A Moment of Intimacy....If We were to Meet...
Yesterday, I saw on someone else's blog, where a man asked the question, 'what would you do with me if we were locked inside a candy store?' To me, a question phrased like this could be set up for all kinds of interesting, and possibly notorious answers. But his question got me to think.
Many of you here, who have been reading my posts, and who have navigated through my profile, can tell that I am a woman of many interests. Most of you can tell that I like talking about Judaism, politics, Bush, novels, classical music, dogs, friendship, leadership, and on and on. What I do not like talking about are math and physics, although I love Albert Einstein, and if I were alone on a dessert island, I would choose him as my companion, because he shares so many of my other loves with me, including the violin.
This past weekend, our cousin was visiting from NYC. It was Saturday, and he is Orthodox, so we went to him and we walked down the street. He had no idea how interested I had become in the Talmud, and told me he would sleep through that part of his instruction during school. To make a long story short, we now have agreed to email one other about this subject which he has knowledge, and I have interest in. An unknown, to him until last Saturday.
Here is the question of the day: If we were to meet, or have a conversation, what would you subject would you like to discuss with me? What about this subject would be interesting to you, and why would it be an appropriate subject of conversation?
Thank you for your minds.
Many of you here, who have been reading my posts, and who have navigated through my profile, can tell that I am a woman of many interests. Most of you can tell that I like talking about Judaism, politics, Bush, novels, classical music, dogs, friendship, leadership, and on and on. What I do not like talking about are math and physics, although I love Albert Einstein, and if I were alone on a dessert island, I would choose him as my companion, because he shares so many of my other loves with me, including the violin.
This past weekend, our cousin was visiting from NYC. It was Saturday, and he is Orthodox, so we went to him and we walked down the street. He had no idea how interested I had become in the Talmud, and told me he would sleep through that part of his instruction during school. To make a long story short, we now have agreed to email one other about this subject which he has knowledge, and I have interest in. An unknown, to him until last Saturday.
Here is the question of the day: If we were to meet, or have a conversation, what would you subject would you like to discuss with me? What about this subject would be interesting to you, and why would it be an appropriate subject of conversation?
Thank you for your minds.
38 Comments:
For me it would be novels. We both seem to like those a lot. I have read a ride range, and it would be fascinating to chat about them.
I would love to talk about novels with you, jean-luc. You are right: we are both readers.
for me, i'd like to know about a lot of things -- perfumes, novels, judaism, how you got where you are in life, what makes you who you are, what do you think about things, the "why's", etc. -- a lot of things that i don't know and would welcome the opportunity to learn. i would enjoy just sitting back and listening. i think i'd be fascinated by what you'd have to say (guess that's why i read your blog).
Barbara, I love math and science but even if you and I were stranded together, I know we would still have much to talk about!
There are many things I would enjoy speaking to you about: our experiences as non-frum Jewish women, movies, Judaica, relationships and people we have known.
i would talk to you anything but religion i love talking to you
Dating master quite an entertaining blog, heh?
There a a million things I would like to discuss with you, literature to be sure, but I think I would like to discuss motherhood. It is often difficult for intelligent women to balance a career and motherhood while maintaining intellectual stimulation. I would be interested to know how you've done this, especially since we both share experience with severe illness in our families.
I would love to talk with you about many issues. Would be great a nice stroll and also a cup of coffee with a piece of chocolate cake!
You have such an extraordinary breadth of interests, that it would be truly difficult to pick.
I would probably pick Judaism. It is not my religion but I do find it fascinating. I have a hunch that you would a great candidate to explain its finer points to someone with a limited knowledge base.
Hmm...If we were to have a conversation what would it be about. Well, the truthful answer is that we'd probably discuss which blogs we read and why and whether we believe that they are real.
Elisa- it sounds as if the afternoon would be absolutely lovely.
stacey - yes, we do seem to have areas of common interest.
yy- thank you for your kind words. Do you really think we could talk about subjects other than religion? I had to tell you who Elie Weisel is, so I am wondering what else we could possibly talk about. Is it not narrow-minded to exclude another Jew from a discussion about his/her own religion? (just a question)
pc- yes, we would have such a time together. You remind me a bit of myself when I was your age. As you can tell, I still am a carry a peace kind sort of woman, but I am a bit more conservative as I have aged.
sonia - I could just see us among those stunning flowers displayed on your blog (go look everyone) eating my favorite, chocolate cake.
rachael - thank you for your kind words.Judaism is a subject I love, and know, no matter what anyone says to you that the definition of a Jew, according to Jewish law, is someone who is born from a Jewish mother, or someone who converts (according to the story of Ruth) in the Bible. Even the most Orthodox will agree with me.
I'd love to talk to you about Judaism and the direction your spirituality has been taking at this point in your life. No debates -- I don't know enough about Judaism to engage in informed debate anyway -- I just want to learn more about its meaning to you and your life. You can learn a lot about someone as an individual by listening to them talk about their spiritual views. I've met few people beyond my mother who were/are pantheists (though -- interesting you should mention him -- Einstein was one), so I've never had the need or expectation in spiritual conversation to find a partner who shares my beliefs, just like I don't restrict my interactions to people with the same hair or eye color. Conformity bores me.
I've had the pleasure of meeting you in real life and thoroughly enjoyed talking to you about people, politics, perfumes, etc. (All the Ps?) Your blog tends to showcase your serious side, but in real life you're both warm and incredibly funny.
Oh, last thing -- I'd love to talk to you about your job and hear more of your stories. I'm fascinated by what you've experienced in the legal system; it's a side of society that I rarely get to experience and would love to learn more about.
barb
our opinion about the jewish religion is so different that we just cant have a conversation on that topic reason being that i cannot tolerate a different view
WW- Yes, we have had the privledge to meet in real life, and it was delightful! You are quite an interesting woman yourself, with a fabulous sense of humor. I do not think many people would truly appreciate my humor, it tends to be rather unique and sick! I know you like it as does Mr. H.K.
YY- It took quite a bit of courage for you to post that you cannot tolerate a different view of our religion from the one you posess. I respect your honesty.
I would like to know about you & your family, how you grew up, What it's like to be Jewish.
Weird, I just relized being jewish is diff. from some other religions, cause you can't seperate it, if you are born Jewish(?) Is that right? (I was thinking that I don't like talking about peoples religion. But, if you are Jewish, you are born into it, mostly, right?
Well, that is what I'd like to talk about.
Your knowledge of Israel. It's on my top two list of places to visit, and I'd like to know everything about the country, politics, people, geography, etc.
We could enjoy a few good pieces of chocolate, too. I don't eat sweets, but if I were locked inside with you, out with the diet!
Y.Y. - Elie Wiesel's first book (entitled "Night") is at Costco for $10. In my opinion, this is his best. It is only about 100 pages...not a long read. I highly recommend it. It is fabulous.
L.T.- yes, it is turn, one is born a Jew if his/her mother is a Jew. It is not an option.
Fred- I am flattered, and I LOVE chocolate.
YY- I would invite you to reconsider your position about speaking to me regarding religion. The other night, you called me a heretic. I asked you to give me a rabbi of your choice, and I would call him and ask him if I was a heretic. You gave me a number, I called. Here is what he said, a Rabbi Bick from NYC:
"what is a heretic? Why should someone call you a name? Don't pay attention to that person."
Call the Rabbi yourself and you will see. Maybe you will reconsider and talk with me about Talmud again!
I'd love to discuss Judaism with you, of course, and Jesus... and the Jewish-ness of Jesus.
I find your comments well thought out and intelligent. I would be interested in discussing anything from world politics to basket weaving. Especially since I know nothing about basket weaving!
Mike
erotica... jeez, I'm so predictable!
Bit funny to answer with someone else's poem but actually it says it all for me. Here it goes:
The Invitation
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love for your dream for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon... I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain - mine or your own - without moving to hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy - mine or your own - if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful be realistic remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure - yours and mine - and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes.”
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keepin the empty moments.
© Oriah Mountain Dreamer, from the book The Invitation
AP3- I would love to meet you! I do not know if I could answer any of your questions about Jesus, but I could tell you about Judaism.
Bochia and Mr. A - thank you for the compliments. Predicitability can still be interesting!
Dimitri- what a stunning and beautiful poem. You have quite and interesting mind yourself. Thank you for sharing this beauty with me.
Dimitri Alexander: What a beautiful, poignant poem. It was so fabulous, I read it twice. Thank you for sharing that here. :)
Of course you and I would sit with Astro, maybe brushing him and talking about other things too,, like Religion and Politics. But mainly I think we would sit with Astro at our side, while listening to Sergei Rachmaninov and maybe having a tea.
I would be discussing classical music religion and recipes. We would stay away from politics. I would be interested in your new in the courts. My husband is a retire police officer, so I have heard all kinds of stories. Maybe one day we can have lunch together if we are ever in in the same city. What would you like to talk to me about?
something simple, yet meaty, like: "who holds the title deed to the land of Israel?"
we could do a lot of reading together
and I love to read
Your daughter and my son. Mental health issues, etc.
My mother met Einstein, and shook his hand!
I would talk about anything at all. I'm master of small talk, but if and when I find something we're mutually interested in, I zone in on that. In your case, I'm sure we could talk all day, over margaritas and daquiris, on the beach.
I wish it were possible to meet with each and every one of you and discuss issues ranging from literature, to Judaism, poetry, mental illness, perfumes, food, etc.
I guess we will have to settle for the intimacy of blogsville for the moment, at least.
Hello Dear Barb!
I have already had the honor of meeting you, but I would love to talk to you about the judicial system. I just had my first jury duty experience and it left me feeling unsettled and curious about many things.
And of cours I would want to talk to you about the most precious interesing topics in the land--Astro, Forrest and Nicki!!!!
xo to you and Astro!
Jen
PJ and Scott- yes, Astro: one of my absolute favorite subjects. I too have had the great pleasure of meeting dear PJ.
datemaster-well, we could discuss the issue of sex outside marriage from two perspectives: one according to Jewish law, as written in the Torrah, and interpreted more specifically in the Talmud (I read the Talmud). We could argue the meaning of adultry, as it has been interpreted, and its commentaries by the sages, and whether the status of the woman is what determines the issue, and to what degree, if any, the agrument of a married woman and an unmarried man having sex constitutes adultry as well.
Then of course there is the humanistic approach which would focus on the issues of self-centerdness, lust, desire, betrayal, trust, and family values.
Sound good?
I like a range of topics.....and since I'm a talker....it doesn't matter to me.....But we could go exploring some cemeteries together....as we're talking it up!!!
Have a great day!!!!
First thing that comes into mind is religion. We come from very different traditions, and I'm fascinated with Judaism. With traditions connected with faith, and with the choices that have brought you to where you are today.
I love reading your thoughts on your religion, although I rarely comment on them since I have so little knowledge there.
But it would be interesting to learn more about how you think about the world. We would compare religions and find similarities..
For me it might be stories of recovery or philosophy. It seems to me that you have a lot of inner strength and character. It might be fun to small talk about the things you're excited about or bad things that have happened in a way that we could laugh about them. I'm not much of a scientist, but it's always fun to speculate about biology vs experience. It might be to ask you which traits in your family you recognize as patterns. What quirks do you have in your geneology that either frustrate you or that you appreciate about yourself?
It seems as if we could surely form an interesting round table here! I am happy for blogsville.
Datingmaster, I am flattered by your invitation, but in all likelihood, you would not be able to keep up with me!
How about we go to the ocean and just watch the sun set and chat about the stuff of our emails.
Oohh...
Defintely LAW.. is it really justice for all?
secondly, the real possibilities of a woman becoming President of the USA.
And finally, the equalization of women and men.
T
Hi,
I would probably choose to discuss blogging. I don't personally know any other bloggers, so it would be interesting to discuss the pro and cons as well as exchanging tips.
I'd also like to discuss your interest for the Talmud, how did you get to know it, what do you like, about it etc...
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