understanding of God and Judaism
a) By having to articulate my own conception and Judaism and make it clear to outsider
b) By having to grapple with and respond to intellectual and moral challenges to Judaism from without
c) By exposure to brand-new ideas, interpretations and experiences that can help my Judaism grow
*Many within Judaism, especially among the Modern Orthodox and the Ultra- Orthodox, would disagree and would see a danger of dilution and syncretism
 
2. To expand my perspective of truth and of God
a) To learn to see God in all the world
b) To experience the truth that is found in other religions
c) To learn to experience the image of God in other people

I’m tossing these thoughts out to possibly give us a framework to hang some of our own thoughts on. I am especially attracted to this idea that through such dialogues we can learn not only about the beliefs of others but also broaden our understanding of ourselves and our own beliefs.

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well today. I am going to see a cardiologist early this afternoon to ask some questions. I am nervous but think it is the right thing for me to do. I want to find out if he thinks I need to get any tests done. My other doctors did not suggest this; I am going on my own initiative. Anyway, I will hope for the best.

Re interfaith experiences: Back many years ago, I volunteered to lead an English as a second language group for four Islamic women. I did not tell them at first that I was Jewish, but once we got to know each other, I did. To my surprise, they were very interested in me and my experiences. We ended up having a lot of interesting conversations as I helped them learn better English. I am glad that I was able to do this.

I'll be back later. Have a peaceful day, Lee

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! I love today's topic! I have always felt a need to learn to articulate my own beliefs in juxtaposition to someone else' belief, and, where religious conversation is concerned, to find common ground, or discuss the reason why there is no common ground (in a respectful manner - which will, in turn, bring us back to common ground!) There are things we think we "just know" (i.e. G-d is One)- discussing that with someone who is Christian helps me to articulate why I believe this, and what the nuances of my belief are.

Years ago, my niece taught at an English immersion school in China (she is an English teacher in Portland). She told us that the best discussions were always about comparative religions! No one was trying to convert or convince (well, perhaps some were), the students were curious, having grown up in a society that officially tolerated no religious beliefs, and everyone seemed to want to know how the beliefs of others impacted their own lives and how they handled themselves.

My car only cost $20 to fix! I'm thrilled! The guy just popped the dent out, the window works, the door opens & closes smoothly. They did ask if I wanted a paint touch-up (well, no, it's a very old car, there are little dings & dents here & there)

My niece txt'd me yesterday, wanting to know what they can do to help with the party. I'm glad people are getting involved - every little bit will help (and be much appreciated!)

Have a good day ladies!

[peachymom1]

I personally have never understood why anyone would feel threatened by someone's questions about their religion. If you are strong in your faith, you will welcome discussion, and if you're not strong in your faith, it's a great way to learn and strengthen it, if that is indeed your wish.

I think understanding what people believe, and why they believe it, is really the key to all of us being able to get along with each other. I find people's religious beliefs and ideas interesting and fascinating, even the ones I don't believe in myself, and I find that the more I try to understand people, the more they try to understand me. This is a wonderful thing.

Louise, I hope you'll share with us what you gain from Sunday's experience. I will look forward to that!

[hollygail]

No time! My student just got here... I have stuff to say. I'll BBL, but not until some of you are getting ready for bed... Sorry...

[lee058]

Hi again everybody. The appointment with the cardiologist went really well. I am going to get some tests done and probably have another sleep study (I had one three years ago), and then I will have more information about my health. I feel very good about that. Thanks for all your support!!!


Have a peaceful night, Lee

[happysavta]

Peachy wrote: "I think understanding what people believe, and why they believe it, is really the key to all of us being able to get along with each other."

People believe what they are taught to believe, generation after generation, until a few start to think for themselves, i.e. Abraham.



What Christian people used to be taught: The Jews killed Christ. All Jews, in all generations, are guilty of this murder. G-d no longer has a Covenant with the Jewish people. Non-Christians go to hell. Christian beliefs have, thankfully, evolved. It took a Holocaust, but the Vatican finally revised its teachings.


What Muslim people still believe today: The Koran says that the Kafir may be deceived, plotted against, hated, enslaved, mocked, tortured and worse. The word is usually translated as “unbeliever” . It says: It's OK to kill the kafir, the unbeliever. Also,it's OK to kill anyone who converts away from Islam.

Having lived in the Middle East for 10 years, I feel comfortable saying, No, we are not ever going to get along with a people whose religion condones and even espouses violence, brutality, intolerance, dominance, hatred and death. This religion has to reform itself away from its roots and beliefs. That's the only key to all of us being able to get along.

[hollygail]

More than 20 years ago, a Jewish progressive (or a progressive Jewish) organization brought two women from Israel, one Jewish, one Palestinian, to the US on a tour of presentations. They spoke (together) to gatherings of Jewish and non-Jewish audiences all over the US. They made many, many points, including that they had more in common than there were differences between them. I don't remember for sure whether the Palestinian woman was Christian or Islamic (it really has been a very long time), although I just realized I may know how to get in touch with one of the people responsible for their touring the US... I'll send her an email to ask and let you know what she says.

My point is I've worked in organizations over a good deal of my life that aimed/aim at having differing folks come together to reach consensus on various topics. Without dialogue, differences remain separate. Not a good way to live. For individuals, for the planet.

Nuff said...