Susanne

Following the course of events in Israel is difficult. While the media are constantly covering topics pertaining to Israel, you continuously get the impression that anything you read or see is biased either in favour of the Israeli side, or in favour of any antagonists, sceptics, opponents, cynicists, or passivists upholding an opinion.

But what about actual facts?

Isn't there any source out there capable of shedding light on goings-on in a way that is decent, balanced, fully informed, and unemotional?

I'm sure it's out there. This is the information age we live in. But where is it? Can anyone recommend something to me, please?

I'm aware that the jewish population in Israel distinguishes "yekkes", "hasidic jews", "sabras", "sephardic jews", etc., and I'd like to know what stereotypes are attached to them. Like, how do you recognize a yekke, is it cool to be sephardic, that kind of thing.

Can anyone suggest web links for me to read up on?

Thanks.

I'm converting to judaism, and a rabbi asked me this philosophical question for me to ponder. What he meant is basically, since the jews accept that others can be good people, too, and go to heaven, although they may not share their religion, why still go through all the trouble of converting?

I said I'd do it because I wanted to belong, but I'm sure there are more intelligent things to say.

Just what are they though, can anyone fathom?

Thanks.

I've been reading up on conditions for jews to be allowed into Israel and obtain citizenship, and I keep coming up against the words "as soon as you have an Oleh Certificate, you get citizenship". But I can't find any info on how to actually get that Oleh Certificate. Do you approach an Israeli consulate in your country, or your rabbi, or the rabbinate in Jerusalem, or the Knesset, or just show up at the border saying "hi guys!", or what?

I'd like to do this eventually, but what is the first step?

Like "Abraham", or is it enough for it to be simply a modern Hebrew name, like "Yaniv", which, if I'm not mistaken, does not occur in any religious scripts?

Is that true? Could that possibly hold any water?

I can't help but feel that it is slightly fake. Or does anyone here know more about it?

http://mostlywater.org/cia_report_israel_will_fall...

I hear Melbourne has 60.000 Jews, Sydney 45.000. Which one offers more "Jewish life" though (mikvahs, synagogues, shuls, etc.)?

Just theoretically now - if I wanted to go all-observant jewish, and wanted to use my old kitchen gear, is there something I could do to re-use it?

From what I understand, once a frying pan has been used to fry bacon in it for example, it's pretty much a goner as kosher kitchen rule goes.

Or is there something that can be done?

Apparently, when keeping shabbat strictly, it is just as much of a no-no to use electricity as it is to light a fire.

However is there a connection between electricity and fire? How can they be seen as equal by observant jews?

Does anyone know?

You know, the whole house gets turned inside out, and all those missing nookies resurface.

Is it actually "Pacifier", not "Passover"?

Could be some ethymological glitch, right?

I often have to work Friday nights, but technically, that 's a no-no for observant jews.

I'm sure the hospital wards aren't unmanned in Israel though, come Friday night.

What justification is used to make it OK to work then?

When I lived in the southern US, pretty much every condo or apartment complex had a pool, and so did many homes.

Is it like that in Israel, too?

An Iranian friend recently told me he could taste right away if meat was halal or not.

Is that a fact though?

I'm trying to get my head around this, and it seems to me as if, in terms of process, kosher meat and halal meat are pretty much the same, even if they refer to different beliefs.

Aren't they?

I know a lot of Christians with names from the old testament - Abraham, Jacob, Jeremy, etc.

Is it pretty much accepted the other way round, too?

Are there many Jews out there named Christopher or Christian or Peter?

There are different denominations of Judaism, namely Orthodox, Progressive, and Reformist.

I was wondering if Progressive Jews have the same access to Israel as orthodox jews.

Does anyone know?

I'm very interested in judaism, and have read about kosher diet. It seems to me as though the whole kosher thing is very sensible, and actually helps avoid stuff that's not healthy even when judged merely by common sense.

Are there studies out there showing lower incidence of certain ailments in jews? I'd find that very exciting.

This is not a joke question. I'm wondering this because I am unsure as to whether I would even be allowed to purchase unkosher meat if I were Jewish.

I've been interested in judaism for a long time, not least because of my perception that, becoming a jew would make me part of a huge family of people with a common, spiritual view who also subscribe to a certain warmth and set of human values I find very reassuring in these disoriented times.

Now, let's just imagine I'd convert to judaism; in your opinion, would I find what I am looking for, or would I be disappointed?

I have a serious interest in judaism, and consider converting. Unfortunately though, my town has no synagogue and no rabbi, only a Jewish Congregation. What can I do to initiate the process?