Do Jewish sources say anything about Jesus?

Question

Many liberal Jews and rabbis will routinely say something like, "he was a great teacher but not the messiah" when a Christian asks. My impression is that these people haven't given any serious thought to the question and haven't studied to Jesus's teachings, and are saying this only because they don't want to offend anyone rather than because of any deeply held conviction.

Some Jewish sources have suggested that Jesus and Christianity serve a positive purpose by bringing gentiles closer to G-d. For example, Rambam (1135-1204 C.E.) comments that because of the spread of Christianity, when the messiah comes:

the world will already be filled with the idea of moshiach, Torah, and commandments, even in far-flung islands and in closed-minded nations, where they engage in discussions on the Torah's commandments
But though Jesus and his religion may be part of G-d's plan for the world, the general consensus among the rabbis regarding Jesus is not favorable. On the same page where he made the remark above, Rambam commented that Daniel 11:14 (regarding people who try to establish the vision but stumble and fall) is a reference to Christianity, saying:

Is there a greater stumbling block than [Jesus]? All the prophets foretold that the messiah would redeem the Jews, help them, gather in the exiles and support their observance of the commandments. But he caused Jewry to be put to the sword, to be scattered and to be degraded; he tampered with the Torah and its laws; and he misled most of the world to serve something other than G-d.

To learn how Jews interpret biblical passages that Christians think are prophecies of Jesus, see Jews for Judaism, a counter-missionary organization.

http://www.jewfaq.org/looking4.htm

Answer 1

Here ya go... what Jewish sources have to say about Jesus.

http://www.messiahtruth.org
http://www.whatjewsbelieve.org

In these two sites you'll find everything you need to know about why Jews that have studied both texts reject christianity.

This is also one of the main reasons that I, an atheist, would reject your Jesus if I were religious.


Edit:

After reading throught your entire post, I see what you are trying to say, and I agree with you for the most part. The thing that gets me is that Gentiles are not under the same restrictions as Jews, and therefore worshipping Jesus (even though he takes the focus from God) is not forbidden for Gentiles. I personally loathe christianity and see it for the false teaching that it is, but it's still allowable for Gentiles. I just wish christians would actually study where their ideas came from.

Answer 2

Jews were always meant to be a light to the gentiles...however, until Jesus came, the jews pretty much kept to themselves....since gentiles afflicted them.....a command Jesus gave was to spread the gospel to the gentiles and to all nations....which included all scripture....so in a way....the jewish scriptures finally got spread, but by gentiles who were christians....this would eventually be necessary since it was prophesied in Isaiah and other places that it would be believing gentiles that woudl assist the jews in the return to Israel...providing both equipment and money...this has happened...you will see that christians are very active in this effort.

From what i can tell, the sources that are published are very quiet about Jesus.

The main conflict over Jesus while he was alive was due to interpretation of scripture as it pertained to what the messiah was to do.,...was he to suffer....was he to rule immediately?....the timing of Jesus was not consistent with the prophesy that the messiah bring the remnant home...because most jews were still in Israel...they had not been scattered yet...also in conflict was what Jesus meant by saying he was the son of Gd....a new concept...he never said he was Gd , but that the FAther was Gd..so where did it ever say that Gd had a son in scripture....? by saying he was the son but not the Father, he did not violate the Oneness of Gd as accused....but he confused the leadership so much that they thought that was what he meant.

the catholic church perpetuated this confusion by neglecting to study what Jesus meant....and then declared that Jesus was not just the son, but Gd Himself.....and the holy spirit was Gd too.......so now there seems to be 3 gods....Jesus never said he, or the holy spirit,was equal to the Father....who the messiah is supposed to be is a different subject....Jesus was saying that the messiah could only be someone with a divine connection and intimate relationship with the Father in heaven.

the catholic church, not jesus, caused the rejection of the jews....because suddenly they were "christ killers"......Jesus made it very clear that he was laying his life down for others...and that any person who had sinned played a part in his death...this included sins of gentiles

Answer 3

The Tanakh(Old Testement) and Talmud say nothing about Jesus which makes sense since he has nothing to do with Judaism.

Answer 4

"Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works,--a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ;...."

Answer 5

Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. I trust the law, prophets and sayings. Not man made rules and regulations.

Answer 6

OK, thanks for the rant non-Jewish troll.

Their is a little something called courtesy, even if you do not believe or respect someone elses religion have the dignity not to trash and insult it.

It is rude and unproductive.

Answer 7

Al Mawt Le Israel !

Answer 8

he was a guy. thats all we think.

http://www.jewfaq.org/looking4.htm this will explain it.

Answer 9

Jesus was a man that died... can we move on now?

Answer 10

What crawled up gratvol's butt?