This is a non-denominial thread and non jews are welcome to discuss and have their say as well.

Feel free to discuss anything relating to torah, hannukah and even social issues affecting society including the synagogues stance on them.

I'll help answering some questions. :)

I'm not jewish, but I live in arguably Australia's biggest Jewish area >>> Caulfield.

I even worked for a Jewish accounting firm, based in Caulfield. It was pretty good. Nine (paid) Jewish holidays a year, several of them in September/October, on top of the normal public holidays.

Alright, i've got a question:
For Jewish people, what is the main reason that they see Jesus as not being the propehsised 'Son of God/ Messiah', as Christians see him?

shalom!!!!!

I'm not jewish, but I live in arguably Australia's biggest Jewish area >>> Caulfield.

I even worked for a Jewish accounting firm, based in Caulfield. It was pretty good. Nine (paid) Jewish holidays a year, several of them in September/October, on top of the normal public holidays.

I would agree that Caulfield would probebly be the biggest Jewish area in Aus. I was there in March for a double bar-mitzvah (twins- can you believe it? lol) Lots of traditional Jews walking around in long black coats and top hats. Very similar to the Bondi area here in Sydney. Melbourne actually has the highest Jewish population in Aus at around 30,000, followed by Sydneys 25,000. There are another 45,000 around the rest of Aus.

Alright, i've got a question:
For Jewish people, what is the main reason that they see Jesus as not being the propehsised 'Son of God/ Messiah', as Christians see him?

I'll try to answer that to be best of my ability:

Around the time of Jesus, there were many people claiming to be the messiah. The head rabbi's of the time were quite dogmatic in imposing rules and laws on the Jews, such as dietary laws etc... Jesus who was also Jewish, and started debating these strict laws the rabbis were imposing. Naturally, he gained a large following, however he remained a Jew. He, like many people of the time, claimed to be the mossiah and the rest is history. Explainations of his resurrection include a group of people being in on the hoax, or he simply never actually dying, and waking up in the tomb. If this were the case, he too would have believed that a miracle had happened.

Anyway, this is just the Jewish (or from what i gather) interpretation on the story, as not to offend the devoted Christians here!

Cheers

was it at tutor court?

^ Elsternwick, a little closer to the city, also has a strong Jewish population. Not sure of the figures though.

And yes, in Caulfield, you see them walking around in their long black coats and top hats. Half of the older gents, with their beards, all look similar to my ex boss, who in turn looks like Joseph Gutnick, the tycoon, but without hair on his head, lol.

You see them Walking around Balaclava Road and Hawthorn Road, going about their business. Its so cool to see.

And the thing with Caulfield, its not the greatest area, though its up there, but if you look at the average price of a house in Caulfield, it's always in the top echelon in Melbourne. The reason for this, it has been said, is that the Jewish will stubbornly outbid others at auctions because it is far more important to them that they live close to the synagogues, and therefore, the average price of a house in Caulfield is artificially raised. Whether this makes it artificial or not is debatable, due to demand and supply theory.

I would agree that Caulfield would probebly be the biggest Jewish area in Aus. I was there in March for a double bar-mitzvah (twins- can you believe it? lol) Lots of traditional Jews walking around in long black coats and top hats. Very similar to the Bondi area here in Sydney. Melbourne actually has the highest Jewish population in Aus at around 30,000, followed by Sydneys 25,000. There are another 45,000 around the rest of Aus.

A while ago I looked at Australias most Jewish suburbs. They were (in no particular order)

Melbourne:
Caufield
Armidale
South Yarra
Balaclava

Sydney:
Rose Bay
Bondi
Wilhara

Brisbane:
Camp Hill
Greenslopes

Surfers Paradise

Perth:
Mt Lawley

jt

JayT, interesting that Adelaide isn't mentioned in your post. Because where I used to work, in that Jewish accounting firm I mentioned above, one of the admin girls used to live in Adelaide when she first came to Australia. I asked her why she moved here and she said Adelaide was a good place to live, but there was hardly any Jewish people living in Adelaide, and hence why she and her family moved to Caulfield in Melbourne.

whats a jew

whats a jew

Good question !

whats a jew

A Jew is basically anyone who follows the religion of Judaism, or in an ethnic sense, the Jews are members of the people, or "nation," that traces its ancestry from the Biblical patriarch Abraham through his son Isaac and in particular Jacob, Isaac's son, as well as to those who subsequently joined them over the course of history as converts.

Most Jews are Ashkenazi, who are descendants of Jews from Germany, Poland, Austria and Eastern Europe. Sephardic Jews are indigenous to various countries of the Near East now resident in Israel, most notably those of Yemen, Iraq and Iran

what do jews do on christmas/easter? do they do something or just go about it like its another day?

what do jews do on christmas/easter? do they do something or just go about it like its another day?

Its Passover isn't it - Honika?
jt

I've got a question. When the head Jew guy i a Synagogue is singing to the Torah, why does he make a humping action? This is a deadly serious question, I went to a Synagogue on a year 11 religion excursion, and when the head jew guy was singing he was thrusting his pelvis at the book.

How do orthodox Jews atone for sin? I don't see animal sacrifices happening these days. Do they do the Passover Lamb ceremony?

I've got a question. When the head Jew guy i a Synagogue is singing to the Torah, why does he make a humping action? This is a deadly serious question, I went to a Synagogue on a year 11 religion excursion, and when the head jew guy was singing he was thrusting his pelvis at the book.

lol! Its funny to watch. It actually has nothing to do with a 'humping' action, it is done so that the whole body is involved in the prayer, not just the spirit, mind and voice. I promise you they dont love the torah THAT much lol

How do orthodox Jews atone for sin? I don't see animal sacrifices happening these days. Do they do the Passover Lamb ceremony?

Rosh Hashanah (Day of attonement) is a day held 10 days after Yom Kippur (Jewish New Year. Yom = Head, Kippur = Year). It has nothing to do with Passover. It is a day where Jews fast for a day, and go to the synagogue for a long service (about 4 hours, can get quite boring), in which they say all the usual prayers to god and extra prayers which repent against sins etc.... Little rituals like beating (softly) your heart during prayers are symbols of repentence.

Beating your heart, and your pelvis too apparently, lol.

I'll try to answer that to be best of my ability:

Around the time of Jesus, there were many people claiming to be the messiah. The head rabbi's of the time were quite dogmatic in imposing rules and laws on the Jews, such as dietary laws etc... Jesus who was also Jewish, and started debating these strict laws the rabbis were imposing. Naturally, he gained a large following, however he remained a Jew. He, like many people of the time, claimed to be the mossiah and the rest is history. Explainations of his resurrection include a group of people being in on the hoax, or he simply never actually dying, and waking up in the tomb. If this were the case, he too would have believed that a miracle had happened.

Anyway, this is just the Jewish (or from what i gather) interpretation on the story, as not to offend the devoted Christians here!

Cheers

Interesting reasons. But you do only cover one part of much that Jesus did, things of which were not done by other so called 'messiahs' of the time.
Is that really the main reason?

I have a question.

I'm not Jewish, but I don't eat pork, or anything to do with pigs. This is mostly because I watched too many documentaries and I feel sorry for the piggies (they are smart). I get asked a lot if it is a religion thing.

I have noticed though that a few Jewish people do in fact eat pork, so my question is, how many Jewish people avoid pork, and what percentage would be kosher, which I believe is even stricter than just not eating pork or shellfish. There is something about not mixing eating meat and drinking milk as well isn't there?

Interesting reasons. But you do only cover one part of much that Jesus did, things of which were not done by other so called 'messiahs' of the time.
Is that really the main reason?

I must admit I am not very knowledgeable on this subject, but there are very legitimate Jewish-centred explainations and views on Jesus, on a level which delves much deeper into what I said. Jesus is mentioned many a time in the first testament. I will do some research and get back to you on that one, as I also find this interesting. Cheers mate!

I have a question.

I'm not Jewish, but I don't eat pork, or anything to do with pigs. This is mostly because I watched too many documentaries and I feel sorry for the piggies (they are smart). I get asked a lot if it is a religion thing.

I have noticed though that a few Jewish people do in fact eat pork, so my question is, how many Jewish people avoid pork, and what percentage would be kosher, which I believe is even stricter than just not eating pork or shellfish. There is something about not mixing eating meat and drinking milk as well isn't there?

Jewish dietary laws are as follows:

1) No meat from an animal which does not have hooves. This rules out any Pig Products, as well as rabbits, etc... The animal must also chew its cud.

2) All fish products must have scales. This rules out all shellfish like lobsters and crabs and oysters etc...

3) Cannot mix a milk product with a meat product.

The Hebrews, along with the Chinese over 3000 years ago were one of the first civilisations to recognise a link between hygiene/Cleanliness with the quality of food. Pigs and seafood of the time were probebly seen as dirty food, due to high occurence of salmonella etc... I personally see this as the reason why these rules have worked their way into Jewish law, a Rabbi would say otherwise (that God commanded us not to eat it etc..).

I might add here that the all-famous jewish curcumcision arose from the Hebrews awareness of the link between cleanliness and health (it was probebly harder to keep ur helmet clean back then lol). I believe that this too worked its way into Jewish law, and that is why it has stuck.


Now in regard to how many Jews keep Kosher, it depends on where you live. In Israel, of course, most people would. Although Israel being a democratic society still allows unkosher products, but Id say only a small minority of Jews would eat it.

However here in Australia, and pretty much all the western countries, most Jews are secular. My mum was bought up fairly conservative and follows Kosher rules, but my dad was bought up diferently, not observing Kosher policy. I personally dont keep kosher, although i tend to stay away from pig product coz i just dont like it. I do enjoy a oyster and some prawns every now and then ;) IMO its more important what comes out of your mouth, than what goes in! lol

To answer your question, I reckon about 40% of Aussie jews dont observe kosher laws, with about 20% of varying kosherness, with the rest full on.

Thanks SydneyDude, great answer

Rosh Hashanah (Day of attonement) is a day held 10 days after Yom Kippur (Jewish New Year. Yom = Head, Kippur = Year). It has nothing to do with Passover. It is a day where Jews fast for a day, and go to the synagogue for a long service (about 4 hours, can get quite boring), in which they say all the usual prayers to god and extra prayers which repent against sins etc.... Little rituals like beating (softly) your heart during prayers are symbols of repentence.

^ wrong way round

Regarding Jesus not being the Messiah, my (limited) understanding is that the Jewish Messiah will be human like Moses. Jesus' claim to be the son of God as well as the Messiah was seen as a false claim to divinity. Wikipedia says it best:

"The first Christians were Jews, and likely subscribed to Jewish beliefs and practices common at the time. Among these was a belief that a messiah — a descendant of King David—would restore the monarchy and Jewish independence. According to mainstream Jewish beliefs, the failure of Jesus to restore the Kingdom, and his crucifixion by Romans, negated claims that he was the messiah (since most Jews do not accept that Jesus was the messiah, they reject the use of the full (Christian) name."

I'm not Jewish or Christian but I have both in my family and comparative religion interests me.

^ wrong way round

ROFL! shows how observant I am lol

Rosh Hashanah = New Year
Yom Kippur = Day of Attonement

I actually knew that, I just wasnt thinking :P

My understanding also is that jews consider that there is only one God (stated clearly in OT) and that the christian teaching of the trinity, and the divinity of the holy spirit and particularly Christ contradicts this.

My understanding also is that jews consider that there is only one God (stated clearly in OT) and that the christian teaching of the trinity, and the divinity of the holy spirit and particularly Christ contradicts this.

Generally true, although some Christians don't believe in the Trinity either.

Depends on your idea of what the trinity is. Most orthodox Christians believe the Trinity is one God manifested in 3 types of ways. 1 x 1 x 1 = 1, contrary to 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. Water, ice, steam - all the same structure.

But in the end it takes a mechanism of faith to accept the concept of the trinity. It takes a mechanism of faith to accept an infinite God.

Jews don't believe in heaven or hell, so what happens to people when they die? and what happens to us non jews?

Jews don't believe in heaven or hell, so what happens to people when they die? and what happens to us non jews?

Shoo! Get outta here!!

its a legitimate question

its a legitimate question

oh ok! I am sorry, for some reason I thought u were having a go at Judaism!!!!! Gosh, I dont know WHY i would think that!! ??

anyway heres something I found:

http://600000men.com/book/heaven.html

Dovid: Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto is one of a number of prominent rabbis who talked about the subject and explained his position: (see: The Way of G-d by Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto, pages 383, 385 Ma'amar Ha-Ikkarim B'gan Eden V'Gehenom).

And behold, there were places prepared for the souls when they leave from their respective bodies, one to rest in it " if he merits" until the time of the Resurrection, and one to be purged in it, by punishments -if there are sins upon this soul, which prevent it from resting. And behold the place of rest is called the Garden of Eden, and it has different levels. And there is a lower Garden of Eden and an upper Garden of Eden. In the lower Garden of Eden the souls dwell in the forms of the bodies that they were in, and they enjoy there various types of spiritual pleasures, and the place has been prepared in accordance to the types of pleasures that were decreed to exist there. In the upper Garden of Eden, the souls dwell in their true essence, and enjoy various types of spiritual pleasures that are greater and more exalted than the pleasures of the lower Garden. And there, there are changes of time and seasonal changes, for different pleasures that continue to change and there are different levels for those experiencing.

Gehenom, Purgatory, is the places for souls that are suited for punishment, and there they receive pain and sufferings in relation to what is applicable to them, in accordance to their respective situations. And there are different levels of pain as there are different levels of pleasure, and with this pain, the sinners shall bear their iniquities. However, if they are worthy of reward, after this, behold they will be purified from their sin and go to rest. If not, they will be punished until they are obliterated. And this thing will not occur to a descendant of Israel, a Jew, except in the most infrequent of cases.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

So basically this Rabbi is saying a Jew will not go to hell. Dunno what happens to a Non-Jew??

IMO I do not believe in any thing after you die. You die, thats it, finnished! I am actually a bit embarrassed about what this Rabbi has said, until I realise is is no more self serving than say, Christian views on heaven and hell.

I'd like to know if there is a belief among Jews that being poor is regarded as being cursed? I can see the Jews are very successful, smart in putting money at work, and I never see poor Jews. This might be the result they worked hard and very networked among themselves. Correct me if I am wrong... or there are other factors that I did not see here? Does a Jew felt it's an "obligation" to have their poor/disadvantage fellow?

I'll help answering some questions. :)


Well come on mate, im goin it alone on here at the moment!! lol :)

The guy who owns the company that built first canadian place is a joe gutnick like jew, and he said that his religion helped him in business. He didn't come off very well in that program though.

A lot of anti-semitism comes from thinking of Jewish people as money lenders in the middle ages. I guess people ended up owing a lot of money, and resented the "rich" jews.

From Wikipedia,

For example, Christian law forbade Christians to lend money and reclaim it with interest; Jewish law likewise had the same restrictions. But during the middle-ages, European Christian nobility often forced Jews to take on this role; over time, some Jews naturally played an important role in the economies of the Middle Ages. On many occasions, when their high-powered debtors decided they did not want to pay back their debts, they relied on the "Christ's murderers" tradition to expel the Jews and default on their obligations. To many, this would appear to be a case of misuse of Scripture and tradition to justify actions that would otherwise be condemned.

JayT, interesting that Adelaide isn't mentioned in your post. Because where I used to work, in that Jewish accounting firm I mentioned above, one of the admin girls used to live in Adelaide when she first came to Australia. I asked her why she moved here and she said Adelaide was a good place to live, but there was hardly any Jewish people living in Adelaide, and hence why she and her family moved to Caulfield in Melbourne.

Funnily enough, I have never met a jewish person, besides when i went on a school excursion to a synagogue.

http://heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10133631%255E2862,00.html

Gutnick settles court dispute

14jul04

MINING magnate Joseph Gutnick yesterday resolved a bitter court dispute against a former friend he claimed was stalking him.

The former Melbourne Football Club president had asked Melbourne Magistrates' Court to extend an interim intervention order granted last month against Levi Mochkin.
But the men, friends for 20 years, settled their differences yesterday outside court.

The pair agreed to avoid contact with each other and to refrain from threatening, harassing or stalking each other or family members.

Mr Gutnick had claimed Mr Mochkin threatened him at a 2002 function and later abused him in public.

He told the court this week he felt humiliated and frightened by Mr Mochkin's alleged actions.

http://heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10133631%255E2862,00.html

Gutnick settles court dispute

14jul04

MINING magnate Joseph Gutnick yesterday resolved a bitter court dispute against a former friend he claimed was stalking him.

The former Melbourne Football Club president had asked Melbourne Magistrates' Court to extend an interim intervention order granted last month against Levi Mochkin.
But the men, friends for 20 years, settled their differences yesterday outside court.

The pair agreed to avoid contact with each other and to refrain from threatening, harassing or stalking each other or family members.

Mr Gutnick had claimed Mr Mochkin threatened him at a 2002 function and later abused him in public.

He told the court this week he felt humiliated and frightened by Mr Mochkin's alleged actions.

What does this have to do with Judaism?

What does this have to do with Judaism?

lol thats what i was thinking.

anyway I have my "jewish book of why" out, here is some more info on the 'humping action' that the rabbi was performing while praying (lol):

Why do some Jews sway when they pray?

The custom of swaying (in Yiddish, shuckling) while praying is an old one. the Zohar, a mystic work written by Rabbi Simon bar Yochai, a second century C.E. scholar, offers an explaination of the custom: Rabbi Jose asks Rabbi Abba, "Why is it that of all people Jews alone are in the habit of swaying the body when they study law?" Rabbi Abba answers: "It is proof of the excellence of their souls. The spirit of the man is the candle of the Lord referred to in Proverbs 20.27. The light of that candle flickers and wavers in harmony with the light of the Tora."

In his famous book the Kuzari, the twelfth century Spannish poet and philosopher Yehuda Halevi offers his explaination for swaying: "It often happens that a number of people have to read from the one book at the same time (since printed books were not yet available), and each of them was compelled to bend down in order to read a passage and then straighetn himself up again. This resulted in continual bending forward and moving backward (that is, swaying) , the book being on the ground. The habbit of swaying continued even when books became plentiful.

A third explaination for the orogin of swaying is given by the fourteenth-century German-born scholar who later moved to Spain, Rabbi Jacob ben Asher. In his commentary on the passage "When the people saw it {Moses receiving the ten commandments} they were moved" Exodus 22:18, he says that this accounts for the swaying of the body during the study of the Tora, which was received with awe, trembling and shaking. The verse in Psalms (35:10) is interpreted similarly. The verse reads: "All my bones shall {move and} say, 'Who is like unto thee O Lord?'"

Swaying has been explained by some authorities as the body keeping time to the rhythm of a prayer being recited.

SydneyDude,
Is the Judaism holy book the same as old testament in christian?
Can a Jew identify what tribe is he/she from, i.e. levy or judah, or this has lost?

SydneyDude,
Is the Judaism holy book the same as old testament in christian?
Can a Jew identify what tribe is he/she from, i.e. levy or judah, or this has lost?

Yes Judaism is the first testament. Christian is first and second (the second testament is concerned with Jesus as the messiah and other things).

I guess there are some Jews who have a genealogy extensive enough to go back to tribes, but i can tall you a vast majority do not (it is very hard to trace back thousands of years for anyone). Also because Judaism is a non-exclusive ethinc group, over the thousands of years of history in Europe many people of European ancestry have become Jewish. So for some Jewish people it would be impossible to trace back to a tribe because there is no ancestral link.

I personally do not have extensive enough genealogy to trace back to a tribe. On one side, My grandparents are German, and their German ancestry dates back for many many generations. They cannot trace back past their German ancestry, as there is no record. My other grandfather has many generations of Polish ancestry which cannot be backtracked past Poland, and the other quater is a mixture of Russian and English, which again, there is no evidence of a link with a tribe. This is the story with many Jews.

Hope that has helped!

Yes, it must be difficult to trace back thousands of years.
I just try to understand why Jews are non-exclusive. There are black Jews, European Jews (Ashkenazi)... different features/skin color yet they are Jews. I just think probably the Jews move to different part of the world and married with local people. The resulting descendants are called Jews because of the fathers. Correct me if I, wrong?

Another question, how the synagoges get the fund to pay for the maintenance and the rabbis? Do Jews still practice tithing like in Maleachi?

I believe in the strictest sense, you can only be jewish if your mother was jewish, however most of the converts to this religion would have been women.

Quote:
What does this have to do with Judaism?

J. Gutnick is Jewish.

Quote:
What does this have to do with Judaism?

J. Gutnick is Jewish.

Oh ok. I'm off to post news about Kerry Packer in the Christian thread then. Thanks for the heads up, Amaruu! :yes:

I believe in the strictest sense, you can only be jewish if your mother was jewish, however most of the converts to this religion would have been women.

That's probably because they don't have to get the circumcision!

Originally quoted by Randwicked:
Oh ok. I'm off to post news about Kerry Packer in the Christian thread then.


J. Gutnick being Jewish is often referred to. Kerry Packer being Christain barely raises an eyebrow. Get it?

Also by Randwicked:
Thanks for the heads up, Amaruu!

Welcome.

Kerry Packer may not be the best person to compare to Joseph Gutnick, considering the following exchange with his son, James, in 1990.

Kerry Packer in 1990 suffered a massive heart attack while playing polo. His heart stopped beating for seven minutes and was 'clinically dead'. Well, the doctors managed to revive him and later, Kerry said to his son;

"I've been to the other side and let me tell you son, there's fucking nothing there"

:)

Kerry Packer may not be the best person to compare to Joseph Gutnick, considering the following exchange with his son, James, in 1990.

Kerry Packer in 1990 suffered a massive heart attack while playing polo. His heart stopped beating for seven minutes and was 'clinically dead'. Well, the doctors managed to revive him and later, Kerry said to his son;

"I've been to the other side and let me tell you son, there's fucking nothing there"

:)

Evidentally, Packer transmigrated to Dubbo for seven minutes.

Oh ok. I'm off to post news about Kerry Packer in the Christian thread then. Thanks for the heads up, Amaruu! :yes:


For all these years I had believed kerry Packer was Jewish! :bash:

Bomben
Bomben
Bomben auf israel!

Nut.

Any jews here? where do u live?

Moron, We have a large jewish community in Italy so .....

How about some Hanukkah humour?

http://home.nc.rr.com/keehyun/stuff/jew-heyya.html

Very funny parody of Outkast's Hey Ya done by an American comedian and one of his fans :D

whats a jew

WTF?

WTF?

Yeah! It's, "What's a Jew?" Not "whats a jew?" ;)

And this thread was dug up because why?

that is a great question

Because I was going through the threads at the very end of the skybar, found this one (and Chrisaus's statement) and just wondered about where his mind was.

what are yiddish people?

Yiddish is a language. It's kind of High German-ish written using Hebrew characters and is spoken and used nowadays by Hasidim and a few other groups.

Are all jews proponents of zionism?

whats zion/zionism?

Is it true all Jews carry a little bag of gold around their necks?

A bit of shoosh please, and make with the hot Jewish boy pictures. Or am I in the wrong thread? :lol:

You should be in the WA gaybar :)

It's the hot new place to be, don't cha know?

Why the hell was this dredged up???

Are there even any jews on here? Why don't they help fund this forum.

Just go to wikipedia if you want to know what Zionism is! It's the political movement for a Jewish homeland in Israel.

(P.S. I'm not Jewish, in case I make any wrong comments)

This may sound odd but I have never met a Jewish person.

Why the hell was this dredged up???

Are there even any jews on here? Why don't they help fund this forum.

An arrogant comment again, what a surprise. There are a lot of Jewish people on here. namely myself, Vixtro, and others.

;15246821']This may sound odd but I have never met a Jewish person.


I know quite a few Jewish people and one of my best friends is Jewish. You get a great perspective of the world through a Jewish person's eyes.

Its funny but whenever I am around him (and he's gay) I often find myself quoting Yiddish sayings.

j

Just out of curiosity, why is it compulsory for Jewish men to be circumcised?

Perhaps its just Adelaide that is isolated from Jews and not Australia in general.

Why the hell was this dredged up???

Are there even any jews on here? Why don't they help fund this forum.

:ohno:

Coming from the perspective of someone who is not Jewish, I feel that your comment is quite offensive and does has potentially racist overtones. As city_thing said previously, there are a number of Jewish people who read these forums, and I'm quite sure they would not appreciate the sentiments that you have conveyed in your post.

Furthermore, I am quite surprised that you as a moderator have made such a comment, as it is the duty of moderators to ensure that precisely this kind of thing does not occur on these forums. This is just my opinion though, but I think quite a few people would be agreement with what I have said.

I agree entirely OzFrog.

Just out of curiosity, why is it compulsory for Jewish men to be circumcised?

It's a tradition to do with the Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham, forefather of the Jewish people, and circumcision is the sign of that covenant.

An arrogant comment again, what a surprise. There are a lot of Jewish people on here. namely myself, Vixtro, and others.

your gay and follow a faith?
im really impressed but must ask how does that work?
does jewism look kindly apon homosexuals?
(trust me im seriously interested in homosexuals who follow a religon)

from what i've seen and heard, being a jew in oz can't be easy!
the number of random ignorant, anti-semitic things i've heard come
out of people's mouths!!! like they don't even realize!

Are all jews proponents of zionism?

No. In fact some orthodox Jews oppose Zionism. They believe only the messiah can create a Jewish homeland, and that it is sacrilege for the Jews to do it themselves (at least that's my understanding).

I didn't really see anything that offensive in BrizzyChris's post to get so worked upon.. :\

I didn't really see anything that offensive in BrizzyChris's post to get so worked upon.. :\

It's what was construed in his post that was the issue here. And also the ignorant tone of the post. And considering that he is a moderator, he should have known a lot better before posting something like that.

Anyhoo, that is just my opinion.

No. In fact some orthodox Jews oppose Zionism. They believe only the messiah can create a Jewish homeland, and that it is sacrilege for the Jews to do it themselves (at least that's my understanding).


thanx 4 da explaination.

your gay and follow a faith?
im really impressed but must ask how does that work?
does jewism look kindly apon homosexuals?
(trust me im seriously interested in homosexuals who follow a religon)
being jewish is an ethnicity, you can be jewish and also be an atheist. there is 3 groups of jews, people who practice judaism and have a jewish ethnic background, people who converted (they aren't ethnically jews but are still jewish by religion) and lastly jew who doesnt practice judaism but is ethnically jewish. So yeh it's kind of fucked

being jewish is an ethnicity, you can be jewish and also be an atheist. there is 3 groups of jews, people who practice judaism and have a jewish ethnic background, people who converted (they aren't ethnically jews but are still jewish by religion) and lastly jew who doesnt practice judaism but is ethnically jewish. So yeh it's kind of fucked

Wouldn't you then just be the ethnicity of your families origin?
For example if your family is from Russia and your parents practice judaism dosn't that just make you Russian?

What is a Jewish ethnic background? Is there even such a group? I though Jewish people are only united through religion.
(A question not an argument). :)

being jewish is an ethnicity, you can be jewish and also be an atheist. there is 3 groups of jews, people who practice judaism and have a jewish ethnic background, people who converted (they aren't ethnically jews but are still jewish by religion) and lastly jew who doesnt practice judaism but is ethnically jewish. So yeh it's kind of fucked

thanks for the explaination.

but i must ask how is being jewish an ethnicity?

i mean you cant be born hindu, christian or muslim, can you?

thanks for the explaination.

but i must ask how is being jewish an ethnicity?

i mean you cant be born hindu, christian or muslim, can you?

From dictionary.com:

ethnicity [(eth-nis-uh-tee)]: Identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group's customs, beliefs, and language.

Jewish are considered to be all the above, ie. a race, a nationality and a cultural group. The racial aspect comes from the belief that Jews are descendants of Abraham. So yes, one can be born Jewish.

I think where you are getting confused, Cruise Control, is that you are thinking in terms of Jewish = Judaism the religion. As explained above, being Jewish is not only religious. Hope that clears it up for you somewhat.

From dictionary.com:

ethnicity [(eth-nis-uh-tee)]: Identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group's customs, beliefs, and language.

Jewish are considered to be all the above, ie. a race, a nationality and a cultural group. The racial aspect comes from the belief that Jews are descendants of Abraham. So yes, one can be born Jewish.

I think where you are getting confused, Cruise Control, is that you are thinking in terms of Jewish = Judaism the religion. As explained above, being Jewish is not only religious. Hope that clears it up for you somewhat.

Yes, that helps clear things up for me.
I was thinking Jewish = Judaism

what country does jewism originate from?

what country does jewism originate from?

Jewsrael.

;15248111']Perhaps its just Adelaide that is isolated from Jews and not Australia in general.

Or perhaps your just isolated from the rest of the world, because I've met a few here in Adelaide.

what country does jewism originate from?

From my understanding Judaism originated in the land of Kan'an which is approximately where Iraq is now.

well the jewish people are descendants from the israelites, which as qantas743 said came from canaan but canaan isn't iraq. canaan today is known as what present day Israel is and also the westbank, gaza and parts of lebanon and syria.

i'm a jew supporter...

^^lol what do you mean by that?

what country does jewism originate from?

lol i can't believe this thread is still alive... Anyway its an interesting question, and the correct term is judaism not jewism :P

Wikipedia has an extensive page on Judaism here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew it's quite an interesting read.

In a nutshell Judaism shares some of the characteristics of a nation, an ethnicity, a religion, and a culture, making the definition of who is a Jew vary slightly depending on whether a religious or national approach to identity is used.

The most commonly used terms to describe ethnic divisions among Jews currently are: Ashkenazi (meaning "German" in Hebrew, denoting their Central European base); and Sephardi (meaning "Spanish" or "Iberian" in Hebrew, denoting their Spanish and Portuguese base). They refer to both religious and ethnic divisions.

Other Jewish ethnic groups include Mizrahi Jews (a term referring to a heterogeneous collection of North African and Middle Eastern Jewish communities), which are often in modern usage termed Sephardi due to similar styles of liturgy despite independent evolutions from Sephardim proper; Teimani Jews from the Yemen and Oman; and such smaller groups as the Gruzim and Juhurim from the Caucasus; Indian Jews including the Bene Israel, Bnei Menashe, Cochin Jews and Telugu Jews; the Romaniotes of Greece; the Italkim or Bené Roma of Italy; various African Jews, including most numerously the Beta Israel of Ethiopia; the Bukharan Jews of Central Asia; and Chinese Jews, most notably the Kaifeng Jews, as well as various other distinct but now extinct communities.

Despite this diversity, Ashkenazim (European Jews) represent the bulk of modern Jewry, with at least 70% of Jews worldwide (and up to 90% prior to World War II and the Holocaust). As a result of their emigration from Europe during the wartime periods, Ashkenazim also represent the overwhelming majority of Jews in the New World continents and in countries previously without native Jewish communities, such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, Australia, Brazil and South Africa. In France, emigration of Mizrahim from North Africa has led them to outnumber pre-existing European Jews. Only in Israel is the Jewish population representative of all groups, a melting pot independent of each group's proportion within the overall world Jewish population.

Another interesting fact: There are 126,000 Aussie Jews (0.6% of the Aussie population). The country with the most Jews is Israel (6.4 million, 89%) then the USA (~6 million, ~2%). There are 16 million Jews in the world, accounting for 0.25% of the world's population.

Another interesting fact: There are 126,000 Aussie Jews (0.6% of the Aussie population). The country with the most Jews is Israel (6.4 million, 89%) then the USA (~6 million, ~2%). There are 16 million Jews in the world, accounting for 0.25% of the world's population.

also per capita Australia has the most holocaust survivors outside of Israel.

So a question: Do Jews always stick together regardless? Example, in the electorate of Wentworth, there are plenty of Jewish people (I think the highest out of any electorate). Their current representative is Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal) and the candidate for Labor is George Newhouse, a human rights lawyer, who's also Jewish. I'm wondering if the Jewish people in the electorate would stick to voting Liberal as most usually have, or opt for Newhouse because he's Jewish and maybe "all Jews stick together". (Or because he's a human rights lawyer and was Mayor for the Council of Waverly, etc etc). It will be an interesting election!

^^umm I don't know. We are like every other people. We won't vote for someone just because they are jewish, we'll vote for someone who's policies appeal to us. So you will get some ppl voting for Liberal, some voting for Labor.

p.s We all vote Liberal, cos Liberal party candidates are easy for us to manipulate and we can control them to promote our zionist ideologies.:crazy2:

:O

tha jews have everything!

*grumble*

ps. i support city_thing...

SCENE V: Will's Apartment
(WILL and GRACE are home.)

GRACE: Uh... So, listen, I need a check.

WILL: What for?

GRACE: Judy Green. She's running for city council, and I think we should support her.

WILL: But we're backing Ted Bowers.

GRACE: Well, I found out a few things about him that makes me think I should support the other candidate.

WILL: Like what?

GRACE: Like he's running against a woman.

WILL: So? Who is she? What do we know about her?

GRACE: She's a woman.

WILL: And?

GRACE: And she's Jewish.

WILL: And?

GRACE: And she's a woman.

WILL: So what? What are her positions?

GRACE: I don't know. She's Jewish. She probably just lays there. Come on. Write the check!

WILL: I am not gonna write you a check. That would just cancel out the check you wrote me.

GRACE: I know. That's why I've already stopped payment on mine. Now, come on. Make it payable to "Judy Green for City Council."

WILL: All right. Is a zillion dollars enough?

GRACE: Come on! Women need a voice on the city council. I mean, 50% of the population is women.

WILL: So, one could argue that 80% of the population is gay. [BEAT] They just don't know it yet. Anyway, this is not about statistics. This is about who has the better candidate.

GRACE: Well, what makes you think that you have the better candidate?

WILL: Grace, he's gay.

GRACE: Well, mine's a woman and Jewish. That makes two victims to your one.

WILL: Since when are you so Jewish anyway? You're about as Jewish as Melanie Griffith in A Stranger Among Us.

GRACE: Well, you're about as gay as Tom Sellick in In and Out.

WILL: I am plenty gay.

GRACE: When was the last time you had same-sex sex?

WILL: I'm choosy!

GRACE: Ha! You're straight! Go watch a basketball game!

WILL: Yeah? Well, you're barely a woman. You pee standing up!

GRACE: Hey! There are a lot of diseases you can get from a toilet seat!

WILL: Our own?! [POINTING TOWARDS THE BATHROOM.]

GRACE: Well, I never thought that I would hear this from you! You hate women!

WILL: Well, you hate gays!

[WILL AND GRACE EXIT TO THE WRONG BEDROOMS, SLAMMING THE DOORS.]

[THE DOORS OPEN SUDDENLY AND THEY SWITCH ROOMS.]

So a question: Do Jews always stick together regardless? Example, in the electorate of Wentworth, there are plenty of Jewish people (I think the highest out of any electorate). Their current representative is Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal) and the candidate for Labor is George Newhouse, a human rights lawyer, who's also Jewish. I'm wondering if the Jewish people in the electorate would stick to voting Liberal as most usually have, or opt for Newhouse because he's Jewish and maybe "all Jews stick together". (Or because he's a human rights lawyer and was Mayor for the Council of Waverly, etc etc). It will be an interesting election!

Maybe I posted this elsewhere, but Syd Einfeld was Labor member for Phillip (basically Waverley Council; now almost wholly inside Wentworth) in the early 1960s and he lost his seat (but went on to be state member for Bondi (and later Waverley) for ~15 years)

^^umm I don't know. We are like every other people. We won't vote for someone just because they are jewish, we'll vote for someone who's policies appeal to us. So you will get some ppl voting for Liberal, some voting for Labor.

p.s We all vote Liberal, cos Liberal party candidates are easy for us to manipulate and we can control them to promote our zionist ideologies.:crazy2:

You contradicted yourself.

I think it was a joke Brendan...

And everyone knows that we Jews don't need to vote to get our way, we control the media and get everyone to support/reject whatever we want them to.

I think it was a joke Brendan...

Yes I know, but it was hardly funny.

One question. Is there any Jewish public holidays in Australia?

Yes I know, but it was hardly funny.

One question. Is there any Jewish public holidays in Australia?

If u knew it was a joke why did you bother replying? anyway Australia is not a Jewish country so why would there be Jewish public holidays? The only way you get Jewish holidays off is if you go to a Jewish private scholl or maybe work for a jewish owned business.

If u knew it was a joke why did you bother replying? anyway Australia is not a Jewish country so why would there be Jewish public holidays? The only way you get Jewish holidays off is if you go to a Jewish private scholl or maybe work for a jewish owned business.

Well, Australia isn't a christian country either, it isn't our official state religion. The reason why many Christian holidays are observed is because of the majority of the population being Christian, at least nominally. Another reason is that these holidays date back to the time when Australia was strictly religious, either Catholic or Protestant.

I personally don't believe that any significant religious event should be marked as a national public holiday at all, however those who practise religion should be alllowed time off on those days.

Well, Australia isn't a christian country either, it isn't our official state religion. The reason why many Christian holidays are observed is because of the majority of the population being Christian, at least nominally. Another reason is that these holidays date back to the time when Australia was strictly religious, either Catholic or Protestant.

I personally don't believe that any significant religious event should be marked as a national public holiday at all, however those who practise religion should be alllowed time off on those days.

Well I didn't mean the government is Christian I meant because of the population

Well, Australia isn't a christian country either, it isn't our official state religion. The reason why many Christian holidays are observed is because of the majority of the population being Christian, at least nominally. Another reason is that these holidays date back to the time when Australia was strictly religious, either Catholic or Protestant.

I personally don't believe that any significant religious event should be marked as a national public holiday at all, however those who practise religion should be alllowed time off on those days.

I'll believe, follow or practice anything for an extra day off work.

Well, if I recall in the US and possibly Canada many school districts do close for a few Jewish Holidays.

Well, if I recall in the US and possibly Canada many school districts do close for a few Jewish Holidays.

Wouldn't surprise me considering the Jewish population is big over there, esp. in New York.

having grown up in new york city and attended public school, i can say for certain that we did not get jewish holidays off. the policy was similar to that in the work place. observant jews would be allowed do do as their faith dictated.

Saw a good letter in the paper recently, here in Melbourne.

A Jewish gent wrote into the local paper saying he prefers to read the Arabic news because they always harp on how much influence, power and wealth Jews have in comparison to the bad news you get in regular Jewish news.

Saw a good letter in the paper recently, here in Melbourne.

A Jewish gent wrote into the local paper saying he prefers to read the Arabic news because they always harp on how much influence, power and wealth Jews have in comparison to the bad news you get in regular Jewish news.

Thats like a joke from holocaust era.

An old Jewish man in the park sees another old Jewish man reading the Nazi's newspaper called Der Stürmer

"Why are you reading that trash?" He demands.

"Well," says the other, "in our newspapers we are being herded into ghettos, sytematically rounded up, taken away, and probably killed. When I read Der Stürmer I see how powerful we are. How we run the world. What strength we have."

For the Jewish members here,

Are you on ssc on Saturdays even those it's the day of rest? Isn't touching anything that are electronics and machines strictly forbidden? Saturday is a day of Sabbath.

For the Jewish members here,

Are you on ssc on Saturdays even those it's the day of rest? Isn't touching anything that are electronics and machines strictly forbidden? Saturday is a day of Sabbath.

Shabbat is from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday, So Shabbat is over, I don't think there are orthodox jews on SSC I am not religious so I don't follow that City_Thing isnt religious so i doubt he follows that too but yeah, if your Orthodox you would not use electricity on shabbat, but even progressive religious jews don't follow this. I actually think it's quite stupid because me being able to use the computer is resting from all the studying and shit I do for school lol. My parents are religious but not Orthodox so I still follow a lot of traditions....e.t.c had my bar mitzva, keeping kosher, celebrating jewish holidays, fasting on yom kipur and tisha b'av. etc

So, on what days of the year do you personally go to the synagogue? I would think that synagogue is more communitarian and closer linked than say Christian churches.

So, on what days of the year do you personally go to the synagogue? I would think that synagogue is more communitarian and closer linked than say Christian churches.

If you're the sort of Christian who goes to church on Sunday you'd probably be the sort of Jew who goes to Shule on Friday night.

If you're the sort of Christian who goes to church for Christmas and Good Friday you's more likely be the sort of Jew who goes to synagogue only for Passover and Yom Kippur...

So if you never go to church, you'd never go to synagogue. I don't think it's more complicated than that.

For the Jewish members here,

Are you on ssc on Saturdays even those it's the day of rest? Isn't touching anything that are electronics and machines strictly forbidden? Saturday is a day of Sabbath.

most of jews are seculars

Hmm.. fortunately this area has been relatively serene and peaceful.

You know I didn't know John Monash was an Aussie Jew until I visited the Sydney Jewish Museum two months ago. I don't know whether if that was because he was such a figure in Aussie history his religion didn't matter, or simply historians chose to hide that Jewishness in such a well regarded person in the country.

Hmm.. fortunately this area has been relatively serene and peaceful.

You know I didn't know John Monash was an Aussie Jew until I visited the Sydney Jewish Museum two months ago. I don't know whether if that was because he was such a figure in Aussie history his religion didn't matter, or simply historians chose to hide that Jewishness in such a well regarded person in the country.

There have been plenty of prominent Jews throughout Australia's history, and to answer your question, if what they have accomplished is not related to religion there is no reason to single them out as Jewish, for the same reason that an accomplished Christian in the field of science will not be renowned for their Christianity. We are just people, and being Jewish is just a religion, not a defining feature :P

maybe for you being jewish is just a religion, but for me its part of my Identity, heritage, tradition ..etc like being an Australian

Here are some other famous Aussie Jews:

Sir Isaac Isaacs, the first Australian born Governor General:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Ac.isaacs.jpg

Sidney Myer, founder of Myer department stores and philanthropist:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5b/Sidmyer.jpg
Renee Geyer, one the country's finest exponents of the soul and classic R&B idioms:
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200701/r122242_392441.jpg

Ben Lee, an ARIA Award winning musician and actor:
http://www.cnettv.com/i/dl/vdl/media/image/94/15/1594_320x240.jpg

John Safran, documentarian and media personality:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Johnsafran.jpg

Eric Roozendaal, minister for roads and commerce (NSW):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e1/Eric_Roozendaal.JPG/250px-Eric_Roozendaal.JPG

John Safran is the best :D

So, on what days of the year do you personally go to the synagogue? I would think that synagogue is more communitarian and closer linked than say Christian churches.

If you're the sort of Christian who goes to church on Sunday you'd probably be the sort of Jew who goes to Shule on Friday night.

If you're the sort of Christian who goes to church for Christmas and Good Friday you's more likely be the sort of Jew who goes to synagogue only for Passover and Yom Kippur...

So if you never go to church, you'd never go to synagogue. I don't think it's more complicated than that.

lol what he said, but personally im the 2nd one, I only really go for major holidays like yom kippur, rosh hashanah .etc but my parents attend every friday night.

I don't know whether if that was because he was such a figure in Aussie history his religion didn't matter, or simply historians chose to hide that Jewishness in such a well regarded person in the country.

To a point it didn't matter, to a point they themselves wouldn't have made a deal about it. This goes similarly in Britain with respect to Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli or the Lord Chief Justice (amongst various political offices and diplomatic posts) Rufus Isaacs

John Safran is the best :D

that's undisputable!:D

Some famous Australian Jews:

Michael Danby: Federal Labor MP Member for Melbourne Ports
http://www.adam-carr.net/danbyspeaking.jpg

Graeme Samuel: Chairman of the ACCC
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml/itemId/350405/nodeId/7d6a3bcb62329274a862c0b167184915

Martin Sacks: Actor from Blue Heelers
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/09/07/sacks_narrowweb__200x275.jpg

Happy Chanukkah :D

Shana tova y'all!

Attended a little get together today lunchtime to celebrate rosh hashanah. I felt honored to be included and it was good fun.

Couldn't get enough of those boreka.

While a fair bit of our faith bothers me...I'm pretty happy I don't eat pigs and don't have a foreskin.
Having a big jewish dinner party tonight....lots of good food.

What happened to that Vixtro guy? Wasn't he the one who pretended to be some 16 year old boy a few years ago.

Eric Roozendaal (Dutch-Jewish). Treasurer of NSW. His grandfather died in Auschwitz in the Holocaust.
http://images.smh.com.au/2009/06/19/595192/420ericroozendaal-420x0.jpg

What happened to that Vixtro guy? Wasn't he the one who pretended to be some 16 year old boy a few years ago.

He was pretending? I saw plenty of photos of him. I didn't know he was pretending!

I did nothing particuarly Jewish today except call my super-Jew grandmother.

Shabat Shalom, bitches.

Oh, and bacon is my heroin.

Off the top of my head, prominent New Zealander

All Black Josh Kronfeld
http://static.stuff.co.nz/1236038659/538/1987538.jpg

Ex Wellington mayor and National Party MP Mark Blumsky
http://static.stuff.co.nz/1233108507/719/593719.jpg


Prof Sir Peter Gluckman, head of Liggins Institute and Scientific Advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister
http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/PeterGluckman_300x200.jpg

And then of course, cant forget the Big Kahuna, Prime Minister John Key
http://www.topnews.in/files/John-Key.jpg

He was pretending? I saw plenty of photos of him. I didn't know he was pretending!

I did nothing particuarly Jewish today except call my super-Jew grandmother.

Shabat Shalom, bitches.

Oh, and bacon is my heroin.

The guy from the pictures actually came on SCC and shocked everyone. So that Vixtro guy apologised and dissapeared.

Strange how someone adapts another persons identity through their myspace info/pictures, creepy.

jews don't exist. it's like the celts. just a state of mind that doesn't mean anything.

What do you call a Jewish persons boobs?

Jewbs.

What do you call a Jewish persons boobs?

Jewbs.

depreciating assets.

Jewish people are so tight with their money.

about as tight as two coats of paint.

They carry little bags of money under their cloathes.

i like the joos

Jewish people are so tight with their money.

you mean 'smart' with their money.

They carry little bags of money under their cloathes.

oh yeah, I forgot

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/1473/jewgold.jpg
s09e08 Two Days Before the Day After Tomorrow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Days_Before_the_Day_After_Tomorrow)

While a fair bit of our faith bothers me...I'm pretty happy I don't eat pigs and don't have a foreskin.
Having a big jewish dinner party tonight....lots of good food.

Snap! There are far worse things to have to do for religion

Though the dinner party would be my limit.

you mean 'smart' with their money.

nah, i meant tight.

I got mistooken for a Jew today.

It was wierd feeling.

I was having lunch in a kosher cafe and this gawgeous milfy American chick comes running in screaming, "Ohmy gawd this place is kosher, are you kidding me I never knew you could get kosher food here." Then she makes a bee line for me and goes, "tell me do we have a temple nearby I could visit?"

I knew the answer to that one so I ran with it- was a lot of pressure- I felt like I was representing an entire religion.

She was so hot. Beautiful piercing eyes. I wanted to invite her to sit with me which would eventuate in me taking her home (give her a holiday root) but I knew the conversation would be really tough, she'd be all like "maseltov, schmeer, oi vey" and she would quickly realize I wasnt one of those people after all.

/\/\ and then she smelt your dirty foreskin and realised you weren't a jew at all....

^^ :lol:

Um ah thats funny. That didnt take long either.

If only we got that far!!!!

passovers over.

just as well coz I hate matzo. tried to pizza it. big fail.

my ex gf, she goes nuts with the cleaning. never seen such a frenzy. very ocd.

Zionism, like other nationalist movements makes me very nervous and fearful. Do Jews recognise this genuine reaction? or do they dismiss it as ignorance?

This is a question in good faith so don't launch an attack at me.

good song by NOFX, interesting juxtaposition

NOFX - The Brews

Friday night we'll be drinkin' Manishewitz
Goin' out to terrorize Goyim
Stompin' shaygetz, screwin' shiksas
As long as we're home by Saturday mornin

Cause hey, we're the Brews
Sportin' anti-swastika tattoos
Oi Oi we're the boys
Orthodox, hasidic, O.G. Ois

Orthopedic, Dr. Martins good for
Waffle making, kickin' through the shin
Reputation, gained through intimidation
Pacifism no longer tradition

Cause hey we're the Brews
Sportin' anti-swastika tattoos
Oi Oi we're the Brews
The fairfax ghetto boys skinhead Hebrews

We got the might, psycho mashuganahs
We can't lose a fight, and we are the chosen ones
Chutzpah, we battle then we feast
We celebrate, we'll separate our milkplates from our meat

We're the Brews
Sportin' anti-swastika tattoos
Oi Oi we're the boys
Orthodox, hasidic, O.G. Ois

Some famous Australian Jews:

Michael Danby: Federal Labor MP Member for Melbourne Ports
http://www.adam-carr.net/danbyspeaking.jpg

Graeme Samuel: Chairman of the ACCC
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml/itemId/350405/nodeId/7d6a3bcb62329274a862c0b167184915

Martin Sacks: Actor from Blue Heelers
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/09/07/sacks_narrowweb__200x275.jpg

And don't forget the highest paid banker in Australian history - Alan Moss of Macquarie Bank, now retired -

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/80691781.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789215ABF3343C02EA5486BCB72FF8505E44AAA5774A64E98B63880F8190DAA32B73BE30A760B0D811297

So what was that rumour about jews controlling the financial world? ;)

On one of the earlier pages, someone said that they have never met a jew and asked if that was normal. (It was from 2007)

I myself never met a jew until I was 15, and that was an American kid who I met on a trip.

I went to Catholic primary school and pentecostal Christian high school(Shame, I know), so I never met any jews through there.

From being at uni, I've met a girl who had jewish ancestry (i think it was her great-grandmother), but everyone else has been anglo-celtic and she doesn't consider herself to be jewish at all.

I don't think it's odd or unusual to not know many (or any) jews. And besides, it wouldn't really make a difference either way.

i disagree, i do think it is unusual to not meet someone of most backgrounds in australia

there are heaps of poms, italians, greeks, crazy eastern yoorupeans, chinese (from china), indians (from india), south east asians, africans etc which is why i can never understand why some people in australia dont know a greater mix of people

this isnt targeted at you btw macca, it's just an observation i have.

passovers over.
yeah, a week ago.

Actually I was kind of expecting city_thing to regale us with stories of passover sedars past...

Unless you are consciously thinking about someone being of a certain ethnicity or religion it is quite easy to not realise you may have met one

on the other hand, if you mean 'be friends with' a jew, rather than meet one, then that is definitely not unusual as there's plenty of people who have few, if any, friends outside their ethnic/cultural/socio-economic groups

Unless you are consciously thinking about someone being of a certain ethnicity or religion it is quite easy to not realise you may have met one

on the other hand, if you mean 'be friends with' a jew, rather than meet one, then that is definitely not unusual as there's plenty of people who have few, if any, friends outside their ethnic/cultural/socio-economic groups

Good point, I have never seen a Jew outside of the History Channel, or read about in the paper (eg high profile ones like disgraced stockbroker, the late Rene Rivkin).
Just another secret society that don't mix outside their ethnic/religious groups.

lol. this thread is about to turn.

Good point, I have never seen a Jew outside of the History Channel, or read about in the paper (eg high profile ones like disgraced stockbroker, the late Rene Rivkin).
Just another secret society that don't mix outside their ethnic/religious groups.

fucking lol. no need for the thread to turn lance, this isnt the first time derek has proven to be a bloody idiot

i assume he also feels the same about most other ethnicities and religious groups and the problem certainly couldnt be with him and his insular 100% whitey existence

I am interested to hear Shuz's thoughts on Jews.

^ it already has sanj!

Maybe it's because I'm in Melbourne's east, but I seem to bump into Jews all the time. My dad works near a large private Jewish school, Jews are just as overpresented in my uni as international students in Business courses and white kids in Art degrees, and let's face it, how many 20 year males are circumcised these days?

And of course I have a Jewish friend.

I don't mind them. They do seem to go on and on about the Holocaust all the time though, it does get annoying after a while, but then Aborigines go about how they were invaded all the time. People just need to get over it or learn to ignore it really.

yeah, a week ago.

Actually I was kind of expecting city_thing to regale us with stories of passover sedars past...

I didn't do anything for it. I'm entirely unreligious and only really get forced into events whenever my Grandmother is about (she's all about the matzo balls, and luckily she lives in Perth).

Why is there a Jewish thread?

For me, I don't think it's unusual not to have known a jew. I live on the Gold Coast--full of white trash and kiwis. Thankfully, I am neither and cannot wait to move away from this homogenous hell hole.

On top of that, I went to Catholic primary school (not gonna be any jews there) and a pentecostal christian high school (Like I said, shame). Even at uni, I don't even think anyone I know bears any of the resemblances of your typical jewish ancestry. I'm not saying that I object to meeting new people or socialising with them. I would if I could. I know quite a few people who follow islam, and I probably have far more respect for them and their faith than what I do for people who I went to school with. I just haven't met any jews yet.

I am interested to hear Shuz's thoughts on Jews.

They're cool by me.

For me, I don't think it's unusual not to have known a jew. I live on the Gold Coast--full of white trash and kiwis. Thankfully, I am neither and cannot wait to move away from this homogenous hell hole.

On top of that, I went to Catholic primary school (not gonna be any jews there) and a pentecostal christian high school (Like I said, shame). Even at uni, I don't even think anyone I know bears any of the resemblances of your typical jewish ancestry. I'm not saying that I object to meeting new people or socialising with them. I would if I could. I know quite a few people who follow islam, and I probably have far more respect for them and their faith than what I do for people who I went to school with. I just haven't met any jews yet.

You're just making excuses for your anti-semitism. :ohno:

Seriously though, there were about 114,000 Jews in Australia at the 2006 census, a rate of 1 in 174.
If Wikipedia is to be believed, 105,000 of them live in Sydney and Melbourne, leaving the rest of the country with a rate of 1 in 1300.

Shabbat shalom motherfuckers!

Polish-jew here, representing Perth! Update for the "jew suburbs", as far as Perth goes. Mt Lawley has a decent number of jews, but primarily it's Menora, where the head synagogue is located. West coast typically has South African Jews, whereas East Coast is more likely to have Russian Jews (at least some point down the line).

No Jew restaurants here in Perth :(

For me, I don't think it's unusual not to have known a jew. I live on the Gold Coast--full of white trash and kiwis. Thankfully, I am neither and cannot wait to move away from this homogenous hell hole.

On top of that, I went to Catholic primary school (not gonna be any jews there) and a pentecostal christian high school (Like I said, shame). Even at uni, I don't even think anyone I know bears any of the resemblances of your typical jewish ancestry. I'm not saying that I object to meeting new people or socialising with them. I would if I could. I know quite a few people who follow islam, and I probably have far more respect for them and their faith than what I do for people who I went to school with. I just haven't met any jews yet.

Hmm, your not meeting any jews at uni is just a sign to us that you didn't study law or commerce :lol:

I didn't do anything for it. I'm entirely unreligious and only really get forced into events whenever my Grandmother is about (she's all about the matzo balls, and luckily she lives in Perth).

i thought you'd like those big macho balls.

Now, the father finds her beguiling, watch out C.C.,
The kids are actually smiling, such joie de vivre
She's the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan.
The flashy girl from Flushing, the Nanny named Fran!



(GO! baby, GO! baby...)

Larry David=Genius.

Frank Costanza is maybe the best character on all TV ever. Full stop.

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^^
I've always wanted to become a Jew...for the jokes.

You're just making excuses for your anti-semitism. :ohno:

Seriously though, there were about 114,000 Jews in Australia at the 2006 census, a rate of 1 in 174.
If Wikipedia is to be believed, 105,000 of them live in Sydney and Melbourne, leaving the rest of the country with a rate of 1 in 1300.

PISS OFF!!! Don't you F***ING DARE call me anti-semitic!

I was simply stating that from my background, I haven't met any jews. It's not like I've gone out of my way not to meet them.

Or apparently, am I a bad person because I haven't gone out of my way to meet a jew? Please, tell me. I'd love to hear your opinion, because apparently, you seem to have an incredibly intimate knowledge of the reasoning why I have never known a jew.

I seriously object to any suggestion that I may be racist or discriminatory in any way. Who the hell do you think you are to be suggesting that I am!

^^And more info to back me up, from the 2006 census, there were just 37 people who considered themselves jews out of the 16,065 people in my suburb. That's one in every 434 people.

For the whole gold coast, there were 1,161 jews amongst 472,280 people. That's one in 406 people.

Surely it is not beyond belief that with this lack of a significant population of jews on the Gold Coast, the fact that I'm only 20, and that I went to christian schools right throughout my schooling, that I have never known one of them personally.

I can't believe people are making such a big deal over if they have met a Jew or not. There is something very creepy and possessive about it. They're not Pokemon's (or are they....?)

I can think of five people I know off the top of my head that are Jewish (six if I cheat and count city_thing!)

PISS OFF!!! Don't you F***ING DARE call me anti-semitic!

I was simply stating that from my background, I haven't met any jews. It's not like I've gone out of my way not to meet them.

Or apparently, am I a bad person because I haven't gone out of my way to meet a jew? Please, tell me. I'd love to hear your opinion, because apparently, you seem to have an incredibly intimate knowledge of the reasoning why I have never known a jew.

I seriously object to any suggestion that I may be racist or discriminatory in any way. Who the hell do you think you are to be suggesting that I am!

I was joking (hence the "seriously though")... Nobody in their right mind would conclude that someone was anti-Semitic because they didn't have any Jewish friends. I was taking the piss out of the idea of casting aspersions over someone who didn't have friends of a certain background/religion/etc. And it's certainly not unusual to not know a Jewish person when the rate is 1 in 1300.

I can't believe people are making such a big deal over if they have met a Jew or not. There is something very creepy and possessive about it. They're not Pokemon's (or are they....?)

I can think of five people I know off the top of my head that are Jewish (six if I cheat and count city_thing!)

Well there was that time we saw each other at the tram stop outside Flinders Street Station but were too awkward to say hello. I guess that counts...

Bloody Jews.........well without them we wouldn't have christmas!

One of my best friends is a Hasidic Jew who came to Brisbane to 'come out'. I've had some background training in Theology (SDA). With our combined knowledge we can stump the best Morman or Jehovas Witness visitors. Its great fun.

I once met a guy who was converting to Judaism. I asked him "Are you.. ready to make sacrifices?" and he said "What sacrifices?" to which I said "Physical sacrifices?". Alas, he told me that he had already made that sacrifice. :angel: Then he asked me if I wanted to go to the cinema with him to watch Brokeback Mountain? Moving on..

Just out of curiousity. Is it like 'compulsory' for male Jews that you have to be circumsized, or is that just depending on which sect of the Judaist religion whose principles/beliefs you adhere to?

you don't have to be jew to be cut. up until about 20 years ago it was a pretty standard procedure...

Then the hippies got hold of the hospitals and it all went downhill...

Just out of curiousity. Is it like 'compulsory' for male Jews that you have to be circumsized, or is that just depending on which sect of the Judaist religion whose principles/beliefs you adhere to?

It's compulsory for all Jews.

A distant relative of mine is a Rabbi in San Francisco, she does same sex marriages and everything, but absolutely refuses to do interfaith or non-Jewish marriages. She apparently checks the men just to make sure they're not lying.

It's compulsory for all Jews.


Even female jews?

^
obviously, what part didn't you understand?

She apparently checks the men just to make sure they're not lying.

that wouldn't work - even in Ca most guys of marrying age are cut.

Not too long, there was a skybar thread about circumcision. I think most people here, including myself, had lost the foreskin.

Coming from a catholic family, it is normal in my family, and only one of my cousins isn't cut

Even female jews?

lolcano

Even female jews?

No, that's mostly Muslims in North Africa.


Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting)
The country where FGM is most prevalent is Egypt (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/wiki/Egypt), followed by Sudan (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/wiki/Sudan), Ethiopia (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/wiki/Ethiopia), and Mali (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/wiki/Mali).

^
somekind of female circumcision occurs very frequently in Brunei, less so in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

Not too long, there was a skybar thread about circumcision. I think most people here, including myself, had lost the foreskin.

Coming from a catholic family, it is normal in my family, and only one of my cousins isn't cut

According to that poll, most people here are uncut, as are the majority of men in Australia nowadays.

And what does being from a Catholic family have to with being cut? I think the rate is just higher in Queensland.

Not too long, there was a skybar thread about circumcision. I think most people here, including myself, had lost the foreskin.

Coming from a catholic family, it is normal in my family, and only one of my cousins isn't cut

"Have you had to chop or not (sic)?"

It used to be very common for non-jews to have the slice, mainly for cleanliness reasons and to minimise risks of infection. Doesn't happen as much nowadays since the hippies took over.

According to that poll, most people here are uncut, as are the majority of men in Australia nowadays.

And what does being from a Catholic family have to with being cut? I think the rate is just higher in Queensland.

I always thought it was some sort of Catholic thing, becuase of catholic people I've known, they've generally had a higher rate of circumcision than others.

And I don't know that the rate is specifically higher in Queensland. I was born in Victoria, and my family is from NSW. I moved here when I was 10.

I always thought it was some sort of Catholic thing, becuase of catholic people I've known, they've generally had a higher rate of circumcision than others.

And I don't know that the rate is specifically higher in Queensland. I was born in Victoria, and my family is from NSW. I moved here when I was 10.

you know if your friends are circumcised or not?

that's just a little bit creepy

^^ Frankly I dont know whether any of my mates are and I couldnt care less/dont wanna know. I was asked by a gay mate at lunch one day and was taken aback-

anyway, imo this guys probably the coolest Jew around at the moment.

http://chrisbheath.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/stephen-fry.jpg

you know if your friends are circumcised or not?

that's just a little bit creepy

What? It was a conversation topic one night when we were all pissed and talking about our girlfriends and sex. Nothing wierd about that.

What? It was a conversation topic one night when we were all pissed and talking about our girlfriends and sex. Nothing wierd about that.

lol, disclaimer.

What? It was a conversation topic one night when we were all pissed and playing with each others peniseseses. Nothing wierd about that.

fixd

I always thought it was some sort of Catholic thing, becuase of catholic people I've known, they've generally had a higher rate of circumcision than others.

It is, or was at least until recently, a requirement for Catholics.

fixd

Yeah, I was a bit confused about that. Damn, the countless nights I have spent "talking" with mate's "girlfriends" about out circumcised dicks.

It is, or was at least until recently, a requirement for Catholics.

I don't think circumcision has ever been a religious requirement for Catholics. Any prevalence would just be cultural.

I don't think circumcision has ever been a religious requirement for Catholics. Any prevalence would just be cultural.

We should put this question to Tony Abbott.

I was circumcised, so was my brother, father etc.
We were all raised as catholics.
My son only had it done due to medical reasons - phimosis.
Apparently it is also common amongst Jews, and is even mentioned in the bible a number of times.
I am indifferent to the procedure now, and don't see it as necessary unless for medical reasons.

Question, i know this sounds very racist but it's important and peeing me off lol.
Whenever i play online Texas Hold 'em with a jew or 2 or 3. They always go "all in" and somehow they always win. Do you guys have special jewish luck or something? Because I'm Irish and my luck is shot when playing against you guys.

^ No, it's because you're calling their all-ins with 73. ;)

here are some true facts about jews -

- Jews are one of the very few mammals whose life cycle includes eggs. After the Jew egg has been laid by the female, it can only be fertilized by a doctor or a lawyer.

-12 of the 19 richest people in America are Jews

-All Jews are inbread.

-On average, an adult male Jew will consume over 6 times his own body weight in Palestinian blood each day.

-Although no one knows a Jews true appearance, we assume they look similar to, but maybe not exactly like furries.


-Jews are always a convenient scapegoat in times of crisis.

-Most of them seem to have Asperger's Syndrome. They are weird, but can be smart.

-Tripping a Jew is considered good luck in Australian and New Zealand cultures, as is telling them to "Go take a shower", which nearly always results in lulz.

and to top it off i heard there is a new movie coming out soo about jews

http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/b/b2/JEWS.jpg

^^ Gee I wonder if any OS forumer will mistake your humour ?

im sure theyll see the brighter side of things

Question, i know this sounds very racist but it's important and peeing me off lol.
Whenever i play online Texas Hold 'em with a jew or 2 or 3. They always go "all in" and somehow they always win. Do you guys have special jewish luck or something? Because I'm Irish and my luck is shot when playing against you guys.

It's not so much the luck of the heebs, but rather, being Irish, you're most likely drunk while playing :nuts:

The bloke who runs Victoria's transport is also Jewish:

Martin Pakula:
http://images.theage.com.au/2010/01/20/1051681/st_pakula-420x0.gif

That is such an awkward photo - what does he think he is doing?

I would not have picked Martin Pakula to be Jewish - he's too dopey and stupid - he seems more Catholic.

What I've learnt about Jews;

They're Rich and have a cut dick. Yuhm!

Lisa Kudrow is surprisingly hot. So is Schwimmer in a geeky way too.

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It's not so much the luck of the heebs, but rather, being Irish, you're most likely drunk while playing :nuts:

No I wasn't!! :shifty:

Last night, I had pockets queens, raised to 250 when teh blinds were 25/50. fold, fold, fold and then one dumb bitch calls me. flop comes 8,8,7 - I bet 600, she calls. turn is J of diamonds - i've gotta think my Qs are good. So I go all in. Lucky she had less chips than me coz she calls me...dumb bitch called me with 8,7 off-suit and flopped a full house. dead set disgrace. unluckiest poker player in history

two hands later i wake up with pocket 4s, push all in as i only had 275 left. call, call, call. flop comes 7,4,2. i basically jizz my pants when I see i've flopped a set. other douches check it down and the turn and river at 8 and 5. some clown with a 6 hits a four-card straight :bash: unluckiest poker player in history i tells ya

come to think of it, i visited one of Adelaide's Jewish primary schools for a day when i was in year 3, i dont remember much of it, other than i was the only tall blond haired, blue eyed kid there :nuts:

and i swear the kid who was showing me around laughed like this little thing from star wars:

qNXEs2JFe-Y

you could make a fortune if you always pay cash when the amount is rounded down but always pay by card when the amount is rounded up.

you could make a fortune if you always pay cash when the amount is rounded down but always pay by card when the amount is rounded up.

Fact: $1150 over a average adult lifetime, 1 transaction per day, excluding interest and inflation

'Ira Goldstein' from bank ads? LOL. That sounds just a tad racist....

I remember the scandal when those two Mossad spies were caught in NZ. I didn't think they'd been faking Kiwi passports? Back when Mossad carried out that hit in Dubai a few months ago, 3 or 4 of the passports were forged Australian ones. I love Mossad, and I love how they just don't seem to care what standards exist with other countries. And I highly doubt that the USA, Britain or Australia have never forged passports to carry out spy-work.

And most Australian Jews are of Russian descent, which is what I am. Though Seth Efrican Jews are pretty thick on the street too. You must have grown up surrounded by Jews in Kings Cross though... that area (probably more Woolarah from what I remember) was Sydney's Jewish district along with Bondi (apparently).

^^ Those ads started running not long after I arrived in the country. Going 10 years now. Back then I remember a newly arrived American guy from Hamilton making a formal complaint about them on those grounds. Obviously not upheld but then Im certain the local Jewish community said that en masse they didnt find them stereotypical and wasnt worth making an issue of. Hell, even the PM said he thought they were 'refreshing'. And what did he do before becoming PM? He was just another Jewish banker in the City.

Unfortunately the ads on youtube arent great. My fav was when Goldstein opened his bagel business and got the Japanese investors in. "I just flew in from Wellington, and boy are my arms tired." Spose you really just had to be there.

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As for the Cross. I wasnt consiously aware of Jews as a kid. I was too busy trying to not get accosted by herion addicts and wondering why everyone was having sex in the laneway behind our building.

JayT, interesting that Adelaide isn't mentioned in your post. Because where I used to work, in that Jewish accounting firm I mentioned above, one of the admin girls used to live in Adelaide when she first came to Australia. I asked her why she moved here and she said Adelaide was a good place to live, but there was hardly any Jewish people living in Adelaide, and hence why she and her family moved to Caulfield in Melbourne.

i know this is a really old post and also by Amaruu (deceased) but I always wondered why the city of churches has so few jews. i always thought Jews were really religious lolz so wierd

i know this is a really old post and also by Amaruu (deceased) but I always wondered why the city of churches has so few jews. i always thought Jews were really religious lolz so wierd
Well firstly, Jews do not pray in a church but in a synagogue. And, despite having lots of churches, the city is quite unreligious. Approximately 24% of the population expressed no religious affiliation, compared with the national average of 18.7%


PS
but I always wondered why the city of churches has so few jews.

:lol: :lol: :lol: +1 yousername point

Well firstly, Jews do not pray in a church but in a synagogue.
Synagogue was a decent nightclub, used to get quite packed until they started charging 5 bux entry and well, you know...being 'synagogue' and all.

Synagogue was a decent nightclub, used to get quite packed until they started charging 5 bux entry and well, you know...being 'synagogue' and all.

It made up for it when they changed the name to "Church" and offered cheap 2 for 1 drinks between 9 and 11pm on Saturdays I think.

You would think the next progression in name for it would be Mosque, Temple or Cathedral, but someone decided Apple would be a better name.

Apple is awesome!

Shabbat shalom (nearly over here) from WA!

Lisa Kudrow is surprisingly hot. So is Schwimmer in a geeky way too.

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Fact: $1150 over a average adult lifetime, 1 transaction per day, excluding interest and inflation

What . . . those figures meant . . . ?



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A lot of fun stuffs.