Why do so many people stick up for Jews all the time but forget that they have beliefs and rules that say...?

Question

that women are ritually unclean during their menstruation? You hardly ever hear somebody call that barbaric but when it is for a group of people of another faith you hear it all the time.

I am of the belief that it is ritually unclean. Maybe you did not understand what I wrote.

This is my 2nd question. I did not sign up to ask it. It is because of what people said in my other question.

How am I bashing jews, can you guys please read what I wrote and refer back to my other question?

My other question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AipEB3S5CQTglr96kCtRO4Dsy6IX?qid=20070812134652AADZwdW

Peace LadySuri, thank you so much for taking the time to read it again.

Answer 1

And if you weren't cherry picking things to find barbaric you would find that a man who has a penile discharge is also considered unclean under the same ruling. Obviously it is a regular thing for women vs a result of some physiological problem for men- but it is the same principal- a discharge from the genitals (aside from semen during intercourse or urine as a natural function) renders a person, male or female, impure. Its a simple as that.

And maybe people don;t focus on what we believe, since we DO NOT ask that anyone else believe as we do. Unlike Christians and Muslims, we do NOT go around trying to ocnvert people- we merely ask to be left alone to follow our own religion. As such, what we believe is meaningful to us, and no one else- so why should anyone else care what we believe, since we don't want you to, or expect you to, follow it?

Answer 2

I think that a lot of this comes from the assumption that Judaism is just like Christianity. Not only is a woman unclean when she menstruates, but is unclean after childbirth...and the unclean period is longer when the woman gives birth to a girl...I've never understood it myself.

Not many Christians have read the Torah that closely, so it might just be that they don't really know about all the language of being unclean...

Muslims get a lot of bad press here in the U.S. (and probably in other parts of the world) because a lot of people don't really understand Islam. People's views of Islam have been shaped by the very small percentage of Muslims who have done acts of terror...you never hear in the news about the millions of Muslims that DON'T commit acts of terror.

I also think that because there are not many Muslims in the U.S. (execpt in concentrations like Dearborn, MI etc.) that many Americans don't have exposure to real Muslims. I didn't really know anything about Islam until I moved to Detroit, MI where I was able to make friends with many Muslims.

By the way, there are quite a few religions that consider the act of menstruation unclean...and none of these religions--like Islam, Christianity, or Judaism--would be considered to be barbaric.

Answer 3

The Bible states that the Jewish people are the apple of God's eye, that nations and people will be judged by how they treat God's chosen people. What is clean about a womans period. nothing. Many Christians find it unclean also. Many of the Native Americans believed the same thing. So it is not just the Jews.

Answer 4

All religions have something to not like about their beliefs. The belief of women being unclean during menstruation is not only a Jewish belief.
Did you know that during the early industrial period, women were not allowed to work with bread because it was believed that their menstruation and hormones would foul up the rising of the bread? I wonder why it didn't foul up bread making at their homes?

Answer 5

I don't see what is so bad about that. Women are "unclean" during menstruation. I don't know if you've been through it yet, but it's not a clean process.

Anyways.

The reason for those laws (niddah laws--family purity laws) are mostly for matters of reproduction. If a man isn't supposed to touch his wife during menstruation (have sex with her) it's much better for the family dynamic (this is proven) because it not only gives them a rest, but the time when they do start having sex again is the time that they are most likely to get pregnant again, since the man has not been wasting his seed and it's been building up.

When you think about it, it just makes sense. According to Judaism, menstruation is not a bad things, it's a natural process and like most things in Judaism, it's also governed by laws.

Big deal. You don't want to live by it, then don't--but don't b*tch at the people who do.

Maria--the 'unclean' period is longer after giving birth to a girl because it is assumed that a mother's soul is closer to the female baby's soul and in giving birth (separating physically) it causes the mother spiritual anguish. Basically, it is because a daughter is her mother's daughter forever, but a son is only a mother's son until he gets married.

Edit: after your email and re-reading your details I would have to say that you're a bit mistaken. People don't always stick up for Jews--there are as many Jew-bashers as there are Muslim-bashers. Yet we both have people that stick up for us. Also keep in mind that a large number of Xtians who stick up for the Jews only do so because it is in their Bible that they should because when we all get to Israel, J*sus comes back to convert half of us and kill the other half of us. I think right now because of Islamic extremism getting all the media time, society is a lot more slanted to be against Islam because they don't know anything about it. As a note, though, plenty of people call many Jewish laws barbaric until they ask about them and learn the reasoning behind them. My advice to you would be to keep getting information out there about Islam--when you see someone bashing it, answer logically with information about Islam, then they have nothing they can do. Know that you do have friends on your side, even if you don't always see them. Peace.

you are very welcome :-)

Answer 6

I'm wondering why it's an issue with you.


Edit:
You have to realize that Islam itself is in the limelight right now. The whole idea of being 'unclean' is strange to westerners. As for the Jews believing the same thing, I bet most westerners don't know that or don't think about it. It is Islam that is on trial in the western mind, not Judaism.
Ana asfa.

Answer 7

when a group has suffered through a few genocides, people start sticking up for them.


and i've never heard someone call that barbaric, for muslim or jew. I think the thing most non-muslims have a problem is that women have to wear that headress, i'm not sure what it's called,( sorry.)

lost.eu/21618

Answer 8

What you have is a matter of public opinion.
People are not endeared to Muslims for completely different reasons, and Jews are historical victims. People are inclined to forgive victims of such "transgressions" (I use quotation marks to show that I'm in no position to judge whether or not these things are wrong), and to focus negatively on the same thing in people they aren't fond of.

Look at the idea that HIV is more common in homosexuals.
In reality, this isn't a real truth, but people already dislike homosexuals, and are happy to pin something else on them.

It's illogical, and hypocritical, but we do not find fault in our friends.

I'm a Baptist, so I can accurately speak on neither Jewish nor Muslim practices, but from an objective standpoint, it's either wrong always, or not wrong at all.

Answer 9

Jews are as human as everybody else. Are you not human? If you are human, why do you think that you are better than them?

Indeed I see your point, but don't you think that maybe your beliefs are as offensive to others as theirs are to yours. The secret is in not being offended.

I share your position that this particular belief is not morally right, but is it not as valid as yours? It is valid to me.

Perhaps not to you personally, but it is valid to others, and with a level of human respect, you can find its validity. Once you have, you can respect and love others and their beliefs, without having to share them.

EDIT:
In response to clarification, I will state that often it is the prejudice and ignorance of others that causes them to pass judgement.
In my view, it does not matter what religion a person is. Humans are humans, and should be treated equally.

You have my sincerest sympathy in your situation, but it is something that is manifested in large quantities here on Answers. I aim to combat the only enemy here. The enemy most of us share. The enemy that is hate.

No other human deserves the name 'enemy'. Every problem CAN be solved peacefully, without harming anyone, but sadly it rarely happens.

May peace go with you throughout your life

Answer 10

Well. I don't want someone looking where I am bleeding either (referring to the law to not look at a women where she is bleeding) It is stinky & dirty. Especially if I lived in those days with only a rag. I would rather be alone.

And you wouldn't be ritually unclean if you had a tampon. That would be just mans additional law.

The law came through Moses. Truth & grace by Jesus Christ.

But this has nothing to do with why I stick up for Israel. Jesus is the promised Messiah & Savior for the world and was brought forth from the 'seed of the women' (Israel). So? Israel is the LORD Gods first born. And Jesus said that He has another flock besides Israel. And that is the gentiles from all nations who believe in Jesus.


Edit to try to answer your question better. Right now so many Christians stick up for Jews because we are praying for peace for Jerusalem & Israel. For them to recognize Yeshua Messiah & that God can restor their land. The rules & regulations are of Moses. This is the law of sin & death. Truth & grace came by Jesus Christ. See? The law is given. But we can't be perfect in the law. So God provided a way. An atonement for our sins. So that we who believe in Jesus may have our sins atoned for and we are born of His Spirit, cleansed by His blood.

So? As a born again Christian, I realize that many Jews don't recognize Yeshua Messiah, the Son of the Living God. But when people from all nations turn to Jesus & who then also support Israel, then Israel will realize Yeshua Messiah. And God will heal their land. But as far as other nations go, Jesus shed His blood for the remission of sins for all of us who are lost in our sins. Not just Israel.

The law of sin & death is babaric. Stone to death the adulterous women, etc... Right now Muslims plan to stone to death some who were performing gay marriages. Men were dressed in their wedding gowns, etc. What did Jesus say when the religious self righteous brought before Jesus the lady caught in the act of adultery? Jesus wrote in the sand (Possibly the 10 commandments) then asked, "The one without sin to cast the first stone." They were all sinners & so left. Then Jesus asked the lady, "Where are your accusers?" She said they were gone. Jesus said, "Neither do I accuse you. Go & sin no more.".

There is the old covenant & law of sin & death. Then there is the new covenant provided through Jesus Christ. As Christians or Messianic Jews, we are not under the law of sin & death. We are under grace. The perfect law of liberty. Love God & love others.