What does it mean to be Jewish? Is Judaism a religion? Why don't Jews actively proselytize non-Jews?

Question

Do Jews not actively seek converts because they see themselves as a distinct ethnicity?

Answer 1

There's no special "reward" for converting, such as the Christian heaven. Judaism is about life on earth and how God wants us to live it. It's about working together to bring peace on earth and justice for all. It's about asking God what he wants of "us" -- not about what He expects of others. Everything we do as Jews -- prayers, rituals, traditions, etc. -- are to remind ourselves of what God does for us so that we also do those things for others because we are all made in His image.

Converting to Judaism is about "practice" not about "belief." Few Jews have the same "beliefs," but we divide into denominations according to "practice."
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Answer 2

The Jewish faith gave birth to both the Christian and Islamic faiths. Abraham is one of the first people to make a covenent with God. Three main religions came about as a result: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For this reason they are refered to as the Abrahamic religions.

It's a sin to try and convert someone to Judaism. You can convert. There are ethnic and non-ethnic Jews.

Jesus was a Jew. He instructed His followers to spread the good news. That's not quite "seeking" converts.

Answer 3

Judaism is both a religion, and a heritage.

I belive I was told once at one time in history, it was a very dangerous thing to try to convert people to your religion, and that a general rule was made, for the sake of self-preservation, to not evangelize/prostheletize.

I do not think anyone really sees it as motivated on the idea of seeing ourselves as a "distinct ethenticity" as such, but more... a core philosophical concept.

Judaism does not claim to be exclusively correct, or the only way to get to god.
where christianity has this idea that if you don't belive your going to hell, and thus its your duty to try to save as many people as you can, (this is with the given parameters, a very kind, rational approach) judaism doesn't have that problem. so its simply not as big of a deal.

I guess in a sense you could say that Judaism finds itself to be self-evidently true, in such a way that for those who would truly believe, and are ready for it, would find their way to it anyway.

remember also judaism is much harder to convert to than christianity. none of this "admit your a sinner and say this paragraph long prayer and your in" stuff.... it takes real interest, real dedication, and really wanting it.

theres just not this "if we don't save them they'll be damned for eternity!" urgency.

Answer 4

it has nothing to do with ethnicity

if you notice Hindus and Buddhists also dont actively proselytize

the reason is that unlike Christianity and Islam they dont see themselves as the only path. The same is true for Judaism. It says that if one is not born Jewish their is no need for them to convert to attain salvation. That is the reason.

Answer 5

the important reason that Jews do not attempt to rework non-Jews to Judaism is that we do not have self belief you ought to be Jewish to get into heaven. below is a quote for a e book that has no longer yet been printed yet I easily have received a pre-galley. It became written in case you're attracted to conversion to Orthodox Judaism and has a minimum of 7 cases at the same time as the proposed convert is requested if s/he needs to proceed the technique or would truly proceed to be a Noahide. Noahide is the Jewish time period for a non-Jew who lives by skill of the seven straightforward commandments by skill of which all of humanity could stay. proper right here are the seven Mitzvoth of Noah’s toddlers and follow to all of humanity. the first step to starting to be a Jew is to satisfy all of your criteria as a member of the final inhabitants. As a pre-considered necessary of being a Noahide, you ought to have self belief in Hashem, the only God, and have self belief that He gave regulations to humanity and to the Jewish united states of america. The Talmud proclaims that those would have a component contained in the international to come back. man or woman who follows the regulations of Noahides yet does no longer have self belief is a lifelike guy yet no longer between the Righteous of the international locations of the international. contained in the shape that someone needs to rework to Judaism, then they are welcome to finish that. the technique (a minimum of in words of Orthodox Judaism) isn't a short one. It calls for them to benefit what it skill to stay as an Orthodox Jew and to be able to make a properly-counseled selection. The sponsoring rabbi then brings the candidate to fulfill with a rabbinic court and they are going to question the candidate to detemine that s/he's fairly waiting prepared and able to change right into a Jew.

Answer 6

Yes theyre mostly born into it..

Answer 7

No, they see themselves as a crime syndicate.

You don't see the Mafia recruiting people off the streets, do you?