Even more important than the calender switch is the numerals. Why O why does Israel use Arabic numerals instead of the Hebrew characters? Answer; Same as the calendar question - it is much easier and can be understood by almost everyone else. Really the same as the language. For a new country to start a dead language when the rest of the world is learning English is also dumb. When some 80% of all of the total books in the reference library are in English, why waste effort, time, and money to make difficult translations. Being a good Jew is how you live, not how you speak, read, or tell time and date. Remove the ghetto walls, not build them higher.

Josh, the non-jew (as he admits to a conservative conversion of which is not recognized) slams the rabbis of whom said he was Jewish, therefore since he disagrees with them, he must in his own concience know that he is not a Jew.

Grow up. You state repeatedly that my conversion is "not recognized". By who? It is recognized by a huge number of Jews and Jewish athorities. What is important to me is that it is recognized by G-d. Do you aim to speak for all Jews and for G-d? Do you know what Torah states about treating Gereem, or what the rules are for behavior in this matter? If you have nothing orginal to say - why do you go on posting rubbish. Have you taken yours medication today? You and Charles are one of the same. Petty childish attacks speak so loudly about who you are, I can barely hear what you say. Make a point about the calendar rather than attacking me because I expose people like you as closet Christians posing as One G-d Jews.

While I agree with Ron's claims about Tzipi Livni and Yuli Tamir, I strongly disagree that the response to these dangerous aberrations is to go back 2000 years! What would be the next step? The creation of the Sanhedrin? Re-starting to offer live sacrifice? Stone women to death? It really sounds more and more like a Jewish Taliban to me! No Ron, ELECTIONS should take care of these morons - NOT BACKWARDNESS in the guise of "tradition".

Language DOES make a people and a culture - at least it is a significant part of it! English is powerful today by virtue of the culture it has represented over time. As its culture has prevailed, the language did well too. This seems about to change as China these days does not accept any foreign official documents unless they have been translated into Chinese. The Basques have been reviving their long-dead language as well and the Lithuanians and Estonians have been returning to their original language instead of the old imperialist Russian. They supposedly HAD a choice between a cryptic language and English, when they became independent from the Russians, yet, they chose to return to their "old" language. These are messages of power and confidence. Why should WE lose that gift? The Hebrew language TOGETHER with our history, culture and the way we live makes us what we are - the Jewish People. Jews cannot afford to lose their language. Without Hebrew we would be incomplete! However considering that we live in a Global environment, we should put much more emphasis on commanding the English language and manybe Spanish and Chinese too. Nobody died from knowing too many languages, but many lost a ton by not knowing - ask MK Peretz , he knows!

" Jewish Taliban " What an iodiotic thing to say abount fellow Jews - unless of course your not a Jew at all. There is nothing backwards about Torah. If you look at the progression of modern western society and their "new" concepts you will learn from history that they are going backwards. Income is decreasing, children are becoming fat, ridlin is for mental relief, divorce is through the ceiling, abortions passes any mass murder numbers that ever existed in history, gays flag in the streets and high schools, money is taken from working individuals and given to their enemies (such as Palestinians), eductaion levels are dropping, language is becoming less and less words, children disrespect their parents...hey wait these are not just society moving back - theyre curses of Torah. Sodom and Gamorah would be what you would call a progressive society in modern terms. Lifestyle choices - correct? One G-d one love Enough with failing ideas from decaying societies. One society stands above them all - always has and always will. PS: stones are just another form of the death penalty - look at Texas. Animals are eaten every day - from the butcher to the pristine kybernetic hands of todays kings and queens behind the telivison sets and computer screens. Your not serious in thinking todays society has it "right"?

Polygamy is practiced in many countries and there are many lonely women because of the one wife rule. There are also many who have had more than one marriage in their life - why not double them up? Not that Torah requires nor rules against Polygamy. I wonder if it is worse than a single parent home, that too many of us experienced in our lives. Anyways, your sarcastic remarks are noted as just that.

When Adi Semel was programming director of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art he insisted that all events schedules be published with the Hebrew date and the Gegorian date. Adi was not a religious man, but beleived strongly in Jewish (Hebrew) culture.

Recognized by "conservative" authorities, I would assume quite right. By the Israeli Rabbinate, I surely doubt it, especially with speech as yours. Treating "strangers" as the Torah states is acceptable for kosher geirim, not apostates. Even your tudat zehut does not specify if you are Jewish. Maybe stick to the 'black eyed peas" and galut where you belong, just as does erev rav. Learn about that know it all.

The Torah was a creation of the priests of King Josiah around 620 BC, not the word of God. Read II Kings 20. The Texas executions are a disgrace. If today's rabbis were worth anything they would make vegetarianism a requirement of Jewish law. A rabbi friend of mine told me that Jewish law should outlaw smoking but it would take a more important rabbi than he to issue the order.

There is no limit to the extent this "return" will go. From the "pagan" calendar to the "superiority" of Torah. From closing the country on Sabbath and applying sanctions on those who dare to have life, to allowing the lazy ultra-Orthodox enjoy OUR tax money while not contributing to Israeli economy (except for some 15% Tzadikim who earn an honest living) and calling "mules" all those who happen not to be as religious as their specific dogma says. We are fine just as we are, thank you! Learning about our traditions and practicing them as WE see fit is one thing - forcing it or yourself onto everybody (like adopting the Pagan Babylonian Moon calendar etc.) is another. Your rants about Jews and apostates, superiority of Torah and the so called pagan calendar (why it is more pagan than tghe Babylonian system eludes me), sounds even more to me like the talk of the crazed clerics in Mosques in the Muslim Paradise than of a modern person Thanks for clarifying everything and proving that my "fears" are well-placed and relevant. No, no need for you to preach again and try to insult me. If I want to listen to some good ol' fundamentalist religious rants I prefer to tune to AlJazeera, or PalTV - at least their primitive behavior does not shame the Jews - they shame only themselves.

It was for this Josh nut. Shana Tovah

The best writer in Israeli media.