Whose Religion Is This Anyway?
Gershom Gorenberg

Being an Orthodox dove in Israel is a complicated business.

Related: Michelle Goldberg asks if the pro-Israel lobby is headed toward obsolescence.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?articl..._is_this_anyway

This is the Good Jew point of view...

Like the "good muslims"?

Am I a "good" jew or a "bad" jew and who are jew to say so?

Perhaps, "good Israeli" might be more appropriate? You know, like "good Americans and bad Americans" as determined by some person's perception of us Americans, having him/herself never visited and not taking into account however right or wrong there perception might be of us as a whole much less as individuals with all of that nuance, looking only at a perception of a perception and with no other interaction, or sample size to make the judgment living in some other part of the world with prejudices and their own oppressions weighing heavily on their corner of the world.

Well....whattah ya gonna do (shrugs). There's always one person sorting into categories, but for jews, there's always a couple thousand naysayers sorting us into categories. All because we happen to be successful on the whole, because of family values and educational focus. Except me that is....I'm not that smart...

However, I've lightened up and don't take these things as seriously as I might once have done. Can't you all tell?

Yep!

Heart, you are one of the smartest persons I've ever met. Almost frighteningly so...

Wanna explain that one, rla?

I'll say!!

If I am smart at all, it's mostly because of a few people who I couldn't beat in an argument unless I was willing to learn. Kinda like chess?

Amy, it's one of those things that people think about "jews". Israel being the collective "jew" to pick on. To hear it told, we control the world. Which is what rla seems to mean when he says "Ashkenazi (European Jew) Oligarchy"...or, in laymen's terms "The jews control the world" and must be in it with the "Gnomes of Zurich", which is all very interesting, but then, if jews controlled the world it wouldn't be so messed up IMO! Laugh!

Thanks, heart, I understand. But I'm anxious to hear how rla defines "Good Jew".....particularly since he's not Jewish.....

How do they define "jew" from Arkansas or South Georgia? Much less good or bad?

Truth be told Amy, it's not all that difficult. A good Jew is one that agrees with you and makes you money, or gets you out of trouble. A bad Jew is one you don't agree with or who loses you money or doesn't get you off on those charges in court. (laughing). It's honest at least?

Well, I was raised Jewish.....doesn't sound "honest" to me.

It's just what people seem to mean by these expressions Amy. That's my perception. Everyone who doesn't know I'm Jewish (and I don't really look Jewish), says things in front of me to that affect. When they are looking for a good attorney, doctor, financial advisor they tend to ask funny things like a "good Jewish doctor"..... But, when things go wrong....they have the opposite reaction.

I didn't know you were raised Jewish.

If the, "Good Jews" controlled the world it would be great...

Those that are too rich to get through the eye of a needle suck...

When I hear someone say he or she is a, "Good Person," I have the same kind of viseral response as when
someone's finger nails scratch the black board.

You still haven't defined what a "Good Jew" is, rla. Ah, so wealthy Jews are the problem? Explain?

I sure was......my father was Jewish, my mother Episcopalian....my mother converted to Judaism.....we did have a Christmas tree, though....

My brothers had their bar mitzvahs.....I was confirmed in the faith when I was 16......

I don't practice any formal religion.....I have my own spiritual views which don't conform to the Judeo-Christian model......so.....

I tried to indicate with the above response that my remark about, "Good Jews" was with tongue in check.

How often do you hear someone say, "He or she is a, "Good Christian" or, "Good Jew" or "Good Muslim" or a, "Good Person" that is not followed with a, "But"?

It is my intention to be respectful and non-judgemental towards other persons...I'm not always successfull...