Sarx

I met with a Rabbi on Thursday who made it quite clear that conversion, per se, isn’t necessary for a Gentile. Unlike the Christians and the Muslims, the Jews don’t have sense of “evangelism”. We had a nice conversation and he suggested I read a book – now out of print – which I found [...]

The writer makes it clear that Vatican Blind to the Dangers of Its Liturgies or else dishonest. For a German churchman to say, “I must say that I don’t understand why Jews cannot accept that we can make use of our freedom to formulate our prayers” — that is a load of crap. I note [...]

This is a “leap year” in Judaism: there are two months of Adar. Normally one would say, “Be Happy, it’s Adar.” But my understanding is that, this year, that would be next month, in Adar II. (I may be wrong.) But Purim is next month – in Adar II. I note that this moves the [...]

Here’s the rest of the earlier post “Is it really the Torah… I was on my way out the door when I got the email that led me to that post over on the Chabad website. It’s been a long day of car-related errands (Mom and Dad coming this weekend). Here’s why that Chabad post [...]

I believe in my heart that the Five Books of Moses and the Prophets are from G‑d. When it comes to the Talmud, however, I am beginning to believe it was made up over the centuries to control the Jewish believer with all its added laws. The rabbis add scores of laws to each of [...]

Thanks to Avi, I’ve been reading Emet Ve-Emunah: Statement of Principles of Conservative Judaism. Conservative Judaism is not a Creedal or Confessional Religion (none of Judaism is, I think). Judaism – as I’ve been reading of it – is, like Anglicanism, a propositional religion. There are certain “out of bounds”, but mostly it’s not defined [...]

The Lyrics for Eden Mi Qedem’s Desert Call By Sh’muel We’re born into the sand, Palms stretched out, infinite hands For generations generations the same call, Constantly reminding us what here for. We’re walking on the edge, Of holding on and letting go, From with out from within ourselves    beyond our minds, Subtly answering us [...]

Peter asked me a question on an earlier post. A question I’ve been harbouring for some time now is, what do you think of Y’shua? Did he exist? What role does he play in your mind, heart, understanding now? It was the perfect question for me to get this morning with my coffee. It prompted [...]

I received a very wonderful phone call asking about my conversion to Judaism. Specifically wondering, “Where are you?” It was a wonderful phone call because it resulted in 2 hours of chat and a new friendship. But if a stranger can ask that question – open invite to ID yourself, btw – what must my [...]

Interesting link made over at Trial & Error, answering a question I’ve had for quite sometime. One sort of standard Jewish Blessing begins: Blessed are you, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by your commandments (B’mitzvatav) and has commanded us (V’etzivanu) to… (something). Those commandments – Mitzvot – are [...]