Working with prejudices

[Shuddhasattva]

So I've noticed recently that when I meet Jews, I feel cold towards them. I attribute this to my dislike of Jewish religion, culture and Zionism.

There's no active dislike just ... emotional apathy. I generally feel no desire to associate with them or engage more than is necessary.

In theory, I have nothing against Jews themselves but I am somewhat disturbed by my own feelings (or lack thereof) here. I feel that it closes me off from befriending Jews I'd appreciate as individuals if I got to know them better.

I can't bring myself to like Judaism (though I can appreciate some of its philosophy and mysticism.) I'll probably never learn to like Jewish culture or zionism.

In short, I'm mildly prejudiced. I have preconceptions about the Jews I meet which makes their company uninteresting to me.

I would appreciate any advice on working with this.

Also, I have a question for Jews:

Could you have a friendship with someone you knew disliked your culture, religion, and maybe your political philosophy as well?

 

[methylatedghosts]

Don't make the culture or religion the focal point. Look for other things that you do like instead. Intellect, humour, or even a great set of moobs!

 

[Alceste]

Just watch some Jon Stewart. That should help.

 

[oldbadger]

So I've noticed recently that when I meet Jews, I feel cold towards them. ..............................................
Could you have a friendship with someone you knew disliked your culture, religion, and maybe your political philosophy as well?

Hi! I once knew a very well known unorthodox rabbi, who is still very famous. If you knew such as he it might change your oipinon about Jewish people for ever!

He helped to found an international convention, for as many faiths and religions as possible to meet and converse, in the hopes that they might squabble less often. Because my (English) Dad could speak Urdu and Hindi, and had fought in the Indian Army with Sikhs, Hindus, Moslems and Gurkhas (and could cook a decent goat-curry) this rabbi wanted him to attend these meetings. But my old-man was a for-sure heathen, so rabbi ----- would introduce him to everybody as an Essex-Anglican. There is no such group, but everybody would nod and say 'oh yes!', as if they knew that religion well!

I don't think Orthodox Jews liked rabbi------ much, but he was/is so popular with the British people. When my old-man died, I asked him if he could bring himself to conduct the funeral. I have never heard of a gentile (Essex Anglican Heathen) being buried by a rabbi, but this one attended in full regalia, for all the world to see, and 'oh-boy' could he ever say 'goodbye' to someone well!

I am one miserable old-ba----d, (hence, oldbadger?) but even thinking about that incredible man has watered my bloody eyes. There are some unbelievably beautiful people out there, aren't there? And there are Jews amongst them. I have as many prejudices as you, or any other...... it's just the problem of discovering them.

This rabbi once told me that we need good friends AND good enemies. Our good enemies are the ones who tell us the truth about ourselves, and bring us up, all-standing, in shock, as we discover what our rriends would never have dared to tell us.

 

[apophenia]

Read everything by Joseph Heller. Not just Catch-22 - read Something Happened, God Knows, and Closing Time (which will make you wet your pants).

Listen to The duets of Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin.

Check out this list of Jewish comedians - Category:Jewish comedians - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Listen to a hot contemporary Klezmer band live - if that doesn't do it for you, seek therapy !

 

[Caladan]

So I've noticed recently that when I meet Jews, I feel cold towards them. I attribute this to my dislike of Jewish religion, culture and Zionism.

There's no active dislike just ... emotional apathy. I generally feel no desire to associate with them or engage more than is necessary.

Is there anything exceptionally Jewish or Zionist about Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Albert Einstein, Isaac Asimov or Harrison Ford?
If your answer is no. Then perhaps you simply have some unresolved issues, and you are projecting it on random Jews.

You seem to be repelled by Jewish religion, while many others blame Jews for being too secular or atheist. Jews aren't supposed to please other people and be ideal human beings. Some people are angry because Jews are liberal, other blame Judaism for the opposite, in history they've been blamed for being capitalist, communist, their religion is bad or it's the fact that they practice religion loosely that is the problem
It's all pretty ironic and absurd really. I always find it curious that people simply cannot approach other human beings as people first and foremost. When I meet a British person, I don't instantly have some irrational fear of Christianity or the British monarchy which haunts me. When I meet an Indian person, I don't think about Hindu nationalism or the caste system.

 

[Onkara]

My suggestion is to continue to study Hasidic Judaism, such as the Tanya, as it is some similarities to Hindu theology it can help bring the gap.