Do you have questions about Traditional Judaism?

[Deut 13:1]

This was posted on another forum I sometimes visit and I thought you guys might find it useful.

A basic primer, very concise, but covering many important topics - http://www.jewfaq.org

If you don't know anything about Judaism and want to learn something, that's the place to start. Another good place: http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=109866

A good resource for a quick, or a not so quick question is http://www.askmoses.com - live chat with a Rabbi, 24/6 (not on Shabbat).

Another source about Judaism and Israel: www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
Other good resources:

Chabad - an extensive site for Judaism, articles, essays, texts, local synagogues and resources in your town - http://www.chabad.org

Ohr Somayach "Ask the Rabbi" database - htttp://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php

http://www.aish.com always has a good selection of essays and articles, from contemporary issues to basics of Jewish philosophy and mysticism, religion and science.

Websites addressing missionary claims - http://www.jewsforjudaism.com/ and http://outreachjudaism.org/

Main portal for OU (Orthodox Judaism) - http://www.ou.org

Jewish texts:

Major Jewish texts in Hebrew - from Tanach to Talmud - http://kodesh.snunit.k12.il/

Library of Jewish and Hassidic texts (including Torah, Prophets, etc), articles, essays and commentaries in English - http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=76131

Torah (Hebrew bible), with hebrew text, transliteration, chanting, all in one - http://bible.ort.org (awesome site)

Hebrew language, an excellent free online tutorial:

http://foundationstone.com.au/OnlineHebrewTutorial.html

Israeli-Arab conflict facts and myths:

http://www.palestinefacts.org/

Israeli news:

http://www.israelnn.com

http://www.jpost.com

http://www.ynetnews.com (largest newspaper)

http://www.haaretzdaily.com

No idea what's going on during services in synagogue? Or at shabbat table?

Read about, and learn the songs/prayers here:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media.asp?AID=265770

Shabbat meal songs and prayers:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media.asp?AID=265769

There are links from there where you can read up on what these prayers and songs actually are.

I didn't compile the list myself, but it definitley is worth sharing.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

:clap That was an excellent contributon. Thank you. :clap

 

[michel]

Yes, Thank you very much, Binyamim.

 

[Yerda]

I've had a read at Judaism 101 before, found it interesting but I've no basis for comparison. I assume it's a good resource?

 

[jewscout]

yeah jaiket that's Jewfaq.org...it's a good site for people who don't know alot about Judaism and want a good place to start.

 

[Deut 13:1]

I've had a read at Judaism 101 before, found it interesting but I've no basis for comparison. I assume it's a good resource?

Correct, it's very basic and I have a couple disagreements with what they say, but overall I'd recomend it.

 

[robtex]

Correct, it's very basic and I have a couple disagreements with what they say, but overall I'd recomend it.

Binyamin (and others) can you tell us what yom kippur is like in your synagogue?

 

[Deut 13:1]

Binyamin (and others) can you tell us what yom kippur is like in your synagogue?

If I had one word to describe it, "Long".

I'm going to a Yasheva for Yom Kippur, it's customary the day before Yom Kippur to eat two LARGE meals and about 20 minutes before sundown you start drinking. You don't eat fish because it's salty and makes you thirsty. Well, normally you have a night service Kol Nidre translates as "All Vows" varies, depending how fast or slow you Davin. Then Thursday morning you have service at 9. You Davin until maybe 3:00 or 3:30 then take a break for 1:30 minutes or 2 hours depending on how fast you Davin. Then you go and Davin until about 7 to 7:30 when you go home or to friends home to break feast. I mean if you want I can type each part of the service for you. Here is a good place to start reading. I mean, you literally spend more time in Shul then you do anywhere else...

http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm

 

[Katzpur]

Read about, and learn the songs/prayers here:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media.asp?AID=265770

Shabbat meal songs and prayers:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media.asp?AID=265769

There are links from there where you can read up on what these prayers and songs actually are.

Okay, this may be a dumb comment and a dumb question, but I love music that I consider to be typically Jewish. I realize, first of all, that that may be a totally illogical statement because there could very well be many, many different kinds of Jewish music. But, I'm thinking of the kind that has a kind of a sorrowful feel to it and a slower than average tempo? A lot of it sounds as if it's written in a minor key. Does that make any sense? I love the Jewish national anthem, and to me, it's a good example of the kind of music I'm thinking of. Another example is the music that was composed as the soundtrack for "Schindler's List." While I know that's not "real" Jewish music, it had the same effect on me as the music I have in mind. If you know what in the heck I'm talking about, I would love a recommendation of a CD I could buy with this music on it. I'm sorry if this question made absolutely no sense whatsoever!

 

[Katzpur]

Another question for you...

I know that the Jewish people in Old Testament times had a number of prophets over the years. Do you believe that God still speaks to your people through prophets? If not, why not? And who was the last person recognized as a prophet by Judaism?

 

[Deut 13:1]

Okay, this may be a dumb comment and a dumb question, but I love music that I consider to be typically Jewish. I realize, first of all, that that may be a totally illogical statement because there could very well be many, many different kinds of Jewish music. But, I'm thinking of the kind that has a kind of a sorrowful feel to it and a slower than average tempo? A lot of it sounds as if it's written in a minor key. Does that make any sense? I love the Jewish national anthem, and to me, it's a good example of the kind of music I'm thinking of. Another example is the music that was composed as the soundtrack for "Schindler's List." While I know that's not "real" Jewish music, it had the same effect on me as the music I have in mind. If you know what in the heck I'm talking about, I would love a recommendation of a CD I could buy with this music on it. I'm sorry if this question made absolutely no sense whatsoever!

I'll be honest I have no idea what type of music you're talking about.

Go here: http://www.haruth.com/JewishMusic.htm

Listen to some songs, send me a link to 3 songs you like, and I'll recommend a CD to buy.

 

[Katzpur]

I'll be honest I have no idea what type of music you're talking about.

Go here: http://www.haruth.com/JewishMusic.htm

Listen to some songs, send me a link to 3 songs you like, and I'll recommend a CD to buy.

Thanks. I kind of thought the question might throw you. My speakers on my home computer are broken, so I'll try to do this on my lunch hour at work tomorrow.

 

[Deut 13:1]

Another question for you...

I know that the Jewish people in Old Testament times had a number of prophets over the years. Do you believe that God still speaks to your people through prophets? If not, why not? And who was the last person recognized as a prophet by Judaism?

Yes, but the ability of the prophets diminishes every generation. For example, if I'm looking at... I don't know, Isaiah 7:14 and I want to understand what the meaning of the verse is (Almah - young woman vs. virgin), and I had asked the Rebbi (who is now dead; died a decade ago) and he said something that differed from what Rashi stated, I would believe what Rashi had to say because he was further back. Some people consider the Rebbi to be a prophet per se, but I consider him more of a top Rabbi. I was actually at 770 this weekend for Shabbat. I hope to see JewScout this week, maybe I'll show him around Kingston.

 

[Deut 13:1]

Up in case anyone has questions.

 

[Avi]

Music wise, I think Israel's ever popular Idan Raichel's Project is my favorite by far.

http://www.idanraichelproject.com/en/

 

[[email protected]]

Here is a question for anyone familar with the Jewish religion in general, not any particular denomination.

What do the Jews believe concerning the Messiah? Since they do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, what kind of Messiah do they look for? I am not trying to debate this, I am just curious. How would they recognize a Messiah when he comes?

 

[Ody]

Here is a question for anyone familar with the Jewish religion in general, not any particular denomination.

What do the Jews believe concerning the Messiah? Since they do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, what kind of Messiah do they look for? I am not trying to debate this, I am just curious. How would they recognize a Messiah when he comes?

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

:run:

 

[dauer]

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/ideas_belief/afterlife/AE_Messianism_TO.htm

More reading on messianism and the messiah in Judaism up top on the left, underneath the highlighted word "messianism."

 

[Djamila]

I have a question.

Since Judaism came before both Christianity and Islam, I was wondering are there any teachings in Judaism that are widely considered to refer to Christians and Muslims - in any sense, whether its how to interact with them, or so on.

Or do Jews base their entire interaction with Christians and Muslims as they would people in general, as that is dictated in their faith? Is there anything in Judaism that refers to Christians and Muslims?

 

[jewscout]

I have a question.

Since Judaism came before both Christianity and Islam, I was wondering are there any teachings in Judaism that are widely considered to refer to Christians and Muslims - in any sense, whether its how to interact with them, or so on.

Or do Jews base their entire interaction with Christians and Muslims as they would people in general, as that is dictated in their faith? Is there anything in Judaism that refers to Christians and Muslims?

well....in hindsight one could argue that the text regarding Ishmael could be eluding to the Muslim world....

but generally.....no....how the Torah teaches us to interact w/ Christians and Muslims is no different than any other religion or peoples in the rest of the world..