OK now the gloves are off guys.

Ebbie I was not aware that Mudcat was also a spelling test. I have seen far worse, I aplogise OOOOOPPS apologise!!!!!!

DG you are talking out of your backside, as FL has said. All you need to do to become a Rabbi in a SYNAGOGUE, not a Church is to go to college & qualify, then as a priest is qualified, & does not need to be a descendent of any other line of christian priests, you may lead a community. If you are thinking of Cohanim or Levys, yes these are descendents of a certain line. These people are not necessarily modern Rabbis. In the UK our Chief Rabbi, comes from an ordinary home, went to a main stream school, where his fellow students were the usual mixture from society. It was his choice to become a Rabbi, & was then elected to his office, because he is good at his job. He in fact started his career in our local synagogue as the headmaster of our religious classes, but I suppose you will say that he must be an excellent indoctrinator, or some other crap.

CarolC I can assure you that I have a very open mind on the situation that now stands in the Middle East. I detest as much as anyone else the murder of innocents, & I have had many arguments with fellow Jews about the injustices that happen. However I am just pointing out to you that Jews, need the right, the same as Kurds, Christians, Moslems, Native Americans, Black or any other people of this world, to know that simply because of their religion or origin or skin colour they will not be persecuted & murdered & need a place where they feel safe. When was the last time you looked at a friend's parent & saw the tattoo mark from a concentration camp on their arm & swore that never again would that be allowed to happen?

As I have said before, all most Israelis & I don't just mean Jews, want is to live in peace.