What does it mean to be a "Jew"?

Going to the movies on Christmas?

Different things to different people, just as is so in every religion. Some are religiously observant, others are merely Jewish in culture.
Jews follow the writings of the old testament and are still waiting for Messiah to come. They do not recognize Jesus as messiah because they believe the messiah will end suffering, and we still have that on earth, don’t we?

@panteech, that sounds like a string of stereotypes.

NO SHIT!!! That’s what he’s talking about,

Well this thread went to hell in a handbasket very quickly!!

As a Jew, I find: @paneech1472’ willingness to write: ‘The second would be a matter of having deep pockets, being cheap, or not wanting to pay as much for something as it is tagged, this prActice is called “jewing the seller down”.’ morally reprehensible.

This response is more than stereotyping. And the fact that someone here thought it was a great answer I find also very disturbing.

Anyone born to a Jewish mother is a Jew. Many people living in or born in Israel are not Jewish.

Agreed. I found the GA disturbing as well. I only hope that it was “accidental lurve” which, anyone with an iPhone can tell you, is easy to give.

It wasn’t me.. I flagged it.

This is an enormous question. Are you asking for a specific reason, or just out of curiosity? There are many angles and lenses answers can take on, and as a Jew I’m willing to discuss any of them with you, but I think it’s quite impossible to answer such an open-ended question without you giving us more details of what you’re looking for.

And I agree with Scamp and Gail

I flagged it also.

As did I.

If this was an honest question, and paneech gave an honest answer, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with identifying a fairly common (but no less offensive because of it) use of the word. That use appears in the dictionary for example.

Of course it would have been better if he had identified it as an offensive use that shouldn’t be taken lightly, but then again, Judy probably knows what a Jew is and is just asking to see how folks would respond.

Again, I’m not advocating the use of the term in that manner. But the question was set up as if asking for a definition to a quoted term. A complete definition would include all uses, even reprehensible ones, no?

I don’t think so. People already know the racist answer. We didn’t need such insensitivity here.

There are a number of other offensive words that relate to stereotypical, out-dated and offensive descriptions of cultures, races and religions that can be found in dictionaries. We all know what they are and why it is no longer necessary to use them.

@omfgTALIjustIMDu

Actually, I used it to illustrate the use of fluther to my dad’s best friend, Philka. He is a darling Latvian Jewish immigrant that lives in relative isolation in a small city in MA. He has a lot of philosophical questions but no one to talk about them with. I am trying to show him how amazing the internet is in everything from information to connecting souls – and obviously one of the first things I wanted to show him was fluther.
I asked if he had any questions on his mind and this was the first one that came out. I should have had the foresight to make it a more specific question – but oh well.

As far as the racist answer, if you ask me, it’s a price I’m willing to pay for the freedom of the internet – though I wish that wasn’t Philka’s first taste of fluther…

[mod says:] quip removed.

@Judyprays; your question was fine. You did not ask,“What does ‘to jew down someone’ mean”?

And the answers to your question have nothing to do with being cheap, having deep pockets and not wanting to pay retail. (Although my aunt Beverly did believe only in wholesale shopping.)

I agree. The question was fine. I’m sorry that your friend was subjected to such rudeness. Thanks for the response to our protests PnL!

READ THIS!

I know you guys need to make yourself feel good about yourselves and all but…

Paneech was saying what PEOPLE say when they call someone a “Jew”. Which was the answer to the question that was asked. He didn’t say it was true. He didn’t say he agreed with it.

Jews Christian Buddhist Islam are all the same in the sense we are all living under the same place called earth

Fact of the matter is, he didn’t need to say it at all. Paneech made the statement, so why are you arguing this point? I would think that someone making such a derogatory statement should be prepared for any fallout from it.

Usually, it means you’re Jewish.

@Judy, I’m sorry this was the first impression s/he got. Are you still looking for an answer?

@gailcalled I find it odd that you flagged the answer for removal yet kept it for others to review in your answer….?

What purpose does that serve? Was there more in than answer and you were just sharing only a portion?

I don’t know if it’s a confession or what it is, but its kind of sad and funny at the same time. My father, who died in 1971 when I was 10, was a strange bird. He was the biggest civil rights advocate I know, even loosing his career for standing up for minority rights. He also had this bigoted side that I just don’t understand. Because of that, until about 10 years ago, I thought that to “jew” someone down was spelt gew, and I never in a million years made the connection that it was racial. Once I realized it I was appalled and wondered when or where I may had used that phrase and who I may have inadvertently hurt in the process. It makes my heart ache!
Be careful what you say in front of your children. They may be adults before they figure out the true meaning.

@Snoopy; Timing; I flagged the question well after I had quoted the offensive part. The first sentence of his answer was simply factually incorrect. I let stupidity speak for itself.

let me start by saying what I said is not what I feel. I believe that the word Jew is misused in that context and I deeply regret not saying that in my reply.
All I can do is ask anyone of Jewish practices and heritage to please forgive my oversight.
Again, I do not agree with the connotation of that word, but rather was trying to relay all sides as funkdaddy stated in the dictionary state.
any offended Jews can relate to one of their own, Howard cosell, referring to a great American athlete as a little monkey.
I wholeheartedly apologize to anyone I have offended.

I tried to explain that paneech. but they just wanted to hear themselves be do-gooders.

I appreciate your apology. I didn’t understand your reference or your point about Howard Cosell. Could you explain that a bit more?

On Monday Night Football one time, Alvin Garrett, a black player, made a big play and down the field. He said “look at that little monkey go” (or something to that extent). People got all up in arms because they took at it as a racial slur. He didn’t mean it that way all it. He often referred to small quick players of all races as “little monkey” because they were small and quick like a money.

Huh. Ok.
Thanks Simone for the background. Paneech, what was your point in referencing that?

(scratches head)

my point in referencing the Howard Cosell example was to simply prove that people are oversensitive and quick to cry foul when something doesn’t sound politically correct despite intention. Thank you to those who understood where I was in my wording. Gailcalled must be like the Wizard of Oz because she has the power from behind her curtain. Here she is slamming me and calling me stupid during what would be part of my answer. I let peer pressure and ignorance speak for themselves.

Ah, paneech; you discovered my dirty little secret. I am hiding behind the curtain; I succomb to peer pressure always; and I shur am ignorant. (I didn’t call you stupid. I said your definition of a Jew was inaccurate.)

How exactly does protesting against bigotry relate to doing good?

it turns into bigotry when it is directed toward someone. I targeted no one while stating what many already knew. You even gave an example of your aunt’s shopping habits so you were more of a bigot than me. You did use the word stupidity when commenting toward what I wrote. I can understand it being offensive and apologized but you must like to keep trouble brewing as this is your fourth or fifth post on a topic which repulsed you.
I just don’t like hypocrites. People understood where I was going, and others chose to be literal and magnify the post, make a bad guy out of someone who isn’t in the click. I actually thank the couple of people who got it.
This is my final shout here. I am sorry for offending Jews and people against bigotry. I truly am. It was unintentional.

[mod says:] this is not the appropriate place to discuss definitions of bigotry etc. Please stay on topic on this thread and resolve your discussion over PMs. thank you.

@judy, this is what you get when you ask an explosive question.
Next you are going to ask where the babies come from…
Tsk… tsk… tsk…
Just kidding of course.