Questions tagged [christianity]

Questions related to how Judaism regards or relates to the Christian religion or its followers. NOTE: Questions that require independent expertise in Christianity to answer are off-topic.

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Is the use of referring to a Torah prescription through the expression "Moses said / commanded" attested in Jewish tradition?

I am an Italian Noahide. I read in Jewish sources that the expression "Torah of Moses" is sometimes used. In the Christian Gospels, on the other hand, I have seen that in certain passages it is ...
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Is Jehovah's Witness considered halachically different than other Christians? [duplicate]

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in one God with J. being a prophet/son of god, kind of like Muhammad or Elijah the prophet. They don't believe he IS god, and they don't believe in the Trinity. It probably ...
larry909's user avatar
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Could Jesus the Nazarene have been buried near the Galilean city of Safed? [closed]

I am an Italian noahide. I read that the famous Rabbi Isaac Luria, in his "Book of the Reincarnations", writes in chapter 37, within the long list of Jewish Tzadiks: "On your way from Safed toward ...
Amos74's user avatar
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May a Jew act as a godparent to a Christian child?

A Jewish friend was recently asked to be serve as a Godparent (Godfather) to the child of his Christian friend. I would like to know if a Jew may accept such a request and if not why not.
rikitikitembo's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
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Rabbi who killed children?

I recall of a story where a Rabbi during the time of the Tosafists who personally killed many Jewish children in order to save them being raised in the Christian faith. Anyone know source? ...
Avi M's user avatar
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Any basis in Jewish tradition of crossing oneself as in the Christian 'sign of the cross' hand gesture? [closed]

Is there any Jewish tradition of crossing oneself as in the Christian 'sign of the cross' hand gesture? I'm aware of a crossover between Jewish tradition and other mystical traditions which involves ...
cr0's user avatar
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Does Yeshu’s teaching on divorce qualify the Notzri as a false prophet according to the Halakhah? [closed]

I’m an Italian Noahide. With regard to the false prophet, this is what Rambam says: Mishneh Torah-Yesodei haTorah 9:1 It is clear and explicit in the Torah that it is [God's] commandment, ...
Amos74's user avatar
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Does the Torah encourage monotheistic evangelism? [duplicate]

Although Judaism is not a proselytizing religion in the classical sense, is there any responsibility to bring non-jews to monotheism and away from idolatry?
Big Mouth's user avatar
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Can you pray or study torah in a non-Jewish cemetery?

There is a large non-Jewish cemetery near where I live. It has beautiful grounds and is open to the public for visiting. Is it OK to pray or study Torah there?
larry909's user avatar
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Are there examples of Sasanian censorship in the Bavli?

The talmud Bavli was compiled and edited in Iraq while Jews were under the rulership of the Sasanian empire. There are (unfortunately) ample examples of the Bavli being censored by Christians I would ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
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Visiting/using a decommissioned ex-church

Visiting sites previously used for idol worship asks about visiting a historical site previously used for idolatry, and talks about ruins and the possibility of extant religious symbols. My question ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
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Source for Ramban regarding Devarim 30:7

According to Ramban (in the context of Vikuah), Devarim 30:7 applies both to notzrim and ishmaelim: וקראתי להם פרשת והיה כי יבואו עליך כל הדברים האלה הברכה והקללה אשר נתתי לפניך, וגמר הפרשה עד ...
Renato S. Grun's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is one allowed to sleep in a room/house where there are images of JC and other avodah zarah?

Is a Jew permitted to sleep in a room/house where there are idolatrous images on the walls, such as JC, etc.? What about non-Jews?
Dan Weisberg's user avatar
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Should one wish for the destruction of buildings of idol worship?

Two sequential questions, prompted by the Notre Dame fire: Is one obligated to wish that places of idol worship are consumed if they already are on fire? (I would think so, given e.g. OC 224:2) If so,...
Arithmomaniac's user avatar
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Is there any work that specifically refutes the claims of Martin Luther in "The Jews and Their Lies"? [closed]

Recently I learned about Martin Luther's anti-Jewish book, The Jews and Their Lies which makes all of the accusations of anti-Semetism against him make a lot more sense given that they're explcitly ...
giddy's user avatar
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Are Jews allowed to contribute to the reconstruction of the Paris cathedral?

I assume most of you have already heard about the sad events that happened yesterday in France. One of the main symbols of Paris, a functioning cathedral caught on fire and caused huge damage to the ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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Is it lawful,for the Noahide Laws, the thesis of Gentiles Christians according to whom Jesus has a divine nature but he is subordinate to God? [duplicate]

I am not a christian but I am an Italian noahide, therefore I do not believe in the divinity and messianicity of Jesus the Nazarene. I clarify that my question, being relevant to the application of ...
Amos74's user avatar
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Is it forbidden to help idolaters become righteous Noahides?

I heard from a Rabbi who cited Rambam that it is forbidden to help idolaters do teshuvah. Does that mean it is forbidden to persuade them that they follow fake religions and that Judaism is the only ...
Dan Weisberg's user avatar
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Is the "wicked son" of the Haggadah an apostate Jew?

I've seen a few sources that seem to understand that the wicked son of the Haggadah was an apostate Jew, who converted to Christianity. See for example, this answer and linked article, as well as ...
רבות מחשבות's user avatar
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"Children Of Miracles" quote

UPDATE: I reached out to one of the ministries listed below and was told that this was said by RABBI SCHNEERSON. So if anyone knows of a message, whether printed/published or audio/video, of Rabbi ...
Tom Steele's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
434 views

The acronym יש״ו ימח שמו וזכרו

Is there any connection between the acronym יש״ו ימח שמו וזכרו and ישו the person? Is this just a coincidence, or does the acronym actually originate with the historical ישו?
user27343's user avatar
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Is there a problem with buying a Christian a Christmas gift?

To make the question easier, suppose that the recipient of the Christmas gift is a devout Christian who actually celebrates for religious reasons. Potentially there are several issues with buying a ...
DonielF's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is calling The LORD as "Father" common during Jesus time?

Most of the time I hear from some Christian friends that the "Father" name for to The LORD was founded by Jesus. Because I find it odd (if Jesus was the first person to start calling The LORD "...
karma's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
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Christian engravings of Tanakh passages on the ground

Recently, I went to a liberal Christian seminary to use their library materials. Throughout the building, English translations of passages from the Tanakh (and probably the Christian New Testament) ...
Maroon's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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Is someone allowed to enter into a church to please his father or save a life? [closed]

Let's suppose that someone is a Jew by conversion (Ben Noach) and his father is Christian. If he goes to church (assuming that in the church they practice idolatry by worshipping the trinity) just to ...
eeerrrttt's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
922 views

When, halachically, does a sect of Judaism become an independent religion?

When Christianity began many followers considered themselves Jews, the same could be said for followers of Shabbtai Tzvi. I don't believe there is anyone today who would argue that a child born to ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
622 views

Are there references to Jesus in the Jerusalem Talmud?

In my online search I have not come across any references to Jesus in the Talmud Yerushalmi. I realize in the Bavli sometimes he is not identified by name or passages are censored/removed. I would ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
3 votes
6 answers
2k views

Do Jews consider Jesus to be a magician?

With black magic you can do amazing things, including bewitching people's senses, for example, to see things, hear things and feel certain sensations, whether emotionally or physically. Often when a ...
Asan Ramzan's user avatar
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1 answer
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Sefer Nestor Hakomer Online?

Does anyone know if it is possible to find the (hebrew) text of Sefer Nestor Hakomer, an old jewish apologetic book, available for free online?
Renato S. Grun's user avatar
6 votes
0 answers
91 views

Graven Image Question

Can someone give me sources from Tanakh and Halakhah on why it is permissible for a Jewish [certified kosher] bakery to make images from Christianity and their winter holiday? And if it is permissible,...
Edwin Avalos's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
2k views

Attending a Christian Funeral in a church

Is it permissible for a Jew to attend a Christian funeral service? Specifically, in a church? If so, is it a serious breach of Jewish law? How serious? How can one perform redemption for such a breach?...
WhatNot's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
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Could Jesus have been a Rabbi?

Jesus was called a Rabbi during a time in history when being a Rabbi really meant something. He lived during the time of semicha, and his responses are often Rabbinic in nature. And so this begs the ...
Aaron's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Hizzuk Emunah in Hebrew online

Hizzuk Emunah ("Faith Strengthened") is a Jewish response to Christian missionaries, composed by Lithuanian Karaite scholar, Isaac ben Abraham of Troki. I managed to find an English version of this ...
ezra's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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Is there a Jewish theology equivalent to Calvinism?

I have a question that may seem odd, but bear with me. Basically, I'm wondering whether there's any Jewish theology analogous to Calvinist Christianity. I am NOT wondering about the salvation/...
crmdgn's user avatar
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2 votes
4 answers
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Would you buy "Bible for Children" for a 2.8 year old toddler?

[This is not a duplicated question - I am asking here about specific book if it's a good read or not. The last part is asking for recommendations.] I have bought lots of books to my toddler, such as ...
arie1985uk's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
378 views

Does wealth cause spiritual difficulties?

A passage in the Christian gospels implies that money will impact a person’s ability to get into heaven. I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell ...
William's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Are followers of other Abrahamic faiths considered Noachide?

Are Christians, Muslims, Samaritans, Bahais, etc considered Noachide, and do they have a part in the world to come? What about Karaite and Falasha Jews?
Reggie O'Donoghue's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
138 views

Entering a Catholic or Protestant church [duplicate]

According to Jewish Law, is one allowed to enter a Catholic or Protestant church?
Chiddushei Torah's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
169 views

What is the "good of marriage" in Jewish thought?

In Christian philosophy, many ancient philosophers such as Aquinas and Augustine speak about the "good of marriage." Marriage is "good", they argue, because it leads to offspring, chastity and ...
Bochur613's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
480 views

Is reading Toldos Yesh"u on Nittle-Nacht minhag? Who keeps it?

Toldos Yesh"u is a medevil polemical Hebrew text or related texts that describe a story of Yesh"u ha Notsri. It is not cerain when first written but scholars guess anywhere from 500 to 1000 CE. I want ...
Jacob's user avatar
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0 votes
4 answers
467 views

Can a believer in Jesus do teshuvah [closed]

I believe in Jesus and also believe in the way the Jewish faith see God so I am asking how can I do teshuvah while not losing my faith? Is it the same steps since I’m a gentile?
theboi's user avatar
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3 votes
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A dying man designates a disciple to care for his mother -- does that carry any legal weight in Judaism?

(I originally asked this question on Christianity.SE, and was redirected here for a better understanding of the Jewish laws and culture.) I’m hoping someone can help me concerning ancient Jewish laws ...
EdNerd's user avatar
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2 answers
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Is there such a thing as a kosher replacement for the egg on the Pesach plate?

Is there such a thing as a kosher replacement for the egg on the Pesach plate? I just don't like an invited guest making a comparison to the Easter egg.
ninamag's user avatar
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Does it say anywhere in all of the Torah that John the Baptist will be the reincarnation of Elijah the Prophet [closed]

Does it say anywhere in all of the Torah that John the Baptist will be the reincarnation of Elijah the Prophet and that he will come before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes? "And if you ...
TeNaK Talk's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
340 views

Is there a prophecy in the Torah that predicts that a prophet will come from the town of Nazareth

There is a passage in the Christian books that says that the Tanakh predicts that a prophet will come from the town of Nazareth. Does it actually say that anywhere? I want to know what, if anything, ...
Ramban's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
472 views

Is it correct to say that in the Jewish tradition the honorary title "Maràn" has never been used to refer to HaShem?

I am an Italian gentile believer in HaShem, who engages in the observance of the noahide precepts, as commanded by the Creator in the Torah. In the numerous debates I have with my catholic christian ...
Amos74's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are professor Daniel Boyarin's writings about the messiah supported in traditional Jewish sources?

I bought and read the Italian edition of the book “The Jewish Gospels.The story of the Jewish Christ”, written by Daniel Boyarin, a professor of Talmudic culture at the University of Berkeley. I was ...
Amos74's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Star of david with cross in middle? Okay to have (tattoo Question) [duplicate]

firstly I understand that tattoos are forbidden in many ways, I am not Jewish, however I come from a christian family whom down the line there are Jewish members down the line. long story short I ...
Remo's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
336 views

Is it allowed to say the country name "El Salvador"?

שולחן ערוך יורה דעה סימן קמ''ז says that it is forbidden to even mention the name of an עבודת כוכבים. Assuming that "Jesus" counts as this, is one allowed to say the name of the country "El Salvador"? ...
Joshua Pearl's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
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Is it mentioned anywhere in all of the Mishna or the Talmud that Paul of Tarsus was a student of Rabban Gamaliel

Is it mentioned anywhere in all of the Mishna or the Talmud that Paul of Tarsus was a student of Rabban Gamaliel? Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet ...
PanelPulse's user avatar