Does it seem to you that there are some people here who are obsessed with Jews?

Question

Can anyone explain this in sociological terms? If you have been on this site for a while, you must have noticed that there are some people who ask pointed and thinly disguised insulting questions about Jews every day. Then there are those who ask questions that they must have seen had been asked upteen times already and then go ahead and ask them again i.e., why don't Jews accept Jesus as their savior? What is this all about?

Answer 1

I think we have to distinguish between people who are genuinely interested in what being Jewish involves, and there are many that fall into this category, and then people who do put up insulting posts.

I too have read soooooooo many posts about Judaism; thankfully most people on this site are decent and so the questions are often expressing a real interest - and I am always most happy to answer them, as you are too, I'm sure.

Alas, as with everything, there is also a minority who enjoy hurling insults and yes, when I keep reading their spiteful posts about my religion, I do sometimes feel like screaming. It's awful that in this day and age, some people do still believe in the crazy old stereotypes about us.

And then there is a third group, comprised of SOME Christians - not all by any means - who continually want to know why we don't 'embrace' Jesus and allow ourselves to be 'saved'.

I wish they could just respect the fact that we have different beliefs, but they don't. But, again, thankfully they are a minority!

MIDGE - sorry, but could you BE any more patronising???!

The question asked here has nothing whatsoever to do with countries that are allies of Israel. You are the only one who has introduced that into the equation. And by the way, those countries that do support Israel, hopefully do so because it's the right thing to do. As for your crack about the questioner not sounding sufficiently 'grateful' - this says far more about you than it does about her.

Answer 2

It's a long-standing problem with Christians and even some other religions. Christians are taught that the Jews are wrong for not recognizing Jesus as the Messiah they are still waiting for. And since Christianity encourages proselatizing, they feel if they ask "just the right question," they will convince a Jew to convert. Wrong!

Then, of course, there is the problem of Jews and Muslims, which is probably obvious enough: it's more due to the City of Jarusalem being sacred to all three religions than any other single reason. Anti-Semitism would be much less severe if it wasn't coupled with anti-Zionism.

The Jews I have known, including my beloved husband, have been good people that I had no trouble getting along with. Indeed, My Steve said that I liked Jews better than he did! But many people still harbor the same sort of notions that were so prevalent in Europe during the war years.

The biggest one, I suspect, is the idea that Jews have somehow cornered the market on banking and finance, that they "have all the money." As with most prejudice, there is a grain (a small grain) of truth to it, in that Jews are taught from early childhood to have good sense and not waste money. They are not quite as susceptible to mass media advertising as those who want to be "hip" and go with all the fads, although that is only a statistical difference, and probably not a very large one.

They are also much more dedicated to having their children go to college and even graduate school, and have a good profession. Parents are willing to pay for higher education because they see it as an investment in the child's future, and generally they are right. Parents of other faiths would do well to imitate them on this.

Please, people, work on finding things to admire about people who are different, and don't be so negative. Both you and that other person will benefit from positive interaction.

Answer 3

To Midge:

Since when is the United States a christian nation? Hmmm... last time I checked we were a nation with that whole "freedom of religion" thing. Oh, and don't feel pity for me... I've found G-d and I am happy with the relationship that I have with him.

And the reasoning behind misconceptions about Judaism stems from the fact that we have always been outsiders in Christian's eyes. They seem to forget that our religion came first and that the prophecise mentioned for the messiah were not fulfilled according to our texts. This is why Jews refuse to convert to christianity.

Now here's the funny part... Jews do not care whether or not others believe as we do. We're accepting of other's beliefs whether they are christian, muslim or atheist (many other religions included in that list). However, there are plenty of christians who look down on Jews as if we are poor misinformed people... it's just ridiculous and rampant on these boards...

Only advice is to keep your chin up and to know who you are. Have strong faith in who you are and what your religion represents. Don't let others' misinformed opinions get in the way of you living your life.

Answer 4

I fail to understand the hang up about Christians have about 'Jesus' as the savior!!!
I do not ACCEPT HIM AS MINE!!!!!!
So there!!!!
As long as people talk of 'jesus' and 'others'; this problem is going to remain!!!!
Christians HAVE TO ACCEPT the fact that there are other religions and 'other faces of GOD' as well!!!!
So! The problem is not with Jews, Muslims, Hindus etc.; but with Christians themselves and/or people who think like that!

Answer 5

Yes, unfortunately they are close in ideology to Ann Coulter and insist on trying to 'save' us, which does great damage to Jewish/xtian relations. They also insist we are 'the same except for the jebis bit" which is a blatant fallacy. We have completely different Gd's.
Additionally, they answer questions as if they know Judaism, and this feeds misinformation to more people. Many xtians seem to be fascinated by Jews and I am not a zoo exhibit. They also make statements like "I love the Jewish people". Um, okay, sure. Except that we are individuals and have a huge spectrum of variation. They refuse to see why we take offense at these things.
Just because they altered and used our Torah as their 'old testament' does NOT mean we are 'two branches of the same tree' or whatever they like to say.

Answer 6

Obsessed by Jews, not with Jews! They are obsessed with Islam much more than with the Jews. And the quotations referred to are never based on authentic texts. They have been told, repeatedly, that Jews, Muslims, and all Others DO NOT and SHALL NOT accept any |Savior| who has a human form..who could die, who was born. These are not Divine Attributes. But they do not have even a name for their God the Father. Nameless God! Catholics, in this respect, have a better Faith. They have a Name, at least for the Father-God. And Catholics are sympathetic and respectful to both Jews and Muslims. No obsession.

Answer 7

For someone who is not Jewish, I could see how the topic is of great interest. For one thing, being Jewish means something different to every Jew---there are those who are Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed, and a great many in-between and all around who don't fit into any of these "typical" molds/sects. For some Jews, being Jewish is a lifestyle and a religion, while for others, its simply about the food and culture. Because there are so many "variations," I see how it can be difficult for a non-Jew (or even a Jew who hasn't been exposed to the different sects) to understand exactly what is a Jew and what is means to be Jewish.

Answer 8

Religions are always sniping at each other. The anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim and anti-Christian and anti-Hindu and anti-atheist 'questions' aren't so thinly disguised, really, are they? I always see them as blatant propagandeering!

In sociological terms, it's the same as racism, bigotry, xenophobia etc.

The following 'facts' are propagated about the group, whether they are gay, jew, christian, muslim, atheist, liberal, republican etc...

1. They are causing society to fail
2. They are 'outsiders'
3. They spread ignorance/disease/evil
4. They should always be called 'they'.
5. They are innately selfish and not to be trusted
6. They are false, 'unnatural', against decency etc.
7. They look different than 'us'.
8. &c.

Answer 9

I hope that they're sincerely interested in learning about the Jewish version of Judaism vs. the Christian version which has been imposed on Jews and gentiles alike.
.

Answer 10

Obsessed? I pray for Jerusalem all the time, for God told Abraham I will bless them that bless thee and I will curse them that curse thee. not being obsessed just doing my job.
The Jews to me is God's first love, right?
The Jews missed two big incidence.
#1 The Gentiles got in because the Jews missed a revelation, right?
They didn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah King.
#2 490 years they didn't give Sabbath to land.
Then GOD said you owe me!
Now 70 years Israel went to Babylon for there disobedience.
Abraham was a Gentile from the Land of Ur..
Was Abraham circumcised before the Law?
When was his righteousness accounted to him?
His righteousness was accounted to him before he was circumcised.
By the way the Law didn't come into existence until Moses.