Asiignment 8 - Grade: A PDF

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Summary

After reading, you may ask friends, fellow students, do more research from books and/or search the internet to answer the questions below?
1. What is the criteria for being Jewish? What does it mean to be Jewish?
2. Can anything disqualify a Jewish person who wishes to be called a Jew fr...

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After reading, you may ask friends, fellow students, do more research from books and/or search the internet to answer the questions below? A. What is the criteria for being Jewish? What does it mean to be Jewish? The main principles of Judaism that supposed to honored in the community is dedication to the Torah, improvement and positive impacts on society, upholding mitzvoth(10 commandments) , and deny injustices. In some religions such as Buddhism and Taoism “following” the religion involves a more personal meditation, while in Judaism, being a part of the religion is like being part of a larger community. As the BBC article stated previously in the lesson “there were around 13.1 million Jewish people in the world in 2007”. A Jew must also understand through birth or conversion the Halakha. That is the acceptance of the principles and practices of Judaism however that does not make a person a Jewish. Someone who is considered Jewish believes in the idea of a future messiah and worships their one God. Whether orthodox or liberal, Judaism in an exclusive religion where a certain way of life is maintained. In the orthodox branches gender roles are clearly defined this upholds the mentality that “Torah which it is practical to obey must be obeyed without question” as uri.com put it. The Conservative and Reform Jews are more concern with community practices than with ritual practices. These two branches allow everyone to sit together, men and women, and both Hebrew and the local language are spoken in services.

B. Can anything disqualify a Jewish person who wishes to be called a Jew from continuing to be Jewish? Yes, the “wolves in sheep’s clothing” are often referred to as apikorsim. They bring about skepticism, doubt and refrain from spreading their beliefs. By definition an apikorsim is “heretic, nonbeliever, especially one with great knowledge of Judaism” according to the Jewish English lexicon. C. Are there Jews who do not believe in God and do not practice Jewish customs? Does believing in atheism, pantheism or monism disqualify a person born in Jewish family from being Jewish? Some Jews who survived the holocaust became atheists but are still called Jewish by many. Are they still Jewish? Considering a religion is based upon a belief while no a Jew might not be considered Jewish for not having faith in the God of the Jewish religion. Rather a fan. Someone who meditates daily isn’t considered a Taoist unless that is what they believe in. Holocaust survivor may have converted to atheism and lost faith and as a result wouldn’t be considered Jewish by definition perhaps by birth right though. D. If a Jew is born Jewish, follows Jewish rituals and customs, but they believe in anyone as a Messiah (for example, Lubavitch - Brooklyn Messiah), is that person Jewish? This question is not just about Jesus, it pertains to a host of other persons who were supposed to be the Messiah (not just Jesus). Yes according to www.jewfaq.org the mention of a messiah is not regarded in any of the Torah books. In fact “messianic concept was introduced later in the history of Judaism, during the age of the prophets” meaning that it wouldn’t necessarily be a Judaism apikorsim to begin believing in a messiah. The book of

Isaiah 11:2-5 says “He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments” So believing in a messiah can still allow one to be considered Jewish E. Do an internet search on Simeon Bar Kochba and Zevi Shabbatai and Lubavitch Hasidism? Did the Jews who believed in these movements continue to be considered Jewish? The Bible and the Torah mention King David of Israel, and he too believe he was a messiah. The Tomah prophesizes a messiah and Lubavitch Hasidism believed he was it. He upheld Jewish tradition to an extent and had faith in the Judaism god. Zevi Shabbatai, Lubavitch Hasidism, and Simeon Bar Kochba all upheld Jewish traditions, and maintained their perceived faith in the Judaism’s God.

Works Cited Judaism 101: Mashiach: The Messiah, www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm. Apikoros - Jewish English Lexicon, jel.jewish-languages.org/words/22. “JewishEncyclopedia.com.” JUDAISM - JewishEncyclopedia.com, www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9028-judaism. “Judaism: Basic Beliefs.” URI, uri.org/kids/world-religions/jewish-beliefs....