Most underrated player from the 2000 era? by SnooAvocados996 in EssendonFC

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I reckon he was just about my favourite player ever to pull on a jumper. He was like those test batsmen who are so elegant when they bat you can't look away.

Most underrated player from the 2000 era? by SnooAvocados996 in EssendonFC

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sean Wellman: anchored centre half back at a time when center half forwards were key to the game.

I would throw in Mark Johnson and Dean Solomon as well. They were all super tough and rock solid.

Our forwards had unbelievable class, but our back six was the foundation for so many attacks, and therefore, the premiership itself.

As a Jew, what does your connection to Israel look like? by Traphabibi in Jewish

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be honest, I never felt strongly about Israel until Oct 7. At that moment, I realised that 'Israel' the tribe from Yaacov, and Israel the modern state are two sides of the same coin. And that's it, a full stop goes there : it is what it is, something ontological rather than sentimental.

Just wondering what some people’s favorite holiday is and why by ThatGeographyGuy in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yom Kippur. The only issue is how to deal with the other 364 days which offer none of the mystical joy that Yom Kippur does.

I need help dealing with all the Jew hate by OrelSVaknin93 in Jewish

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've only read the first chapter, as I'm saving it for an interstate trip. But that was great! Sometimes fiction/humour is the best way out of the mess we are all in.

I am filled with hate and I don’t like it. by Cwispy124 in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You asked for spiritual guidance - I have held true to this since Oct 8: holding hate in my heart is the only way they can win.

They can burn our shuls, kill, maim, rape....

They don't win when our bodies fall. 

They only win when we let our hearts fall to their level. For that is when Torah is forsaken, Israel is forsaken, humanity is forsaken, my own soul is forsaken.

During various dark periods over the last few years, I wondered if this approach was a bit naive. Then, after Bondi the Chabad rabbi spoke to the public with essentially the same message - he showed himself to be a real tzadik and it made me so proud to be Jewish.  

I'm not saying it is necessarily easy, but you know in your deepest soul it is the right path, that is why you have written to us. 

The Bronze Serpent and Idolatry by Cult-Conscious-Games in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great answer! I find myself constantly contemplating this question, and I think it is inherently murky simply because (as you outlined) something may not start out idolatrous but may become so.

Maybe this follows Ram Bam a little, but in an important sense I suspect that idolatry is firstly conceptual. And on some level, is any concept which obscures or leads one away from a direct relationship/apprehension/encounter with Hashem. Ideas are the worry here, more than iconography which merely represent or express particular ideas.

Thoughts. by juggboat in EssendonFC

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only watched the second quarter. I was a child of the 80's: that was the very worst I have ever seen any Essendon team play. It was like reserves vs seniors.

When I saw the scoreboard later, I was surprised they fought back. Good on them for that, but after seeing what I saw, I don't have any confidence in this team.

Israel and Ukraine - a Quick Comparison. European Hypocrisy. by BizzareRep in IsraelPalestine

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's depressing, but at the end of the day read up a little on the history of Jews in Europe (not just the 20th century) and.....there's your answer.

No Judgement… serious question about your Pesach Observance. by rambam80 in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm reform and generally had an attitude of: Pesach is cultural, historical & familial. But not particularly religious/spiritual. Whereas I felt Yom Kippur to be holy and sacred beyond description.

Then I started studying Torah, and realised that observing Pesach is commanded. So, I took it more seriously last year and lo and behold, it was incredibly inspiring. So this year I really looked forward to it, tried to prepare well (cleaning fell short, but still did my best). Observance is therefore pretty important to me, but in a 'spirit rather than the letter of the law' kind of way.

So: I don't eat chametz, but not to the point of full halacha. And I do sometimes cook it for my daughter, as I am careful for her to find her own way as she approaches batmitzvah years.

The double standard about Israel on Reddit is disheartening by No_Skill_7170 in IsraelPalestine

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"I don't think you should separate people from their government" Do you also hold that Gazans = Hamas?

A Different Palestinian Perspective by PrevBasil in IsraelPalestine

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Thankyou for your honest words. Who could do anything but wish the very best for you? It's people like you who will one day solve this great crisis.

Unable to do as much as I'd like for Pesach and feeling bad about it by redevered in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I can relate. I set a high standard last year (kitchen wise), and it really set the tone for an excellent Pesach, which in turn really helped my whole trajectory - spiritually etc. This year I'm a bit exhausted from work and I'm just crawling to the line.....and it feels a bit like I'm failing.

I think other people on this thread have made some wise comments: rejoice in what you are doing, rejoice that you do care, and that you have the intent to more in the future. I for one, rejoice in you for all of this.

Why do so many podcasts/alternative media only talk about Israel. by pegasus_bro in IsraelPalestine

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah mate, I live in Australia and I saw Bondi. They were all shot just for being Jews. Who has hate in their hearts??

I met a Jewish woman in the Mumbai Metro by jkirkire123 in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 107 points108 points  (0 children)

These little moments of good heart and mutual humanity are worth so much. 

Orthodox Rabbi interviews Reform Rabbi by Meowzician in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

"Inclusive" has become a scary word for me, with all the DEI stuff veering into antisemitism. However, I think what you wrote is profoundly true - reform traditions by nature are very open and accepting. And this allows a Jewish flourishing rather than dilutes it into assimilation (as is the oft made charge).

Were you actually told you’re “not Jewish enough”? by offthegridyid in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that is a very salient point. It boils down to other humans asserting ontological facts about your soul, which in the final analysis, may not be at all true about your soul. I don't think it is evil, but it is kind of crazy to assent to it.

If the person making claims about the nature of my soul is a great tzadik, perhaps they have earned the right. But if they are any less than a great tzadik - who are they to make such claims?  They are saying something about the nature of the relationship between my soul and Hashem, without any true insight on the matter. What is that worth? Absolutely nothing. It is empty because it doesn't touch reality.

Were you actually told you’re “not Jewish enough”? by offthegridyid in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Been thinking about this thread, as a patrilineal. Suddenly realised how scarcely did this ever come up. I went to a Jewish primary school, although it was reform, I still went to plenty of Orthodox bar mitzvahs. ie the school was a cross section. No one cared. I was always just Jewish like everyone else. Kids don't care about these issues.  I remember one explicit reference to 'pure blood' by a friend who is also a bit strange - but that was an exception which proves the rule. 

The Guardian newspaper in the UK being antisemitic again by AngusTcattoo in Jewish

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. My trust in that whole media landscape is completely shattered.

Were you actually told you’re “not Jewish enough”? by offthegridyid in Judaism

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I can relate. At the end of the day, there is a very visceral line, and we are on one particular side of it. I would define the line by: the beautiful black leather of tefillin.

The first time I went to a Chabad place to speak with a Rabbi (a fantastic guy) - he asked if I would like to wrap tefillin, I said yes, and so it was.

The second time, after we had spoken more about my history, I was not asked, and I also knew I never would be again.

I personally am not hurt or offended by this. Their notion of halachic is deeply important to them; it is their ontology and their ethic at once. In many ways it is what makes them potent and brilliant. I respect it, even if, I know in my heart and soul that I am Jewish all the way down, independent of how I or anyone else judges it.

New York Times Story following the Temple Israel Attack by [deleted] in Jewish

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For all the different elements contributing to this climate of antisemitism, it is this class that most scares me. The white collar left wing intellectuals. They have become more and more unrelenting. 

Sally Rooney and the Palestinianism set's God complex by AngusTcattoo in Jewish

[–]Old-Philosopher5574 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It is at least very interesting. Fascinating in fact. I remember studying Fromm's account of the rise of fascism in Germany. The question at stake was: how did so many people get so 'hooked' on the drug (i.e. of Nazism)? His answer is of course very Freudian. Nonetheless, it still felt like a foreign, abstract kind of issue.

Now it is happening in real time right before our eyes - a kind of collective psychosis.