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[archgirl06]

Judaism and me, a neverending struggle.

So, everytime I think, 'hey, you know what, Orthodoxy sounds great' I have to go read posts where people have absolutely no tact and make anyone that practices Orthodox look evil. And I don't want to be associated with people like that, yet, if I become more religious, I will be anyway. I cannot win.

Comments

[arib]

We're not all evil.

[lindeseig]

The ones of you who embody intolerance and hate have ruined everything Jewish for someone like me.

[arib]

I've found individuals who embody intolerance and hatred towards "the other" in every branch of Judaism that I've participated in, it's not like the Orthodox have an exclusive lock on the market.

[lindeseig]

Indeed. My stepmother is a prime example. She thinks anything outside of Reform is "too evangelical"--she can only see narrow-minded, absolutist assholes like the ones who have been posting on WJ all the while loving my FFB best friend. She does not see the contradiction.

Orthodoxy was hardly the only factor that pushed me away from Judaism, however, the most recent examples of Jewish intolerance have been frum. The Conservative and Reform folks who bashed me for intermarrying and defiling the integrity of the Jewish people were just as bad.

[baseballchica03]

It is human nature to be interested in other things, to want to experience new things, to take what you learned as child, no matter how wonderful and nurturing your parents are and to say, 'screw this, I want something new, I want something different'.

And that is why the Amish have rumspringa.

[archgirl06]

Now that is awesome!

[amawahibiki]

Is this actually in reference to one of my comments? (I can't think who else it would be).

[archgirl06]

It might have been. I honestly don't remember though. There are a lot of people on the WJ communities that share your opinions much of the time, so it was probably a reaction to that general idea, not just a particular comment.

[amawahibiki]

I'm surprised to hear you say people agree with me- I think basically nobody actually agrees what I say, although stone_ and eitanhalevi sometimes agree with me on specific issues which are standard in the frum world. I don't know whether I agree with myself a lot of the time... most of what I've said recently is reaction to awful things other people said.
I'm actually thinking a lot about a lot of things at the moment- I'll post a rant on the subject on my LJ soon which might interest you.
I don't think what I'm saying actually contradicts what you do. As eitanhalevi said in a post last week, one can like conservative Jews and recognise them as Jews while simultaneously abhoring Conservative Judaism as a movement. I don't recall ever having stated that R/C are not Jews

[archgirl06]

Well, I can understand why you may feel the way you do, but I think your delivery is sometimes misinterpreted, since you do feel passionately about these certain issues.

Interesting path? Just 4 months ago I was applying to Cantorial school and now I want to be frum! That's quite the turn-around.

Would you mind if I added you, btw?

[estherchaya]

Sorry to pop in uninvited, but if you've ever got an opportunity to make it down to Silver Spring, MD, and you want to meet some (relatively) normal Orthodox Jews who are (relatively) non-judgmental, you would be more than welcome to spend Shabbos with us. We're pretty laid back, but I do make a pretty darned good Shabbos dinner.

[archgirl06]

Thank you so much for the invitation.

And kressel has mentioned how elaborate your Shabbos menus are. =p

I see you added this journal so I'll add you back. =)