Author Topic: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?  (Read 11060 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« on: November 23, 2009, 05:59:02 PM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2009, 08:09:27 PM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.

Why would you want to do this? You are not Jewish....


Halacha is Jewish law which is applicable only to the Jewish people. You would better spend your time learning the intricacies of the Seven Noachide laws..

I dont think non-Jews should be reading Artscroll books....

You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline Lisa

  • Forum Administrator
  • Silver Star JTF Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9373
    • The Urban Grind
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2009, 08:10:50 PM »
I think she might be curious.  If I remember correctly, she once said something about having some Jewish ancestry?  Am I right?

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2009, 08:12:06 PM »
I think she might be curious.  If I remember correctly, she once said something about having some Jewish ancestry?  Am I right?

The best suggestion is to seek a competent Rabbi who can assess the situation. If he feels the intention is correct he can steer the seeker towards the proper information.

Just picking up a book doesn't make someone a Jew..


You might start looking at this site:

http://www.beingjewish.com/
You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2009, 08:15:07 PM »
What is Being Jewish?

Unlike some other religions, Judaism is not learned in one day. There was a man who wanted to learn all of Judaism in one minute. He went to Hillel the Elder (circa 100 B.C.E.) and asked to be taught all the Torah in the short time that he could stand on one leg. Hillel the Elder told him, in what is today the most often misquoted passage of the Talmud, "What you do not like, do not do to your friend. The rest explains it, go and complete it entirely."1

There are many ways of understanding this. Let me present you with one:

The Talmud teaches that a person should always, at every moment, consider himself at the very center of a balanced scale. If he does one sin, he could tip himself and the entire world to the side of negativity. If he performs one good deed, fulfills one Commandment of the Torah, he could tip the scale in the world's favor.2 The reason for this is because at any moment such an existence is a distinct possibility. If not the entire world, smaller segments, such as your city, your family, or even yourself. And even if you do one good deed, perhaps you balanced the world with that one act, and now you need to tip the scale so that the world is in a favorable state of goodness. So you need to do one more good deed.

So, everything could very well depend on the very action you do right now. Certainly you want the world to be in a positive state, and so you want people to do good deeds to bring the world to a positive state. And since that is what you want, you should do the same for others.

What are these good deeds? The Commandments of the Torah. Hashem did us a great kindness, by creating for us a means by which to bring spirituality to the world. Hashem arranged it so that when we fulfill a Commandment, when we study Torah, when we pray, we bring spirituality and holiness to the world and ourselves. This is a gift from Hashem.

Spirituality and holiness are necessary for the continued existence of the universe. So it is our responsibility to keep the world going. How do we do that? The Rabbis have taught us that "The world exists on three things: Torah, Service, and acts of kindness."3 And the Rabbis have taught that Hashem created the world for the sake of Israel and all who join the Children of Israel, so that we serve Hashem as He commands.4

So what is the nature of our responsibilities? What do we mean when we say "fulfill the Commandments of the Torah?" What do the "Commandments" entail?

Judaism, as taught in the complete Torah, that is, both the Written and Oral Torah, encompasses all of a human's life. The Torah teaches us: "In all your ways shall you know Him, and He will straighten your paths."5

This is why the Torah says

    And now, Israel, what is it that Hashem your G-d wants from you? Only that you fear Hashem your G-d, walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve Hashem your G-d with all your heart and soul, to guard the Commandments of Hashem and his Laws....6

The Mesillas Yesharim, a seminal work of Jewish thought, does an interesting treatment of these verses. He shows how these verses include all the aspects of perfect service of Hashem:

   1. Fear of Hashem.
   2. Walking in His ways
   3. Love of Hashem
   4. A complete heart
   5. Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment.

Let's now examine each of these:

Fear of Hashem: This means fear of the awesome and elevated glory of Hashem. We cannot imagine the Essence of Hashem, but we can at least be in awe of the glory of Hashem. There is a lesser level, Fear of Punishment. That's a respectable level of worship as well (and a great many people don't have even that), but it is good as a starting point. It is not the goal. As the Mesillas Yesharim puts it: We should be humbled before the greatness of G-d whenever we undertake to do anything, especially when we pray and study Torah.

Walking in His ways: This refers to proper development of our character traits. The Rabbis teach that we should emulate the virtues that the Torah says or implies Hashem has. For example, Hashem is merciful, so we, too, should be merciful. Hashem is gracious, so we, too, should be gracious. Hashem is holy, so we, too, should be holy. Just as Hashem buried the dead (Moses), so we, too, should bury the dead. Just as Hashem clothed the naked (Adam and Eve) and fed the hungry, so we, too, should do the same. Just as Hashem visited the sick (Abraham) and comforted mourners (Isaac), so we, too, should do the same.7 These are, of course, just a few examples of admirable traits.

This is not to say that any human can ever reach the level of Hashem in anything. A person's objectives should always and only be to reach his own full potential.

An important thing to remember about character traits is the fact that even a good character trait is wrong when it's inappropriate. You always have to take in the bigger picture. It's wrong, for example, to have mercy on a rabid animal that's running wild, killing everyone in its path. If you don't stop it by any means necessary, many people will be killed.

The Rabbis of the Mishnah summed it up this way: "What is the best guideline by which to develop one's character traits? The answer is: A character trait should serve a person well and also serve everyone else well." In other words, working for the best true good for everyone. What is the best true good for everyone? The Mesillas Yesharim points out: When a person works to strengthen the study and observance of the Torah, all the world benefits. If everyone would do this, all the world would find peace.

Love of Hashem: When someone has a deep-rooted and firm love of Hashem, he is always eager to bring joy and satisfaction to Hashem (so to speak). To help us understand this concept, Hashem gave us a similar situation with family members, such as parents or a spouse. When you love someone, you want to give them joy and satisfaction. When that person is in pain, you are in pain. In fact, you get annoyed or angry at anyone who hurts someone you love. And of course, you like and are appreciative to anyone who brings happiness to someone you love. You should love Hashem the same way, at least to the same degree, if not more. The Torah speaks of loving Hashem "with all your heart and all your soul."8 That's pretty intense and long-lasting.

A complete heart: This has a few meanings: For one thing, it means that your only intention in performing the commandments should be to serve Hashem. You should have no ulterior motives, or additional desires. And you should not do it half-heartedly, or by rote. Your full concentration should be on performing the Commandment and obeying Hashem's will. It also means that when you do something in service to Hashem, do it fully and entirely, and don't omit anything if you can help it.

But Hashem knows that we are just human beings. Many of us have not yet reached that level of performance yet. So the Talmud teaches us, "If you are unable to have the proper intentions when studying Torah or performing the Commandments, do it anyway. The power of Torah and fulfilling the Commandments will raise you and improve you until as a result you will merit reaching the level of pure Service."9

Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment: This means attempting to fulfill all the Commandments precisely and with each detail. The only way to know the details involved is to study the Oral Torah, the basics of which the Rabbis eventually recorded in the Talmud and other Rabbinical Writings. The Written Torah does not have all the details. The Written Torah is like brief notes to long lectures. It cannot contain all the information in full, but it has it in brief.

All of these five aspects of Service need a great deal of explanation and instruction, obviously. However, since they are part of the Oral Torah, we have a great deal of information about them in the discussions of the Sages, who have categorized and explained both the general categories and the finer details of all these issues.

It is possible, with Hashem's help, that I will someday write articles about all five aspects, but for now I will confine myself to discussion of fulfilling the Commandments. Of all these five elements, fulfilling the Commandments comes first.

Why? For a few reasons. First of all, we are required to fulfill the Commandments even if we cannot do them with love, fear, or a complete heart. Secondly, the Commandments themselves have the special ability to infuse us with the other aspects. The Torah mentions this in a number of places. For example:

    Hashem gave Moses instructions: Speak to the Children of Israel, and tell them: You shall make tzitzis (fringes) on the corners of your clothing. This Commandment is for all generations.... This shall be your tzitzis, and when you see them [dangling from your clothing] you will remember all the Commandments of Hashem and you will do them. Then you will not follow the desires of your hearts or your eyes, things after which you lust. This way, you will remember, and you will fulfill all My Commandments, and you will be holy to your G-d.10

The Torah here clearly states that doing the Commandments, even while we are still low enough to lust after things we see, makes us holy. That is the power of the Mitzvos -- the Commandments.

We find, also, that studying Torah, which is one of the most important Commandments, brings us fear of G-d. The Torah assures of this, when it commands all Jews --- women and children too --- to gather at the Holy Temple once every seven years and hear the Torah read to us.

    ....so that you hear, and learn, and fear Hashem your G-d, and you will be careful to fulfill all of the words of this Torah. Even their children, who cannot understand, will hear, and they will learn to fear Hashem your G-d....11

Likewise each and every one of those five aspects of Judaism can be reached through the study of Torah and the performance of the Mitzvos. The Rabbis have taught us that "Whoever knows Torah, Jewish Law, and has good character traits, is less likely to sin. Whoever knows neither Torah, nor Jewish Law, and also has a bad character, is detrimental to society."12 In order to perfect ourselves for our own benefit, and for the benefit of society in general, we need to study Torah, Jewish Law, and have good character traits. We also need to perform the Mitzvos, because, in the words of the Rabbis, "Whoever has learned Torah but does not fulfill what he has learned will lose what he has learned."13

It is, in fact, a Jewish doctrine that the only way to reach any true spiritual development at all is through Torah and Mitzvos.14

So what are those Commandments? Well, I hope to get to that too, Hashem willing. But first there's the matter of faith and belief. That's the next in this series of discussions: What do Jews believe?
You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline The One and Only Mo

  • Ultimate JTFer
  • *******
  • Posts: 4963
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2009, 12:42:01 AM »
What is Being Jewish?

Unlike some other religions, Judaism is not learned in one day. There was a man who wanted to learn all of Judaism in one minute. He went to Hillel the Elder (circa 100 B.C.E.) and asked to be taught all the Torah in the short time that he could stand on one leg. Hillel the Elder told him, in what is today the most often misquoted passage of the Talmud, "What you do not like, do not do to your friend. The rest explains it, go and complete it entirely."1

There are many ways of understanding this. Let me present you with one:

The Talmud teaches that a person should always, at every moment, consider himself at the very center of a balanced scale. If he does one sin, he could tip himself and the entire world to the side of negativity. If he performs one good deed, fulfills one Commandment of the Torah, he could tip the scale in the world's favor.2 The reason for this is because at any moment such an existence is a distinct possibility. If not the entire world, smaller segments, such as your city, your family, or even yourself. And even if you do one good deed, perhaps you balanced the world with that one act, and now you need to tip the scale so that the world is in a favorable state of goodness. So you need to do one more good deed.

So, everything could very well depend on the very action you do right now. Certainly you want the world to be in a positive state, and so you want people to do good deeds to bring the world to a positive state. And since that is what you want, you should do the same for others.

What are these good deeds? The Commandments of the Torah. Hashem did us a great kindness, by creating for us a means by which to bring spirituality to the world. Hashem arranged it so that when we fulfill a Commandment, when we study Torah, when we pray, we bring spirituality and holiness to the world and ourselves. This is a gift from Hashem.

Spirituality and holiness are necessary for the continued existence of the universe. So it is our responsibility to keep the world going. How do we do that? The Rabbis have taught us that "The world exists on three things: Torah, Service, and acts of kindness."3 And the Rabbis have taught that Hashem created the world for the sake of Israel and all who join the Children of Israel, so that we serve Hashem as He commands.4

So what is the nature of our responsibilities? What do we mean when we say "fulfill the Commandments of the Torah?" What do the "Commandments" entail?

Judaism, as taught in the complete Torah, that is, both the Written and Oral Torah, encompasses all of a human's life. The Torah teaches us: "In all your ways shall you know Him, and He will straighten your paths."5

This is why the Torah says

    And now, Israel, what is it that Hashem your G-d wants from you? Only that you fear Hashem your G-d, walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve Hashem your G-d with all your heart and soul, to guard the Commandments of Hashem and his Laws....6

The Mesillas Yesharim, a seminal work of Jewish thought, does an interesting treatment of these verses. He shows how these verses include all the aspects of perfect service of Hashem:

   1. Fear of Hashem.
   2. Walking in His ways
   3. Love of Hashem
   4. A complete heart
   5. Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment.

Let's now examine each of these:

Fear of Hashem: This means fear of the awesome and elevated glory of Hashem. We cannot imagine the Essence of Hashem, but we can at least be in awe of the glory of Hashem. There is a lesser level, Fear of Punishment. That's a respectable level of worship as well (and a great many people don't have even that), but it is good as a starting point. It is not the goal. As the Mesillas Yesharim puts it: We should be humbled before the greatness of G-d whenever we undertake to do anything, especially when we pray and study Torah.

Walking in His ways: This refers to proper development of our character traits. The Rabbis teach that we should emulate the virtues that the Torah says or implies Hashem has. For example, Hashem is merciful, so we, too, should be merciful. Hashem is gracious, so we, too, should be gracious. Hashem is holy, so we, too, should be holy. Just as Hashem buried the dead (Moses), so we, too, should bury the dead. Just as Hashem clothed the naked (Adam and Eve) and fed the hungry, so we, too, should do the same. Just as Hashem visited the sick (Abraham) and comforted mourners (Isaac), so we, too, should do the same.7 These are, of course, just a few examples of admirable traits.

This is not to say that any human can ever reach the level of Hashem in anything. A person's objectives should always and only be to reach his own full potential.

An important thing to remember about character traits is the fact that even a good character trait is wrong when it's inappropriate. You always have to take in the bigger picture. It's wrong, for example, to have mercy on a rabid animal that's running wild, killing everyone in its path. If you don't stop it by any means necessary, many people will be killed.

The Rabbis of the Mishnah summed it up this way: "What is the best guideline by which to develop one's character traits? The answer is: A character trait should serve a person well and also serve everyone else well." In other words, working for the best true good for everyone. What is the best true good for everyone? The Mesillas Yesharim points out: When a person works to strengthen the study and observance of the Torah, all the world benefits. If everyone would do this, all the world would find peace.

Love of Hashem: When someone has a deep-rooted and firm love of Hashem, he is always eager to bring joy and satisfaction to Hashem (so to speak). To help us understand this concept, Hashem gave us a similar situation with family members, such as parents or a spouse. When you love someone, you want to give them joy and satisfaction. When that person is in pain, you are in pain. In fact, you get annoyed or angry at anyone who hurts someone you love. And of course, you like and are appreciative to anyone who brings happiness to someone you love. You should love Hashem the same way, at least to the same degree, if not more. The Torah speaks of loving Hashem "with all your heart and all your soul."8 That's pretty intense and long-lasting.

A complete heart: This has a few meanings: For one thing, it means that your only intention in performing the commandments should be to serve Hashem. You should have no ulterior motives, or additional desires. And you should not do it half-heartedly, or by rote. Your full concentration should be on performing the Commandment and obeying Hashem's will. It also means that when you do something in service to Hashem, do it fully and entirely, and don't omit anything if you can help it.

But Hashem knows that we are just human beings. Many of us have not yet reached that level of performance yet. So the Talmud teaches us, "If you are unable to have the proper intentions when studying Torah or performing the Commandments, do it anyway. The power of Torah and fulfilling the Commandments will raise you and improve you until as a result you will merit reaching the level of pure Service."9

Observance of the Commandments and Laws of each Commandment: This means attempting to fulfill all the Commandments precisely and with each detail. The only way to know the details involved is to study the Oral Torah, the basics of which the Rabbis eventually recorded in the Talmud and other Rabbinical Writings. The Written Torah does not have all the details. The Written Torah is like brief notes to long lectures. It cannot contain all the information in full, but it has it in brief.

All of these five aspects of Service need a great deal of explanation and instruction, obviously. However, since they are part of the Oral Torah, we have a great deal of information about them in the discussions of the Sages, who have categorized and explained both the general categories and the finer details of all these issues.

It is possible, with Hashem's help, that I will someday write articles about all five aspects, but for now I will confine myself to discussion of fulfilling the Commandments. Of all these five elements, fulfilling the Commandments comes first.

Why? For a few reasons. First of all, we are required to fulfill the Commandments even if we cannot do them with love, fear, or a complete heart. Secondly, the Commandments themselves have the special ability to infuse us with the other aspects. The Torah mentions this in a number of places. For example:

    Hashem gave Moses instructions: Speak to the Children of Israel, and tell them: You shall make tzitzis (fringes) on the corners of your clothing. This Commandment is for all generations.... This shall be your tzitzis, and when you see them [dangling from your clothing] you will remember all the Commandments of Hashem and you will do them. Then you will not follow the desires of your hearts or your eyes, things after which you lust. This way, you will remember, and you will fulfill all My Commandments, and you will be holy to your G-d.10

The Torah here clearly states that doing the Commandments, even while we are still low enough to lust after things we see, makes us holy. That is the power of the Mitzvos -- the Commandments.

We find, also, that studying Torah, which is one of the most important Commandments, brings us fear of G-d. The Torah assures of this, when it commands all Jews --- women and children too --- to gather at the Holy Temple once every seven years and hear the Torah read to us.

    ....so that you hear, and learn, and fear Hashem your G-d, and you will be careful to fulfill all of the words of this Torah. Even their children, who cannot understand, will hear, and they will learn to fear Hashem your G-d....11

Likewise each and every one of those five aspects of Judaism can be reached through the study of Torah and the performance of the Mitzvos. The Rabbis have taught us that "Whoever knows Torah, Jewish Law, and has good character traits, is less likely to sin. Whoever knows neither Torah, nor Jewish Law, and also has a bad character, is detrimental to society."12 In order to perfect ourselves for our own benefit, and for the benefit of society in general, we need to study Torah, Jewish Law, and have good character traits. We also need to perform the Mitzvos, because, in the words of the Rabbis, "Whoever has learned Torah but does not fulfill what he has learned will lose what he has learned."13

It is, in fact, a Jewish doctrine that the only way to reach any true spiritual development at all is through Torah and Mitzvos.14

So what are those Commandments? Well, I hope to get to that too, Hashem willing. But first there's the matter of faith and belief. That's the next in this series of discussions: What do Jews believe?
Can I put this on Facebook?

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2009, 08:33:06 AM »
I copied that from the beingjewish site... I dont know if it is the most legal thing to cross-post it on facebook... Im sorry if I didn't give attribution for it..


You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline The One and Only Mo

  • Ultimate JTFer
  • *******
  • Posts: 4963
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2009, 11:34:06 AM »
Facebooked. It's worth it if people read it.

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2010, 07:57:22 PM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.

Why would you want to do this? You are not Jewish....


Halacha is Jewish law which is applicable only to the Jewish people. You would better spend your time learning the intricacies of the Seven Noachide laws..

I dont think non-Jews should be reading Artscroll books....



Muman, how would you know? From what I have studied my grandmother was Jewish and had Jewish grandparents. It is a bit arrogant for you to assume to know. More so, my husband has a Jewish lineage that we didn't know about until recent. I have done research and God is calling me as he is calling many others to learn.

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2010, 08:24:57 PM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.

Why would you want to do this? You are not Jewish....


Halacha is Jewish law which is applicable only to the Jewish people. You would better spend your time learning the intricacies of the Seven Noachide laws..

I dont think non-Jews should be reading Artscroll books....



Muman, how would you know? From what I have studied my grandmother was Jewish and had Jewish grandparents. It is a bit arrogant for you to assume to know. More so, my husband has a Jewish lineage that we didn't know about until recent. I have done research and G-d is calling me as he is calling many others to learn.

I do not 'know' but I am relating to you what I learned. You mention that you have a grandmother, hopefully your maternal grandmother, who you believe to be Jewish and your Husband may have Jewish blood. If so you may have the Jewish spark. I do recognize conversions, and I have first hand experience with it in my own life {my wife converted}.

We believe that those who want to convert were present, spiritually at least, at the giving of the Torah at Sinai. But I am hoping that you sincerly want to be a Jew. The Jewish people believe we are married to Hashem, we are his bride and he is our husband. We have a marriage contract, called the Brit, which we received at Mount Sinai when the Voice of Hashem was heard by all 3Million Jews.

I know you are sincere through my experience with you. I will only warn you that it is difficult to follow all the commandments. If you seek to be a full Jew you should be prepared to accept the mitzvot without fully understanding. Some mitzvot you may have easy understanding of why you do them, like Shabbat. Other mitzvot are harder like not eating forbidden foods {especially a convert who may have taste for pork}. Luckily I never had a taste for ham, though I did like the taste of bacon when I was not observant.

There is an excellent course for Jews who want to learn about Judaism at Aish.com.

It is not meant for conversion especially, but I have recommended it to some people who wanted to convert.

http://www.aish.com

Read this incredible story : http://www.aish.com/sp/so/93663419.html
« Last Edit: May 23, 2010, 08:35:22 PM by muman613 »
You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2010, 07:44:44 PM »
Yes, Muman, it is my maternal grandmother.

Offline Lisa

  • Forum Administrator
  • Silver Star JTF Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9373
    • The Urban Grind
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2010, 09:37:11 PM »
Yes, Muman, it is my maternal grandmother.

Interesting, Momofsixbabes.  What religion does your mother practice? 

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2010, 04:06:59 PM »
Catholic, but I left it. Do you ask as being friendly or with other motives?

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2010, 04:08:32 PM »
But grandmother's parents weren't Catholic. They only became Catholic because of the persecution of the Catholic church (she said).

Offline Lisa

  • Forum Administrator
  • Silver Star JTF Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9373
    • The Urban Grind
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2010, 05:44:46 PM »
I don't care either way, Mom of six.  I was just curious.  Judaism goes through the mother's side of the family. 

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #15 on: June 02, 2010, 05:55:42 PM »
Our words are so telling and revealing about our character.

Offline muman613

  • Platinum JTF Member
  • **********
  • Posts: 29958
  • All souls praise Hashem, Hallelukah!
    • muman613 Torah Wisdom
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #16 on: June 02, 2010, 06:07:17 PM »
Our words are so telling and revealing about our character.

MomOfSixBabes,

I think everyone here is supportive of your spiritual journey. I do not think that Lisa even implied anything wrong in her words.

You shall make yourself the Festival of Sukkoth for seven days, when you gather in [the produce] from your threshing floor and your vat.And you shall rejoice in your Festival-you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, who are within your cities
Duet 16:13-14

Offline momofsixbabes

  • Senior JTFer
  • ****
  • Posts: 293
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #17 on: June 02, 2010, 06:35:52 PM »
our words should be seasoned with grace and kindness, neither are found here.

Offline cjd

  • Silver Star JTF Member
  • ********
  • Posts: 8996
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #18 on: June 02, 2010, 06:50:45 PM »
our words should be seasoned with grace and kindness, neither are found here.
Muman has been more then helpful to you you and Lisa did not say anything that was wrong. You come here every few months with this same story line. If you don't like the response your getting why do you keep beating a dead horse. I would like to know exactly what faction of the Catholic church was still forcibly converting people in the last few hundred years. My enquiring mind would like to know.
He who overlooks one crime invites the commission of another.        Syrus.

A light on to the nations for 60 years


Offline Kahane-Was-Right BT

  • Honorable Winged Member
  • Gold Star JTF Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12581
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #19 on: June 03, 2010, 02:20:20 AM »
Yes, Muman, it is my maternal grandmother.

Well, Mazal tov, you're Jewish.   :)    Welcome to the fold.

Offline Ben m

  • Master JTFer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #20 on: June 03, 2010, 02:33:40 AM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.
go to school in israel for a bible lesson.this is the best advice i could give you.
enemies:negroes,musulmans and commies/liberals.
alleis:israel,united states,canada,european union,greater serbia,russia,australia and new zealand and japan/south korea and india.togheter we maight win this war.

Offline IsraeliGovtAreKapos

  • Ultimate JTFer
  • *******
  • Posts: 4384
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #21 on: June 03, 2010, 02:58:31 AM »
Yes, Muman, it is my maternal grandmother.

Well, Mazal tov, you're Jewish.   :)    Welcome to the fold.

Same here
G-D bless you sister!

Offline IsraeliGovtAreKapos

  • Ultimate JTFer
  • *******
  • Posts: 4384
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #22 on: June 03, 2010, 02:59:17 AM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.
go to school in israel for a bible lesson.this is the best advice i could give you.
The worst advice ever
go to your local Chabad/Torah websites such as http://yeshiva.org.il

Offline Kahane-Was-Right BT

  • Honorable Winged Member
  • Gold Star JTF Member
  • *
  • Posts: 12581
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #23 on: June 03, 2010, 04:02:58 AM »
Which direction would you direct me to learn about Jewish laws and lifestyle? I am checking out books from the library without finding what would really help. I would like to learn more.

Thanks.
go to school in israel for a bible lesson.this is the best advice i could give you.

LOL.

Where they ignore several thousands of years of tradition and explanation of the verses and invent their own so-called "interpretation?"   Give me a break.  That is the worst advice you could possibly give someone and is the sure-fire way to cause someone to misunderstand the Torah.

Offline Ben m

  • Master JTFer
  • ******
  • Posts: 1150
Re: Direction for learning Jewish laws and life?
« Reply #24 on: June 03, 2010, 08:08:14 AM »
what so bad in israeli schools? i think we are the only country in the world were bible is a requirement for a matriculum.
enemies:negroes,musulmans and commies/liberals.
alleis:israel,united states,canada,european union,greater serbia,russia,australia and new zealand and japan/south korea and india.togheter we maight win this war.