I�m sure Octavius posted a perfectly reasonable answer here, but it�s gone. Or am I mistaken? I�ve tried to post my reply several times tonight, but to no avail. I�ll try again. Here goes!
Hi Lonnie, you were talking to people who were just plain prejudiced. Both politics and religion do funny things to people's minds - and mixed they can produce a plethora of irrationality. I haven't met many ultra-orthodox Jews, for obvious reasons, but I've known several orthodox Jews, some of whom have been my good friends for many years. In fact one of my bridesmaids at my first wedding was an orthodox Jew - and she loved being a part of a Christian wedding - as did the rest of her family. In my experience, if a Jew accepts you as a friend, then you are as one of the family and you are a friend for life. I love them. As friends, they are the kindest and the most caring people you could wish to meet. I have two complaints against them though. At weddings or Bar Mitzvahs, they toast Israel - a country that many have them have never been anywhere near, and although I understand why they do it, it sort of rubs with my English identity! Having said that, they do toast the Queen too, so that helps a bit! The other complaint is that after sitting at their table and enjoying a wonderful steak (great hosts the Jews!), they prefer me not to have cream with my coffee! (But since I respect them and their homes, I wouldn't dream of making an issue of it, so that's just between us. Black will be just fine). ;o)
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