Avi's Spiritual and Religious Journey - Part 2

[Avi1001]

So, in other words, you fabricated a stupid note that you claimed was from a prominent theologian because you find misplaced excessively juvenile humor to be funny.

Not, I confess, that I ever took you particularly seriously before, but can you offer any compelling reason why you ought to be taken seriously ever again?

reform Jews often do things that Orthodox are not happy with...in this case an example of a debate technique known as extreme humor.....I'm glad it got your attention...

......I would love to see how you would react if they served shrimp at one of your lunches......

 

[Avi1001]

FWIW, she goes by Rabbi Adler or Dr. Adler. She cordially loathes the usage of Rabbi+First Name, and dislikes female rabbis using "Reb" instead of Rabbi, as she feels it is the product of female rabbis trying to placate men who are uncomfortable with women claiming the title of rabbi.

As radically reform as Reb Rachael is, I doubt that she minds folks calling her, Reb Rachael.....I tell you what....I'll send her a email and ask her...and let you know what she says....

 

[Levite]

All right, since you are opening this thread to some humor, there is a rather amusing story that seems to fit the circumstances very well.

Toward the beginning of the Haskalah [Enlightenment], a certain small-town apikoros [heretic] goes to visit the Great Apirkoros of Warsaw for inspiration in his continuing rejection of tradition. He arrives in Warsaw on Friday afternoon, and finds his way to the home of the Great Apikoros. He is shown to a guest room, and when he is finally introduced to the Great Apikoros, he is astounded to find the man dressed in his best, complete with tzitzit and embroidered kippah.

"You should get changed quickly, or we'll be late for shul [Temple]! We can talk later." The Great Apikoros tells the small-town apikoros, who retreats in dumbfounded silence to change clothes.

The small-town apikoros follows the Great Apikoros and a number of apparent students and colleagues as they walk to shul. To the amazement of the small-town apikoros, the Great Apikoros ascends the bimah [pulpit] and leads a fervent service, chanting the traditional liturgy with melodious facility. After services, they return to the house of the Great Apikoros, where the Great Apikoros makes kiddush [the blessing over wine] and hamotzi [the blessing over bread], and they eat a full traditional Shabbat meal, followed by bentsching [saying grace after meals] and singing many zmirot [Shabbat songs].

The next morning, they go back to shul, where the Great Apikoros leads again, and delivers a learned sermon, with many quotes from Tanach, Talmud, and halachah. After morning services, they return to the house of the Great Apikoros, eat a full traditional Shabbat lunch, bentsch, sing zmirot, and the Great Apikoros teaches a freewheeling discussion of Mishnah and Gemara to a large table full of attentive disciples. They all daven minchah [pray the afternoon service] and when Shabbat draws to a close, the Great Apikoros makes havdalah [the ritual separation between Shabbat and the rest of the week], they daven maariv [pray the evening service], and the Great Apikoros takes the small-town apikoros into his study.

"So," The Great Apikoros says, "Tell me what you want to talk about."

"I don't understand you at all!" The small-town apikoros bursts out, full of angry confusion. "I am the apikoros of my town. I publicly scoff at the teachings of the rabbi and his students. I don't keep Shabbat, or keep kosher. I don't study Talmud or daven. I never go to shul. I don't make brachot [blessings] or bentsch. I do everything I can to reject all this archaic superstitious nonsense and to make everyone aware of what rot it all is! But you-- you keep Shabbat, you go to shul, you lead services, you give the drash [sermon], you keep a kosher home, you teach Talmud, you even wear tzitzit! What kind of apikoros are you?!"

The Great Apikoros nods, thoughtfully. "I think I see where your confusion lies. I am an apikoros. But you're an am ha-aretz [ignoramus]."

 

[Avi1001]

Hehe...Levite, ....I hope you know me better than that.....I can take some serious ribbing...it's only fair...since I love to dish it out....btw, is that a Baal Shem Tov story ?? .....I did find it quite funny...

But the only part you omitted......was when all the fine little OJ's followed their OJ Rabbi....baaahing like sheep....back to the Shul.....while the "Great Apikoros".....got booted from the DIR (Deceptive Ignorance of Religion)....for following his own ethical beliefs....

All right, since you are opening this thread to some humor, there is a rather amusing story that seems to fit the circumstances very well.

Toward the beginning of the Haskalah [Enlightenment], a certain small-town apikoros [heretic] goes to visit the Great Apirkoros of Warsaw for inspiration in his continuing rejection of tradition. He arrives in Warsaw on Friday afternoon, and finds his way to the home of the Great Apikoros. He is shown to a guest room, and when he is finally introduced to the Great Apikoros, he is astounded to find the man dressed in his best, complete with tzitzit and embroidered kippah.

"You should get changed quickly, or we'll be late for shul [Temple]! We can talk later." The Great Apikoros tells the small-town apikoros, who retreats in dumbfounded silence to change clothes.

The small-town apikoros follows the Great Apikoros and a number of apparent students and colleagues as they walk to shul. To the amazement of the small-town apikoros, the Great Apikoros ascends the bimah [pulpit] and leads a fervent service, chanting the traditional liturgy with melodious facility. After services, they return to the house of the Great Apikoros, where the Great Apikoros makes kiddush [the blessing over wine] and hamotzi [the blessing over bread], and they eat a full traditional Shabbat meal, followed by bentsching [saying grace after meals] and singing many zmirot [Shabbat songs].

The next morning, they go back to shul, where the Great Apikoros leads again, and delivers a learned sermon, with many quotes from Tanach, Talmud, and halachah. After morning services, they return to the house of the Great Apikoros, eat a full traditional Shabbat lunch, bentsch, sing zmirot, and the Great Apikoros teaches a freewheeling discussion of Mishnah and Gemara to a large table full of attentive disciples. They all daven minchah [pray the afternoon service] and when Shabbat draws to a close, the Great Apikoros makes havdalah [the ritual separation between Shabbat and the rest of the week], they daven maariv [pray the evening service], and the Great Apikoros takes the small-town apikoros into his study.

"So," The Great Apikoros says, "Tell me what you want to talk about."

"I don't understand you at all!" The small-town apikoros bursts out, full of angry confusion. "I am the apikoros of my town. I publicly scoff at the teachings of the rabbi and his students. I don't keep Shabbat, or keep kosher. I don't study Talmud or daven. I never go to shul. I don't make brachot [blessings] or bentsch. I do everything I can to reject all this archaic superstitious nonsense and to make everyone aware of what rot it all is! But you-- you keep Shabbat, you go to shul, you lead services, you give the drash [sermon], you keep a kosher home, you teach Talmud, you even wear tzitzit! What kind of apikoros are you?!"

The Great Apikoros nods, thoughtfully. "I think I see where your confusion lies. I am an apikoros. But you're an am ha-aretz [ignoramus]."

 

[Flankerl]

reform Jews often do things that Orthodox are not happy with...in this case an example of a debate technique known as extreme humor.....I'm glad it got your attention...

......I would love to see how you would react if they served shrimp at one of your lunches......

Ah the "it was all just a joke"-approach after it was revealed that you lied.

Clever if we were stupid.

As radically reform as Reb Rachael is, I doubt that she minds folks calling her, Reb Rachael.....I tell you what....I'll send her a email and ask her...and let you know what she says....

Oh good another fake email answer.

Hehe...Levite, ....I hope you know me better than that.....I can take some serious ribbing...it's only fair...since I love to dish it out....btw, is that a Baal Shem Tov story ?? .....I did find it quite funny...

But the only part you omitted......was when all the fine little OJ's followed their OJ Rabbi....baaahing like sheep....back to the Shul.....while the "Great Apikoros".....got booted from the DIR (Deceptive Ignorance of Religion)....for following his own ethical beliefs....

And the butthurt continues.

 

[Avi1001]

Ah the "it was all just a joke"-approach after it was revealed that you lied.
Clever if we were stupid.
Oh good another fake email answer.
And the butthurt continues.

This is an automatically generated response.

The poster above is on ignore....there will be no additional response generated.

Have a great day

 

[Tarheeler]

Flankerl for President.

 

[Avi1001]

Flankerl for President.

Maybe Vice President.....for Vice...

 

[sun rise]

And here, I thought you were a "Professional Kibitzer"......

One of the functions of a kibitzer is to offer unwelcome advice as well as unwelcome commentary. It's my nature to tell people what to do.

 

[RabbiO]

But the only part you omitted......was when all the fine little OJ's followed their OJ Rabbi....baaahing like sheep....back to the Shul.....while the "Great Apikoros".....got booted from the DIR (Deceptive Ignorance of Religion)....for following his own ethical beliefs....

In another galaxy, far, far away, on another forum, which shall remain nameless, someone named Avi wrote, "I think a good debate can be very critical. The problem is, to achieve that sort of debate, the sides must show mutual respect." That same individual, also wrote, "What is the problem with Jews respectfully disagreeing?"

You might want to follow that fellow's advice. There are ways to present one's views, argue one's positions, that do not require belittling the views of others.

 

[sun rise]

In another galaxy, far, far away, on another forum, which shall remain nameless, someone named Avi wrote, "I think a good debate can be very critical. The problem is, to achieve that sort of debate, the sides must show mutual respect." That same individual, also wrote, "What is the problem with Jews respectfully disagreeing?"

You might want to follow that fellow's advice. There are ways to present one's views, argue one's positions, that do not require belittling the views of others.

And there are people like me who show up and pay attention to people's debating styles and draw conclusions from them.

 

[Avi1001]

One of the functions of a kibitzer is to offer unwelcome advice as well as unwelcome commentary. It's my nature to tell people what to do.

Ok, Sunny, so I might not like your advice or commentary....but you are always welcome to a good debate.....here at Avi's....

 

[Avi1001]

Hi Rabbio, nice to see you, as always.....and you are correct...I can be a little facetious, at times...no harm meant to my friends.....here at the forum....I always enjoy hearing from Metis....and I miss the frequent posts of punkdbass.....and I have learned a little about the strategic use of the "ignore" button...

Btw, Rabbio, there is a new poster here that you should meet....gsaseeker....look him up and say hi....he's cool.....

In another galaxy, far, far away, on another forum, which shall remain nameless, someone named Avi wrote, "I think a good debate can be very critical. The problem is, to achieve that sort of debate, the sides must show mutual respect." That same individual, also wrote, "What is the problem with Jews respectfully disagreeing?"

You might want to follow that fellow's advice. There are ways to present one's views, argue one's positions, that do not require belittling the views of others.

 

[Avi1001]

And there are people like me who show up and pay attention to people's debating styles and draw conclusions from them.

Sunny.....so tell us about your debating style....

 

[sun rise]

Sunny.....so tell us about your debating style....

I'm a counter-puncher. I tend to adopt the style of someone I'm debating. Or I'll even adopt someone's frame-of-reference. In another thread, one of the endless ones on creationism, I answered a Muslim who doesn't believe in science specifically evolution, by finding and quoting passages from the Quran that can be interpreted to support evolution.

In one case, I quoted the Quran, in translation, which states that in the end times the state of Israel would come into existence (17:104) if you want to look that up. The translations vary quite a bit, it annoys some Muslims mightily to use the Quran to assert that we're living in the end times and Israel's existence is proof of it, but there you are.

So if I were to debate you on some topic, then if I'm consistent I would be facetious and so forth. But I'm not always consistent. When I'm not, I can quote good authority: Walt Whitman: "Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes." So when all is said and done, I'm inconsistently consistent.

 

[Avi1001]

.......When I'm not, I can quote good authority: Walt Whitman: "Do I contradict myself? ....

We know you can quote Walt Whitman, Sunny.....the question is.....can you get a letter from him ??....I bet I can......

 

[sun rise]

We know you can quote Walt Whitman, Sunny.....the question is.....can you get a letter from him ??....I bet I can......

I don't need to write him a letter. He talks to me. He told me to tell you that you'll find what you're looking for sooner or later. Just keep on looking.

 

[Avi1001]

I don't need to write him a letter. He talks to me. He told me to tell you that you'll find what you're looking for sooner or later. Just keep on looking.

Did you know, Sunny, Walt Whitman was a reform Jew?....

 

[sun rise]

Did you know, Sunny, Walt Whitman was a reform Jew?....

This is the problem I have with you - he was not. I personally have better things to do than to fact check every statement of yours to determine which are true and which are not.

 

[Avi1001]

This is the problem I have with you - he was not. I personally have better things to do than to fact check every statement of yours to determine which are true and which are not.

Ok....Sunny....from now on, I will give you an indicator signal....when you have to pay careful attention......a wink....