Comments by "SK ONTHEROAD" (@skontheroad2666) on "Peter Santenello"
channel.
-
127
-
56
-
You didn't fall out--you took a break! It happens to the best of us! And as you know, once a Jew, always a Jew! You can come back anytime, and however you want to. Everyone picks and chooses, as you know. You don't have to become carbon copies of your parents, but now that you have seen that the grass is not necessarily greener out there, which may make you appreciate the world you grew up in, or atleast the way you were raised, you may decide that as an adult, you can carve out your own space for yourself in the Orthodox world. Be it Modern Orthodox, Chabad, Satmar, whatever! And once you have kids, as they start to grow up, you really begin to understand and appreciate the value of a religious home and what it gives you and your relationships and as a family. It is ok to come back and take a look around with a new perspective. You're never going to be a tourist--and you are always welcome back home! Wherever you find your new home to be! Hatzlacha!!
25
-
20
-
16
-
15
-
14
-
@PeterSantenello You mean the intimacy in the dark tip? BTW, Also, FYI--There are Lubovitchers in SF!! I can hook you up with them as we are close friends for over 20 years. Even though we are Modern Orthodox, we were there bc of grad school and became close with the Chabad Rabbis in SF (in the Richmond. Although we "shul shopped" first, Rabbi Zarchi and Rabbi Langer became close friends during our first years. And thru that experience, the Zarchis (gesher Lubovitchers), and the Langers (ba'alei tschuva Orthodox Jews--yet neither knew anything about Modern Orthodox Jews until they met us). So we all learned thru the experience! And it was great fun and we are still friends! As they are in your back yard and you didn't even realize it, it would be interesting to do a piece on Chasidim outside of NYC (Which is a whole other world)!! The Rebbe sent "shluchim" all over the world starting the the 50's and 60's, to spread the word to other Jews--"where there is a Jew! We will build a Chabad House!" And now, every international traveler can find food, a shul, lodgings, and a shabbat experience! Be it in Bangkok (Rabbi Kantor), Italy (many lovely Rabbeim who offer many services), HK (HUGE community in Hong Kong!! I know many ppl ho grew up there). And my family were the ones who called Chabad right after they moved to Hawaii in the 60's and said--"There is no Judaism here! We need to build a community!" And our uncle brought Chabad to Hawaii. Now, thru the kids, every Island has a Chabad! And Hawaii is easy to visit! Feel free to answer me and I will send you my info if you would like to know more or understand how it works (from an Orthodox outsiderookibg into the. Hassidic community). It is a very different perspective. I loved you series on Hasidim, but Modern Orthodoxy offers you a whole different POV. Even the Chabad Rabbeim in SF have now learned a different point of view. Through us. And I am happy to share with you!
14
-
11
-
10
-
9
-
9
-
8
-
7
-
7
-
7
-
6
-
6
-
6
-
5
-
5
-
5
-
5
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
4
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
3
-
@poppie25 Or your interpretation is possibly incorrect. We do not work (ie., cook, etc., on the sabbath), so we prepare all of our food before the sabbath starts and the keep it hot or reheat it on Saturday for lunch (and use something called a blech--an electric hot plate specifically made for shabbat). However as we are to "honor the sabbath", we prepare a festive meat meal for Friday night and Saturday lunch, usually with atleast 3 courses, including one with meat, that we sit down to as a family and enjoy after prayers. With a linen tablecloth, our nice dishes and silverware, flowers on the table, etc.. Friday night it is typically the men and boys who go to synagogue and on Saturday morning, the whole family goes. The men show up on time at 9am, and the women come a little later. Services end at noon and then the whole community gathers in a room to have a snack and chat, and then you go home with your guests. Either if you have been invited out or you are having guests. Years ago, when people live out by their farms, they would prepare a cholent (a meat stew we make now in a crack pot and let it cook for 15-20 hours), and then bring it to town and put it in the bakers oven, and let it cook overnight as the embers in the oven were dying out. Then the family would pick it up after shul was over and bring it home for Shabbat lunch so they had a hot meat meal. After lunch, families either take a walk and visit with friends. Or stay home and read or nap. Or play a board game together. Shabbat is about family time and rest. We honor the sabbath and honor g-d by observing his commandments and resting. Restraining from work, and spending time with family. Even sexual intercourse is considered a mitzvah on Friday night! We spend a lot of time in synagogue, praying to G-d, and discussing the Torah portion of the week. So G-d is definitely a part of the sabbath, however there are many ways that we can honor Hashem, while enjoying eachother and the sabbath at the same time. Hope it helped!
3
-
3
-
@barryfriedman3223 Great question! VERY complicated answer!... first, there are the basics of reform, conservative and Orthodox. And then divisions within. So Orthodox used to be just Modern Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox. Then, it grew from there (from the 1950's/60's when people came over after the war and DP camps and either assimilated, became traditional, or kept their faith and stayed Orthodox) and it still keeps growing. From Conservadox, crossing that line between Conservative to Orthodox, all the way to divisions under the label of Chasidim (like the show "Shtisl"), largely because of Chabad. They are the most outgoing and open of the Chasidim-they are the ones you see in the NYC Subway asking if you're Jewish and would like to put on tefillin or light shabbat candles when you get home, or who you call when travelingto Bangkok or Shanghai for business--there is always a Chabad house ready and willing to help any Jew- they have grown tremendously over the years and do a lot of good all over the world (they are the ones being interviewed in the videos). Their neighbors in Brooklyn, like Satmar ("Unorthodox") are very different and not as open and friendly (I am being very kind here....). There are a lot of different sects within Ultra-Orthodox, all stemming from 18th century Poland. And they are not so familiar with the differences within Modern Orthodox. Although the newer generation is more open, especially those living outside of NYC and the tri-state area. Then within Modern Orthodoxy we have a range. Jared Kushner is Modern Orthodox and Ivanka Trump converted--not the highlight of our religion but I assume you know them... or, a better one, Sacha Baron Cohen was raised Orthodox and his family in London still is kosher and sabbath observant and always was. His wife, Isla Fisher, converted. The kids take bar mitzvah lessons and Judaism is very important to them, but they do not practice daily anymore. (Whereas Jared and Ivanka, in the house, keep shabbat and kosher.) Men wear yarmulkes to work and some men don't. Women who won't wear pants and only cover their hair, and those who don't. BUT any of those within the category of Orthodox will go to a synagogue on shabbat and fit right in with another member within Orthodoxy, wherever they fall within the spectrum. But that person would be totally lost in a reform synagogue (and likely would not even enter bc they are not observant of the Torah within Reformed Judaism). I could keep going, but hopefully that is a good overview. There are plenty of (other) well known Orthodox Jews you would recognize who are Modern Orthodox, but as they believe in Torah U'Maddah (Torah and Secular Studies) and live their life according to those beliefs, you would not necessarily know. Men who don't wear a yarmulke to work don't want to be judged as a Jew first, but as a doctor, lawyer, etc. first. My husband wants to be seen as a dr. first when someone enters the room, but as soon as he jumps in the car to drive home, it goes right back on his head. Was that helpful? Any questions? Senator Joe Lieberman is Orthodox. He walked to the Hill when he needed to cast an important vote on a Saturday (we don't drive on Saturdays). There are more of us than you would think...!😉
3
-
@barryfriedman3223 sorry, I'm back, lol. Rereading your question--the different level of interpretations are what led to the Reform and Conservative Movements (a much deeper reason and explanation can be found online. Has to do with post WW2 Jews in America. Or more recently, letting women become Rabbis, etc). Orthodox Jews follow the Torah. To the letter. But...EVERYONE (and that means everyone!) picks and chooses. But there are basics. I have friends who don't cover their hair, but they keep shabbos and kosher so I will eat in their house. A famous Chabad Rabbi in a city in America eats in my house but won't eat in anyone else's house in the city where he is the Chabad Rabbi. And he is respectful in that he won't go to someone's home if invited and not eat, but he won't eat anything cooked and be respectful about it. Everyone does their own thing and let's others do their as long as it doesn't impinge on you. Does that make sense? We are told that if someone says they are sabbath observant and kosher, who are we not to believe them (it gets a little harder when you see them buying non kosher meat in a supermarket!). And then there are those who "eat out". Some eat cold only. Some won't eat dairy (VERY few eat meat out), some ask for it to be wrapped in foil... it can be hard with work lunches. I luckily live in a city where a well known Vegan restaurant happens to be kosher. There is ALWAYS a famous person there, so when I have (had) my business meetings there, it seems normal and I don't have to explain. All that said, a Satmar Hasid (or Ger, or Skver, Boomer, etc Hasid) would likely NOT eat in my house (until my Rabbi told them who I was). And by then, I wouldn't want them, lol...JUST KIDDING!! (But I doubt they would eat hot in my house!)
3
-
@vivsreds1006 Sure! It is super complicated (even to Orthodox Jews) but I will try. It has to do with Kashrut (kosher). We separate meat and dairy (and then there is pareve, which is neutral, like fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables--they go with both meat or dairy). Orthodox Jews often have 2 sinks, 2 ovens, 2 dishwashers and always a separate set of dishes and cutlery for each. Everyone tries to be as strict as they feel they should be within one's home (and everyone's highest level is different). One wants to feel that anyone would feel comfortable eating in their home, so we are extra careful. The sign you see on a lot of products--the circle with a U or K in it--are under a kosher supervision agency. There are hundreds around the world, some more reliable than others. We don't bring the triangle with a K inside into our home, for example. Many don't "hold by it" so I don't let it into my kitchen. But again, as many of us work in the regular secular world, you may have to go to a business lunch, for example. Unless it is a kosher restaurant, we don't eat there (we don't "eat out"). But everyone pick and chooses what rules to break or bend. The most basic, easiest thing (beyond just a cup of black coffee) would be a plain salad. But even there you run into issues with kashrut. The dressing might have a splash of red wine or balsamic vinegar, which is made with wine. We do not drink non-kosher wine, so the dressing is out. Salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon would be ok, (but it may have onions in it. They are considered "sharp" so the knife that cut them is a problem if used also for something meat, which was not kosher). By only eating cold, as heat transfers the non-kosher "flavor" from vessel to food and vice versa, it is safer. Some eat hot out, but only fish (with scales and fins only as then the fish is a kosher fish). Eating dairy out (pizza), is a problem because of the rennet (a meat product) used in cheeses....and while everyone does their own thing, if one is not so careful, then it begs the question, how careful are they in there home? Most Rabbis don't eat in their congregants homes as while they could eat in one, maybe they can't in another and they want to be respectful and fair to all. Again, it is complicated but Chabad and Aish are good sources for info. If you have more questions, just let me know--hope it helps! Stay healthy!
3
-
3
-
3
-
2