tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post116882337477265286..comments2024-03-18T03:40:39.185-04:00Comments on The Curious Jew: I Write Into SilenceChanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1169510827501775322007-01-22T19:07:00.000-05:002007-01-22T19:07:00.000-05:00Ah, were it that I had the time to read each and e...Ah, were it that I had the time to read each and every one of your posts.... Oh, and you know what keeps those monsters squeezed into the confined spaces within brains, roaring within, and never getting the proper attention? It's the shidduchim thing, of course.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1169393071296549882007-01-21T10:24:00.000-05:002007-01-21T10:24:00.000-05:00thank you chana. i wish there were more like you....thank you chana. i wish there were more like you. do not be afraid to daven in english. do not be afraid to question, but you know this. you are much older than your 18 years and i wish you the strength .. i do agree you need to find a mentor (pref female) who can help you. as you get older and the questions multiply and increase in complexity, having a trusted person beyond your parents or your current circle will help you about every and anything. you are a strong woman chana. never forget that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168916034828023442007-01-15T21:53:00.000-05:002007-01-15T21:53:00.000-05:00Torah is Truth,You know me personally? This is a b...Torah is Truth,<BR/><BR/>You know me personally? This is a bit odd. I actually took your comment the way the Anonymous who defended me did, for which I thank him/ her. <BR/><BR/>Regarding direction- why don't my parents suffice? If you know me personally, you ought to know that I don't trust teachers for personal direction. I expect teachers to teach me material thoroughly and well, to help me understand various topics and sources, and to urge me to become more adept in their area of expertise. But asking teachers to "guide me" in the areas of life direction is not how I work; in fact, at this point in time it would take a miracle for me to "trust" my teachers' advice for my spiritual health. <BR/><BR/>It is the people who really know me, who choose to know me and whom I respect and known in return, that I turn to for guidance. My parents, for one. And one or two other extremely special people.<BR/><BR/>While it is gratifying to know you are worried about me, if you truly know me you ought to know that I cannot trust teachers for spiritual guidance, and what is more, you ought to know why.Chanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655144434904957767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168911454953533202007-01-15T20:37:00.000-05:002007-01-15T20:37:00.000-05:00Your acute self-awareness and bold candor are a br...Your acute self-awareness and bold candor are a breath of fresh air in the blogosphere. <BR/><BR/>Having said that, I believe you are misidentifying your monster. You identify open-mindedness to opposing, agnostic, or even atheistic religious views as the monster. <BR/><BR/>I beg to differ. <BR/><BR/>The monster is, instead, the possibilty that religion and the creator is really and absolutely true, and that we may have to commit our lives to such a truth. This is by far the most terrifying decision a person can ever make.<BR/><BR/>I do not disagree that facing the possibility of trading your family comfort for almost certain ostracization by peers and family (for adopting contrary religious views) is tantamount to facing a monster. <BR/><BR/>But, there are monsters and there are monsters. The monster you speak about is a midget. The giant monster, the really petrifying one from which 99% of grown ups flee is comitting wholeheartedly to religion.<BR/><BR/>Of course, most of our parents and colleauges may be "religious." But that's not really religion; that's empty goblygook. Most religious duties are performed in a merely perfunctory manner (Mitzvas Anashim Melumodo). Most of our religious life is performed out of rote, and was inculcated by family environment and peer pressure.<BR/><BR/><BR/>In my mind, the real monster is <B>not</B> the challenge or examination of religion. Instead, it is the fear of --as you put it so eloquently in your previous post -- "subjugation to G-D". What such a belief entails is truly scary; one who achieves such a state is the greatest hero of all.<BR/><BR/>The truly petrifying thought is allowing ourselves to internalize the idea that there is an Elokim Chaim, who loves us and who demands <A>so much</A> of us (though, ultimately, we profit the most from it --l'fum tzara agra). The demands such a truth places upon us is infinitely more traumatizing than de-legitimatization by family and peers. Ostracization by peers is a temporal and external event, with the protaganist usually able to find a substitute in like-minded people. The --oh so rare-- person who truly commits to living a Torah or religious life, with <I>all</I> and every one of its ramifications (don't look at me :) is the truly heroic and courageous. (Sorry for the preachy, patronizing and prosletyzing tone :). )<BR/><BR/><BR/>In my mind, the larger than life hero is someone who -- as opposed to the religious masses -- looks at religion in the eye and shakes it out for everything it's worth. <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>(Worry not. I don't plan on obnoxiously commenting on every post of yours :) . I have neither the time nor the patience (or the knowledge for that matter) to coherently opine on every pichefke you post. However, as the subject matter in your last two posts is something close to my heart, I took the liberty to suggest an alternative view. <BR/><BR/>Now don't you dare slack off! <BR/><BR/>Keep 'em coming! :) )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168907394406529412007-01-15T19:29:00.000-05:002007-01-15T19:29:00.000-05:00Anonymous,I believe you misunderstood me. I did no...Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>I believe you misunderstood me. I did not mean to imply that Chana is incompetent, nor did I mean to "assume" anything about Chana. In fact, I believe that Chana is extremely competent and extremely capable and extremely talented. On this I am sure we both agree.<BR/><BR/>What I meant when I suggested that Chana finds someone to guide her in her quest is as Daat Y said. As Daat Y put so concisely, all truth seekers need direction. Contrary to what Descartes (I think it was him) thought, man is not a tabula rusa. All people are biased one way or another, and yet all people are convinced that their truth is the only truth. And sometimes these biases can be blinding, whether the person recognizes it or not.<BR/><BR/>It is for this reason that I suggested to Chana to find someone who can guide her in her quest, a mentor if you will. Chana, if you will please remember, is only eighteen years old. That does not mean to look down upon this age, for indeed it is mature in itself. But this maturity is not enough to find truth on its own, for there are those who are 102 years wiser than her.<BR/><BR/>That being said, I think that all people can use guidance in all parts of their lives. That doesn't mean checking yourself into a psychologist's office every time you have a problem or fully submitting oneself to another's discretion. But unless you decide to live like Walden, people need people. Indeed, this is why Chana, and bloggers like you and me, post. We like to have our ideas heard and commented upon, we like to share with the world and recieve in return. In this sense, we can all--Chana included--benefit from guidance.<BR/><BR/>So my dear anonymous, I am distraught that we have reached such a misunderstanding over this point. Again, I don't think that Chana doesn't know anything about Yiddishkeit. In fact, I know Chana personally and do believe that she is very bright and knowledgable, etc. I am a faithful reader (well, sometimes :-) ) of her blog. But I do think that she needs, as we all need, some direction.<BR/><BR/>~Torah Is Truth~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168888528524136772007-01-15T14:15:00.000-05:002007-01-15T14:15:00.000-05:00Torah is truth said:" I urge you to enlist in the ...Torah is truth said:" I urge you to enlist in the guidance of others who are older and wiser (yes, Chana, for you are aware that you do not know all), those who have found the truth, preferably that of Judaism. (Since you are already Jewish, why rock the boat?--that's a rhetorical question)<BR/><BR/>It does not have to be an old man with a long white beard, who you once termed as distant in a different post. It doesn't have to be a rabbi, per se. In fact, it doesn't have to be a man at all. But it should be someone who is strong in his or her beliefs and practices, someone who you think understands you and is willing to help you."<BR/>Please don't assume things about Chana . She can teach you a thing or two about Torah and/or Yiddishkeit in general.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168833095027117542007-01-14T22:51:00.000-05:002007-01-14T22:51:00.000-05:00"Or I pray in English rather than Hebrew"I'm sure ..."Or I pray in English rather than Hebrew"<BR/><BR/>I'm sure I've told you this before: This is not a bad thing at all. In fact, I find this commendable. The fact that you can come up with a prayer that you find meaningful is something admirable, something to be proud of. The prescribed words lost significance in my eyes long ago, and I always add some sort of personal prayer of my own, and I say it in English. Praying in your own language, and saying what you actually feel is more meaningful than saying the same words everyone's been saying for hundreds of years. The amount of creativity and focus it takes to craft a personal prayer is immeasurable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12970718.post-1168832637758977242007-01-14T22:43:00.000-05:002007-01-14T22:43:00.000-05:00Great post. Looking forward to reading about your...Great post. Looking forward to reading about your quest.Jewish Atheisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04616617537150446818noreply@blogger.com