Comments for The Half-Jewish Network: Welcoming Adult Children & Grandchildren of Intermarriage http://half-jewish.net Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:22:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ Comment on About/Message Board by Sara Davies http://half-jewish.net/message-board/#comment-6549 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:22:34 +0000 http://halfjewishnetwork.wordpress.com/?page_id=68#comment-6549 Hi Robin. The new website looks very nice. I wanted to let you know about a book I co-authored (“self-published” direct to Kindle) on Jewish ethics: The Path and Wisdom for Living at Peace with Others: A Modern Commentary on Talmud Tractates Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah, which is based on Rabbi Arthur Segal’s online course and compiled & edited by me. I’m very happy about it. One can borrow the book either for free or about a dollar fifty if an Amazon Prime member, and I believe it can be shared with anyone. Also, I was excited to learn there is a conference this spring about descendants of intermarriage (finally?) – I noticed HJN is listed as a group that will speak. Very cool. Would love to hear about what happens.

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by Robin Elizabeth Margolis http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-6079 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:40:50 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-6079 Dear Howie, Chana (Annette), Pamela:

Howie: Thank you for sharing your family history. Always enjoy these bits of the great Jewish historical tapestry!

Chana (Annette): Believe me, I totally understand what you’re saying!There are days I have to avoid reading my Jewish newsletters I get so ticked off at some of the “parentage” statements.

Pamela: Thank you for sharing the Beliefnet essay! It is very informative.

Cordially,
Robin

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by Pamela Villars http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-6062 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:33:32 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-6062 Although I know this from my Melton course, I’m using Beliefnet’s words to express it clearly. We can argue all we want, but a historical look is also helpful. :

” …matrilineal descent is the rabbinic norm. It’s not 5,000 years old, however. The ruling really dates back to the time of the restoration of the Second Temple, to the Book of Ezra–which is more like 2,500 years ago. At that time, with the Jewish people facing the difficult task of rebuilding the Temple, Ezra annulled marriages between Israelites and “foreign wives.” Subsequent rabbinic thought builds on this foundation, and that leads us to today.

But if we are talking about tradition, patrilineal descent in Judaism is actually much older than matrilineal descent. Consider for instance that on Friday night in Jewish homes, female children are blessed to be like the matriarchs, while the male children are blessed to be like “Manasseh and Ephraim.” This recalls the extraordinary blessing (with crossed hands) that Jacob gives to Joseph’s sons.

Read more: http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2000/04/Jewish-Genes.aspx#ixzz1lefQX68M

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by Chana (Annette) http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-6059 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:11:14 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-6059 Although I would be considered a Jew Halachically (and was raised in a religious–Orthodox—home), I reject all of it at this point in my life. In my experience Judaism is a very racist religion, always obsessing about which parent is this, or which parent is that….acting very clannish, cliqueish, insular…I’m tired of it all. One thing that drew me to Christianity (the traditional Roman Catholic side of my family) is the fact that Christianity does not obsess about birthlines and lineages the way Judaism does. I’m almost at the point where I am so disgusted by all this that I don’t even want to identify with any Jewishness I have.

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by howard uk http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-6020 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:27:59 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-6020 hi robin, a cousin did a history of our family name ,it is quite easy to trace your ancestors here in the uk, from the start of the census, started in the 18 th centry , then it starts to get difficult , my cousin went to holland portugal and spain , to granada, and thats where we came from we also discoverd a book , about our family its called the cross and the pear tree and it is avalable on amazon our family name is first mentioned , in about 1325 when a ancestor purchased a olive grove , , sadly my cousin passed away 5 yrs ago the family name is ABEN DANA regards howard

]]> Comment on About/Message Board by Duality http://half-jewish.net/message-board/#comment-5938 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:07:40 +0000 http://halfjewishnetwork.wordpress.com/?page_id=68#comment-5938 Dear Ryan: I am glad that you found my comment about Israel of interest. Israel’s behavior towards half-Jewish people is truly tragic, and I am hoping that if criticisms of this behavior are made, Israel will reconsider this behavior.

Cordially,
Robin

]]> Comment on About/Message Board by Duality http://half-jewish.net/message-board/#comment-5936 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:05:56 +0000 http://halfjewishnetwork.wordpress.com/?page_id=68#comment-5936 Dear Ryan: I am glad that you enjoy our new website. It is always good to welcome visitors from our old website!

Thank you for posting links to the two articles on half-Jewish people. I feel that the more that is written about us advocating for our point of view, the better off we will be.

Cordially,
Robin

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by Duality http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-5932 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:28:46 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-5932 Dear Howie: Sorry that some Jews are still stuck on the matrilineal descent rule. It is very tiresome!

You are one up on me regarding ancestors’ wedding licenses. I only have proof that my two sets of Jewish great-grandparents were married.

Not sure that I have any proof about the marriages of my Jewish great-great-grandparents — I don’t even know their names.

Cordially,
Robin

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by howard uk http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-5898 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:11:53 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-5898 yes i can suppy my great great gran parents wedding certificate

]]> Comment on Fourth Half-Jewish Network Blog/Email Newsletter by howard uk http://half-jewish.net/2012/02/02/fourth-half-jewish-network-blogemail-newsletter/#comment-5896 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:04:42 +0000 http://half-jewish.net/?p=728#comment-5896 like i was told a few days ago there is no such person half jew unless you mother is jewish then you are not a jew

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