Letters from Readers

I know this is going to come off as odd. I am currently taking a World Religion Class and my final paper is on the Orthodox Jews' beliefs on Marriage, Divorce and the Afterlife. We need to interview someone that is Jewish and there are no Jewish synagogues near me that I can find. I was wondering if you or if you knew someone that could answer some questions for me? I really would appreciate any help that you could give me on these questions.

Our reading only gives us the doctrinal answers on the following:

Marriage: Is typically arranged and that the wife will work while the new husband is finishing his religious studying, is this true today or was it ever true? And if I may ask does the Jewish religion have a take on Birth Control inside of a marriage?

Divorce: Divorce is an option but only the man can initiate. That Orthodox Jews typically take marriage on as a permanent contract between husband and wife. The other documents I found stated that divorce among Orthodox Jews is the lowest in the United States among every other religion. Can you elaborate more on the Orthodox Judaism take on divorce and tell me if my research is correct, please?

Afterlife: Now I understand that the Jewish take on the afterlife is pretty similar to the rest of the Christian sects. My research tells me that Judaism as a whole does not believe that Jesus was the son of God but that he was a prophet. My reading also says that Orthodox Judaism says that Hell is symbolic and of our own making and not an actual place. Can you elaborate on anything I said or tell me what I am missing?

Again I appreciate any help that is given. Have a good day

Since an Orthodox Jewish woman has to wait so long to resume relationship with her husband, what happens if her ovulation is not that of a normal woman? What if she can't get pregnant because of the time she must wait? Also, is an Orthodox woman allowed to work, and what's the difference between an Orthodox and a Hasidic? Thanks, Lisa

Whenever I see the Orthodox Jews who live in my neighborhood out walking they all seem very distant and like they're in their own world. For instance, they never seem to look at people when they're out walking or say hi to anyone. I have noticed other people act more neighborly and do say hi etc. Has anyone else noticed this? Why is this?

I saw the coverage on the altered picture that a Orthodox Jewish Hasidic paper "Der Zeitung" published with the explanation that Sec. Clinton and another from the White House were cut out from the Bin Laden raid photo because it would be considered sexually suggestive.

I've done some research and all of the history regarding Orthodox Judaism & their sects does not mention this. Can you refer me to where this information can be found? I'm not passing judgment, I was just curious as it seems so many in the blogosphere/Twitter etc. — the world are condemning this practice.

What did they do when Golda Meir was PM of Israel? What if Clinton was President, would they have run no picture? Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. — fawn

I was wondering how to start a conversion process in the States, I live in NJ. If you have any tips or so forth. I have been studying Judaism for almost 8 years now and want to start my process. Thank you for your help!

The Orthodox Jew custom (for females) of wearing clothing that covers the body from head to ankles does not seem to cause the sort of discomfort that most non-Orthodox people would expect.

Last summer, my (large) family was at the Great Escape fun park in Lake George, New York and we encountered a group of about 25–30 Orthodox Jewish girls (apparently from a summer camp) on a day trip. These girls ranged in age from about 7 to 16, and they had four counselors (also female) with them who were in their late teens to early twenties.

They all wore dark kerchiefs on their heads, long-sleeved shirts (buttoned to the neck) and heavy skirts that varied in length from ankle to between ankle and knee length. And these clothes were not lightweight material. They also were wearing dark, thick stockings (and sneakers). Not one of these girls seemed conscious of the fact that it happened to be 98 degrees that day.

Their faces were not flushed or sweaty. They didn't droop or drag themselves around. (That park is a lot of walking!) They weren't complaining about how hot or thirsty they were, and they seemed full of energy, running around, laughing, and excited and happy to be there.

It was amazing to me that every other child in the park seemed so aware of how hot it was, while these Orthodox girls did not act as if they were bothered in the least. Every other child was begging their parents (or caregivers) to please, please, take them to the water park area, NOW, but these girls were happy and content to stay in the hottest section of the park, full well knowing that they would not be going into the bathing-suit-only area to cool off.

It made me realize how much of a role your cultural background plays in mind-body effects — not just in behavior, but physically. These Orthodox girls were not suffering from the heat in any noticeable way, and their counselors did not act like they were afraid someone might suffer heatstroke or any other physical distress. Their Orthodox clothing was not the burden to them that it would have been to non-Orthodox people.

I attended a Christian church service this morning with my boyfriend and the pastor was saying that the "Orthodox" Jews don't pray to or believe in God. That in fact they worship the "messiah." I was raised kosher and haven't been to temple since I was very young, but I was always taught to pray to God. Is there any truth to what the pastor was saying?

I am curious about how the Orthodox Jewish woman would view and would be viewed by male family members during menstruation. I am a Christian woman looking into a story that relates to this in our scriptures.

When something horrible like the murder of a young child happens within the Orthodox Jewish community, is God questioned by their members on why he allowed such a horrible crime to happen? Is the faith lost?

I would like to share with the fellow readers, about how traditional Hasidic melodies emerged in my repertoire.

I am a professional musician, and engaged in folklore of East and South Slavic Countries. In our countries, the Jewish tradition has ancient roots of Orthodox Jewish Hasidism and Hasidic people. Therefore their traditional culture and folklore is part of my job.

The Jewish population of the city where I live, Kostroma, is small, but well known in the Jewish world. This city has brought, albeit briefly, the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Joseph Isaac Schneersohn. In our city he received the news of his release from prison and death penalty.

I became very close to traditional Hasidic culture, and in my work I harmoniously included performance of traditional Hasidic melodies.

In 2007, the Jewish community of Kostroma celebrated its 100th year of Jewish life in the city. The Synagogue was crowded, and among the guests were respected people from many cities, and of course, from Moscow and Israel. The highest part of the celebrations was a gala concert, which sounded so close to the songs and melodies. I was fortunate enough to act in the concert, and of course I sang Hasidic Melodies. I will always remember that during the performance, the honorary guests of the event suddenly began to sing along right from their seats. Tears were flowing from the eyes of an elderly listener. Thanks a lot for the performance. I can't even imagine what memories and emotions those elderly participants felt when they listened to these old tunes.

I hope that the performance of my traditional Hasidic melodies serve as a greater understanding of those people who listen to them, to the Jewish tradition and culture.

— Milos Lovchenski, folk music singer.

I was reading your article on Orthodox culture. As appealing as Orthodox Judaism is to me I guess I would pick Modern Orthodox over the more ultra-Orthodox.

Is there a way that I can find a book or lexicon that will UNLOCK the Hebrew for me? I have read and compared many Jewish and Christian Bibles and none of them seem to do or have what I wish a Bible would have.

I just have such a love for the word of G-d that I wish that the Hebrew could be translated and explained so that it paints a picture of what is happening in the text. Thanks for your time and possible help.

Shalom. I don't know how this will work, but I would like to share with you readers about my studies about Judaism. If I would tell you where and when it all started — why I ended up in Orthodox Judaism — it would really be quite so long to share.

I am born a Roman Catholic cause both my parents are. During my teenage years I started to read the Bible (Torah along with the rest of the writings) and New Testament, and right there I started to ask a lot of questions about my religion. Then days, months and few years passed I started to listen to other Christian religions debating about which is the right religion.

Since then I've been praying to G-d to guide me and begging Him to have mercy on a gentile who is hungry for truth, who wants to seek for the truth and wants to know what Hashem really wants.

There is a certain Christian religion I was about to pursue my conversion to, but I don't know why I didn't continue my process. I still had a lot of questions in my mind, until I finally reached to search about Judaism.

I've asked Rabbi M. Younger about the conversion process. He told me that I cannot continue to do it alone by myself — I need to live in a Jewish community and the proper conversion is performed in beth din, either in Israel or the US. Most of the Jews I've contacted really helped me and told me what to do. I even signed up with Chabad Philippines because I really want to observe and learn more about Judaism before I am going to contact a rabbi for my conversion process.

Unfortunately, my family isn't that rich so I cannot just go to Manila where Chabad Philippines is located and pursue my plan. I hope when I find another job — I just quit my job because it was giving me health problems. I really do hope Hashem will guide and help not only me but those people out there, Jew or non-Jew, who want to go back to Hashem. I have chosen Orthodox Judaism, in the way that they hold so dearly to Hashem's commandment.

Shalom. I would like to study and understand a lot about the Judaism religion. And learn Hebrew — which site is better, and what books to start with? Thank you very much. Teresa

First of all, thank you so much for giving me an opportunity Mrs. Chava.

The story of why I wanted to make an Orthodox Jewish conversion started in April 2004 when I first heard the teaching of Judaism. I was 17 years old at that time. I was so excited to know about the teaching of Judaism and I searched it on the internet, and that's when I realized the uniqueness of the teaching of Judaism, their survival to preserve their living faith from the destruction of the second Beis HaMikdash up to the time of the Holocaust. I feel the pain of the experience of the Jewish people at that time.

I really really like the ultra-Orthodox Jews, especially the Chasidic movement — whether Satmar, Breslov, Chabad, Gerrer, Bobov, Skver and so on. Because they preserve the most ancient tradition of their forefathers from generation to generation.

There are times that it enters my mind that I say to myself, maybe I was a Jew from my previous life, because I really love the Jewish people even though I am not born Jewish.

You know, Mrs. Chava, I am willing to make a conversion and I make it serious and I am ready to face all hardship in life in order to fulfill my mission in this world. Please help me with an Orthodox Jewish conversion in the will of Hashem. I hope that you will help me of this situation, my friend. I want to become a member of the Jewish people. And please, tell me what kind of Chasidic are you — I am zealous to the teaching of Chassidus.