Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew!

[rav]

In response to: http://www.islamicboard.com/comparative-religion/41670-ezekiels-failed-prophecy-against-egypt-3.html

Shalom (Peace),

The major prophecies of Yeshezkel specifically are not supposed to come true until the days of Moshiach. So writes the Abarbanel, the Malbim and the Tosfos Yom Tov.

You really need to see the basic meforshim on the pesukim. Like the Rashi, Radak and Malbim. It’s not agreed upon that this pharaoh said he made the Nile - there are other interpretations; it’s also not positive when this nevuah happened, or is supposed to happen. The simplest explanation is that it is referring to the destruction of Egypt that happened after tzur (tyre), but interpretations vary all the way to allusions to techiyas hameisim. PLEASE get an english Navi with some meforshim and read it. I wish you understood Hebrew as it would be thousands of times easier to clarify the poetic, figurative and allegorical nature of the verses we are discussing. The cultural differences are so enormous, that to make claims based on the English “translation” will not lead to accuracy. The best example I have seen which I will relate to you is that in the English language a saying goes “it is raining cats and dogs”. This motto speaks about how it is raining very heavily. However, translated into Hebrew, any Hebrew speaker who did not understand English, and the motto, would literally translate such a saying to mean that cats and dogs were literally falling upon the earth. They would laugh at anyone who tried to explain this in a metaphor. The case we have right now, is very similar in many aspects. Thanks.

I know that you will most likely bring up that different attributes of the names mentioned are in the passage which should be proof that the prophecy was supposed to be fulfilled in that time epoch; nevertheless, that is not the case. The language is highly poetic, and it is not very infrequent. The Gemara, tells stories of an eagles feathers and the burning sensations on them, and they the passage is not referring to an eagle at all, but instead surrounding governments. (As an example).

It is very difficult to explain this all to someone who does not have the understanding of the Hebrew language and metaphors used within it, to be able to decipher and look beyond what the literal text tells us. The Torah was written for man, and is not in the heavens but on earth, therefore, it is written in language man can understand, and is written using examples that men can understand. It is tough for me to explain how Hebrew metaphors work, and the different mystical concepts described in the passage (I have been reading various seforim on the passage.) I must tell you though, that the prophecy is yet to come.

 

[snakelegs]

shalom,
can you tell me when the mishna was codified and when the babylonian and the jerusalem talmuds were completed?
also, do both share the same mishna text and just the gemorah is different?
also what was the year of the destruction of the 1st temple?
thanks!

 

[Kashnowe]

if jesus is not a prophet to the jews (as he is to muslims) then who was the last prophet to walk the earth?

do jews believe that more prophets are coming some time or another?

where can i find reference to the end of times according to judaism?

 

[rav]

shalom,

can you tell me when the mishna was codified and when the babylonian and the jerusalem talmuds were completed?
also, do both share the same mishna text and just the gemorah is different?
also what was the year of the destruction of the 1st temple?
thanks!

Shalom (Peace) snakelegs,

In response to your first question, off the top of my head I believe the Mishna was codified in the early third century and the Babylonian Talmud at the end of the fifth century CE. The Mishna and Gemara do share the same Mishna text, and the year of the destruction of the first Beis Hamikdash was pillaged many times. The exact dates are provided by wikipedia, although I cannot verify the strict accuracy of the dates currently, I would presuppose they are precise.

According to the Bible, the temple was pillaged many times during the course of its history (dates before Ahaz are approximate):

1. by king Shishak of Egypt, c.933 BCE (1 Kings 14:25, 26);
2. by king Asa of Judah, c.900 BCE in order to persuade Ben-Hadad I of Damascus to come to his aid against Baasha of Israel (1 Kings 15:9-24);
3. by king Jehoash of Judah, c. 825 BCE, in order to pay Hazael of Damascus, who was besieging the city (2 Kings 12:17-18);
4. by king Joash of Israel, c.790 BCE (2 Kings 14:14);
5. by king Ahaz of Judah, 734 BCE, to persuade Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria to come to his aid against Pekah of Israel and Rezin II of Damascus (2 Kings 16:8, 17, 18);
6. by king Hezekiah of Judah, 712 BCE, to pay king Sennacherib of Assyria, who was besieging the city (2 Kings 18:15, 16).
7. by king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon who pillaged it twice- once in 597 BCE, and again in 586 BCE, after which he destroyed it (2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chr. 36:7). He burned the temple, and carried all its treasures with him to Babylon (2 Kings 25:9-17; 2 Chr. 36:19; Isaiah 64:11).

if jesus is not a prophet to the jews (as he is to muslims) then who was the last prophet to walk the earth?

do jews believe that more prophets are coming some time or another?

where can i find reference to the end of times according to judaism?

Shalom (Peace) cooloonka,

The last prophets were Haggai, Zachariah and Malachi. As Jews, we believe that the Moshiach will arrive in the future to rebuild to HolyTemple (Beis Hamikdosh) and accomplish many other tasks.

An outstanding article which you could read on the “end times” is this:

http://www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=108400

 

[جوري]

Salaam Alykoum Ravi.. what about the son of zachria (yahya) also known as john the Baptist.. do the Jews not consider him a prophet as well? why or why not? and what is your take on salome?

if you believe prophet Zachria had a son, do you have a similar account of him as we do in Islam?

يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَى لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا {7}​

[Pickthal 19:7] (It was said unto him): O Zachariah! Lo! We bring thee tidings of a son whose name is John; we have given the same name to none before (him).

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّى يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا {8}​

[Pickthal 19:8] He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when my wife is barren and I have reached infirm old age?

قَالَ كَذَلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا {9}​

[Pickthal 19:9] He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me, even as I created thee before, when thou wast naught.

قَالَ رَبِّ اجْعَل لِّي آيَةً قَالَ آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا {10}​

[Pickthal 19:10] He said: My Lord! Appoint for me some token. He said: Thy token is that thou, with no bodily defect, shalt not speak unto mankind three nights.

فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ مِنَ الْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا {11}​

[Pickthal 19:11] Then he came forth unto his people from the sanctuary, and signified to them: Glorify your Lord at break of day and fall of night.

يَا يَحْيَى خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا {12}​

[Pickthal 19:12] (And it was said unto his son): O John! Hold fast the Scripture. And we gave him wisdom when a child,

وَحَنَانًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَزَكَاةً وَكَانَ تَقِيًّا {13}​

[Pickthal 19:13] And compassion from Our presence, and purity; and he was devout,

وَبَرًّا بِوَالِدَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَكُن جَبَّارًا عَصِيًّا {14}​

[Pickthal 19:14] And dutiful toward his parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious.

وَسَلَامٌ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ وُلِدَ وَيَوْمَ يَمُوتُ وَيَوْمَ يُبْعَثُ حَيًّا {15}​

[Pickthal 19:15] Peace on him the day he was born, and the day he dieth and the day he shall be raised alive!

thank you
peace!!

 

[snakelegs]

shalom rav,
thanks for your reply. yes, that was a good article. i am just beginning to discover all the good stuff at chabad.org

 

[Kashnowe]

thanks rav! i love a good read.

 

[Abu Zakariya]

Isn't Chabad a Lubavitcher sect? I thought, by the previous posts, that they were considered out of mainstream Judaism because many of them consider their dead leader to be the Messiah?

 

[rav]

Salaam Alykoum Ravi.. what about the son of zachria (yahya) also known as john the Baptist.. do the Jews not consider him a prophet as well? why or why not? and what is your take on salome?

Shalom Eleichem PurestAmbrosia,

We do not believe John the Baptist to be a prophet.

Isn't Chabad a Lubavitcher sect? I thought, by the previous posts, that they were considered out of mainstream Judaism because many of them consider their dead leader to be the Messiah?

Shalom Abu Zakariya,

Some of the adherents to the Chabad philosophies of Judaism do hold that Rabbi Shneerson was the Messiah. They are considered heretics by Judaism and all of the major gedolim. However, the major Rabbonim have also stated that Lubvaitchers who do not hold that he is the Messiah are not heretics, so therefore the information from Chabad resources I will present will at all times be from a halachicly established source. Chabad.org is operated by the Chabad Rabbi's who were students of Rabbi Yosef Yitzkhak Kazen, who was not a messianist, therefore, his opinions are legitimate.

Although controversy surrounds the faction, we must always remind ourselves that the heretics are a loud minority.

 

[rav]

Shalom! The Jewish holiday of Shavout is approaching. On this holiday and me and millions of fellow Jews will literally study Torah all night. I begin at 8:45 PM and will end around 5:45 AM. I will then sleep for an hour or so before morning prayers for the Yom Tov begin at 10:00 AM. It is a great holiday. Here is a good article on the Yom Tov (Holiday).

What is Shavuot?
by Rabbi Mendy Hecht

A. Shavuot (Weeks, pronounced shah-VOO-oat) is a Jewish holiday that simultaneously commemorates two things: the reaping of the spring wheat harvest and the Giving of the Torah. It is called Pentecost in English, and always falls on the sixth and seventh of the Hebrew month of Sivan.

B. Shavuot is the second of the Shloshah Regalim, or Three Pilgrimages, at which every Jewish male was required to present himself in the Beit Hamikdash, the Temple. The Torah1 prohibits work on this holiday, during which all Shabbat prohibitions are in force with the exception of preparing food and carrying in public.

C. Shavuot also caps off the Counting of the Omer, the 49-day count which starts with the second day of Passover, the day when the First Barley Offering was offered in the Temple. Though the Temple no longer stands, the omer must be counted even without the offering.

How do I celebrate Shavuot?

1. Study All Night

You've done that in college anyway, haven't you? We’ve all had times when we stayed up to the wee hours of the morning, cramming for that exam or playing our favorite sci-fi shoot-em-up on that old PC. Now, how about doing it for Torah? That's just the idea of this age-old custom, in which Jews show their love for Torah by studying it from dark to dawn the first night of the holiday. The reason? The night before the Torah was given, our forefathers warmed their mattresses when they should have been sleepless with excitement over the next day's big event. To cosmically correct this, we stay up and study, preferably in large groups, and preferably at your local synagogue.

2. Package for You

Go to Shul to pick it up. The physical Giving of the Torah was a one-time event. But every year, the Torah is spiritually given anew. To all Jews. To receive the Torah for yourself, head to your nearest synagogue to hear the Ten Commandments read.

http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=593&o=219

 

[Abu Zakariya]

It reminds me of Laylatul Qadr which is the night in which the Qur'an was revealed so Muslims usually spend the whole night reading the Qur'an and doing other acts of worship.

But it's not a holiday per se, we only have two + the day of Friday. How many holidays do you have?

 

[Balthasar21]

What is a jew and where did the word jew come from ?

 

[00:00]

Dont jews believe that u cant be a jew, unless u born from a jewish mother.

 

[Kittygyal]

Salamualikum.
'Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew! ' just read that NOW sowiee
Ma'assalama

 

[00:00]

Thats what i heard anyway.

 

[Kittygyal]

Salamualikum.
'Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew! ' just read that NOW sowiee
Ma'assalama

 

[rav]

What is a jew and where did the word jew come from ?

Shalom (Peace),

To be short and sweet, a Jew is someone who had a mother, or mother and father who was Jewish, (or converted) and is therefore responsible to follow the 613 laws of the Torah, instead of the mere 7 that non-Jews are suppose to follow. However, all gentiles if they wish can convert, but it is not necessary and Rabbi's many times will reject a potential convert for there own benefit because if they convert and follow no laws, then they were better off with less responsibility being a non-Jew. As was written a while ago in this thread:

The scriptures, only call on Israel who witnessed G-d's deeds to follow and keep his laws. No other nation is threatened or blamed for not accepting the Torah/Law; they are not obligated to, for they did not witness the miracles which prove the truth of the Torah/Law! Moses did not demand that the children of Israel should believe in him, for none of them ever disputed the truth of the law, which they had witnessed together with him. But the books of Islam and Christianity vehemently curse everyone in the world who disbelieves them although they did not demonstrate their proofs to the whole world. Judaism says the non-Jews who did not recieve the proofs that the Torah is divine do not need to follow it. They just have to follow the seven laws of basic morality.​

However, Judaism is not a message for one people as much as you believe Islam is only meant for Arabs around where Mohammad lived, since any can convert if they wish. We just believe you do not need to, and when rejecting a potential convert, we are out for that non-Jews best interest.

1. The majority of "Jews" today are descended from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin -- the two tribes who comprised the "Kingdom of Judea." Also a considerable number of Kohanim and Levites -- members of the tribe of Levi -- are amongst today's Jewish population. The cities where they dwelt were interspersed amongst both kingdoms. Of the first things that come to mind when thinking about Moshiach, is the Return of the Ten Lost Tribes who were exiled and separated from the rest of Jewry, thousands of years ago.

The Ten Tribes were exiled during the First Temple Era – over 2,500 years ago, and have been separated from the rest of Jewry ever since. But ultimately, with the arrival of the Messianic Era, they too will be redeemed, and will join the rest of Jewry.

In Hebrew, the word "Jew" (Yehudi) is a clear derivative of the word Judah ("Yehudah").

2. As mentioned, the name "Jew" comes from the Hebrew word "Yehudi."

The Talmud (Megillah 13a) says that the name Yehudi applies to anyone who rejects idolatry and accepts the one true G-d. (The word "Hoda'ah," which is the root of the word Yehudi (and Yehudah), means to acknowledge). That's why Mordechai, a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, was called a Yehudi (Esther 2:5).

Dont jews believe that u cant be a jew, unless u born from a jewish mother.

Shalom,

That is not the case. If you are born from a Jewish mother, than you’re born into the covenant. If not, you can still convert, although, Judaism says that non-Jews can and will go to heaven if they are righteous, and therefore, conversion without intent to do the laws is bad, and it is in your best interest that you not convert.

 

[YEh]

Jacob Wrestles With God
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

27 The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered.

28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [e] because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.

30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, [f] saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

From this story, i'm just wondering does it say here that God became a man and wrestled with Jacob and God blesed him according to Judaism ?

Also is it true that you believe the Messiah will save (be their saviour) the Jewish people from it's enemies ?

 

[rav]

From this story, i'm just wondering does it say here that God became a man and wrestled with Jacob and God blesed him according to Judaism ?

Also is it true that you believe the Messiah will save (be their saviour) the Jewish people from it's enemies ?

Shalom,

The passage says:

"Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.""- Genesis 32:24-30

Christians like to say here that Jacob wrestled a physical G-d in the flesh. They get this from the last line that says "seen G-d face to face." However, up until this point the person Jacob wrestles with is called simply "a man." Christians reconcile this by saying that this was actually a pre-incarnate Jesus, who is both man and G-d.

However, if this passage seems unclear because of the last passage, all you need to do is look to Hosea. Hosea recounts this event, and uses words that cannot be twisted to support the Christian position.

"Now the Lord has a contention with Judah, and to visit upon Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds He shall recompense him. In the womb, he seized his brother's heel, and with his strength he strove with an angel." - Hosea 12:3-4 ​

There it is, plain as day. Jacob wrestled with an angel, not a mangod.

 

[YEh]

Shalom,

The passage says:

"Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.""- Genesis 32:24-30

Christians like to say here that Jacob wrestled a physical G-d in the flesh. They get this from the last line that says "seen G-d face to face." However, up until this point the person Jacob wrestles with is called simply "a man." Christians reconcile this by saying that this was actually a pre-incarnate Jesus, who is both man and G-d.

However, if this passage seems unclear because of the last passage, all you need to do is look to Hosea. Hosea recounts this event, and uses words that cannot be twisted to support the Christian position.

"Now the Lord has a contention with Judah, and to visit upon Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds He shall recompense him. In the womb, he seized his brother's heel, and with his strength he strove with an angel." - Hosea 12:3-4 ​

There it is, plain as day. Jacob wrestled with an angel, not a mangod.

I see...

Is this the same event but different accounts then when Jacob was renamed Israel ?

Genesis 32
But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him.

Genesis 35
9 After Jacob returned from Paddan Aram, [c] God appeared to him again and blessed him. 10 God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, [d] but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel. [e] " So he named him Israel.

Also in Hebrew, what words are used for God in both passages ?
Is it the same as when G-d is used in other passages where G-d speaks ?
Also when the Bible refers to a person and calls him a 'son of god' is it using the same word as G-d ?

Thanks for your answers so far :statisfie