questions about Jews (preferably an actual Jew answer)

[BornAgain2010]

I am not anti-semitic. Let me start off by clearing that up first.

That said, I do have a few questions regarding Jews. And again I am in no way shape or form trying to put down, make angry, or put anyone off. I apologize if I come off as such. I’m just asking questions.

First, the “Jewish by birth argument”

I’m having a hard time trying to understand this. I get that you may be born into Judaism, but I dont see how religion can be hereditary. And again, maybe I’m just interpreting it wrong. I dont know. But its hard to imagine that a belief system can be traced hereiditarily. Like me personally, I’m a Roman-Catholic. But I dont say I was “Catholic by birth”. At most I say I was born into a Catholic family. But never “Catholic by birth”. I dont think that there are genetics that indicate what religion you’re going to be when youre born. I doubt that there’s a “Jewish Gene”, or “Christian Gene”, or even a “Buddhist Gene”. Religion is a belief system, an ideal. Thats something that is formed from a mixtture of intellect and emotion. At birth, I doubt that the human mind is capable of choosing which religion its going to be. So if someone on here (preferablly a Jew), if they could maybe try and explain it to me better, I would deeply appreciate it.

Second, money.

Not all of the Jews, but a majority of them, alot of them are extremely careful about money. Which is fine, you should be careful about your finances. But it seems that alot of Jews are like OVERLY-cautious about money. I dont know if thats like a faith-based thing, like back in the ancient world the Romans were notorious for heavy taxation. So maybe its like a hold-over of some sort.

Third, a friend of mine said that in Judaism, you aren’t required to go to Temple each week, just on certain holidays. Isnt that against the Ten Commandments “remember Sabbath to keep it holy” ?. You don’t have to take Sacraments or go to Confession or anything like that. Is that more a doctrinal thing or what?

Again, I’m sorry if I come off or sound anti-semitic. I’m just trying to understand differences. I’m just asking questions. I dont really know much about Judaism and so I’m just trying to compare and contrast. I’m just asking questions. I’m sorry I have offended anyone, as that was not my intent.

 

[Nine_Two]

For the first question, keep in mind there is a Jewish ethnicity and a Jewish religion, the two aren’t always the same. Additionally missionary religions don’t tend to consider geneology important, but Judaism isn’t a missionary religion, there are many religions which require you to be the right ethnicity, some are even more strict than Jews (Zoroastrans for example).

For your second question, that stereotype is applied to a number of groups, to the point that it is irrelevent. There are lots of stingy people of all ethnic groups. Arabs, Indians, Scots, Spanish, Russians, Chinese, Turks, etc. all have that stereotype about them. We’ve got most of humanity right there.

For your third question, I don’t know what the regulations are for Jews, but they haven’t had a temple in nearly 2,000 years, which puts your source in doubt.

I’m not Jewish but I hope this helps

 

[BornAgain2010]

For the first question, keep in mind there is a Jewish ethnicity and a Jewish religion, the two aren’t always the same. Additionally missionary religions don’t tend to consider geneology important, but Judaism isn’t a missionary religion, there are many religions which require you to be the right ethnicity, some are even more strict than Jews (Zoroastrans for example).

For your second question, that stereotype is applied to a number of groups, to the point that it is irrelevent. There are lots of stingy people of all ethnic groups. Arabs, Indians, Scots, Spanish, Russians, Chinese, Turks, etc. all have that stereotype about them. We’ve got most of humanity right there.

For your third question, I don’t know what the regulations are for Jews, but they haven’t had a temple in nearly 2,000 years, which puts your source in doubt.

I’m not Jewish but I hope this helps

I’m confused about how religion and ethnicity are both Jewish. How can a religion and an ethnicity be the same? When you say that there is a Jewish ethnicity…are you refering to Israelites? or Israeli’s? or are you refering to some sort of tribal thing?

It was my understanding that Judaism was the religion,
but Israelite or Israeli was the people.

^
Am I correct in that logic?

 

[Nine_Two]

I’m confused about how religion and ethnicity are both Jewish. How can a religion and an ethnicity be the same? When you say that there is a Jewish ethnicity…are you refering to Israelites? or Israeli’s? or are you refering to some sort of tribal thing?

It was my understanding that Judaism was the religion,
but Israelite or Israeli was the people.

^
Am I correct in that logic?

Israel is a state, an Israelite is a citizen of that state. It may also be used to talk about the ancient nation from which the Jews claim heritage.

The Jewish ethnic group is just that, those who trace their heritage to the ancient Israelites, just like I’m an ethnic Scotish/Irish/English person, I trace my heritage to the British Isles. Most Jews are of the Jewish faith, but not all. There are many who converted to Protestantism who stay close to their Jewish cultural identity, there are also many Jewish Atheists, and probably ethnic Jews of other religions.

 

[John_Paul_Jones]

Israel is a state, an** Israelite is a citizen of that state.** It may also be used to talk about the ancient nation from which the Jews claim heritage.

I think you mean Israelis are citizens of that state, Israelites are those who lived during the 11th and 7th century B.C. After the death of Solomon there was was split into a northern and southern kingdom - Israel and Judah. Something I’ve read I thought was interesting about the word “Judah” is that it’s YHWH with a “D” inserted into it.

The Jewish ethnic group is just that, those who trace their heritage to the ancient Israelites, just like** I’m an ethnic Scotish/Irish/English **person, I trace my heritage to the British Isles. Most Jews are of the Jewish faith, but not all. There are many who converted to Protestantism who stay close to their Jewish cultural identity, there are also many Jewish Atheists, and probably ethnic Jews of other religions.

Are you Scotch-Irish (some say Scots-Irish) and English, or are you Scottish with ancestors from Scotland and Irish with ancestors from Ireland and English? I was just curious, I hope you don’t mind me asking.

I was once told by my Irish friend that because I was Scotch-Irish I wasn’t really Irish I didn’t mind him saying that, but something I kinda mind and Jewish friend tells me this all the time, and I could never make sense of (and no offense to Jewish people) is that there are Jewish Atheist and they’re still Jewish (and that’s ok), but if you are a Jewish person who becomes a Christian (even though you’re still technically by ethnicity Jewish) you are no longer Jewish .

 

[Nine_Two]

I think you mean Israelis are citizens of that state, Israelites are those who lived during the 11th and 7th century B.C. After the death of Solomon there was was split into a northern and southern kingdom - Israel and Judah. Something I’ve read I thought was interesting about the word “Judah” is that it’s YHWH with a “D” inserted into it.

Yes, that’s what I meant. Oops.

Are you Scotch-Irish (some say Scots-Irish) and English, or are you Scottish with ancestors from Scotland and Irish with ancestors from Ireland and English? I was just curious, I hope you don’t mind me asking.

I was once told by my Irish friend that because I was Scotch-Irish I wasn’t really Irish I didn’t mind him saying that, but something I kinda mind and Jewish friend tells me this all the time, and I could never make sense of (and no offense to Jewish people) is that there are Jewish Atheist and they’re still Jewish (and that’s ok), but if you are a Jewish person who becomes a Christian (even though you’re still technically by ethnicity Jewish) you are no longer Jewish .

Highland Scots, English (I have no idea where from) and Irish. A quick google search says my Irish side has its “ancient seat” Galway and Ulster, of course that’s also where the Scots-Irish were, and everyone likes to make family history sound better, so who knows, it might be Scots-Irish there.

 

[Pax_in_Veritate]

So there were 12 tribes of Israel. THe Isrealites had a kingdom. THe kingdom split in to Judea and Israel. These two kingdowms were of the 12 tribes of Isrealites?

Were all 12 tribes Jewish then or only the ones from Judea? What about the tribes of Benjamin and Judah?

 

[Nine_Two]

So there were 12 tribes of Israel. THe Isrealites had a kingdom. THe kingdom split in to Judea and Israel. These two kingdowms were of the 12 tribes of Isrealites?

Were all 12 tribes Jewish then or only the ones from Judea? What about the tribes of Benjamin and Judah?

The Southern Kingdom consisted of Benjamin and Judah. Because Judah was the larger tribe it was called the Kingdom of Judah. It is from this kingdom that the modern Jewish religion came.

There is significant academic dispute on what happened to the other ten but traditionally it is held they were scattered by the Assyrians, throughout the world there are several minor localized religions that have interesting similarities to Judaism, the Beta Israel being the most notable.

 

[Pax_in_Veritate]

The Southern Kingdom consisted of Benjamin and Judah. Because Judah was the larger tribe it was called the Kingdom of Judah. It is from this kingdom that the modern Jewish religion came.

There is significant academic dispute on what happened to the other ten but traditionally it is held they were scattered by the Assyrians, throughout the world there are several minor localized religions that have interesting similarities to Judaism, the Beta Israel being the most notable.

So Judaism, perhaps the Judaism Jesus practiced, came from the kingdom of Judah through the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. The other tribes were scattered and lost their faith and/or ethnicity…

You say Judaism gained its name through the king of Judah. What was it called before that? And did everybody uniformly practice this religion?

So when Israel was united into a single kingdom and before the split, were all twelve tribes practicing Judaism?

And the israelites before the kingdom of Judah were called Hewbrews? And after Judah their religion and the tribes of judah abd benjamin were called Jews?

 

[Pax_in_Veritate]

There was kingdom of Israel, divided into north and south Northern kingdom and 10 tribes were wiped out. Southern kingdom, Judah, carried on for many hundreds of years. They were not practicing Judaism as Jesus knew it. They were polytheists. The Bible had NOT been written yet.

The tribe of Judah, the last remaining tribe, was polytheistic until the 6th century BC when the :book of deuteronomy was discovered in the temple under the King Josiah. The king wanted to reform the religion of the inhabitants into monotheism in order to prepare for battle with the assyrians and egyptians. "

The tribe of Judah was mainly worshipping the goddess Ashura.

This was the beginning of monotheism in Israel/Judah, when Deuteronomy, or the laws were proumulgated. Apparently the Judeans were not aware of the covenant of Abraham, Moses, ETC.

Deuteronomy refocused on Moses and Yahweh’s instructions.

This is the beginning of the Judaism that we know now.

Josiah launched an attack against the Egyptians and Josiah was killed. After Josiah died, worship of Ashura was reestablished.

Then came the Babylonian conquest of Judah and the Babylonian captivity.
Here, the Judean scribes wrote the Bible for the first time, which were oral stories, many fictional, including the Egyptian captivity (the israelites were actually caananites living as slaves in Canaan).
While in Exile, the Jews of the tribe of Judah, the last remaining Israelites, embraced their new bible and developed their unified religion around god punishing them for misbehaving.

This ended Israelite polytheism and they began living by the covenant as described in their bible. Israelite religion turned into the earliest form of Judaism.

This is the result of my research from a documentary, Saga of the Israelites, wikipedia, my own understanding.

 

[Dee_Katia]

I was once told by my Irish friend that because I was Scotch-Irish I wasn’t really Irish I didn’t mind him saying that, but something I kinda mind and Jewish friend tells me this all the time, and I could never make sense of (and no offense to Jewish people) is that there are Jewish Atheist and they’re still Jewish (and that’s ok), but if you are a Jewish person who becomes a Christian (even though you’re still technically by ethnicity Jewish) you are no longer Jewish .

Being an atheist doesn’t contradict the commandment not to hold any god before God - atheists don’t believe in any God, which is compatible. I know many atheist or agnostic Jews who go to synagogue on High Holidays, celebrate Passover, etc. Adopting another religion (not just Christianity), on the other hand, is actively repudiating your faith of birth.

 

[Miriam1947]

There is a cultural identity among Jews even those who are not Orthodox and never go to synagogue. Many of them still celebrate the Passover each year.

Here is a good article about the DNA question of Jews.

cohen-levi.org/jewish_genes_and_genealogy/jewish_genes_-_dna_evidence.htm

Excerpt:

Recently published research in the field of molecular genetics ñ the study of DNA sequences ñ indicates that Jewish populations of the various Diaspora communities have retained their genetic identity throughout the exile. Despite large geographic distances between the communities and the passage of thousands of years, far removed Jewish communities share a similar genetic profile. This research confirms the common ancestry and common geographical origin of world Jewry.

Jewish men from communities which developed in the Near East ñ Iran / Iraq, Kurds, Yemenites, Roman Jews, and Ashkenazim / European Jews ñ have very similar, almost identical genetic profiles.

“Despite their long-term residence in different countries and isolation from one another, most Jewish populations were not significantly different from one another at the genetic level. The results support the hypothesis that the paternal gene pools of Jewish communities from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East descended from a common Middle Eastern ancestral population, and suggest that most Jewish communities have remained relatively isolated from neighboring non-Jewish communities during and after the Diaspora.” (M.F. Hammer, Proc. Nat’l Academy of Science, June 9, 2000)

The basis of this new field of population research is the study of the Y-chromosome, which is passed virtually unchanged from father to son. The rare mutations ñ which are changes in the non-coding portion of its DNA ñ can serve as markers which can distinguish peoples. By studying the genetic signatures of various groups, comparisons can be made to determine the genetic relationships between the groups.

Y-chromosome research of the Jewish people began as an outgrowth of the study of Cohanim ñ the Jewish priestly family. These studies showed a very high genetic affinity among present-day Kohanim ñ indicating that they do have a common paternal ancestor, estimated to have lived some 3,000 years ago. (See: DNA Chain of Tradition ñ The Discovery of the “Cohen Gene”)

 

[1ke]

First, the “Jewish by birth argument”

I’m having a hard time trying to understand this.

Jewish is a race, Judaism is a religion.

Second, money.

This is a stereotype.

Third, a friend of mine said that in Judaism, you aren’t required to go to Temple each week, just on certain holidays

There is no temple, it was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. I believe you mean synagogue.

. Isnt that against the Ten Commandments “remember Sabbath to keep it holy” ?.

No.

You do not have an accurate understanding of what keeping the Sabbath holy means in the Jewish religion and what role the synagogue plays in the Jewish religion.

You don’t have to take Sacraments or go to Confession or anything like that. Is that more a doctrinal thing or what?

Your questions does not make sense.

Again, I’m sorry if I come off or sound anti-semitic. I’m just trying to understand differences. I’m just asking questions. I dont really know much about Judaism and so I’m just trying to compare and contrast. I’m just asking questions. I’m sorry I have offended anyone, as that was not my intent.

You can contact a local rabbi. I’m sure he’d be willing to discuss the Jewish religion with you.

 

[Javl]

Originally Posted by BornAgain2010
Again, I’m sorry if I come off or sound anti-semitic. I’m just trying to understand differences. I’m just asking questions. I dont really know much about Judaism and so I’m just trying to compare and contrast. I’m just asking questions. I’m sorry I have offended anyone, as that was not my intent.

All your questions are answered in the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA. It is available via the following link.

newadvent.org/utility/search.htm?safe=active&cx=000299817191393086628%3Aifmbhlr-8x0&q=judaism&cof=FORID%3A9#861

PAX DOMINI

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Nine_Two]

I know Scots-Irish are recent, I meant that such comments on random websites found by a quick google search aren’t necessarily very correct.

 

[chosen_people]

I am not anti-semitic. Let me start off by clearing that up first.

That said, I do have a few questions regarding Jews. And again I am in no way shape or form trying to put down, make angry, or put anyone off. I apologize if I come off as such. I’m just asking questions.

First, the “Jewish by birth argument”

I’m having a hard time trying to understand this. I get that you may be born into Judaism, but I dont see how religion can be hereditary. And again, maybe I’m just interpreting it wrong. I dont know. But its hard to imagine that a belief system can be traced hereiditarily. Like me personally, I’m a Roman-Catholic. But I dont say I was “Catholic by birth”. At most I say I was born into a Catholic family. But never “Catholic by birth”. I dont think that there are genetics that indicate what religion you’re going to be when youre born. I doubt that there’s a “Jewish Gene”, or “Christian Gene”, or even a “Buddhist Gene”. Religion is a belief system, an ideal. Thats something that is formed from a mixtture of intellect and emotion. At birth, I doubt that the human mind is capable of choosing which religion its going to be. So if someone on here (preferablly a Jew), if they could maybe try and explain it to me better, I would deeply appreciate it.

Second, money.

Not all of the Jews, but a majority of them, alot of them are extremely careful about money. Which is fine, you should be careful about your finances. But it seems that alot of Jews are like OVERLY-cautious about money. I dont know if thats like a faith-based thing, like back in the ancient world the Romans were notorious for heavy taxation. So maybe its like a hold-over of some sort.

Third, a friend of mine said that in Judaism, you aren’t required to go to Temple each week, just on certain holidays. Isnt that against the Ten Commandments “remember Sabbath to keep it holy” ?. You don’t have to take Sacraments or go to Confession or anything like that. Is that more a doctrinal thing or what?

Again, I’m sorry if I come off or sound anti-semitic. I’m just trying to understand differences. I’m just asking questions. I dont really know much about Judaism and so I’m just trying to compare and contrast. I’m just asking questions. I’m sorry I have offended anyone, as that was not my intent.

Jews are a people. Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. If you would like to learn how the Jewish people came to be, may I suggest the book of Genesis. D.N.A studies show that Jews from every part of the world, share specific genetic markings showing common ancestry and a common source in the Middle East. Kohanim show a single common ancestor at a little over 3000 years ago. The point is that when your Jewish neighbor celebrates going out of Egypt at the passover seder, he/she is celebrating events that occurred to people from whom they are descended.

A Jew may be religious or he may be not very observant, however if he does not do an act which, according to Judaism, will cut him off forever from God and the Jewish people, he will remain a Jew and a member of the Jewish nation. Judaism does not require an intermediary between God. If a person lived in an area where there was no minyan (read:quorum) for prayer or he lived too far from a synagogue to walk when it is forbidden to drive, he would not stop being a Jew and he would not stop praying.

Jews make up about two per cent of the US population but about 30 per cent of the mega donors. Giving charity (Tzedakah) and helping others is an integral part of Judaism.