Monday, March 20, 2006

Special treat Bonus Interview with the Mad Zionist

The Mad Zionist has a huge blog that has a devoted casts of regular readers. One of the reasons I seldom blog on Israel is that others do a better job. Pam of Atlas Shrugs and our friend the Classy Esther of Ouside the Blogway cover Israel in more depth. The Mad Zionist has few peers in this category.

1 Is Judaism compatible with Communism ?
2 Are Communist and Anarchists of Jewish descent non Jews
3 Why does the left insist the Satmar is the authentic voice of observant Jews. They are not even close to a majority of the Chasidic Jews.
4 Can you explain for our non Jewish readers the differences between the Modern Orthodox and the Chasidic Community.
5 What is this new trend called egalitarian Judaism is sounds touchy feely.

6 My younger brother an Orthodox Rabbi loves the Hebrew Hammer . Have you seen that film ?
7 Is Matishayu big in Brooklyn ? I was driving my car and thought my radio was broken. I was hearing someone rapping about Mosiach but apparently my non Jewish coworkers kids do listen.
8 Is there any word if the Tomb of Joseph will ever be rebuilt ?

9 Do you watch professional sports
10 Can you explain to gentiles the differences between Askenaz and Sephardim
11 Where does this term Mizrahim to describe North African Jews come from ? I never heard this term and it is not in the encyclopedia Judaica.

12 When did Arabs invade Israel
13 I remember folktales linking the study of Kaballah to mental illness. Was there a rule that Kaballah could only be studied in groups.
14 Is Michael Lerner a genuine Rabbi. He seems to know nothing about Judaism or anything else.

Popular Culture
15 Were you a fan of the Odd Couple
16 What films did you enjoy

NYC

17 Why are the Clintons regarded so highly among secular Jews but disdained in the Orthodox Community ?
18 Do you remember Eric Briendel ? His column calling the Crown Heights Riot a Pogrom changed the way that many felt about that incedent.
19 Does the secular Jewish community look down on the more religious

General
20 Are you bothered by School Prayer
21 What is your position on School Vouchers
22 What is your position on Capital punishment
23 Would you vote for Rudy Guiliani or Condi Rice in a GOP primary
24 Who is your favorite talk show host ? Have you heard of Mark Levin
25 Have you read Bat Yeor ?

22 comments:

nanc said...

hm, bonus interview...shows you where the rest of us stand! see you all in the morning - cannot wait to see madze's answers.

Mad Zionist said...

Thanks for the kind intro and the opportunity to sit in your hot seat, Beaker.

1. Is Judaism compatible with Communism?

Oy, Liberals have given Judaism a bad name. Communism is an atheist ideology that is totally incompatible with Judaism. In Judaism, Torah offers us a blue print of laws from God on how to best live a healthy, happy and productive life. Communism, on the other hand, is a blue print for dictatorship, injustice, starvation, and despair.

For example, Judaism is not compatible to homogeny. As Jews we are taught to separate everything in order to make things holy. Meat from milk, Shabbos from the weekday, men from women, childhood from adulthood, everything is designed for us to distinguish and excel to the best of our abilities within the frameworks of our laws. Equality of justice is our goal, not equality of results, and pleasing God is our mission.

2 Are Communist and Anarchists of Jewish descent non Jews.

If someone is a Jew he is a Jew. Even if he renounces his religion he is welcome to come back at any time and is still welcomed as a Jew when needing to make a minyon. That said, those self-loathing Jews who become Communists and Anarchists are NOT behaving as Jews nor living a Jewish life.

3 Why does the left insist the Satmar is the authentic voice of observant Jews. They are not even close to a majority of the Chasidic Jews.

The Left speaks from ignorance. To most of them Judaism is a foreign and unknown entity and they choose to make gross mischaracterizations as a result. That said, I am not familiar with the fact that the Left considers the Satmars to be the dominant face of observant Judaism. I believe instead they usually lump everything in as "Chasidic" based on my experiences.

4 Can you explain for our non Jewish readers the differences between the Modern Orthodox and the Chasidic Community.

Not in one quick sentance or blurb. The more correct terminology for your question, actually, would be Haraidi (or Ultra-Orthodox) vs. Modern Orthodox, as Chasidic and Mitnagim look and sound very much alike to most casual observers, but actually have substantial differences of opinion.

So, to best explain the difference between Ultra-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox let's start at the top. First of all, the appearance. Big beard, black hats and black coats are Hareidi. Modern Orthos essentially dress modernly, but conservatively, and usually where a yarmulke.

Second is Zionism. Hareidi are somewhat ambivalent towards modern Israel before the coming of Moshiach (the Messiah), while Modern Orthodox Jews believe it is our biblical obligation as Jews to settle the Land of Israel in this world, today, and are deeply Zionist and nationalist about Israel as a result.

Third is modernity. Modern Orthodox Jews embrace the modern world and regularly see movies, go to sporting events, watch TV, etc., while the Hareidi are more isolationaist and reject the modern world as a threat to living a Jewish life. The noted exception to this in the Ultra-Orthodox world are the Chabad Lubavich, who are very much interactive in the modern world.

5 What is this new trend called egalitarian Judaism is sounds touchy feely.

It is. No such animal in Torah Judaism as men and women have seperate roles, which are celebrated and respected by both sexes.

6 My younger brother an Orthodox Rabbi loves the Hebrew Hammer . Have you seen that film?

Nope.

7 Is Matishayu big in Brooklyn ? I was driving my car and thought my radio was broken. I was hearing someone rapping about Mosiach but apparently my non Jewish coworkers kids do listen.

I live in S. Florida, but he is big everywhere right now. In fact, I'm seeing him live next week.

8 Is there any word if the Tomb of Joseph will ever be rebuilt?

None that I'm aware of. Of course, I would love to expel all of the vermin from Judea and rebuild it tomorrow.

9 Do you watch professional sports.

Fanatically for football. I also fart, drink beer and slam bellies after touchdowns.

10 Can you explain to gentiles the differences between Askenaz and Sephardim

Sephardim are regarded as the Jews who left Spain and Portugal during the inquisition. They also often tend to be the Jews who come from Arab countries. Ashkenazi are the Jews who settled in northern and eastern Europe.

The two share an identical Torah and book of Laws. There are differences in customs, dress, accent and ritual that distinguish the two from one another, but not issues of Jewish laws.

11 Where does this term Mizrahim to describe North African Jews come from ? I never heard this term and it is not in the encyclopedia Judaica.

Not sure myself, either.

12. When did Arabs invade Israel

The day Israel became a recognized country by the U.N. in 1948

13. I remember folktales linking the study of Kaballah to mental illness. Was there a rule that Kaballah could only be studied in groups.

There is a rule that one should not learn Kaballah formally until after the age of 40. Not sure about the groups, but it does sound familiar. Anyway, Jews always are supposed to learn in groups (or Chevrusa) of at least two with one being the expert.

14 Is Michael Lerner a genuine Rabbi. He seems to know nothing about Judaism or anything else.

No. He is a self-loathing fool.

15 Were you a fan of the Odd Couple

Absolutely. I would be more the Oscar type.

16 What films did you enjoy

I love mafia movies; Godfather, Goodfellas, etc. Also, Private Ryan, Sideways and a thriller called The Others are among my favorites.

17 Why are the Clintons regarded so highly among secular Jews but disdained in the Orthodox Community?

Orthodox Jews are overwhelmingly conservative, while secular Jews are ovwerwhelmingly liberal.

18 Do you remember Eric Briendel ? His column calling the Crown Heights Riot a Pogrom changed the way that many felt about that incedent.

Can't say that I do.

19 Does the secular Jewish community look down on the more religious

Unfortunately, there is great hostility from the secularists toward the religious. This is not unique to Judaism, but the degree of vitriol is more intense, sadly enough.


20 Are you bothered by School Prayer.

Not in the least. I think if people want to pray or form prayer groups that it is healthy - so long as others aren't having religion forcibly imposed upon them in the process. Merely being in the presence of prayer, even if it is not your own, does not violate anybody's civil rights.

21 What is your position on School Vouchers.

HUGE FAN. It should be established everywhere.

22 What is your position on Capital punishment.

It's under-used.

23 Would you vote for Rudy Guiliani or Condi Rice in a GOP primary.

Perhaps. Depends on who they were running against, though.

24 Who is your favorite talk show host? Have you heard of Mark Levin.

I'm a big fan of Joe Scarborough. Not sure who Levin is.

25 Have you read Bat Yeor?

Excerpts of her Eurabia book. She is excellent from what little I've read of her, and I really should tyake the time to read more of her. Not enough hours in the day...

nanc said...

uhhh, madze - which one?

"23 Would you vote for Rudy Guiliani or Condi Rice in a GOP primary.

Perhaps. Depends on who they were running against, though."

Mad Zionist said...

Deciding between the two, I guess I'd pick Condi. Never entirely trust a man with a comb-over.

nanc said...

and never trust a woman five days out of each and every month!

beakerkin said...

Iran Watch

I formed the questions to highlight the many types of people in our community. MZ does an excellent job of providing laymen with complicted cross section of our community.

I will see if anyone knows where this term Mizrahim comes from. However it is a safe bet that if MZ or I never heard of it something is wrong. I never got a staight answer from Stephen Schwartz either but he was vehment.

nanc said...

there are over 3,000 yahoos for mizrahim, here's one:

http://www.hsje.org/Time%20to%20meet%20the%20Mizrahim.htm

beakerkin said...

Nanc

I have seen the entries but something is odd. If MZ, my younger brother an Orthodox Rabbi and myself have never used the term
something does not add up.

I have known many Jews from North Africa and Iran and never heard that term. I may ask Prof Julius Lester as he has been helpful.

This may be a term that is PC in origin.

nanc said...

it is curious - the last name "mizrahi" comes to mind when i see it. origins are of the essence. when you add an "m" to the end of some hebrew words doesn't that usually mean plural/possessive? could it have started with the "mizrahi" family? sleuthing is a fun thing.

Mad Zionist said...

A little help for you folks on the Mizrachi issue. While I am not sure where the origins of this name came from in Africa, the Mizrachi movement is the original Religious Zionist movement for modern Israel. It was founded by Rabbi Yitzchak Reines in 1902, the time of Herzl when most Orthodox Jews opposed the creation of a pre-messianic Israel.

What Rabbi Reines led was a movement which is the foundation for much of the modern Orthodox vision of Israel. That is, it is our biblical obligation as Jews to settle Eretz Yisroel as a Torah loving nation, yet the coming of Moshiach is not hastened or deterred by this commandment. Moshiach is coming at his appointed time irrespective of whether we Jews settle the Land or not, but it IS God's desire that Jews perform this mitzvah.

Most modern Orthodox Jews follow this belief to this day.

This is different than the vision Rabbi Abraham Kook had for Religious Zionism, which believes the Moshiach will come if the Jews settle the land and follow the ways of Torah. This belief is still very strong among many religious Zionists, too, but usually the more mystical oriented orthodox.

It is the position of Rabbi Reines which eventually led to the once anti-Zionist Orthodoxy to relent and accept the Jewish State, as they were fiercly opposed to anything which would effect God's appointed time for Moshiach. Today, almost all Hareidi, even Satmar Hereidi, are tolerant if not accepting of the Jewish State, as they take the oath of "not ascending before the appointed time" very seriously. So long as it is not a violation of this oath they will not reject modern Israel.

A notable exception to the tolerance of Israel is from the tiny fringe group known as Naturei Karta. They are an Ultra-Orthodox extremest cult that has befriended terrorists who wish to see the Jewish State eradicated at all costs and work to aid and abet them any way they can. Fortunately, there are only about 150 of them in the world, though the liberals always give them plenty of attention because it shows religious looking Jews (beards, black hats, etc.) campaigning for the Palestinians.

Thus, Mizrachi is a movement we would probably say most closely follows the platform of the National Union Party in Israeli politics, though originally they helped form the NRP (National Religious Party) in Israel's formative years.

Hope that helps!

Oh, one more thing, I heard that Mizrachi is an anachronism, though I am not sure for what.

-MZ

beakerkin said...

im at the end of a semitc word is indeed plural. However, maybe Prof Plaut will shed light on this if we ask him nicely.

This is sounding stranger by the moment.

Freedomnow said...

I believe MZ was going for a Rudy/Condi ticket.

They would win hands down. Condi could just as well run for the top spot and Rudy for VP, but you can mix and match.

It works either way, but I would want Condi to be the Pres...

Mad Zionist said...

Actually, FN, if I was asked who I would most prefer for the Republican nomination it would be neither. Rudi is just too liberal for me socially and Condi has been a big Arab kiss ass since becoming secretary of State.

My dream choice: John Bolton

nanc said...

oh kyle, madze farts with the best of us!

Unknown said...

madzionist:

matisyahu is a little too reggae for me, but i like "king without a crown". the live disc he put out was much better also. i missed seeing him, tics sold out really fast, but i hope its a good show [it probably will be].

Freedomnow said...

MZ

We all like pissing off liberals, but I think you have an extra special love for that.

Bolton?!!!!!!!!! Haa haaaa haaaaaa

nanc said...

it is called passion, fern.

WomanHonorThyself said...

hey Beak..props to u!..I've never heard a more decent interview bout Jewish themes...MZ is authentic and well informed...I think Imma do a post for u on the Mizrahim..heh

nanc said...

woman - you must go to madze's site - please? he is an awesome and powerful force. that and i'm the only girl over there. he has accused me >^,,^< of not getting along well with other girls >^..^< - meow - can you imagine?

beakerkin said...

It is interesting that myself, MZ and my younger brother Rav Roov have zero familiarity with this term. I have had numerous contacts
with members of those communities and not encountered that word.

This term may be dubious in origin and part of the Khazar games. The Moooslims and far left are quite fond of that insanity.

Mad Zionist said...

Beak, read above. I gave a rather lengthy explanation of Mizrachi. It's a word I do know much about, but your question to me asked why it was popular in a North African Jewish context, and that is why I said I did not know. It's a very prominent Sephardic name so you might want to dig in some of those circles.

Anonymous said...

Answer about "rabbi" Mikey Lerner is here
http://zioncon.blogspot.com/2007/04/first-they-came-for-jews.html