I posted a question to see if there were any fellow Reform Jews here. I also mentioned that having attended both Reform and Orthodox synagogues, I personally prefered the former, because in the Orthodox shuls I went to, the women were always tucked away behind the mechitsa where they just sat and chatted. This was my personal opinion and experience.
In response, ST has now stated that my opinion is 'anti semitic and self hating'.
Er, I always thought 'anti semitism' meant hating Jews! What have I said that is racist?
It's because of ST that some non Jews feel we over-use the term 'anti semitic'.
What do you think, please?
2007-11-23 06:17:31 · 39 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Israel
Last sentence should read: 'it's because of people like ST that some people feel... etc'.
2007-11-23 06:24:41 · update #1
B - I like your answer, you make a good point here!
2007-11-23 06:34:10 · update #2
BEATME - oh, I understand only too well. But evidently YOU don't understand sarcasm!
Mama_pajama - great!
2007-11-23 10:17:41 · update #3
Obviously the person doesn't know what racism is. I read your thoughts in question with interest at the time and even did a little research on the issue of mechitsa as a consequence. I read on an Orthodox site that it is not even clearly kosher, so I don't know what all of the fuss is about in the first place. Now, if you said I don't like the Ten Commandments or something maybe people could say you're anti-Judaism, but being racist is something else altogether. In any event, you merely expressed your personal thoughts on a controversial issue. Don't get worked up about it.
PS- I hope you read my response
EDIT: PSS- That was supposed to say I hope you read my response on the "Can Christians and Muslims tell me why..." question regarding your response to me.
2007-11-24 06:01:56 · answer #1 · answered by MBC 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Princeton:
You see?!
You're a little bit racist.
Kate Monster:
Well, you're a little bit too.
Princeton:
I guess we're both a little bit racist.
Kate Monster:
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...
Princeton:
But I guess it's true.
Kate Monster:
Between me and you,
I think
Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.
Princeton:
Now not big judgments, like who to hire
or who to buy a newspaper from -
Kate Monster:
No!
Princeton:
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican
busboys should learn to speak goddamn English!
Kate Monster:
Right!
Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!
Princeton:
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.
Kate Monster:
Okay!
Princeton:
There's a plan going down and there's only
one paracute. And there's a rabbi, a priest...
Kate Monster:
And a black guy!
Gary Coleman:
Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate?
Kate Monster:
Uh...
Gary Coleman:
You were telling a black joke!
Princeton:
Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.
Gary Coleman:
I don't.
Princeton:
Well, of course you don't - you're black!
But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?
Gary Coleman:
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!
Princeton:
Now, don't you think that's a little racist?
Gary Coleman:
Well, damn, I guess you're right.
Kate Monster:
You're a little bit racist.
Gary Coleman:
Well, you're a little bit too.
Princeton:
We're all a little bit racist.
Gary Coleman:
I think that I would
Have to agree with you.
Princeton/Kate Monster:
We're glad you do.
Gary Coleman:
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -
All right!
Kate Monster:
All right!
Princeton:
All right!
Gary Coleman:
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white
All:
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.
Princeton:
Oh, Christ do I feel good.
Gary Coleman:
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!
Princeton:
Who?
Gary Coleman:
Jesus Christ.
Kate Monster:
But, Gary, Jesus was white.
Gary Coleman:
No, Jesus was black.
Kate Monster:
No, Jesus was white.
Gary Coleman:
No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-
Princeton:
Guys, guys...Jesus was Jewish!
Brian:
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?
Gary Coleman:
Racism!
Brian:
Cool.
Christmas Eve:
BRIAN! Come back here!
You take out lecycuraburs!
Princeton:
What's that mean?
Brian:
Um, recyclables.
Hey, don't laugh at her!
How many languages do you speak?
Kate Monster:
Oh, come off it, Brian!
Everyone's a little bit racist.
Brian:
I'm not!
Princeton:
Oh no?
Brian:
Nope!
How many Oriental wives
Have you got?
Christmas Eve:
What? Brian!
Princeton:
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!
Christmas Eve:
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!
Brian:
I'm sorry, honey, I love you.
Christmas Eve:
And I love you.
Brian:
But you're racist, too.
Christmas Eve:
Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!
Princeton:
Me too!
Kate Monster:
Me too!
Gary Coleman:
I can't even get a taxi!
All:
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!
Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!
2007-11-23 12:16:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Er, I always thought 'anti semitism' meant hating Jews! What have I said that is racist?
Since semite means a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa
it certainly does not mean 'hating Jews' only.
As far as your question it doesn't sound like you are a racist. Self hating? Likely not that either.
2007-11-23 07:00:15 · answer #3 · answered by ~~∞§arah T∞©~~ 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I wasn't even going to respond to this question since I don't think it is an appropriate question for Y/A even though I recognized the statement that provoked it as ignorant and insulting.
HOWEVER..I will use this as an opportunity to try to educate the poster whose name is unpronouncable who posted in ignorance that antisemitism can refer to anything other than Jew hate.
That IS the definition of the word..Jew hate. For well over a century, this word that was coined specifically for that purpse has had that as its only meaning.
It does not refer to any other semitic languaged based people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism
Other definitions are below.
Unfortunately there has been attempt to hijack the meaning to somehow imply that Jews can be "antisemitic" of Muslim Arabs. If the term means Jew hate, unless they're Muslims who have converted to Judaism as st has done, it would be impossible to apply the correct, standard and only defintion for that word to such a hate. Hate is wrong. I wish antisemitism didn't exist. I wish all bigotry didn't exist.
I also wish people would stop trying to obfuscate issues by perverting the meaning of words.
Or at least educate themselves with a dictionary before they try to "correct" another.
To correct another misconception. Judaism discourages people converting on a whim but all sincere converts have always been welcome to Judaism. At one time evangelizing was actually done, but not in the manner that Christianity employs it..until it became illegal to do and then the custom was to discourage it to determine the sincerity of the convert.
Since converting to Judaism is about adopting a change of life, not simply a change of who you pray to or what you believe, it is something not taken lightly and requires study before formal conversion.
Converts are then considered every bit as much Jewish as one who was born Jewish. I am not familiar with the steps it takes to convert actually, it is one area of Judaism I have little knowledge, but I do have rabbi friends with great information should someone wish to consider it.
http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org/ has a link on the lower left somehwere about conversion issues.
And please, for those who think antisemitism can mean anything other than Jew hate..read the dictionary :)
EDIT : I think it is reprehensible that an attempt to maintain clarity of language and educate about the definition of a word was perverted by false accusation and attempt turn this into a debate! That was vile inuendo to insinuate that by denying that the meaning should be changed entirely, I'm somehow condoning bigotry to any people of "semitic" origin! That is begging the question and bad analogy. Comparing it to the use of the word "colored" is also spurious. What is the need to fallacious debate techniques when there is simply nothing to debate!
There is nothing bigoted or wrong about educating others as to the definition of a word!
Shalom
2007-11-23 07:22:44 · answer #4 · answered by ✡mama pajama✡ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Of course your not a raist, there nothing wrong with being a reform jew. And anti semitic is completely over used. Its become a racist term itself, to say that jews deserve there own special defintion of racism, that happens to be applicable to way more than anyone elses racism, is racist.
2007-11-23 06:25:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I personally, am neither reform, conservative, or orthodox. I would classify myself as past conservative---almost orthodox. As a resul, I feel more comfortable in orthodox synagogues. But so what? As long as each level of observance keeps its intended goal and continues to hold Judaism, who cares. Also, I am a Sfaradi Jew, and I attend an Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue. Wow. So what? I am fortunate enough that I am well-versed in both nusach Sfaradi and nusach Ashkenazi, a fact that I am proud of because I can walk into any synagogue in the world, may it be in Israel, USA, Thailand, whatever and pick up a siddur and easily follow along. That's the beauty in Judaism. We don't have different "sub-religions" or denominations within the greater extent of the religion. We have only levels of observance, and slight differences in customs. On the whole, Judaism is surely a single, united religion and way of life.
Remember that we Jews are the most united nation and religion on G-d's Earth. Let's keep it this way, it's been working for over 4,000 years.
2007-11-23 06:47:08 · answer #6 · answered by Ultra N 2 · 4⤊ 5⤋
You are not being a racist - I figure this is either a misunderstanding on the part of ST on what you wrote or he might be out to lunch - either way your question wasn't racist and/or anti-semitic.
Good Luck!!!
2007-11-23 06:42:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
lol you're not anti semitic, i think reform is really good. i wish we had reform islam.
mama_pajama just because the word has traditionally been used to mean hating jews doesn't mean that's right. the term ''couloured people'' has also been used to refer to black people for a long time until people realized it was a bigoted term. Anti-Semitic should include all semitic people esp. today when all people that look middle eastern are discriminated against. Or are you saying that it is only appropriate to aknowledge discrimination against jews, but not, say, an arab christian or an arab muslim ?
2007-11-23 06:32:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
The people who shout racist or rascim are usually the ones to cause arguments about them when racism wasnt meant, and are usually the biggest racists of them all, dont worry about ST. Let him or her get on with it. Dont loose no sleep.
2007-11-23 06:28:47 · answer #9 · answered by rosettayelow 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. You should attend the synagogue of your choice. Generally you make a choice based on your opinions which are formed by your experience. Anyone who wants to limit your choice of worship (and accuses you of self-hating) is not for you. He/she wants to control you. Do what you know is right and let those who disagree deal with it.
2007-11-23 06:23:20 · answer #10 · answered by CUrias 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋