Rockland Jewish Family Service

My sister is converting. I am nonreligious, and I send Easter cards to my close Christian friends/family. She will be my first jewish family member, and I was wondering what holidays I should mark with cards? I assume I should send my standard "holiday" greeting to them before Hanukkah, but should I send a card for Yom Kippur or any other holiday?

That’s very kind of you. My own sister’s support throughout my conversion was of great value to me. I couldn’t have gone one without the love of my family.

Yes, Chanukah acknowledgements are nice, though I wouldn’t call it an important holiday. It’s still nice to be included in the winter happenings either way.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and should definitely be recognized.

As for other important holidays, try joining her in celebration on Succot, perhaps, when we make parties inside a crazy shed/tent, or for Shavuot when we eat all dairy meals (ooooh, the cheesecake!).

What are some questions a Jewish rabbi would ask a potential convert? Besides why do you want to convert to Judaism.

answer: "Can you attend a weekly class that lasts over 16 weeks?"

"Why do you feel called to Judaism?"

Over time, during the class and time spent working with the rabbi and attending synagogue and celebrating Shabbat (without the blessings) and holidays, the rabbi will determine if he/she believes you’re ready for the final steps. Each rabbinical court will ask different questions (they aren’t out to ‘fail’ anyone). They want to be assured that you know enough about Judaism and hold Jewish beliefs to begin living fully as a Jew.

There will be further questions just before you convert:

Have you severed ties and beliefs of your previous religion?
Do you commit to the Jewish community and promise to be active in the community, Jewish life and keep a jewish home?
If you have children, will they be raised Jewish?

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Princey and other rabid haters of Jews seem to forget that converts have ALWAYS been embraced in judaism, by G-d Himself. Ruth was one famous convert. The Khazar accusation is an old antisemitic dodge that doesn’t hold any legitimate argument. The Khazars faded away before any significant contact with European Jews in the Diaspora. As proven by DNA tests.

Jews are Jews, no matter what their ethnic background is.

Revelation is a political rant disguised as prophecy and was referring to non-Jews pretending to be Jews. That sounds like an odd Christian group I know, not traditional Jews (who have NEVER turned from their religion)

Matisyahu Hasidic Reggae artist

Duration : 0:5:30

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Technorati Tags: jewish, MUSIC, reggae

I am just wondering because I have read that most of them are jewish. Is it true? I am just curious. Is there any estimates what kind of people does the Freemasonry consist of?

I believe the overwhelming majority of Freemasons are Christian.

I belong to one of the biggest Jewish lodges in Philadelphia and even there my lodge is at least half-Christian. Most lodges don’t have any Jews at all.

This Is How We’re Jewish – Keith From Up Da Block

Only Keith From Up Da Block has the chutzpah to jack Montell Jordan’s classic and create this hilarious Hebrew holiday extravaganza! This guy’s got balls, matzoh-size balls, and in 2009 you best believe Keith is gettin’ that cream cheese.

For all the Jewish folks out there, this is everything you learned in Hebrew School captured in one song. For everyone else, come along for the ride and youll be screaming Mazel Tov in no time! We got Jewish celebs galore and the best Bar Mitzvah dancing since Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Please subscribe to our You Tube channel and enjoy musical parody from the man who calls himself Weird Al Gangstavich!

Remember: Keith is not a Jew, but he is Jew-ish.

–Shecky Green, Executive Producer

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“This Is How We’re Jewish” is available online now!

Check out the “American Prankster” CD by Keith From Up Da Block on:

I Tunes
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=288190863&id=288190678&s=143441

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HCBMJI/ref=dm_sp_alb?ie=UTF8&qid=1229136922&sr=8-1

Keith’s You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/keithfromupdablock

Keith’s My Space:
http://www.myspace.com/keithfromupdablockmusic

Keith’s Official Website:
http://www.keithfromupdablock.com/

For Keith bookings and business inquiries, contact:
shec@gamelasvegas.com

Executive Producer: Shecky Green for Game Recordings
Produced by: DJ Mighty Mi for Well Done Burger Productions
All songs written by: Keith From Up Da Block

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“This Is How We’re Jewish”

This is how we’re Jewish (this is how we’re Jewish)
Hava Nagila! (this is how we’re Jewish)
Oy-Oy-Oy Vey (this is how we’re Jewish)
Gefilte fish and matzoh balls (this is how we’re Jewish)

This is how we’re Jewish, Its Hannukah night
Got my yarmulke tight,
And the synagouge’s on the westside.
So I reach for my forty, and I fill my cup,
Manischevitz wine, all da time gets me drunk.
And Im gettin some bagels!
With cream cheese and lox, cuz it gotta lotta flavor.
It feels so good, in da Jew hood tonight.
Ralph Lauren shirts, do they got my size?
Even Mel Gibson decided to apologize!
You gotta get ya Jew on, before it gets too late
If seltzer’s in your cup, light that menorah up,
And listen to the rabbi sing!

Chorus
Mazel Tov, its all because (this is how we’re Jewish)
Gods people does it like nobody does (this is how we’re Jewish)
All my bagels got much flavor (this is how we’re Jewish)
Lets flip da track bring da Hebrews back! (this is how we’re Jewish)

This is how we jewish, throw your tallis in the air.
And wave it from here to there, even if you’re orthodox with a long black beard.
You see the Lord’s been good to me,
Ever since we walked through the Red Sea.
We’re CEOs and VPs, makin’ crazy money
Dolla, dolla bills yall!
If you were from where I’m from, then you would know.
That I never eat swine or mix meat with milk,
Everything I eat is Kosher!
I follow the Torah and the Ten Commandments
If seltzer’s in your cup light that menorah up
And listen to the rabbi saaang

Chorus
Mazel Tov, its all because (this is how we’re Jewish)
Gods people does it like nobody does (this is how we’re Jewish)
All my bagels got much flavor (this is how we’re Jewish)
Lets flip da track bring da Hebrews back! (this is how we’re Jewish)

Duration : 0:3:39

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He used his trust and betrayed the jewish community. Its sad and we should help out some way rather than to the Paestininans. I know this is a sensitive subject but after all and I know Jesus will not be happy if we do not help now!!

Shalom to the Jewish people and God Bless America and Israel.

We would have to know who they are first.

I already give to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews headed up by Rabbi Eckstein They help with medical equipment, food, heat and rent for those too poor to help themselves in Israel and other places such as Russia where Jews are being persecuted.

Madoff hurt more people than just the Jews. I doubt anything will be done unless someone starts an organization to do so. Maybe that should be YOUR goal since you had the idea.

“Israel was born out of jewish Terrorism” Tzipi Livnis Father was a Terrorist” Astonishing claims in the House of Parliament. SIR Gerald Kaufman, the veteran Labour MP, yesterday compared the actions of Israeli troops in Gaza to the Nazis who forced his family to flee Poland.

During a Commons debate on the fighting in Gaza, he urged the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel.

Sir Gerald, who was brought up as an orthodox Jew and Zionist, said: “My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town a German soldier shot her dead in her bed.

“My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza. The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploits the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians.”

He said the claim that many of the Palestinian victims were militants “was the reply of the Nazi” and added: “I suppose the Jews fighting for their lives in the Warsaw ghetto could have been dismissed as militants.”

He accused the Israeli government of seeking “conquest” and added: ”

They are not simply war criminals, they are fools.”

Duration : 0:5:40

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For a college assignment: 6 questions
What is a source of pride and/or a positive dimension of being Jewish? What is a less-desirable or negative dimension of the Jewish culture (or being a member of the Jewish culture)? How does being Jewish affect: your social life, career, where you live, or any other aspects of life? And finally, what would you (any Jewish person) like human service professionals (counselors etc.) to know about Jewish culture and its members? Thank you.

Hope this helps…

1) I take pride in having such an ancient culture that is full of interesting and important events in history, as well as the fact that judaism is such a culture-oriented religion that puts much value in understanding the culture and religion and in celebrating all that Jews have achieved, as well as honoring and remembering all the struggles that our people have faced over the years.

2) A negative dimension? As with any religion, there are many. Besides discrimination, which has caused some of the world’s most horrible dilemmas in the past, it’s disappointing to see that many people don’t know much about modern jewish culture.

3) I was born in Israel and lived there until the age of 10, and have gone back to visit numerous times before. So in that aspect, I guess you could say it affects (or used to affect) where I lived. Growing up in Israel is a very unique experience that has definitely contributed to my views on religion and society as a whole. I currently live in a very open-minded area, and have never dealt with anyone who discriminated against me personally for being Jewish.

4) I think what I would like more people to consider is that there are many types of Jews. I’m for one am a non-religious Jew and don’t believe in God at all. Growing up in Israel, I would say that it seemed as if there are roughly the same amount of religious and non-religious Jews. Actually, most people that I grew up with did not believe in God at all. This is to show you that Jewish culture (at least in Israel) consists of way more than just spirituality- everyone is involved in celebrations, memorials and other cultural events, even (and especially) kids. This is why it’s important to remember that Judaism is a culture as well as a religion, and that not all aspects of being a Jew are spiritual at all.

Spoof of the famous “My New Haircut” video: This is the Jewish Edition!

Oy Vey!

A few people have had trouble understanding the video because they are not Jewish. We don’t discriminate here, so below is an explanation of everything Jewish mentioned in the video… so, I guess that’s everything.

EXPLANATION OF EVERYTHING FOR GOYIM (NON-JEWS):
-Yarmulke: The hat that Jews wear on their head. (The one I am wearing in the video)
-Tuchus: Ass, butt, rear end
-Mishpocha: My Crew/friends/family
-Shtup: To or hump
-Yenta: A Jew, usually a woman, who tends to gossip… I use it in the sense of a Jewish female.
-Shmeckle: Penis
-Shicksas: Non-Jewish women.
-Mensch: A good boy/ well-mannered gentleman; highly respected.
-”Ashem as my witness”: “G-d as my witness”
-Schmuck: A jerk
-Punim: Literally means a face, but is used in the terms of a bad face or a bad look, like the “evil eye”
-Zetz: A hit or a smack
-Schnoz: Nose
-Boychick: An endearing term for a Jewish male.
-Shabbos: Jewish version of The Sabbath.
-Oy/Oy Vey/Oy Gevault: An exclamation, like, “Ugh!”
-Matzah: Unleavened bread that Jews eat on the holiday of Passover.
-Mammeleh: Yiddish for Mom or Mother.
-Schfitz: Sweat
-JCC: Acronym for Jewish Community Center. The Jewish equivalent of the YMCA.
-Macabi Beer: An Israeli Beer.
-Gefilte Fish: A Jewish delicacy. It is basically Carp fish ground up with gelatin and molded together into a lump.
-Latkes: Potato Pancakes, generally eaten during Hanukah.
-Kuggel: Another type of jewish food. It is kind of like Bread pudding, but usually cut into squares.
-Hamantaschen: Jewish cookies made for the holiday, Purim. They are triangle-shaped and jelly-filled. They are triangular because of the evil emperor Haman’s hat (That’s why I make the triangle over my head).
-Farshnikkert/Farshikkert: Drunk/shitfaced (A shikker is a drunk)
-Manischewitz (pronounced MAN-i-SHEV-ITS): Jewish Kosher wine. It is known for it’s unbearably sweet taste. It’s pretty gross.
-Mikveh/Mikvah: A ceremonial Jewish bath/shower/washing place. (Instead of saying “I shower in that shit” I say “I fill my Mikveh with that shit”
-Shul: Temple/Synagogue. Where Jews worship (Our version of church)
-North Shore: Refers to the North Shore of Long Island, where many Jews live, myself included.
-Lower East Side: Refers to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where many Jews live.

Okay, now you know Yiddish! If you have ANY other questions, please comment or message me.

Duration : 0:2:23

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I’m only 13 but I am very interested in becoming Jewish. And im just asking some questions about the jewish people and i have just discovered that there are even some questions that Google can’t answer.

The first question seems to be where can you find some valid information on judaism. The internet is filled with an abundance of sites. Aish.com is my favorite and a great book is "The Jewish Book of Why" by Alfred J. Kolatch. There is also .com.
You can actually "ask a Rabbi" online at www.asktherabbi.org., http://www.urj.org/ask/and http://www.aish.com/atr/s/
As far as whether is sing "Frosty" or "Rudolph" that is a personal choice. Incidentally, "Frosty" and many other Christmas songs were actually written by Jews. Some Christians actually blame such songs for making Christmas more generic and less religious.
More important than worrying about what songs to sing is to continue to keep an open mind and wherever you end up, explore the universe–it’s a great place to be!