Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew!

[rav]

Shalom Aleichem ManchesterFolk, you wrote:

Genesis 3:9 says: Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

Why did God ask a question like "where are you"? He did not know where Adam was?

There is actually a very interesting story about this verse.

In 1798, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was imprisoned on charges that his teachings undermined the imperial authority of the czar. For 52 days he was held in the Peter-Paul Fortress in Petersburg.

Among the Rebbe's interrogators was a government minister who possessed broad knowledge of the Bible and of Jewish studies. On one occasion, he asked the Rebbe to explain the verse, "G-d called out to the man and said to him: Where are you?" Did G-d not know where Adam was?

Rabbi Schneur Zalman presented the classic explanation offered by the commentaries: the question "Where are you?" was merely a "conversation opener" on the part of G-d, who did not wish to unnerve Adam by immediately confronting him with his wrongdoing.

"Rashi also points out that Hashem knew where Adam was. However, The Almighty wanted to begin the conversation gently. He gave Adam a chance to warm up and relax. Then He asked him the question about the Eitz Ha'daas (Tree of Knowledge). With this introduction, Adam HaRishon would not be afraid to answer. He might even admit his sin and do teshuva. For Hashem does not want to punish sinners, rather He wants them to do teshuva. Rashi mentions three other examples of Hashem beginning a conversation gently. He adds that the proper way (to converse) is not to begin abruptly."​

"What Rashi says, I already know," said the minister. "I wish to hear how the Rebbe understands the verse."

"Do you believe that the Torah is eternal?" asked the Rebbe. "That its every word applies to every individual, under all conditions, at all times?"

"Yes," replied the minister.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman was extremely gratified to hear this. The czar's minister had affirmed a principle which lies at the basis of our teachings--the very teachings for which he, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, was standing trial.

"Where are you?" explained the Rebbe, "is G-d's perpetual call to every man. Where are you in the world? What have you accomplished? You have been allotted a certain number of days, hours, and minutes in which to fulfill your mission in life. You have lived so many years and so many days--Rabbi Schneur Zalman spelled out the exact age of the minister--Where are you? What have you attained?"

 

[ManchesterFolk]

Does Judaism consider any valid messages to appear in dreams?

 

[rav]

Does Judaism consider any valid messages to appear in dreams?

Shalom Manchester,

The halachah (Jewish Law) is nowadays that we do not consider our dreams messages. If you did have a bad dream, that is, a dream that described harm coming to you or someone close to you, you can say hatavas chalom (it's in the siddur [prayerbook]). If necessary, you can even fast a taanis chalom.

Dreams are sometimes things our soul picks up while it "travels" upstairs during the night, but usually they are just plain meaningless psycho-biological random activities of the brain. Even when the dreams do come from a real source, they are always mixed in with some nonsense, so there is no way of knowing what is real and what is not. At least not for people like us.

It’s not true what you often hear about signs that your dream is true, such as having it 3 time sin a row, etc.

 

[ManchesterFolk]

May I ask what kind of Deity, wishes to be worshiped three times a day like Jews do? I mean, does He need the ego boost? Serious question... looking for an answer.

 

[Kashnowe]

Basically! That is why we hold such respect for your religion!

To behave justly in all relationships, and to establish courts of justice.
To refrain from blaspheming Gods name.
To refrain from practicing idolatry.
To avoid immoral practices, specifically incest and adultery.
To avoid shedding the blood of ones fellow man.
To refrain from robbing ones fellow man.
To refrain from eating a limb torn from a live animal.

what if breaks one or many of these laws? are they doomed for hell?
how do you repent?

what exactly is a limb torn from a live animal?
you mean tearing a limb before actually killing the poor creature?
or like limbs as in legs i.e. leg of lamb......?

 

[Kashnowe]

i am confused between these two quotes. can you clarify?

lavikor201:
4) JEWISH BELIEF IS BASED SOLELY ON NATIONAL REVELATION

Of the 15,000 religions in human history, only Judaism bases its belief on national revelation -- i.e. G-d speaking to the entire nation. If G-d is going to start a religion, it makes sense He'll tell everyone, not just one person.

Judaism, unique among all of the world's major religions, does not rely on "claims of miracles" as the basis for its religion. In fact, the Bible says that G-d sometimes grants the power of "miracles" to charlatans, in order to test Jewish loyalty to the Torah (Deut. 13:4).

Maimonides states (Foundations of Torah, ch. 8):


The Jews did not believe in Moses, our teacher, because of the miracles he performed. Whenever anyone's belief is based on seeing miracles, he has lingering doubts, because it is possible the miracles were performed through magic or sorcery. All of the miracles performed by Moses in the desert were because they were necessary, and not as proof of his prophecy.

What then was the basis of [Jewish] belief? The Revelation at Mount Sinai, which we saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears, not dependent on the testimony of others... as it says, "Face to face, God spoke with you..." The Torah also states: "G-d did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us -- who are all here alive today." (Deut. 5:3)


Judaism is not miracles. It is the personal eyewitness experience of every man, woman and child, standing at Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago.

and

rebelishaulam:
The scriptures lavikor, 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.

i am confused

 

[Kashnowe]

The Catholic belief is that prayer must be directed through an intermediary -- i.e. confessing one's sins to a priest. Jesus himself is an intermediary, as Jesus said: "No man cometh unto the Father but by me."

i always understood this quote "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" to mean no man can get to heaven unless he acknowledges Jesus is the Messiah. i never put it together with prayer.

i'm not exactly sure how the vatican stands on this but just showing how i interpret this.


so how does a Jew ask for forgiveness?

 

[Grace Seeker]

Can you give me a link to the 613 laws that Jews are to keep?

 

[snakelegs]

http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm

 

[ManchesterFolk]

i got one: why do you think that God sends a soul to be Jewish? since after reading it seems like jews dont just believe in straight up heaven and hell

 

[north_malaysian]

i got one: why do you think that God sends a soul to be Jewish? since after reading it seems like jews dont just believe in straight up heaven and hell

Because they are the "chosen people" to follow those 613 laws..... for them... we, the Gentiles only need to follow the 7 Noahide Laws in order to be rewarded heaven....

Maybe they can answer your question tomorrow as they are observing Shabbath today.

 

[ManchesterFolk]

Because they are the "chosen people" to follow those 613 laws..... for them... we, the Gentiles only need to follow the 7 Noahide Laws in order to be rewarded heaven....

Maybe they can answer your question tomorrow as they are observing Shabbath today.

yeah but what i was saying is why send someone to be born jewish. both can go to heaven so why does he chose a specific person to be a jew born from jewish family, instead of someone being born into a non-jew family and having less repsonsibilty/laws.

 

[Grace Seeker]

yeah but what i was saying is why send someone to be born jewish. both can go to heaven so why does he chose a specific person to be a jew born from jewish family, instead of someone being born into a non-jew family and having less repsonsibilty/laws.

Would I be correct in guessing that Jews aren't as focused on going to heaven as Christians appear to be? That life is about more than just finding the right fire insurance? And that living for God while on this earth is not a burden but a calling, one that is received joyfully as a privilege?

 

[rav]

Wow, I did not expect such a huge amount of questions to amass. I am still indeed on my trip, but I was in the process of posting an article I had just written for a counter-Christian missionary site. I peeked in here and all of a sudden there is an entire page of questions! With G-d’s help I will answer all of them appropriately.

May I ask what kind of Deity, wishes to be worshiped three times a day like Jews do? I mean, does He need the ego boost? Serious question... looking for an answer.

Shalom Manchesterfolk,

Prayer is not for the sake of G-d. G-d does not need an ego book, nor does he need us to pray. Prayer is entirely for the sake of the man praying. When you pray three things occur that benefit you:

1. You are reminded of G-d. Morning prayers especially are necessary because you begin your day by reminded yourself about G-d, and without this reminder, then you’re possibly more prone to transgress G-d’s laws, because you did not have that reminder. The afternoon and evening prayers serve us as the same thing under thus first concept, that we in general need reminders of G-d since we are not perfect.


2. Closeness to G-d. He wants us to pray and have confidence in Him. This principle certainly applies to couples that are barren. From the shemayisrael site: The following is a story told by the prophet Elijah.

Once when I was traveling from place to place, I came across an old man who asked me the following question: "Rabbi, why does it happen that some Jewish families are unable to have children?" ​

I said to him, "My son, it is because G-d loves them with a complete love, and He is happy with them and purifies them with this suffering, and so that they will ask Him for mercy. Go and learn this from Avraham and Sarah, who were barren for seventy-five years before Isaac was born. They prayed so much for mercy until Isaac was born, which made them so happy. Go and learn from Isaac and Rebecca who were barren for twenty years. They prayed so much for mercy until Ya'akov was born which made them so happy. Go and learn this from Rachel, who was barren for fourteen years until her two children were born. She prayed so much for mercy until they both came. Go and learn from Chana who was barren for nineteen years and six months until Samuel was born; and she was made so happy with him.
(YALKUT LECH LECHA 78, from TANA D'VEI ELIYAHU)
​

Eliahu's words need explanation. Why would G-d prevent people from having children if He loves them? What does it mean that He purifies them? What proof do we have of this from all the tzaddikim that Eliyahu mentions?

G-d prevents people from having children only because He loves them. True fulfillment in this world is being a complete person who is close to G-d. All of the mitzvos that we do are intended to bring us close to Him. This is also true for prayer. When someones needs something badly, he prays with such great intensity that consequently he comes closer to G-d. The more one needs something, the more intensely he prays.

Consequently, the person comes closer to G-d through his prayers and through his anguish. When G-d loves someone, he wants to give them the gift of being close to Him.

3. G-d wants to gran our requests. Jews believe that G-d will take action in response to prayer, and a teaching from the rabbis tells us that the more we ask G-d to help us, the more G-d will love us. (Midrash Tehillim 4:3)

These are three basic reasons, and if you wish for more depth, I could try to provide it.

what if breaks one or many of these laws? are they doomed for hell?
how do you repent?
what exactly is a limb torn from a live animal?
you mean tearing a limb before actually killing the poor creature?
or like limbs as in legs i.e. leg of lamb......?

i am confused between these two quotes. can you clarify? ialways understood this quote "No man cometh unto the Father but by me" to mean no man can get to heaven unless he acknowledges Jesus is the Messiah. i never put it together with prayer.

i'm not exactly sure how the vatican stands on this but just showing how i interpret this.

so how does a Jew ask for forgiveness?

Shalom cooloonka,

Your first post, a limb torn from an animal while alive means exactly how it sounds.

Your first point of your second post, I am not sure what exactly is in need of clarification. Could you be a bit more specific?

Pertaining to your second point of your second post, I am not sure, nor do I have an opinion on that verse. I do know that Catholicism does believe in an intermediary for prayer, to the best of my knowledge.

And Jews or any human for that matter asks for forgiveness by doing so in prayer, directly to G-d. Then the person tries to correct his mistakes, and proves his genuine intention of wanting to be forgiven through his deeds.

Can you give me a link to the 613 laws that Jews are to keep?

Shalom Grace Seeker,

The best link I can give you is this one: http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=411&o=91&dns=1

i got one: why do you think that God sends a soul to be Jewish? since after reading it seems like jews dont just believe in straight up heaven and hell

yeah but what i was saying is why send someone to be born jewish. both can go to heaven so why does he chose a specific person to be a jew born from jewish family, instead of someone being born into a non-jew family and having less repsonsibilty/laws.

Shalom jamaaljad,


You bring up a very deep concept, one spoken about a lot and one of the first things mentioned in the Tanya. It is brought up in the Tanya-Likutei Amarim Ch.1:

Before a Jew is born an oath is administered to him in heaven, charging him:​

תהי צדיק ואל תהי רשע, ואפילו כל העולםכולו אומרים לך צדיק אתה היה בעיניך כרשע​

‘Be righteous and be not wicked; and even if the whole world judging you by your actions tells you that you are righteous, regard yourself as wicked.’”​

The soul of a Jew descends into a body for a purpose — in order to fulfill a specific spiritual mission in this world. To enable him to fulfill it a heavenly oath is administered to him that he “be righteous and not wicked,” and concurrently, that he regard himself as wicked and not righteous. The root (שׁבע) of the verb משׁביעים (“an oath is administered”) is virtually identical with the root (‏שׂבע) of the verb משׂביעים (“one causes [him] to be sated”). Accordingly, the oath charging him to be righteous may also be understood to mean that the soul is thereby invested (“sated”) with the power that enables it to fulfill its destiny in life on earth.​

Only G-d truly knows why he sent us to accomplish a certain task on earth. If in one life we could not completely elevate our soul to the proper level, we could be sent back if G-d decided to fulfill a certain element that we did not accomplish in our last life. Therefore the answer if not really known to us, all we can infer is what the Holy texts teach us “The soul of a Jew descends into a body for a purpose — in order to fulfill a specific spiritual mission in this world.” The same way that the soul of someone is sent to the body of a non-Jew to complete an equally holy, and spiritual mission here on earth.

Would I be correct in guessing that Jews aren't as focused on going to heaven as Christians appear to be? That life is about more than just finding the right fire insurance? And that living for God while on this earth is not a burden but a calling, one that is received joyfully as a privilege?

Shalom again Grace Seeker,

An interesting saying is in Pirkei Avos Ch. 4, Mishna 22b:

"He [Rabbi Yaakov] used to say, one hour of repentance and good deeds in this world is better than the entire life of the World to Come. And one hour of bliss in the World to Come is better than the entire life of this world." ​

This philosophy is a very deep, but powerful teaching. In the world to come you can no longer accomplish everything. What you reaped in this world is what defines your bliss in the world to come. Therefore, what we do in this world is very important, because it defines what the world to come is for us. If we sit in this world and ponder on heaven all day, and do not accomplish anything, then what will our world to come be?

 

[*~Sofia~*]

what were the jews up2?

(peace)

well today I went past a building which is used as Jewish community hall/building. and there was a HUGE fire they had set, just outside, and there were men praying near it, and loads of children just surrounding the area.. i went past another jewish building, and they had dun the same thing, set a fire, and were surrounding it. i just wanted to know what they were doing? is it some sort of religious ceremony thingy? i was just curious dats all, and was hoping sum1, sumwhere cud give me an answer.

jazakallah (many thanks)

 

[rav]

Re: what were the jews up2?

I'm still on a trip (my kids have not gotten up from sleep yet) so I can answer briefly.

(peace)

well today I went past a building which is used as Jewish community hall/building. and there was a HUGE fire they had set, just outside, and there were men praying near it, and loads of children just surrounding the area.. i went past another jewish building, and they had dun the same thing, set a fire, and were surrounding it. i just wanted to know what they were doing? is it some sort of religious ceremony thingy? i was just curious dats all, and was hoping sum1, sumwhere cud give me an answer.

jazakallah (many thanks)

Shalom SM1987,

What you saw was most likely Lag BaOmer festivities.

Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer Count -- this year, May 6, 2007 -- is a festive day on the Jewish calendar, celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bow and arrows ), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Miron in Northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, whose yahrzeit (anniversary of his passing) the day marks.

Lag BaOmer also commemorates another joyous event. The Talmud relates that in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot a plague raged amongst the disciples of the great sage Rabbi Akiva "because they did not act respectfully towards each other"; these weeks are therefore observed as a period of mourning, with various joyous activities proscribed by law and custom. On Lag BaOmer the dying ceased. Thus Lag BaOmer also carries the theme of Ahavat Yisrael, the imperative to love and respect one's fellow.

 

[*~Sofia~*]

peace Rav,

thank u very much for getting back to me.. very much appreciated. It makes sense now..i guess the curiousity got the better of me! lol neway many thanks

peace

 

[Sunnih]

Please explain to me

I have come across a verse:

Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death. (Exodus 19:12)

I wander if jews are not allowed to touch it.

 

[Kashnowe]

do jews believe that the messiah will be a man and nothing else? ( i mean not God as christians believe Jesus is.)

 

[rav]

do jews believe that the messiah will be a man and nothing else? ( i mean not God as christians believe Jesus is.)

Shalom, Moshiach will be a man. To believe what the Christians do is idol worship.