mentalblog.com comments:
did you ask her out?
I notice this all the time - frum culture is incredibly deadening. My question is, what do we do about it?
Judaism no longer cool? I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe certain corners and flavors, but, look at the interest in things Jewish. Matisyahu, the Jew show on VH-1 last year, heeb magazine, the jewlicious event in cali, birthright, etc. There are some extremely exciting corners of Judaism. In general larger society is very attracted to Jewish themes right now. Excitement takes work. But, there are a lot of rabbis, programs, people, and young jews who are very excited to be Jewish.
I think this is a case of where the grass is always greener on the other side.
Of course many Baale Teshuva and potential converts are more starry eyed and view Judaism without the financial and material culture that has overwhelmed Orthodox Judaism. To them Judaism is a spiritual system , little do they know what it really is ---- money, honor--- ego, ego -- and more money with power.
Eventually they either leave orthodoxy, become part of the establishment where honor, ego and money are the chief players or drop out to live very lonely lives.. Thsi is especially true of converts
Schneur, this is very true. But one can argue that Hollywood, sports, etc. is also about money, yet it is very cool.
When it comes to geirim (and even baalei teshuva) we need to be honest - the majority of such cases have many reasons for "finding" Yiddishkeit, aside for seeking truth. I mean really - under normal circumstances happy, balanced and grounded people who are even slightly successful don't suddenly become Jewish (or frum), and if one does, it is more the exception than the rule. The Greek, soon-to-be-Jewess, has her baggage back at the station, which we are unaware of. Nevertheless, the excitement and “cool” that she or others like her may have seen in Yiddishkeit is something that should exist in frum circles about being frum. It does seem to me that TA is correct in is assessment that the level of jadedness in our culture is extremely high.
come to the hill tops. judaism lives!
no comment.
I enjoy being Jewish. Maybe because I grew up surrounded by non Jews. Shabbos is a bore, but otherwise all is cool, I like belonging.
We could write a whole essay: What do we like about being Jewish? What do we hate about being Jewish? and then - what are we going to do about either? Tell that girl to keep drinking Starbucks, it's cool and it is Jewish. The coolest is of course if she goes and picks her own coffee in Ethiopia and roasts the beans herself, makes her coffee and uses it to make Havdala one Motzei Shabbos in Nairobi with you TA on her side... before setting out to climb the Kilimanjaro and get married on the top... Now why on the earth didn't you ask her out?
Kilimanjaro, ahah.
I'm in the process of trying to find a Rabbi for conversion. And I must say, that I take everything in to account of what everyone has said here before my decision to convert, and my decision took about 4 years to decide whether I wanted to even convert or not and I've had many different beliefs in the past (Christianity,Catholicism, Agnosticism).
I understand the mundane lives that many talk about, but this is something that almost everyone deals with, no matter what their belief system is. Sometimes it takes a couple years to see it, unfortunately. When one enters a new belief system, one first has a sense of awe, wonder and excitement at the new system, yet as time goes by, many of the politics and interpersonal relationships turn out to be much the same than before one took on the new belief system. The key is to always second guess yourself and not be too sure of your motives and feelings. Because, feelings change, and one day you may wake up not feeling like this is how you want to live anymore.
I've found that my own spiritual life is much like the tide. It has its highs and lows, and although the lows seem very mundane and I wonder just what the heck I'm doing, I have to try my best to persevere and be honest with myself to find out my needs, so that I can celebrate when the highs come.
Also, instead of looking at Judaism as something where you're either "in" or "out", try looking at it as a walk and a process. Sometimes you have to back track in life and double check to make sure you didn't leave something behind before you can set out on a new journey. I think one of the reasons why people leave their new belief system, is that they await a point where they can look back and say "I've arrived", but when that moment comes in hindsight, it's not as romantic as it once was. I think the key is to be honest with yourself, and know yourself well enough to know your needs, and know what supplies you'll need along your spiritual journey.
Commenting by HaloScan
