Am I weird for finding this annoying?

WOW, what disgusting person who ask you such a thing? Thankfully no one has ever asked me that.

Yes, you are nice. . But I do agree with you, there are some really bad Jews out there and some really weird right wingers. Try following those orthodox Jews for a while.

Lol.

Orange, I agree with you 100%. When people ask about me and my ethnicity and all that, I simply say I am Canadian. Be it, English Canadian, but still, Canadian. I am not much up on all this where you from, etc. I was born here, so were my parents. Canada is my home, no other place.

Do your “adoptive” parents or Alex’s parents or anyone make you sit through all the high holidays? There is another section of Judaism, which is obvious from my family. I call it the hypocritical Jew. Someone who participates in the high holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Chanukah) and nothing else for the rest of the year. However, from talking with non-Jewish friends, I have discovered that this occurs in all religions.

You got the Jewish look eh? Big nose?

I wouldn't sweat the small stuff.

Comeback with a question instead of answering their kind insensitive question.

Just say your American or wha tever country your from.

I always find that a funny comeback is the best way to disfuse it.

Most people are just trying to make conversation.

I personally would be interested in Jews - Customs, and their beliefs but it is just because I am always interested in others beliefs and thoughts and opinions about it. I have always been open minded, and love when other people tell me about themselves. As I share myself with others. As far as the jokes and other things you mentioned yes, I personally would find that very rude and probably would not take it well.

Joe

I agree with wildcat, I think people are just trying to make conversation. And probably really don't mean anything by it. But I do think people don't really think about what they are asking when they open there mouth, and that's when I think it comes out kind of tacky. I think by them asking you why Jewish people don't believe in jesus christ could be a valid quesion and one purely out of curiosity. But when they ask you if you have ever been to Auschwitz or any other bizarre question like that, I think people just don't really have a clue as to ask you something without it sounding rude and tacky. I do see how you would find that annoying, but I wouldn't take it too personally. Just as long as the comment doesn't have predjudice undertones.

I feel that the things that these people have said to you, is bang out of order and not even close to been funny..

No you are not the least bit weird for finding things like that annoying. The first thing I get asked by a lot of people meeting me for the first time is " what ethnicity are you? You look so exotic. You can't be all white." Um well I look as white as forest gump. I do have a very small amount of Native American but I sure can't tell. Maybe they have some sort of built in radar that detects those things.Well you should hear some of the stuff that comes up when I mention the native american thing. Now I just tell them I'm Georgian.

Thanks everyone! After your reading all your responses I thought of a couple of things... First of all, I get so annoyed because this happens VERY often... Like I'd say once a week (I meet a lot of people). And secondly, why it happens a lot I think is because there are not many Jews where I live. In fact, this is a distinctly non-Jewish part of Canada. So yeah I guess people don't realize what they're saying, and are curious and uninformed because they've never met a Jew ... That's another thing people say to me, haha... "You're the first Jew I've ever met!" It's still pretty common around here to say "Jew me down" when someone is trying to cheat you, and also just to say someone is a Jew if they're dishonest. Once someone even didn't believe me that I was Jewish, because they thought all Jews were black! I'm not saying everyone in my area is stupid like this, but in my experience it's not uncommon.

Being interested in Jews is cool with me. But it's weird when you just meet someone and the first thing they ask is why you don't believe in Jesus. Like, "Oh, pleased to meet you... You're a Jew? Why don't you believe in Jesus?" I don't know about you, but when I first meet someone I usually ask them what they do for a living, or discuss the ever-changing weather patterns. So yeah the Jesus question and other such questions are fine, but there's a time and a place for them I think. Most of the new people I meet come into my studio, where my art is displayed. They could just as easily discuss my art as a conversation starter, rather than my background.

And as far as the nationality thing goes, people don't usually ask me what my nationality is... They ask the nationality of my name, which is Chava. So, I can't tell them it's Canadian, haha. No one would buy that. So I say Jewish or Israeli and then people take one look at me and put 2 and 2 together, LOL. Yes CaptainForest I definitely have the nose, the curly hair, and apparently "Jewish eyes" too... Err. So a triple whammy.

Well no one makes us sit through the high holidays services, but we go to "make an appearance". Errr.... Guess we're hypocrites LOL. Mostly we go because of Alex... He's a doctor, and there are several other doctors at the synagogue, and he wants to get to know them outside of the hospital. The synagogue is a good place to do that. Plus since there are so few Jews in the city, it's one way that we can "keep in touch" with "our people". I don't know what's going to happen when the baby is born though, because if it's a boy I'm reluctant to get it circumcised! It is rather strange for me though, because I was raised in several foster homes and they weren't all Jewish. Plus I've dabbled in other religions as an adult. Just getting used to the whole high holydays thing, the hours of tortuous praying.. LOL. It's so LONG... And there's so much food afterwards! But at least no one seems to mind if you talk during the service!

Anyways thanks everyone... I appreciate it!

Thanks crankie.... You too eh? That's rude... I'm starting to think people just haven't learned any manners from their mothers or whoever, and that's why they say these things!

This reminds me of a skit that David Cross did on one of his comedy CDs that I have. He was speaking of staying at a friends house and when it was time for breakfast the mother saids to him, "sorry ta ask yeah... I jus dunt know a lot about ya'lls peoples... And I want to make a breakfast we all can eat. Do ya'lls peoples eat oatmeal?" LOL he's like "yes, of course.. Why wouldn't we eat oatmeal?" "I jus dunt know a lot about ya'lls peoples.... I DO know that ya'lls hate Jesus... I know that much...." It good stuff.