Understanding Jewish culture is like nailing custard to the wall. Ask one Jewish person a question and you’ll get enough answers, assertions, suppositions, theories and educated guesses to please even a lawyer. Seriously, though, I admire their zeal for learning, whilst deploring the endless nit-picking that goes on over the most trivial thing.

Actually, I found Woody Allen’s early films helpful. And, of course, Jewish jokes. That, plus attending synogogue. The last time I went, I expected a real bunfight, as Muslims were to be guest speakers. There was a riot, true enough, but only directed at one another. One of the worshippers was rather rude to the guests, quizzing them about verses in the Koran which command the killing of Jews ( which some passages do). To my surprise, the congregants rose in a body and blasted him, one of their own! It was greatly entertaining, especally when the rabbi wanted to bodily hurl him out. Loved it.

There’s a Jewish joke about that sort of attitude:

Manny enters the synogogue and beats his bosom, bewailing his unworthiness before The One. He is joined by Moshe, likewise reminding G-d of his worm-like lowliness.

Then Solly slithers in at the back, keeping his voice to a reverent hush as he wails about his manifold wrongs and was a scumbag he is, and how he’s the chief of sinners, the absolute worst of all humanity.

Moshe turns to Manny and says “Huh! Just look who thinks he’s the chief of sinners!”

If you don’t get it, you need to be married to a Jewish spouse

Some have adopted postmodern ways of thought, talking about being “baptistic” rather than “Baptist.”

Oh, no! Not Baptistic!

Great post, Bryan.