<p>If you don't want us to confused criticism with intolerance (which I see quite clearly what you're doing as criticism, btw), you should recognize the difference between acceptance and tolerance. Nobody can truly force someone (or expect to force someone) to accept others, but I'd certainly settle for a world where they could at least tolerate each other. Chabad is a tolerant group, and generally more accepting than many other Orthodox groups.</p>
<p>However, I think the point is that you're laying down some very strong criticism in an inappropriate forum. It's just not necessary to lay down the heavy-handed critique every time you're confronted with something like this, there is a time and a place for discussion.</p>
<p>I don't see what is wrong with him following his religious beliefs. If he believes a minyan must have at least 10 men, then that is fine. Everyone here needs to learn to understand other people's beliefs.</p>
<p>Very strong criticism? Since when does pointing out to someone that their religion is in some ways intolerant count as heavy handed criticism? Personally, I call it the truth.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is that no matter how nice the OP is, there are still going to be people who are offended by the very nature of his requests. To point this out, and to also point out that the offense arises from the intolerance inherent in the religion's structure, is nothing more than normal criticism. It's not inappropriate. In fact, I'd argue it's almost required, because to omit saying it in a discussion like this would make the discussion not as useful as it could be.</p>
<p>fhqwgads2005: Yes, we need to learn to understand that others have them, but that doesn't mean all beliefs should get a free pass simply because people believe them.</p>
<p>1of42: I couldn't disagree more. Criticism was in no way, shape, or form required in response to the original question. The ONLY question that was asked was how one should daven if they can't find a minyan, and how not to offend others. If you had no helpful suggestions you should have closed the thread and moved on.</p>
<p>The original was question was NOT "Am I caring enough about people's feelings?" This question may have warranted criticism, however unfounded it would be, but this was not the question asked. For all those who felt the need to insult Orthodox Judaism, save your comments and criticism for when a question is actually asked that would warrant such a response.</p>
<p>Pseudonym and 1of42, if someone on these boards asked "Where can I find a Latin (or a Spanish, Portuguese or whatever) Mass?" would you immediately attack them because their faith does not allow female priests? Or start railing against the clergy sexual abuse scandal?</p>
<p>What you see as aspects of faith that are "intolerant", others see as tradition and G-d's Word. If Mike89 were interested in your opinions of Orthodox Judaism, he would have asked you. He didn't.</p>
<p>Mike89, if you present your tradition, and explain that women are not counted in the minyan, no one should be offended. If they are, that's their problem, not yours.</p>
<p>(And although I had an Orthodox education, I am now a Reform Jew.)</p>
<p>Huey, the issue isn't one of place. It's that a communal Jewish service requires a quorum of ten men (in Orthodoxy). Without that quorum, certain prayers cannot be said and parts of the service cannot be held.</p>
<p>I'm just going to throw in my thoughts here. If the OP was a woman, setting up a woman's only prayer service and some men wanted to help her she could say "Sorry, this is a woman's only service." And who would be offended by that?</p>
<p>While any university with many Jews will invariably have a few Orthodox members, you might be hard pressed to find a group of 10 men who are observant. Even at Brandeis, there aren't as many Orthodox Jews as I know I would have expected- although certainly more than enough for a minyan. </p>
<p>Have you contacted your school's Hillel or Rabbi? If you haven't done that, it would obviously be the best first step as they would have better tabs on the Orthodox or more observant Conservatives at your campus than just asking around might. </p>
<p>And I guess I'm in the minority where I really hated Chabad. They were too pushy. It gave me flashbacks of being the only Jewish kid in a Southern Baptist community. :P They weren't too friendly to my reconstructionist beliefs.</p>