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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sorry, Didnt have enough time to read the rest of
the posts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Some quick answers </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(1) Do you think that the ultra-Orthodox "have got
it right" or are they running away from the challenge of "Judaism within
modernity"? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My experience with ultraorthodox jews is very
little since there´s a really small group in Buenos Aires but I´ve never saw
them because they dont take active part of the institutional jewish life.
We have a incesantly growing Jabad community and some other more orthodox groups
but they are much smaller. The only contact I had with really ultra orthodox was
in mi visits to Israel and is more like walking in to the zoo. You get to visit
the neighborhood but dont really know them. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In spite, I used to think they live in the
past. My line of thinking was: o.k. elevators are new (let´s say less than 150
years), jewish law is a little bit older... the fact that we use an
elevator to get home at 15th floor during shabat cant affect our judaism.
it want make any difference. (the same thought can by apply to almost
everything) Today, I see things from another angle, specially regarding to
shabat rules. I understand and respect the idea of make a stop, and make it
different. But I still feel orthodox movement is more concern about
the "packaging" than about the "content". I dont know how to explain it. In law
you can pray attention to the "letter of the law" (what is written) or to the
"spirit" of the law (what were they thinking when they wrote the law, what they
were trying to do/achieve or avoid with the law). Personally, I tend to the
"spirit" side (since I do understand judaism as a code of law, but moral and
ethical laws) but I cant avoid feeling that orthodox jews are more to the
"formal" side. So, I dont think they are running away from the challenge but,
even they have a great spiritual life, they are more attach to formal
aspects of judaism than to it spirit. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>(2) What is your immediate reaction to groups of
Jews gathering together at an airport or other public place in order to pray
with a minyan, a quorum of ten men? Why do you react that way?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From one side I love to see that. As much as I love
to see muslims praying in the airport/plane or any other one expressing his way
of getting in touch with wathever he/she/they think are getting in touch with. I
really like to witness spiritual manifestations of any kind. I think is healthy.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In particular, a jewish minyan at the
airport/plane makes me feel secure. The same feeling I have in any country when
I get into a synagogue or a jewish institution. Even you dont know anyone there,
you know you´ve something in common. From the other side, sometimes I feel
excluded. Even I´m always wearing a visible chain with a jewsih symbol,
never in my life I´ve been invited to a minyan in an airport or a plane. Closest
thing was in a new York Tel Aviv flight I changed my seat with a men that was
sitting next to an orthodox girl by her request. So before the plane
departures she offered me her "tfilat a Derej" to read. ( I actually always
carry one on my wallet) </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>tammy</FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>