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Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
As I've been here for a couple of months now getting to know people here, I thought it's time people got to know me, too. Also, I'm a little sick and bored. ;) So feel free to ask me stuff about myself (just keep it clean, please).

Fairly short overview of myself:
I'm 23.5. I've lived in Israel for most of my life, except from age 3.5 to 7 when we lived in the USA (I have citizenship, too), which is also how I know English.

I'm what's called in Israel a "Dati Leumi" which translates as "National Religious" or Zionist-leaning Orthodox. I'm Right-leaning in politics (I'd be conservative if I lived in the USA), so for example, the lesser of two evils to me would be Netanyahu and not Gantz (not that I particularly like either of them...).

I'm an Ashkenazi Jew with a pretty impressive family tree on my mom's side (in terms of famous rabbis). Also some Holocaust stories. :(

I'm currently a sixth-year Yeshiva student, thinking about a career either in Graphic Design or Archaeology.

I served in the IDF for a year and five months (the minimum for a Hesder student) in three different postions: A little over 7 months as a combat fighter in the Artillery corps (completing both Basic and Advanced Training), then I became what's known here as a "Mashak Dat" which roughly translates as "Assistant Chaplain/Rabbi" (not that I'm anywhere near to being a rabbi. Military standards are different...) (which is a non-combat position) in the same artillery division for a little over half a year. Finally, I moved to the Rabbinate corps command base and helped a bit with setting up their new military site.

I "saw action" once - we were called to fire artillery shells on one of the northern borders. At the last minute, regional command canceled the firing. Oh well.

Post-army, I became a kind of "army activist", working with an organization that works to remove destructive Leftist (often far-left, even) influences from the IDF. I do mostly behind-the-scenes work.

I like reading, writing, history, archaeology, drawing, graphic design, taking walks, hiking, eating (too much, unfortunately...:oops:).

I'm fluent in Hebrew and English, know a fair amount of Talmudic Aramaic and a little bit of Yiddish. Pig Latin, too.

I have a particular interest in Christianity for some reason, which is how I eventually found RF.
 

Good-Ole-Rebel

Well-Known Member
@Harel13

Plesed to meet you.

I would like to know what is your view of your Bible, the TANAKH. Do you consider it the Word of God or the writings of men? Do you believe that written is historical and really happened, or just a myth?

Also, what do you see the overall view of Israel concerning your Bible?

Good-Ole-Rebel
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
I would like to know what is your view of your Bible, the TANAKH. Do you consider it the Word of God or the writings of men?
Definitely word of God.
Do you believe that written is historical and really happened, or just a myth?
This is more complicated. It mostly depends on what exact part you're talking about.
Also, what do you see the overall view of Israel concerning your Bible?
I didn't really understand this.
 

Good-Ole-Rebel

Well-Known Member
Definitely word of God.

This is more complicated. It mostly depends on what exact part you're talking about.

I didn't really understand this.

As to the historical opposed to myth, I would say any and all of it that speaks to a historical event or setting. Was Abraham real? Was Moses real? David? The prophets? Was their history just stories made up for religious purpose, or did they really exist in the setting described?

As to the overall view of Israel concerning the TANAKH, do most in Israel share your view that the TANAKH is the Word of God? Or do you see most in Israel as secular with no interest in God or the TANAKH.

With that I would add another question if you don't mind. However long you have been in Israel, have you ever noticed any change in the people toward God? Are they getting farther away from God, or do you believe more and more are interested in God?

Good-Ole-Rebel
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
Was Abraham real? Was Moses real? David? The prophets? Was their history just stories made up for religious purpose, or did they really exist in the setting described?
All real. But all written down for religious purposes.
As to the overall view of Israel concerning the TANAKH, do most in Israel share your view that the TANAKH is the Word of God? Or do you see most in Israel as secular with no interest in God or the TANAKH.
I think most do believe in God and though it's not something they usually think of, they believe the Tanach to be from God. With that said, most are still secular in the sense that they don't think being actively religious has anything to do with them (something along the lines of "God and I have a great relationship: He doesn't bother to me and I don't bother him.").
However long you have been in Israel, have you ever noticed any change in the people toward God? Are they getting farther away from God, or do you believe more and more are interested in God?
Because much of the Israeli media is controlled by secular people, it seemed to me that over the years people are moving farther away from God. But when I started getting out more in the world, like in the army, getting to know more people, and also talking to people who work in the field of what we call "Kiruv"; bringing people closer to God, I realized the situation actually may be getting better, or at the very least, not as bleak as I first thought. It's a positive, slow-but-steady process.
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
What's your favorite kind of music
Oooo, tough one. I like a lot of different kinds of music; it all really depends on my mood. I guess my most favorite one is Chassidic, probably because that's what I grew up with. But I also like some Classic, a little Celtic (I like bagpipes for reason...), Disney songs, etc.
Do you consider yourself a millennial, or generation z. How do you see people your age changing the world
Hmmm...I've never really thought about it too much. Apparently I'm right between gen Y and gen Z. I don't know?
I certainly see people my age already getting out there and doing things to make the world a better place. I'm willing to bet (except not really because there's a problem with betting in Judaism...) that every generation from the dawn of man griped about their descendants, and yet life gets better, in general, so I expect it'll continue that way. Every generation has its flaws and strengths.
 

Good-Ole-Rebel

Well-Known Member
All real. But all written down for religious purposes.

I think most do believe in God and though it's not something they usually think of, they believe the Tanach to be from God. With that said, most are still secular in the sense that they don't think being actively religious has anything to do with them (something along the lines of "God and I have a great relationship: He doesn't bother to me and I don't bother him.").

Because much of the Israeli media is controlled by secular people, it seemed to me that over the years people are moving farther away from God. But when I started getting out more in the world, like in the army, getting to know more people, and also talking to people who work in the field of what we call "Kiruv"; bringing people closer to God, I realized the situation actually may be getting better, or at the very least, not as bleak as I first thought. It's a positive, slow-but-steady process.

Thanks, appreciate your answers.

Good-Ole-Rebel
 

amorphous_constellation

Well-Known Member
Oooo, tough one. I like a lot of different kinds of music; it all really depends on my mood. I guess my most favorite one is Chassidic, probably because that's what I grew up with. But I also like some Classic, a little Celtic (I like bagpipes for reason...), Disney songs, etc.

That's interesting that you like bagpipes. I'm a musician myself and play about seven or so instruments. Last year I bought a good medieval synth library to record with, and a lot of those primordial instruments have that same sort of droning effect. So simple but oddly powerful to the human ear. I wonder if you'd like the hurdy gurdy or the nyckelharpa for example, as well.. or tuvan throat singing, all the same sort of musical philosophy as with bagpipes, they are droning on a 'fundamental' if you can hear it

Every generation has its flaws and strengths.
That's kind of a mystical answer
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
I wonder if you'd like the hurdy gurdy or the nyckelharpa for example, as well.. or tuvan throat singing, all the same sort of musical philosophy as with bagpipes droning on a 'fundamental'
Cool. I'll check those out. Thanks!
That's kind of a mystical answer
Yeah, I guess it is. That's what you hear a lot at my yeshiva and having reflected on it, it makes sense to me.
 

BSM1

What? Me worry?
Do you have an aversion to saying 'half', or is saying .5 a cultural/family thingy?
 

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
First of all, that was a pretty impressive bio. Kol hakavod!

You indicate an interest in archaeology. Do yo have a favorite author or text dealing with Syro-Palestinian archaeology or the ethnogenesis of Israel?
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
First of all, that was a pretty impressive bio. Kol hakavod!
Thanks!
Do yo have a favorite author or text dealing with Syro-Palestinian archaeology or the ethnogenesis of Israel?
No, not really. Does the Tanach count :D? I really like hearing about various discoveries that solidify things written in the Tanach such as the stone altar found on Mt. Ebal by Adam Zartal.
 

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
As I've been here for a couple of months now getting to know people here, I thought it's time people got to know me, too. Also, I'm a little sick and bored. ;) So feel free to ask me stuff about myself (just keep it clean, please).

Fairly short overview of myself:
I'm 23.5. I've lived in Israel for most of my life, except from age 3.5 to 7 when we lived in the USA (I have citizenship, too), which is also how I know English.

I'm what's called in Israel a "Dati Leumi" which translates as "National Religious" or Zionist-leaning Orthodox. I'm Right-leaning in politics (I'd be conservative if I lived in the USA), so for example, the lesser of two evils to me would be Netanyahu and not Gantz (not that I particularly like either of them...).

I'm an Ashkenazi Jew with a pretty impressive family tree on my mom's side (in terms of famous rabbis). Also some Holocaust stories. :(

I'm currently a sixth-year Yeshiva student, thinking about a career either in Graphic Design or Archaeology.

I served in the IDF for a year and five months (the minimum for a Hesder student) in three different postions: A little over 7 months as a combat fighter in the Artillery corps (completing both Basic and Advanced Training), then I became what's known here as a "Mashak Dat" which roughly translates as "Assistant Chaplain/Rabbi" (not that I'm anywhere near to being a rabbi. Military standards are different...) (which is a non-combat position) in the same artillery division for a little over half a year. Finally, I moved to the Rabbinate corps command base and helped a bit with setting up their new military site.

I "saw action" once - we were called to fire artillery shells on one of the northern borders. At the last minute, regional command canceled the firing. Oh well.

Post-army, I became a kind of "army activist", working with an organization that works to remove destructive Leftist (often far-left, even) influences from the IDF. I do mostly behind-the-scenes work.

I like reading, writing, history, archaeology, drawing, graphic design, taking walks, hiking, eating (too much, unfortunately...:oops:).

I'm fluent in Hebrew and English, know a fair amount of Talmudic Aramaic and a little bit of Yiddish. Pig Latin, too.

I have a particular interest in Christianity for some reason, which is how I eventually found RF.
so the far right isn't an issue in the IDF? but doesn't the tanakh speak against both?
 

Harel13

Am Yisrael Chai
Staff member
Premium Member
so the far right isn't an issue in the IDF?
To my knowledge, not at all to the same extent as the left. I'm not a huge expert, though. I could be wrong. Certainly the far-right causes problems for the IDF if they come to kick them off a plot of land and they hit back, and there's this one far-right settlement that repeatedly throws rocks at soldiers, but in terms of internal destructive influence - that's almost entirely leftist stuff. I could bring examples, if you like.
but doesn't the tanakh speak against both?
How so?
 
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