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Aish HaTorah
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Posts posted by Aish HaTorah
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On a side note, I do find myself frequently praying for Muslims. Not praying that they will change, necessarily, but that those inclined to violence will be healed of this line of thinking. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Christians as well.
It is always a simple prayer of healing.
If you recall in the book of Numbers, Miriam was kvetching about Moses choosing Zipporah for a wife. She wasn't a Jew, after all, and Miriam was not well pleased with her brother's "foolishness." G-d, in turn, wasn't please with her, and she was struck with leprosy. At that point, Moses, who was NOT known for brevity, prayed a simple and eloquent prayer on behalf of his sister:
"El, na r'fa na lah."
"And Moses cried unto the L-RD, saying: 'Heal her now, O G-d, I beseech Thee.'" - Numbers 12:13
Simple. Replete with sincerity. The way, I believe, many of our prayers should be.
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The last nevi'im (prophets) mentioned in our scripture are Malachi, Haggai, and Zechariah (the same as oversaw the building of the Second Temple). They lived at the end of the Babylonian exile. The only thing that now remains is the Ruach HaKodesh (The Spirit of Holiness) to speak G-d's word to our minds and hearts.
As to your "gotcha...!" comment. No worries, friend, I do not mind. It would be disingenuous of you not to share your beliefs.
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18 minutes ago, tesuji said:
Do you think most Muslims are people who would cause you to be "less than fond?"
There are over a billion Muslims. I like to think that most Muslims are peaceful, good people trying to live good lives. And just the ones who are the exception are the ones that make the news. Does their religion teach violence, or is it just some that interpret it that way?
Jesus taught us to love our neighbors, but obviously not all "so-called" Christians during history have followed this teaching. This doesn't mean Jesus was bad, just that some of his "followers" were bad. Is this possibly the same case with Muslims?
I'm trying to think if I've ever know any Muslims. I guess not. So I can't speak from experience. I have seen a couple documentaries that supposedly showed typical Muslim families and they weren't violent fanatics.
Muslims are quick to point out that the Quran implicitly states that taking the life of one innocent person would be the same as murdering all of humanity. True, it does say this. What they fail to share is that they do not consider them to be innocent. Therefore, it isn't murder.
Are all Muslims bad people? Clearly not. Is the potential for violence inherent in their deeply held creeds? I believe so. Those that say that radical Muslims distort the teachings of their scripture have not, in my opinion, carefully read said scripture. If they did so, they would either correct their beliefs or lean toward violent enforcement of those beliefs.
I believe that many of them are peaceful and loving. I do not believe that their faith is.
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18 minutes ago, LiterateParakeet said:
Just a "drive by" sort of thought. Why is it that people always want someone else to forgive and get along. I have people telling me to forgive my abuser, who I'm certain are holding grudges over much smaller offenses in their own lives.
I think we need to take care of the beams in our own eyes. Which in this case to me means I try to be a friend to both Jewish people and Muslims. I'll just work on my own issues which should be a lifetime worth of work.
You have more Chutzpah than do I. I have always struggled with this.
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28 minutes ago, tesuji said:
OK, this question is straying into politics, which I am trying to generally avoid. But --
Of course Muslims and Jews have a lot of trouble now getting along, based on what I read in the news. What would it take for them to ever be reconciled? Perhaps a lot of Jews and Muslims might not be able to imagine this ever happening. But what would it take?
I like to idealistically believe than any conflict can be resolved. Certainly, the world would be a safer and more peaceful place if tensions in the Middle East went away.
I also understand that this is an emotional and frustrating question for many Jews and Muslims. I apologize if this question causes distress or offense. I guess for fairness we could hope both Jews and Muslims might drop by to give their thoughts on this...
Hmmm. If they all disappeared today...
You just had to go there, didn't you?
Can Muslims and Jews ever reconcile? Do you want the long or the short answer? The short answer is "no." The long answer is "nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo."
With all candor, I cannot possibly envision this happening, short of them renouncing their faith or us renouncing ours, which is not likely on either side. This isn't just a can of worms, this is THE can of worms. We could fish for the next thousand years, and still have a boat full of bait.
I am...less than fond...of Muslims for so very many reasons. Their twisting of scripture, their proclivity toward violence for its own sake. Their eschatological views, their epistemological views. This could go on forever...ok, ALL of their views on practically everything.
The problem goes back to Isaac and Ishmael. We believe (and rightly so, IMNSHO) that the birthright went to Isaac. They believe Ishmael. Thus was the birth of contention ushered in.
If you truly want to discuss this (and I suspect you do), then perhaps we could start a new thread about it. Oh, wait, you did.
I will give it more thought lest I ramble further. Please share with me your views on a) if you think this is even a possibility and b) how that would take shape.
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1 hour ago, tesuji said:
Excellent, just what I was wanting to know.
A couple questions:
1) You said, "Talmudic writing suggests that the temple can only be constructed under direct prophetic guidance, just as the Second Temple was."
Tell me more about this prophet. Is this the Messiah? Or can it be someone else? Is there anyone now you would call a prophet?
2) You said, "We cannot build it before the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) as we understand him."
What is the Jewish understanding of when this Messiah will come? Many Mormons and other Christians think Jesus, our "seconding coming of the first Messiah" will come soon. Do Jews think the coming of their first Messiah is also coming soon?
Of course, "soon" in God's time often seems like a long time to me
1) With regard to the Second Temple, the Talmud indicates that Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi were directly supervising the construction. It has not been implicitly stated who will supervise the construction of the Third Temple, on that it will require similar prophetic oversee. I (as well as others) believe this to be the Messiah. It could be someone else. There is no one currently living that we could consider a prophet in the biblical sense.
2) Ani Maamin B'emunah Sh'leimahk B'viyat Hamashiach. V'af al pi sheyitmahmehah im kol zeh achake lo b'chol yom sheyavo. "I firmly believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he tarries (or has yet to arrive), with all that, I (longingly) await his arrival with each day." This is Orthodox teaching. When will he come? Back to the flavors of Judaism. Hasidic Jews...I will extend that to less Orthodox, but still Orthodox, Jews also...believe that he will come at any possible moment. Immediately. On Fox News tomorrow morning, kind of a thing.
I am a Conservative Jew, and as such, I tend to migrate toward our Statement of Principles, which says, in part: "Since no one can say for certain what will happen in the Messianic era, each of us is free to fashion personal speculation. Some of us accept these speculations are literally true, while others understand them as elaborate metaphors. For the world community, we dream of an age when warefare will be abolished, when justice and compassion will be axioms of all, as it is said in Isaiah 11: "...the land shall be filled with the knowledge of the L-rd as the waters cover the sea." For our people, we dream of the ingathering of all Jews to Zion where we can again be masters of our own destiny and express our distinctive genius in every area of our national life. We affirm Isaiah's prophecy that, "...Torah shall come forth from Zion, the word of the L-rd out of Jerusalem."
MOST Reform Jews that I have met and with whom I have discussed the Messianic Age, argue that there will be no Messiah in actuality. They view the Messianic Age as a kind of happy, inclusive utopia. I am not as familiar with their (or Reconstructionist) views other than that.
To further complicate matters, it is widely believed that there will be not one, but TWO Messiahs. Mashiach ben David (Messiah, son of David) and Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah, son of Joseph). He will be of the line of King David and will institute a season of peace.
- Just_A_Guy and tesuji
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19 hours ago, tesuji said:
From what I understand, the temple in Jerusalem has always been very important to Jews. Why haven't they built a temple in modern times?
Ask the Muslims. *sigh*
But seriously, the answer depends upon to whom you ask the question. (Always my answer, right?) Generally speaking, certain things are preventing the building of the Third Temple (if the temple in Ezekiel is the one to which you refer), or Beit haMikdash haShlishi. We cannot build it before the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) as we understand him. Only G-d can make the time known for this.
I personally do not see an issue with the Muslim occupation of what we believe to be rightfully ours. HaShem will take care of it in His own way. I wouldn't want to be Muslim when that happens. Some notable scholars argue that the Dome of the Rock is not the actual location of either the First or Second temple, but I personally do not lend credence to any of their arguments, and I have read them thoroughly. Again, I am not a scholar by any stretch, but I do read carefully and have not found myself convinced in any meaningful way. (To the Mods...I apologize - mostly sincerely - for disparaging another faith, but I can tell you that I am writing with careful restraint. There is SO MUCH MORE I could say with regards to Muslims and their claims, but I will try to remain amiable. Even typing it makes me angry.)
Several organizations (actually, quite a few, although only a few of them get any real attention) have contrived ways to bring to pass the construction of the Third Temple now. I find their ideas intriguing, but I tend to proceed with caution. I think without G-d's direction, any such attempt would be doomed to failure before it even begins. It may well be that the Mashiach will direct the building at a different site entirely within Jerusalem. Even if the Dome of the Rock suddenly vanished tomorrow, it would still be practically impossible to begin construction, IMO. Talmudic writing suggests that the temple can only be constructed under direct prophetic guidance, just as the Second Temple was.
Having said all of this, I cannot stress the importance of the building of the temple to us. It is of utmost importance, and no one has a hope of stopping it from happening when G-d gives the green light.
- unixknight, jerome1232, tesuji and 1 other
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9 minutes ago, MormonGator said:
lol. I live in Florida so if I really wanted too I'm sure I could out and collect them. The Everglades is crawling with boas (cheesy pun intended).
I should have remembered all the episodes of Duck Dynasty. Not Florida, but close enough.
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I can send you snakes (probably not boas), spiders, and scorpions from our yard.
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11 minutes ago, Carborendum said:
We tend not to keep crosses or crucifixes. But we do have a common piece of jewelry -- the CTR ring. (Choose The Right). This is simply to remind us to Choose The Right. It is not a focus of our worship services or our prayers. It's just a reminder to Choose The Right. That's all.
A little like our Mogen David (Shield -often called Star- of David).
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Our scriptures are divided somewhat differently from yours or other Christians (if I understand correctly). We divided them into three sections:
1) Torah (The Law). Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
2) Nevi'im (The Prophets). Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and The Twelve: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
3) Ketuvim (The Writings or Poetical Writings). Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I Chronicles, and II Chronicles.
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19 minutes ago, tesuji said:
Aish, at the risk of monopolizing this thread, I will also say that I love those extra-Biblical stories about Abraham and others. We Mormons stick to the scriptures and don't know these stories.
Where do you find these? In your Midrash, maybe? How about other places.
In the Midrash, yes. We primarily try to lend our focus to the Parashat ha-Shavua (weekly readings from the Torah scrolls and that of the Nevi'im and Ketuvim (the prophetical and poetical writings). I do, however, think there is great value to be found in the Midrash, although it is exegesis. As long as we recognize that it is Midrashim, and not Tanakh.
Sometimes we read directly from the Midrashim, and sometimes it is related to us by the rabbi or cantor.
This raises another interesting point. Many Christians with whom I have spoken about efforts to proselytize to Jews, have erroneously believed that it is difficult because many Jews lack a working knowledge of scripture. In my experience, it isn't that at all. The problem is in that many of us believe that the rabbinical teachings are on par with Torah. In some cases the clarify to a point of superseding it.
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12 minutes ago, LeSellers said:
Too many worship at the altar of the NFL.
Lehi
Not I. MLB, on the other hand...
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14 minutes ago, LeSellers said:
We tried matzo for a Seder. It's truly a sacrifice. (And I;m not sure ours was Passover compliant.)
Gefilte fish is Yiddish, not biblical, and I can't comment on it at all. It never sounded appetizing, but, meh, whudeyeno?
Lehi
1) Not all matzo is created equal. There is matzo that is kosher, but not kosher for Passover.
2) Gefilte fish should be biblical, IMHO. My children would heartily disagree.
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If you could own any kind of exotic animal (assuming there were no restrictions to the animal in the area in which you live and had the resources to care for the pet), what would you pick an why?
Or, even if it is already permitted in the area you live, what crazy animal do you not have, but would like to?
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Yesterday I was pondering the idea of idolatry and how it relates to both traditional Jewish and Christian belief systems. My rabbi often shares a pseudo-historical example of idolatry to illustrate a point:
"Abraham's father, Terach, was an idol maker. One night, just before retiring to bed, Terach left his young son in charge of the idol shop. When Terach returned the following morning, he saw that all the statues had been scattered all over the work tables and the floor. They were broken and irreparable. Naturally, he was outraged at Abraham. 'What happened here?!' he screamed at his son. Abraham shrugged his shoulders casually and then said, 'The idols had a fight.' Terach remained furious at this unexpected turn of events. Looking at his son, he said, 'They cannot fight. They cannot even see or think!' Abraham said calmly, 'Then, father, why do you worship them?'"
What do you believe with regard to idols and idol worship. What definition would you give to this practice? Do you believe, as we do, that even displaying the image of G-d to be idolatry? What about the cross?
Do you think idolatry is limited to the active worship of material idols, or can the definition be expanded and made more broad? This could include habits or other traditional practices.
I look forward to your ideas. Shalom!
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Perhaps I will avoid matzo all together this year (other than the obligatory eating for the seder meal) and embrace other family favorites. Stuffed veal, brisket, pear puree, macaroons, farfel puffs, walnut torte, and, of course, gefilte fish. NO chopped liver and easy on the plums, please.
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Every year at this time, the chore...er, I mean creative blessing...rears its grinning head.
What new and interesting things can we do with matzo to keep the kiddos interested. They have (kindly) provided me a list of some of the more innovative (risky?) recipes we tried last year that were not so much a hit. (Suffice it to say that even the dog was tired of eating matzo by the end of the week.
) There are a few staples - matzo ball soup, matzo pizza, matzo lasagna, etc. I am determined to add more this year! I will do it. I will.
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19 minutes ago, Vort said:
I love languages. I wish I had a better grasp of linguistics.
The "bat" in "bat mitzvah" means "daughter". Think of "Bathsheba", "daughter of Sheba" or "daughter of the covenant", or possibly "seventh daughter". It's a variation of "bar", meaning "son". (I believe "bar" is Aramaic and "ben" is older Hebrew, both meaning "son".)
Language is a miraculous thing. Seriously, I think "miraculous" in its most literal sense is the best word to describe it.
Hebrew is interesting as well in that it is the only language (to my knowledge) to have once been considered a dead language that has been brought back into full use world-wide.
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20 minutes ago, LeSellers said:
I wonder what "Today, I am a man" means in the (as far as I know) the traditional bar mitzvah ceremony/recitation.
When a boy or a girl celebrates his or her bar or bat mitzvah, respectively, he or she is considered an adult within the synagogue and Jewish community at large. With such a consideration comes additional requirements and expectations for behavior and moral conduct. This is true within the congregation as well as in family and community life.
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17 minutes ago, Carborendum said:
Excellent questions. I'll do my best to give you a start. I think each question could take hours or even a college course. But I can at least give you some food for thought.
While I'm no expert in other covenants in other dispensations, I believe I have some examples to give you a taste of these things.
You probably are aware of the Mormon health code "The Word of Wisdom". This includes the complete abstinence of alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, illegal drugs, etc. The thing is that we don't believe it is inherently evil to partake of such things. But we have, as part of our covenant today, covenanted to not partake of these things. But there is nothing wrong with anyone outside our faith having their morning joe, because they have NOT made such a covenant with God.
The 10 commandments are pretty eternal. We still don't want to commit murder. We still don't commit adultery or steal. We still try to keep the Sabbath holy. But the details of what is included may change. For instance many Jews will not turn on a light switch during the Sabbath. While you will observe your faith however you will, an outsider will see that as something that was required anciently because it took a lot of work to build a fire back then (I'm sure you've heard that argument). Today it is much less effort. So the specific terms of the covenant may change with the times. But the eternal principle behind it (that we rest from our worldly labors once a week) is the same.
Sometimes it is because of a change in times. Sometimes it is just that the Lord has created a new covenant and he wants us to abide by the new covenant to set us apart from other people.
One major part of the covenant is not only to remind us of the related eternal principles. But it is to separate us from people who are not of our faith. God's covenant people are always supposed to be a "peculiar people". The Word of Wisdom is a perfect example. Many people abstain for health concerns. To us it is a covenant. To them it is common sense. While they will also get certain health benefits from following the restrictions -- just as we do -- only we will receive certain spiritual benefits from obeying the covenant.
What is the difference between eternal principles vs dispensation specific covenants: The short answer is -- whatever the prophets reveal to us and is confirmed by the Holy Ghost. There is a much longer answer that covers much more, but that is all I have time for at present. I believe the examples of keeping the Sabbath and the health codes are something that will begin you thinking down the right road.
I hope that helps.
Thank you! So, am I correct that your faith would be considered dispensationalist? I mean, you have indicated such, but would you feel comfortable using that term to describe yourself to Jews or other Christians?
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46 minutes ago, estradling75 said:
Yep. Every one!
Except for the ones I don't, of course.
P.S. Don't talk to my rabbi.
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Why no Jewish temple?
in Jewish Beliefs Board
Posted
That is nice of you. I feel more like a coal mine.
Why are there no modern Jewish prophets? I wish I knew. I'm glad I'm patient. Moses was slow. Moses plead on behalf of the Jewish people (after the whole golden calf ordeal) for forty days and forty nights. Perhaps we are not ready. Perhaps we have not prayed with great enough fervor. We are, by nature, a stubborn people. We were in captivity in Egypt for so very long, and, after we were delivered and after a brief Thanksgiving Day Parade, what did we do? Complain. About manna. And pretty much everything else we could think of. It isn't enough for someone to tell us to turn to G-d because we are suffering. We need to have it proven to us that we are, in fact, actually suffering.
Q) How many Jewish grandmothers does it take to change a lightbulb?
A) Never mind, I'll just sit here in the dark.