Common misconceptions

ChavaK · May 12, 2011

Are there common misconceptions about your faith that you hear from people?

Regarding Judaism, two that I have heard:

-food is kosher because a rabbi blesses it
-Chanukah is when Jews celebrate the birth of Jesus doh

Elionai · May 12, 2011

If I stated the ones I've heard lately about my faith/my wife's denomination I'd never hear the end of it going by the atmosphere in here lately lol

yedida · May 12, 2011

One that we MJ/Gs get that also get hung on the Jews is that we are obeying Torah to earn salvation and favor.

visionary · May 12, 2011

Yeah.. the idea that obedience to Torah is dis'in our Lord's grace...blows me away

yedida · May 12, 2011

ChavaK said:
Are there common misconceptions about your faith that you hear from people?

Regarding Judaism, two that I have heard:

-food is kosher because a rabbi blesses it
-Chanukah is when Jews celebrate the birth of Jesus doh

Gosh, Chava, I'm slow!! It's just hit me, you gotta have an awful busy rabbi and a really worn out one to boot if he's gotta run to all your houses at least once a day 7 days a week to kosherize (bless) your foods!!!! Does his wife ever complain he's never home?

visionary · May 12, 2011

yedida said:
Gosh, Chava, I'm slow!! It's just hit me, you gotta have an awful busy rabbi and a really worn out one to boot if he's gotta run to all your houses at least once a day 7 days a week to kosherize (bless) your foods!!!! Does his wife ever complain he's never home?

I didn't even visualize that one until you said this..

ChavaK · May 13, 2011

yedida said:
Gosh, Chava, I'm slow!! It's just hit me, you gotta have an awful busy rabbi and a really worn out one to boot if he's gotta run to all your houses at least once a day 7 days a week to kosherize (bless) your foods!!!! Does his wife ever complain he's never home?

Ah, the trick is he gets to eat after he blesses the food! So he eats out all
the time, which makes it much easier on his wife. She doesn't have to cook or clean up dishes, and that means more time spent with hubby!

Gxg (G²) · May 13, 2011

ChavaK said:
Are there common misconceptions about your faith that you hear from people?

Regarding Judaism, two that I have heard:

-food is kosher because a rabbi blesses it
-Chanukah is when Jews celebrate the birth of Jesus doh

The one I've often seen is that anything regarding Judaism being connected with Rap or Rock is of the world...though many within Judaism do this already.

YouTube - Rock 'n' Roll Rabbis demo

ChavaK · May 13, 2011

Easy G (G²);57463313 said:
The one I've often seen is that anything regarding Judaism being connected with Rap or Rock is of the world...though many within Judaism do this already.

Interesting video! I'm not sure I understand your comment though-can
you elaborate?

Gxg (G²) · May 13, 2011

ChavaK said:
Interesting video! I'm not sure I understand your comment though-can
you elaborate?

Glad that you were blessed by the video. On my comment, where I was seeking to come from is how often people make it seem like Jewish believers/converts to a Messianic viewpoint are only allowed to sing songs that were native to the Jewish culture. Thus, for those Jews who are very artistic and love differing cultures, they feel like they are forced to be boxed in. Many Messianic congregations have made clear that anything related to Rock & Roll or Rap/Urban style music is not acceptable in worship.....and yet many feel as if Jewish believers have adapted to differing places on multiple occasions.

In the event that I'm not making full sense, I shared more in another thread I made on the subject---as seen here. Additionally, I'd recommend investigating the following articles on the issue.

For more info, one can consider going online and looking up articles under the following names:

Matisyahu: Uplifting, Idiosyncratic Reggae

Tikkun Magazine - Zion Riddims

The Making of Jewmaicans

AWAKE ZION screening

[ AWAKE ZION ]

ReelChanges.org : AWAKE ZION

"Rastafarians and Jews rock steady in 'Awake Zion'",

Reggae's reigning Chassid | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern ...

Get Down, Moses: Upstart local Jewish musicians weave a coat of many colors

Hoping this makes more sense. Essentially, one can imagine going down the block wearing a Jewish scarf and singing Bob Marley style songs....and then having someone say, "You can't be Jewish!!!! Jews only sing Hymns and Reggae is only for those Island folks!!"

MessianicMommy · May 13, 2011

There are really too many to mention. One was that I shaved my head, or felt I needed to wear plain dress because I cover my hair. And why was I wearing jewelry? If I cover my hair, aren't I not allowed to wear jewelry and gold? (like the Anabaptist groups)

Others thought because I covered my hair, that I am Muslim.

I've had people ask and be quite shocked about the range of music I listen to (thinking because I dress conservatively, that perhaps we also don't have a television, or listen to music. (I LOVE TV, Movies and music - yes, we have three TVs, only two we use regularly)

I've had others think that perhaps I will have many children, one right after the other.
They've expressed concern because my two children are so close in age (it was not planned that way) or that we somehow have an idea we need to be like the Duggars.

I've had some assume that I will homeschool (which is against the law here), and end up like the Germans that have unsuccessfully (and illegally) challenged the law here, and gone to live in Tennessee, or that somehow I am connected to the cult group in Bavaria ( 12 Tribes ).

I've had people who think because we keep a biblically kosher lifestyle and I have celiac disease, that we are vegetarian. (I suppose like the SDA?) We are not vegetarian by any means.

I've had others that assume we are not allowed to own household pets, because they are "unclean animals".

Some things were *really* off the wall.

ChavaK · May 13, 2011

MessianicMommy said:
One was that I shaved my head

There are some Jewish women (notably most Satmars) who do that, so maybe that is where they got the idea from.

Others thought because I covered my hair, that I am Muslim.

I know a Jewish woman who covers her hair in the same style that Muslims do. She isn't even married, so I have quite figured it out and I felt it too
rude to ask. I am sure she gets mistaken as a Muslim all the time. Another friend used to cover her hair with a snood but tired of all the dirty looks from people who assumed she was Muslim so she went to a hat or sheitl.

I've had others that assume we are not allowed to own household pets, because they are "unclean animals".

That can be an issue for Jews, not that they are "unclean" but because they are muktzah, and an issue to feed during Pesach.

Some things were *really* off the wall.

Here is one that's off the wall, and since we are all adults here, I'll mention it.....the belief that Orthodox Jews have marital relations through a hole in a sheet. I've heard that one several times, and so have many of my friends.

ChavaK · May 13, 2011

Easy G (G²);57463404 said:
On my comment, where I was seeking to come from is how often people make it seem like Jewish believers/converts to a Messianic viewpoint are only allowed to sing songs that were native to the Jewish culture

Gotcha, thanks for clarifying.

LittleLambofJesus · May 13, 2011

Easy G (G²);57463313 said:
The one I've often seen is that anything regarding Judaism being connected with Rap or Rock is of the world...though many within Judaism do this already.

YouTube - Rock 'n' Roll Rabbis demo

YouTube - roller boogie clip.avi

yonah_mishael · May 13, 2011

ChavaK said:
That can be an issue for Jews, not that they are "unclean" but because they are muktzah, and an issue to feed during Pesach.

Muktzeh (מוקצ&#1492 refers to things that you are not allowed to handle on Shabbat and festivals because handling them could lead someone unwittingly to desecrate the day.

For example, a pencil is muktzeh on Shabbat, since handling a pencil (or pen) might make you unwittingly start writing something. You have no need to handle a pencil except for writing, so why do you need to handle it on Shabbat?

Flashdrives and other electronic devices are considered "muktzeh" on Shabbat, as are animals outside of your house. I've never understood anything to say that a pet is muktzeh (since it's like one of your family), but it's certainly true that feeding a pet chametz-based pet food during Pesach is a real problem.

(ChavaK, I know you're aware of all of the issues. I just didn't know if other readers would know what muktzeh was.)

ChavaK · May 13, 2011

I've never understood anything to say that a pet is muktzeh (since it's like one of your family)

Oh sure, most poskim rule that pets are muktzeh although there are some lenient positions.

Gxg (G²) · May 13, 2011

LittleLambofJesus said:
YouTube - roller boogie clip.avi

That's funny....but then again, if Jesus was attending a social event such as a wedding, I don't see why others would be tripped out at pastors who like to skate board.....or surf, for that matter. Not all ministers simply preach behind a pulpit.

xDenax · May 13, 2011

ChavaK said:
Here is one that's off the wall, and since we are all adults here, I'll mention it.....the belief that Orthodox Jews have marital relations through a hole in a sheet. I've heard that one several times, and so have many of my friends.

I heard it too from someone I never thought would believe something so silly.

yonah_mishael · May 13, 2011

xDenax said:
I heard it too from someone I never thought would believe something so silly.

Isn't that what they say about Mormons, too? Do the Mormons have relations through holes in sheets? I really did hear that.

It's often the case that people think ALL KINDS of things about those whom they are unfamiliar with. I'm not familiar enough with Mormon customs to know what's true and what's untrue. I know this definitely isn't a Jewish custom.

anisavta · May 13, 2011

I so appreciate Allison Josephs and Jew in the City Jew In The City.
She puts out blogs and videos to break down the misconceptions of Orthodox Judaism.

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