The am-yisrael-jewish-nation tag has no wiki summary.
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2answers
200 views
When did the switch to matrilineal descent occur?
Does anyone know when the switch the matrilineal descent took place? I've seen other information about the potential impetus, but when did it become so? Was there even a switch?
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Will all Jews speak Hebrew when Mashiach comes?
This question just kind of popped into my head, so I'm not sure whether it is really a good question for this site, but I wonder if anybody has written about it.
I would imagine that since when ...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
What's “chosen” about Jews?
Jews are commonly referred to as "the chosen people". I've heard it comes from Exodus 19:5 ("וִהְיִיתֶם לִי סְגֻלָּה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים", "ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples", JPS). ...
2
votes
2answers
110 views
Are Christians and/or “Messianic Jews” considered Jewish by Jews?
I know Judaism is not "Christian", but I am under the impression that there are some differences amongst Jewish traditions.
At the extreme, I have even heard of "Messianic Jews" who believe Jesus was ...
12
votes
3answers
920 views
How does someone not know they're Jewish?
In this answer, someone said they got offended when people wore crosses, especially if they didn't know they were Jewish. I'm just wondering how someone can not know what religion they follow?
21
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4answers
986 views
Are children adopted by Jews Jewish?
I was adopted around the time I was three months old by my parents who are both Jewish. I do not know what religion my biological mother was, in fact I have very little detail about her at all. I was ...
15
votes
5answers
1k views
Why is Judaism not Racism?
I am only asking this question to educate myself, not because I am anti-semitic or for any other hidden agenda. I do not what to turn this forum into an ugly place. I realize this question is ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
How did Chazal know they were right about “who is a Jew”?
My question is predicated on the assumption that Jews were created by God as fundamentally different from non-Jews. (I am referring, for example, to the idea that Jews have a special type of soul. And ...
0
votes
4answers
140 views
Are those who reject idolatry Yahudim (Jews)?
I found the following quote referencing Gemara from a book on converts in Judaism:
The Gemara (Megillah 13•) states that we find the appellation “Yehudi”
in Nach only three times: once for ...
0
votes
1answer
144 views
Who is a Jew according the Tanach?
Does the Tanach give guidelines to Identify who is a Jew and who is not?
-2
votes
1answer
102 views
How did foreign biblical people became the followers of their respective prophets [closed]
How did the foreign people enter the fold of believers in biblical times of Moses and prior.
One scenario to better understand this question:
In biblical times, A foreign person would have entered ...
6
votes
1answer
310 views
Why does the Torah forbid interest only on loans to Jews?
Why aren't we allowed to charge a Jew interest but we're allowed to charge a non-Jew?
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2answers
81 views
What are the behaviors which will cause the covenant between Bnei Yisrael and God to be broken? [closed]
What are the abominations that Bnei Yisrael should desist from, which would cause it to break the covenant of God. And has the covenant been broken in the past?
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votes
3answers
136 views
Certificate of Divorce by God to Israel
I find the following verse to be very harsh as it gives a pink slip of Divorce to Israel and Judah Jeremiah 3:8:
וָאֵרֶא, כִּי עַל-כָּל-אֹדוֹת אֲשֶׁר נִאֲפָה מְשֻׁבָה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שִׁלַּחְתִּיהָ, ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
Why switch the reference from “גוי” to “עם” in Tachanun?
Why does the prayer "Shomer Yisra'el" in Tachanun say in two of the verses the word גוי in the first and last phrase, but עם in the middle phrase?
שומר גוי אחד שמור שארית עם אחד ואל יאבד גוי אחד
...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Toynbee's description of Jews as a “fossil” — what was the Orthodox response?
In the 1950s historian Arnold Toynbee made the argument that Jews and Judaism did not fit into any definition of nation, race, or religion. We were not a nation because we lived for centuries without ...
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votes
1answer
197 views
Is it forbidden for the Jews to Establish a Nation of Israel?
I keep on reading about a lot of Orthodox Jewish Rabbis opposed to the building of the nation of Israel as they deem it to be blasphemous and heresy in violation of God's commandment to the Jews.
I ...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
What makes the Jews a nation?
Are the Jews "a nation" by virtue of ethnic origin or by virtue of being chosen by God? (That is, which of these two criteria has lexical priority over the other?) What constitutes the peoplehood of ...
2
votes
4answers
291 views
What is the source of hatred perceived by Jews in different parts of the world?
I don't know if this is off topic but a similar question is here at Christianity SE and I thought it would be interesting to ask the corresponding one here.
It intrigues me how people from other ...
5
votes
3answers
450 views
Do Jews think that all the unbelievers would go to hell someday?
I wonder whether Judaism teaches that those unbelievers or those who are Jews but nevertheless lead a sinful life would go to hell someday when judgement time comes.
17
votes
6answers
454 views
When did Avraham Avinu become Jewish
Avraham Avinu is often called "the first Jew".
When did he become Jewish. Was it when:
He recognized G-d?
G-d spoke to him for the first time?
Covenant Between The Parts?
When G-d changed his name?
...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
Why did David's kingdom split if he didn't sin?
According to one opinion in the Gemara (Bab. Shab. 56b), the reason David's kingdom split was because he sinned by believing Lashon HaRa'. According to another opinion, though, he never sinned at all. ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
What is the difference between Beta Israel and Beta Avraham
What exactly is the difference between the Beta Israel and the Beta Avraham? Are the Beta Avraham halachickly jewish?
17
votes
2answers
661 views
Why is the Jewish Population so small?
Judaism is one of the oldest religions, but there aren't many Jews compared to Muslims and Christians.
What are main reasons behind that?
1
vote
0answers
27 views
Does a dish received as a gift from another Jew need to be toveled? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Tevilat Keilim on a gift
If I buy Ploni a new coffee mug, does he need to tovel it? Did I need to tovel it?
2
votes
4answers
526 views
What's the difference between “Jew”, “Israelite” and “Judaizer”?
What's the difference between "Jew", "Israelite" and "Judaizer"? Can these three terms be used interchangeably? Can only one or only two of these terms be applied to one person?
2
votes
2answers
208 views
Why are children from a gentile wife not considered Jewish with a Jewish father?
Why are children who have a Jewish Father and gentile mother not considered Jewish?
8
votes
2answers
133 views
Were the eirev rav Jewish?
Were the eirev rav Jewish? If they were in fact Jewish why are they described by the term eirev rav instead of just referring to them as we would any other Jew? If they were not Jewish why were they ...
17
votes
4answers
847 views
Is it possible for a Gentile to convert to Judaism?
Is it possible for someone who is Gentile to convert to Judaism?
What is the prevailing belief of Jewish people on this subject?
What scripture backs up this belief?
What do prominent Jewish ...
9
votes
1answer
128 views
Extent of matrilineal descent
Am I a Jew if my mother's mother's mother's mother's mother was a Jew? Even if along the line one of my foremothers converted to another faith? I'd just like a better understanding of matrilineal ...
6
votes
0answers
101 views
The blessing for 600,000 Jews
The Gemara (Berakhot 58b) mentions that upon seeing 600,000 Jews one says the blessing "Baruch...Chacham HaRazim" (Who knows all secrets), and this is halacha (Sh.A. O.C. 224:5).
Does any know of any ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Hebrew Israelites recognition by mainstream Judaism
Are the adherents of 'Hebrew Israelites' church Jews from the 'mainstream' point of view and why (why yes or why not)? I have found mixed information on the topic.
Also some of them seek conversion, ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Confusion in Yeshayahu's Propechies..?
I was looking through Isaiah and come across these weird passages:
(2) And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they shall war one man against his brother, and a man against his friend, ...
6
votes
2answers
244 views
Why Do Converts Change Their Names?
Rabbi Avigdor Miller said that it used to be that gerim (converts) and baalei teshuvah (repentants) who had been given non-Jewish names did not change their names when they became part of the Jewish ...
8
votes
4answers
318 views
Was Eisav Jewish?
Was Eisav Jewish? Eisav was born to the same father and mother as Yaakov. It may be possible to say that Yaakov was not Jewish either as it was before Matan Torah, however if Yaakov was Jewish, then ...
6
votes
2answers
286 views
Comedy and Jewish Life
There are many Jews in America who publicly engage in comedy, whether as a career path or as a way of expressing themselves (blogs, art, etc.). Is there historical precedent to this? Are there any ...
12
votes
5answers
401 views
Why is there so much stuff?
If the point of all of creation is for the Jewish people to accept and carry out the torah [I realize this is not axiomatic and may be a point of contention - see Shabbat 88a] what is the need for the ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Should you show preference to a Jew/ Jewish establishment? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Purchasing from a Jew
If you have the opportunity to do business or make purchases with either a non-Jew or a Jew equally is there any reason to prefer the Jew over the ...
8
votes
1answer
145 views
Halachic significance of the plurality of Jews living in Israel
I once heard that if Israel has the largest Jewish population, it has a significant effect on certain Halachot.
What are the criteria for this, and what halachot are affected? (Shmita is the one most ...
9
votes
2answers
217 views
Does our literature discuss invalidating a conversion because the convert would not put his/her lot with the Jewish people?
When a person is interested in converting, there are really two questions they are asked:
Are you prepared to accept the theology and observance of Judaism?
Are you prepared to accept your identity ...
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votes
1answer
145 views
Permissibility of speaking foreign languages?
(Inspired by this comment).
Does halacha permit Jews to speak languages other than Hebrew? Bedieved? Lechatchilah?
3
votes
0answers
121 views
Jewish Status of the Patriarch's Wives?
Judaism is clear on the matrilineal descent. Yet it's not clear to me that the Matriarchs after Sarah were "Jewish" - they were Abraham's relatives, they were not Canaanites as requested by Abraham, ...
2
votes
2answers
134 views
Are conservative, reform and those “off the derech” part of 'amcha'?
There are several commandments that contain the phrase "b'amecha" (or a variation thereof). The gemarah darshans "b'oseh ma'aseh amcha" that those commandments only apply to a Jew who is acting in a ...
6
votes
2answers
92 views
Shavuos as a Marriage
There is an idea (which I initially became familiar with in my misspent youth from tamei sources but subsequently have seen it mentioned in tahor one's) that Shavuos is, as it were, a marriage between ...
5
votes
2answers
178 views
Image of God: Equality and Discrimination
I have heard from many unreliable sources that the Torah's description of mankind as being "in the Image of God" implies some level of equal standing of all humans and therefore the expectation ...
1
vote
2answers
632 views
Why usury or interest on loan is illegal within Jews and legal for non-Jews [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Are we allowed to charge interest or not?
Any action or deed which is not considered ethical for ourselves, should also apply on others as well. Also throughout the ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Were the prophets and holy people who lived before Judah (Yehudah) also Jews?
The word "Jew" originates from the name of the eldest son of Jacob. The term "Jew" was introduced many generations and decades after him. I wonder whether Adam, Noah, Lot, Abraham and Moses were all ...
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votes
1answer
117 views
Founders of Jewish movements [closed]
The Baal Shem Tov was the founder of the Hasidic Movement, Rabbi Israel Salanter was the founder of the Musar Movement, and Theodor Herzl was the founder of the Zionist Movement.
What are other ...
9
votes
3answers
239 views
Difference between jewish and zionist?
I was in Israel last summer (Rehovot) visiting a close friend and his wife. In one of our very long conversations with them she said, "I would say I am not jewish, but I am a zionist". ...
9
votes
2answers
187 views
Why do we say that Hashem chose us if He offered to the Torah to all the other nations first?
According to Midrash Sifri (Deuteronomy 343), Hashem first went around to all the nations and offered them the Torah before offering it to Bnei Yisroel. So why do we say in Kiddush and Birchas ...
