Five Questions Meme
Questions from 
cucumbersarnies. If you want some questions just comment and I'll oblige.
1. What do you value most about being Jewish?
Good question, and one that's tricky to answer. I suppose the simplest answer is the sense of identity and community that it gives me. I have something in common with millions of people all over the world, who all share my beliefs and (variations on) customs. I suppose that could be said of any religion, though - if I were Catholic, I'd share that with a whole bunch of Catholics. So something specifically Jewish... one of the things which christianity did away with when it evolved from Judaism is the concept of the mitzvah. Christianity has a big list of specific sins but only a general idea of 'good deeds'. We have the mitzvah, which is sort of an anti-sin. Mitzvot can be general - like the mitzvah of tzedaka (giving charity) - but can also be very specific - the mitzvah of lighting Sabbath candles on friday nights. It's not all about sin - it's about doing things which are pleasing to God, whether it's because they help others or just because they are aspects of the religion.
2. What's your favourite meal to cook?
I rather enjoy making sushi - it takes time but is fun, and the results are yummy.
3. what is the most enjoyable fandom that you are part of?
My two biggest fandoms are Tolkien and Buffy (or Joss in general, because I've decided that Firefly is actually better than his previous output). While I'm more active in the Tolkien stuff day to day - running a handful of communities and constantly writing fanfic - I suppose that the Whedon fandom is more enjoyable because of the humour involved, and the pleasure to be found in people getting my constant quotes.
4. Favourite buffy season and why?
Easy - it's always been s2. While some of the best individual episodes fell in later seasons, and some much-loved characters (Wes and Faith) weren't around yet, the Angelus arc is still my favourite. The best baddy is the one who really knows you. Angelus knew how to really hurt her, and that was great to watch.
5. Tell me a piece of poetry that you like.
I studied the War Poets at school and fell in love with Wilfred Owen's 'Futility', which even features in this icon.
Move him into the sun —
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds, —
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved — still warm — too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?
cucumbersarnies. If you want some questions just comment and I'll oblige.1. What do you value most about being Jewish?
Good question, and one that's tricky to answer. I suppose the simplest answer is the sense of identity and community that it gives me. I have something in common with millions of people all over the world, who all share my beliefs and (variations on) customs. I suppose that could be said of any religion, though - if I were Catholic, I'd share that with a whole bunch of Catholics. So something specifically Jewish... one of the things which christianity did away with when it evolved from Judaism is the concept of the mitzvah. Christianity has a big list of specific sins but only a general idea of 'good deeds'. We have the mitzvah, which is sort of an anti-sin. Mitzvot can be general - like the mitzvah of tzedaka (giving charity) - but can also be very specific - the mitzvah of lighting Sabbath candles on friday nights. It's not all about sin - it's about doing things which are pleasing to God, whether it's because they help others or just because they are aspects of the religion.
2. What's your favourite meal to cook?
I rather enjoy making sushi - it takes time but is fun, and the results are yummy.
3. what is the most enjoyable fandom that you are part of?
My two biggest fandoms are Tolkien and Buffy (or Joss in general, because I've decided that Firefly is actually better than his previous output). While I'm more active in the Tolkien stuff day to day - running a handful of communities and constantly writing fanfic - I suppose that the Whedon fandom is more enjoyable because of the humour involved, and the pleasure to be found in people getting my constant quotes.
4. Favourite buffy season and why?
Easy - it's always been s2. While some of the best individual episodes fell in later seasons, and some much-loved characters (Wes and Faith) weren't around yet, the Angelus arc is still my favourite. The best baddy is the one who really knows you. Angelus knew how to really hurt her, and that was great to watch.
5. Tell me a piece of poetry that you like.
I studied the War Poets at school and fell in love with Wilfred Owen's 'Futility', which even features in this icon.
Move him into the sun —
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds, —
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved — still warm — too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?