Comments on: Petty paganism http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Daniel http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-116244 Daniel Sun, 07 Nov 2010 07:09:42 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-116244 What's so wrong with a bit of "paganism"? I say, thank G-d that Judaism has preserved a connection with the natural world, which G-d created, inc. seasons. Islam is the poorer for having purified itself too much, and having no connection with seasons, agriculture, nature, the land's bounty. All of which are also "min Allah", of course. I'm personally happy that Jewish holidays have a dual aspect - Torah/Yetziat Mitzraim on one hand, the seasons and nature on the other (Sukkot is perhaps the major example, and probably Pesach and Shavuot too). That keeps them in a constant synergy of revitalization as each generation can find new ways to look at them and appreciate them. Don't need one-dimensional holidays like other Western religions, no thanks. What’s so wrong with a bit of “paganism”?

I say, thank G-d that Judaism has preserved a connection with the natural world, which G-d created, inc. seasons. Islam is the poorer for having purified itself too much, and having no connection with seasons, agriculture, nature, the land’s bounty. All of which are also “min Allah”, of course.

I’m personally happy that Jewish holidays have a dual aspect – Torah/Yetziat Mitzraim on one hand, the seasons and nature on the other (Sukkot is perhaps the major example, and probably Pesach and Shavuot too). That keeps them in a constant synergy of revitalization as each generation can find new ways to look at them and appreciate them.
Don’t need one-dimensional holidays like other Western religions, no thanks.

]]> By: Erick S http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-61220 Erick S Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:37:11 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-61220 Anonymous from lawlandland - I wouldn't say that calling someone 'pagan' is such a terrible thing. Many people are proud of it, in fact. Obadiah likes to stir people with extreme exclamations. Try not to take it too hard. I see people write about feeling alienated. Let us learn from the mistakes made by the Jews besieged in Jerusalem by the Romans - We can pursue Judaism in different ways, but still stand together as Jews. Anonymous from lawlandland – I wouldn’t say that calling someone ‘pagan’ is such a terrible thing. Many people are proud of it, in fact.

Obadiah likes to stir people with extreme exclamations. Try not to take it too hard.
I see people write about feeling alienated. Let us learn from the mistakes made by the Jews besieged in Jerusalem by the Romans – We can pursue Judaism in different ways, but still stand together as Jews.

]]> By: Danny the Admin http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60277 Danny the Admin Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:40:31 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-60277 Sure, if we understand "civil new year" as "non-religious new year in the seventh month", then it's logical. The problem is, new year in the seventh month is illogical and rabbis clearly celebrate Rosh Hashanah as religious holiday. Sure, if we understand “civil new year” as “non-religious new year in the seventh month”, then it’s logical. The problem is, new year in the seventh month is illogical and rabbis clearly celebrate Rosh Hashanah as religious holiday.

]]> By: Adam Hyman http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60241 Adam Hyman Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:53:08 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-60241 I'm dati and very right wing when it comes to Israel. It really doesn't make sense for secular zionists to bash religious people...... since so many religious people are their allies when it comes to Israel issues. Secular zionism is dying.... and few intellectuals like Obadiah, Dershowitz and Horowitz are really battling. They need all the help they can get. I’m dati and very right wing when it comes to Israel. It really doesn’t make sense for secular zionists to bash religious people…… since so many religious people are their allies when it comes to Israel issues.

Secular zionism is dying…. and few intellectuals like Obadiah, Dershowitz and Horowitz are really battling. They need all the help they can get.

]]> By: www.lawandland.net http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60174 www.lawandland.net Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:51:52 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-60174 The word ‘civil’ implies that it is NOT in Torah. I obey by many civil laws (stop on red, go on green), that does not make me pagan. I guess we can agree that this holiday is better referred to as “Feast of Trumpets” and some ways that people celebrate it are not from Torah (like eating apples with honey), but unless people start worshiping these apples, I would not call them ‘pagan’. The word ‘civil’ implies that it is NOT in Torah. I obey by many civil laws (stop on red, go on green), that does not make me pagan. I guess we can agree that this holiday is better referred to as “Feast of Trumpets” and some ways that people celebrate it are not from Torah (like eating apples with honey), but unless people start worshiping these apples, I would not call them ‘pagan’.

]]> By: Danny the Admin http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60140 Danny the Admin Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:54:52 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-60140 Since you're so well verses in the Torah, please refer me to the line where it says that the Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of new year - "civil" new year, if you wish. It's sort of unusual to celebrate new year in the seventh month. Since you’re so well verses in the Torah, please refer me to the line where it says that the Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of new year – “civil” new year, if you wish.
It’s sort of unusual to celebrate new year in the seventh month.

]]> By: Anonymous http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-60102 Anonymous Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:10:14 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-60102 I would recommend to Obadiah to read Torah the book that he obviously not very familiar with. I am not going to defend mainstream Rabbis – everyone does their own share of mistakes, but the “Feast of Trumpets” is not a pagan holiday – get real. God instructed the people of Israel to blow two silver trumpets along with a ram’s horn (shofar) on this holiday (see Numbers 10:9-10). This holiday marks the beginning of the civil Jewish calendar, and it is also the first of the Jewish “High Holidays” (along with Yom Kippur, they are both referred to as the most holy of the Jewish holidays). God instructed the Israelites to observe this holiday, known in the Bible as the “Feast of Trumpets” (see Number 29:1-6). If you read the passage in Numbers, it says this holiday is to be celebrated on the first day of the seventh month (there are 12 months in the Jewish calendar). So as you can see, this holiday does NOT start the new year in the Bible. This is because the religious New Year is actually on the first of Nisan (two weeks before Passover). However, the civil New Year starts on the first day of Tishri. If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact us or check our website: www.lawandland.net I would recommend to Obadiah to read Torah the book that he obviously not very familiar with. I am not going to defend mainstream Rabbis – everyone does their own share of mistakes, but the “Feast of Trumpets” is not a pagan holiday – get real.

God instructed the people of Israel to blow two silver trumpets along with a ram’s horn (shofar) on this holiday (see Numbers 10:9-10). This holiday marks the beginning of the civil Jewish calendar, and it is also the first of the Jewish “High Holidays” (along with Yom Kippur, they are both referred to as the most holy of the Jewish holidays). God instructed the Israelites to observe this holiday, known in the Bible as the “Feast of Trumpets” (see Number 29:1-6). If you read the passage in Numbers, it says this holiday is to be celebrated on the first day of the seventh month (there are 12 months in the Jewish calendar). So as you can see, this holiday does NOT start the new year in the Bible. This is because the religious New Year is actually on the first of Nisan (two weeks before Passover). However, the civil New Year starts on the first day of Tishri.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact us or check our website: http://www.lawandland.net

]]> By: Liorah Lleucu http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-59861 Liorah Lleucu Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:16:37 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-59861 Wicked writing. LOL. Wicked writing. LOL.

]]> By: Sora Leah http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-59855 Sora Leah Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:02:49 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-59855 I presume one of Obadiah's goals out here in the secular world is not only to share heartfelt opinions but also to get us talking and therefore learning. In this post, however there's a level of unnecessary anger and crude insult that appears <em>anti-Semitic</em> and cruel. It makes one wonder if the sentiments are indeed heartfelt or are intended only to stir up controversy. Hanoch says, "While I often admire the daring and the clarity of Obadiah’s thinking, I think that a little more caution is advised when it comes to the matters of religion. On Rosh Hashana we celebrate the creation of mankind. It is not just a new year, it is a New year of humanity. According to Talmud the day man was created was the first of Tishrey. In the Torah this day is mentioned as “a day of sound of the shofar”. The Mishna states that on this day all of the humanity is judged." I applaud the sentiment, information and restraint of Hanoch's reply. While I can't compete with those learned in Talmud and Mishna here, I do know when a line has been crossed. I presume one of Obadiah’s goals out here in the secular world is not only to share heartfelt opinions but also to get us talking and therefore learning.

In this post, however there’s a level of unnecessary anger and crude insult that appears anti-Semitic and cruel. It makes one wonder if the sentiments are indeed heartfelt or are intended only to stir up controversy.

Hanoch says, “While I often admire the daring and the clarity of Obadiah’s thinking, I think that a little more caution is advised when it comes to the matters of religion.

On Rosh Hashana we celebrate the creation of mankind. It is not just a new year, it is a New year of humanity. According to Talmud the day man was created was the first of Tishrey. In the Torah this day is mentioned as “a day of sound of the shofar”. The Mishna states that on this day all of the humanity is judged.”

I applaud the sentiment, information and restraint of Hanoch’s reply. While I can’t compete with those learned in Talmud and Mishna here, I do know when a line has been crossed.

]]> By: Hanoch http://samsonblinded.org/blog/petty-paganism.htm/comment-page-1#comment-58298 Hanoch Wed, 12 Sep 2007 13:32:43 +0000 http://samsonblinded.org/blog/543.htm#comment-58298 This is what Jewishvirtuallibrary.com says about the subject: Judaism has several different "new years," a concept which may seem strange at first, but think of it this way: the American "new year" starts in January, but the new "school year" starts in September, and many businesses have "fiscal years" that start at various times of the year. In Judaism, Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time). This is what Jewishvirtuallibrary.com says about the subject:
Judaism has several different “new years,” a concept which may seem strange at first, but think of it this way: the American “new year” starts in January, but the new “school year” starts in September, and many businesses have “fiscal years” that start at various times of the year. In Judaism, Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time).

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