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[edit] New Book Categories
Two brand new categories are available and waiting to be populated with articles:
I have created hundreds of new categories, but I've never previously made a point of making an announcement. However, it struck me as hugely ironic and quite astonishing that there were no categories for books about the "people of the book" (other than Holocaust books). So I hope, fellow editors, that you will make good use of these! Cgingold (talk) 22:34, 15 May 2008 (UTC)
- Hi Cgingold: I took a look and it seems that all you have created here are categories but with no articles. There is no point in creating "hundreds of categories" under such circumstances. Better to wait till there are more articles for such categories, or if you create categories, try to put more articles into them, otherwise the process of creating empty categories clogs things up and leads other editors to consider deleting them. Thanks for thinking about this. Sincerely, IZAK (talk) 00:12, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] New article & cat
Temple of Israel (Wilmington, North Carolina) - the first synagogue in North Carolina and one of the first Reform synagogues in the American South.
Category:Synagogues in North Carolina is ready for more articles if someone is interested. APK yada yada 08:43, 17 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Category:Jews and Judaism by country
This is a noteworthy discussion regarding Category:Jews and Judaism by country at Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 May 16#Category:Jews and Judaism by country. Thanks, IZAK (talk) 21:55, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
This article about Jan T. Gross' controversial book can use the attention of outside editors, particularly thos with interest and expertise in Polish Jewish history. It's currently being heavily loaded up with criticisms, while desriptions of the book, representative quotes from the book, and positive reviews are being summarily removed. Boodlesthecat Meow? 14:17, 21 May 2008 (UTC)
- It is usually considered better not to rely on long quotes, or on many quotes. Malcolm Schosha (talk) 14:47, 21 May 2008 (UTC)
- There is a rather heated debate that is continuing over this book, and there are editors that would prefer that the book not be considered as a discussion of antisemitism, but rather as an unfair attack on the honor of a nation. The article is, at this time, locked. I hope that more editors knowledgeable in the subject will get involved, because the discussion now may decide the direction of the article. Please do take a look. Malcolm Schosha (talk) 13:37, 25 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Letter of British Jews on 60th anniversary of Israel
I've nominated the page for deletion here. Feel free to comment. Epson291 (talk) 08:15, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] What about...
Reading through Maimonides today made my eyes water. How on earth is it possible that our project lists 266 members yet we have generally been unable to produce articles on Judaism that would qualify for good article or featured article status. Our WikiProject doesn't have a system for collaborative editing. Now I am well aware of the drawbacks of having a fixed article for improvement every week (or two weeks, or month), and it doesn't always work out, but I think it is certainly worth a try.
The problem with many Judaism articles is the fact that a topic can be described in diametrically opposing ways, depending on perspective. On Maimonides, for instance, much space is devoted to his philosophy and almost none to his approach to halacha. That is probably because most non-Jewish and secular Jewish writers cannot see the relevance of his legal writings. In contrast, every yeshiva bochur will know a large number of his legal opinions while being only vaguely familiar with his philosophical views (the criticism leveled against his philosophy by the Vilna Gaon cannot have helped).
I think Wikipedia is capable of producing balanced articles on topics about Judaism, especially if we - as a WikiProject - studiously avoid getting embroiled into the politics of the Middle East and the problem of Antisemitism. It requires all our collective minds. Some topics that could easily become very good articles are those on the Jewish holidays (Shavuot anyone?), Tanach personalities (Hezekiah), Talmudic concepts (such as geneivat da'at). It will sometimes mean having to work with those who have a radically different view of Jewish history and practice, and representatives of other WikiProjects. But it can be done.
Please register your appetite for a collaborative editing system here. We can start with a simple and uncontroversial topic, like Shavuot. Two weeks should be plenty... JFW | T@lk 06:15, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
- JFW, it's great that you started this thread. I hope folks will follow your lead. It would be good to have a focused collaborative to improve even a single article. Some success might also raise the visibility of this Project and give folks a sense that we can rise above our differences and make strong contributions to the encyclopedia. Thanks! HG | Talk 04:25, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
Thank you, HG, for your kind response. Looking at other responses (none) I'm not sure if the time is ripe yet. JFW | T@lk 11:12, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
The article Advent currently reads:
"Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Christ."
Does this strike anyone else as borderline POV? (i.e., the implication that waiting for Mashiach is a thing of the past, and even of the pre-Christian past?) And if so, any ideas on how to tweak it? Or am I being hypersensitive here? (Please make any fixes to Advent itself, and I suppose that it would be best to discuss on that article's Talk.) Thanks. -- Writtenonsand (talk) 20:40, 28 May 2008 (UTC)
- There's no problem from an NPOV point of view because the bit you quoted says that it is explaining what "Christians believe," so it's supposed to be giving a Christian point of view. Best, --Shirahadasha (talk) 22:15, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
I came across this article and tagged it with this project. It's not new, hence why I didn't add it to the new article list. APK yada yada 02:10, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
Could someone who really knows his stuff please have a look at this article? It's become something of a coatrack for, well, wierd ideas, mainly regarding claims about modern-day ethnic groups being members of the mysterious ten lost tribes. There were several recent edits by someone who, from his website, appears to be a Messianic. Obviously, Messianics have the same right to edit articles that anyone else does, but I reverted one of them because it seemed highly POV, unsourced and apparently OR (although I doubt that it was actually original). I'd be more comfortable with more eyes on that revert as well as attention from some of the more knowledgable members of this project on the overall article.—Preceding unsigned comment added by Steven J. Anderson (talk • contribs)
[edit] Wikiproject Abrahamic Religions
Hi! I am already a member of this group before any strange questions start getting asked. (I dont know what that was about either but you know I just had a feeling) Anyway I am proposing that a new Wikiproject be formed called WikiProject Abrahamic Religions. Judaism is of course one of the three Abrahamic Religions the others being Christianity and Islam. I don't know what people think about my proposal but for more information and/or to show your support, as the project cant start without consensus please go to Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals and view the Abrahamic Religions Section. (that makes me sound like a dodgey TV advert doesn't it?). Once again any comments or support would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. The Quill (talk) 11:14, 31 May 2008 (UTC)
- Hi The Quill: While the ideal may sound fine, your proposal is far too broad and because of that it is bound to flounder and die. Wikiprojects work best when they are focused on a tight topic that is of intense interest to its members. Practical considerations must and do over-ride broader ideals experience has shown. IZAK (talk) 06:05, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Request: IPA pronunciation for Cholent
Could somebody put in a pronunciation guide on the cholent article? Also, I'd be interested to learn how it was pronounced for a speller in the recent Scripps-Howard National Spelling Bee. Thanks! Robert K S (talk) 12:44, 2 June 2008 (UTC)
- It all depends if you follow Lithuanian/Russian Yiddish and it would then be pronounced "Chaw-lent" and "Tzaw-lent" or Polish/Hungarian Yiddish who call it "Choo-lint" and "Chooln't" -- thus the factor that determines its pronounciation is original Yiddish dialects/accents as adapted to other languages (some Israelis call it "Chow-lent") or as still spoken in Yiddish. IZAK (talk) 05:48, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
I have just translated the article on The Three Oaths from the Hebrew version of Wikipedia. Looking around on the english version of Wikipedia, I have identified (and corrected) at least three INCORRECT translations of the oaths, which read, specifically, as follows:
1. that the Jewish people are not allowed to ascend to Eretz Yisrael by force; 2. that the Jewish people are not allowed to rebel against the nations of the world; 3. that the Jewish people may not by their sins delay the coming of Moshiach, the Jewish messiah.
The original Hebrew of these oaths is:
"ג' שבועות הללו למה? אחת שלא יעלו ישראל בחומה, ואחת שהשביע הקב"ה את ישראל שלא ימרדו באומות העולם, ואחת שהשביע הקב"ה את העובדי כוכבים שלא ישתעבדו בהן בישראל יותר מדי" (מסכת כתובות קיא).
Anyone who reads Hebrew can see that the last oath deals with "ovdei kokhavim", most commonly translated in this context as gentiles (though it literally translates to star worshipers). It does not deal with the Jewish people or their sins. I would like to ask that you be on the lookout for this mistake and correct it if you find it (or stop making it, if it is one of the members of Wikiproject Judaism).
The correct translation is: "What are these three oaths? One, that Israel should not rise with (or like) a wall; another, that God had Israel swear not to rebel against the nations; another, that God had the nations swear not to subjugate Israel overmuch." Sstr (talk) 11:27, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
- I think this article lacks notability for the English Wikipedia and probably should not have been created. Clearly, for an accurate translation you are finding yourself applying original research. JFW | T@lk 14:03, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
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- I thought I would translate it since it is relevant to other topics which are quite important in the english Wikipedia (anti-Zionism, the relationship between Orthodox Judaism and Zionism, etc). A quick google search will also find that same translation I just wrote. For example:
- http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Eye+on+Israel/Story_Zionism/israel+in+exile.htm
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- Translates it as:
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- What are these three oaths? One that Israel not “ascend the wall” [Rashi: together, by force]: one that the Holy One, Blessed be He, adjured Israel not to rebel against the nations of the world: and one that the Holy One, Blessed be He, adjured the nations of the world not to oppress Israel overmuch. Bab. Talmud Ketubot 111a. Sstr (talk) 14:18, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
This subject actually is relevant to any discussion of (Jewish) religious Zionism. Some in the religious Zionist camp say the 1st and 2nd oaths are nullified by the nations' abrogation of the 3rd. The Szatmars obviously disagree. Tomertalk 20:57, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
A request for comment has been posted at Talk:Harvey Milk#REQUEST FOR COMMENT: Milk's involvement with Jim Jones/Peoples Temple. Other editor's input would be appreciated. Banjeboi 04:08, 7 June 2008 (UTC)
So, I greatly expanded this list... I couldn't find the name of the former synagogues in Arpin and Monroe, nor of two of Marinette's three former synagogues, and I took only a minor jab at Madison and Milwaukee-area synagogues. I included on the list 16 other defunct synagogues I know of, however. (Pretty sad, really, when you see a list of Wisconsin synagogues outside Madison and Milwaukee and nearly 60% of them are "defunct". But, I digress...) The primary reason I'm writing here is to see what can be done about starting a group of articles on Jewish history in each of the U.S. states (and Canadian provinces, for that matter). We have Jewish history in Texas, but before I start writing Jewish history in Wisconsin, I'd like to know... where is Jews and Judaism in New York City or Jewish history in New York or Jewish history in Newport, Rhode Island? Tomertalk 21:17, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Shavuot Jewish Theological Seminary of America site
The above site has reorganised its pages. I searched for Shavuot but found more than 1 entry. I don't know which entry is appropriate because I'm a gentile Christian. Could a member of this Project have a look at it? Kathleen.wright5 22:48, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
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