Ah Salaam Ahlaikum

The Muslims in and around the Middle East and Afrika is so wrong! Throughout the Holy Quran it says it is forbidden to break up into sects....It is forbidden to be Sunni, Shiite, Hanaafi, etc. And they know it! Almighty ALLAH will never bless this Idolatry! Its wrong and its beyond all bounds!

Ah Salaam Ahlaikum

The Muslims in and around the Middle East and Afrika is so wrong! Throughout the Holy Quran it says it is forbidden to break up into sects....It is forbidden to be Sunni, Shiite, Hanaafi, etc. And they know it! Almighty ALLAH will never bless this Idolatry! Its wrong and its beyond all bounds!

Love you columns - always.

You think the Jews are kvetchy - be glad you aren't an Episcopalian today.

Do you know the Name of the LORD. The quotes are very clear:

Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Job 22:22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
Job 22:23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
Job 22:24 Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
Job 22:25 Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
Job 22:26 For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Job 22:27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Job 22:28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Job 22:29 When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.

Jam 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Jam 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Jam 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jam 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jam 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Ted Baines said " Return half of Saudi Arabia, the western half of Saudi Arabia, to its rightful owners, the Jews. Relocate all Muslims from Palestine and the West Bank to Muslim countries."

George Albert said "We have enough problems with Jew haters in this world and since the WAPO comments sections is rife with vicious Jew hating every day, maybe it is not the best thing for you to push stero-types and racists views."

Here is an answer “the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee,” "put all these curses upon thine enemies" "Relocate all Muslims" "and on them that hate thee" "Jew haters in this world and since the WAPO comments" “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates” Do not “pervert the words of the righteous”

Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

Look “Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates” Do not “pervert the words of the righteous”

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Who are the righteous, “shalt obey his voice according to all that I command”

And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.

Look “the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart” Is the LORD’S Word in thy heart. The Words of Moses is clear, “the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee,” Look at the Words of Job “Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?” And “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?”

In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

What does Moses say “I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments” Look at Job “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” Here is the answer “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the almighty.” Look “God layeth up his iniquity for his children” who are the children of God. Look “he shall drink of the wrath of the almighty” Again Look at the Words of Job “Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?”

That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

I think it's high time for a whimsical, warm little piece about High Holiday Times at the Lutheran Church in Lake Woebegon, Minnesota. Why do the Jews always get to pass themselves off as having all the fun and "kvetching" while we Lutherans are always put off in the corner, dour, brooding and Norwegian?

Posted away from home, I have just re-experienced one of the least pleasant memories of my childhood years: the unlovely, counter-spiritual paid ticket requirement for High Holy Days services.

My father in law died last week. My wife and I wanted to say Kaddish for him last Friday, so we called the office of the Reform congregation here in Knoxville, TN. to find out what time the service would be.

"You will need tickets tonight" said the woman who answered out call.

Oops. "How much?

"One hundred dollars per person" came the reply.

Well, that less-than-warm welcome hurt us somewhat, and on Yom Kippur evening we meditated on and remembered Pierre's life another way.

Hey, it's HARD to be Jewish sometimes.....

A blessing on your head, dear Ruth Marcus. Here in our 100,000 pop of Champaign/Urbana, IL, we have only one Temple/Synagogue. The Temple is Reform, but orthodox and conservative members are
accomodated with special services and minyans as they require. We have no tickets for admission, so some non-members are free to attend. Lately, chabad has made some inroads on our congregation.
The seating arrangements you mentioned are in force here, too.
I am printing out your column to give to my Rabbi.
Thanks again for a great piece. Robert Green

A blessing on your head, dear Ruth Marcus. Here in our 100,000 pop of Champaign/Urbana, IL, we have only one Temple/Synagogue. The Temple is Reform, but orthodox and conservative members are
accomodated with special services and minyans as they require. We have no tickets for admission, so some non-members are free to attend. Lately, chabad has made some inroads on our congregation.
The seating arrangements you mentioned are in force here, too.
I am printing out your column to give to my Rabbi.
Thanks again for a great piece. Robert Green

The joke is not told correctly. The punchline should be:

      “Into that one, I wouldn’t set foot.”

Marcus has correctly calibrated the Yiddishkeit so that the prepositional phrase leads the sentence instead of being at the end, where it belongs in English but not in Yiddish.

Still, going to the wrong shul is not so bad as setting foot inside it.

Gentiles can get the joke, but only Jews can pick such nits about its delivery.

Why is it that left Jews, besides petitioning Israel to commit suicide by appeasing terrorists, always think they can engage is racist, anti-Jewish humor with impunity? He Ruth, if you took your religion seriously, which I doubt, maybe you would care about fighting the Islamists terrorists more than about advancing Hillary Clinton's poltical career and bashing George Bush.

We have enough problems with Jew haters in this world and since the WAPO comments sections is rife with vicious Jew hating every day, maybe it is not the best thing for you to push stero-types and racists views.

I think finding a place to worship can be a very personal experience. Essentially, you are looking for a place that you can feel comfortable and safe. High Holidays in particular are a time of immense self-reflection. Feeling safe helps that process.
In that way, being picky can be a good thing. Minimizing barriers to "being in the moment" on such important days is helpful.

HI EVERYBOY AROUND WORLD
I AM TELL LONG LONG STORY HISTORY..
JESUS CHRIST IS ADOPT SON HEMPRASHAD "JC" PADARAT
AND I WAS LITTLE BOY AND I AM DEAF LITTLE BOY AND
I AM SAINT OF GOD ALIVE 2007..
WILL YOU VOTE ME BECOME PRESIDENT WHITE HOUSE MORE
POWER OR NOTHING OR ALL DIE...?
GOD IS MY RULES THE LAWS...
CHILDRENS CAN VISION SEE ME REAL SAINT OF GOD AND
I TRUST CHILDRENS ARE RIGHT ANNSWER YES TO SAINT
OF GOD REAL ALIVE
WE SAY PLEASE NO HANDSHAKE ONLY HANDSPRAY MEANING
NICE MEET TO YOU OR GOD BLESS YOU YOU UNDESTAND
BYE BYE

I have two nephews in Maryland (washington) (you know them from Matt) who go to two different
orthodox temples. A Chabad and one that arrogantly
(or is it stiff-necked) calls itself the National
Synagogue

The question is often asked " what should non-Muslims do to win the hearts and minds of Muslims?" when the question that should really be asked is " what should Muslims do to win the hearts and minds of non-Muslims?".

Muslims are now universally despised for several reasons.

1) The repeated acts of terrorism against non-Muslims and the generally implicit approval by the general populace of non-Muslims for these acts and the readiness to blame the US and the Jews for the acts. To this day most Muslims believe that the Jews orchestrated 9/11.

2) Their refusal to integrate into the societies that have made life so good for them, especially the west, and that have allowed them escape the misery that their own Muslim societies with their allegiance to an outdated Islamic system have inflicted on them.

3) Most importantly the internet and recent publications has revealed the truth about Islam and its founder, Muhammad. It is now well known that Muhammad was a psychopath who indulged in sex with children in his fifties, was a slave owner, had fathered an illegitimate son with his slave girl, 15 year old Maria who was also a Christian, carried out ethnic cleansing of Jews in Arabia and stole half of Arabia from them, insulted God by inventing Allah and making this evil god the sole deity for Muslims.

4) Their refusal to condemn atrocities in Iraq, Muslims upon Muslims and also the shameful Islamic apartheid practiced in Saudi Arabia where non-Muslims may not enter Mecca and Medina, may not openly worship anywhere in the kingdom, may not build churches, synagogues and other places of worship in Saudi Arabia. Muslims give implicit approval for the Islamic apartheid by continuing to do the hajj to Mecca, thereby saying that " the apartheid is fine with us".

The Muslims can do the following and, although it will take time, eventually Muslims will have won some respect from non-Muslims.

1) Declare that Islam was not revealed by God and admit that Islam is a harmful faith. Muslims should condemn outright Muhammad and Islam. Muslims should stop insulting God by associating Muhammad and Allah with Him.

2) Stop doing the hajj. By doing so they will send a powerful message that they will not tolerate apartheid. If Saudi Arabia stops the apartheid and the first church is built in Mecca and in Medina, then the hajj may be resumed.

3) Return half of Saudi Arabia, the western half of Saudi Arabia, to its rightful owners, the Jews. Relocate all Muslims from Palestine and the West Bank to Muslim countries.

4) Agree that all Muslim immigration to non-Muslims countries be halted until secular democratic societies are built in all Muslim countries. This may take many years. Right now it is too easy for Muslims to escape the oppression in Muslim societies by escaping to non-Muslim countries, especially to the West. They have no incentive to fight oppression at home.

It will take time. But eventually Muslims may become an integral part of civilized human society.

Thanks for the nice article.I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking abut too!I sent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing!You make us smile!

Thanks for the nice article.I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking abut too!I sent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing!You make us smile!

Thanks for the nice article.I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking abut too!I sent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing!You make us smile!

Thanks for the nice article.I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking abut too!I sent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing!You make us smile!

Thanks for the nice article. I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking aobut too!

I ent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.

We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing! YOu make us smile!

Justine

Thanks for the nice article. I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking aobut too!

I ent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.

We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing! YOu make us smile!

Justine

Thanks for the nice article. I am Catholic and laughed out loud. These could be parishes you're talking aobut too!

I ent it to my best friend who was sweet enough to be our bridesmaid last year when I booked the wedding on Rosh HaShanah.

We celebrate our one year anniversary tomorrow! All the Best and keep writing! YOu make us smile!

Justine

I laughed. Profusely.

I am a Canadian Protestant but could so identify with the "kvetchiness" of Marcus's family/faith colleagues. I laughed. I cried. I said, "Ouch! Much too close to home."
Thank you.

RUTH DEAR I LOVE YOUR WRITING BUT WHY GO AT ALL ITS SO BOORING AND REMEMBER "RELIGION IS THE PROBLEM NOT THE ANSWER"! ITS A TOTAL SCAM RUN MOSTLY BY MONEYGRABBING HOMOPHOBIC BIGOTS THAT ARE AFTER YOUR HARD EARNED CASH!! TAXFREE!! A TOTAL HOKUS/POKUS SCAM AND THAT GOES FOR ALL RELIGIONS!

despite all that jacob- she tells a funny story
kind of reminds me of erma bombeck (to me thats a good thing)

I tell my children, I will probably die before all of you and when we are all in heaven you can find me in the same section, same row, as my earthly church, on the left side of the congregation 3 rows from the front.

Although I was reared Roman Catholic, the themes Ruth discusses are soooooo familiar. Back in
the olden days around Vatican II, parish membership was definitely and almost always,
always without exception geographic. God forbid that you might like a particular priest at another church who gave a good and inspired homily every single week or that you could no longer stomach the warbling of the elderly choir members or everyone at the next parish over actually SANG instead of mumbled or that your home parish had the longest masses in the state while the one across town lasted only 45 minutes instead of an hour and 45 minutes. My family also always sat in pretty much the same pew (early on it was folding chairs in a school gym before a proper traditional church was built) and in the same order (to avoid pitched battle between various siblings). My father also parked our car in the same spot in the lot every week. Ah, life
was so simple then.