some facts about Judaism

The problem is that the Christian definition is different from the Jewish one and it includes death for the salvation of believers.

I don't know what hamoshiach you're talking about. The Jewish hamoshiach is not supernatural, just a person.

I haven't read anything by him but I would imagine it was more along the lines of individuals raising the divine sparks in order to bring the coming hamoshiach. There are certainly Jews who believe their actions can bring about hamoshiach. Schneerson also probably talks about leaving Galus(exile) and uniting HaKadosh Baruch Hu(God) with the Shekhinah(Gods presence, a feminine word), which is related to klal yisrael and shares in the exile. You may have gotten some of these terms confused.

I wasn't negating your beliefs. I was was negating your definition of a word. If your definition is different from everyone else's, well I'm sure you're aware that it will lead people to correct you.

I'm a Jewish panentheist not affiliated with any movement, finding value in them all, but more Renewal, Reconstructionist, or Conservative than anything else. I don't share the Recon view of God but I agree with some of their other ideas.

Thank you. Don't worry about it. If you said nothing, you wouldn't now know. Besides, who's to say what truth is Truth?

As far as Jews, we're not so interested in what others believe. We want to continue believing what we believe, practicing what we practice, and doing so without harassment. I think most people would be able to live their lives, their own religions and traditions, with the same amount of honor and respect given to them.

As far as Christians, their religion teaches them that all other people are going to burn in hell. They're trying to help people because to them their way is the only way -- I know some Christians do not feel this way but I'm talking about evangelists. They're on a mission of mercy that sometimes turns violent or deceptive. There's that analogy they use of a person in a burning building. They're willing to do whatever it takes to save them, even if it might seem dishonest. It's a potentially dangerous view of the world. I worry about them sometimes.

There is an excellent wikipedia article on this. The two religions are very different.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparing_and_contrasting_Judaism_and_Christianity

That is what we say. But some religions consider it righteous to attempt to destroy our religion. At this point, living righteously means we must confront these people and find peacable ways to defend our way of life.

There's a difference between showing respect for another human being and holding them in high regard, or holding their myth in high regard. We know nothing of the Historical Jesus, or rather scholars have concocted about 5 different versions. I am not about to respect someone for things they didn't do or say, and especially not for the things they said that were only the echoed words of an earlier teacher. The gospels are so Historically inaccurate. The situations are so contrived. I guess I have as much respect for him as I have for Paul Muad'dib. He's not my myth.

Dauer

 

Skeptical to the idea that Moses(peace be upon him) parted the sea with his stick or that it could turn into a snake?

Do you mean that it didn´t really happen as told in this verse but it´s rather an understanding of someone else, who has the right to mold in his views in the torah anyway?

Here are those verses which I don´t really understand along with their verse number;

Awake, why do you sleep, O Lord?

[Psalm. 4:23]​

And the Lord said, "Go through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have you pity. Slay utterly old and young both maids and little children, and woman.

[Ezek. 9:5]​

Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers.​

[Isiah 14:21]​

When the Lord first spoke to Hose'a he said to him, "GO TAKE TO YOURSELF A WIFE OF HARLOTRY and have children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by forsaking the Lord." ​

[Hos. 1:2]​

Jacob wrestled God who said to him, "Let me go; for the day is breaking" But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me. And he said to him,"What is your name? And he said "Jacob" Then the Lord said, "Your name shall be no more called Jacob but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed. Then Jacob asked him, "Tell me, I pray your name. But he said, "Why is it that youask my name?​

And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place "Pen'el" saying: For I have seen God face to face."

[Gen. 32:22]​

​

What is the difference between a traditional jew and the kind that you are, are you more liberal?​

 

thats what i like about judaism. its about your connection with god. there are many ways to classify a jew, reformed, orthadox, conservative, etc but in the end it comes down to your connection.

cabdirazzaq why do you challenging everyone's beliefs?

also there are errors in what you have posted above, but i do not care to get involved.

 

Jews don't believe Moses parted the sea. We believe God parted the sea for Moses. There is even a midrash ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midrash ) that says the sea did not part until someone walked in up to their nose.

I am doubtful of both of those stories and anything else that does not fit into the laws of physics. I consider the laws of physics to be like a brit (covenant) with creation. That's not to say I don't think it's possible there's stuff going on within other levels. I think it's entirely possible. I just don't think the laws of the physical world are ever violated.

No, I mean that the Torah is not taken literally. There is a plain meaning, pshat, to the four levels of understanding the text, but it is not the literal meaning.

Cool cool.

There are not 23 lines to psalm 4. And I don't see that line there.

Not sure what the traditional answer is. My response would be that God never interferes with the laws of physics and this was probably people using God to justify their actions.

21. Prepare a slaughter for his sons because of the iniquity of their forefathers, lest they rise and inherit the land, and fill the surface of the earth with enemies."

Prepare a slaughter for his sons lest they rise and inherit the land, and the land will be filled with enemies and oppressors. So did Jonathan render ??????, enemies. Comp. (I Sam. 28:16) ÒAnd has become your adversary ( ????? ).Ó It can also be interpreted: And fill the surface of the earth with cities. In contrast with what he said before (verse 17): ÒWho made the land like a desert and demolished his cities,Ó he says further: His seed shall perish, and the inhabitants of the cities shall return to their place, and the surface of the earth shall be filled with cities.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=15945&showrashi=true

2. At the beginning of the Lord's speaking to Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea: Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land goes astray from following the Lord.

take yourself a wife of harlotry Our Rabbis said: This is to be explained according to its apparent meaning: Since he said about Israel, ÒExchange them for another nation,Ó as is explained in Pesachim at the beginning of the chapter entitled ????, ÒThe womanÓ (87a).

and children of harlotry For she will bear you children who will be of possible illegitimacy. And Jonathan paraphrased: Prophesy a prophecy about the inhabitants of the cities of idolatry. The word ???, stated here is an expression of teaching, [derived from ?????, doctrine]. Teach them to repent.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=16155&showrashi=true

My numbering is a little different. Again with Rashi commentary from 25 on.

25. And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.

And Jacob was left He had forgotten small bottles and returned for them. Ñ [from Gen. Rabbah 77:2, Chullin 91a]

and a man wrestled Heb. ?????????. Menachem (p. 14) explains: And a man became covered with dust, derived from ?????, dust, for they were raising dust with their feet through their movements. I believe, however, that it is a term meaning that he attached himself, and it is an Aramaic expression [found in the Talmud] (Sanh. 63b):ÒAfter they became attached ( ??????????? ) to it,ÓÒand he would tie it (???????? ????? ??????),Ó for so is the habit of two people who make strong efforts to throw each other down, that one embraces the other and attaches himself to him with his arms. Our Rabbis explained (Gen. Rabbah 77:3, 78:3) that this was the prince (guardian angel) of Esau.


26. When he saw that he could not prevail against him, he touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob's hip became dislocated as he wrestled with him.

he touched the socket of his hip The upper thigh bone that is thrust into the hip bone is called the ????, lit., ladle, because the flesh on it is like a sort of pot ladle.

became dislocated Heb. ????????. It became dislocated from its joint, and similar to this (Jer. 6:8):Òlest My soul be alienated (??????) from you,Ó and in the Mishnah: ????????? ??????????, to tear out their roots. Ñ [from Gen. Rabbah 77:3]


27. And he (the angel) said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking," but he (Jacob) said, "I will not let you go unless you have blessed me."

for dawn is breaking And I must recite a song [of praise] (Gen. Rabbah 78:1, Chullin 91a).

unless you have blessed me Acknowledge for me the blessings [with] which my father blessed me, which Esau is contesting.


28. So he said to him, "What is your name?" and he said, "Jacob."




29. And he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have commanding power with [an angel of] God and with men, and you have prevailed."

noÉ Jacob It shall no longer be said that the blessings came to you through trickery (???????) and deceit, but with nobility and openness, and ultimately, the Holy One, blessed be He, will reveal Himself to you in Beth-el and change your name, and there He will bless you, and I will be there.Ò He then acknowledged them (the blessings) as being his (JacobÕs). This is [the meaning of] what is written (Hos. 12:5): ÓHe strove with an angel and prevailed over him; he wept and supplicated him,Ò [meaning that] the angel wept and supplicated him. With what did he supplicate him? ÓIn Beth-el he will find Him, and there He will speak with usÒ (ibid). Wait for me until He speaks with us there. Jacob, however, did not consent, [to release the angel] and, against his (the angelÕs) will, he (the angel) acknowledged them (the blessings) as being his (JacobÕs). This is [the meaning of] ÓAnd he blessed him there," that he entreated him to wait, but he did not wish [to do so]. Ñ [from Zohar, vol. 3, 45a]

and with men Esau and Laban.

and you have prevailed over them. Ñ [from Targum Jonathan]


30. And Jacob asked and said, "Now tell me your name," and he said, "Why is it that you ask for my name?" And he blessed him there.

Why is it that you ask (Gen. Rabbah 78:4) We have no permanent name. Our names change, (all) according to the service we are commanded [to do] in the mission upon which we are sent.


31. And Jacob named the place Peniel, for [he said,] I saw an angel face to face, and my soul was saved."

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=8227&showrashi=true

I am quite liberal, but I am also in the process of returning, and consider the mitzvot a good thing even if I may approach a particular mitzvah differently than someone who is more traditional. I don't believe any text is given by God. I believe it is entirely because of us that a text is sacred or not. If there is a divine plan, then there are many sacred texts, each text sacred for different people.

-- Dauer

 

just answer this where was moses in 1942?. the egyptians were a bit rough on the jews but no where near like the nazis and yet your savior were a bunch of allies soldiers . cant think of a better time for God to show up and save you . im not picking on the jews i do this with any religion.

 

Spliff,

Perhaps you don't know anything about Judaism and this is why you say such things. Firstly, we do not worship Moses, That would be avodah Zerah. We only pray to God. Second, Judaism is not about sitting in a room praying for God to save you. We are expected to act and not wait for God. If God were to interfere every time something went wrong there would be no reason for us to pursue righteousness ourselves, or do anything for ourselves. We would not need to worry about growing because we could sit in our room and pray instead.

And finally, how do you know the allies didn't come because it was according to God's will?

Dauer