NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm a Jew, currently living in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, but I was born in the former Soviet Union. I don't claim to be a Rabbi, but I think I know enough to answer most questions, otherwise I know where to look or who to ask. You can ask me about the Union (althought I was young when I left) or Judaism. So, who's first?

I'm actually fascinated by both, but have no particular questions, I'm afraid. Anything in general you could tell us?

As both a Jew and an ex-Soviet citizen, what is your favourite colour?

When walking down the road do you prefer to walk facing traffic or with it.

I'm actually fascinated by both, but have no particular questions, I'm afraid. Anything in general you could tell us?

I was born in Moldova, which is a small country right between Ukraine and Romania:
http://media.maps101.com/SUB/ATLAS/Images/moldovarap.gif

The city I was born in is pronounced Beltsy (B-EH-L-TSY). On the map it's labeled in it's Romanian form, Balti. I came to the US in 1991, given "religious refugee" status along with my family.

Now about Judaism, Russian in perticular. Well as you may know, Communist governments have strict anti-relgion policies. Thus, Judiasm as well as all other religions were forbidden. Still, during the Stalin eras which was before my time, Jews known as Ba'aley Teshuvah popped up, who found there way to some Jewish material, started learning (and sometimes illegally teaching), and eventually emigrated to Israel. The country I am from was not hit by the Ba'aley Teshuvah craze I'm afraid. My mom was born in Ukraine and my dad in Moldova. I was born in Moldova as well, but left there when I was three.

I can speak and read both Hebrew and Russian, but I can't write Russian.

As both a Jew and an ex-Soviet citizen, what is your favourite colour?
I was never too partial to the Soviet Union or the Communist system (even though Communist looks GREAT on paper). My favorite color is blue.

When walking down the road do you prefer to walk facing traffic or with it.
I prefer walking on the sidewalk, thank you very much.

Was the soviet union really that bad as everyone makes it out to be

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Was the soviet union really that bad as everyone makes it out to be
Communism looks great on paper... Sure... Everyone's equal... everyone get's paid the same... On paper it looks amazing, but in the real world, it just doesn't work. There was corruption everywhere in all parts of the government. Plus, during the time that Stalin ruled the Union as a totalitarian state I'm told it was even worse. I was born under post-Stalin times. I can say that when I lived it wasn't as bad as Stalin, but it was way worse then the good old USA. Even today, I'm told, that in some parts of Ukraine it is not uncommon for a policeman to pull someone over and demand a bribe, otherwise send someone to jail. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, with a national debt of over 160 million dollars. In 1999 it became the first (and only) former Soviet republic to elect a Communist president. Needless to say that means I'm not going back any time soon.

Whats your favorite curse word to scream at somebaody in Russian? The Russian language is right cool.

Communism looks great on paper... Sure... Everyone's equal... everyone get's paid the same... On paper it looks amazing, but in the real world, it just doesn't work. There was corruption everywhere in all parts of the government. Plus, during the time that Stalin ruled the Union as a totalitarian state I'm told it was even worse. I was born under post-Stalin times. I can say that when I lived it wasn't as bad as Stalin, but it was way worse then the good old USA. Even today, I'm told, that in some parts of Ukraine it is not uncommon for a policeman to pull someone over and demand a bribe, otherwise send someone to jail. Moldova is the poorest country in Europe, with a national debt of over 160 million dollars. In 1999 it became the first (and only) former Soviet republic to elect a Communist president. Needless to say that means I'm not going back any time soon.

My ex was from 'Mordor' (black sea region) which seemed to escape a lot of change simply by never noticing that the government even changed. Stalin felt the same as the Tsars so they just kept on going as they always had.

Whats your favorite curse word to scream at somebaody in Russian? The Russian language is right cool.

I only speak Russian with my parents and sometimes people at school when I don't want anyone to understand, so I try not to curse.

I only speak Russian with my parents and sometimes people at school when I don't want anyone to understand, so I try not to curse.

That's the most annoying thing ever.
A group of us made the two Russians who did that at my old college feel just as awkward by talking loudly in French around them until they stopped.

That's the most annoying thing ever.
A group of us made the two Russians who did that at my old college feel just as awkward by talking loudly in French around them until they stopped.

I don't really do it that often anyway, just some of my friends in school speak better Russian then English.

I don't really do it that often anyway, just some of my friends in school speak better Russian then English.

So did they but people became really suspicious when I pointed out that names often came up...

So did they but people became really suspicious when I pointed out that names often came up...

I don't talk about other people with them, in fact, I try to avoid talking about others in any language to anyone.

Ok back on topic, any questions from anyone?

I think I asked this before in another thread... but...

If they rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, will you go back to sacrificing goats? :D

I only speak Russian with my parents and sometimes people at school when I don't want anyone to understand, so I try not to curse.

i'm learning russian and in latin script atebis ( i think thats how you spell it ) is somthing awful

I don't talk about other people with them, in fact, I try to avoid talking about others in any language to anyone.

Ok back on topic, any questions from anyone?

Good on yer.

Do you think of yourself more as Jewish or Moldovian?

I think I asked this before in another thread... but...

If they rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, will you go back to sacrificing goats? :D

The 3rd temple will not be rebuilt until the Missiah comes to redeem us. And about sacrificing:

Imagine for a moment that your best friend says something totally mean about you in public. Then imaging some random guy who you don't know will say something mean about you in public. Which will hurt you more personally? Your best friend obviously. The majority of sacrafices done are because of sins. Let's say I perform Loshon Horah (literally "evil tounge" which is speaking badly about someone.") That means I have to sacrafice a calf (don't quote me on that.) Now I personally don't own any animals, but I asked a friend of mine who does, and he says that an unblemished healthy calf would cost me about 300 dollars. Plus there's the problem of me having to get that to Jerusalem. I realise that there are mandatory sacrafices throughtout the year, so for those I would be willing to hassle. But what do I do if I sin? If the temple were here today then wouldn't there be long lines of people? I don't think so, because besides the hassle, we would be so close to God during those times that sinning against God is like saying something bad about your best friend, and I know that I personally would try to avoid it at all costs.

Good on yer.

Do you think of yourself more as Jewish or Moldovian?

I believe myself to be both Jewish and American.

The 3rd temple will not be rebuilt until the Missiah comes to redeem us. And about sacrificing:

Imagine for a moment that your best friend says something totally mean about you in public. Then imaging some random guy who you don't know will say something mean about you in public. Which will hurt you more personally? Your best friend obviously. The majority of sacrafices done are because of sins. Let's say I perform Loshon Horah (literally "evil tounge" which is speaking badly about someone.") That means I have to sacrafice a calf (don't quote me on that.) Now I personally don't own any animals, but I asked a friend of mine who does, and he says that an unblemished healthy calf would cost me about 300 dollars. Plus there's the problem of me having to get that to Jerusalem. I realise that there are mandatory sacrafices throughtout the year, so for those I would be willing to hassle. But what do I do if I sin? If the temple were here today then wouldn't there be long lines of people? I don't think so, because besides the hassle, we would be so close to God during those times that sinning against God is like saying something bad about your best friend, and I know that I personally would try to avoid it at all costs.

And of course you can sacrifice yourself in a metaphorical sense through good deeds that do you personally no benefit.

i'm learning russian and in latin script atebis ( i think thats how you spell it ) is somthing awful

I personally don't know Latin, but a related Russian word, Off-Toh-Boos means bus...

I only know three Russian cuss words, and atebis isn't one of them.

And of course you can sacrifice yourself in a metaphorical sense through good deeds that do you personally no benefit.

So true, so true.

I personally don't know Latin, but a related Russian word, Off-Toh-Boos means bus...

I only know three Russian cuss words, and atebis isn't one of them.

Isn't there also automobil?
And Americans have the term babushka for a certain type of middle aged woman.

By Latin script he means the Western alphabet.
It's like saying the cyrillic script.

I'm a Russian Jew by heritage. Maybe we're long lost cousins.

Isn't there also automobil?
And Americans have the term babushka for a certain type of middle aged woman.

By Latin script he means the Western alphabet.
It's like saying the cyrillic script.

Aff-Tah-Moh-Beel means a car, but Aff-Toh-Buss specifiacally relates to busses (like RTA)

Babushka in Russian means "grandmother"

I'm a Russian Jew by heritage. Maybe we're long lost cousins.

According to the Bible, all Jews share a common ancenstry, from Abraham, so we probably are related in some way. :)

Aff-Tah-Moh-Beel means a car, but Aff-Toh-Buss specifiacally relates to busses (like RTA)

Babushka in Russian means "grandmother"

I know, I was relating it to the Russian word.
And I couldn't remember quite what the word was but I knew there was a Russian word like 'automobil'.

I know, I was relating it to the Russian word.
And I couldn't remember quite what the word was but I knew there was a Russian word like 'automobil'.

Ok fair enough.

Back on topic (again). Any more questions?

Ok fair enough.

Back on topic (again). Any more questions?

Do you find any conflict in being both Jewish and American?

Do you find any conflict in being both Jewish and American?

Not at all, America has proven extremely hospitable to the Jews. America has even made it easier to some regard with all the Kashrut laws that create an easily identifying symbol (or symbols) from which I can see if a food is Kosher or not. Some elder people who I know who lived here before such laws said that Jews had to check the ingredients on everything, including water to make sure it didn't contain anything it shouldn't. Meat and fish were only purchased from Orthodox Rabbis, which was the only way to make sure it was all right.

Next?

You can ask me about the Union (althought I was young when I left)
What do you think of the 'In Soviet Russia' jokes?

What do you think of the 'In Soviet Russia' jokes?

I have not heard any of them.

Any more questions?

EDIT: I found some on the internet. Not really that funny, and irrelivent to the topic at hand.

Ok I've decided to reopen this thread. Since no one has asked anything in a while and the thread was lost, I am posting again to hopefully get more questions.

Who's first?

Hi I'm israelian jew, and I want you say what you think on:
1- coming to Israel.
2- Israeli politics.
3-the situation on meadle east.
4-what you think should be the future boards of Israel.
5-how you see you as jew (reformi,ortodocsi,etc').

Hi I'm israelian jew, and I want you say what you think on:
1- coming to Israel.
2- Israeli politics.
3-the situation on meadle east.
4-what you think should be the future boards of Israel.
5-how you see you as jew (reformi,ortodocsi,etc').

1. First off, I have no problem coming to Israel for a visit, but at this point in my life I cannot come there to live perminently.

2. Israeli politics in my opinion need to be more organised. There is really no formal Constitution in Israel.

3. There are several situations in the middle east, but I assume you mean the israel/arab situation. Well first off, I think why can't they just give us the country? It's about the size of Rhode Island, and there are over 21 Arab/Muslim countries anyway! Arabs in Jerusalem are given the right of worship and certainly the right to live there, so why then do they claim they are not?

4. For future boards of Israel, I say pick people who will put the religion back in politics, maybe if we had more Jewish poeple it would be a more Jewish state.

5. I am sort of a Conserva-Dox, a mix of Conservative and Orthodox. I'm Ashkenazee, but there is a possibility of me being Lubavich from my father's side (my Grandfather was from Romania)


Anything else?

Any more questions?

Have you ever burned your pubes while dancing around a fire naked?

Have you ever burned your pubes while dancing around a fire naked?

Jews don't dance around a fire naked.

Any other questions?

What do you think of Fidel? What do you think of communists in General?

Did Stalin persecute the Jews in Russia?

What do you think of Fidel? What do you think of communists in General?

There are no people I have a problem with, but rather what they do. Communists could be ok people, but communism is a bad system.

Did Stalin persecute the Jews in Russia?

Of course he did, and he wasn't the only one! Judaism, whether teaching, or learning could land someone in jail for a long time under "anti-Sovet activities." Any university student found doing such things was instantly expelled. Laws were instituted against religions of all kinds, but two that were hit the most were Judaism and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Any more questions?