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This section, "Judaism"
will answer questions about one of the oldest existing faiths.
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Q. Why don't
Jews believe Jesus is the saviour?
A. Jews don't believe Jesus was
the Messiah for a number of reasons. Jews today believe that Jesus did not
fulfill all the requirements of the Moshiach, or Messiah outlined in the Tanakh
(Old Testament to Christians). The main prophesy that Jews cite is: "Nation will
not raise up sword against nation and there will be no more learning of war" (in
Christianity, Jesus will fufill this at the Second Coming - Jews don't believe
in a Second Coming).
Q. Tell me about the Kosher
Laws -- why do some Jews eat special food? What's special about the food?
A. Traditional Jews follow kosher
laws (kashrut) because they believe they are commanded to by God. Kosher
laws don't deal with only food, but that's what they're known for. These
complex rulings come from the Torah and are expanded upon in the Talmud.
Briefly (very simplified): Animals from which meat and dairy is derived must be
domesticated. Land animals must have a cloven hoove and chew cud.
Sea animals must have fins and scales. Birds must be non-predatory.
Insects, reptiles and amphibians are forbidden. Meat (does not include fish)
must be slaughtered a unique way that allows for the most humane death possible.
Meat and dairy cannot be eaten together.
Q. What does
is mean when Jews write "G-d" or "GD" instead of God? Do they
think they are not worthy of writing "god" out?
A. The reason this is done is
because many traditional Jews believe that "God," even though it is
not actually his name, is sacred and Holy. Therefore, should it be destroyed,
it would be disrespectful and even a sin against God. So, to prevent "God"
from being destroyed (either by being written down and thrown away or deleted
in a message board post), people who believe this chose to write an abbreviated
form of "God."
Holy Scriptures
• The
Tanakh by the Jewish Publication Society.
• The
Talmud (full set)
v
The
Talmudic Anthology
v
Etz
Hayim (Torah with commentary)
Other Scriptures or
Related
v
The
Other Bible (ancient alternative scriptures). Edited by Willis Barnstone.
• Kabbalah
(An Introduction and Illumination for the World Today). By Charles
Poncé.
• The
Zohar, Moshe Miller
v
Jewish
Meditation: A Practical Guide, Aryeh Kaplan
Encyclopedias
v
A
Historical Atlas of the Jewish People by Eli Barnavi
Intro Texts
v
The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism by Rabbi Benjamin Blech.
• The
Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism
v
Essential
Judaism by George Robinson.
v
The
Jewish Book of Why, by Alfred Kolatch
• Teach
Yourself: Judaism. By CM Pilkington.
v
To
Life! by Harold Kushner
• Choosing
a Jewish Life by Anita Diamant
• Symbols
of Judaism
History/Culture-related Texts
•
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture
by Rabbi Benjamin Blech.
• The
Gift of the Jews (How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks
and Feels) by Thomas Cahill.
v
Jewish
Literacy by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
Jewish Philosophy and Thought
v
God
in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel
v
Man
is Not Alone by Abraham Joshua Heschel
• The
Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
• The
Book of Jewish Values by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
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