Reply #18: and there lies my problem.... [View All]

[pelsar]

whereas i do mock religion, with its endless discussions of what is and what is not permitted), at the same time i understand the importance of the cultural/religious icons and traditions that keep it going, with its moral and value system. I go to my brothers house for some of the various holidays and sit quietly and watch how they go through the shabbat/holiday customs and know that it is the glue that keeps the next generations together (and they have a far closer family than i do, because of the religion)

and i have a rather long list of WASPS with big and small boobs, that i reluctantly did not get involved with because they werent jewish....the jewish identity being a strong component.....and i didnt want to put myself into a situation where i had to make some decisions that i would later regret.

which brings me to one of the more interesting reasons for moving to israel: knowing full well that i was going to have a hard time with the religious customs and the social network that goes with it, yet having a strong jewish identity......i figure that i could be a secular jew in israel, knowing full well that my kids get a good solid education and jewish identity...and that has come to pass. My kids have both jewish and israeli identities with a bit of social and capitalistic values "thrown in."

and whereas i do agree with you:
You may mock the cultists but the Hasidim will still be around in New York a hundred years from now, and in probably greater numbers

i also feel that israel with its secular but cultural jews will also be around....in some ways the IDF* takes the place, for many of us, of the religious customs and social network of Judaism outside of israel.

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i just remembered how once i came off of guard duty and entered the mess tent for dinner..it was the start of the passover ceremony, which no doubt would last an hour or so, not wanting to offend anyone there nor did i really want to participate, i turned around went back and did another 6hrs, freeing up the guy who took my place-i guess i got a mitzva for that as well.....