Ask the Jews

[Levite]

Because most Jews stay away from the Kabbalah like from wild fire. it is too esoteric. and the word 'mystical' brings bad connotations that most Jews want to keep away.
The Kabbalah is not THAT old. it is rooted in Middle Ages Spanish work which was greatly influenced by blended Christian esoterics. it was produced during the time that a more Enlightened Spain under Muslim leadership has fell again into Christian hands and thus began the history of the Reconquista and the ethnically cleansing of our people from Spain.
It does not measure to the Hebrew Bible. what it does however is take the Hebrew Bible and give it a mystical and highly romanticised interpretation. the kind which rabbis have forbidden Jews to indulge in for centuries.

First of all, most Jews don't stay away from Kabbalah like from wildfire. They mostly are simply ignorant of Kabbalah because they haven't been taught. Most of the Jews I have seen who learn about Kabbalistic concepts, or whom I have taught about them, find them both fascinating and refreshing, and have said that they like having more metaphysical and spiritual options on their palate to work with.

Second of all, Zoharic Kabbalah is rooted in the work of Spanish rabbis of the Middle Ages, though I think most scholars of Kabbalah would debate the degree to which it was influenced by Christian mysticism. But pre-Zoharic Kabbalah actually seems to have emerged from the radical reinterpretation in 11th and 12th century Southern France and the Rhineland of Hekhalot mysticism, which as you know was widely practiced in Babylonia from about the sixth century on through the turn of the millennium. And Hekhalot mysticism was itself a reinterpretation and expansion of Merkavah mysticism, which was practiced from the earliest beginnings of the Tannaitic period (turn of the Common Era) through about the seventh or eighth century.

Mysticism has always been part of our tradition, in one form or another. It is today nearly universally accepted as a legitimate branch of the tree of Jewish thought. And though many have quarreled during our long history about this Kabbalistic doctrine or that Kabbalistic doctrine, or (in the Middle Ages) about Kabbalah versus Aristotelian rationalist philosophy-- which included its own rationalist form of mysticism, it doesn't seem to have prevented most of our greatest rabbis from being Kabbalists or mystics of one sort or another.

I think this is one more place where you might want to differentiate between what "Jews" think and do, and what you personally think and do. Because the two are not synonymous.

 

[blue8]

Is it appropriate to ask a Jew which denomination does he belong to?

 

[Caladan]

Is it appropriate to ask a Jew which denomination does he belong to?

There are not really denominations in Judaism. unlike Christianity which is comprised of tens of thousands of denominations around North America, and many others in various important geographical locations around the world.
Jews practice a few basic streams or groups of traditional interpretation of the Jewish legacy, or history and religion.
in Israel some of the major streams are the Masoreti (traditional) or what the Americans would call the orthodox, the large public or sector of Jewish seculars, and the ultra orthodox minority.
all of these major groups take an active part in the Israeli politics, and in the Israeli parliament. all coalitions formation depend on agreements between the major parties of these Jewish groups.

 

[blue8]

There are not really denominations in Judaism. unlike Christianity which is comprised of tens of thousands of denominations around North America, and many others in various important geographical locations around the world.
Jews practice a few basic streams or groups of traditional interpretation of the Jewish legacy, or history and religion.

So I see there is a big difference between denominations in Christianity and various traditions in Judaism. Do Jews consider themselves belonging to or leaning toward some specific tradition, for example orthodox, consevative... May I ask someone which tradition does he follow? Can someone find that question unappropriate?

 

[Caladan]

So I see there is a big difference between denominations in Christianity and various traditions in Judaism. Do Jews consider themselves belonging to or leaning toward some specific tradition, for example orthodox, consevative... May I ask someone which tradition does he follow? Can someone find that question unappropriate?

All the Jews would respond differently. because all these groups are radically different from each other. I'm what the Israeli society would define as secular Jewish. I'm an atheist and I keep my religion in practical terms. just as the Jews of the other major streams or groups keep their traditions in the most practical terms they deem fit.
on general. I would say that most Jews do not appreciate being pestered with these kind of questions in real life too much. Jews believe their religion is for the practice of the Jews alone. if people want to educate themselves about the religion Judaism, and about the Jewish people. the best way is to pick up a book.

 

[xkatz]

So I see there is a big difference between denominations in Christianity and various traditions in Judaism. Do Jews consider themselves belonging to or leaning toward some specific tradition, for example orthodox, consevative... May I ask someone which tradition does he follow? Can someone find that question unappropriate?

I don't follow any group myself. I have decided not to affiliate myself with words like "Karaite", "Reform", "Conservative", or "Orthodox". However, that doesn't mean those divisions exist, they definitely do. I wouldn't call them "traditions" or "denominations" though because for the most part they agree on matters of theology and have fairly similar practices. The only real difference is their level of observance and how they interpret the Tanakh and Talmud.

 

[blue8]

All the Jews would respond differently. because all these groups are radically different from each other. I'm what the Israeli society would define as secular Jewish. I'm an atheist and I keep my religion in practical terms. just as the Jews of the other major streams or groups keep their traditions in the most practical terms they deem fit.
on general. I would say that most Jews do not appreciate being pestered with these kind of questions in real life too much. Jews believe their religion is for the practice of the Jews alone. if people want to educate themselves about the religion Judaism, and about the Jewish people. the best way is to pick up a book.

Thank you for quick and informative answers.

 

[Caladan]

Thank you for quick and informative answers.

anytime.

 

[Levite]

So I see there is a big difference between denominations in Christianity and various traditions in Judaism. Do Jews consider themselves belonging to or leaning toward some specific tradition, for example orthodox, consevative... May I ask someone which tradition does he follow? Can someone find that question unappropriate?

In general, my experience is that Jews will not find such a question inappropriate, although not all Jews will consistently indentify with one particular movement or tradition.

 

[Zardoz]

In general, my experience is that Jews will not find such a question inappropriate, although not all Jews will consistently indentify with one particular movement or tradition.

True, if they are affiliated at all, even. Many Jews move between branches or affiliate with more than one branch simultaneously. It's not always a matter of doctrine, but rather practical issues such as a marriage or job relocation.

 

[blue8]

What do Jews said, who wrote the Torah? Can you say that God "wrote" the Torah? I hear that from some Christians, God "wrote" the Bible. What do you think?

 

[Caladan]

Highly professional scribes.
These men were trained in the Hebrew alphabet, the Hebrew language and literary qualities. and had hours and hours of training before they would be sent to put on leather scrolls the monumental works of the Hebrew scriptures.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

Highly professional scribes.
These men were trained in the Hebrew alphabet, the Hebrew language and literary qualities. and had hours and hours of training before they would be sent to put on leather scrolls the monumental works of the Hebrew scriptures.

You know full well that this is not the religious answer. He asked a religious question, and since, according to yourself, you scoff at the religion.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

What do Jews said, who wrote the Torah? Can you say that God "wrote" the Torah? I hear that from some Christians, God "wrote" the Bible. What do you think?

There are differing opinions as to who wrote the Torah: Some say that HaShem wrote it. Others say that HaShem dictated it to Moshe Rabbeinu. Others say that the original Torah that was written by Moshe was lost, and that this is a "best guess" from fragments they could find during the building of the Second Temple. There are other opinions, too many to list, that you may find for yourself.

 

[YmirGF]

Where can I get a good recipe for making Blood Motsa?

 

[xkatz]

Where can I get a good recipe for making Blood Motsa?

The Jews who control the world through proxy via the IMF, UN, and World Bank know some pretty good recipes I hear.

 

[Caladan]

You know full well that this is not the religious answer. He asked a religious question, and since, according to yourself, you scoff at the religion, this is trolling. I'll save the personal attack for later.

One.
She asked 'What do you think'
second. this is the answer you will receive from the majority of Jews where I live.
you might have heard of the place. its a little state called Israel.

Second. don't ever tell me how to respond in a thread. silly person.

 

[Caladan]

There are differing opinions as to who wrote the Torah: Some say that HaShem wrote it. Others say that HaShem dictated it to Moshe Rabbeinu. Others say that the original Torah that was written by Moshe was lost, and that this is a "best guess" from fragments they could find during the building of the Second Temple. There are other opinions, too many to list, that you may find for yourself.

If this is what Americans think.
no wonder we consider you to be out of touch with reality.

 

[HiddenDjinn]

If this is what Americans think.
no wonder we consider you to be out of touch with reality.

You know, according to Rambam, a Jew who scoffs at the religion is no longer worthy of the title Jew, he is only an Israelite sectarian. No one is entitled to be called Jewish simply by birthright, but one must actively BE Jewish as well.

 

[Levite]

There are differing opinions as to who wrote the Torah: Some say that HaShem wrote it. Others say that HaShem dictated it to Moshe Rabbeinu. Others say that the original Torah that was written by Moshe was lost, and that this is a "best guess" from fragments they could find during the building of the Second Temple. There are other opinions, too many to list, that you may find for yourself.

These are excellent opinions, and I am glad to see that the interpretation of Rabbi David Weiss Halivni made it in.

It is worth adding, for the benefit of the non-Jewish questioners, that many in non-Orthodox Judaism today also seek to reconcile divine origination with the documentary hypothesis, and suggest that while the Torah had many schools of authors, these authors were people who were gifted by God with ruach hakodesh (literally "holy spirit," or, more idiomatically, "divine inspiration"), or with nevu'ah ("prophecy"). That the inspiration, in other words, comes from divine revelation, but the authorship being flawed, fallible, and mortal, the text can sometimes obscure the revelation, or even on occasion fail to accurately reflect it at all.