Nofx manages to out do himself again...fucking idiot.

I don't think so.

And I'm not thinking of "changing" anything in myself in response to my affinity for any group.

This is about having RECOGNIZED myself in Jews.

My thoughts about Judaism go deeper than just "getting along" and "feeling at home".

There are things in me that I could never account for when I was a kid. I NEVER fit in, there seemed to be no cause-and-effect relationship between what I was and the people and circumstances that had made me.

I don't know how "Jewish" my dad feels. I've never asked him. But, I'm going to speculate that, for being an immigrant to the US and a very ambitious self-made man, he probably never had the time or luxury to wonder about ORIGINS.

I've been blessed with the opportunity to step back from the pressing urgencies of survival, enough to wonder. I've been wondering for a long time.

The only way I COULD BE Jewish (in any degree) is if some amount of GENETIC JUDAISM (which carried with it both the behavioral earmarks of a Jew and a discernment/affinity for the Jewishness of others) is present in me, by way of my Jewish grandfather.

The basic question I'm articulating here is: IS THAT POSSIBLE?


j-

I know what you're asking and most people would probably say no. However, if certain genetically determined attributes become - as you say - exclusively associated with "jewishness" I would say yes. However, you still have to learn that that association exists.

Basically, your question is -- Is Culture intrinsic or is it acquired or is it ASCRIBED? Regardless of whether it is intrinsic or acquired (differing social situations/societies place differing weight on these), culture is always ASCRIBED. ie., if other people see you as being of a particular culture, you ARE of that particular culture. This is an OBJECTIVE standard that is the basis of antidiscrimination jurisprudence in the USA. There has to be an OBJECTIVE element.

Cultural identities change over time, language can vary, physical markers may change as well, but the process of ascription remains the same.

Is that possible? I say yes. Well, in reformed jewish faith we do not believe in heaven. We believe when you die your soul lives through the people you leave behind. We name after the dead for that reason. Were you by any chance named after your grandfather? So if you can beleive that a part of them ends up in the hearts and minds of those they left behind then why not.

Jews by ansectry are pre disposed to certain diseases like Tay-Sachs which is genetic so why can you not be genetically predisposed to the culture

2HousePlague,
Thats so funny you say that. I was raised in a christian family but just found out a year ago that my grandfather whom I have never met is Jewish. My family and I have a lot in common with Jewish people especially when it comes to business. I however do not consider myself Jewish, I wish i was but I am not. Its my opinion that being Jewish either requires you to be rasied as a jew or to strictly follow their ways and If you dont you are not a true Jew.

I have so much respect for Jewish people. I find their business knowledge very interesting. Did you know 80% of the U.S money is controlled my Jewish people but yet they only make up for 2% of the population? They own every major media outlet in the world, control all the diamonds in the world, they control many banks, fortune 500 companies, etc...
Im not sure how they do it but if you want to read more about how powerful the Jews are check out The Jewish Phenomenon - By Silbiger, Steven

Religion often drives human beings apart and starts wars.

Don't let your view of yourself be limited by your ancestry.

You should determine your own religion. Shape your own life.

I think his right..

It shouldn't be this coplicating.
YOU ARE WHAT YOU MAKE YOURSELF INTO.

Simply, no. Judaism has never been a race.

100 million Arabs being ruthlessly persecuted by 10 million jews.... :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

It was the italians actually. (They just called them Romans in those days, that's all)

That's the tight ass you're feeling. Or is that a controversial statement?

that's right...
the definition is recursive :)

idiot
http://rotter.net/israel/mecountry.gif

Yes, one. You are too young to have been married three times already. Jewish, Catholic or not.

Sure you are not Mormon?

If the 2nd post in the thread didn't bother you in some way then you are
1. Good at letting NOFX the wannabe nazi not get to you
2. and/or not a Jew

:2 cents:

some people use the sterotype "jew" to mean cheap.

when someone calls me a jew cause i bartered them down in price i see it as a complement.

they may think it's an insult - but it means i got the better of them. :thumbsup

Usually this lights up on my monitor, but never did . . . so guess it wasn't that obvious.


If you aren't sure, I hear there are ways to guarantee you are.

If you are a defendant or a plaintiff in ongoing litigation
YOU ARE A JEW

Especially if big money is involved-
:1orglaugh

Its very common with Jews coming from parts of Soviet Union.
For example for Jews from Ukraine. In Ukraine you were not considered a Ukrainian or Russian, but a Jew. And on your passport it said Jewish, and not Russian or Ukrainian even if you were born in Ukraine. So when these Jews come to US most dont have any nationalistic attachment to their home land like Italians or French or Mexicans would have. As they consider being called a Ukrainian or Russian an ethnicity, which they are not.

I for one have struggled with this myself at times.
I was born in Ukraine, but would never call myself a Ukrainian. Do say i'm Russian when asked, as thats the only other language i know, but i've never been to Russia

You see how confusing this could be ??

Thus i'm an American or an Jewish-American

whats Tay-Sachs ?? i've never heard of it

i'm american indian. and, its a damn lucky thing those pilgirms didn't try to buy long island and manhattan from me. they woulda came out of the pocket a helluva lot more than some beads and booze.

to the people that introduced potato latkes:

http://www.jhm.nl/jhm/afbeeldingen/joods/latkes.jpg

I salute you. :xomunch