To my friends of the Hebrew persuasion--Jack and Judih

[Lightning Rod]

Jack and Judih,

An interesting thing has happened to me. While my sister and I have been sitting around here going blind from the cataracts that we both have because of our fair eyes, she started checking our family out on Ancestor.com. I've never been in the least bit interested in who my ancestors were unless I was in their will. But she started searching and it seems that we are a quarter Jewish a couple of generations ago.

This was not completely surprising to me because for some reason I have always thought that there must be a yid in the woodpile somewhere. My first Jewish friend in school was Barry Goldblatt. I always had this strange kinship with him like he was my brother. There has never been a hint of Jewish culture or religion in our family. We were raised as Methodists. But for some reason I read all of Leon Uris' books and I've always been fascinated by the saga of the Jews.

I was never particularly aware of any anti-semitism when I was growing up in Texas. Of course there was enough racism to make up for that lack. I can never remember it being a topic of discussion in our family.

I'm glad that my sister found that out though. Now I feel much better about hating myself....haha! Anyway, 'next year in Jerusalem.'

[stilltrucking]

I always wondered about your last name.

Never experienced much either

How does that saying go about treat your friends like family?

We use to say that about next year in Jeruselam back as far as I can remember. Back before the modern state of Israel. When it was more of a metophor for metaphyscial homelessness.

Next year in Mule Shoe Texas.

[Lightning Rod]

I'm so new at being a jew that I don't even know if 'heeb' is a cuss word. But hey, I figure I've got a good start, I've read the Old Testament and I'm already circumcised. The tough part is behind me, right?

So, I hope nobody with think I'm a nebbish (did I say that right?) but I'm on a learning curve as steep as Mt. Sainai.

Muleshoe it is.

(Oh yeah, it's not the January side of the family. The name was the more German 'Fiedt' on the other side.)

[judih]

heeb is uncool
yid is uncool
i thought 'rod' sounded jewish
you'd have to be quarter jewish to say heeb and yid
i'm going to be in jerusalem on monday (conference on conflict resolution) - i can bring your best wishes - clay, jack?

[Lightning Rod]

you are right, judih
it was Goldenrod in the old country
but we Anglicized it and shortened it to Rod when we immigrated

Good luck at the conflict resolution meeting. Take NitWitenYahoo with you, he could use it.

[Arcadia]

oh, yeah... if I add an s at the beggining and a k at the end it seems I also share surname with this rabbi...

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/flashp ... n-jew.html

have a peaceful meeting in Jerusalem, Judih!

[judih]

one happy family.
thanks, clay for the hint - but drop netanyahu in a conference intent on forging solutions, and i think you'd find him checking out the next room.

arcadia - thanks- who knows which letter joins us and which dyes the tie.

[Doreen Peri]

To Lrod -

I like Netanyahu. I was just watching his interview w/Larry King. He's articulate, intelligent, calm, obviously knowledgeable, gentle yet strong.

I can't imagine why you would call this man a nit wit.

[judih]

doreen, about bibi netanyahu -
his english is good.

he's always known what to wear

he's one of the few israeli politicians who's aware of media and its repercussions.

i didn't vote for him.

[Doreen Peri]

OK. Is he a nit wit?

[judih]

no, he's smart. he's just not my choice.