The first question that will arise in the mind of a student of Judaism is, “What is a Jew?” We will use some thoughts from a book by this title written by Rabbi Morris Hertzer, to answer this question.

First of all, let us understand that the term Jew is a misnomer. The actual term for this ethnic group is Israelite, or prior to the Jacobean period, the Hebrews. They were named after the Hebron Valley in Chaldea from which Abraham came. He was born in a town named Ur, in Chaldea, the center of the Hebron Valley.

God called him away from his idol making to separate unto Him a peculiar people dedicated to His worship. He fully intended that a theocratic form of government should be developed among these people.

What is a Jew?

1. A Jew is one who accepts the faith of Judaism.
2. A Jew is one who, without formal religious affiliation, regards the teachings of Judaism as his own, including its ethics, folklore, literature, etc.
3. A Jew is one who considers himself a Jew, or is so regarded by his community.

What a Jew is not.

This is a simple question to answer, for the Jews are not a race of people. That is put as simply as we can; Jews are not all white, they belong to all races and colors. The Jew is a part and parcel of every community in which he may live.

To understand Judaism, one must examine its broad philosophy. A Jew believes in God. He teaches that this God, this personal God, is utterly incomprehensible to man, but whose reality makes the difference between a world that has purpose and one that is meaningless.

The principle tenets:

Judaism holds that man can most perfectly worship God by imitating those qualities that are godly. As God is just, so we must deal justly with our neighbor.

Three principles in Life:

1. The Torah
2. Service of God
3. Charity or good deeds

Do Jews believe that Judaism is the only true religion? The answer is paradoxical, it is both “yes” and “no”. For the Jew, Judaism is the only true religion, but a true Jew will never judge or condemn another man’s religious faith.

The Talmud states that the “righteous of all nations are worthy of immortality.”

The basic ethical concepts of Judaism:

1. Decency   2. Justice   3. Kindness   4. Integrity

These are eternal verities.

Jews in reality do not truly consider themselves a chosen people, for they say this destroys the true essence of Faith.

What is the Jews concept of sin? Ancient Hebrews say sin is a violation of a taboo, an offense for which a sin offering had to be made.

The modern concept of sin is transgression of the law. Sin is inability to live up to our full potentiality. Sin is failure to meet our duties and responsibilities as Jews.

“Great expectations” born out of man’s creation in God’s image are stressed in all Jewish teachings.

Jews do not expect to pass out of life without sin. No man can be perfect in their estimation. There are two types of sin according to the Jew:

1. Sin against God, for which prayer, repentances, and atonement can be made.
2. Sin against your fellow man, for which only your fellow man can forgive you.

Jews did at one time believe in a better heaven and hell. The Old Testament is very vague about after life. The ancient Jew got his heaven and hell theory from Zoroaster. But even then it was not considered literal.

There are also some speculation about Paradise. “May he dwell in the Garden of Eden,” was commonly pronounced over one who had just died. Today the Jew believes in the immortality of the soul, its nature known only to God. But they do not accept a literal concept of heaven and hell.

The Talmud states that man has mistakenly accepted the idea that man can be in heaven, when in reality heaven is in men.

Jews believe that a man must not suffer greater punishment than he caused. They did this as a measure against the practice of the ancient times to cut off vital parts of the human body for capital offenses. The former statement on punishment is the Hebraic interpretation of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

If you are wondering whether or not the Jews are waiting for a Messiah, the answer is that the modern Jew believes the Messiah to be mankind collectively ushering in the kingdom of God, though the orthodox and conservative Jew still prays for a literal Messiah to come and redeem His people.

Judaism believes in the equality of the sexes; no double standards were allowed in Judaism, at least when it came to chastity. Women were used as leaders, such as Deborah, Miriam, the sister of Moses, and Esther, etc.

 

Jews have parochial schools.

Jews consider labor sacred.

Jews venerate the aged and old and truly respect it.

The Jews strongly opposed capital punishment with the exception of the Eichmann case.

Jews are told to use hard liquor and wine, beer, etc. in moderation.

Jews do not believe in luck as the superstitious do, but consider luck as the fortunate Blessing of God.

Jews do not believe in censorship.

The Jews are sympathetic toward psychiatry.

Jews do not condone suicide.

The Jews are sympathetic to all minority groups, because

they remember their own oppression and the tyranny of Egypt.

The Jews are truly returning to religion.

The marriage is a divine contract and the most important act of life, according to Judaism.

The home is more sacred than the synagogue.

Every symbol in a Jewish ceremony is special and has an important esoteric and exoteric meaning.

Judaism is opposed to birth control except when birth would endanger life or health.

A girl is desired as much as a boy, only a boy brings a greater blessing to the Jew.

Jews believe in moderate parental supervision, but strict obedience to Law.

Jewish Law traditionally forbids intermarriage, but the law of the land is allowed.

The wife and mother is important to the Jew. She lights the candles.

There is no single book which embodies the Jewish Law.

There is no priesthood in modern Judaism as there was in the ancient Hebrew

faith, because there are no temples as they had then.

 

Let us hope this lesson will give you a better understanding of Judaism, as this is the mother of Christianity.