Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Knowing Me, Knowing You (Leati's Interview)

1) Is Evolution a fact or theory?

It's a theory that could be a fact it you hold that a day of Creation was the billions of years that it took for the tiny bug to become a person...although I have issue with the fact that I may have come from apes. In fact, I just plain old don't believe it. Very distantly related, possibly. Direct descendants? Absolutely not. (We're also distantly related to ישמעאל, but we try to avoid that as well...)

2) If there was a movie about you, who would play the leading role?

Funny question, 'cause I'm the last one (well..maybe not the last one, but close...) to know all the actresses...the answer is that I'd just have to do it (aww shucks) 'cause nobody else can. For one thing, none of the actresses around today have my unique size and shape ('cept maybe Kristen Chenelworth...maybe her-she plays G[a]linda in Wicked). In reality, I wouldn't really feel comfortable with someone else playing me, 'cause I'd feel kinda usurped. The amount of personal emotion that goes into playing a part...I wouldn't feel uniquely me anymore-I'd feel like someone else was trying to be me...it'd be yucky. So I dunno. They'd have to pass my very strict inspection, and I don't think it'd be so easy for anyone.

3) What gets you most angry?

Now I wonder where that question came from...? ;)
When people lie and spread hatred and anger for no good reason. (So no, that person is not that bad ;) )

4) What's the worst that might happen?

I'd rather not think about it, much less put it into words. I was uncomfortable enough just reading CJ's blog last week...although it definately made a difference in my Tefilos recently.

5) What's a question you wish you were asked? and the answer?

Um...they had that question on the Hillel officers application. That's why I didn't apply. Cause I didn't wanna answer this question (well...maybe that's not WHY I didn't apply, but still...)

6) Were you surprised by any of the answers here?

I guess the first and second ones. I never really thought deeply about my feelings on evolution, and I never realized I thought I was so important that nobody could replace me. Hmmm...

Good food for thought. Yum!

Now the rules again: Read the last three posts and see if you can figure them out...

12 comments:

EN said...

Great answers on your last two posts. Lol, I like your last quip about the rules.

tinablue87 said...

TRW,

You should really read Rabbi Brown's book on evolution-or perhaps it was in Gerald Schroder's book-I think you own them both and are both very good-anyway-these books discuss evolution from a Torah standpoint-for example-the main difference between apes and humans is that we have a neshamah-did we exactly "evolve" from apes-or maybe they existed and from something that might have resesmbled an ape-or you know-a guy with a big forehead :)-and Hashem placed a neshamah into that being and then Man came into existence. Science and Torah certainly do not conflict-the Ramban discusses some kind of evolution in his commentary on Bereishis. What I am mainly remind people when they question me about these so-called "conflicts" is that I believe that while the concept exists-a Higher being is rnning the show....

EN said...

I agree with TRW on this one. It is only a theory, so why evolve a theory to make it coinside with Torah is beyond me. There really is no purpose, and I don't think (not that I am an expert on these matters) that reading Schroder's book is called limud hatorah.

TRW said...

Sara-'Member my sister went with you to the lecture and didn't understand a word? I'm afraid us non-scientific folks have a bit of trouble with it...:/

Just a moment, en..I didn't say I thought it was shtus, I just said I'd never thought about it before. When books like Dr. Schroeder's come out, I think they're wonderful-showing how science and Torah don't have to be at odds with each other, which many academics have trouble with. I don't think it's a bad thing at all!! I just don't fully understand the theories of evolution in general.

tinablue87 said...

en! I don't even know where to begin and maybe this is not the place for it, but just because you say that reading a book that discusses Torah AND science is not limud torah-how can you say that there is no purpose!!!!!!

TRW-I certainly agree that for non-science folks some things can be complicated. But EN--this does not excuse the fact that you can just simply disregard the word evolution-when the Ramban discusses it-so the Ramban is teaching us something on Bereishis and this in not limud torah???? Hashem created the world to run according to Teva (in a general sense ok??) and you are saying that there is no point in trying to understand it-that is what people do when they create theories-try to understand the world-prove or disprove these things and move forward in a better understanding.....

EN said...

sara- What I am saying is that these books are similar to the ban on slifkind. It is trying to stuff understanding of God into ideas that can not be proven (hence the word theory). Learn the Ramban, that is enough to know, not, some new fangled authors who are learning science and stuffing Torah to fit that view. The Ramban never used the term evolution which seems to imply continues change, he said the world came from something the size of a mustard seed. If he felt it was important to descibe and explain the how and why I am sure he would have . It is not like his work is as concise as Rashi.

tinablue87 said...

I don't think TRW wishes this discussion in her blog. I have many more things to say-but will just conclude that I feel so sad that you feel a person has to stuff science into Torah. Torah encompasses everything-I don't think stuffing is required-just something tasty on Thanksgiving.

New fangled authors-well, I am not sure what you consider new-people consider the Chofetz Chaim new-and unless you are of the Sefardic persuasion-then you follow much of the halacha from what he has taught.

And I suppose if a Rabbi of my community has published some of his thoughts on Torah-he is just another new fangled author that shouldn't have bothered...

TRW said...

ATTENTION ALL AVID READERS: This exciting discussion has moved to Sara's blog. Feel free to see for yourself at quantaq.blogspot.com ;)

Have a lovely day!!

EN said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jew Speak said...

Frumactress,

I couldn't find any other way to contact you other than the comments. Just wanted to let you know that your link to the Rabbi Tatz tapes is broken. The link should be here

I like your blog. I also blog at www.JewSpeak.com

Take care.

TRW said...

jewspeak-I tried updating the link, but for some reason it won't work. Once you get to the site, though, if you click on Audio, and then R' Tatz, you'll get the online shiurim. For some reason the link won't let it through all the way. Dunno. Thanks though!

Karl said...

Sorry for the delay, here are your interview questions: (my answers are now up as well).


1. If you were a book, which would you be? Why?
2. As you are so well travelled, which place would you want to live in and why?
3. What was the craziest thing you have ever done?
4. Which is the most gashmius item you can't live without?
5. What has been the biggest life changing crossroads in your live so far? Do you think you made the right choice?


Now the rules again:

1) If you want an interview, leave me a comment saying "interview me please."
2) I will respond by asking you five questions (not the same as above)
3) You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.
4) You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5) When others comment asking to be interviewed you will ask them five questions.