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From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP (GREEN)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Sephardim - Ashkenazim
Message-ID: <111@mhuxi.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-May-84 09:05:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxi.111
Posted: Fri May  4 09:05:54 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 5-May-84 01:20:05 EDT
References: <972@hou5e.UUCP> <253@masscomp.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 51

[any golems or dybbuks eating this line???]

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice
that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
	"Whenever you feel like criticizing any one," he told me, "just
remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that
you've had.""

	from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Copyright, 1925, by Charles Scribner's Sons:
Renewal Copyright, 1953, by Frances Scott Fitzgerald Lanahan

When I started reading some of Mr. Martillo's postings, I got quite annoyed
at a number of the things he said, and the way he said them.  One of my
*biggest* concerns was "what will the goyim think?".  The truth of the
matter is that it doesn't matter what the goyim think; once I was able
to get that through my thick skull Mr. Martillo's postings started to make
more sense and I've enjoyed almost all of them.  From what I understand
from other people, Sephardim are not treated all that well in Israel ( that
is an understatement ).  In New York/Brooklyn/Queens/Long Island/ the
Syrians *are* goofed on here and there ( take Crazy Eddie...Please! )
My Grandmother, who is now over 90 ( conna hurra ( I know the spelling
is wrong)), was born in Eastern Europe and likes our American "culture"
better than what she remembers "in the old country".  Absence makes the
heart grow fonder, but shtetls and pogroms weren't much fun.  Ashkenazim
is not that great, although some of my best friends are Ashkenazic, including
myself.  Mr. Martillo may be pointing out some not-so-pleasent facts about my
roots, and it is not always heartwarming to read that stuff, but unless
someone can specifically show me where he is wrong, factually, I will
*assume* that what he says is EMMIS.

And now to the point...  Someone requested a book list on Jewish traditions,
culture, observences, etc.;  I thought that Martillo's list was way out in left 
field and not an appropriate answer to the posted request.  To be honest,
when I read his list of books, and some of his comments I nearly threw my
terminal out the window.  Yes, Martillo can still get my normally low
blood pressure skyrocketing.  Well, what was I to do?  Trashing my terminal
or posting a flame was not the answer.  I went home thought about the books
that I would recommend, refined the list, thought some more and posted it.
I learned something, and now I have a list of books to recommend.  I
channeled my energy into something constructive; prompted by Martillo.
Mr. Martillo, keep posting and don't change your style!

The above quote that I started this with is not from the Talmud, but I
think that it is good advice for everyone. Learn from it!

Shabbat Shalom,
David Seth Green  Bell Labs    path {the usuall machines}..mhuxi!dsg
phone 201-564-2290
(Again, I am responsible for all of the grammar, spelling, translations,
etc., please flame on the *content* not my good English or lack of it.)