Why cant I see any Jews proselytizing and or bashing other faiths here?

Question

Im just curious.

Answer 1

Most of the Jews I've known in my lifetime have been quite intelligent people. So this is even more evidence of that.

Also -- consider the amount of MINDLESS bashing **they** have received as a race/ethnic group/religious group for thousands of years... and there are still people out and about today who are STUPID enough to be anti-Semitic. So the Jews have had lots of experience in seeing such object lessons, and thus knowing who NOT to emulate.

Answer 2

Ok- why don't Jews try to convert people? Simple really, we don't believe that everyone has to be Jewish. After the flood there were seven laws binding on everyone (the Noachide Laws), and as long as a non-Jew observes those laws- they are considered righteous.

Jews, on the other hand, have 613 laws, and those have sucategories to their subcategories! So in essence, while following the 613 laws has the potential for greater spirituality- it is a far more difficult path than following only 7 laws. As such, Judaism does not seek to convert people as changing them from needing to obey only 7 laws to needing to follow 613 is seen as a possible contravention of the commandment "Do not place a stumbling block before the blind"- in plainer terms, don't tell someobody to do something when the chances are they won't!

For this reason, getting into a conversion programme (at least in Orthodox Judaism- I don't know about in conservative and reform) is not a simple matter. You have to convince the Rabbis running the course that you are sincere and will follow the halacha (Jewish law). Once in- it takes most people a minimum of 2 years- and some as long as five years to complete the syllabus for the conversion which gives a grounding in hebrew (so you can pray and understand it, read the Torah etc), the prayers, the festivals, the Sabath, Kashrut etc. After that- if you are a man you need to be circumcised, and both men and women are then immersed in a mikveh and a beis din (rabbinical court) of a minimum of three judges act as witnesses to the conversion.

Answer 3

Jews don't actively seek converts. The only people Jews really try to convert are people who want to marry one. ;-) I remember being shocked as a 13-year-old who grew up around Evangelical Christians when I went to a dance at a Jewish community center--and nobody tried to change my religion at *all*.

Answer 4

I'm Jewish, and I think you've gotten many good answers here. Yes, we're not an evangelizing religion--that has never been a part of our faith. We welcome converts, but we believe that someone who wants to be Jewish must come to us. Part of that has to do with the fact that we believe that **any** good person has a place in the world to come. "Good" is defined as someone who keeps the Noahide laws (don't murder, no incest, and a few others). That person doesn't even have to believe in G-d! So from our perspective there isn't any "soul-saving" involved.

Answer 5

Judaism believes that the 'Next world' belongs to the righteous of all faiths and religions. So if you're cool with us, we're cool with you.

Answer 6

Because Jews deal with enough harassment. They dont want to come on here looking for it.

Answer 7

Because Jews don't care if anyone else believes what they believe.

Answer 8

I dont think any other religion besides the Christians do that here. Sorry if i'm mistaken, thats just what i've seen.

Answer 9

You can, but you simply do not, probably because Judaism is not a missionary religion, and thus has no ax to grind in convincing others it is the one true path.

Answer 10

judaism is not an evangelical religion, they dont go around looking for people to circumsize unlike other religions that force you to convert or die