Will your grandchild be Jewish ?

To enlarge, please click HERE !

VIDEO: At the Kotel (Western Wall) 20 August 2012

B"H

One of the videos I made at the Kotel in Jerusalem last night:

Getting married in Jerusalem

Rabbanut (Chief Rabbinate), Marriage Department: Those coming here are forced to prove their Jewishness without leaving any doubt. I have heard horror stories about those Rabbis working there but, in a way, it is great when someone is thoroughly checking the Jewish background of a person. Thus, liers won't have less chances. 

Jews who made Aliyah and want to get married in Jerusalems need different proofs of their Jewishness. A Ketubah from the parents, a letter from the Rabbi back in the home country and a confirmation from the municipality or the court of the home country stating that the person is either single, divorced or a widower. 

Converts who want to get married to a born Jew may face difficulties, as they are being checked and so is the potential spouse. There are cases where the Rabbanut refused to marry off converts to secular Jews. 

Photos: Miriam Woelke

"Machon Me'ir" and "Ohr Sameach"

B"H 

I have started a new series on my German religious blog, as one reader asked me to define various Orthodox groups in Israel. The main difficulty for German Jews seems to be not having a clue about national religious, litvishe, chassidishe, Carlebach, modern - Orthodox and further Orthodox directions. Chabad is automatically identified with the "Meshiach stuff and Prostelyzing" whereas there seems to be a total misunderstanding regarding national religious and Haredim. 

How I started the new series explaining "Who is Who", I chose an easy example: Two famous Yeshivot in Jerusalem. Please note that both Yeshivot are for male students only ! First of all there is the national religious Yeshiva “Machon Me’ir” in Jerusalem's national religious neighbourhood Kiryat Moshe. A neighbourhood where I used to live for a couple of years. The second Yeshiva I am referring to is “Ohr Sameach” (and I don't want to listen to any brainwashing accusations concerning Ohr Sameach :-))))) .

As I used to live very close to Machon Me'ir and even knew some students, I know the Yeshiva quite a bit. Machon Me'ir as well as Ohr Sameach are both Ba'al Teshuva (newly religious) institutions but besides all kinds of ideology differences, Machon Me'ir offers conversion courses to Judaism. Ohr Sameach doesn't but there is a rather well - known Rabbi in the neighbourhood dealing with conversions. 

Machon Me'ir teaches Torah, Halachot, some Philosophy but especially the love to Eretz Israel. The Jewish connection to the land of our forefathers. It is a very Zionist Yeshiva and the students come from all over the world. Israelis, new immigrants from France, the US, South America, Russia or from the UK. The Yeshiva is quite famous in Israel but some people participating in the conversions courses told me that their dormitories are too crowded, that theft between the conversion candidates has been taking place and that potential Russian converts get drunk at night. 

Ohr Sameach is located in the haredi neighbourhood of Ma'alot Dafna: Between Mea Shearim, Sanhedria and Ramat Eshkol. I have lost some touch but I used to know some students from there. Some years ago, the Yeshiva offered Talmud classes for beginners. The policy was to attract more newcomers to sign up. Ohr Sameach which is mainly seen as more intellectual than “Aish HaTorah” in Jerusalem's Old City, thought that new students who are just finding their Jewish heritage would love to study something more advanced. Why not Talmud then instead of "AISH'S" "Free Will" programme by Rabbi Motti Berger. Ohr Sameach even offered the first year of study for free. However, I cannot say whether this is still the case. On the other hand, various Ohr Sameach students used to claim that AISH has the better food. :-))). 

Both Yeshivot accept Jews only (except for Machon Me'ir conversion course). The Machon is partly sponsored by the Jewish Agency and tuition costs are rather low: About 300 $ per month / including accommodation. For exact prices, please ask Machon Me'ir directly !

I suppose that Ohr Sameach, as most American institutions is much more expensive unless you are asking for a scholarship.

OHR SAMEACH

Machon Me'ir 

Bukharian Soul Music

Bukharian Jewry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukharan_Jews

Why Jews don't believe in Joshke

B"H

An updated AISH article defines why Jews don't believe in the Jew J. as being the Meshiach

http://www.aish.com/jw/s/48892792.html

Your Problems and G - d

" When G - d solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when G - d doesn't solve your problems He has faith in YOUR abilities."

The Jews and 9 / 11

Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos. 

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1606995/jewish/9-11-Ten-Years-Later.htm

Why Jews reject the Christian concept of original Sin

Debate Jewish Rabbi versus Minister Christian

Little Notes in the Western Wall (Kotel)

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B”H

I heard a Gentile tourist saying that Jews as well as non – Jews write little notes and place them inside the Western Wall (Kotel) in order to cause G – d to immediately hear their prayers and fulfil their wishes.

True or not true ?

From the Jewish point of view, this opinion is not true.

It doesn’t matter whether you pray in Europe, in Sydney, on Mount Everest or near the Amazonas; G – d hears all prayers and no one needs to travel to Jerusalem’s Kotel in order to get His attention. Moreover, it can take many years until G – d may fulfil your wishes and doesn’t have to take place right away. We particularly learn this from our foremothers Sarah and Rivka who were barren for many years. Nevertheless, they never gave up hope and kept on praying. Eventually G – d changed His mind and let them have a child.

Another opinion is that sometimes we ask G – d to fulfil a wish but only He knows that this wouldn’t do us any good. Only G – d sees the wider picture and there are times when we desperately want something but just don’t get it. I am not talking about the famous lottery win but about a new car, a new apartment or even an ice – cream. G – d may have other plans with each of us and everything happening to us has its reason.

However, the Kotel and the entire Temple Mount differs from the world for one reason: G – d’s Shechinah (Presence) is still resting there. Despite the Muslims and all kinds of idol – worship going on. The Shechinah is there but only weaker than during the days of the First Temple, for instance. The place has more Kedush (Holiness) and our prayers go up straight to G – d. Standing at the Kotel and praying is like a local phone call with G – d. The Talmud teaches us that prayers from the Diaspora first “travel” to Israel, then to Jerusalem and finally to the Temple Mount where they go up to the upper world. The Temple Mount is the location from where G – d created the universe (Even HaShtiah). When Adam and Eve (Chava) were thrown out of Gan Eden, G – d placed them on the Temple Mount. Avraham wanted to sacrifice his son Yitzchak on the Temple Mount (Har Moriah) and Yaakov had his ladder dream there. When the Temples still stood and people sacrificed the Korbanot, the smoke went up straight.

The place may look devastated today but with the arrival of Meshiach, the Temple Mount will return to its former Shechinah level. Nevertheless, already when we pray there now, our prayers go up straight. And the reason is not a note being put into the wall.

REINCARNATIONS in Talmud & Prayer

B”H

Exhibited Kabbalah picture in Zfat.

Photo: Miriam Woelke

Just recently I wrote about REINCARNATIONS and that the whole concept is part of Judaism. 

Reincarnations as well as further kabbalistic teachings such as the “Sefirot” (Keter, Chochmah – Wisdom, Bina – Understanding, etc.) are anything but an invention of some Jewish medieval Kabbalists. Those ideas have been already put down in the Talmud and great Rabbis such as Rabbi Akivah were very much aware of the secret teachings of the Torah. 

This is what KABBALAH is: The hidden content in the Torah. Content which is not revealed to us unless we learn it with a teacher (a Rabbi). 

Kabbalah is being divided into two levels:

1. The Theoretical Kabbalah
2. The Practical Kabbalah.

Once again, Rabbi Akivah knew very well how to use the practical Kabbalah. Just look at the Talmudic story when he and his friends went into the “Pardes” where only Rabbi Akivah himself came out. The others either died, lost their minds or became totally secular. Meaning that one has to be on an extremely high level in order to deal with the practical Kabbalah. 

Moreover, in order to deal with the Jewish Kabbalah, one must be Jewish, as the Jewish soul is involved. A Gentile with a non – Jewish soul is unable to connect to Jewish Kabbalah. Rabbi Yitzchak Luria already refers to this in his days and if Madonna was learning his real writings then she may come to the conclusion that her studying Jewish Kabbalah is nothing but in vain.

It is also said that it was Rabbi Akivah hiding the practical Kabbalah, as too many people started using it for evil negative purposes. As far as we know, the false Christian Meshiach, the Jew J., was one of those using the Kabbalah for his own purposes and not for the good. 

Furthermore, we learn from prayer that there are reincarnations in Judaism. Look into the “Bedtime Shema - Kriat Shema la’Mitah” – first paragraph “Ribono shel Olam”.

Every night before we go to bed, in “Ribono shel Olam” we forgive other people for treating us not that nicely on this particular day. 

“Master of the Universe ! I hereby forgive anyone who has angered or vexed me, or sinned against me, either physically or financially, against my honour or anything else that is mine, whether accidentally or intentionally, inadvertently or deliberately …

… bejn be’shogeg bejn be’mesid bejn be’dibur bejn be’ma’aseh bejn be’GILGUL (REINCARNATION) zeh bejn GILGUL acher…

There are Jews who undergo different reincarnations and should not be punished for their wrongdoings against me in this reincarnation and not in the next.

Who was the false Christian Meshiach ? - Part 2

B"H

Here is the second part of the two part series about the false Meshiach J. Please find the first part HERE !

• The real name of John the Baptist was Yochanan ben Zecharia. His mother’s name was Elisheva. John saw his task in announcing to the Jews that the times of Meshiach are getting close and, therefore, every Jew has to do Teshuva. In Judaism, a ritual bath in the Mikveh stands for “Tahara – Purity”. Yochanan also wanted to clean the soul of the Jews. Everything regarding the speedy arrival of Meshiach. He led his life without drinking wine and without eating bread.
• Why did Yochanan not join the J. crowd when he, as stated, saw that J. is the Meshiach ?
• J. did not run against the Torah but even agreed with the leading Rabbis that the Shabbat was created for men and not men for the Shabbat.
• Already during Temple times, certain Jewish groups refused to follow the “Torah She’Ba’al Peh – The oral Law (Talmud)”. The Sadducees (Hebrew: Zaddukim), for instance, don’t follow the oral law in most cases and don’t even believe in the principle of “S’char veOnesh – Reward and Punishment”.

The Jewish Principle of “Reward and Punishment:

G – d created this world on an imperfect level, otherwise everything would just be perfect. Including humankind. If the world was on an imperfect level, we humans wouldn’t have a FREE CHOICE in life but only act holy. This, however, was not G – d’s intention when He created the universe.

G – d decided to create an imperfect world in order to enable humans (especially the Jews) to perfect the world. For instance through prayer, Mitzvot or Tikkunim (soul rectifications). In particular, Jews have the task to perfect the world through Torah Mitzvot. Every Mitzvah is another step towards perfection and the coming of Meshiach. Nevertheless, the Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin teaches us different ways of how Meshiach is going to come. One possibility is that the world is so bad that Meshiach has no choice but to come.

Gentiles can perfect the world by following the Seven Noachide Laws and not falling into idol - worship. Jews, however, have the G – dly task to follow the Torah Mitzvot. The Ramchal, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, wrote in his book “Adir ba’Marom” that only Jews are able to cause a “Tikkun Olam – A Rectification of the whole World”. Gentiles may follow the Torah Mitzvot but don’t cause any Tikkun.

• J.’s prophecy that the Second Temple would be destroyed in a way that no stone remains on top of each other was a false prophecy. Also that the destroyed Temple would be rebuild in three days. This is why the Sanhedrin saw in him a false prophet and false prophets, according to Talmud Sanhedrin deserve punishment. Not even the prophets from the First Temple period demanded that the Temple has to be destroyed. Those prophets prophesized that the Temple will be destroyed if the Jews don’t repent, but never dared to proclaim that they (the prophets) want to destroy the Temple.
• The New Testament claims that one of the J. disciples, Yehudah Ish Kariot, betrayed J. and received money from the Sanhedrin. The Gospels tell different stories about the incident: It says in Marc that the Sanhedrin didn’t want to pay anything. In Matthew it says that Yehudah received money but Luke and John don’t mention anything in this respect. The question is whether the entire incident with Yehudah Ish Kariot is true or not. If so, Yehudah may have been disappointed by J. because he realized that J. is not the Meshiach at all.
• J. told his disciples to influence the Jews only and NOT the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5 – 7). He wanted his teaching for the Jews only and, later on, only Paul decided to spread the teachings among the other nations because he couldn’t find too many Jews believing in J.
• The High Priest (Cohen HaGadol) Yosef ben Kaifa (Kaifas) didn’t accuse J. of any religious crime because it was well – known that J. followed the laws of the Torah. The accusations, however, took place on a political level: That J. wanted to destroy the Temple and that he called himself the “Son of G – d”. I have already explained that J. could not have been any son of G – d. One of the main reasons was that his mother Miriam was totally unaware of anything special happening before and after he was born. On the contrary, as his own family saw in him nothing but a lunatic.
• The entire meeting with the Sanhedrin could not have taken place on Friday because there weren’t any meetings of the judges on a Friday. Not on Fridays and especially not on a Jewish holiday (it was Pessach !). If the trial took place on a holiday, there must have been a severe “Pikuach Nefesh” reason. One of the reasons may have been that the Sanhedrin wanted to avoid a rebellion against Rome during Pessach.
• The Sanhedrin only accused J. of being a false prophet but wouldn’t have sentenced him to death, as Talmud Sanhedrin 41 teaches us that criminal Jews were only sentenced to death about 40 years before the destruction of the Temple. J.’s trial, however, took place long before those 40 years began.
• Miriam HaMigdalit – Miriam from Migdal. The small village “Migdal” exists until today and is located outside Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret).
• Paul – his Hebrew name was Sha’ul. He was born in Tarsus and his father was obviously a religious Jew. Sha’ul, however, became secular.
• J. never had the intention to introduce a new religion. The only thing he wanted was a slight change in Judaism; he planned to do so in the sense of the Torah and not against it. Despite all claims, he always remained what he always was: A Jew !

Women in pants cannot be Haredi !

B"H

I do not dress up as the modest haredi woman on the picture below !

But I rather look like

Meaning: I do wear pants. Not all the time but most of it. And as I once said HERE, I do believe that Orthodox women can wear pants and still be Orthodox and religious. Some of you may say that this doesn't go together but I do have my own opinion.

I was thinking about moving to Zfat (Safed) for quite some time but preferred Tiberias in the end. Both towns are located in northern Israel and not too far from each other. However, Zfat seems to be more religious. Especially haredi. Nevertheless, there are plenty of secular Jews living in the new city whereas the old city is mainly occupied by frum Jews of all directions.

Last week I met an obviously American woman who complained that the weather in Tel Aviv would be too hot and that she is soon moving to Zfat. Not because of the weather but due to spiritual reasons.

I met her in Zfat and told her that I do prefer Tiberias, as I simply need more "civilization".

The woman, rather big and in her 50ies, looked at me and said:

"Well, you are in jeans and thus wouldn't fit into Zfat anyway".

My response was:

"What ? There are plenty of secular Jews living in town and it doesn't only belong to haredi society. Furthermore, you cannot judge a Jew only according to his clothes. Many times you may be mistaken. There are Haredim (according to their clothes) who don't behave haredi at all and there are secular Jews who are religious despite their no too modest way of dressing".

"Well, a woman in pants cannot be haredi", the woman said. Real Haredim don't do this".

Furthermore the woman pointed out that only Haredim are the real religious Jews and I told her that it is not the case.

The woman claimed to be close to Chabad but despite Chabad's huge outreach to any Jew, this woman definitely succeeds in keeping away secular Jews from religious Judaism. I would even call it a "Chilul HaShem - Desecration of G - d's name" by talking to other Jews in such a manner.

I didn't take her too seriously but still thought about the negative impact she may have on other people.



Photos:

Sxirore and Fashion Medium

Website for Bnei Noach

B"H

Jews need to keep the Torah Mitzvot and Gentiles need to keep the "Seven Noachide Laws". A Chabadnik recommended the following website to those of you who may be interested in the Bnei Noach:

7for70.net

7 Mitzvot for the 70 nations !

G - d ???

B"H

Who or what is G - d ?

In Judaism we believe that G - d created the entire universe and all existence. After finishing His creation process, He didn't just leave His creation alone but sustains us until today. He has always been with us and wants only one thing from mankind: To be recognized of the creator of anything.

Jews have their 613 Torah Mitzvot and Gentiles the Seven Noachide Laws. G - d yearns for being recognized as the "Master of the Universe" and hates any kind of idol - worship. Even Gentiles are, according to the Seven Noachide Laws, forbidden to worship idols.

G - d does not have any shape nor are we able to grasp Him. We just don't know who He really is and Kabbalah tells us that we will never be because our human mind is limited. We can think and make all kinds of efforts to understand G - d - we never will.

How do we know what G - d wants from us ?

He gave the Torah and the Jews are obligated to keep its laws. Moreover, the Jews have to teach the nations morality which we surely did.

G - d is eternal and for Him, time doesn't exist. He is absolutely timeless. He has no beginning and no end.

So, does He exist at all when we don't see Him ? Humans need something to see and touch. Neither do we hear G - d.

G - d created the universe from nothing.

Why doesn't G - d let a few miracles happen from time to time ? At least once a week so that we know He is there ?

When we look around, we surely do notice some miracles happening. We just have to keep our eyes open. There are even people who say that us waking up in the morning and the sun coming out is a miracle in itself.

____________________

Source:

"Understanding Judaism"

A Basic Guide to Jewish Faith, History, and Practice

By Rabbi Mordechai Katz

How do I get closer to G - d ?

B"H

"How do I get closer to G - d ?" is one of the major question in life.

How should I do that ? Actually I don't know Him (G – d) at all. At least not the side of G – d one can see, smell, touch, understand or build a relationship you usually do with other people.

Officially it says that we should keep the Mitzvot (Gentile the Seven Noachide Laws and Jews the Torah laws) as well as pray. Then we would have a relationship with our creator.

And how does this work ?

Do I love G – d or do I fear Him ?

In case I don't do what He wants from me, I may be punished by Him.

What kind of a relationship is this supposed to be ?

If you look around for an appropriate way to find yourself getting closer to G – d, you may notice a vast amount of literature on the subject. Each author is giving you his recipe in order to succeed. To tell you the truth: When I read those books, they didn't help me at all. Eventually you will come to the conclusion that every individual has his or her own way approaching G – d. "Finding the way" can turn into a lifetime task. Who, after all, is able to confirm to me that my way is the right way ? How am I supposed to know all that ?

Where actually lays the root of our fear of G – d ?

Within our human intellect because deep inside of us we know what is right and what is wrong. Do we act against G – d, our intellect is pushing the alarm button and it is up to us whether we listen to it or not.

Chassidic literature teaches us that G – d punished His creations because of love. First of all He wants to put a person back onto the right path. On the other hand, G – d punishes people in order to prevent from them even a worse punishment in Olam Habah (or before getting there). G – d just doesn't find any pleasure in punishment but acts like a parent towards a child.

The Chabad founder Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Tanya, Likkutei Amarim 43) said that there is no wisdom without fear of G – d. If someone is starting to fear G – d due to His powers and uniqueness then the person will find the best conditions for keeping the Torah Mitzvot. This level of fear would be a higher level, as the person is becoming aware of G – d surrounding and sustaining all of His creation.

And how does that help me now ?

The Baal Shem Tov suggested the following:

Someone needs to be constantly aware of G – d being close to him. He (G – d) surrounds me every second. Without any break. Thus, G – d is turning into the focus of my life and He is always there. If I want Him or not.

Our soul has an unconditional love for G – d and this is one of the best conditions for getting closer to Him. However, there are so many other things in our environment that many times we forget about Him. We start telling ourselves that we don't really need Him. We live, so what !

But how about when I seriously start searching for G – d but always fail ? Then counseling literature may not be of any help.

One thing you should avoid is sitting down and forcing yourself to find a closeness NOW. You simply cannot force it.

On the other hand it can happen that we are on the right track but don't even notice it. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov constantly repeated the concept of "Hitbodedut". Once a day, a Jew should withdraw himself from society and go into a room or a forest in order to talk to G - d. Alone and tell G – d your feelings or whatever you like.

And if I don't know what to tell G – d ?

So, tell G – d that you don't know what to say.

Pray that He enables you to pray !

"Why ORLAH "? - Thoughts on this weeks Parashat Kedoshim

B"H

This upcoming Shabbat, we read two Torah Parashot: Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. 

In previous Parashot such as Vayikra, Zav, Schmini, Tazria, Metzorah and Acharei Mot, G - d gave us various Mitzvot in order to keep us pure (Tahor). He commanded us (the Jews) to be a holy nation because He (G - d) is holy. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch commentated that the Jews are commanded to keep certain rules and thus fulfill the will of G - d on this earth. His Mitzvot are the fundament for the Jews living their Judaism.

Parashat Kedoshim provides us a wide range of social Mitzvot. About how humans should relate to each other and not only to G - d. However, my special subject at this point is ORLAH. Not eating the fruits of a tree for the first three years.

Sefer Vayikra (Leviticus), Parashat Kedoshim, 19:23 - 25:

And when ye shall come into the land and plant any tree for food, then, during a time of restriction of its use, ye shall be restricted in the use of its fruit. Three years it shall be restricted for you, shall not be eaten.

Then in the fourth year all its fruit becomes holy wherewith to praise the Work of G - d.

And in the fifth year shall ye eat its fruit, that henceforth it may increase its produce unto you: I, G - d, am your Lord.

Eating a produce of a newly planted tree for the first three years is forbidden. In the fourth year, the Jews used to carry the new harvest (fruit) to the Temple in Jerusalem, ate it there while thanking G - d for His kindness of letting the fruit grow.

However, Orlah only applies in Israel and only to fruit trees whose produce is meant for consumption but not for trees which are supposed to be a kind of hedge etc.

Why was the Orlah law given ? Don't we thank G - d already in the blessings (Berachot) we say before and after eating the fruit ?

I found a great comment on Orlah written by Rabbi Moshe Sofer (the CHATAM SOFER, 1762 - 1839):

We already find the Orlah concept in Gan Eden (Paradise) with Adam HaRishon and his wife Chava (Eve). As we all know, Adam failed to fulfill his Tikun (soul rectifiation) and thus became mortal. G - d had commanded him to eat from any fruit tree in Gan Eden but not from the Tree of Knwoledge (Etz HaDa'at). Adam and Chava failed in their tasks and were thrown out of Paradise.

The Chatam Sofer comes up with the famous Rashi commentary from Genesis (Bereshit) 1:11 - 12 where G - d is commanding the earth to bring forth trees which are fruit. ETZ PRI - this is G - d's demand from the earth. Rashi sees in ETZ PRI a fruit tree whose branches, leaves, etc. taste like its fruit.

Just imagine a cherry tree whose leaves you eat and they taste like the cherries themselves. This is what G - d originally had in mind.

The next sentence:

VATOZE HAARETZ = And the earth brought forth …

ETZ OSSEH PRI = Trees yielding fruit …

VE LO HAETZ PRI = But the tree itself was not fruit …

This is why when Adam was punished, the earth was taken into consideration, as it had sinned years before. The earth hadn't listen to G - d's commandment and willingly created the wrong kind of tree. Later, the first human (Adam HaRishon) was formed from the dust of the ground, and thus the bad influence of the earth entered him. Of course, he could have resisted and not eaten from the Tree of Knowledge but he didn't.

The Chatam Sofer quotes from the kabbalistic ZOHAR (published in Spanien in 1290): Only after three years, the earth is bringing forth "Kedusha - Holiness". In the years before, too much "Koach HaChizoni" - external negative powers would be ruling and this is why the consumption of such fruit is first forbidden. There is a possibility that the bad influence of the earth is being passed onto into the human.

A brilliant conclusion from the Chatam Sofer !

"Shabbat Shalom"

G - d did not change after Creation

B"H

G - d is one and unique. One because there is NO other than Him. One G - d. 

After He finished His creation process, He has never changed. He still is one and unique.

Neither this world nor the supernal worlds effect any change in G - d's unity by their having been created. G - d sustains us but does not change. His essence, His inner being and His thoughts are absolutely one. There is no change in Him whatsoever but only for the created beings.

_________________________

Source:

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (founder of Chabad), Tanya, Likutei Amarim 20 - 21

"The Religious Thought of Hasidism"

by Norman Lamm (President of Yeshiva University)

Nimrod

B"H

Religion does play an important role in Israel; even though the most secular Israelis would love to extinguish anything religious. Nevertheless, the question whether someone is religious (Dati) or not comes always up. If not religious, then, at least, traditional and if so, how far do you go ?

I once learnt that sometimes a name represent the person's background. Especially in Tel Aviv would will find quite a few guys with the name "Nimrod". Most of us know who Nimrod was. He was Avraham Avinu's enemy, who tried to kill him. Furthermore, Nimrod built the Tower of Bavel and tried to attack and even kill G - d. The last section in the kabbalistic book "Brit Menucha" has a serious and complicated kabbalistic explanation about the Tower of Bavel and how Nimrod used black magic in order to influence the angels.

Honestly, is NIMROD necessarily a name you would give to your son ? Generally Jews wouldn't tale this into consideration but, despite all intentions of destroying the Jews, there are very secular Jews who name their son Nimrod. And this is an example how some secular Israelis ignore the teachings of the Torah.

The former owner of Israel's daily MAARIV, Ofer Nimrodi, named his son Nimrod. I don't know if someone called Nimrod Nimrodi would be seen as a religious Jew. At least not from the outside. If he became religious, he would definitely change his name, I suppose.

It is strange in Israel but especially the name Nimrod tells you a lot about the parents of such a guy.