The Material Jew

When you mention certain words, one good, the other not so good, are you not talking about the inner struggle between our higher selves and lower selves - a struggle that goes on continually? Not only among Jews but everyone.

The dialog here is unduly harsh but I must agree, too many Jewish people have turned their backs on their own faith without really giving it a chance. Reply

the birth-right? Brothers and Gentlemen: Have we forgotten that Esau/Edom/Eisev FIRST sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew upon the passing of grandfather Avraham? Reply

to Mendy Yes, Mendy, I was too harsh and rude to the Rav Yank.

Yes, Karp should remember to 'chill' before speaking (besides, gefilte fish is, imho, more palatable that way).

Still, my point was good: I've actually spent considerable time with Muslims, and I understand them better then many.

Written Torah tells us that Esau eventually married an Ishmailite, and thus married into the people who would eventually become the Muslims of today. Muslim clerics (particularly the extremist variety) are fond of commenting on the parshas in Torah relating to Yaakov and Esav, and they use terms as 'conniver' and 'utterly dishonest' (and worse) in trying to justify to their congregants why it's okay for them to hate and harm Jews (particularly Jews living in Israel). Indeed, I can tell you for a fact that the idea of 'Yaakov the conniver' and that his descendants can be described the same way serves as a rallying cry amongst extremist Muslims in spurring each other on to commit terrorists acts against Jews and their friends. I know this for a fact from first hand observance amongst them. That's why I was so alarmed, Mr. Tauber, when I first read this posting. This is the www, and your enemies do see what you say about yourself here, and they do harm Jews over these kind of words.

Not only will Muslim extremists blow themselves up, but sometimes all it takes is a few words out of context.

Trust me on this, Mendy: If a cartoon in a Danish newspaper can cause them to riot and kill; words on a website describing Jews as 'connivers' and 'utterly dishonest' can and does get people (including Jewish people) killed.

We are world-wide here.

Still, I was wrong in how I put this to Rav Yanki and I apologize. Reply

YES!! Absolutely dual identity! To my good friend, Reb Thomas Karp, may you live well & in happiness:
YO, TOMMY! TAKE A CHILL, MAN!
On this website we're all chaverim (friends), we're all talmidim (students), we're all bnei kaiyle chai (children of the living G-d)! YES! We ARE princes; heavenly princes that are bound by earthly needs & existence! Had Yaakov our Father not connived those blessings, his progeny would be living in caves wearing rags & blankets. Us low guys have our great as precedents that we follow their example.
You need to address your sharp remarks to the guys who read
(& submit their will) to: THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE DAILY NEWS, THE NEW YORK POST, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, & let's not forget the real killer: ____boy (among many others, of course). But to unleash a torrent on a master of creativity such as Rav Yanki I am sure you will admit is uncalled for, correct?? Reply

dual identity? Through which role are you addressing us here:

Prince or conniver?

Btw, how many Jews do you know that actually act like princes?

How many Jews do you know who are connivers even half the time?

And can we really count on you to be utterly dishonest as to your 'business' (here or elsewhere)?

This might explain why so many Jews nowadays follow the example of Esau and hate their birthrights, do not study Torah, and don't stand up for Israel, and why so few of you bother at all to be observant.

Honestly, what a shame! Reply