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I am considering signing up as a volunteer at a local Synagogue. I am not Jewish and don’t even believe in god. The reason I want to volunteer is networking. I am an immigrant of about 2 years who needs to get to know a community of smart and successful people. My intention is to get some advices or referrals or maybe even find a mentor.
If I became a volunteer as described above, would you consider it a bad tone or offensive in any way (because actually it’s not quite an altruism that motivates me. I am expecting to benefit from this too).
By the way, I am from a country (Georgia) which historically had very good relationships with Jewish community. I respect your history and I am fascinated with your will and ability to defend your country from so many enemies for so many years.
Any time you volunteer, you are doing something good. But doing so with an ulterior motive (in any context) can come off as manipulative. Go in with the intent to help and not with any other goal.
Hey folks. In the discussions I've been having here at this forum, I've had many times where an answer I gave to a question led the thread down an alternate pathway than what the OP intended (sorry Mods, I'm not being bad on purpose). Somebody suggested I start a new thread called "Ask a Jew."
Who am I? I'm an Orthodox Jew living in a major city in America. Any views I present will be the views of a Torah Observant Jew - one who attempts to follow all 613 mitzvahs given in the Torah. I'm not a rabbi, but I learn Torah and Talmud every day of the week and have immersed myself in a life of Torah. There's no such thing as a person who knows "All" of the Torah, but for the purposes of this forum, I can give it a shot.
One quick thing, is I will not be online during the Jewish Sabbath (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday night). So if you ask a question during that time, perhaps one of the fellow non observant Jews on this site can answer.
Speaking of non-observant Jews, their answers will sometimes differ from mine. It doesn't make mine right and theirs wrong - just different views.
My friends, ask away...
Can I just decide to call myself a Jew and not hold to any of the teachings of Judaism?
Can I just decide to call myself a Jew and not hold to any of the teachings of Judaism?
That depends -- are you Jewish under Jewish law or are you just calling yourself that for kicks? Is your question whether a random person can arbitrarily call himself Jewish or is it whether a Jew can still call himself a Jew and yet not hold to the teachings?
Can I just decide to call myself a Jew and not hold to any of the teachings of Judaism?
if you are Jewish by birth or conversion, then yes you are still a Jew even if you do not hold to any teachings of Judaism and never set foot in a synagogue
if you are not Jewish by birth or conversion, then calling yourself a Jew does not make you one
also someone can go to synagogue every day and follow all the teachings and study Talmud daily and daven three times a day for 50 years, but they are not Jewish unless they convert or were born Jewish
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 09-30-2015 at 03:24 PM..
That depends -- are you Jewish under Jewish law or are you just calling yourself that for kicks? Is your question whether a random person can arbitrarily call himself Jewish or is it whether a Jew can still call himself a Jew and yet not hold to the teachings?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tzaphkiel
if you are Jewish by birth or conversion, then yes you are still a Jew even if you do not hold to any teachings of Judaism and never set foot in a synagogue
if you are not Jewish by birth or conversion, then calling yourself a Jew does not make you one
also someone can go to synagogue every day and follow all the teachings and study Talmud daily and daven three times a day for 50 years, but they are not Jewish unless they convert or were born Jewish
Jewish law (halacha) specifies exactly what makes someone Jewish
it can be by birth, or through conversion
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