A peculiar thing happened to me today

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WilT

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As I enjoyed Mass then a big car show in my area. I was sitting at the curb (the show had just ended) eating a snack and drink. A tall gentlemen with a young girl had just walked just behind me dressed in a black suit and skull cap I said back to him Shalom! He turned around and asked me if I knew Judaism. I said no. He asked me again how I knew Judaism, I thought that was an interesting question being that I heard him clearly say to me as he passed, Shalom! I felt I had to respond so I told him a knew very little (I put my index and thumb together) So he asked again. I then said to him that I was Catholic and that seemed to had answered his question satisfactory. I’m not sure what had happened during that encounter but I left feeling a little odd about it all.:hmmm:
 
WilT said:
As I enjoyed Mass then a big car show in my area. I was sitting at the curb (the show had just ended) eating a snack and drink. A tall gentlemen with a young girl had just walked just behind me dressed in a black suit and skull cap I said back to him Shalom! He turned around and asked me if I knew Judaism. I said no. He asked me again how I knew Judaism, I thought that was an interesting question being that I heard him clearly say to me as he passed, Shalom! I felt I had to respond so I told him a knew very little (I put my index and thumb together) So he asked again. I then said to him that I was Catholic and that seemed to had answered his question satisfactory. I’m not sure what had happened during that encounter but I left feeling a little odd about it all.:hmmm:
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He may have thought you were either a non-observant Jew or a less orthodox one. In that case, he would have been permitted to talk to you about Judaism and perhaps attempt to encourage you to become more orthodox. When you told him you are Catholic, he walked away because Jews are not permitted to evangelize to non-Jews.
 
NeedsMercy said:
How interesting! I never knew that. What would be the reasoning behind this?
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It may be because a) in the millenniums of dispersion, such activity among the non-Jewish majority would lead to ethnic tension and conflict, or b) because non-Jews are not required, Biblically, to become Jewish, converting them would be a waste of effort that would better be spent strengthening the faith of the community.

This is a very interesting question. Any comments, MB?

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
It may be because a) in the millenniums of dispersion, such activity among the non-Jewish majority would lead to ethnic tension and conflict, or b) because non-Jews are not required, Biblically, to become Jewish, converting them would be a waste of effort that would better be spent strengthening the faith of the community.

This is a very interesting question. Any comments, MB?

ICXC NIKA
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Although both these explanations may play a role, the reason I know of is that evangelizing is viewed as imposing one’s own faith and forcing others to convert (relative to your first reason), and it is felt the decision to convert must come from within since only that would indicate a sincere desire to practice Judaism.
 
fred_conty said:
That’s a good point. But then how would they know if they don’t know anything about it?
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Perhaps word of mouth and social media. People may come in contact with Jews in their daily lives or read about Jewish history. Another important point, as GEddie alluded to, is that Judaism does not believe non-Jews have to become Jewish to be “saved.” The latter term is defined quite differently in Judaism than it is in Christianity, more with respect to moral deeds than faith and having nothing to do with a Savior. In fact, eternal salvation is not really the focus of Judaism although this does not mean Judaism rejects the idea of heaven. The primary focus is practicing the commandments of G-d in all domains of life.
 
meltzerboy said:
Perhaps word of mouth and social media. People may come in contact with Jews in their daily lives or read about Jewish history. Another important point, as GEddie alluded to, is that Judaism does not believe non-Jews have to become Jewish to be “saved.” The latter term is defined quite differently in Judaism than it is in Christianity, more with respect to moral deeds than faith and having nothing to do with a Savior. In fact, eternal salvation is not really the focus of Judaism although this does not mean Judaism rejects the idea of heaven. The primary focus is practicing the commandments of G-d in all domains of life.
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You said “The primary focus is practicing the commandments of G-d in all domains of life.”
If it isn’t for salvation or heaven, then why? A Catholic of course says that breaking the commandments one will literally lose heaven, and keeping them will raise one to a higher reward in heaven. The other reason is to bring one closer to God in this life and the next, and the peace of mind.

May God grant you peace.
 
fred_conty said:
You said “The primary focus is practicing the commandments of G-d in all domains of life.”
If it isn’t for salvation or heaven, then why? A Catholic of course says that breaking the commandments one will literally lose heaven, and keeping them will raise one to a higher reward in heaven. The other reason is to bring one closer to God in this life and the next, and the peace of mind.

May God grant you peace.
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The main reason is that G-d told us to do so. The secondary reason is that the Law makes life meaningful and good. Heaven would be the icing on the cake, I suppose, but G-d’s Law abides with or without heaven.
 
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