I need some JEWISH insight?

Question

I am converting to Judaism and friends are throwing out bible verses to me regarding Jesus. How should I handle this from a Jewish perspective? They constantly want me to prove he is not messiah. Christianity just confused me. What comforts does Judaism give to the soul? they ask. Mitzvot, right? Thank you!

Umm, Majeed? I'm not converting to Islam, I'm going for Judaism. I don't have anything against a true muslim, either.

Answer 1

OK- here is my standard answer I give to Christians who can't leave me alone about this:
1) The dead were not resurrected
2) The Jews did not beome priests to the other nations
3) There is no world peace
4) The temple is not standing
5) There is no temple service
6) There is no parah adumah or its ashes to render us tahor
7) The messiah is from the House of David. your house/tribe is inherited from your father. Your father is your BIOLOGICAL father- there is no adoption in Judaisim to another father- if God is the father of Jesus- then Jesus cannot be from the House of David as God is not frm the House of David.
8) Human sacrifice is completely forbidden in Judaism- remeber God stopping the sacrifice of Isaac? The idea of a human being sacrificed is the opposite of anything from Judaism!
9) You have to atone for yourself! An essential part of the atonement process is being repentant. Someone cannot be repentant for you- you have to do it for yourself. ONly communal sins can be forgiven communally- not individual, private sins!

And no- the messiah does NOT proclaim himself- he will be recognised by his deeds- not by his claims- in other words, through doing the above he will be recognised as the messiah. On top of that- mashiach is a HUMAN being, with HUMAN parents- the idea of an anthropomorphised God going around and impregnating young woman is completely alien to Judaism- though it fits very nicely into the pagan religions of the time which had their heroes being fathered by gods (ala Hercules and his daddy Zeus)

As for Messianic Judaism, jews for Jesus, Hebrew Christians Completed Jews etc- these are deemed as nothing more than Christian sects using deceitful means to convert Jews. EVERY Jewish denomination denounces these sects as Christians and nothing more. However, by Jewish law, once a Jew, always Jew- whether born or converted. Thus once a person is Jewish they are always judged by Jewish standards, and if they revert/convert to a different religion they are still considered Jewish by Jewish law. BUT, someone practising a religion other than Judaism is considered outside of the community, may not be a member of the community, receive any community honours, be a representative for the community, be buried in a Jewish cemetary, marry a Jew or be treated as a Jew for the purposes of the laws of mourning. However, since they never stop being a Jew- they merely have to repent, return to Judaism and go to mikveh in order to once again be a full member of the community.


Overall- welcome to Judaism- get used to the missionaries and the woefully rude who interpret your dinner to tell you that you will be as well done as your steak in the world to come. (Ok, they have never used that line on me- but I sometimes wish they would- at least it would show they ahve a sense of humour!)

Answer 2

The nature of the Christian religion being what it is, your friends will probably only respond if you are direct almost to the point of rudeness.

I would look them dead in the eye and say with all seriousness, "I've already been there, done that, and am no longer interested. I've made a different decision, and if you can't respect that and leave me alone, I will have to limit my interaction with you."

You can smile sweetly then and say, "And I don't want to do that, 'cause I love you."

I know this sounds hard-core--but in my experience, it was absolutely the only way to get people to stop badgering me.

When I converted, one person asked me WHY I would chose a dead legalistic religion over a personal relationship with G-d. I could only feel sorry for her--she had no idea what I'd found.

Edit: This is too funny--I wrote my response, and then read the other answers, including one from a Christian who bashed Judaism, using the very phrases I'd just used!

Two points: "Jewish" Christians (aka 'Christians') are almost never people who know anything about Judaism. IOW, when a Jew converts to Christianity, it's always a Jew who wasn't observant. Observant Jews know too much about their religion--and enjoy it enough--that they aren't fooled by Christianity's specious claims.

#2: Christians claim to believe that the Jewish scriptures were given by G-d, but then they come up with drivel about how it's the law and can't save anyone. Judaism isn't about being saved--which Christians can't seem to get. It's actually about a personal relationship with G-d. Following the law isn't necessary for everyone and for that reason I always tell people that they don't have to convert. I can tell you, though, that if G-d brings you to Judaism, you'll experience a relationship and great joy.

I'm convinced, having watched this for years, that Christians don't really believe that the Jewish scriptures are from G-d. They like to use the pretty parts--the parts that give them warm and fuzzy feelings--but they toss out anything that goes against their revisionist theology. They 'pick and choose' what to believe. It's silliness--no, it's worse than silliness, since they love to proselytize Jews who aren't educated about their religion.

Answer 3

You're right. The greatest comfort to the soul is to do G-d's mitzvot. That and matzah ball soup ;-)

There are two ways you could handle this. You could flat out say you're not interested in religious debate, you are happy where you are; or, you could get versed in proving J*sus is not the messiah.

The second option is not a favorable one, usually. It makes friends become not friends, and the arguments usually go on forever. FOREVER.

So I would recommend the first. The Jewish ideal would be to avoid an argument. Firmly say that you don't need to prove to anyone he is not messiah, they have your beliefs and you have yours, if they can't be happy with that and happy for you that you've found peace, they're not really friends of yours at all and as such, would have no need to continue to be friends with them.

Peace, and good luck

Answer 4

Hi Miriam--Mazal tov, first of all! I think the two good answers already given are great. This is the nature of faith: it's what you believe in the absence of proof. You will be no more successful at convincing your friends of your perspective than they will be of convincing you of theirs. However, one can always become more knowledgeable about one's own position. To that end I'm putting a link below that has a lot of great information about what we *do* believe about Jesus and our Bible.

As far as what comforts Judaism gives--yes, the mitzvot. I find that Judaism provides an amazing way to approach the Divine. If your friends don't like the fact that you feel comfort and comfortable, well they have a right to their opinion, but that's all it is--their opinion.

Answer 5

I was told "To be a Jew" is a really good book that covers all aspects. I would just tell them your feelings. Exactly what drew you to Judaism. I would not try to explain to them why you feel one thing is untrue about Christianity, it will only bring forth heated debate and no one wins. I would probably approach it as asking them if they respect Judaism or any other religions and ask if they feel other religions respect theirs and than turn to ask why they are not respecting your feelings than. Also many people forget Jesus was a Jew as well and I could only think he abide by the laws. My biggest gripe was that the book in Christianity that states to throw away the law was written many many years after Jesus. I also feel that if there was a final pick of what books went in the King James Version, a person can choose there faith as well with proper relationship with G-d.

I also feel you can't change anyone's mind without some sort of experience in relation of faith. I mean how can a person have faith in the first place without seeking some sort of experience.

Plus as you have seen I'm sure how a rabbi will turn a person away from conversion multiple times as to make sure they are serious. Also a person must want and understand the covenant in order to justfully follow the 613 mitzvot. Even with those words it is probably hard for a person to understand. I always felt that there is a silent understanding with Judaism about this whole subject of understanding what we're doing and why we're doing it.

I hope some of this helps.

Answer 6

Not all Jews believe the same thing about the messiah. Some believe that the "messiah" is simply a metaphor for an era of peace on earth.

We can all agree that the messiah will NOT be divine and does not grant salvation. There is no need for "salvation" in Judaism since Jews don't believe in original sin. All the righteous of the nations have a share in the world-to-come depending on how they've lived their lives here on earth -- regardless of their beliefs! Christians, Muslims, atheists, homosexuals all can all have a share in the world to come. There is no place of eternal torment for "non-believers."

Human sacrifice is an abomination and the belief that God would become human is the ultimate heresy!

The following is an excerpt from "Judaism for Everyone" by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach:
“Whereas the Christian Bible is a book about God incarnate in a body, the Jewish Bible is a book about man and a history of how he struggled in his developing relationship with God.” “The New Testament is about God (as he incarnated himself on earth), whereas the Hebrew Bible is a chronicle of man, from his earliest efforts to know the invisible God. The Hebrew Bible provides the inspiration that influences men and women of faith to emulate the lives of the great heroes of Jewish history.”

“The ultimate purpose of religion is to impart inspiration – to give man not just the vision of a higher purpose, but the wherewithal to make it a reality; not just to be inspired, but to live an inspired life. Life’s most important ingredient is inspiration, without which man is almost indistinguishable from the inanimate rock upon which he treads. Real inspiration comes, not from being exposed to great ideas, but rather from being exposed to great personalities.”

Some people believe that the principal goal of man is personal salvation. To them man’s first concern must always be to climb the mountain of righteousness for himself, to ensure that his every act and thought is just and pure. Judaism rejects this view. From the vantage point of Judaism, it is not personal salvation but world redemption that is man’s first responsibility. Therefore, when man comes before God to express his deepest desires, when he calls forth his most private thoughts, he must do so in the company of the community. For although his words remain private, his prayers must not be only for himself.
.

Answer 7

I am Jewish - well born into Judaism and I find/found it confusing, I'm not orthodox by any means, but I can tell you that there are around 613 mitzvots. I wish I could be more helpful.

Shalom my friend.

Answer 8

Why, thank you--Judaism is aspect of my educational stories, however I for my part understand just a few and am simplest almost one, who was once raised in Israel and does not see it particularly the equal means many different Jewish agencies do. I will absolutely become a member of--I like a well institution open to questions.

Answer 9

The Jewish soul can be comforted in the knowledge that in the end, the entire world will come to realize the One God of Israel, and that the Jews were right the whole time. The nations will be ashamed of their treatment of Israel.

"Thus saith HaShem of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with YOU." (Zechariah 8)

Answer 10

Buy 'Why the Jews Rejected Jesus". Read it. memorize it. keep it handy.

Familiarize yourself with the academics behind the failure of jebis to meet the criteria of messiah.

Insist that they either respect you or you can no longer be their friend! I wish it was as easy as Lady Suri put it, but unfortunately, unless you live in a predominantly Jewish community, this is not going to go away. It will happen until you are firm. They do not understand our ideology and thus continue pressing. Polite but firm is the only way I have found to go about it after trying all other routes.

And, unfortunately, get used to having to deal with this. But, from me, welcome. :)