I haven’t posted in a while so here it goes…..
Second Life, a virtual world, is one website that I have a lot of issues with. While I admit it’s a cool game and could be fun to create a virtual character to have a little fun with is not a replacement for the real world. I think it is interesting that there are “Jewish Communities” that have been created in this virtual world. While I understand that you can study Chabad off of it and you can pray at a Kotel, it is not real. The learning of Chabad does not actually take place in this world. It will only lead you to a Chabad website that could have been easily found through Google. While I encourage all kinds of Jewish Learning, I cannot encourage or support a virtual Jewish world.
It is true that there are people who spend hours on JDATE looking for partners however; they at least meet in the real world. JDATE is not a replacement for dating in the real world, however just another way of finding people to date in the real world. I think using Second Life as a Jewish Community goes against the strong belief in a Jewish Community.
For me there is nothing Jewish about building a Sukkah on a virtual site, or praying at a Kotel that is on a computer screen. I don’t see what is Jewish about that. While I recognize that there are some people who really participate in the virtual Jewish community and truly believe it to be a real Jewish community. I as a practicing Jew, an aspiring Rabbi or just a real person cannot call a synagogue on a virtual site a Jewish community.
I think it raises to many questions and too much tension that someone can take the easy way out and participate in a Jewish community on a virtual site that all other participants may not be Jewish. I can’t understand why someone would want to participate in this kind of Judaism.
More importantly, what does this section of Second Life say about the future of Judaism? If people can be a part of a virtual Jewish community where they may never really interact with another Jew, what is going to happen to our Jewish community? It would be so much easier to just pray online in the comfort of our own homes and make contributions to the Jewish community online, but then what kind of fulfillment of Mitzvot does one get out of that? What kind of fulfillment of G-D does one get out of that kind of Judaism?
I could never pray off of an online site or make contributions towards Tzedakah online. It would hurt me if I couldn’t go to my synagogue and participate in the building of the Sukkah or pray with my friends and family in our sanctuary. It scares me that this virtual world has a strong Jewish component that was wanted my participants of this game. It makes me wonder in 10 years will my Jewish community be a virtual one?
Hope that the semester is going well for everyone!!!
2 comments:
Carly, As most people do wherever they are in unfamiliar situations, I believe they try and find places where they can interact with like-minded people. This is no different than becoming active in student organizations on campus (Hillel for example) or even joining Facebook groups where you can identify yourself among a group of other internet users. There are something like 9 million users on Second Life so it shouldn't be surprising that there are Jews in the virtual world. The only difference with Second Life is that there is the more instantaneous ability to have conversations with other people.
I agree with you in the instances of online charity, etc. I think it is important that we take active roles in practicing our faith. However, you admitted to holding stronger Jewish beliefs in your blog. There are large numbers of Jews in the world who are unable, for whatever reason, to truly experience their Judaism in Jewish settings. Whether it be to anti-semitism in the community, lack of opportunities, or they are simply unsure of "how to be a Jew". I think in most cases Second Life does not replace reality. Instead, it contributes to reality. These Jews who participate in Jewish activities online are able to connect with other Jews and investigate their Judaism without fear. It may not be our 'reality', but it may allow these individuals to understand better the idea of being Jewish in the 'real world'.
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