Zone1 What is a Jew?

[Tom Paine 1949]

I’d like to ask — respectfully — practicing Jews rosends and fncceo a question, not in the spirit of Christian theology or in any way disrespectfully:

First, I assume that you both accept that “Judaism” has evolved over time. That whatever else they may think about their religion or Israel or Christianity, most modern Jews largely agree that they share cultural attributes that come in part from historical experience interacting with the outside world, be it pagan, Christian or Islamic.

So my question — really two questions — are: Do you see early Judaism as originally largely a tribal / national religion? With the recreation of the state of Israel in the modern era (after the Nazi Holocaust), do you see the “Jewish people” as becoming more and more “nationalist” and “ordinary” and less and less uniquely “cosmopolitan” in the next hundred years or so?

Or is this, in your views(s), just a too broad (or narrow) or ignorant way to look upon Jewish history, ancient and modern? Any suggested readings on this question?

 

[alang1216]

The 'birth' of nominal Christianity took place in the Roman Empire. However, the true church of God was growing elsewhere.

Where? Tell me more, I'm intrigued.

 

[rosends]

I’d like to ask — respectfully — practicing Jews rosends and fncceo a question, not in the spirit of Christian theology or in any way disrespectfully:

First, I assume that you both accept that “Judaism” has evolved over time. That whatever else they may think about their religion or Israel or Christianity, most modern Jews largely agree that they share cultural attributes that come in part from historical experience interacting with the outside world, be it pagan, Christian or Islamic.

So my question — really two questions — are: Do you see early Judaism as originally largely a tribal / national religion? With the recreation of the state of Israel in the modern era (after the Nazi Holocaust), do you see the “Jewish people” as becoming more and more “nationalist” and “ordinary” and less and less uniquely “cosmopolitan” in the next hundred years or so?

Or is this, in your views(s), just a too broad (or narrow) or ignorant way to look upon Jewish history, ancient and modern? Any suggested readings on this question?

Judaism has both evolved and stayed the same. There is a constant tension between innovation and tradition and the attempted reconciliation of those two forces is a constant struggle. There is nothing new under the sun, but there is. Whether that is in reponse to or the incorporation of elements of a surrounding culture is tough to determine in some cases. In others, it is quite simple.

Judaism is a religion in that it is centered around a set of theistic beliefs and practices.
But it is a racial heritage in that it is centered on matrilineal descent.
And it is a nationalistic concept in that it allows conversion IN to its population (like allowing new citizens)

The modern state of Israel is adjacent to the Jewish concept but does not replace it. And there is nothing in the idea of Jewishness that would be compromised by the label "ordinary."

What you are asking about is very large and touches on a whole host of issues based in history, psychology, sociology and theology. Can you refine your question so that I can try to answer it in bite sized chunks?

 

[DudleySmith]

A distinguished scholar, fluent in many languages, and publisher of numerous books. Who backs up your assertion?

Mad Magazine published a lot of books, too. And, Ehrman has been refuted thoroughly many times over.

 

[DudleySmith]

I'm not the one lying. I'm speaking from first hand knowledge. What have you cited? A webpage that identifies the basics of the 613 biblical commandments? Or the one that links to an article from 2005 about an (then) new edition of the talmud being published?

You can choose to hide behind your ignorance or prove your case. Your choice. It isn't my problem if you don't know stuff and refuse to learn.

lol keep lying; it's getting funny now.

 

[rosends]

lol keep lying; it's getting funny now.

Someday, when you turn into a big boy, you might realize that asking questions is a more effective way to learn than repeating lies, the way you do now.

When that day comes, feel free to ask questions.

 

[DudleySmith]

Someday, when you turn into a big boy, you might realize that asking questions is a more effective way to learn than repeating lies, the way you do now.

When that day comes, feel free to ask questions.

Some day, you might develop common sense and read what has been posted instead of pretending nothing has been provided. Your racism and bigotry doesn't serve you well.

 

[Woodznutz]

Where? Tell me more, I'm intrigued.

Probably in England, then on to America. Just trace Charlemagne's campaign of terror and you'll find the true church.

 

[rosends]

Some day, you might develop common sense and read what has been posted instead of pretending nothing has been provided. Your racism and bigotry doesn't serve you well.

So your contention is that if I read through everything that you have linked to after post 12, I will find proof that "They even pray for the deaths of Christians in their daily rituals"?

Here's a summary of what I found:

In Post 2 you linked to a pro-Christian book which has many (many) errors in its characterization of Judaism and which says nothing about anyone praying for the deaths of Christians.

Post 12 is where you made the claim.
In Post 43 you answered the challenge that you had no proof with "yes I do"
In posts 45, 46, 48 and 49 you presented no information or links

In post 52 you claimed that Jewish scholars would back up your claim. No proof. Just your claim.
No links in 53, 54 or 73

Post 75 is where you gave a link to James Madison Univ's recounting of the 613 biblical commandments and the 2005 NYT article about the publishing of the Artscroll Talmud series. Nothing to your claim.

Then, no links in 77, 84, 85 or 87.

So where exactly was your proof for your claim?

 

[Dadoalex]

I find myself asking this question a lot lately.

There are lots of so-called Jews around, people claiming to be Jewish, yet they seem to be pretty ignorant of passages from the Hebrew Bible. Many of them today also promote Satanic lies and values, such as transgenderism, homosexuality, and abortion. How can one support these things and still call themselves a person of God? To be fair there are plenty of Christians doing this, and I call them out on that.

So what really is a Jew? What do they believe in? The modern day Jews don’t seem to have the same beliefs and rituals as they had over two thousand years ago. What changed? What is their belief about the afterlife and what happens when we die?

Firstly, they worship “the God of Abraham“, God who made a covenant with Abraham. Before that was the covenant with Noah. Also of course was those with Moses and David.

But what has changed since then?

Obviously someone did come along that radically changed things. He said their temple would be destroyed, and it was. But the Jews labeled him a heretic and blasphemer. The Jews called the followers of the one that did this a “cult”. When it became obvious this “cult” wasn’t going to just fade away, they supposedly had a council to “re-edit” the Hebrew Bible. Also later on the Jews came up with the Talmud, another “revision” of the religion.


So if any Jew is interested in talking about these things, let me know. I’d like to hear from you.

Jews are more than a religion.
They are a genetically unique "race" traceable through the matriarchal blood lines.

With that in mind do you want to rephrase the OP?

 

[Clyde 154]

I certainly agree with this, but what I am asking for is what is a Jew in the modern day.

Jews in general seem to be very ignorant of Jesus, the NT, and in some cases their own Hebrew Bible. I’d like to hear an explanation of why modern Judaism is so different than two thousand years ago.

What's the difference with the Jews of Today and the Jews who practiced under the title of Biblical Israel until God allowed the Roman Empire to destroy (70 A.D.) their most holy place (Temple) and drive all the Jews from the promised land.....scattering them around the globe?

Let us make a documented list as exampled in the Holy Scriptures and History Actual.

1. (A.) Biblical Israel......the Jews from Christ's generation, were governed by a set of laws that came from God as translated and inforced by the Royal Priesthood of Levites. (B.) The Jews of today....claim that the Israel of the bible has returned.....but they are not governed by the literal Laws of God as was Biblical Israel. They obey the laws of man's government......they offer no burnt offerings to the Levites that is required to carry their sin from one year to the next......they obey the laws of men in place of the laws of Biblical Israel. The Israel of today was not established by the God of creation..........but by the United Nations. (Ex. 19:5-7, Deut. 30:1-10, Ezra 7:10, Nehemiah 8:1-18)

2. (A.) Biblical Israel.........possessed All the Land of promise, God fulfilled His promise of land.....a land the Jews would possess forever or until they disobeyed the Laws of God. (1 Kings 4:21.....Jer.31:31-34) (B.) Modern Israel/Jews......Possess but a small portion of the Land of Promise.......without the hope of a Temple ever being reconstructed.....and this land was not given to them by God, it was granted by a U.N. resolution....which has resulted in nothing but war after war, after war.

3. (A.) Biblical Israel......was ruled by a King appointed by God (1 Sam. 8:4-22) (B.) Modern Israel/Jews.......are not governed by a Monarchy.......they are governed by a Government controlled by Men.....Israel was destined to be forever CAST OUTS from their own land without a King because of a curse placed upon them by the God of creation (Jer.22-28-30).

Biblical Israel.......like a Broken potters Jar, would never be WHOLE/COMPLETE.....ever again (Jer. 19:7-13)

4. (A.) Biblical Israel.......possessed a Temple in Jerusalem. (1 Kings 8:1-10). (B.) Modern Israel has no Temple

5. (A.) Biblical Israel......governed by a Royal Priesthood. (Numbers 3:6-10) (B.) Modern Israel/Jews.......No Royal Priesthood.

6. (A.) Biblical Israel.......possessed Tribal ID's. (B.) Modern Israel/Jews........have no Tribal IDs.

 

[theHawk]

Jews are more than a religion.
They are a genetically unique "race" traceable through the matriarchal blood lines.

With that in mind do you want to rephrase the OP?

Yes, I know Jews like to play this game….it’s a combination of race and bloodlines, and a little religion. So basically they are the Master Race that God favors. So they really don’t need to obey any laws anymore, they can just comply with the laws they are comfortable with.

They really didn’t like the message Jesus was giving, the idea that all men and women, Jews and Gentiles, had an equal opportunity to be saved and earn a place in eternal heaven.

 

[alang1216]

Mad Magazine published a lot of books, too. And, Ehrman has been refuted thoroughly many times over.

Who backs up your assertion? Mad Magazine?

 

[theHawk]

Judaism is a religion in that it is centered around a set of theistic beliefs and practices

Who sets these beliefs? There isn’t a central Jewish church.
When was the last major piece of scripture written? Who was the last prophet recognized by Jews?

Can anyone in modern times be considered a profit that can add to the holy texts? If not, why not?

 

[alang1216]

Probably in England, then on to America. Just trace Charlemagne's campaign of terror and you'll find the true church.

The Anglican Church?

 

[AsherN]

Jews are more than a religion.
They are a genetically unique "race" traceable through the matriarchal blood lines.

With that in mind do you want to rephrase the OP?

And we are also a people, since being a Jew is not strictly genetic. You can convert in.

 

[Billo_Really]

I find myself asking this question a lot lately.

There are lots of so-called Jews around, people claiming to be Jewish, yet they seem to be pretty ignorant of passages from the Hebrew Bible. Many of them today also promote Satanic lies and values, such as transgenderism, homosexuality, and abortion. How can one support these things and still call themselves a person of God? To be fair there are plenty of Christians doing this, and I call them out on that.

So what really is a Jew? What do they believe in? The modern day Jews don’t seem to have the same beliefs and rituals as they had over two thousand years ago. What changed? What is their belief about the afterlife and what happens when we die?

Firstly, they worship “the God of Abraham“, God who made a covenant with Abraham. Before that was the covenant with Noah. Also of course was those with Moses and David.

But what has changed since then?

Obviously someone did come along that radically changed things. He said their temple would be destroyed, and it was. But the Jews labeled him a heretic and blasphemer. The Jews called the followers of the one that did this a “cult”. When it became obvious this “cult” wasn’t going to just fade away, they supposedly had a council to “re-edit” the Hebrew Bible. Also later on the Jews came up with the Talmud, another “revision” of the religion.


So if any Jew is interested in talking about these things, let me know. I’d like to hear from you.

A Jew is someone who practices Judaism. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

 

[AsherN]

They really didn’t like the message Jesus was giving, the idea that all men and women, Jews and Gentiles, had an equal opportunity to be saved and earn a place in eternal heaven.

Actually, unlike Christian belief, Jews believe that everybody can be part of Olam Haba, not just Jews.

 

[Foxfyre]

I find myself asking this question a lot lately.

There are lots of so-called Jews around, people claiming to be Jewish, yet they seem to be pretty ignorant of passages from the Hebrew Bible. Many of them today also promote Satanic lies and values, such as transgenderism, homosexuality, and abortion. How can one support these things and still call themselves a person of God? To be fair there are plenty of Christians doing this, and I call them out on that.

So what really is a Jew? What do they believe in? The modern day Jews don’t seem to have the same beliefs and rituals as they had over two thousand years ago. What changed? What is their belief about the afterlife and what happens when we die?

Firstly, they worship “the God of Abraham“, God who made a covenant with Abraham. Before that was the covenant with Noah. Also of course was those with Moses and David.

But what has changed since then?

Obviously someone did come along that radically changed things. He said their temple would be destroyed, and it was. But the Jews labeled him a heretic and blasphemer. The Jews called the followers of the one that did this a “cult”. When it became obvious this “cult” wasn’t going to just fade away, they supposedly had a council to “re-edit” the Hebrew Bible. Also later on the Jews came up with the Talmud, another “revision” of the religion.


So if any Jew is interested in talking about these things, let me know. I’d like to hear from you.

I am not Jewish but have been interested in and have written about and taught Jewish history. My definition which everybody probably won't agree with:

A person who says he/she is Jewish may be of any race or ethnicity but adheres to the Jewish faith. Ivanka Trump, for example, has no Jewish heritage either religiously or ethnically but converted to Judaism when she married Jared. She has subsequently received rabbinical approval as a member of the Jewish faith.

A person who is a Jew descended from the ancient Hebrews of the Bible. He/she may or may not adhere to the Jewish faith.

 

[Woodznutz]

The Anglican Church?

The Anglican church was the forerunner of Protestantism, and was/is just another 'state' religion.