Perpetual Interview "Meme"

[shmuelisms]

I've been meaning to do this for some time now (mostly since some awesome discussions with spider88 and qatar), but keep on forgetting. It was qatar's last question [link removed], that "forced my hand".

The damn-fool interview meme keeps on coming around every 6 to 8 months or so, and I generally ignore it, because I really hate the lame "What's your favorite

Comments

Okay, here is one for you

[joshbrown]

What does Judaism think about the color of the weather on Mars, and of how that affects Israeli politics?

Considering...

[shmuelisms]

Given that:

• The weather and terrain on Mars, looks surprisingly like the Negev (the arid South of Israel, for the non-natives). See the big photo, third row from top (or in more detail) and this BBC story
• Jewish Thought tells us, that our "disagreement" with the Arabs, is not really about the actual land of Israel, but actually a war of principles.

I suggest that we ship them all off to Mars, where they can have as much of that "Israel" as they want.

[ Disclaimer: The above answer was written in the spirit of the question asked (i.e. downright silly), and does not reflect any actual Jewish doctrine, or my actual political opinion. Never mind that shipping to Mars is rather cost-prohibitive at present, even if one advocates a Marching Morons type of "Solution" (which I don't). ]

[ginamariewade]

I have been reading "Pharaohs and Kings: a Biblical quest" by David Rohl which lays out some pretty convincing (to my mind) evidence for reordering the traditionally recognized timeline for the ancient Levant and Egypt.
Basically, it posits that archaeological evidence for the Exodus, King David, the fall of Jericho, etc. has been there all along, but happened about 300-400 years earlier than previously supposed.

Have you heard of this book, this scholar, or this theory, and if so, what do you think of it? (If not, I recommend it, because it's very interesting.)

Tricky question

[shmuelisms]

It is obvious that the currently accepted chronology of Ancient Egypt is dead wrong from the Jewish POV. Many archaeologists also find it to be untenable from a purely scientific POV. But from that to jump to the conclusions he seems to claim (according to this book review), is almost just as unacceptable! The theory that the "ancients Hebrews" are these mercenary Habiru / Efiru coming in from Mesopotamia (that merged and "took-over" the Canaanites), is nothing new in the archaeological world (another fascinating read would be Adam Zartal's book in Hebrew about his find - the ancient altar on Mt. Eibal). But again unacceptable. Interesting to read some of the reader comments regarding your book on Amazon. Does this book nention at all, the finding of this Altar

Is there really no reason?

[cogitationitis]

You're pretty versed, so maybe you know...

I was always taught that the prohibitions against intermingling crops and, similarly, wearing both cotton & linen, were the sort of things that had to be taken on faith. Is there any historical rationale? Certainly, most of the prohibitions and laws make sense, when taken in a historical context. (See my own post of today.) A rabbi once suggested to me that maybe wearing both cotton & linen were "too rich." However, intermingling crops is good for the soil. (I'll note that there is a fallow year every seventh year to help improve the soil; is that still followed?.)

I'm just wondering where these laws came from.

There ain't no reason?

[shmuelisms]

Is there any historical rationale?
Not that I know of. I really don't think there is.
Certainly, most of the prohibitions and laws make sense, when taken in a historical context.
Actually I find this NOT to be the case, as often as not. Most such "make sense" reasonings that I've seen are, IMHO, modern apologetics, trying to demonstrate "how reasonable those ancient laws are, see, ain't we cool? [and smarter than everybody else too, for having figured this out 3300 years before them]." Most of the time, these reasons fall flat on their faces, and end up making Judaism look bad, so I have little patience for them. Never mind, that the Torah is a single cohesive system, so when you fail to explain everything in these terms, you fall far short.
wearing both cotton & linen were "too rich."
This seems a lame and senseless claim to me. By this reasoning wearing Wool interleaved with gold is somehow less rich than wool and linen?? Does that make sense to you?
However, intermingling crops is good for the soil.
Do you mean simultaneously, or in

[smokingredmoon]

that's my favorite color too!!!

[qatar]

OK, what the heck.

What do you think is the most just solution to the whole Israel/Palestine thing? (And, in case your response wouldn't otherwise address it: what do you think of the security barrier? Am I correct in thinking it is not far from your home?)

Just kill me now. PLEASE!

[shmuelisms]

Even back when I was a flame-thrower carrying zealot [1], the one topic, I have never EVER really discussed online, what MY "solution" for the Israeli/Arab [2] conflict is. I have often defended Israel, and tried to educate people about the actual facts behind the hype and propaganda, trying for third-party sources. I will talk up a storm around this issue, but won't touch it itself with a ten-foot battle lance. Another "touching the topic" issue that I'm working on writing, will be titled "Zionism is a Damn Lie!" Stay tuned.

I am willing to state that I think there can NOT possibly be a "just solution", that is both acceptable and viable to ALL the involved parties (more than two). There is NO way to make a "two-state [west of the Jordan] solution" work EVER. The "real-estate" is simply not sufficient to make two viable and defensible countries, in an area the size of New-Jersey. A one state solution ALSO won't work, because within two decades, this will just be any other Arab country, with a dwindling Jewish minority. So what we

Re: Just kill me now. PLEASE!

[qatar]

Before I get to the rest of it -- what do you mean, "Zionism is a damn lie"? Are you NOT a Zionist? What is it about Zionism that you object to? And how the heck does someone who ISN'T a Zionist end up living in a land-grab enclave??????

I'm more mystified than ever!

Line, Hook and Sinker!!

[shmuelisms]

Precisely!

Now you'll just have to wait for the essay. :-D [ Big Evil Grin ]

PS   - I was using the expression "land-grab enclave" in irony, as I don't see it as anything of the sort.
PPS - Am enjoying watching the mystified qatar wiggle on that bait-hook.