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 Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:18 pm
Okay, as background, you can skip this if you read my post in the main forum.
My mom is Jewish, but my dad isn't, so it's never been a religious family. I've been agnostic for most of my life, but I've started to look into Judaism, and it really... interests me, speaks to me.... So I'm going to start going to Temple (a Reform Temple, if you care) this Friday, for Shabbat services.
But I feel like there is so much to learn, and start.... For the moment I am:
-Avoiding pork, shrimp, bacon, ect., and meals that include dairy and meat together.
-Giving tzedakah (10% of my babysitting/other money) to charity.
-Lighting candles and saying the blessing Friday nights.
-Avoiding work on Saturday as much as possible.
-Volunteering for a local non-profit group, it raises awareness, collects money, and prepares gifts for impoverished schools in Africa.
-Reading books on Judaism, and starting the Old Testament.
I know there's a lot more to do, but it's more difficult than expected to find specific information, as there are so many interpretations. I ask that you remember that I am going to be joining a Reform synagogue...
What more should I be doing to keep kosher?
What should I be doing for shabbat?
I have band practice on Saturday, and there always end up being minor arguements, plus I have to bike to my friend's house. There is no way to reschedule, so how can I deal with this?
What should I be reading?
What basic things should I avoid?
What basic things should I start?
A lot of my relatives are into Wicca and other Neo-pagan religions. I like the idea of them, but have never associated myself with them. However, I often use tarot or angel cards and other things like that...how much is acceptable? And how do Jewitches combine Judaism and pagan beliefs? I'm not interested in becoming a Jewitch, but I'm very curious.
Anything else?
Thank you so much =)
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Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:21 pm
What instrument do you play~? In some more liberal interpretations of the law, it's okay to play an instrument on shabbes but not to tune it. If you play a guitar, a violin or any other stringed instrument which requires constant tuning, you'll have much more trouble keeping kosher. If you play a brass instrument, a woodwind instrument or anything else which may be tuned ahead of time, that shouldn't be too hard to deal with.
From a Kabbalistic viewpoint, tarot cards are kosher. Angel cards, though, are closer to New Age bollocks. My father could go on for hours about the history of tarot cards, Kaballah and Jewish divination, but frankly, I can't retain much except some of the names. I'm more of a Jewddhist than a Jewitch, after all.
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 8:07 am
I play bass guitar, but I barely ever have to tune it, plus I usually get a friend to, because she likes to practice tuning by ear...
And okay, thanks =) It's nice to know I won't have to stop, because they're very fun....and that's pretty much what I do with all my favorite relatives.
Does that mean I should stop with the angel cards? I thought they'd be more acceptable than tarot, because, well....angels. But I get why.
Thanks!
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Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:15 pm
Angel cards aren't forbidden per se, but they lack the Kabbalistic logic of the tarot cards.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:05 am
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:46 am
We can all give you our interpretations of what 'correct' answers would be, but we can't give you a p'sak (a ruling) on what you really ought to do. For that, you'll want to consult your local halachic (Jewish-legal) authority -- that is, your rabbi. If you haven't got a rabbi that you consult for such things, maybe now's the time to find one.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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