The TSR Jewish Society (J-Soc) - thread TWO

Sure. And hi. And welcome. Etc.

That's for sure. Why Egypt? And Arabic?

The majority are Orthodox certainly here in the UK though I'm not sure the same can be said in the US. I am Orthodox yes.

Interesting question. I wouldn't call myself necesarily a self-hating Jew, but I tend to be very critical of the way American Jewry works. To me, it seems more about being at war with people, and defending ourselves against a seeming threat than it is about celebrating our relationship with the world and our G-d. That's why I stay away from USY (United Synagogue Youth, the Conservative Youth group) and it's why I left Jewish school after eighth grade. I'm just too fed up with this militancy that I see every day. "We need to fight ____!" "We need to discuss this issue, because ___ are suffering." "How does this parsha relate to our brothers in Israel?"

I think we American Jews, perhaps Jews around the world, have lost sight of our obligation to Tikkun Olam--making the world a better place.

Why do I want to study Arabic? It interests me, and I like it. Why do I want to move to Egypt? Because that's where I can learn Arabic. Why do I study German? Because I like it. Why did I spend the summer living with Germans, who no doubt had relatives who were Nazi soldiers? Because I like them.

I'm not trying to prove anything. I'm just trying to persue my passions, love my G-d, and make this world a better place.

Fair enough. There's nothing wrong with learning Arabic and German; it just seems like you're trying to prove (and this isn't necessarily a bad thing) that you don't hold a grudge despite past events regarding these nations and Jews, etc.

Question: Is there a big following of the Conservative Movement in Britain?

That's what I'm saying. It would seem that I'm trying to undo the past, or do these things as a way of "knowing the enemy" (as many put it). I'm just this huge language nerrrd, and the study of those two langauges is something that just appeals to me. I like Arabic because it's so close to Hebrew, but in many ways a lot prettier and it might get me a job at some point. I like German because it was something different from the three years of Spanish I had had earlier.

I wouldn't really care that much, it's just that a lot of people jump to the conclusion that I have these saintly motives, and I'm hardly a saint.

Question: Is there a big following of the Conservative Movement in Britain?

Why have JSoc started a new thread? What's wrong with the old one? Did i miss something?

Hey guys, I'm back! For a week! Woo. What an amazing Shabs - snow + home Gemz, I'm postponing sending that letter until I find some decent randomness to rival yours...which is gonna be hard...

The old one had too many posts. I think when there are over X posts in a thread it gets closed. Because one day I just saw it was closed. And it was like... Hence, the new one. So subscribe to this instead.

Threads with 10,000+ posts get closed because of the strain they put on the server

Yup.

Yeah it is a good site actually. Who needs Jerusalem online when you can go in person though? Bring on the summer. *ahem*

WOOO MILZ! Hi.

You have snow?! Not fair. *sulks*

Hmph. How long will it be postponed for?!

Hehe yeah we had 2 days where it hardly stopped snowing. But now I'm back in your fave place it's all gone I guess snow stays away from Mancs, just like all civilised human brings do...

I'll post it before school starts again