I am living in a right-wing dogma enriched jewish community over the Green Line in Israel, I thought I'd reach out to like minded thinkers - those who don't believe what all of my neighbors believe! I am not a radical, meaning I don't try to fix other people to believe like me.
I also don't stand out from the others who have beards, wear black, have head coverings, and fringes. But I also don't believe in a deity, and if I did, he wouldn't care about all of that anyhow. So it would never occur to anyone in town to ask me if I believe or not.
I still go to my daf yomi lectures (a page of Talmud learning a day) and learn with a couple of friends, but I see it through an obvious different set of eyes. I still find it intellectually stimulating, just not a secret oral law as some hold it.
I came into this way of thinking about a month ago, so it's still pretty weird, especially given where I live and to whom I am married. I have broached a few possibilites with my wife, but while she doesn't mind me being a bit of an apikoris she will interrupt if I go across the line, so it's not something that I can discuss with her, well, maybe only a tiny bit from time to time. I'm only 60, so I have some time.
My languages are Hebrew, Aramaic, and English. I am originally from the USA, but have lived here for many years, not because I believe that there is some Divine Right for me to live here, but because I fell in love with my wife, and this is where she has lived and will continue to live.
So yeah, I straddle the line, continuing to live life normally, and shaking out the cobwebs where I can. I am interested in seeing if this Forum will be useful.
All the best.
E. Gross
I also don't stand out from the others who have beards, wear black, have head coverings, and fringes. But I also don't believe in a deity, and if I did, he wouldn't care about all of that anyhow. So it would never occur to anyone in town to ask me if I believe or not.
I still go to my daf yomi lectures (a page of Talmud learning a day) and learn with a couple of friends, but I see it through an obvious different set of eyes. I still find it intellectually stimulating, just not a secret oral law as some hold it.
I came into this way of thinking about a month ago, so it's still pretty weird, especially given where I live and to whom I am married. I have broached a few possibilites with my wife, but while she doesn't mind me being a bit of an apikoris she will interrupt if I go across the line, so it's not something that I can discuss with her, well, maybe only a tiny bit from time to time. I'm only 60, so I have some time.
My languages are Hebrew, Aramaic, and English. I am originally from the USA, but have lived here for many years, not because I believe that there is some Divine Right for me to live here, but because I fell in love with my wife, and this is where she has lived and will continue to live.
So yeah, I straddle the line, continuing to live life normally, and shaking out the cobwebs where I can. I am interested in seeing if this Forum will be useful.
All the best.
E. Gross
“I've done everything the Bible says — even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff!"— Ned Flanders
