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Judaism

Jewish-Christian ("Judeo-Christian") Relations

Interfaith activities (celebrates and affirms both traditions): Interfaith dialogue and even worship (e.g., for Thanksgiving) are becoming more common activities among more liberal Jews and Christians in attempt to understand each other’s beliefs and practices and to appreciate their common heritage and basic moral agreement. Such attempts to expand a general understanding of Judaism in the larger society is especially significant in relation to issues involving Jewish children in the public schools.

Interfaith marriage, assimilation and secularization are felt to be a threat to the future of Judaism (waters down the tradition):

• Today, some 50% or more Jews marry non-Jews. Orthodox tradition holds that if the mother is Jewish, the children are automatically Jewish. If not, they must be converted into the faith to be accepted as true Jews. If the spouse converts, then there is no question of the Jewishness of the children. Reform Jews accept the children regardless and actively encourage the non-Jewish spouse to participate with his or her Jewish family in synagogue life. In this way, the next generation of Jews will not be lost.

Converting to Judaism: Judaism does not actively seek converts but accepts sincere desire of those who would convert. An adult male who converts would have to be ritually circumcised (or the ritual words are recited and he is symbolically circumcised with a small drop of blood if it was already done medically). Another part of conversion is a ritual ablution in a Mikvah (the ritual bath used periodically among the Orthodox for purification, esp. for women following menstruation and childbirth). One who would convert must first talk with a Rabbi and usually take some classes to learn what it means to be Jewish and to learn the "how-to’s." (the Biblical book of Ruth is an example of ancient conversion to Judaism)

Christian proselytism to Jews: Groups such as "Jews for Jesus" and "Messianic Judaism" are not Jewish groups but, rather, Christian groups seeking to appeal to Jews through maintaining Jewish traditions and identity but with Christian beliefs. Many involved in these groups were born Jewish but converted their beliefs to fundamentalist Christianity. Judaism does not accept them as Jewish and is very concerned about such subversive attempts to proselytize to Jews. However, those born to Jewish ancestry continue to be seen as Jewish by heritage if not by faith and practice.

Judaism and Christian beliefs:

Also see: 
http://whatjewsbelieve.org/ 
http://www.torahatlanta.com/Articles.html 

Jews and Jesus: Why don’t Jews accept Jesus? (essay)

• Jewish views of Jesus: Jews do not use the New Testament (a non-issue, emotional taboo). Most Jews know very little about Jesus ("that man", "Mr. Christ"). When Jews hear the name "Jesus" they think "human", when Christians hear the name "Jesus" they think "the Christ" - god become man (that’s how each was taught from early childhood).

• The Jews of Jesus’ day saw him as undermining Jewish tradition and ritual; they saw him as a radical and non-conformist. Such radical movements in those days served only to cause friction with the ruling party (the Romans) rather than to foster beneficent relationships.

• Jews today may be aware of Jesus as having been Jewish, they may accept him as having been a good and even wise man but not as an incarnation of God. Such notions are anathema to Jewish understanding of the distinctions between the Creator and the created, between God and humanity. God is entirely non-physical and, although God may effect physical events (e.g., through acts of history), the Creator does not directly manifest Itself in the form of the created. The infinite God cannot manifest in finite physical form.

Jewish concept of Messiah: Messiah = entirely human, political leader who’s activity will return the Jews to their Promised Land and restore self-governance and inaugurate world peace. Jesus did not achieve this and so he does not fit the Jewish expectations for the Messiah (Christians reinterpreted the meaning of Messiah to be a spiritual rather than political savior)

Jews and "original sin": Jews see no need for a spiritual savior for they do not believe that humans are by nature sinful. It is human actions, not human beings, that are sinful and are atoned for through religious observances. Jews see no need for a mediator between human beings and God. God has communicated to human beings through prophets and directly to the individual through heartfelt prayer, faith and devotion.

Jews and the Trinity: God as "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" appears to Jews as antithetical to monotheism. To the Jewish mind, this appears to be worship of three different Gods. Judaism does have a concept of the "Holy Spirit" (in Hebrew: Ruach HaKodesh). This is the "spark of God" innate within each of us which gives us life and enables us to connect with God.

This ends the lectures on Judaism
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