Posted by Simcha on August 23, 2003, at 0:03:37
In reply to Simcha - re: Judaism, posted by habbyshabit on August 22, 2003, at 17:35:25
Hammyshabit,
Wow, where to begin?
I was born Jewish because my Mother is technically Jewish. I was raised a Roman Catholic because my father is half-Italian and half-Polish and mom got baptized Catholic. I even went to major seminary only to discover that not only did I never really buy the whole "Jesus Story," it never made sense to me, I felt like a Jew worshiping amongst Christians.
While I was at that seminary we visited a local synagogue for Friday Night Shabbat services... By the way, Shabbat Shalom, it's Sabbath tonight. I immediately felt at home and the members of the synagogue treated me as if I were a member already.
Eventually, years after leaving seminary, I decided to be officially Jewish. No Orthodox Rabbi would allow me to go through a conversion because they saw me as aleady Jewish. One Rabbi just told me, "Oye, your Jewish, just keep coming to shul (synagogue). I have a nice daughter about your age..." Too bad for him, I'm gay.
So, I sought out a Reform Rabbi. They not only accept homosexuals, marrying us, they also were willing to do a conversion process for me. The way they saw it, I was raised in another religion and I was embracing a new religion. Even though I was techniqually Jewish according to Jewish Law, I had lived my life as a non-Jew. They thought it might be meaningful for me to have a ritual as a separation from my former life as a non-Jew to my life as an observant Jew. I did it and it was one of the most amazing two years of my life.
These days I still consider myself a Jew. My religious observance has changed to observe new realities in my belief system. I now choose to embrace a Hebrew Pantheon that I believe was suppressed by the Levitical Cult... Especially the Goddesses of the Hebrews. I sort of see my religion as a Hebrew Pagan.
I feel intimately connected to the Jewish people. I know when there are other Jews present. Yes, I believe I have a Jewish soul. I believe that somehow all of us Jews/Hebrews are connected in some inexplicible way.
Blessings Shifra,
Simcha
> Hi there Simcha,
>
> I am a Jew by birth and feel completely connected to Jews as a tribe, nation, heritage, or ethnicity. I do not practice Judiasm, except the yeuracite (Sp?) of my parents, out of respect for them.
>
> Are you a religious Jew? Conservative? Reform? Orthodox? I've tried to return to the religion of my birth, sometimes through back doors like Tarot and Kabbahlism. For me, with all the beauty there, it just doesn't stick.
>
> It is a curious thing to FEEL so Jewish though. To identify with Jews world wide. To be able to pick out the Jews in any crowd.
>
> I don't mean any disrespect. It's just such a curious thing. Some would say it's my Jewish Soul. I'm not sure what it is. If you have read my faith thread, you'll know that even the one god idea is up for grabs for me these days.
>
> At any rate, I love seeing a name like Simcha posted here. My hebrew name is Shifra. Welcome.
>
> Habby
poster:Simcha
thread:253228
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20030530/msgs/253300.html