Questions about Judaism answered by a Jew!

[King David]

you dont pray and ask the dead guy you pray to g*d.
you pray for the dead guy.

 

[NoName55]

would I be lynched If I was to claim that When we pass by a graveyard, we are recommended to say: "Assalamu alaikum, or peace be to you. (Because that is the dwelling place of people who were believers)." This is a greeting to the dead which is communicated to them by God. The angels reply to us on their behalf, even though we do not hear their reply.?

 

[rebelishaulman]

would I be lynched If I was to claim that When we pass by a graveyard, we are recommended to say: "Assalamu alaikum, or peace be to you. (Because that is the dwelling place of people who were believers)." This is a greeting to the dead which is communicated to them by God. The angels reply to us on their behalf, even though we do not hear their reply.?

I'm not exactly sure what your talking about. Can you clarify your question? Thanks.

 

[NoName55]

I'm not exactly sure what your talking about. Can you clarify your question? Thanks.

when you pass a grave yard and say shalom o people of the grave (like I say "Assalamu alaikum"

is that allowed in Judaism?

 

[rebelishaulman]

when you pass a grave yard and say shalom o people of the grave (like I say "Assalamu alaikum"

is that allowed in Judaism?

Not sure. I guess so. I mean we will say "Rest in peace" or after the name of a Rabbi who has died ZT"L

Which is an acronym for "may the memory of the righteous be blessed".

Is that similar to what your saying?

For example, Rabbi Akiva zt"l died.

We write that at the end when refering to a dead sage.

Read this for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorifics_in_Judaism

 

[NoName55]

Is that similar to what your saying

yes,more or less

"Assalamu alaikum" exactly means "Peace be upon you" you say "rest in peace"

so it sounds to me that the sentiment or the essence is the same

b'shalom/ma'asalaama

 

[noodles]

Is cannibalism allowed in Judaism?

(I'm quite sure the answer is no, yet I have a train of thought that I want to put up that is based on the answer to this question.)

In another thread, and I will quote here, this was posted by rebelishaulman

Also, have you ever been a rat? Do you know how they communicate? Do you know what its like to be one? Obviously not, so if you have a very small goal to accomplish then you might be an animal because less is expected of you and your put on the earth to accomplish some deed to help your soul.

Your view of reincarnation as, when you do bad you become a rat, and if you do good you become rich, is very very off.

Your reincarnated and put into the role on earth that you need to try and accomplish your purpose. On the contrary, a rat has very little to accomplish and he is much closer to heaven because he has less responsibilites than one who is very rich and can do what they please and have a lot of power. Those people are expected to do a lot more and if they do not they they did not accomplish what there goals were.

To try and stay in topic. A man who gives milions of his dollars to help fight poverty, Jew or not, is accomlishing his goals. G-d gave him power and he is using it for good, not his pleasure.

Reincarnation is not for punishment. Being an animal is not due to how bad you were. It is due to what purpose you have for coming back to earth.

So far, I understand that it is possible to be re-incarnated into animals. In essence, the soul is transferred into this creature. However, the soul itself is not of any significant shape, because it would be mental to try to form a shape for the soul. Anyway, my point here is that it is very possible for me to be re-incarnated as a sheep.

If the very fact that I may be re-incarnated into a sheep or any such creature that Humans eat, means that you may be devouring another human being's soul.

Ok, lets just assume the soul leaves the sheep's body after it is slaughtered, does it mean that it has accomplished its task or does it have to redo the task since its unfortunate death.


Another question.

The Jews acknowledge the first human to be Adam. Right? (I hope the answer is right, because I haven't checked this)

So does this mean that the animals present during his lifetime had a soul that was being punished for its previous sins?


I'm very sorry if I sound ignorant. I haven't done much research on these topics and I need some sites that are composed by Jews and not someone else. I don't seem to have enough knowledge of Judaism to know the right from wrong. So if you are willing, could you point me in a direction of a good site to read about the basics?

 

[rebelishaulman]

This is tough since I am not completly knowledgable on this topic but I will try to answer your questions:

If the very fact that I may be re-incarnated into a sheep or any such creature that Humans eat, means that you may be devouring another human being's soul.

The soul leaves the body upon death.

However, could this tie into the prohibition all of mankind including gentiles have of not pulling off the limb of a live animal and eating it? Not sure if it is directly connected but you never know.

Ok, lets just assume the soul leaves the sheep's body after it is slaughtered, does it mean that it has accomplished its task or does it have to redo the task since its unfortunate death.

I would not know. That would be up to G-d. However, when you are reincarnated into an animal that means that this specifically occured because the purpose of you returning to earth was very minor, so you did not need to form major relationships, and the task may have been more on intention then action since I believe you are completly aware that animals can think and do make day to day choices. Apes in the jungle live very emotional lives. They have free will and must make choices as well. Since G-d will judge us based on our intentions a lot, like what we meant to do during a certain moment, animals can still accomplish nessesary tasks.

The Jews acknowledge the first human to be Adam. Right? (I hope the answer is right, because I haven't checked this)

Yes.

So does this mean that the animals present during his lifetime had a soul that was being punished for its previous sins?

No, of course not. Since Adam was the first that means they had to be created humans, animals everything. It is a tough concept, but as a whole I don't think by any means every animal has a soul that is human etc. But sometimes for a short mission or task that you should not create new relationships in, that might occur. However, don't quote me on that. I never dove into this type of learning. I like more logical stuff then mystics.

I'm very sorry if I sound ignorant. I haven't done much research on these topics and I need some sites that are composed by Jews and not someone else. I don't seem to have enough knowledge of Judaism to know the right from wrong. So if you are willing, could you point me in a direction of a good site to read about the basics?

Here are some sites on basic Judaism and "Giglgul" which means cycle or reincarnation:

http://www.askmoses.com/
www.aish.com
www.chabad.org
http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=215&o=190
http://www.aish.com/literacy/concepts/Reincarnation_and_Jewish_Tradition.asp
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/reincarnation.html

A soul descends to this world from “beneath the throne of glory”—a place much higher than the highest angels—to accomplish her mission in this physical world. After her allotted time, the soul returns to be judged. She may need to be cleansed in gehinom. But eventually, she is able to reap her reward, which is to experience the Divine light that she generated through all her good deeds. But usually the entire mission of that soul does not get accomplished in a single lifetime. There may also be some mess that needs to be fixed up, left over from a previous life. So that aspect of the soul that still needs completion must return. And so, souls return again and again, until their job is complete. By now, almost all souls that come here are returnees.

 

[north_malaysian]

Is cannibalism allowed in Judaism?

Huh?:exhausted

Are you among those who believe that Jews eat Palestinian kids....? If you believe that... you're crazy...:blind:

 

[north_malaysian]

If moshiach come and establish a Jewish state.... it means that all people should follow Jewish Law.... is it includes the Non Jewish too?

 

[rebelishaulman]

Is cannibalism allowed in Judaism?

No. It is against Jewish law.

If moshiach come and establish a Jewish state.... it means that all people should follow Jewish Law.... is it includes the Non Jewish too?

No, Jewish law was only meant for the Jewish people, as part of the covenant. When Moshiah comes, the noahide laws will be the universal religion.

 

[rebelishaulman]

Good night you all. I will try to get on again sometime before the week is over.

Shalom (Peace).

 

[Woodrow]

This thread has strayed a little from it's original intent. The intent is simple. It is to be a thread where a person having a question about Judaism, may ask the question and have it answered by a Jew.

Simple.

To keep it simple and to keep the discussions peacefull only two members are permitted to answer questions in this thread those being Lavakor and rebelishaulman. Questions about judaism will have the answers deleted if they are answered by anyone other then those 2 people.


A final summation as to what I just said:


To keep it simple and to keep the discussions peacefull only two members are permitted to answer questions in this thread those being Lavakor and rebelishaulman.

 

[Muhammad]

Greetings,

In the course of this thread I noticed a couple of statements made regarding Islam, so I feel it is important to address those...

However, your scriptures clearly recognize that the Jews were chosen. You disagree that we still are, which I really do not see a reason to care if you do or not.

Just to clarify - our scripture mentions the 'Children of Israel' as being chosen, not the Jews.

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 can understand if that is the point of view you hold. Our explanation in Islam, however, would be that the proofs are available to the whole world (such as the Qur'an) which is why everyone is required to believe in them.

My apologies if this was off-topic, but I thought I'd just briefly respond to the above and now we can hopefully stay on topic!

Peace.

 

[lavikor201]

Just to clarify - our scripture mentions the 'Children of Israel' as being chosen, not the Jews.

And who are the "children of israel" if not the followers of Torah who recieved in on Mt. Sinai?

I can understand if that is the point of view you hold. Our explanation in Islam, however, would be that the proofs are available to the whole world (such as the Qur'an) which is why everyone is required to believe in them.

I of course respect your view, however, I don't view the Quran as proof in reality. No matter how "poetic" it is. I think he is refering to actual revelation to an entire nation, instead of to one person which says G-d spoke to him.

שלום עליכם
Peace be upon you.
Shalom Aleikhem.

 

[NoName55]

who are the "children of israel

All Semites

b'shalom/ma'asalaama


[SIZE=-1]a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa
of or relating to or characteristic of Semites; "Semite peoples"
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn[/SIZE]

 

[lavikor201]

All Semites

b'shalom/ma'asalaama


[SIZE=-1]a member of a group of Semitic-speaking peoples of the Middle East and northern Africa [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]of or relating to or characteristic of Semites; "Semite peoples" [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn[/SIZE]

So all semites experienced the revelation on Mt. Sinai? Really? :X

 

[NoName55]

So all semites experienced the revelation on Mt. Sinai? Really? :X

you are implying as if you were there!

Did any Semites switch over to Christ p.b.u.h upon his arrival?
Did any Semites switch over to Muhammad p.b.u.h upon his arrival?

were any of present followers of Judaism there on the Mount? (answer without resorting to re-incarnation)

 

[lavikor201]

you are implying as if you were there!

Did any Semites switch over to Christ p.b.u.h upon his arrival?
Did any Semites switch over to Muhammad p.b.u.h upon his arrival?

were any of present followers of Judaism there on the Mount? (answer without resorting to re-incarnation)

The families were:

Genesis 17, Verse 19: G-d said: "Indeed, your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Yitzchok. I will establish My covenant with him as an eternal covenant to his descendants after him.

Christians and Islamic opinions both admit that not a whole lot of Jews followed them, and that there followers came from the gentiles. But even the ones that did follow them, what does this prove? No matter the actions of the Jewish people the covenant stays the same.

To let you know semites also switched over to worship pagan gods. Does this mean that those pagan religions are legit as well? Of course not!

I do not really understand your point when asking stating this. The Quran does not say "semites" they say "Children of Israel" the tribe that was freed from Egypt which the Quran also says occured. Therefore it is not speaking of all semites. It is speaking of a tribe of semites. The Jewish people.

O Children of Israel! call to mind the (special) favor which I bestowed upon you, and fulfil your covenant with Me as I fulfil My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me.

Ya banee isra-eela othkurooniAAmatiya allatee anAAamtu AAalaykum waawfoo biAAahdee oofibiAAahdikum wa-iyyaya fairhabooni

Does banee israeela mean semite in arabic? :rollseyes


May I ask if the rest of the chapter which "rebukes" the children of Israel is really rebuking all semites as well. :exhausted


May I present Quran commentary that claims this is specifically refering to the Jewish people?

 

[Woodrow]

Reminder this is not a debate thread. the purpose is not to disprove or prove any Religious belief.

It is true that each of these individual questions is a valid topic of debate, but this is not the thread for that debate.

It is to be just simple statements of what a Jew believes.

It is already known and understood that some of the Judaisic beliefs are not shared by other religions.

The goal is for us to learn what stories we heard are actual Judaic beliefs and which ones are just stories attributed to Jews with no basis of origin.