tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post7303575523962300651..comments2024-01-30T12:26:03.019-05:00Comments on The Blog of Garnel Ironheart: When Self-Reflection HurtsMighty Garnel Ironhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09571194550300367249noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-55991129208394328912012-01-04T01:28:21.354-05:002012-01-04T01:28:21.354-05:00I think you hit the nail on the head when comparin...I think you hit the nail on the head when comparing your average secular Israeli to your average secular US Jew. In short, the Israelis are convinced they're culturally superior, and the rest of us are unimpressed.<br /><br />While having Hebrew be one's native language is a big plus, I remain unconvinced that having a Hebrew calendar, having Saturday be your lazy day instead of Sunday, or other minor "accomplishments" of secular Israeli culture are such significant accomplishments. They seem like pretty superficial issues to me.<br /><br />My understanding is that most secular Israelis aren't super Jewishly literate, either. While some see the fact that the Israeli model is to hold up Orthodoxy as the only legitimate standard is good, I note that it also has the effect of providing an excuse for staying unengaged with Judaism.<br /><br />At the end of the day, secular Israelis seem to have replaced Judaism with Zionism, which, I'm sorry, aren't equivalent. Being familiar (or indoctrinated) in a political ideology (or sub-ideology) is not necessarily synonymous as having a personal connection with a religious belief system, culture, or set of rituals, and it's particularly arrogant to think that merely by virtue of living in Israel, a person can "soak up" Jewish identity by osmosis in a way that is <i>automatically superior</i> than the way devoted and dedicated Jews in the Diaspora have been doing for thousands of years, mainly, through hard work and actually giving a damn.<br /><br />The biggest achievement that you (and the Israeli government) note is that they're better at marrying Jews than your average US Jew. Whoop-dee-do. Sure, some of that is probably ideological, but it's probably just as much influenced by the demographics of the state and ridiculous marriage laws that essentially make intermarriage impossible. The fact that Israel is so insecure in its ideas of nationality and Jewishness that its citizens aren't allowed to marry whoever they like is hardly something to congratulate them over.<br /><br />If it was the Orthodox who were pointing the finger at us, they'd at least have some valid religious points. For the secular Israeli government to do it, as if their model of cultural Jewish integrity or continuity is so wondrously fantastic makes it extra irritating.Friar Yidhttp://friaryid.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-49281087783550463152011-12-27T13:18:58.465-05:002011-12-27T13:18:58.465-05:00Well, a couple of points-- first, if it weren'...Well, a couple of points-- first, if it weren't for American Jewry (and America generally), there wouldn't be an Israel or any Jews left in that part of the Middle East. Second, I am uncomfortable with this constant carping about the need to shield ourselves from assimilation. We haven't got a monopoly on thought, so if our teachings aren't keeping people interested, perhaps the answer is not to deny them access to outside influence, but to update our teachings to the point where people find them more meaningful.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15752938979399977997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-1551792195450624732011-12-18T02:47:49.888-05:002011-12-18T02:47:49.888-05:00Anyone who knows many yordim understands exactly w...Anyone who knows many yordim understands exactly what the message means. They don't even have the "antibodies" that native American Jews do for American assimilation.<br /><br />I loved the ads, and so did my sabra kids. American Jews are so far from getting it that they think the ad is about them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-32529477517729773842011-12-16T09:31:24.741-05:002011-12-16T09:31:24.741-05:00No, not really, but they didn't target us. Ma...No, not really, but they didn't target us. Maybe they think we're also American?Mighty Garnel Ironhearthttp://garnelironheart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1097749014220347853.post-22010376226647749522011-12-16T09:07:44.091-05:002011-12-16T09:07:44.091-05:00Are things any different in Canada?Are things any different in Canada?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com