tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post113614031460944682..comments2024-03-18T03:40:39.185-04:00Comments on The Curious Jew: Circles in the SandChanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1136232484091564792006-01-02T15:08:00.000-05:002006-01-02T15:08:00.000-05:00There's so much to say, but I need to process it a...There's so much to say, but I need to process it all.rabbi neil fleischmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09733555336540451779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1136224303701164842006-01-02T12:51:00.000-05:002006-01-02T12:51:00.000-05:00Oh, Chana... how I see myself in you - if only I w...Oh, Chana... how I see myself in you - if only I was as sophisticated as you seem to be at your age. Yes, Of course I agree with you completely. Questions that question faith are forcibly silenced. I was raised by the Bais Yaakov education system. Questions were not allowed. I, however, without the strong parental backing, was unable to process what you have achieved now until I was a little bit older... in my early 20's. The thoughts were there... but concealed. I so admire your philosophical and talmudic mind. I admire your challenging nature. What a great blog.<BR/><BR/>About the child who lost her parents in the Sbarro bombing - it sounds to me like she was shell-shocked, the tragedy happening only too soon. I wonder if she isn't singing another tune now, years removed from what happened. I am sure her journey has led to many questions. A follow up essay should be in order with regards to her. It wont happen though because it may raise too many questions ;-)hence, defeating the purpose.<BR/><BR/>Back to your point: Don't you recognize that the way they teach us is directly due to fear? They know deep down that their sysem is flawed but in their minds (educational administrators) it is believed that if they can get us to blindly accept then most ffb orthodox children will continue to be orthodox. The few with enough mind to question dont matter in the grander scheme of things, they are allowed to fall to the wayside. They are afraid of losing their children to questioning. Unfortunately most follow blindly... sheep leading sheep. Yes, most teachers are not equipped to handle questions as they themselves dont question... when never going down that route how can they possibly handle even allowing questions? It would tear down their own fundamentals! Make them question themselves. Fear does not allow them to do that.<BR/><BR/>I loved your last line. That is Judaism to me too. That is what Torah Shbaal Peh is all about - the back and forth - the debate, the questions, etc etc. It is a shame that what the orthodox believe Judaism is today has become something it should have never become out of FEAR: A closed narrow minded way of thinking laced with intolerance and death = embarrassing those who ask.<BR/><BR/>I cannot wait to read more of what you have to say. You can also email me... Frumgirlsblog@yahoo.com.FrumGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06938604279533529932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1136219545873319792006-01-02T11:32:00.000-05:002006-01-02T11:32:00.000-05:00Firstly, thanks for the very thoughtful response.I...Firstly, thanks for the very thoughtful response.<BR/><BR/>I should have made this clearer- my problem with the girl's response was <I>not</I> that she said the deaths happened for a "reason," but that she specifically <I>knew</I> the reason- that God wants us to behave a little bit better.<BR/><BR/>It bothered me that she felt her parents were taken from her because God is trying to teach the world to behave better. <BR/><BR/>That's what I found unnatural.<BR/><BR/>I don't think children ought to agonize and never find peace, but neither do I think it's good to believe your parents were taken from you to teach others a lesson.Chanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1136187696879088282006-01-02T02:41:00.000-05:002006-01-02T02:41:00.000-05:00You're both right and wrong.Let's use the example ...You're both right and wrong.<BR/><BR/>Let's use the example of the child: The child professes that the deaths of her family must have happened for a reason; they were orchestrated by God.<BR/><BR/>You argued that this is not a natural response - but in fact, this is not the case.<BR/><BR/>All truly large questions in life are extremely difficult - whether about God, death, Judaism, etc. Let's use the girl: If she went through life questioning her parents' purposeless death, what conclusion would she come to? She would likely go crazy - there is no way for her to answer that question in her lifetime.<BR/><BR/>We are all searching for answers; but agonizing over the questions we are not capable of understanding, or not yet capable of understanding, is both pointless and foolish. The child's answer is wise beyond its years: Nothing happens for no reason. However, that does not mean we know the reasons. God knows what He's doing - we don't. Agonizing will solve little. Sure, there's usually grieving - and most children, and probably this girl, cry plenty over the lost of a loved one. I was at a funeral 6 months ago for my friend's mother, killed suddenly in a car crash (talked about today on my blog, actually). She had 10 children. One of the daughters, about 10 years old, was sobbing hysterically for days - but through it all, felt that there was good to be found in what had happened. It is a purely natural desire for those who are suffering to stretch out for the positives so their grief does not completely overcome them.<BR/><BR/>Sorry I'm cutting it short: I'm tired, and this isn't as clear as I'd like it to be. Intriguing post, however - iyH I'll link to it in my next roundup.<BR/><BR/>One last, unsolicited piece of advice: Be VERY wary of what you read on blogs, particularly Godol Hador and his ilk. I love GH, and gain a lot in my own Judaism from it; however, I have people who are experts in much of what he refers to to check issues with. It is impossible to not be affected by what you read, no matter how independent one is and how much they know. The younger you are, the more this is true - especially at your age (and I'm no old fogey - I'm 22). Often, the smarter you are, the more trouble you will find yourself having - it's impossible to describe the vast amount of knowledge necessary just to [truly] follow all that is happening in the fields to which he refers; it's even harder for the more intelligent, who are used to understanding everything upon first reading, to adjust. You can understand something perfectly and still miss the point.<BR/><BR/>Read it if you wish - but be careful!!Ezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494592434522239195noreply@blogger.com