thekabalist

Interesting topic. The possible reasons could range from Judaism believing that it's actually possible to perform works on behalf of the dead to the bad memories the Jewish people have of forced conversions. Perhaps if Rome hadn't forced Jews to convert or die the feelings would have been softer. Rome in the past with its physical abuse and Evangelicals in the present with its emotional and psychological abuse of the Jewish people are the great reason why the Jewish people is so weary of Christianity in the first place.

Hi forum, As there have been some questions about the works on behalf of the dead I will share the Jewish view with you and perhaps we can learn where we agree and where we are different. I'll try to keep it simple and as free of jargon as I can as this is a rather complex theme. Judaism believes that the creation existis throughout what we call different "worlds". The word "worlds" here isn't referring to cosmology but rather to what one would think of as parallel dimensions. In simple terms, we have three spirit worlds and we also have this world where we live in. Now the world where we live in has something that the 3 spirit worlds doesn't: we can perform physical deeds and ordinances. This is why it's often called the "world of action". What happens is that after you die you are deprived of the possibility of performing physical deeds. That is until the final resurection of course. This is why someone on the physical world must perform stuff on your behalf. Basically there are two things we do on behalf of the dead: we recite the kaddish which is a sanctification prayer that allows the soul to depart from this earth. Some souls may remain stuck to this world if kaddish isn't said and they aren't pure enough to depart. We say kaddish regularly because it helps the soul achieve higher levels of spirituality. The second thing we do is this: every commandment that we perform can be done in merit of a deceased person. So many Jews will give donations, pray, have immersions, wear teffilin, or perform other rites on behalf of deceased persons. This will increase the merits the dead have and it will be counted as their actions on the day of judgement. This is the basic Jewish view. How does it compare to your beliefs?

This is an interesting theme that I believe deserves its own topic. :)

I notice now that I haven't explained myself very well. What I mean is that no Israelite would give only a foreign name to their sons and daughters and it would be highly unlikely they would be referred to by such. In the Bible the only times we see such things are during the exile into other countries such as with Hadassah/Esther. Every Israelite is required to have a Hebrew name. It's our spiritual identity and it has been so for ages. Now all the names you have mentioned seem pretty Semitic to me. I ask myself if one would even have to consider any Egyptian influence at all in the names of the BoM. As for the name "amun" I doubt it came from Egypt. The term is cognate to the Hebrew "amen" which means "truthful" and is very widely used in Judaism. It's not only a name but a root with several uses. I can see however how a semitic word "amen" would account for the name of the Egyptian god. Perhaps this was known to them as the god of truth? b'shalom

Some more I've checked: Irreantum - ירה-אמתםירה - Ireh (He shall see) - Antem (their truth/truthfulness) Sherem - שרם - Sheram (That is exalted) Omni - אמני - Amni - Two possible meanings: "My master" or "My trustworthiness"

Is this what you mean perhaps? Jewish Myth, Magic, and Mysticism: Tzohar: Gem of Noah, Light of Heaven

I'm unaware of such agreement or who it was made with. However it isn't against the Jewish religion to do works for the dead. In fact it is an important part of the Jewish religion. We do it all the time. I can see how some would find offensive that conversion work is done on behalf of the dead among the Jewish people though. b'shalom

My father is still alive. In Judaism we also have rites for the purification of the souls of the dead. But what baffles me is why I would be shown an LDS Temple. If G-d wanted me to do something on behalf of the dead why did I not dream about reciting kaddish for them? This is what I don't understand. I understand that the imagery comes from Solomon's Temple and I find it very beautiful. I am at this point inclined to believe there must be something to do with the 12 tribes. But what could it be? I would be inclined to agree with you rationally, but it doesn't "feel" right. Do you also believe that when you hear the right interpretation for your dream it resonates within your soul? Yes, coming to think of it this sounds somewhat right. In Judaism we also believe that we are all connected. There is a portion of the soul that we believe is not unique to us but yet a connection to all of Israel. It's as if all of Israel were infinetely connected. By the way I really enjoyed this text. Sounds very beautiful and profound. Could it be that this means we should be connected somehow in our learnings? Yes this sounds right. Coming to think of it the first floor looked more beatiful than the others. Judaism also believes that heaven has multiple levels. Thank you so much for the comments. Look forward to continuing this discussion. b'shalom

Yes, in Judaism we believe that a dream is like a small prophecy. But what baffles me is: Why would I a Jew dream about the LDS Temple? I have yet to make sense of it. I cannot talk about this with my peers because I fear what they will think of it. This is why I went to the LDS section of the previous forum to ask my questions. Sadly I didn't feel comfortable continuing this discussion over there with so many Evangelicals casting stones at us. I am fairly good at understanding my dreams. When I can't there is a myriad of literature and even of peer help to count on. But this time I am completely left out in the shadows without understanding. Still a part of me finds it challenging. I don't mind that at all. This is why I am here. :) On the contrary. You LDS folks have been nothing but extremely nice and gentle. The very opposite of my previous experience with Christians. b'shalom

Yes, you are correct. There are no previous arrangements made in Judaism for a marriage on earth, just the belief that you will find your soulmate. I would be interested to hear more about your last comment. Do you mean you made promises to marry someone in a previous life?

Just_A_Guy To quilify for officiating in a new Temple all one has to be is a cohen. That is one has to belong to the priestly family. The only complication lies in the fact that the cohen must not have had contact with the dead. But this leaves from for speculation because without the red heifer we are all "tamei mot" (ritually unclean because of the dead). This is something that needs work but it isn't the most complicated of all matters. I really enjoy the work of the Temple Institute and hope that we will live to see the Temple rebuilt.

HiJolly, Very well observed. I'm impressed someone would notice. What you see in the fourth position is Daat and not Malchut. Usually Daat is the hidden sefirah because to put it simply knowledge is concealed from this creation. You will not find Malchut because Malchut is in connection with the World of Speech. Therefore this is an artistic conception of what the Ein Sof would look like before the words of creation. :)

I only remember vaguely the pool I saw in a documentary. It was about 15 years ago. Do they all have the same design?

Yes Vanhin showed it to me at the other forum. But in my dream it looked somewhat different. They were engraved unto the sides of the pool. At least the first one. I don't remember if I saw it in the others.

Hi forum, This is the message Vanhin was referring to that I posted at the other forum. The dreams below are the reason I went to the LDS section of that forum in the first place. I'm still working on the implications of such dreams so if anyone wants to comment feel free.

Could you explain this more? Weren't the Urim and Thumim lost when the First Temple was destroyed? Or are these other objects that go by similar names?

The Urim and Thumim were used to counsel with G-d when guidance was needed. From what I understood of Pam's post it's similar with the Liahona? Though with the Urim and Thumim you would only get a yes or no answer.

Yes that's what I meant. Very interesting! I'm learning a lot. :)

I'm sure that if they decide to do a remake on that one they will change that to them accessing the Jewish matchmaking website. It does exist but I prefer the old fashioned way. :)

Sounds a bit like the Urim and Thumim in Judaism. Did it work supernaturally?

Glad to be back to this topic here! In the last forum this was one of the topics in which I was accused of worshipping satan. In answer to Ran's questions I think I may not have explained correctly how the shiduch takes place. It's not that we wait for others to tell us whom to meet. We are free to meet anyone we choose. However we habitually ask those more experienced if they believe the match would work. This is done so as to make the choice more rational. We believe therefore that G-d will always find a way to put you in touch with your bashert. Yes we could in a way say that we and our basherts have a covenant that goes back into the time when we existed only in spirit. Because we were created by G-d with the purpose of being one much like Adam and Eve. What I mean by not touching another man's wife is the reason why religious Jews don't become intimate with each other before getting married. Because that someone you are becoming intimate with will eventually be someone else's husband or wife. b'shalom!

Don't worry it doesn't offend me at all. :) It's a private ritual concerning only to the woman. The only one that would know about it is her husband. Yes, they know the reasons or at least they should because it's widely taught. Sadly not all Jewish people take interest in studying religion.

An yes. Very well observed! Some people confuse both.

Hi forum, I was analysing some material that Vanhin sent me to study. To be honest I was browsing fairly quickly in the book of Alma and came across this interesting description of a device used for navigation. Kind of a compass called 'Liahona'. Now this is very interesting because of the etymology: ליה – L'Yah - Unto Yah / In the direction of Yah חנה – Honah - Graciousness So this would be an instrument believed to "lead towards G-d's graciousness". Pretty interesting how the underlying Hebrew works. Sadly it doesn't explain much about how the instrument worked though. b'shalom

I wouldn't claim to know as much as your professor but I can humbly try to be of service. :)