Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew!

[lavikor201]

I need some info on the position of Israel in Judaism for my RE homework. No political stuff please.

Judaism position on Israel is basically that the Jews can not build the 3rd temple or institute Halacha as law (similar to what shairah is for you all) until the Moshiach comes. Until then Israel under a secular goverment is kosher according to Jewish law.

If you wish for me to get into detail in a specific area please specify.

Israel is considered the holiest land on earth according to Judaism. It is one of the largest mitzvot (good deeds/commandments) you can do is to live in Israel.

 

[abdmez]

How do you know the Torah has not been corrupted?

 

[lavikor201]

How do you know the Torah has not been corrupted?

How do we know that the Torah we have today is the same text given on Mount Sinai?


The Torah was originally dictated from G-d to Moses, letter for letter. From there, the Midrash (Devarim Rabba 9:4) tells us:

Before his death, Moses wrote 13 Torah Scrolls. Twelve of these were distributed to each of the 12 Tribes. The 13th was placed in the Ark of the Covenant (with the Tablets). If anyone would come and attempt to rewrite or falsify the Torah, the one in the Ark would "testify" against him. (Likewise, if he had access to the scroll in the Ark and tried to falsify it, the distributed copies would "testify" against him.)​

How were the new scrolls verified? An authentic "proof text" was always kept in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, against which all other scrolls would be checked. Following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Sages would periodically perform global checks to weed out any scribal errors.

WRITING A TORAH SCROLL
To eliminate any chance of human error, the Talmud enumerates more than 20 factors mandatory for a Torah scroll to be considered "kosher." This is the Torah's built-in security system. Should any one of these factors be lacking, it does not possess the sanctity of a Torah scroll, and is not to be used for a public Torah reading.
The meticulous process of hand-copying a scroll takes about 2,000 hours (a full-time job for one year). Throughout the centuries, Jewish scribes have adhered to the following guidelines:

• A Torah Scroll is disqualified if even a single letter is added.
  [*]A Torah Scroll is disqualified if even a single letter is deleted.
  [*]The scribe must be a learned, pious Jew, who has undergone special training and certification.
  [*]All materials (parchment, ink, quill) must conform to strict specifications, and be prepared specifically for the purpose of writing a Torah Scroll.
  [*]The scribe may not write even one letter into a Torah Scroll by heart. Rather, he must have a second, kosher scroll opened before him at all times.
  [*]The scribe must pronounce every word out loud before copying it from the correct text.
  [*]Every letter must have sufficient white space surrounding it. If one letter touched another in any spot, it invalidates the entire scroll.
  [*]If a single letter was so marred that it cannot be read at all, or resembles another letter (whether the defect is in the writing, or is due to a hole, tear or smudge), this invalidates the entire scroll. Each letter must be sufficiently legible so that even an ordinary schoolchild could distinguish it from other, similar letters.
  [*]The scribe must put precise space between words, so that one word will not look like two words, or two words look like one word.
  [*]The scribe must not alter the design of the sections, and must conform to particular line-lengths and paragraph configurations.
  [*]A Torah Scroll in which any mistake has been found, cannot be used, and must be fixed within 30 days, or buried.

SUCCESS OF THE SYSTEM
Maintaining the accuracy of any document as ancient and as large as the Torah is very challenging even under the best of circumstances.

But consider that throughout history, Jewish communities were subject to widespread persecutions and exile. Over the last 2,000 years, Jews have been spread to the four corners of the world, from Yemen to Poland, from Australia to Alaska.

Other historical factors make the accurate transmission of the Torah all the more difficult. For example, the destruction of the Temple 1,900 years ago saw the dissolution of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish central authority which traditionally would unify the Jewish people in case of any disagreements.
Let’s investigate the facts as we have them today. If we collect the oldest Torah scrolls and compare them, we can see if any garbling exists, and if so, how much.

How many letters are there in the Torah? 304,805 letters (or approximately 79,000 words).

If you were to guess, how many letters of these 304,805 do you think are in question? (Most people guess anywhere from 25 to 1,000 letters.)
The fact is, that after all the trials and tribulations, communal dislocations and persecutions, only the Yemenite Torah scrolls contain any difference from the rest of world Jewry. For hundreds of years, the Yemenite community was not part of the global checking system, and a total of nine letter-differences are found in their scrolls.
These are all spelling differences. In no case do they change the meaning of the word. For example, how would you spell the word "color?" In America, it's spelled C-O-L-O-R. But in England, it's spelled with a "u," C-O-L-O-U-R.
Such is the nature of the few spelling differences between Torah scrolls today. The results over thousands of years are remarkable!

TORAH COMPARED TO OTHER TEXTS

But how impressive is this compared to other similar documents, such as the Christian Bible? (Both books contain approximately the same number of words.)

First of all, which would you expect to be more successful in preserving the accuracy of a text?

The Christian Bible. For several reasons
.
First, the Christian Bible is about 1,700 years younger than the Torah. Second, the Christians haven't gone through nearly as much exile and dislocation as the Jews. Third, Christianity has always had a central authority (the Vatican) to ensure the accuracy of their text.

What are the results? The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, a book written to prove the validity of the New Testament, says: " A study of 150 Greek [manuscripts] of the Gospel of Luke has revealed more than 30,000 different readings... It is safe to say that there is not one sentence in the New Testament in which the [manuscript] is wholly uniform."

Other scholars report there are some 200,000 variants in the existing manuscripts of the New Testament, representing about 400 variant readings which cause doubt about textual meaning; 50 of these are of great significance.

The Torah has nine spelling variants -- with absolutely no effect on the meaning of the words. The Christian Bible has over 200,000 variants and in 400 instances the variants change the meaning of the text.
The point of course is not to denigrate Christianity. Rather, this comparison demonstrates the remarkable accuracy of the Jewish transmission of Torah.

THE TORAH AND THE UNIVERS





There is a famous story in the Talmud (Eruvin 13a):

When Rabbi Meir came to Rabbi Yishmael to learn Torah, he was asked: ​

"What is your profession, my son?"​

"I am a scribe," was the reply. ​

He said to me: "My son, be careful with your work, for it is the work of Heaven. Should you perhaps omit one letter or add one letter -- it could result that you destroy the entire world​

Rebbe Meir remarked: "Needless to say, I do not err by omitting or adding (letters)... but I am even concerned for a fly -- lest it come and alight upon the right-hand corner of a dalet and erase it, thereby rendering it a reish​

The famed commentator Rashi (11th century France) offers examples of how the addition or deletion of a single letter can lead to a blasphemous or heretical reading of the Torah -- i.e. a mistake that could destroy the entire world.

Maharsha (16th century Poland) explains there is a danger even if the error does not affect the meaning of the word. This is because of a Kabbalistic tradition that the letters of the Torah form the sacred Names of G-d written as "black fire upon white fire." These letters were employed by G-d in creating the world, and it is through them that He sustains it. The deletion of even one letter of this sustaining force therefore threatens the existence of the world.

Carefully guarding the words of the Torah has been a Jewish priority throughout the centuries.

Since it has been recieved the Torah has been read 4 times a week every week. If one mistake of a word is made, halef of the jews in the room will shout out corrections! There is no way it could be changed.

ONE OF THE MANY CHAINS OF
TORAH TRANSMISSION:

G-d (Mt. Sinai ,= 1312 B.C.E.)​

Moses (1272 B.C.E.)
Joshua (1245 B.C.E.)
Pinchus
Eli (929 B.C.E.)
Samuel (889 B.C.E.)
David (876 B.C.E.)
Achiah (800 B.C.E.)
Elijah (726 B.C.E.)
Elishah (717 B.C.E.)
Yehoyada (695 B.C.E.)
Zechariah (680 B.C.E.)
Hoshea (575 B.C.E.)
Amos (560 B.C.E.)
Isaiah (548 B.C.E.)
Michah (560 B.C.E.)
Yoel (510 B.C.E.)
Nachum (510 B.C.E.)
Chavakuk (510 B.C.E.)
Tzafaniah (460 B.C.E.)
Jeremiah (462 B.C.E.)
Baruch (347 B.C.E.)
Ezra (348 B.C.E.)
Shimon Hatzadik (310 B.C.E.)
Antignus of Socho (305 B.C.E.)
Yosi ben Yoezer and
Yosef ben Yochanon (280 B.C.E.)
Yehoshua ben Prachya and
Nitai of Arbel (243 B.C.E.)
Yehuda ben Tabai and
Shimon ben Shetach (198 B.C.E.)
Shmaya & Avtalyon (140 B.C.E.)
Hillel & Shammai (40 B.C.E.)
Rabban Shimon (10 B.C.E.)
Rabban Gamliel Hazaken (20 C.E.)
Rav Shimon ben Gamliel (50)
Rabban Gamliel (90)
Rabban Shimon (140)
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi (180)
Rav, Shmuel, and Rabbi Yochanon (230)
Rav Huna (270)
Rabbah (310)
Rava (340)
Rav Ashi (420)
Rafram (443)
Rav Sam a B'rei d'Rava (476)
Rav Yosi (514)
Rav Simonia Rav Ravoi Me-Rov (589)
Mar Chanan Me-Ashkaya (608)
Rav Mari
Rav Chana Gaon
Mar Rav Rava
Rav Busai (689)
Mar Rav Huna Mari
Mar Rav Chiyah Me-Mishan
Mar Ravyah
Mar Rav Natronai
Mar Rav Yehuda (739)
Mar Rav Yosef (748)
Mar Rav Shmuel
Mar Rav Natroi Kahana
Mar Rav Avrohom Kahana (761)
Mar Rav Dodai
Rav Chananya (771)
Rav Maika (773)
Mar Rav Rava
Mar Rav Shinoi (782)
Mar Rav Chaninah Gaon Kahana (785)
Mar Rav Huna Mar Halevi (788)
Mar Rav Menasheh (796)
Mar Rav Yeshaya Halevi (804)
Mar Rav Kahanah Gaon (797)
Mar Rav Yosef
Mar Rav Ibomai Gaon (814)
Mar Rav Yosef
Mar Rav Avrohom
Mar Rav Yosef (834)
Mar Rav Yitzchak (839)
Mar Rav Yosef (841)
Mar Rav Poltoi (858)
Mar Rav Achai Kahana
Mar Rav Menachem (860)
Mar Rav Matisyahu (869)
Rav Mar Abba
Mar Rav Tzemach Gaon (891)
Mar Rav Hai Gaon (897)
Mar Rav Kimoi Gaon (905)
Mar Rav Yehuda (917)
Mar Rav Mevasser Kahana Gaon (926)
Rav Kohen Tzedek (935)
Mar Rav Tzemach Gaon (937)
Rav Chaninah Gaon (943)
Mar Rav Aharon Hacohen (959)
Mar Rav Nechemiah (968)
Rav Sherirah Gaon (1006)
Meshulam Hagadol
Rav Gershom Meor Hagolah (1040)
Rav Yaakov ben Yakar (1064)
Rav Shlomo Yitzchaki - '"Rashi'" (1105)
R' Shmuel ben Meir (Rashbam) (1174)
R' Yaakov ben Meir (Rabbenu Tam) (1171)
Eliezer Me-Metz (1175)
Rokeach (1238)
R' Yitzchak of Vienna (Ohr Zaruah)
Rav Meir of Rothenberg (1293)
R' Yitzchak of Duren (Shaarei Durah)
R' Alexander Zusiein Hakohen (Agudah) (1348)
Meir Bar Baruch Halevi (1390)
R' Sholom of Neustadt
R' Yaakov Moelin (Maharil) (1427)
R' Yisroel Isserlein (Trumas Hadeshen) (1460)
R' Tavoli
Rabbi Yaakov Margolies (1501)
Rabbi Yaakov Pollak (1530)
Rabbi Sholom Shachna (1558)
Rabbi Moshe Isserles '"Rama'" (1572)
Rabbi Yehoshua Falk Katz (1614)
Rabbi Naftoli Hirsch ben Pesachya (1650)
Rabbi Moshe Rivkas - '"Be'er Hagolah'" (1671)
Rabbi Avraham Gombiner (1682)
Rabbi Moshe Kramer (1688)
Rabbi Eliyahu Chasid (1710)
Rabbi Yissachar Ber (1740)
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman (1765)
Rabbi Eliyahu Kramer - '"Vilna Gaon'" (1797)
Rabbi Chaim Voloziner (1821)
Rabbi Zundel of Salant (1866)
Rabbi Yisroel Salanter (1883)
Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Chelm (1888)
Rabbi Yerucham Lebovitz (1936)
..
...
....
.....
......​

 

[Abu Zakariya]

Judaism position on Israel is basically that the Jews can not build the 3rd temple or institute Halacha as law (similar to what shairah is for you all) until the Moshiach comes. Until then Israel under a secular goverment is kosher according to Jewish law.

Does Halacha law, for instance, punish the adulterer etc?

 

[lavikor201]

Does Halacha law, for instance, punish the adulterer etc?

Yes Halacha is basically Jewish law. Not sure exactly which scenarios to reccomends punsihments for, but mostly, Halacha demands to sets up a council of wise sages to try and settle disputes ect.

Halacha prohibts all adultry very severly.

 

[IzakHalevas]

Dinei nefashot which means "capital punishment" in hebrew, is under halacha the penalty for murder, adultery and a few other crimes.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of the foremost modern authorities on Jewish Law, explained: “the death penalty is administered . . . not out of hate for the wrongdoers or [even] out of concern for the stability of society . . . but rather so that people should be aware of the seriousness of these prohibitions and therefore would not transgress them . . . And so, throughout the generations there were virtually no murderers among the Jews, because of the gravity of the prohibition and because they were educated by the Torah and by the punishments of the Torah to understand the gravity of the prohibition, and not because they were simply afraid of the punishment.”
Igrot Moshe volume II of Choshen Mishpat responsum 68

 

[lavikor201]

and a few other crimes

Was Shabbos desecration ever added to that list?

 

[IzakHalevas]

Was Shabbos desecration ever added to that list?

Not really sure, I don't ever remember reading that while studying Talmud and Torah.

 

[lavikor201]

Izak, when did you convert to Judaism, and if you feel comfortabe enough, may I ask what religion you converted from? You seem very knowledgable.

 

[IzakHalevas]

Izak, when did you convert to Judaism, and if you feel comfortabe enough, may I ask what religion you converted from? You seem very knowledgable.

I converted to Judaism about seven years ago. What was discouraging was how the Rabbi at first turned me away, telling me that he felt my beliefs were not 100% genuine. I returned and he said that I passed his test by returning even after he sent me away saying I should not convert. About a year later I was Jewish and began running a Jewish household. I found a Jewish wife about two years later.

I would rather not say which religion I was born into.

 

[Andaraawus]

It is really possible to become Jewish though? because i would have thought Jews to be a certain tribe of people and not exactly a religion although those who mainly profess to be Jew follow Judaism. What i understand is that in order for you to be a Jew you have to be a direct descendant of Jacob. If you are not from this linage then the laws you find in the Torah and the Talmud do not apply to you, Therefore circumcision is not applicable, this is only for people of the covenant - the house of Abraham! As discussed previously a person that comes from the "gentiles" (as translated in the Bible) need only to follow the seven Noahidic laws and maintain righteousness. Its just that the seed of Abraham has a greater responsability due to their covenant and because they were the ones who were to carry the revelation and preserve it. Thats according to my understanding... i better turn this into a question before my post gets deleted. Not only have i been called an apostate and a Jew but now my posts have been made to dissappear when they have been totally valid posts in line with the topics found here. Wallahu A'aAlam i may be rustling the wrong feathers however i cant be gagged. I am not suggesting the person responsable was responsable also for my takfeer.. no ..no so overall my question is drawing from my statement above, are my conclusions valid and are they in line with orthodox Judaism?

Also did the Jews used to circulate the holy of holies ?

 

[IzakHalevas]

It is really possible to become Jewish though?

Yes.

because i would have thought Jews to be a certain tribe of people and not exactly a religion although those who mainly profess to be Jew follow Judaism.

No, even though it is not encouraged it is completly possible to convert to Judaism, and to embrace G-d and follow all of his laws in the Torah finally gave me inner peace and connection to G-d I desired in life.

If you are not from this linage then the laws you find in the Torah and the Talmud do not apply to you,

That is wrong.

Many converts joined the tribes, and the laws then applied to them, what your basically saying is false.

Therefore circumcision is not applicable, this is only for people of the covenant - the house of Abraham!

Untrue, many peoples joined the Jews and Abraham and they got circumscised. Throught history people have converted and gotten circumscised, and this is what the patriarchs would do if anyone ever wanted to join the tribes.

Its just that the seed of Abraham has a greater responsability due to their covenant and because they were the ones who were to carry the revelation and preserve it.

But anyone who wished to join the covanent and follow the laws of the Torah was welcome to. It was just not done right away to make sure you were genuine.

are my conclusions valid and are they in line with orthodox Judaism?

No. Orthodox Judaism welcomes converts as long as they are genuine and sincere. Your conclusion I am sorry to tell you is completly wrong.

Also did the Jews used to circulate the holy of holies ?

I don't think so. I can look into it however.

 

[IzakHalevas]

Shabbat is coming soon so I will not be online for a while... please leave your questions I will awnser them after.

Thank you and peace.

 

[Andaraawus]

Untrue, many peoples joined the Jews and Abraham and they got circumscised. Throught history people have converted and gotten circumscised, and this is what the patriarchs would do if anyone ever wanted to join the tribes.

I am not trying to debate you , but in the past i have pointed out to Christians that circumcision is part of the pact, if you argue that it is then i would love to see the documented evidence for your statement. I would love to have that evidence handy . thank you for your reply ...im still reading it now

 

[Andaraawus]

I have no problem in being wrong as long as i am satisfied with presented evidences, i apolgise if i hav made any factual errors.

 

[shahidiceprince]

We never call ourselves "Children of Jacob" in prayer either.

Even we do not call ourselves Mohammedans. But its you guys who have kept it!!!

We also do not believe ourselves to be superior to any human so therefore, the person who has the nerve to post that FALSE post cannot provide a source.

The Jews do believe that they are superior to other humans!!! Then why do they call themselves as "the chosen lot"??? One of the Rabbi has state in his book that God has chosen them to establish peace among themselves and those who have gone astray(people of other religions)!!!


Anyways, I had posted a question here some time ago in page number 39. Now when I have logged on after the last I visited to find its answer, I am surprised that my question itself has been erased!!!

 

[Andaraawus]

Brother they were chosan, the Qur'aan confirms that , but read 3 :110 Quraan to catch me drift, we are only the best of communities upon a condition, and the same goes with the chosan people, it does not imply they are better than others, it implies they were given a responsabilty , and now G-d has given the same repsonsability. didnt the Prophet saws also say they will be a day that comes that Muslims will follow the Jews even if its down a lizards hole. Really Muslims and Jews are in the same boat ans we are both accountable, how we repent determines who and what we are. wasalams

 

[IzakHalevas]

I am not trying to debate you , but in the past i have pointed out to Christians that circumcision is part of the pact, if you argue that it is then i would love to see the documented evidence for your statement. I would love to have that evidence handy . thank you for your reply ...im still reading it now

It is written in the Torah:

"This is My covenant that you shall observe between Me and you and your children after you, to circumcise your every male. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall become the sign of a covenant between Me and you". (Genesis. 17:10-11)
​

This is the only commandment of the Torah called "the sign of a covenant" between God and the Jewish people. In fact, the Torah mentions the word "Brit" (Heb. covenant) 13 times in connection with circumcision, which is why the word "Brit" has become synonymous with circumcision.

Before the Jewish people became Jews ("converted") by Mount Sinai, they had to do three things: 1) Circumcise themselves (See Joshua 5:5). 2) Bring a sacrifice (Exodus 24:5). 3) Immerse in a Mikvah (natural body of water or ritual bath) as it says (Exodus 19:10), "Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow." This sanctification is referring to purification in a mikvah.

So too, for all generations, someone who wants to join the Jewish people must circumcise themselves (if it is a male), bring a sacrifice (if the Holy Temple is standing), and immerse in the mikvah.

If you wish for a more in depth response into the conversion process, or an example of conversions in the time of the patriarchs I can provide you with the evidence.

Peace!

The Jews do believe that they are superior to other humans!!! Then why do they call themselves as "the chosen lot"??? One of the Rabbi has state in his book that God has chosen them to establish peace among themselves and those who have gone astray(people of other religions)!!!

The Jews were chosen to follow all the 613 mitzvot (commandments) of the Torah. Instead of the 7 Non-Jews must follow. Therefore, being 'chosen' has nothing to do with being superior. It has to do with the fact that we were chosen to follow all of G-d's commandments. If a non-jew wants to accept this responsibility he may enter the covanent )as I did when I converted) but then you are claiming to dedicate your life to the 613 mitzvot, and following the 7 laws will never be enough anymore.

The people who have gone astray as in worshiping idols, or believing in false prophets have gone astray to our belief, yet all religions believe the others have gone astray, therefore, to label us as hateful because we believe others have gone astray is pretty odd, since Islam labels Judaism the same way.

 

[snakelegs]

i would not want to be "chosen" if it meant that instead of 7 commandments, i had to follow 613!

 

[IzakHalevas]

i would not want to be "chosen" if it meant that instead of 7 commandments, i had to follow 613!

Yet, I assume you are not a pious man, therefore, while it may seem like a burden to you, accepting all of G-d's mitzvot is the greatest honor for me, and it is something I love to do.