Any questions about Jewish religion, culture, or history?

[Verus_Israel]

I guess my underlying assumption is that a community of Jews living in, for example, NYC, might like it there, and are not really looking to return to the land we call Israel, and my question is kinda like how does that square with the messiah’s role of returning the Jews to their own law and institutions?

Throughout the history of our various exiles, there have always been Jews who have wished to remain in exile rather than return to our land (consider, for example, the refusal of certain Jewish communities in Yemen to return to the land upon the call of Ezra). Unfortunately, these Jews often lack a real education in Jewish tradition and are entirely unaware of the meaning and scope of our laws. Without an inkling of the degree to which their lives might drastically improve were they under the sole sovereignty of our law, they do not even consider themselves to be living in exile. I believe that this post might also be pertinent to your question.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Hi! If you have any questions about our religion, our culture, or our history, please feel free to ask. I promise I won’t be offended!

I just have to say that I’ve read all your responses, and although I don’t agree with them (including your handle), your answers have always been forthright and genteel.

 

[Verus_Israel]

I just have to say that I’ve read all your responses, and although I don’t agree with them (including your handle), your answers have always been forthright and genteel.

Thank you! All I can offer is what little I know of my people’s culture and history. I appreciate the great questions that have been asked thus far, as well as the warm reception given me upon joining the discussion.

 

[churchcamefirst]

Verus Israel, I am planning a trip to Israel in the next year and I was wondering about the Wailing Wall. Forgive me of my ignorance but I understand the wall was built by king Herod. If this is in fact true, I cannot go there and pay respects to a King who wanted the Messiah Jesus Christ dead. Why is this wall so holy if this murderous man built it? Why do you pray to this wall?
If I am wrong with this please correct me because I don’t know much about this.

 

[Spirithound]

Throughout the history of our various exiles, there have always been Jews who have wished to remain in exile rather than return to our land (consider, for example, the refusal of certain Jewish communities in Yemen to return to the land upon the call of Ezra). Unfortunately, these Jews often lack a real education in Jewish tradition and are entirely unaware of the meaning and scope of our laws. Without an inkling of the degree to which their lives might drastically improve were they under the sole sovereignty of our law, they do not even consider themselves to be living in exile. I believe that this post might also be pertinent to your question.

I think things are becoming clearer now
So, since Israel is a sovereign nation again, would it be prudent for all Jews to return to the Promised Land?

 

[a_cermak]

Verus Israel, I am planning a trip to Israel in the next year and I was wondering about the Wailing Wall. Forgive me of my ignorance but I understand the wall was built by king Herod. If this is in fact true, I cannot go there and pay respects to a King who wanted the Messiah Jesus Christ dead. Why is this wall so holy if this murderous man built it? Why do you pray to this wall?
If I am wrong with this please correct me because I don’t know much about this.

I don’t know of a single person, whether Jew, Moslem or Christian who prays to the wall! They pray at the wall, not to the wall. Only the Divine is worthy of prayers.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Any questions about Jewish religion, culture or history? —uhmm, Nope! lol

 

[anon52328184]

i was always very interested in judaism and from a very young age. i don’t know why because i didn’t know any Jewish people or see any synagogues.
as i grew older, i never lost this quest for a deeper knowledge of judaism and what it meant to be jewish and the jewish people, etc.

finally, when i was maybe 51, i took a discovering judaism class to learn more about what Jews believe. it was invaluable. i found peace in the synagogue,
but it only felt like it was half the story. i admire the Jewish people with their perserverence and their obedience to God and his commandments to them.
they are warm and funny. they are very cultural though. even though you can convert, i am not sure the convert ever feels totally Jewish. the rabbis were very kind and knowledgeable and intelligent people. they are helping people through the phases we all go through in life just like the priests do.
they are spiritual guides.

in judaism, i don’t think they believe that we are born sinners? although they do believe that a messiah will come some day, so i am not sure what the purpose is of their messiah that they are waiting for. so maybe you can answer that for me.

 

[Nickkname]

Hi! If you have any questions about our religion, our culture, or our history, please feel free to ask. I promise I won’t be offended!

In general, what Psalms do Jews like the most?

 

[churchcamefirst]

I don’t know of a single person, whether Jew, Moslem or Christian who prays to the wall! They pray at the wall, not to the wall. Only the Divine is worthy of prayers.

So that still doesn’t answer my question on King Herod…

 

[Valke2]

In general, what Psalms do Jews like the most?

Psalms 113-118 are recited on certain holidays during our services. But on the whole, we are partial to all of them.

Psalm 145 is also popular and recited every afternoon.

 

[churchcamefirst]

Why can’t someone answer my question about the wall built by King Herod?

 

[a_cermak]

Why can’t someone answer my question about the wall built by King Herod?

Herod (sometimes called Herod the Great) was known for his massive building projects in Jerusalem (earmarks aplenty there, I take it).He was a client king of Judaea. Many Jews at the time were unhappy when Rome named Herod to be tetrarch because many did not consider him to be a true Jew due to his Hellenistic tendencies. He was also responsible for building the Masada fortress.

Herod was known for his brutality toward his enemies and even had his wife and two of his sons killed, however no other historical document refers to the intentional massacre of all male children less than 2 years old (Massacre of the Innocents) so some scholars question the literal historical accuracy in Matthew of that event. It could be a historical allusion to the Moses story, for instance.

 

[patrick457]

If I may be bold to ask:

Is it true that attempting to study Ezekiel’s vision of the Merkabah and the Chayyot (ma’asei merkabah) in depth without proper initiation drove men mad?

 

[churchcamefirst]

Herod (sometimes called Herod the Great) was known for his massive building projects in Jerusalem (earmarks aplenty there, I take it).He was a client king of Judaea. Many Jews at the time were unhappy when Rome named Herod to be tetrarch because many did not consider him to be a true Jew due to his Hellenistic tendencies. He was also responsible for building the Masada fortress.

Herod was known for his brutality toward his enemies and even had his wife and two of his sons killed, however no other historical document refers to the intentional massacre of all male children less than 2 years old (Massacre of the Innocents) so some scholars question the literal historical accuracy in Matthew of that event. It could be a historical allusion to the Moses story, for instance.

My question still hasn’t been answered…

 

[anon52328184]

i believe the 23rd psalm is also a favorite.

 

[scipio337]

My question still hasn’t been answered…

As a non-Jew, as I understand it, because it is the last remnant of the 2nd Temple, the Wall is the closest standing spot to where the Foundation Stone and Holiest of Holies once stood.

Since there is no temple, the Western Wall serves as the last remaining representative, and the focus of prayer.

Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the nations: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD" — Book of Lamentations 2:9

 

[Verus_Israel]

Verus Israel, I am planning a trip to Israel in the next year and I was wondering about the Wailing Wall. Forgive me of my ignorance but I understand the wall was built by king Herod. If this is in fact true, I cannot go there and pay respects to a King who wanted the Messiah Jesus Christ dead. Why is this wall so holy if this murderous man built it? Why do you pray to this wall?
If I am wrong with this please correct me because I don’t know much about this.

You must be very excited! Israel is a beautiful country, a place where the ancient and the modern coalesce like nowhere else. Herod was indeed the patron of the enlargements on the second Temple, which included the expansion of the Temple Mount.

The wall has no holiness whatsoever; it is merely bricks and mortar, holding up the side of a hill. Its significance for our people lies in its proximity to the site where that Great House stood; it is the closest we can get to our most beloved place. To my knowledge, no one prays to the wall.

Does that clear things up a little?

 

[Verus_Israel]

I think things are becoming clearer now
So, since Israel is a sovereign nation again, would it be prudent for all Jews to return to the Promised Land?

An astute question! Unfortunately, the modern state of Israel does not function according to our laws; there is still a lot of work to do and change that must be accomplished!

Were the state to recognize the sovereignty of our laws, then it might indeed be prudent for Jews to return to the land - but who knows what society will be like at that point! Nation-states, borders, residency - these are all things that change with the ebb and flow of social progress.

There is a very interesting rabbinic homily that states that “in the times of the Messiah…the land of Israel will stretch to encompass the whole earth.” What do you think this means?

 

[scipio337]

An interesting thread, Versus. Are you Orthodox? Sorry if you already answered this question.