Religions of NAME

Judaism and Jewish People

Hasidic Jew

In trying to understand Judaism and the Jewish people we are immediately faced with the problem of definitions: What is Judaism? Who is a Jew? The Jewish world and Israeli lawmakers, both religious and secular, struggle with these same questions. You could certainly make the argument that there is a Biblical Judaism unrelated to Rabbis and Rabbinic literature.

For the purposes of this website, we'll use a popular definition of the term "Judaism". This faith began when God called out one particular family from the nations through whom He planned to work out salvation for everyone in the world. The progenitor of this people, Abraham, left his home and settled in Canaan – a fulfillment of the divine promise to this family. He was called to reside in a pretty tough neighborhood – the cross roads between Asia, Europe and Africa and between two ancient super power rivals: Egypt and Assyria.

Abraham's grandson, Jacob, took the nation to live in Egypt due to a famine in Canaan. Jacob's sons divided the nation into 12 clans. Upon return to Canaan, the clans occupied the Promised Land – 10 in the north and two in the south. The tribes of Judah (from which the word "Jew" is derived) and Benjamin were in the south. King David, from the tribe of Judah, unified the tribes and centered the capital in Jerusalem about 1000 BC. But shortly after the rule of David's son, Solomon, the kingdom split into northern and southern kingdoms. The northern kingdom eventually fell to the Assyrians and ceased to exist (722 BC); among the survivors, the tribe of Benjamin was assumed into its larger neighbor, Judah.

The southern kingdom survived as a vassal state of Assyria, but was eventually overrun and taken captive by Babylonia, then conquered by Greece and eventually driven out by the Romans. At the time of the Roman conquest, the Jewish state was anything but unified. There were several streams of Judaism: Pharisaic Jews, Sadducees and their supporters, Zealots who opposed Rome and Jewish believers in Jesus, known today as Messianic Jews. (Some other groups existed, such as the Essenes, but were of limited impact.) After Rome burned Jerusalem and defeated the remaining Jewish forces (Masada, for example), the Jewish people were dispersed from the land. Of the groups mentioned, the Sadducees died at the Temple which was burned. The Zealots died fighting the Romans. But the Pharisees, who had already established synagogues and rabbinical schools, were mobile and able to survive the defeat. Jesus-believing Jews were also able to leave and many escaped to Pella in present-day Jordan. Eventually, and sadly, these Messianic Jews were assumed into the larger gentile church. This left the Pharisees to maintain Judaism. They did so according to Pharisaic principles. Consequently, Judaism, as it is considered today, is Rabbinic, and Rabbinic interpretation is primary.

Judaism is an ethical or legalistic religion. The term "observant Jew" is used to describe a Jewish person who keeps the basic precepts of Judaism: kosher dietary laws and Sabbath laws. Orthodox Judaism maintains the strictest interpretation of these statutes while Conservative and Reformed Judaism offer increasingly liberal doctrines.

Jewish Holidays

Since the holidays follow the Jewish calendar, a lunar calendar, their dates on the Gregorian calendar are not fixed. The first holiday of the Jewish year is Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. The shofar (ram’s horn) is blown in the evening at the beginning of the holiday. The first afternoon bread crumbs or stones are thrown symbolizing casting away sins. Rosh HaShanah is followed by the Days of Awe, contemplative days in which one should consider one's ways, spiritual status and need to repent. This culminates in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a very strict fast day in which neither eating nor drinking is allowed for 25 hours. It is thought that, properly executed, Yom Kippur secures for the devotee forgiveness of all sin.

Just a few days after Yom Kippur is Succot, or the Festival of Booths in which Jews are commanded to sleep in booths with roofs that allow them to view the sky. Succot signals the end of the summer drought and beginning of rain, likely prompting Jesus' question posed at the end of Succot: "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink'" (John 7:37).

At the end of Succot is Simchat Torah (Joy of Torah) when the weekly Bible readings have been completed as the last chapters in the Torah are read. The scroll is then rewound and the first chapter of Genesis begins the new cycle. Adherents often dance with the Torah scrolls.

Hanukkah appears around Christmas every year. Although actually a minor Jewish feast, it has grown in popularity, likely as a result of its proximity to Christmas. Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights or Feast of Dedication, celebrates the one-day supply of oil that sustained the Temple lamps for eight days during its rededication following Jewish victory over the Seleucid Empire. During the eight days of Hanukkah candles are lit each day (one candle for day one, two for day two, etc.) on a special candelabra called a Hanukkiah.

Purim commemorates the events that took place in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated in March by reading or acting out the story of Esther.

Passover is in late March or April and celebrates the Angel of Death "passing over" the Israelites as the first born of the Egyptians was killed. It is a week-long holiday which begins with a special dinner in which readings coincide with certain foods eaten representing the Exodus from Egypt. For example, the main food during Passover is the Matsa, unleavened bread eaten by the Israelites as they had to leave quickly and didn't have time to let the bread rise. Leavened bread is prohibited during Passover.

Shavuot occurs in late May and commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses.

Sharing Jesus with Jews

Regarding sharing the Gospel with Jewish people, as Christians we should remember this is not simply an option. We must participate in evangelism – to the Jew first. Often because of atrocities committed against Jewish people by some who claimed to be followers of Christ, believers are sometimes reticent to present a clear witness to Jews. We must distance ourselves from any anti-Semitic actions by saying that the gospel has Jewish roots and any anti-Semitism is inconsistent with the gospel.

Since Judaism is a legalistic religion, Jewish people often want to know "What do you do?" This means something like, "What are your fasting days?" "How strict and how long is your fast?" It's best to be honest and express that salvation in Jesus is about grace, rather than getting into a "holier than thou" competition.

Often the grace option sounds just too easy to Jewish people. Consequently a clearer Biblical statement to the effect that a proper reception of grace will express itself in a changed life, an eagerness to do God's will and honor Him in all we do.

Jeremiah 31:33 is an excellent verse toward that goal: "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people."

You can emphasize that when Jesus enters one's life, the law is not drudgery but becomes a joy as the believer honors the Lord with all his heart, mind, soul and strength.

Also, focus on the fact that Jesus and the early believers were Jewish. They were Jews according to the Bible and the first believers didn't consider themselves to be anything other than Jewish.

Some Special Problems

  • Terminology. Sometimes the word "Christian" can be a problem. Often it's better to simply say "believer" instead as in the Jewish vocabulary all Europeans and American are "Christian". Hitler was a "Christian". Similarly, the word "assembly", or "congregation" might be substituted for "church".
  • Symbolism. The symbol of the cross may or may not be a stumbling block. For believers it is warm and endearing but for Jewish people it may represent centuries of "Christian" persecution.
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