Comments on Codex Reperio: The Challenge of the Hour

brother,that is the most fervant agreement I've re...

2006-11-20T14:29:00.000+01:00

brother,
that is the most fervant agreement I've read in a while. ; )
you feeling a bit lonely in the rich judaica that is singapore?

the solidarity existing in the jewish community is...

2006-11-18T19:41:00.000+01:00

the solidarity existing in the jewish community is indeed linked to the history of violent prejudice against jews (not to the 'idea of it', but to the living memory of events, that has been passed on through generations).

the 'closeness' becomes more apparent also because the Judaic religion does not support converting people from other beliefs. This comes in sharp contrast with the Christian an Muslim practices, which leads people of the later religions to view jews as 'self-suficient'

that aside - except for ultra-orthodox jews, intefaith dialogue as been continously encouraged in almost all communities. This is directly linked with the usual approach to jewish education, which is heavily based on enquiry, research, debate.

It's an interesting question. One point to note is...

2006-11-16T12:33:00.000+01:00

It's an interesting question. One point to note is that they are almost all Ashkenazim. I think I've only ever met a handful of Sephardim in Melbourne and they tended to be a lot more easy-going...

No idea why it is... but I've always thought it had more to do with blood, the strict separation between Jews and Gentiles. Ie. it doesn't matter if you never go to the synagogue and eat pork on Saturday... if you're Jewish then you're on of us. In the same way as, I suppose, the Chinese community is very supportive of Chinese people, where they come from, be it mainland China, Singapore, Thailand or Jamaica...

Thanks for your story bro! Interesting to hear tha...

2006-11-16T11:02:00.000+01:00

Thanks for your story bro! Interesting to hear that their isn't much assimiliation in the melbourne Jewish community (which is the biggest in Oz right?). I wonder why? Maybe the high percentage of holocaust survivors support a more closed, defensive community?

Haha, sounds more like an essay question to me. Th...

2006-11-16T05:22:00.000+01:00

Haha, sounds more like an essay question to me. The wikipedia article is interesting but my thoughts are based on my own experiences with the Jewish community.

I was born in Russia and ever since my family migrated to Melbourne we have always lived in traditionally "Jewish" areas. This is most Russians who migrated to Melbourne around our time were, in fact, Russian Jews. So we've always had close ties with the Jewish community.

Now perhaps it's just the Jewish community in Melbourne, but it is very insular. The Jews that I was friends with were only friends with other Jews, only discussed their religious beliefs with other Jews and were generally of the opinion that Jews need to stick together because anti-semitism, and later, militant Islam are widespread.

So thus, I came to believe that the admirable solidarity within the Jewish community is partly founded upon the idea that there has been violent prejudice against Jews for a long long time and that is not about to end. And I suppose if you go through a Holocaust and the countless other acts of violent repression over history, such an idea can instil itself in your community.

So yes, my point was... I just haven't seen many examples of Jews reaching outside their own community.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_views_of_relig...

2006-11-15T17:26:00.000+01:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_views_of_religious_pluralism#Modern_.28post-Enlightenment_era.29_Jewish_views

Perhaps you could explain more on what you mean by insularity in judaism and what relation that would have for desiring or lacking desire for interfaith dialogue. I got that question in a fortune cookie once- a strange meal.

the link didn't come up properly so I couldn't fol...

2006-11-15T14:54:00.000+01:00

the link didn't come up properly so I couldn't follow it. In any case, that's not what I meant. I'd be surprised if an educated western anyone would be against inter-faith dialogue. I just found it interesting given Judaism's insularity.... or so I perceive it.

I dont see how the fact that Judaism doesn't encou...

2006-11-15T14:00:00.000+01:00

I dont see how the fact that Judaism doesn't encourage proselytizing to gentiles, suggests in any way that an educated western Rabbi would be against interfaith dialogue. In fact, considering the history of anti-semitism I think it is very likely.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_views_of_religious_pluralism

man and he was speaking here in melbourne too. tha...

2006-11-14T18:15:00.000+01:00

man and he was speaking here in melbourne too. that's great. I find it interesting particularly that this push for inter-faith dialogue and acceptance is brought up by a Jewish man. Of the three Abrahamic religions mentioned, Judaism is clearly the most insular and closed off to the outsider...