Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew!

[rebelishaulman]

A woman who is not a Jew converts to Judaism. At the time she has one adult child no longer living at home. She has one young pre-school child living at home. She is pregnant with a third. And later in life has a fourth child. Given that the child of a Jewish mother is him/herself a Jew also, does that apply to each of these children?

How would it change if the father divorced the mother, and moved away taking the children with him and none of them were raised as Jews?

Based on that the conversion is valid. The child who she is pregnant with when she converts, well there is a halachic debate on if the child is Jewish or not based on the second he/she is born, my belief is that the child is Jewish. The 4th baby is Jewish also. The first and second are not Jewish. Since the last two are born Jews, it doesn't matter how they are raised.

this is the first time i am reading anything like this - that a jewish woman who becomes christian is still considered a jew by jewish law.

Well of course. Many Orthodox Jews view liberal/reform Judaism as a foreign religion, certainly not Judaism so therefore, they are practicing a separate religion from Judaism as well you could say. They remain Jewish.

i don't think it would be up to the cemetery - what does the halacha say about it? can a jew who became a christian be buried in a jewish cemetery?

The answer is it probably it depends. Was this a person who truly rebelled against G-d? Was it more likely an emotionally broken/weak individual who missionaries will prey on? There is no mourning for an apostate Jew according to halacha however.

I will look up the halacha for you, but later, I am sort of busy right now, and Shabbat is very soon. Is it an urgent matter for you to know, since requests on burials and topics involving death are the ones that need an answer right away.

 

[Malaikah]

There are kabbalistic answers for this as well Tractate Sanhedrin 97a, which was redacted approximately 1,500 years ago states, "The world will exist for six thousand years and in the seven-thousandth year, it will be destroyed." An important Kabbalistic work, the Sefer HaTemunah, written in the first century, writes that there were 6 cycles of 7,000 years each which preceded our present cycle of creation. This would explain the finding of ancient fossils of the dinosaurs! Who knows!

Can you explain what kabbalistic, Sefer HaTemunah and Tractate Sanhedrin mena please?

Also, you Holy book was given to Moses right? Did the other prophets after him add to it? How do you know about the Prophets who came after him?:?

 

[rebelishaulman]

Can you explain what kabbalistic, Sefer HaTemunah and Tractate Sanhedrin mena please?

"Tractate Sanhedrin" is a book of the Talmud.

"Kabbalistic" is a term used for Jewish mystisism. It is so complicated, it is dangerous to learn it if you do not have a huge amount of wisdom, knowledge and are to young.

The ancient mystical treatise called "Sefer Hat'munah" - the Book of the Picture. The "Sefer Hatemunah" teaches that there is a cosmic shmita cycle which effects the creation and duration of existence.

This is very deep stuff and many authorities say that Kabbalah is so complicated dealing with such deep topics, that it should be illegal for anyone under 40 to learn it because they may get the wrong idea of it, or not understand and come to a different conclusion.

Also, you Holy book was given to Moses right? Did the other prophets after him add to it? How do you know about the Prophets who came after him?

The Torah was given to Moshe from G-d at Mount Sinai. Other prophets completed books which now put together are called the Tanakh.

 

[Malaikah]

Thanks.

As for the mystic books, what authority do they have? Who wrote them?

 

[جوري]

"Tractate Sanhedrin" is a book of the Talmud.

"Kabbalistic" is a term used for Jewish mystisism. It is so complicated, it is dangerous to learn it if you do not have a huge amount of wisdom, knowledge and are to young.

This is very deep stuff and many authorities say that Kabbalah is so complicated dealing with such deep topics, that it should be illegal for anyone under 40 to learn it because they may get the wrong idea of it, or not understand and come to a different conclusion.



.

Amazing... how are Madonna, Britney Spears and demi Moore handling the wisdom of Kabalah according to actual Jewish Kabalists?..........
Do tell us what it is about Kabalah that makes it so profound and yet appealing to young hollywood stars?

 

[rebelishaulman]

Thanks.

As for the mystic books, what authority do they have? Who wrote them?

According to most segments of Jewry, this esoteric Kabbalah dates from Adam. But was put together on paper by our wisest of sages. As for the authority. Depends what Rabbi or minhag (customs) you follow, to see how muc influence Kabbalah has into the regional customs. Snce Jewish Law encourages to keep the customs of your house.

Amazing... how are Madonna, Britney Spears and demi Moore handling the wisdom of Kabalah according to actual Jewish Kabalists?..........
Do tell us what it is about Kabalah that makes it so profound and yet appealing to young hollywood stars?

Excuse me? Is that a serious question. The people who teach these celebrities, non-Jews, and others Kabalah who have no knowledge to be able to actually hold an understanding of the topic have been condemned by all of our head Rabbi's and gedolim.

Read about their leader:

Philip S. Berg is the charismatic founder and leader of a quasi-Jewish cult functioning under the name of "Research Centre for Kabbalah." It has branches in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, a few other cities.

Berg portrays himself as an orthodox rabbi and proclaims his "Kabbalah Centre" to be a Jewish orthodox institution. IN his youth he did study at an orthodox Yeshiva in Brooklyn NY, and it seems that he was ordained.

Berg claims to have a doctorate (all his books go under the name "Dr. Philip S. Berg"). In some of his books he alleges to have a doctorate in "comparative religion," while another source claims his doctorate to be in "jurisprudence in biblical law." When personally confronted about the discrepancies, and questioned about his alleged doctorate, he admitted (in a published interview) that in fact -he has no academic degree at all - and that his alleged "doctorate" is "part of his smichah (ordination)" … Everyone knows, of course, that there is no such thing.

For his public lectures Berg advertises himself invariably as "the greatest Kabbalist in the world;" "the world's foremost authority on the Kabbalah;" "a living Kabbalist and the rarest of teachers;" or other such flamboyant terms of self-aggrandizement.

Outside of his own Centre and circle of followers, neither the academic nor the Jewish religious worlds know anything about him except for the anomalies of his centers. They have absolutely no regard for him, his teachings, writings or activities. In fact, he is universally condemned by both the orthodox rabbinate and contemporary schools of Jewish mysticism in Israel, the USA and elsewhere, as a charlatan.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/kabbalah/kabbalah29.html

 

[Philosopher]

Do Jews believe the world is 6000 years old?

 

[Malaikah]

According to most segments of Jewry, this esoteric Kabbalah dates from Adam. But was put together on paper by our wisest of sages. As for the authority. Depends what Rabbi or minhag (customs) you follow, to see how muc influence Kabbalah has into the regional customs. Snce Jewish Law encourages to keep the customs of your house.

Wow, that sure is old. :uuh:

How and when were they compiled, and how was their authenticity guaranteed? It must be hard to make sure something that old is for real.

Also, you mentioned it isn't fit for young minds to read, why is that? What kind of stuff does it talk about?

 

[rebelishaulman]

Wow, that sure is old. :uuh:

How and when were they compiled, and how was their authenticity guaranteed? It must be hard to make sure something that old is for real.

Also, you mentioned it isn't fit for young minds to read, why is that? What kind of stuff does it talk about?

To tell you the truth, I am not learned in it at all and only know basics. My expertise is much more Talmud and Torah then mystical things as is my school of thought. One must be a very learned Torah scholar to learn Kabbalah however, Because of the interpretive liberties taken by kabbalistic thinkers, and the possible heresies to which they may easily lead, study of Kabbalah was traditionally restricted to a select few Rabbis and Torah scholars.

To learn more about Kabbalah and different things read the wikipedia page, it seems that it is edited pretty accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah

Do Jews believe the world is 6000 years old?

Most observant ones do. But this does not rule out that the world was not created in a mature state since we believe all the animals, plants and Adam - Eve were created in mature states.

 

[Philosopher]

To tell you the truth, I am not learned in it at all and only know basics. My expertise is much more Talmud and Torah then mystical things as is my school of thought. One must be a very learned Torah scholar to learn Kabbalah however, Because of the interpretive liberties taken by kabbalistic thinkers, and the possible heresies to which they may easily lead, study of Kabbalah was traditionally restricted to a select few Rabbis and Torah scholars.

To learn more about Kabbalah and different things read the wikipedia page, it seems that it is edited pretty accurate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah



Most observant ones do.

Thanks.

What is the Jewish response to the notion that science indicates that the world is billions of years old?

 

[rebelishaulman]

Thanks.

What is the Jewish response to the notion that science indicates that the world is billions of years old?

That the world was created in a mature form.

A pefect example that I love is Adam. Our sages tell us that he had the body and maturity of a 20-year-old man. Now, let us imagine Adam going for a medical exam a day after he was created. The receptionist asks for his age and he answers: “one day”. “You must be kidding me,” she would reply. “You seem to be at least 20 years old!”

They are both right. Adam is saying how old he really is, while the receptionist is estimating his age based on “scientific proof.”

 

[Philosopher]

That the world was created in a mature form.

A pefect example that I love is Adam. Our sages tell us that he had the body and maturity of a 20-year-old man. Now, let us imagine Adam going for a medical exam a day after he was created. The receptionist asks for his age and he answers: “one day”. “You must be kidding me,” she would reply. “You seem to be at least 20 years old!”

They are both right. Adam is saying how old he really is, while the receptionist is estimating his age based on “scientific proof.”

But there is concrete scientific evidence that the creatures lived more tha 6000 years ago. The fossils of dinosaurs are millions of years old. Also, your post indicates that you dont agree with the theory of evolution. Is that true? Science uses empirical evidence. Your analogy with the receptionist is flawed.

 

[rebelishaulman]

But there is concrete scientific evidence that the creatures lived more tha 6000 years ago. The fossils of dinosaurs are millions of years old. Also, your post indicates that you dont agree with the theory of evolution. Is that true? Science uses empirical evidence. Your analogy with the receptionist is flawed.

The dating you say proves your point does not.

Carbon-14 dating rests on two assumptions. (a)that the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere has always been constant, and (b) its rate of decay has always been constant.

Neither of those assumptions has been proven or close to proven. And sicne the world was created in six days, who knows how the cosmic radiation in the atmoshphere was fluctuating then.

There is another issue that makes the carbon dating useless. When the world was create, it already had an age. In other words, when Adam for instance was created, he was an adult, even though he was one day old; there were fully grown trees; the sun's light already reached the earth; an entire world existed, full-blown and OLD. How old was the world at the moment it was created? I dont know -- it doesnt say. But we do know that it didnt sdtart fomr scratch. And so lets say someone would chop down a tree 1 week after it was created and find maybe 50 rigns insude - would that prove that the tree wa 50 years old? Nope - it owuld only prove that when it was created it was created as an adult, 50 year old tree.

 

[Philosopher]

The dating you say proves your point does not.

Carbon-14 dating rests on two assumptions. (a)that the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere has always been constant, and (b) its rate of decay has always been constant.

Neither of those assumptions has been proven or close to proven. And sicne the world was created in six days, who knows how the cosmic radiation in the atmoshphere was fluctuating then.

There is another issue that makes the carbon dating useless. When the world was create, it already had an age. In other words, when Adam for instance was created, he was an adult, even though he was one day old; there were fully grown trees; the sun's light already reached the earth; an entire world existed, full-blown and OLD. How old was the world at the moment it was created? I dont know -- it doesnt say. But we do know that it didnt sdtart fomr scratch. And so lets say someone would chop down a tree 1 week after it was created and find maybe 50 rigns insude - would that prove that the tree wa 50 years old? Nope - it owuld only prove that when it was created it was created as an adult, 50 year old tree.

I suppose you disagree with the Big Bang then?

 

[snakelegs]

Well of course. Many Orthodox Jews view liberal/reform Judaism as a foreign religion, certainly not Judaism so therefore, they are practicing a separate religion from Judaism as well you could say. They remain Jewish.

The answer is it probably it depends. Was this a person who truly rebelled against G-d? Was it more likely an emotionally broken/weak individual who missionaries will prey on? There is no mourning for an apostate Jew according to halacha however.

I will look up the halacha for you, but later, I am sort of busy right now, and Shabbat is very soon. Is it an urgent matter for you to know, since requests on burials and topics involving death are the ones that need an answer right away.

well, this isn't a good analogy. liberal/reform jews may be seen as misguided, but they have not left judaism or taken another religion, whereas a jew who becomes a christian has become an apostate and i don't understand how you can say they would still be regarded as jewish??? are you sure????
the burial part is not an urgent matter for me at all, i was just wondering in relation to my basic question: how does a jew who has become a christian remain a jew?

 

[snakelegs]

Excuse me? Is that a serious question. The people who teach these celebrities, non-Jews, and others Kabalah who have no knowledge to be able to actually hold an understanding of the topic have been condemned by all of our head Rabbi's and gedolim.

Read about their leader:

Philip S. Berg is the charismatic founder and leader of a quasi-Jewish cult functioning under the name of "Research Centre for Kabbalah." It has branches in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, a few other cities.

Berg portrays himself as an orthodox rabbi and proclaims his "Kabbalah Centre" to be a Jewish orthodox institution. IN his youth he did study at an orthodox Yeshiva in Brooklyn NY, and it seems that he was ordained.

Berg claims to have a doctorate (all his books go under the name "Dr. Philip S. Berg"). In some of his books he alleges to have a doctorate in "comparative religion," while another source claims his doctorate to be in "jurisprudence in biblical law." When personally confronted about the discrepancies, and questioned about his alleged doctorate, he admitted (in a published interview) that in fact -he has no academic degree at all - and that his alleged "doctorate" is "part of his smichah (ordination)" … Everyone knows, of course, that there is no such thing.

For his public lectures Berg advertises himself invariably as "the greatest Kabbalist in the world;" "the world's foremost authority on the Kabbalah;" "a living Kabbalist and the rarest of teachers;" or other such flamboyant terms of self-aggrandizement.

Outside of his own Centre and circle of followers, neither the academic nor the Jewish religious worlds know anything about him except for the anomalies of his centers. They have absolutely no regard for him, his teachings, writings or activities. In fact, he is universally condemned by both the orthodox rabbinate and contemporary schools of Jewish mysticism in Israel, the USA and elsewhere, as a charlatan.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/kabbalah/kabbalah29.html

i agree with you on the kabbalah center. it's all about rabbi berg and from what i've seen, their material is on a very superficial level. it's well suited for being "trendy".

 

[rebelishaulman]

I suppose you disagree with the Big Bang then?

Interesting question, since I am a believer in the Torah's creation story do you believe it possible to believe in the big bang theory to? Do you think it is 100% a truth?

well, this isn't a good analogy. liberal/reform jews may be seen as misguided, but they have not left judaism or taken another religion, whereas a jew who becomes a christian has become an apostate and i don't understand how you can say they would still be regarded as jewish??? are you sure????

Really? They have not taken another religion? Judaism, is centralized around the Torah, and the covanent with G-d to follow his laws. Therefore, anyone who does not follow the laws is still a Jew because they have been born into this eternal covanent. Now, many of the liberal Jewish movements stress that following the laws are not binding. Some schools of Christianity believe the Torah to be the literal word of G-d, while Reform/Liberal Judaism says it may be divine, but belief it is from G-d is not required, nor is belief in G-d requred! If you did not know, the Talmud states believing in many gods (trinity) is better then belief in no G-d.

I am not sure if you understand that Judaism is much more then a religion of beliefs. The best explanantion I can show you is a very good one I read: Judaism maintains that one born Jewish or one who has converted to Judaism retains his or her status as a Jew forever. One who converts to another religion or is an atheist is considered to be a Jew not in good religious standing. How religious one is, in this sense, is only important in one's status in Jewish law. For example, a person denying the Jewish principles of faith may be considered a heretic, while still considered Jewish.

You can still be Jewish and be an apostate Jew. It is also worth noting that Reconstructionism does not require any belief in a deity, and that certain popular Reform prayer books such as Gates of Prayer offer some services without mention of Hashem.

the burial part is not an urgent matter for me at all, i was just wondering in relation to my basic question: how does a jew who has become a christian remain a jew?

Well I will try to find the answer for you though I doubt there is one single agreed upon halacha for a Jew who converts to Christianity who actually wants to be buried in a Jewish cemetery, since why be buried with the people who you believe are in for "eternal hell".

 

[Philosopher]

Interesting question, since I am a believer in the Torah's creation story do you believe it possible to believe in the big bang theory to? Do you think it is 100% a truth?

There is more scientific evidence backing the Big Bang theory than the Torah's creation story. What is your opinion on that?

 

[rebelishaulman]

There is more scientific evidence backing the Big Bang theory than the Torah's creation story. What is your opinion on that?

Okay. When I walk outside of my house, there seems to be more evidence that the world is flat instead of round.

 

[Philosopher]

Okay. When I walk outside of my house, there seems to be more evidence that the world is flat instead of round.

That made no sense at all? Do you know anything about the scientific method?