3-24-16
Elliana Bogost
Jewish History
March 25, 2016
In Judaism there is the written Torah and the oral Torah. The written Torah
refers to the five books of Moses. The oral Torah refers to the laws, statutes and
Jewish code that were not written down in the first five books. They were oral laws
passed down from generation to generation until finally after the destruction of the
Second Temple in 70 CE, they were written down. The Oral Laws consist of the
Mishnah and the Gamra, which combined, are the Talmud. The Orthodox Jews
believe that the Oral Law was passed from God to Moses and Moses needed to
interpret God’s will and teach to the Jewish people. The Oral Law reflects the
interpretations on the Torah by various Rabbis over the centuries.
There are different examples of how the Oral Law interprets the Written
Law. For example God tells us to not work on the Sabbath. However, the Torah
does not tell us what kind of work he means. Therefore there has to be oral
interpretation to determine what kind of work is not allowed. Another example is
that in the Torah God tell the Jewish people that they must slaughter an animal from
their herd. However, there is no written law on how to slaughter the animal. The
Mishna tells us how to slaughter to make the animal kosher. The written Torah is
strictly interpreted and the Oral Torah is commentary, however they cannot exist
without each other. In the Written law, the Torah demands an “eye for an eye”.
How does a Jew interpret this? Does God mean that if someone destroys your eye,
you must literally take his eye? The oral law helps us understand that what God
means is that what someone does to another person the other person must also be
punished in a similar way.
The Oral Torah allows for much more interpretation. The fact that it
remained oral for centuries allowed for different interpretations. When a law is
interpreted from Oral tradition it becomes more flexible. Generations have passed
down their own ideas of what the laws are and made them more applicable to the
time period of each generation. Because the Talmud is based on oral law, the rules
are not as strict. There is much more room to analyze and learn from what
generations have handed down to us. The written law does not leave much room
for different interpretations and therefore the written law is much more difficult to
apply to modern Judaism.
The Modern Reform movement does not take the Oral Laws literally. They
view these laws with their own interpretations of modern day life. They see that the
Rabbis, Jewish Scholars and religious leaders are all legitimate but differing
opinions on the Oral Laws. Reform Jews living in the modern world need to view
the Written laws and Oral laws as complementary. They help us understand our
history and what God has asked of us. However, we cannot literally live by these
very outdated laws. The idea of Oral law is important to understand that
generations that came before us were allowed to give their own meaning to the laws
and we as Modern Jews should be allowed to apply the general principals but do so
in a way that applies to our daily lives that will give it meaning.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Article Response- A "Purim Shpil" in Soviet Moscow by Maxim D. Shrayer
3-16-16
In the article A "Purim Shpil" in Soviet Moscow by Maxim D. Shrayer it talks about how in the late 1980s Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union was at a near standstill. In order to sustain a hope of escape they put on the a"purim shpil," or this could be described as in the article, " A drama of victory of ancient enemies," or the story of Purim. He talks about how this brought him closer to the soviet jews , and it settled the tension in Russia at that time. He specifically quotes" For over two decades, two forces had been shaping the intellectual life of the Jewish movement in the Soviet Union. Thepolitiki (“politicals”) stood firmly on the bedrock of Zionism andaliyah. The tarbutniki or kul’turniki (“culturals,” from the Hebrew and Russian words for culture) fantasized about legalized Jewish cultural autonomy within Russia itself. Now, with Gorbachev’s reforms moving beyond rhetoric to enactment, emigration was beginning again to seem a real possibility; at the same time, though, some “culturals” were hoping for an easing of restrictions and a restoration of Jewish religious and cultural life. I find it really interesting how this form of expression has greatly helped the community connect. It shows that Jews in a way of terminal find some way to connect and some way to keep going. It goes along very well with the different Jewish communities we are talking about in class.
In the article A "Purim Shpil" in Soviet Moscow by Maxim D. Shrayer it talks about how in the late 1980s Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union was at a near standstill. In order to sustain a hope of escape they put on the a"purim shpil," or this could be described as in the article, " A drama of victory of ancient enemies," or the story of Purim. He talks about how this brought him closer to the soviet jews , and it settled the tension in Russia at that time. He specifically quotes" For over two decades, two forces had been shaping the intellectual life of the Jewish movement in the Soviet Union. Thepolitiki (“politicals”) stood firmly on the bedrock of Zionism andaliyah. The tarbutniki or kul’turniki (“culturals,” from the Hebrew and Russian words for culture) fantasized about legalized Jewish cultural autonomy within Russia itself. Now, with Gorbachev’s reforms moving beyond rhetoric to enactment, emigration was beginning again to seem a real possibility; at the same time, though, some “culturals” were hoping for an easing of restrictions and a restoration of Jewish religious and cultural life. I find it really interesting how this form of expression has greatly helped the community connect. It shows that Jews in a way of terminal find some way to connect and some way to keep going. It goes along very well with the different Jewish communities we are talking about in class.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Parents ! + other jewish stuff !
3-13-16
This week our parents came ! It was really cool and super exciting. It was really nice having my mom here experiencing what I do every day. As I do every morning they wake up to the beautiful hills. We really get to teach them about the beauty of Israel. My experience here has really made me a different person in just a month. Its interesting seeing all that Israel has taught me. It is such a different environment, not only at Tzuba but in Israel. I am a different person because of learning the culture and morals here. I have even changed my view on politics. It doesn't feel real that my mom is here, because I know that I am gonna be here for another 3 months. I feel like a different person in such a short time. I have begun to realize that it is not just me but its all that being in this environment has taught me. Israel looks at beauty in a different way from the rest of the world. It sees beauty not only in the land but in the people, the culture. I believe this is because of the struggles it took to get this land. The struggle and fight is the beauty of it.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Article Response : As Jews leave Cochin, Muslim neighbors and friends tend to what remains of their heritage in India
3-8-16
In this article it talks about the small and dwindling Jewish population in India and how as the population dwindles in Cochin and what they do to preserve it. There are very little Jews and very little Muslims, because of the small ratio they tend to get along. One really interesting thing i found about this article was the good relationship between Muslims and Jews. It really shows the connection that people can have if they are put together in a smaller closer community. The aspect of religion in this community is thought of something beautiful and binding. A particularly beautiful quote is said by a man in this community is : “Years later on his death bed, Jacob Uncle said, ‘My Sarah is alone and she doesn’t have any children, you have to take care of her like her son,’ ” Ibrahim explained. “I replied yes, I still keep my word and take care of her like my own mother. She is more than a mother to me even though I address her [as] ‘Sarah Auntie’ and I spend more of my time with Sarah Auntie than even my own family.” According to others in the community Sarah would no longer be alive were it not for the support of Ibrahim and Jasmine, who now run her shop for her. I really beliave that this article is a metaphor of the beauty of the jewish people. We are so strong that we can form connections from across the world and bring people together. This represents a small shed of hope we have in our conflicts. The culture in Cochin is dwindling but they are still trying their hardest to preserve it.
In this article it talks about the small and dwindling Jewish population in India and how as the population dwindles in Cochin and what they do to preserve it. There are very little Jews and very little Muslims, because of the small ratio they tend to get along. One really interesting thing i found about this article was the good relationship between Muslims and Jews. It really shows the connection that people can have if they are put together in a smaller closer community. The aspect of religion in this community is thought of something beautiful and binding. A particularly beautiful quote is said by a man in this community is : “Years later on his death bed, Jacob Uncle said, ‘My Sarah is alone and she doesn’t have any children, you have to take care of her like her son,’ ” Ibrahim explained. “I replied yes, I still keep my word and take care of her like my own mother. She is more than a mother to me even though I address her [as] ‘Sarah Auntie’ and I spend more of my time with Sarah Auntie than even my own family.” According to others in the community Sarah would no longer be alive were it not for the support of Ibrahim and Jasmine, who now run her shop for her. I really beliave that this article is a metaphor of the beauty of the jewish people. We are so strong that we can form connections from across the world and bring people together. This represents a small shed of hope we have in our conflicts. The culture in Cochin is dwindling but they are still trying their hardest to preserve it.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
My Israeli friends view on the army
3-6-16
This past weekend I spent my shabbat with my family friends in Petah Tikva. They have three kids, a boy and girl who are twins ( 21 years old), and a girl who is 16. I have known them for years, but up until this trip I never really knew how to ask them about the army. The twins have very non physical jobs but they have discussed what it feels like to have to be in the army. They know from the beginning that they have to join, but as we discussed at gadna, it is different for Israelis than it is for a american choosing to join. They told me that you have to choice how to view it yourself. Your perception going into it is important. It depends where you are on the level of gratification you get. I thought about this most of the weekend. I wondered if when a teen joins the IDF their view of how they cherish their country is drastically different or if they know how they view their country and it never changes it. Before I did Gadna i never really thought about the two different perspectives of american teens versus Israelis. Gadna is nothing compared to the real thing but I think getting my perspective from my family friends and seeing a taste of basic training made me see the IDF in a whole new light. I found that It strengthened my support of the strong pride israel has in its country and made me appreciate it even more.
This past weekend I spent my shabbat with my family friends in Petah Tikva. They have three kids, a boy and girl who are twins ( 21 years old), and a girl who is 16. I have known them for years, but up until this trip I never really knew how to ask them about the army. The twins have very non physical jobs but they have discussed what it feels like to have to be in the army. They know from the beginning that they have to join, but as we discussed at gadna, it is different for Israelis than it is for a american choosing to join. They told me that you have to choice how to view it yourself. Your perception going into it is important. It depends where you are on the level of gratification you get. I thought about this most of the weekend. I wondered if when a teen joins the IDF their view of how they cherish their country is drastically different or if they know how they view their country and it never changes it. Before I did Gadna i never really thought about the two different perspectives of american teens versus Israelis. Gadna is nothing compared to the real thing but I think getting my perspective from my family friends and seeing a taste of basic training made me see the IDF in a whole new light. I found that It strengthened my support of the strong pride israel has in its country and made me appreciate it even more.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Article Response: Israeli Self Defense Isint a Option
Elliana Bogost
3-3-16
In the article Israeli Self Defense Insist a Option, By Johnathon S. Tobin, adresses the debate on whether soldiers should use force in the event of the strain of stabbing attacks. Israeli Defense force general stirred up political controversy when he recently state, "When there is a 13-year-old girl holding scissors or a knife, and there is a barrier between her and the soldiers, I wouldn’t want a soldier to open fire and empty a magazine into a girl like that, even if she commits a very serious act. We don’t operate on the basis of [Talmudic] adages like ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.’
We don’t kill anyone with a pair of scissors. A soldier can switch off the safety and shoot if he or his comrades are in danger. If our rules of engagement were in any way unethical, it would jeopardize all of the IDF." This brought up controversy on his view of who and when to use force. This is debated because of the age of attackers and intent. A lot of the time these attackers who are young, are brought up only knowing that , attacks like these are what they are trained to do. Another reason is that they may be put into a situation where this is a only way to keep themselves safe or their family ( they may be threatened). In my personal opinion immediate force ( unless absolutely necessary ) is not needed. The use of restraint if it is a child or someone who surrenders is better. In some cases it might be better because if they want to punish them , they could make them see the victims family and apologize to them. It is more effective to negotiate peace.
3-3-16
In the article Israeli Self Defense Insist a Option, By Johnathon S. Tobin, adresses the debate on whether soldiers should use force in the event of the strain of stabbing attacks. Israeli Defense force general stirred up political controversy when he recently state, "When there is a 13-year-old girl holding scissors or a knife, and there is a barrier between her and the soldiers, I wouldn’t want a soldier to open fire and empty a magazine into a girl like that, even if she commits a very serious act. We don’t operate on the basis of [Talmudic] adages like ‘If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.’
We don’t kill anyone with a pair of scissors. A soldier can switch off the safety and shoot if he or his comrades are in danger. If our rules of engagement were in any way unethical, it would jeopardize all of the IDF." This brought up controversy on his view of who and when to use force. This is debated because of the age of attackers and intent. A lot of the time these attackers who are young, are brought up only knowing that , attacks like these are what they are trained to do. Another reason is that they may be put into a situation where this is a only way to keep themselves safe or their family ( they may be threatened). In my personal opinion immediate force ( unless absolutely necessary ) is not needed. The use of restraint if it is a child or someone who surrenders is better. In some cases it might be better because if they want to punish them , they could make them see the victims family and apologize to them. It is more effective to negotiate peace.
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