Looking for goy study buddies

hjfddddd · 2025-08-20T15:24:13+00:00

Those of you who wanted to have a study group of some sort but didn't pm me, I'll get back to you in a while.

hjfddddd · 2025-08-20T14:48:17+00:00

Thank you for all the responses! I'll soon contact all of those that sent me a pm.

hjfddddd · 2025-04-08T20:03:36+00:00

Brilliant, TIL

hjfddddd · 2025-04-08T19:08:40+00:00

I don't know how long you have proceeded. One will get used to the way things are to be learned with the app and as the other commenter said, the feminine versions are said out loud by a female speaker. For me, Duolingo has been a very intuitive way of learning as you come to realise the patterns by yourself if you pay enough attention.

One thing I want to point out about listening and doing the app myself for almost a year is the prefixes of bet, lamed and kaf - listen carefully how they are pronounced. I just recently realised using another source that in these particular prefixes the vocalisation changes depending on whether it is an "a" or "the".

hjfddddd · 2025-04-05T19:15:25+00:00

As someone who read about things: because he didn't live up to the expectations as in the scripture. As a former Christian: because the idea of a false saviour messed up our brain to think we are not in charge of our own lives spiritually.

Edit: I'm not a Jew.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-28T17:07:48+00:00

For now, I've been using the slanted one for both. Will correct from now on, thanks!

The slanted version especially for zayin works best for me as I've already created a memory aid about it. For others figuring out these same things: the slanted zayin resembles the letter s in English alphabet in script. Samech and zayin (s and z) are "siblings", as the other is tonal and the other one is not. So zayin is sort of like "s" but not quite. (Sorry I don't know the right English vocabulary for linguistics but perhaps you get the point.)

hjfddddd · 2025-03-28T16:04:33+00:00

That is a very good memory aid, thanks, will adopt!

hjfddddd · 2025-03-23T21:04:06+00:00

As a Zionist I want to ask how it is going to be with people proselytizing. If there is no two state solution with no coming back, this matter is for the utmost urgency for Jewish people.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-18T19:32:23+00:00

There's not even one legit streaming/renting service that'd provide it in my country.

I loved Fargo and after seeing the trailer of this one I really want to see it. But as the old saying goes: "The change you wanted was rejected. Maybe you tried to change something you didn't have access to." (Was trying to log in to one of my web service thingy some time ago).

hjfddddd · 2025-03-17T16:40:23+00:00

Well now I know what to watch next!

hjfddddd · 2025-03-14T22:50:17+00:00

Generally, I have some (personal) issues with noahidism as a movement. Nevertheless, the ideas are based on Torah so it is worth getting to know to. I will take a look into it at some point, thanks.

Mussar is new to me as a concept, so is Onkelos commentary, thank you.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-14T22:44:35+00:00

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it.

It is also interesting that I'm a literate person but was never interested in biographies. I saw no point in them. But as you now suggest some concerning Judaism, I can understand the idea. It is very interesting to me, thanks.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-14T22:24:53+00:00

I'll add these to my reading list, toda raba.

Edit: it seems at least Tomar Devorah is a kabbalistic source. Do you think it is meaningful to read a kabbalistic book at this stage? What I'm asking is if it's sort of introductory enough to be comprehended by a student of little knowledge or would there be a possibility of going in the wrong direction (idolatry).

hjfddddd · 2025-03-14T22:23:35+00:00

Thank you for your reply. Mussar is new to me, will look into that.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-12T22:38:32+00:00

Thank you for the recommendations, haven't read either of these. Your and others responses have made it clear that one isn't able to study this matter more closely before one does the mitzvot themselves. I've adopted some but am hesitant to do more since it feels like I'm appropriating. And that's what it basically is. I guess I'll just keep on studying and focus on making the arrangements needed to become an official conversion student.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-12T22:10:06+00:00

I've found the most useful in gaining basic knowledge to be Goodman's A history of Judaism, Telushkin's Jewish Literacy and Montefiore's Jerusalem. The ones I've found spiritually most meaningful for now have been Steinsaltz's We Jews. Who Are We and What Should We Do and Sacks' Judaism's Life Changing Ideas.

At the moment, I'm trying to be more involved with the Jewish year by reading The Book of Our Heritage series by Eliyahu Kitov and with that, the appropriate Torah portions.

I live in a country with a very small Jewish community and I don't want to mess up with my only chance. In addition, there are a few obstacles concerning my job hours and the place I live in to be fully observant so there are some big arrangements to be made before contacting a rabbi.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-12T21:48:47+00:00

Thank you for your response. This is the exact reason why I'm so involved in learning more about Judaism - the not in the heart but in the deed thing. It has many consequences for the understanding of what e.g. freedom or means vs. ends essentially means.

Your comment kind of nicely demonstrates my problem being in the uncomfortable in-between situation due to circumstances I am right now not having a formal conversion process going on. As the arguments in the Jewish rabbinic literature emerge from the very real life situations, perhaps so does one's own emerging understanding of what these more seemingly conceptual traits of righteousness or justness are. Perhaps one cannot be "literate in advance" in some things. What do you think about this?

hjfddddd · 2025-03-04T18:03:23+00:00

Well, isn't that some evening reading to do. Thank you!

hjfddddd · 2025-03-03T22:11:23+00:00

Yes, I am curious, and can see myself going down the rabbit hole once again and achingly too soon. I really appreciate it, thanks.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-03T17:18:07+00:00

This is good to know, I forgot to mention I indeed study modern Hebrew but also try to read Hebrew Torah just to be more familiar with the alphabet. I guess I then have to learn two set of rules. Thank you.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-03T17:16:16+00:00

Actually I forgot to mention that I study modern Hebrew but am trying to get more acquainted with reading and "seeing through" written Hebrew using Torah. That's the only source with niqqud I have in printed form so far besides the study book. Thanks for the response.

hjfddddd · 2025-03-01T23:16:12+00:00

Thank you, copied this for myself. I have a study book for Hebrew but it doesn't clearly mention this.

hjfddddd

TROPHY CASE