This explanation is based on the titled shiur (lesson) WHY JEWS DON'T CHOOSE JUDAISM? By Rabbi Michael Skobac, Education Director of Jews for Judaism.
Comments were made on HaRav Shlomo Nachman's Facebook page.
Question: Why Jews don't choose Christianity?
HaRav Shlomo Nachman commented:
Because Christianity is based on dogmas that violate Torah. They worship a Jewish man rather than G-d. They embrace as Messiah a man who met none of the requirements.
Jews pray for the coming of Messiah at least twice a day. Had he met the requirements he would have been accepted. He did not. In his name more Jews have been persecuted and killed than in any other. Knowing history and our Scriptures Jews continue to reject the claims of Christianity.
Jews pray for the coming of Messiah at least twice a day. Had he met the requirements he would have been accepted. He did not. In his name more Jews have been persecuted and killed than in any other. Knowing history and our Scriptures Jews continue to reject the claims of Christianity.
Question: There is a big problem with all the fake rabbis around the world, converting innocent people to Judaism.
HaRav Shlomo Nachman commented:
I am not sure what you think is happening but you seem to be under a serious misconception.
1. Converting to Judaism is not easy. Even with the Reform Movement a year or so of study is required. Orthodoxy requires 2 or 3 years usually and rejects all non-Orthodox conversions. The vast majority of people who begin the conversion process do not complete it.
2. Judaism has no pope or similar hierarchical authority to stop Jews from doing anything. We are free people.
3. The term "fake rabbis" and "fake smichas" is insulting and essentially antisemitic. There are traditional rules governing smicha. These vary among the different schools of Jewish tradition. Smicha (ordination) is not an easy thing to achieve in any movement of Judaism. Most go well beyond the requirements listed in the Shulcan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). Who is a "real rabbi" is a judgement call. Not all sects accept the smichas of various other sects just as not all accept as Jewish the converts of all other sects. Truth is, Judaism is terribly divided right now. These internal divisions will be dealt with by HaMashiach ben David and probably not before.
4.Judaism has accepted converts since the time of the Exodus. Many of our greatest rabbis were converts or the children of converts. Converts include:
Batya, Jethro, Rahab, Ruth, Obadiah the Prophet, Shemayah and Avtalyon, Ben Bag Bag and Ben Hay Hay, Queen Helena of Adiabene, King Monobaz, Rabbi Yochanan ben Torta, Onkelos, The Kuzari, Moshe ben Avraham, Lord George Gordon, Avraham ben Avraham (disciple of the Gaon of Vilna), Warder Cresson, and many many more important Jews.
Typically sincere converts make some of the "best Jews" because unlike those born of Jewish mothers they must struggle and learn and embrace LOT to be admitted into the Covenant.
Are there converts who fall away? Of course, just as there are other Jews that fall by the wayside. Condemning Jews, including converts, and judging rabbis as fake are serious lashon hara. Who among us has the knowledge or the right to make such declarations?http://learnemunah.com/being/lashonhara.html
1. Converting to Judaism is not easy. Even with the Reform Movement a year or so of study is required. Orthodoxy requires 2 or 3 years usually and rejects all non-Orthodox conversions. The vast majority of people who begin the conversion process do not complete it.
2. Judaism has no pope or similar hierarchical authority to stop Jews from doing anything. We are free people.
3. The term "fake rabbis" and "fake smichas" is insulting and essentially antisemitic. There are traditional rules governing smicha. These vary among the different schools of Jewish tradition. Smicha (ordination) is not an easy thing to achieve in any movement of Judaism. Most go well beyond the requirements listed in the Shulcan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). Who is a "real rabbi" is a judgement call. Not all sects accept the smichas of various other sects just as not all accept as Jewish the converts of all other sects. Truth is, Judaism is terribly divided right now. These internal divisions will be dealt with by HaMashiach ben David and probably not before.
4.Judaism has accepted converts since the time of the Exodus. Many of our greatest rabbis were converts or the children of converts. Converts include:
Batya, Jethro, Rahab, Ruth, Obadiah the Prophet, Shemayah and Avtalyon, Ben Bag Bag and Ben Hay Hay, Queen Helena of Adiabene, King Monobaz, Rabbi Yochanan ben Torta, Onkelos, The Kuzari, Moshe ben Avraham, Lord George Gordon, Avraham ben Avraham (disciple of the Gaon of Vilna), Warder Cresson, and many many more important Jews.
Typically sincere converts make some of the "best Jews" because unlike those born of Jewish mothers they must struggle and learn and embrace LOT to be admitted into the Covenant.
Are there converts who fall away? Of course, just as there are other Jews that fall by the wayside. Condemning Jews, including converts, and judging rabbis as fake are serious lashon hara. Who among us has the knowledge or the right to make such declarations?http://learnemunah.com/being/lashonhara.html
Question: There are fake groups converting their followers.
Question number two: the non-Orthodox world is almost devoid of Judaism and has come to replace Torah u Misvot with “social justice” and the all encompassing “tikkun olam” and all such other politically en Vogue liberalisms. Judaism, and a Rabbi, this is not.
HaRav Shlomo Nachman commented:
Who are the "they" you are referring to?
Groups like the Messinaic (Christians), the Two House folks, the Ephraim Africans, the Black Israelites, etc. are not Jews. They Gentiles seeking to usurp Judaism.
Groups like the Messinaic (Christians), the Two House folks, the Ephraim Africans, the Black Israelites, etc. are not Jews. They Gentiles seeking to usurp Judaism.
Sephardic. To me a Jew is a Jew.
Judaism today is woefully divided on all fronts.There are "ultra-Orthodox" rabbis I would not personally go to and I would not place myself under the authority of a Reform rabbi. However both (all) sides of Judaism are included in our rich tapestry.
The reason the Second Temple was destroyed according to our sages was infighting and what we today might term holier-thouism. Which rabbis I choose to associate with, follow, etc. is my responsibility. Defining the status of rabbis and rejecting their positions is not. Judaism has survived in part because of our diversity.
Question: Jewish diversity and Universal Noahide Covenant?
HaRav Shlomo Nachman commented:
The problem of fake Jews is a different issue entirely. All we can do as rabbis is reject their claims. I have friends in Africa who were being deceived by some of the Black Israelite cults and who are now correcting their errors. It is very difficult for Africans who are seeking HaShem. My heart goes out to them. I usually encourage them to forget about conversion and embrace the Universal Noahide Covenant. There are now many Noahides and Noahide communities in Africa, especially around Ghana, Kenya and Eritrea.
Question: Is there fake Jewish groups involved in non-Halacha conversations?
HaRav Shlomo Nachman commented:
Not everyone claiming to be an Orthodox rabbi is a rabbi, nor even Jewish many Christian Messianics claim to be Jewish and even rabbis, as do many of the African cults. In any event, one should be careful about disparaging rabbis. G-d frowns upon it as the rabbis as the modern leaders of the Jewish people.
By HaRav Shlomo Nachman
WHY JEWS DON'T CHOOSE JUDAISM? by Rabbi Michael Skobac, Education Director of Jews for Judaism This revealing presentation examines some of the negative stereotypes that people have about religion and how Judaism suffers by association. The issues addressed include today's preference for spirituality over religion, the sentiment that religion is a "crutch for those who need it" and the contention that religions divide people, thereby causing strife in the world. Questions should be directed to RabbiSkobac@JewsForJudaism.ca JEWS FOR JUDAISM is an outreach organization whose primary goal is to win back to Judaism those Jews who have been influenced by the following six threats to Jewish survival that are devastating the global Jewish community. 1. Hebrew-Christian missionaries convert thousands of Jews worldwide every year 2. Destructive cults cause many Jews to abandon family, friends and careers 3. Eastern religions, Buddhism and Hinduism are spiritual choices for many Jews 4. Apathy and ignorance leave many Jews unaware, unaffiliated and assimilated 5. Intermarriage is exploding with a 75% rate in some North American cities 6. Anti-Israel BDS on campus inhibits Jewish students from standing up for Israel and Judaism To assist non-Jews who have left other religions, JEWS FOR JUDAISM also provides educational programs to help them embrace the Torah’s Seven Noachide Laws for Gentiles. We achieve our goals through our worldwide Internet outreach, Social Media, free educational programs, educational literature and counseling services that connect Jewish people to the spiritual depth, beauty and wisdom of Judaism. “I am so grateful to have discovered the wonderful Jews for Judaism YouTube lectures by Rabbi Skobac. I am a Jew who converted to Christianity in college, but now, thanks to your online outreach, I have returned to Judaism. Thank you.” – Rebecca G. In a nutshell, Jews for Judaism saves Jewish lives and keeps Jews Jewish. PLEASE SUPPORT JEWS FOR JUDAISM’S LIFE-SAVING WORK! Your help is very much needed and greatly appreciated. Jews for Judaism never charges for its programs, books and counseling services… ever. We rely solely on donations from people like you. To donate click here: https://www.canadahelps.org/dn/24741 Thank you very much. JEWS FOR JUDAISM 3110 Bathurst St, PO Box 54042, Toronto, ON, CANADA M6A 3B7 T: 416-789-0020 • F: 416-789-0030.
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