Jewish Unicyclists

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

I was born and raised in California, but having not lived there since 1986, I don't claim to be "Californian", that would be silliness.

I was born and raised in Michigan, but I moved away in 1984. I still consider myself a 'Gander' (Michigander). But I am also a New Yorker, a Virginian and a Californian. I don't particularly care which is "correct" or which has the most precedence. I just use them when I feel like it. So it's not the same (for me) as the Jewish thing.

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

So, you are a Jew if your mother was a Jew. So therefore a person is a buddist if their mother was a Buddist, right?

You failed to include a link to similar background information about Buddhism. Therefore I will assume that it is not identical to Judaism, and therefore your statement above is silly.

Sorry if we're messing up this thread. If it's any help, my ten years living on Long Island should qualify me as being at least a little Jewish.

[Nurse Ben]

It was a quasi off topic thread to start, so if we go off topic by talking about judaism, it is no more off topic than talking about jewish unicyclists

My wife calls our kids, "contact Jews" because I raised them

Some of the cutural stuff is funny, from the concept of the Jewish Princess to the Jewish grandmother, we had them both in our family, crazy stuff that my wife still doesn't "get".

Still, growing up without a tree and watching my friends rip and tear apart a small mountain of presents, I was soooo jealous, so when I grew up and had a family, we always have a tree and a mountain of presents!!

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

So, you are a Jew if your mother was a Jew.

not according to Hashem. this is the rabbis rule.

[Nurse Ben]

Who is HaShem and how does he know my mother?

Hey Billy, how in the world did you get some many posts? Do you really work or is it just a cover story

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Some of the cutural stuff is funny, from the concept of the Jewish Princess to the Jewish grandmother, we had them both in our family, crazy stuff that my wife still doesn't "get".

Oh, and I also have a Jewish step-mom.

...so when I grew up and had a family, we always have a tree and a mountain of presents!!

I was the first to erect a Christmas tree in the Milstein house (Mr. & Mrs. Milstein had moved to Florida. My roommate, Greg Milstein, was the host of Unicon II).

Hey Billy, how in the world did you get some many posts?

He keeps them short (and not necessarily to the point).

Many of the longer ones are pasted from online articles...

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by Nurse Ben

Hey Billy, how in the world did you get some many posts? Do you really work or is it just a cover story

HaShem is omniscient, that is how she knows your mother.

I'm a fast worker! [Texted from mobile device inside WalMart store room]

[Nurse Ben]

HaShem is omniscient, that is how she knows your mother.

Ahhh, HaShem is a she, well that explains a lot of things

I was the first to erect a Christmas tree in the Milstein house (Mr. & Mrs. Milstein had moved to Florida. My roommate, Greg Milstein, was the host of Unicon II).

We call ours a holiday tree, they are always some wierd shrub or dwarf tree that is alive, so when the paper shredding is complete, the tree gets planted. Yeah, we have a yard full of trees.

[BillyTheMountain]

Shalom

The Talmud says "the name of God is 'Peace'" (Pereq ha-Shalom, Shab. 10b), (Judges 6:24); consequently, one is not permitted to greet another with the word shalom in unholy places such as a bathroom (Talmud, Shabbat, 10b).

[Nurse Ben]

I guess it could be in Just Conversation, but since there's not much going on in the Rec Sport, then what harm can it cause

Okay, so I can't say Shalom in the bathroom, but what makes the bathroom unholy? It seems like the bathroom might just be one of the holiest places in some buildings...

Not to mention, the use of cell phones while toileting is becoming a common way to pass the time; me personally, I think that's gross, but then I don't carry a cell phone.

So are there a lot of unicyclists in Israel? Is it because they teach it in the schools?

[toracyclist]

Hashem is neither a he nor a she. One of the 13 Principles of Faith (Rambam) is that Hashem has no body and no sort of image at all. When the Torah uses words like Hashem took us out of Egypt with an outstretched arm it is just allegorical. We humans can not fathom what it means to have no image so therefore the Torah uses humanistic descriptions of Hashem but it is just for our better understanding.

[Unicorn]

Any Unicyclist that want to visit Israel are more than welcome to stay a few days in my house for the cost of riding a trail or two with me! Not joking.

Anyone who unicycles and decides to visit Israel is always welcome to consult with me on riding here.

There is nothing to be worried about here. Isreal is a totaly safe country on par with western Europe.

Judaism is only a religion. It is not a race or a nationality.
It is similair to unicycling. Like unicyclist who believe in one wheel, Jews beleive in one god.

[Kerv]

Is the term "Jewish atheist" an oxymoron or a real state of being?

[Nurse Ben]

G-d

I guess you missed the tongue in cheek aspect to my posts

Is the term "Jewish atheist" an oxymoron or a real state of being?

No. Being Jewish is a religious or cultural choice/experience. So, I for instance was raised in California as a Jew, but I no longer live in California nor do I practice Judiasm, so I do not consider myself a Californian or a Jew.

However, as John so aptly put, I can't renounce my experience as a Jew or a Californian, so I shall call myself an ex-Jew, ex-Californian, ex-a whole bunch of other stuff as well, and at present I am a card carrying atheist

Therefore, it appears that you can be an ex-Jew and an atheist

As to an atheist Israeli, that's far more common I'm sure.

[ezy]

why do you two always invade every post. i am jewish and i believe that even if you dont practice, you are still a jew at heart. seriously, you two should post less on others stuff that doesnt relate to you

[Nurse Ben]

why do you two always invade every post. i am jewish and i believe that even if you dont practice, you are still a jew at heart. seriously, you two should post less on others stuff that doesnt relate to you

One, because I like to interact on the forum
Two, because it's fun to poke at people who take things seriously (too)
Three, because it does relate to me and mine
Four, because there are people like you who continue to insist that others believe and behave like you.
Five, freedom of speech baby, freedom of speech.

What two, I know you mean me, but who's the other person?

And finally, if you don't pactice something but you think of yourself as being of that practice, then you are, but that doesn't mean that all people are like you or think/feel like you. Consider the possibility that we are both right for our own reasons because those reasons fit our situation. My opinion has nothing to do with your opinion, since your opinion matters not to what I think is best for me, do you see?

Judaism is only a religion. It is not a race or a nationality.
It is similair to unicycling. Like unicyclist who believe in one wheel, Jews beleive in one god.

Thank you, that is exactly what I'm saying.

There is nothing to be worried about here. Isreal is a totaly safe country on par with western Europe.

I know Israel is safe, but from this side of the world it looks kinda scary, probably no different than what people from Europe/Asia/Africa think of visiting LA or New York; it's all gangs, drugs, and prostitutes in American big cities