RabbiO

By way of further explanation, there often appears to be a perception among non-Jews that Judaism is monolithic, that one can, if one knows Judaism, provide THE Jewish understanding, THE Jewish position, THE Jewish explanation, THE Jewish way of seeing and doing. Although there are some within the Orthodox community who might say otherwise, the truth is that very, very often there are a multiplicity of Jewish viewpoints that are considered equally valid. I go back to the midrash I have mentioned before regarding a heated dispute during the time of the Second Temple between the School of Shammai and the School of Hillel. The views were diametrically opposed to one another. Nevertheless there came a voice from heaven declaring - אלה ואלה דברי אלוהים חיים Elu v'elu divrei elohim chaim These and these are the words of the living G-d. In other words, both positions were valid.

There is a story told about Calvin Coolidge, otherwise known as "Silent Cal." Supposedly he was seated next to Dorothy Parker, the famous writer/critic, at a dinner. The story goes that Parker remarked to him, "Mr. President, I have a bet that I can get more than two words out of you." Coolidge looked at Parker, said simply, "You lose," and then went back to eating his dinner. What I wrote was not a riddle, it was an accurate statement as to whether or Judaism has a position regarding reincarnation.

Reread my post and then get back to me.

Judaism has nothing to say about reincarnation and denies it out right. Judaism believes in reincarnation and has a great deal to say about it. Any other questions??

Well, enjoy your festival.

I had to look that one up. You have engaged in a teaching moment and I in a learning moment. Not the worst way to slide into a new year.

May we all in the year to come - as we seek to better connect with ourselves, our loved ones, our community, our world and, however we perceive it, the Source of All - find strength and goodness and wisdom and peace. שנה טובה ומתוקה

R.A. - Considering that when it comes to Greek it is --- all Greek to me, I may not be the best person to respond to this, however..... My understanding is that the Greek word used ἔθνη, ethnos, basically means nation or nations. The question then arises what does the term mean within the context of the verse and how best to express that in translation. Translation is an art not a science and I would agree that there is no totally neutral translation as we all bring "baggage" to the task. Within the context of the verse it appears that there is a comparison made between Jews and non-Jews. In that sense, ἔθνη could be translated as non-Jews even though it is obviously not the literal translation. The dictionary - good ol' Merriam-Webster - basically describes pagan and heathen as synonyms, defining same as one who does not believe in the G-d of the Bible, which, at the time of the Bible, would describe (most) non-Jews. Furthermore, that then also makes non-believer an acceptable translation. Personally I would not choose gentile as a translation even though within the context of the times it might make sense because the word as it has come to be used, although it does mean non-Jew (except to Mormons), it no longer carry the connotation of non-believer in the G-d of the Bible. As to Strong's, I don't have the cite, but it seems to me that the Hebrew word equivalent would not be גר, ger, stranger, which your cite indicates, but rather, גוי, goy, nation.

Personally, I think the key is the first part of the verse which, in the Hebrew, has a double play on words.

Regarding a response from "one of our Jewish members" - why do I get the feeling that it's going to be me? Well, I guess we'll all have to wait until after Shabbat.

mark 45, on 25 June 2011 - 06:29 PM, said: i think one of our jewish members could better advise you on the hebrew part.if i'm not mistaken,supposedly proverbs was solomons advice to his son(david?). I was wondering the same thing.

My bad, it's halakhah.com, I left out the second "h"

www.halakah.com

I hear Maine is lovely this time of the year.

For a change I'll let the other Jewish members on the forum answer before I post a response. I'm presuming, of course, that I'm not the only one left who identifies as such.

For those who observe this solemn day in the Christian calendar, may G-d be with you.

Somebody's been reading their haggadah again! Michael, I can use all the strength I can get, which is what you wished for me with yasher koach. If you wanted to thank me you could have said "todah" or if you were really really grateful you could have said "todah rabbah." In any event I appreciate the appreciation!

Passover begins this coming Monday evening. Fawzo, your concerns as expressed in years past are duly noted. My friend, one day when we take that walk I have promised, and we will take it, we can chat at length about them, although I am sure there will be some who will still feel the need to rant now about Israel's G-d and this holiday. For all those who celebrate: חג פסח שמח

It seems to me to be proper etiquette that if one wants to reprint, virtually in total, someone else's work - in this case Tom Bradford - that one should give proper attribution to that individual.

I don't know. I've never met a beverage that was addicted to alcohol! (Sometimes one just has to channel Emily Latella!)

גימטריה Gematria. (I know. Another long winded rabbinical response. Sorry. I just get carried away with words.)

My friend, I prefer this simple prayer, adapted from Fiddler on the Roof - "May G-d bless and keep the Westboro Baptist Church --- far away from us!" As you probably are aware, the WBC is not terribly fond of Jews either. (Actually, since the membership of the church is made up primarily of the Phelps family members, I'm not sure that they are fond of too many people.)

Check back with me on Rosh HaShannah.

Not meaning to appear dense, but have you ever tried to teach, let alone discuss, the finer points of theology, philosophy, art, music, psychology, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, history etc. with the family dog. I suspect that if you have you probably lost Rover somewhere before you finished the first sentence. Yes, we are far more intelligent than the family dog. Yes, we know more, understand more and we learn and understand more each and every day. But the truth remains, assuming that the G-d I serve exists, that we remain in the same position vis-a-vis G-d in trying to understand, as Rover stands with us. As I have noted before, a quintisential statement regarding G-d is the quote from Isaiah - כִּי לֹא מַחְשְׁבוֹתַי מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵיכֶם, וְלֹא דַרְכֵיכֶם דְּרָכָי--נְאֻם, יְהוָה "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways," says Adonai.

Not this time - not enough colors in the ice cream to compete with the rainbow - but I do love the avatar, although I'm still partial to Sylvester!