it's called sarcasm, but my point is that paqid is as jewish as i am (which is none, zero, zilch). i'm a goy, just like paqid. just trying to make my point with humor, which is severely lacking in these talkbacks.

I DOUBT IF OUR FOREFATHERS COULD HAVE AFFORDED SEATS FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS.

Out of curiosity, where in the Torah is it mentioned that a Jew is one born to a jewish mother? i thought that Halacha was from babylonian talmud as i can't find that quotation in the torah. can you provide it for me so i can read up on it?

One thing is a synagogue, another thing is a temple.- The Reform calls it a Temple (or Tempel in German)

That's what you'll find at your local Chabad house. They'll be happy to make arrangements for it. Or you can find it any any church, where they also worship a false Jewish Moshiach who they believe will rise from the grave.

It's in the halacha . That's it . The immigration laws here are not following this completely , and they are right . They added after born to a Jewish mother : and not converted to another faith . A non Jew Josh , is blessing you with his : col hacavod . He claims he converted by the conservative movement , but bought a certificate for $ 500

This is one of the most horrendous and stupid ideas I have ever encountered. This is what the Jewish clergy deems acceptable. The Nazis did not demand a dime for the trains, or the gas chambers. You can walk into any Catholic Church for any Mass, including Christmas and Easter and never have to pay a dime. To have to pay to follow commandments God commands is -and always has been-a sacrilege. Nothing turns a Jew off more than this aspect of Judaism. The cost of kosher meat is astronomical as are those costs for Pesadicah food. On principle, I ceased being kosher and attending shul, especially on the holidays, years ago. The expenses for membership have absolutely nothing to do with being an observant , or Righteous Jew. If only more individuals could have known some of the truly righteous menschen I have been privileged to know, and understand what kind of human beings are possible when they follow and know Jewish values and ethics, I am sure, much would be very different. Maybe, Israel's leaders,currently, if they were acquainted with our concepts would be far different and understand what a true Jewish leader and Statesman is. As for the women in power.today...... it is inconceivable how emotionally and intellectually poverty stricken they are. The reactions and policies of Tamir and Livni evidence something very sick in their characters. Very. They are women who have not an ounce of feeling , or knowledge about protecting and caring for Israel's children. Would Golda let a child go hungry, or live under bombs if it were humanly possible to feed, or protect them?

As much as you might wish it, not all Jews are going to be Orthodox...not in this country and certainly not in Israel. But, at least the Reform and Conservative movements attract Jews who otherwise might have no Jewish affiliation. And while they may be "dying out" in Brooklyn, that's not the case in many of the suburbs. In fact, the overwhelming reason why many secular Israelis have never approved of having this alternative to Orthodox Judaism is because the truth is they don't want to step foot in a synagogue, and having no options other than Orthodoxy gives them exactly the excuse they need.

If you have ceased to eat kosher because of the price , if you have ceased to attend synagogue services because of the money they ask , well you are certainly not religious . Where i lived begalut prices for Kosher food were also very high , meet twice the price of non kosher . But if you were going to a synagogue , you had'nt to be a member , IT WAS FREE . Of course , if you would attend the services every day , they certainly asked you to become a member , but you had to pay only if you could afford it . And is it not nornal to pay for a service you receive ? Do you think that a synagogue can live from fresh air alone ? That they receive electricity for free ? that those who clean don't want a decent salary ? Churches free ? yes i think , but they certainly also need money . Where i lived , you could visit churches [ great art works ] when there were no services . But you had to pay . And in this country they were also state funded [ head synagogues and Rabbis too ]

You're correct in your comments. Not only that, but a lot of people are forgetting that when you go to church, usually there's a collection basket that's passed around every Sunday to which parishioners are expected to donate. Also, there are Christian groups that encourage you to donate 10% of your yearly income to support the church, so it's not as if it's only synagogues that want money. But, in the case of this particular one in Miami, the reason it has garnered an inordinate amount of attention is because of the very large sum of money involved and probably the fact that the seats are being sold on ebay.

I live in the NY Metro area. And you are wrong. At times, synagogues of all denominations have struggled, because Jewish populations of all types were leaving the city center. I live in Hudson County New Jersey, and the most recent synagogue closures have all been Orthodox. Meanwhile, the one synagogue that has turned itself around and is thriving with growing membership and participation is the Conservative synagogue in Hoboken. I don't say that to pass judgment on any particular denomination, since each congregation has its own story. But your claim that it is the Reform/Conservative synagogues that are failing is just counter-factual.

Charles I dont think you just visit churches for the art. Jesus is Charles Savior, otherwise you would have taken my challenge to denounce him as your savior. You still can to save face. Charles you make friends on talkbacks -what is your secret? ON EVERY ARTICLE! Wow! 100% of the time another commentor tells you, Charles, how wonderful and smart your are. Does it help you feel achieved or should you be taking a perscription? On the face of things, does Charles have a single Jewish quality to the extent that he can speak for the Jews against sizable movements such as the Reform and Conservative families of Jews? With your value system Charles - do you think it wise to curse and devalue so many Jews?

Well i visited a great cathedral , paid then around 1.5 Euro in today's money . Could admire the work of great Flemish painters , Rubens , van Dijck , Van Eyck and others . Also visited Rubens's house in the same town , great . I know , a religious Jew will not visit a cathedral , someone who wants to see great paintings does it . The next time you go to Europe , visit this cathedral , as a catholic you will feel at home . I feel more at home in a synagogue , that's nothing for you , a catholic . I'm not cursing you , you are not worth to be cursed , not because you are a catholic , but because you don't tell the truth as i'm doing .

Well, I just spent half an hour on Ebay and guess what??? I couldn't find anything like that!! Can somebody give me a link, so I can actually see it with my own eyes?!

The publicity stunt notwithstanding, the Jewish community in Miami has free high holiday tickets to every service in town, plus special services sponsored just for unaffiliated people. Temple Emanuel even participates in this (and they are Conservative despite being called Temple). No one in Miami needs to be a red cent for a seat at High Holidays anywhere in town. Just call the Jewish Federation there.

"Conservative Miami Beach synagogue auctions off two lifetime front row seats on eBay. Rabbi says auction aimed at gaining attention of Jews who are disconnected from their faith " How disgracefull!! Jews are disconnecected partly because of this kind of thing. We are Almighty G-d. This type of attention would not want me to be involved. it is sad.

It is the responsibility of members to support the place of worship. To fill our seats I believe we must offer to others what we know to be true our traditions, faith, and hope in Amighty G-d. In christianity, Jesus cleared the temple for making the house of G-d a mockery. Well, we have cleared our own temples by not being available to our people in the way we should. We want hope, A way of living pleasing the Almighty . We want to worship in song like David. There is nothing wrong with giving $$ or even asking for offering. But does a certain seat get you favor with G-d? or make you holy? I think not

we had already a discussion on this subject . You could not say anything to my answer , so you were silent , but here again with your anti synagogue tb . Are you jewish ? don't you understand what they mean . Jews , true ones , are not disconnected because of this , there are other reasons . Jews will only praise someone who spend his money for his synagogue . Have you been once in Israel , in a hospital or university ? There you will see the Davidoff building [ one example ] or names of all the benefactors of those places . This is being Jewish , to help others . The same for synagogue seats . Some can afford hughe sums , others can't , and they receive also a seat .

i don't think that you are Jewish , so there are things you can't understand . Those seats do not make you holy or give you a favor with god . Those seats are only "honorific" ones , a THANK YOU for the contribution you made . To be in favor with god , money has no influence , it's you personaly , not your bank account

Its ok, all the Jews (real ones) who read you posts - really really really believe you are stating what you believe is the truth. Honest - we buy it. The whole "I am not a christian" thing. I am sure that they also buy that I am a Christian. Sure they do. They see me as the one afraid to make the statement Jesus is not my savior and not my G-d. They see you rising to that challenge and stating you do not believe in Jesus. They see that you have concerned yourself with Jewish afairs and that you are supportive of the Jewish cause. They see your deep interest in Christianity only as a learning thing and not as a life choice. Sure they do. Yes the Charles it is a fantasy dream come true. You pulled it off. You tricked them. NOT! Baptist Minister go home.

"converted" you . To say to a piece of meat ," you are fish ", don't changes anything . This meat stays meat . I'm waiting for a serious answer

You have the answer, there was no Orthodox Rabbi that converted me and you know that. You so child like. Grow up already. If you think that a Conservative conversion is not good enough - well then you think that. So what? - Who is Charles? A Baptist minister.

I disagree with you Charlie boy. The house of God should be free - actually, it should be on a first come first served basis. A front row seat in the synagogue should NOT cost a million bucks, it's disgusting not to mention vulgar.