Comments by "" (@keitumetsemodipa3012) on "Rabbi Dovid Vigler"
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Hi, I'm seeking to gain more knowledge on religion, Rabbinic Judaism seems to be a good start since it seems like the bridge between modern and ancient understandings of Judaism, but I'm getting mixed responses from Jewish communities online
I don't have access to a synagogue nearby, however I wish to go as often as I can to ask questions, on one hand I hear, don't worry about Judaism just follow the Noahide laws and you'll be fine, on the other hand, I hear don't even look into Judaism just follow the Noahide laws and that's all you're allowed to do
Problem is I'm not just a follower, I have questions, the last thing I want to do is just follow, I think great atrocities have been done because of the "just follow" mentality not to mention I believe it's dehumanizing to tell someone to suspend their reasoning since it's part of what makes one human, so what exactly to do?
Do I ask about the Oral Tradition, Exegesis, Doctrine and other parts of Tradition and scripture, do I suspend my thinking and follow the Noahide laws or is Judaism exclusively for Jews I'm so confused
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@louisesingleton5861 I always have that option, but my goal is to reduce the knowledge gap for myself and others. Recently, I've been visiting various online Jewish communities. In some, discussions stay civil, but as soon as I mention I'm Christian, things often take a turn. People stop listening, and instead, I get called names—"nothing you say makes sense," "you don’t know Hebrew," "you’re an idolater," "you murdered Jews," "you worship a man." All the common soundbites get thrown at me, and I end up learning very little about actual Jewish beliefs. I’m on the verge of stopping religious conversations with Jewish individuals altogether and sticking to discussions with atheists, Hindus, Muslims, or other Christians.
Just a few hours ago, I tried explaining to someone that Christians believe only in Hashem, and that we view Jesus as the Word of Hashem (the Memra) that the Patriarchs worshipped—believing that this same Word became flesh. But in response, I was told, “You’re an idolater; you worship a man, not God.” It left me thinking—if the Patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob worshipped the Word of the Lord, would that make them idolaters too?
Anyway, thanks for the advice. I’m still interested in learning about different religions, and I’m getting a clearer picture of Judaism. Some people are very Orthodox, while others seem to follow a more flexible approach to tradition.
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@glenanleitner2606 The nearest rabbi is about an hour away, so it’s a bit of a trip, but I’ll probably find a way to visit someone in that area.
The whole thing is fairly straightforward. Depending on which Jew you ask, they may believe in either one Messiah or two. Some think there’s a potential Messiah in every generation, while others say that the way the Messiah arrives depends on Israel’s state at the time. For instance, he might come lowly, riding on a donkey, or—similar to Moses—have two comings: first arriving humbly and being rejected, and later returning as a reigning king.
Muslims also recognize the Messiah, though their interpretation seems less clear. They often look to Jewish sources to understand what their prophet meant when he referred to Isa as “El Masih.” Their scholars have proposed numerous meanings for this term; I think there’s even a website dedicated to exploring its possible definitions.
And, of course, we believe that the Messiah is also the Angel of the Lord, the Memra of Hashem, and the Servant of the Lord—all united in one person. We believe that this is who Jesus is: not only a king but also prophet and priest.
It's more nuanced than this but this is the gist of what each side believes
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@red---paulvanravenswaay2247 Reading Scripture alone is like shooting in the dark, but relying on Christian Tradition provides clarity. Lately, I've been studying Judaism and have noticed that many rabbis seem unfamiliar with traditional Christian teachings. They might be aware of Protestant beliefs (though Protestantism isn’t even the largest branch of Christianity), but when they discuss ideas like penal substitution, total depravity, or social trinitarianism, Catholics and Orthodox Christians often cringe. With a fuller understanding of Christian Tradition, as well as Jewish Tradition, there might be fewer misunderstandings.
Here’s a quote from a Church Father on Jesus’s teaching style, especially regarding rhetoric and hyperbole:
Jesus often employed hyperbole and vivid imagery to convey profound truths, inviting listeners to look beyond the literal to the spiritual and moral implications. For instance, when He spoke about removing the ‘plank’ from one's own eye before addressing the ‘speck’ in another’s, He used exaggeration to highlight the importance of self-reflection over judgment of others.”
– John Chrysostom in his homilies on Matthew (he's like Rambam but more authoritative on scripture interpretation)
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