The Kosher Judaism Thread (2)

ChavaK said:

Um, I am confused with all these "he's"...
who wants to meet what gentleman, who wants to meet your son,
who wants to speak to your rabbi and who is scheduling you test?
and, what appointment?
sorry to be so dense!

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Okee Dokee! Sorry for all the pronouns. I shudda known better.

I met with Rabbi Block, who is part of the bet din overseeing my conversion, and who does two of the classes I attend. He needed to check my progress, to speak with me regarding my son, to talk with me regarding Jewish marriage and the gentleman interested in me, and to discuss my work situation. We spoke for about 45 minutes. We also talked about the interesting phenomena of my home turning into a meeting spot on shabbat for many in the shul, and how I'm making it a point to not only cook kosher for myself, but conspicuously not cook for Jews but only reheat or use the microwave. I discussed with him my area of greatest difficulty which is kol isha, and also my model for how to deal with it:

Rashi's grandson, also named Rashi, was also a rabbi. He beleived everyone had it all wrong about tefilin, that "bind them as a sign on your arm and they shall be as tefilin between your eyes" REALLY meant observe the laws with all the might of your arm and understand them with your intellect. At the same time he wrote this, he ALSO wrote treatises on how to correctly make tefilin. What do I learn from this? It's fine for me to have divergent opinions, so long as I still obey. That is my model. That is what I told Rabbi Block.

Rabbi Block would like to meet my son. He would like my gentleman to come to the next class with me. He would like Rabbi Hanoka of Chabad (who is sponsering me) to give him a call so that the two of them can discuss my progress. And he wants to schedule a formal oral test for the end of the month.

I realize that this test is not designed to pass or fail me, but to find out those areas where I am weak, so that I can be provided tutoring. But I still feel like EEEEEEK! I know it will be the hebrew terms that will screw me up. I know the concepts, but not the words.

GerTzedek said:

I discussed with him my area of greatest difficulty which is kol isha, and also my model for how to deal with it:

It's fine for me to have divergent opinions, so long as I still obey. That is my model.

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I totally understand. There may be things I do not understand, and there
may be things I do not agree with. But I still follow them

Rabbi Block would like to meet my son. He would like my gentleman to come to the next class with me. He would like Rabbi Hanoka of Chabad (who is sponsering me) to give him a call so that the two of them can discuss my progress. And he wants to schedule a formal oral test for the end of the month.

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Sounds like things are progressing quite nicely! Does your son live with
you? Is that going to be an issue? Or is he also considering conversion?

I realize that this test is not designed to pass or fail me, but to find out those areas where I am weak, so that I can be provided tutoring. But I still feel like EEEEEEK! I know it will be the hebrew terms that will screw me up. I know the concepts, but not the words.

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Like you say, this is to assess where you are at in your learning, and to
assess dedication and sincerity. I don't think a bet din is going to ever
fail a candidate that they have accepted, unless the candidate either
turns out to be insincere, or drops out on their own. They would have
weeded out people before accepting them for conversion.
don't worry about the terminology, I am sure they expect people to be
a little nervous, as well as not having all the lingo down yet

Let us know how it goes!

GerTzedek said:

Rashi's grandson, also named Rashi, was also a rabbi. He beleived everyone had it all wrong about tefilin, that "bind them as a sign on your arm and they shall be as tefilin between your eyes" REALLY meant observe the laws with all the might of your arm and understand them with your intellect.

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That interpretation is strongly associated with the Karaites. Of course, the laying of tefillin is different among the Ashkenazim and Sephardim, and many of aspects of this have been open to interpretation.

It's fine for me to have divergent opinions

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What do you get when you put two Jews in the same conversation?

Three opinions

Qalevra said:

That interpretation is strongly associated with the Karaites. Of course, the laying of tefillin is different among the Ashkenazim and Sephardim, and many of aspects of this have been open to interpretation.



What do you get when you put two Jews in the same conversation?

Three opinions

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Well it was like when I was indoctrinated in Roman Catholicism when I was young and it took years to figure out why it was just not a scriptureal denomination to me.

Ger was a Messianic Jew and I think a Christian before that so it may be awhile before he clears out all the cobwebs from those religious beliefs and to fully embrace and understand True Orthodox Judaism.

I would not have enuf time left in my life to do that myself. Thoughts? Shalom

LittleLambofJesus said:

Well it was like when I was indoctrinated in Roman Catholicism when I was young and it took years to figure out why it was just not a scriptureal denomination to me.

Ger was a Messianic Jew and I think a Christian before that so it may be awhile before he clears out all the cobwebs from those religious beliefs and to fully embrace and understand True Orthodox Judaism.

I would not have enuf time left in my life to do that myself. Thoughts? Shalom

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Part of the joy of Judaism (I think) is trying to understand things and talk with others about how to reconcile this or that. I've never met a Jew that was completely satisfied with his understanding of Judaism. I don't think even Rambam got to that point.

Another question: What do you get when you put two Israeli Jews in a conversation?

Three LOUD opinions

I promise...that's my last corny joke. I have no aspirations to be an Israeli Billy Crystal

weird kosher questions for ya guys (if you don't mind)

why is camel not kosher (it has that good cloven hoof thing and ruminates)??
and did you know that people are saying giraffe is kosher (though I'd venture to say not really common)? what do you think of that?

Welcome to NCR, Qalevra! I am not Kosher but we can still be friends.

ElsanRandiMom said:

weird kosher questions for ya guys (if you don't mind)

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Of course we don't mind! Feel free to ask questions anytime.

why is camel not kosher (it has that good cloven hoof thing and ruminates)

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There are two theories I have heard as to why a camel is not kosher.
The first is that it does not have a true split hoof; that it is a flat
hoof that is only partially split.

The other reason is that the camels hoof is not a true hoof but is a form
of nail. Since they walk on the pad of the foot and not on the nails,
similar to say cats and dogs- they are classified as not kosher. They
are, as far as nails go, related to dogs and cats. Animals that also have
nails, but don't walk on the pads- sheep, cows, horses- are considered
to have hooves. Whether they are kosher are not depends on if that
hoof is split.

and did you know that people are saying giraffe is kosher what do you think of that?

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A giraffe is kosher, but not something we eat. I have heard- and I don't
know if it true- that reason we don't slaughter them is because we
don't know where on the neck the cut should be made.
I sort of doubt that it is true because (and I am obviously not a shochet
so I am not versed in the halachah concerning it) it seems to me that
any place on the neck is appropriate for the cut.
My other guess would be that it just isn't practical to raise, slaughter
and eat giraffe and as a custom we don't do it.

Heart of Darkness said:

I was able to work my new word into conversation twice since learning it yesterday.

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Very cool!

ChavaK said:

A giraffe is kosher, but not something we eat. I have heard- and I don't
know if it true- that reason we don't slaughter them is because we
don't know where on the neck the cut should be made.
I sort of doubt that it is true because (and I am obviously not a shochet
so I am not versed in the halachah concerning it) it seems to me that
any place on the neck is appropriate for the cut.
My other guess would be that it just isn't practical to raise, slaughter
and eat giraffe and as a custom we don't do it.

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I never heard that about not knowing where to cut the neck. But I did learn that we don't eat it for the reason you mentioned and because we are only to eat animals for which there is a long tradition of having eaten them. This isn't the case with giraffes. (Which is also why we don't eat locusts either.)

Heart of Darkness said:

Welcome to NCR, Qalevra! I am not Kosher but we can still be friends.

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Sounds good to me!

weird kosher questions for ya guys (if you don't mind)

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The Kosher Judaism thread seems like as good a place as any to ask kosher questions.

Talmidah said:

I never heard that about not knowing where to cut the neck. But I did learn that we don't eat it for the reason you mentioned and because we are only to eat animals for which there is a long tradition of having eaten them. This isn't the case with giraffes. (Which is also why we don't eat locusts either.)

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I've heard it mentioned several times....even once if I remember
correctly, from a Chabad rabbi.

Actually, I just web surfed and here are two sites that mention the misconception
about not knowing where to shecht the giraffe:

http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/210/Q5/

http://www.kashrut.com/articles/giraffe/


I wouldn't want to eat a giraffe anyway, they are too cute!

ChavaK said:

I've heard it mentioned several times....even once if I remember
correctly, from a Chabad rabbi.

Actually, I just web surfed and here are two sites that mention the misconception
about not knowing where to shecht the giraffe:

http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/210/Q5/

http://www.kashrut.com/articles/giraffe/


I wouldn't want to eat a giraffe anyway, they are too cute!

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That's actually kind of funny (not knowing where to cut them). And I agree, they are really cute!

Talmidah said:

That's actually kind of funny (not knowing where to cut them). And I agree, they are really cute!

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Can you imagine trying to shecht one?
You'd need a really tall building!

LittleLambofJesus said:

Ger was a Messianic Jew and I think a Christian before that so it may be awhile before he clears out all the cobwebs from those religious beliefs

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Basically my journey has been a systematic stepping back in time, peeling off unecessary layers, until I found the foundation.

first 27 years: protestant
next 20 years: catholic
next 8 months: messianic judaism
current: seeking conversion to orthodox judaism

it should be noted that my inquiry into judaism began 15 years ago

I'll never even make a serious dent learning this stuff, I know that. I've begun too late in life. BUT, I'm sure having fun trying.

If I were rich I'd have the time that I like to sit in the synagogue and pray, and even have a seat by the eastern wall. And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men SEVEN HOURS EVERY DAY! And that would be the sweetest thing of all... Oy....

Last fall, a Los Angeles restaurant hosted a banquet featuring an unusual assortment of rare kosher animals, and giraffe was one of the items on the menu. I remember the advertisement set out at Young Israel.

Thanks for all the input. I think it's rather bizarre myself. I was thinking about the tall building thing myself . Is there anything else that you consider strange that actually IS kosher?

GerTzedek said:

Last fall, a Los Angeles restaurant hosted a banquet featuring an unusual assortment of rare kosher animals,

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Yuck..I prefer my kosher meat cooked longer- prefer medium to well-done.

ContraMundum said:

Yuck..I prefer my kosher meat cooked longer- prefer medium to well-done.

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LOL!!

ContraMundum said:

Yuck..I prefer my kosher meat cooked longer- prefer medium to well-done.

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LOL!!!