Promised land/promised world (priests, moral, Moses, Earth, Torah)

[NoahideHiker]

G-D revealed himself to the Israelites and so they had the choice to love him or not, to be saved or not, but he didn't give the people of Cannan, Jerhico or wherever that choice so basically he punished them for not loving him when they never knew he existed. if he had revealed himself to them, then they might just have loved him. They were punished for not knowing about him, yet he repeatedly forgives the Israelites who knew him yet turned away . whats worse breaking a law you don't know exists.....or breaking a law you are fully conscious of???

There are certain laws in Torah that stipulate that peace must be sought at many turns in the road to war. Every effort would have been mae to bring not only peace but the knowledge of G-d to them. Here is a very good article on genisice in the Torah...

http://www.algemeiner.com/generic.asp?id=410

If G-D trusted them as spokesmen for his faith, surely they should be out there knocking on peoples doors sharing their religion and converting as many people as possible.

The Jews don't need to 'save' people. Being saved is mostly a christian concept. We are born with salvation. what we do in this world is a reflection of our thankfulness and reaction to that salvation. Salvation is not something to be gained but to be lost and it is very hard to lose it. Judaism does not hold to the christian concept that we are born in this miserable state of sinfulness that can not be undone without a messiah.

Converting is not needed. Nowhere in the Hebrew scriptures does it say that there is any one 'right religion' except that the Jews were to stay Jewish. If a person's religion holds to the basic tenants of the covenant with Noah then they are already righteous. It is kind of like a class room. Not every person in the class room can be the teacher nor are they qualitifed to teach.

why would a Rabbi tell me he is happy that i am a christian and therefore am already saved, when Christianity and Judaism are so different, to Jews, Jesus was just a man yet we Christians worship him, if he is just a man then we are worshiping a false idol in the eyes or Judaism!

Because for the most part christians are good people with high morals and most support Israel. Save for but a few issues they already follow the seven laws of Noah that the Jews are to teach us.

1. Idolatry - You shall not make for yourself an idol.
2. Murder - You shall not murder.
3. Theft - You shall not steal.
4. Sexual Promiscuity - You shall not commit adultery.
5. Blasphemy - You shall not blaspheme.
6. Cruelty to Animals - Do not eat the flesh of a living animal.
7. Government - You shall set up an effective government to police the preceding six laws.

The rabbi at my local Orthodox shule stated that were it not for christianity very few in the world would even know the concepts of a messiah. Not to meantion how much darker the world be. While many profess hatred of organized religions such as the Catholic church these churches have done far more good for the world than bad. Look how many hospitals and schools were started by christians, how many sick and hungry people it has fed, how many people have been educated by them. And christianity has swung the balance to righteousness far more than if it never existed. Judaism has no problem with christianity as long as they leave the Jews alone to their task in this world and don't try to convert them.

Here is a great website about basic Judaism. There is a lot there to learn.

http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm

[jewscout]

A few things i want to address here.
the first, yes, as has already been pointed out the concept of "choseness" is not understood in the same way as most non-jews think it is understood. It is in no way a concept of superiority. As has been stated, view Bnei Yisrael as the firstborn son, who should be looking out for the younger ones. Jews are not better than anyone else.

as far as converting non-jews to judaism, it's not necessary. Plus, to be an observant jew is a very very difficult thing to do. It's not easy to be a jew. Not everyone is cut out to be an automechanic. Not everyone is cut out to be a jew. And since there is no real concept of eternal damnation there is no need for "saving". non-jews are fine being themselves and there's nothing wrong with that.

[sandy whitelinger]

Originally Posted by jmaster78

Could someone clear up a thought for me! if the Boss created the world equal, then every part of it should be equally important.

This would seem to be the source of your confusion. There is nothing in Scripture that states God created the world equal.

[jmaster78]

I'm glad yous have put my mind at rest regarding jewish acceptance of christianity, and israels role in the world. but i don't think i'll every fully understand the justification for the amount of carnage in the old testament. hopefully someday!

[NoahideHiker]

Originally Posted by jmaster78

I'm glad yous have put my mind at rest regarding jewish acceptance of christianity, and israels role in the world. but i don't think i'll every fully understand the justification for the amount of carnage in the old testament. hopefully someday!

Well, when ya look at from both ends ya have to wonder why G-d has allowed so much carnage since then too. There have been far more of it in the past 2,000 years than all of history combined before it. 12 million in the Halacaust camps alone and another what?, 5 million soldiers in WWII alone. Hiroshima killed some 110,000 with one bomb. Crusades. Polegromes. The Iraqi war has probably killed more people than King David would have wiped out.

When it comes to warfare few nations are as careful or compassionate as Israel. Look at the laws within the Torah they are to follow concerning war. They have to give warning their army is coming and even then when they besiege a city they can only block three sides of the town to give anyone a chance to flee they can. Even then they would still be parlaying and trying to come to a peaceful solution.

The written Torah is like the headlines of the daily paper. If you cut out just the headlines and read only those would you have a very good idea about what was going on? Same goes for the Torah without reading the Oral law. The Oral Law is the meat of the story that explains the headlines.

[jmaster78]

thanks for pointing that out. do you know of any websites that have the Torah and oral teachings online to help me understand Judaism more fully. You can't even find a copy in the local bookshops round here! people are so concerned whether your protestant or catholic they must have forget there are other older forms of the faith. hence my severe lack of knowledge of the faith that gave birth to my own.

[jmaster78]

thanks for pointing that out. do you know of any websites that have the Torah and oral teachings online to help me understand Judaism more fully. You can't even find a copy in the local bookshops round here! people are so concerned whether your protestant or catholic they must have forget there are other older forms of the faith. hence my severe lack of knowledge of the faith that gave birth to my own.

[NoahideHiker]

Originally Posted by jmaster78

thanks for pointing that out. do you know of any websites that have the Torah and oral teachings online to help me understand Judaism more fully. You can't even find a copy in the local bookshops round here! people are so concerned whether your protestant or catholic they must have forget there are other older forms of the faith. hence my severe lack of knowledge of the faith that gave birth to my own.

The Talmud or Oral Tradition is not online. At least I've never seen it there. It's huge. Artscroll has the set online for $2,900 U.S.. There are 71 volumes to it.

Here's a link to Chabad's online library which includes the Complete Judaica Tanach with Rashi's commentary. Plus lots of other great writings.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=76131