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How can you say that the old testament never mentions Jesus by name?
April 27, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestions.The ‘old testament’ is the Church version and alas often MIStranslation of the Jewish Tanakh.
Does the Jewish religion still practice animal sacrifice for the atonement of sins?
March 12, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestions
No 🙂
The sacrifices stopped when the second temple was destroyed. They can’t actually take place anywhere else.
Also, the animal sacrifices were about drawing closer to G-d; in Judaism we cannot atone via blood. To atone we pray, fast (on Yom Kippur) and seek to put things right with anyone we have hurt.
Today – contrary to what ‘desiree’ says, there is no ‘animal sacrifice’. Maybe what she’s thinking of is a specific custom among *some* ultra Orthodox Jews called ‘kapparot’. I believe it’s only a tiny, tiny minority that do this, though; there is more info on this here: http://www.jewfaq.org/
Also: http://jewishanswerstochristianquestions…
You might also find this a good site: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/
Many thanks for such a nicely worded question 🙂
————————————–…
Here you go, from http://www.jewfaq.org/
Qorbanot
In ancient times, a major component of Jewish ritual was the offering of qorbanot. An entire order of the Talmud (Kodashim, that is, Holy Things) is devoted to the subject.
The word “qorbanot” is usually translated as “sacrifices” or “offerings”; however, both of these terms suggest a loss of something or a giving up of something, and although that is certainly a part of the ritual, that is not at all the literal meaning of the Hebrew word. The word qorbanot comes from the root Qof-Reish-Beit, which means “to draw near,” and indicates the primary purpose of offerings: to draw us near to G-d.
Parts of the rituals involved in the offering of qorbanot were performed exclusively by the kohanim (priests). These rituals were only performed in the Temple in Jerusalem. The procedures could not be performed by anyone else, and could not be performed in any other place. Because the Temple no longer exists, we can no longer offer qorbanot.
There are three basic concepts underlying qorbanot: giving, substitution and coming closer.
The first the aspect of giving. A qorban requires the renunciation of something that belongs to the person making the offering. Thus, sacrifices are made from domestic animals, not wild animals (because wild animals do not belong to anyone). Likewise, offerings of food are ordinarily in the form of flour or meal, which requires substantial work to prepare.
Another important concept is the element of substitution. The idea is that the thing being offered is a substitute for the person making the offering, and the things that are done to the offering are things that should have been done to the person offering. The offering is in some sense “punished” in place of the offerer. It is interesting to note that whenever the subject of qorbanot is addressed in the Torah, the name of G-d used is the four-letter name indicating G-d’s mercy.
The third important concept is the idea coming closer. The essence of sacrifice is to bring a person closer to G-d.
Purposes of Qorbanot
Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of qorbanot is not simply to obtain forgiveness from sin. Although many qorbanot have the effect of expiating sins, there are many other purposes for bringing qorbanot, and the expiatory effect is often incidental, and is subject to significant limitations.
The purposes of qorbanot are much the same as the purposes of prayer: we bring qorbanot to praise G-d, to become closer to Him, to express thanks to G-d, love or gratitude. We bring qorbanot to celebrate holidays and festivals. Others are used to cleanse a person of ritual impurity (which does not necessarily have anything to do with sin). And yes, many qorbanot, like many prayers, are brought for purposes of atonement.
The atoning aspect of qorbanot is carefully circumscribed. For the most part, qorbanot only expiate unintentional sins, that is, sins committed because a person forgot that this thing was a sin. No atonement is needed for violations committed under duress or through lack of knowledge, and for the most part, qorbanot cannot atone for a malicious, deliberate sin. In addition, qorbanot have no expiating effect unless the person making the offering sincerely repents his or her actions before making the offering, and makes restitution to any person who was harmed by the violation.
Types of Qorbanot
There are many different types of qorbanot, and the laws related to them are detailed and complicated. This section will merely introduce some of the major types of qorbanot, their names and their characteristics. There are many subtypes within these classifications, and some other types that do not fit neatly into these categories.
Olah: Burnt Offering
Olah (in Hebrew)
Perhaps the best-known class of offerings is the burnt offering. It was the oldest and commonest sacrifice, and represented submission to G-d’s will. The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah, from the root Ayin-Lamed-Hei, meaning ascension. It is the same root as the word aliyah, which is used to describe moving to Israel or ascending to the podium to say a blessing over the Torah. An olah is completely burnt on the outer altar; no part of it is eaten by anyone. Because the offering represents complete submission to G-d’s will, the entire offering is given to G-d (i.e., it cannot be used after it is burnt). It expresses a desire to commune with G-d, and expiates sins incidentally in the process (because how can you commune with G-d if you are tainted with sins?). An olah could be made from cattle, sheep, goats, or even birds, depending on the offerer’s means.
Zebach Sh’lamim: Peace Offering
Zebach Sh’lamim (in Hebrew)
A peace offering is an offering expressing thanks or gratitude to G-d for His bounties and mercies. The Hebrew term for this type of offering is zebach sh’lamim (or sometimes just sh’lamim), which is related to the word shalom, meaning “peace” or “whole.” A representative portion of the offering is burnt on the altar, a portion is given to the kohanim, and the rest is eaten by the offerer and his family; thus, everyone gets a part of this offering. This category of offerings includes thanksgiving-offerings (in Hebrew, Todah, which was obligatory for survivors of life-threatening crises), free will-offerings, and offerings made after fulfillment of a vow. Note that this class of offerings has nothing to do with sin; in fact, the Talmud states that in the age of the messiah (when there is no more sin), this will be the only class of offering that is brought to the Temple.
Chatat: Sin Offering
Chatat (in Hebrew)
A sin offering is an offering to atone for and purge a sin. It is an expression of sorrow for the error and a desire to be reconciled with G-d. The Hebrew term for this type of offering is chatat, from the word chayt, meaning “missing the mark.” A chatat could only be offered for unintentional sins committed through carelessness, not for intentional, malicious sins. The size of the offering varied according to the nature of the sin and the financial means of the sinner. Some chatatot are individual and some are communal. Communal offerings represent the interdependence of the community, and the fact that we are all responsible for each others’ sins. A few special chatatot could not be eaten, but for the most part, for the average person’s personal sin, the chatat was eaten by the kohanim.
Asham: Guilt Offering
Asham (in Hebrew)
A guilt offering is an offering to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust. The Hebrew word for a guilt offering is asham. When there was doubt as to whether a person committed a sin, the person would make an asham, rather than a chatat, because bringing a chatat would constitute admission of the sin, and the person would have to be punished for it. If a person brought an asham and later discovered that he had in fact committed the sin, he would have to bring a chatat at that time. An asham was eaten by the kohanim.
Food and Drink Offerings
Minchah (in Hebrew)
A meal offering (minchah) represented the devotion of the fruits of man’s work to G-d, because it was not a natural product, but something created through man’s effort. A representative piece of the offering was burnt on the fire of the altar, but the rest was eaten by the kohanim.
There are also offerings of undiluted wine, referred to as nesekh.
– I think it’s an interesting question re whether sacrifices would start again if the temple was rebuilt.
Orthodox Jews will tend to say ‘yes’.
However, I know that many other Jews, myself included, would not want to participate in any animal sacrifices!
(way back, they were often just burnt offerings of flour; animals were not always used and when they were, they were then usually eaten for dinner….!)
The sacrifices stopped when the second temple was destroyed. They can’t actually take place anywhere else.
Also, the animal sacrifices were about drawing closer to G-d; in Judaism we cannot atone via blood. To atone we pray, fast (on Yom Kippur) and seek to put things right with anyone we have hurt.
Today – contrary to what ‘desiree’ says, there is no ‘animal sacrifice’. Maybe what she’s thinking of is a specific custom among *some* ultra Orthodox Jews called ‘kapparot’. I believe it’s only a tiny, tiny minority that do this, though; there is more info on this here: http://www.jewfaq.org/
Also: http://jewishanswerstochristianquestions…
You might also find this a good site: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/
Many thanks for such a nicely worded question 🙂
————————————–…
Here you go, from http://www.jewfaq.org/
Qorbanot
In ancient times, a major component of Jewish ritual was the offering of qorbanot. An entire order of the Talmud (Kodashim, that is, Holy Things) is devoted to the subject.
The word “qorbanot” is usually translated as “sacrifices” or “offerings”; however, both of these terms suggest a loss of something or a giving up of something, and although that is certainly a part of the ritual, that is not at all the literal meaning of the Hebrew word. The word qorbanot comes from the root Qof-Reish-Beit, which means “to draw near,” and indicates the primary purpose of offerings: to draw us near to G-d.
Parts of the rituals involved in the offering of qorbanot were performed exclusively by the kohanim (priests). These rituals were only performed in the Temple in Jerusalem. The procedures could not be performed by anyone else, and could not be performed in any other place. Because the Temple no longer exists, we can no longer offer qorbanot.
There are three basic concepts underlying qorbanot: giving, substitution and coming closer.
The first the aspect of giving. A qorban requires the renunciation of something that belongs to the person making the offering. Thus, sacrifices are made from domestic animals, not wild animals (because wild animals do not belong to anyone). Likewise, offerings of food are ordinarily in the form of flour or meal, which requires substantial work to prepare.
Another important concept is the element of substitution. The idea is that the thing being offered is a substitute for the person making the offering, and the things that are done to the offering are things that should have been done to the person offering. The offering is in some sense “punished” in place of the offerer. It is interesting to note that whenever the subject of qorbanot is addressed in the Torah, the name of G-d used is the four-letter name indicating G-d’s mercy.
The third important concept is the idea coming closer. The essence of sacrifice is to bring a person closer to G-d.
Purposes of Qorbanot
Contrary to popular belief, the purpose of qorbanot is not simply to obtain forgiveness from sin. Although many qorbanot have the effect of expiating sins, there are many other purposes for bringing qorbanot, and the expiatory effect is often incidental, and is subject to significant limitations.
The purposes of qorbanot are much the same as the purposes of prayer: we bring qorbanot to praise G-d, to become closer to Him, to express thanks to G-d, love or gratitude. We bring qorbanot to celebrate holidays and festivals. Others are used to cleanse a person of ritual impurity (which does not necessarily have anything to do with sin). And yes, many qorbanot, like many prayers, are brought for purposes of atonement.
The atoning aspect of qorbanot is carefully circumscribed. For the most part, qorbanot only expiate unintentional sins, that is, sins committed because a person forgot that this thing was a sin. No atonement is needed for violations committed under duress or through lack of knowledge, and for the most part, qorbanot cannot atone for a malicious, deliberate sin. In addition, qorbanot have no expiating effect unless the person making the offering sincerely repents his or her actions before making the offering, and makes restitution to any person who was harmed by the violation.
Types of Qorbanot
There are many different types of qorbanot, and the laws related to them are detailed and complicated. This section will merely introduce some of the major types of qorbanot, their names and their characteristics. There are many subtypes within these classifications, and some other types that do not fit neatly into these categories.
Olah: Burnt Offering
Olah (in Hebrew)
Perhaps the best-known class of offerings is the burnt offering. It was the oldest and commonest sacrifice, and represented submission to G-d’s will. The Hebrew word for burnt offering is olah, from the root Ayin-Lamed-Hei, meaning ascension. It is the same root as the word aliyah, which is used to describe moving to Israel or ascending to the podium to say a blessing over the Torah. An olah is completely burnt on the outer altar; no part of it is eaten by anyone. Because the offering represents complete submission to G-d’s will, the entire offering is given to G-d (i.e., it cannot be used after it is burnt). It expresses a desire to commune with G-d, and expiates sins incidentally in the process (because how can you commune with G-d if you are tainted with sins?). An olah could be made from cattle, sheep, goats, or even birds, depending on the offerer’s means.
Zebach Sh’lamim: Peace Offering
Zebach Sh’lamim (in Hebrew)
A peace offering is an offering expressing thanks or gratitude to G-d for His bounties and mercies. The Hebrew term for this type of offering is zebach sh’lamim (or sometimes just sh’lamim), which is related to the word shalom, meaning “peace” or “whole.” A representative portion of the offering is burnt on the altar, a portion is given to the kohanim, and the rest is eaten by the offerer and his family; thus, everyone gets a part of this offering. This category of offerings includes thanksgiving-offerings (in Hebrew, Todah, which was obligatory for survivors of life-threatening crises), free will-offerings, and offerings made after fulfillment of a vow. Note that this class of offerings has nothing to do with sin; in fact, the Talmud states that in the age of the messiah (when there is no more sin), this will be the only class of offering that is brought to the Temple.
Chatat: Sin Offering
Chatat (in Hebrew)
A sin offering is an offering to atone for and purge a sin. It is an expression of sorrow for the error and a desire to be reconciled with G-d. The Hebrew term for this type of offering is chatat, from the word chayt, meaning “missing the mark.” A chatat could only be offered for unintentional sins committed through carelessness, not for intentional, malicious sins. The size of the offering varied according to the nature of the sin and the financial means of the sinner. Some chatatot are individual and some are communal. Communal offerings represent the interdependence of the community, and the fact that we are all responsible for each others’ sins. A few special chatatot could not be eaten, but for the most part, for the average person’s personal sin, the chatat was eaten by the kohanim.
Asham: Guilt Offering
Asham (in Hebrew)
A guilt offering is an offering to atone for sins of stealing things from the altar, for when you are not sure whether you have committed a sin or what sin you have committed, or for breach of trust. The Hebrew word for a guilt offering is asham. When there was doubt as to whether a person committed a sin, the person would make an asham, rather than a chatat, because bringing a chatat would constitute admission of the sin, and the person would have to be punished for it. If a person brought an asham and later discovered that he had in fact committed the sin, he would have to bring a chatat at that time. An asham was eaten by the kohanim.
Food and Drink Offerings
Minchah (in Hebrew)
A meal offering (minchah) represented the devotion of the fruits of man’s work to G-d, because it was not a natural product, but something created through man’s effort. A representative piece of the offering was burnt on the fire of the altar, but the rest was eaten by the kohanim.
There are also offerings of undiluted wine, referred to as nesekh.
– I think it’s an interesting question re whether sacrifices would start again if the temple was rebuilt.
Orthodox Jews will tend to say ‘yes’.
However, I know that many other Jews, myself included, would not want to participate in any animal sacrifices!
(way back, they were often just burnt offerings of flour; animals were not always used and when they were, they were then usually eaten for dinner….!)
Jews: what is your opinion of Christians?
March 12, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsI don’t judge people according to their religion, or lack thereof.
Christians – like all other groups – are comprised of all types.
The only Christians I would ever condemn are the evangelicals who go round posing as “messianic jews” despite being *literally* not Jewish. They MISrepresent Judaism in a most appalling manner.
It is my belief that Jews and Christians must and should work at improving understanding of one another.
Who hates Christianity more: Atheists or Jews?
March 12, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsFalse premise on your part.
So where is your proof of any ‘hatred’ on the part of Jews OR Atheists, towards Christianity?
Since when does not agreeing with Christian theology, equal ‘hatred’…?
Where was the old testament perfected?
March 12, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsThe OT is the Church version and often mistranslation of the Jewish Tanakh. I have no idea what you mean by ‘perfected’.
Should Jerusalem be divided?Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is advising President Obama to use his power to pressure Israel to divide Jerusalem. What do you think? * I think Jerusalem belongs to Israel. …the Lord had said, In Jerusalem shall My name be for ever. 2 Chronicles 33:4—Holy Bible-KJV
March 10, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsThe Palestinians were offered East Jerusalem as their capital, both in 2000 and 2001, at Taba and Camp David. They rejected it – along with the other things offered – because in return Israel asked for an end to terrorism. The Palestinians said ‘forget it’.
I don’t really think the Palestinians have any claim to Jerusalem. If they argue it’s a holy Muslim place, I would ask:
– then why is Jerusalem not mentioned at all in the Quran?
– why do Muslims pray facing Mecca?
– why do Muslims publicly speak of Mecca and Medina as their two most holy places? Never Jerusalem?
No non Muslim is permitted IN Mecca.
Can you imagine if Israel said no non Jews could enter Jerusalem???
When Arabs and Muslims have ruled Jerusalem, they always turned Jewish holy places into horse stables.
Israel looks after ALL holy places. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the holiest Jewish city. No, I don’t want to see it divided.
Why did the Jews come up with the Noahide Laws, for Gentiles?
March 10, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsI think most of us would start by clariying: we believe they are G-d’s laws. We didn’t invent them 🙂
The Noahide Laws are really just basic guidelines for those wishing to live a ‘righteous’ life, and one in accordance with what the G-d of Israel decreed.
When it comes to interpreting some of the specifics of the Noahide Laws, there tends to be debate about what *would* violate them in terms of idolatry, for instance. Noahides are also people who have a real connection to and ‘feeling for’ Judaism – without actually wishing to convert themselves.
The Noahide Laws:
1) Do not murder.
2) Do not steal.
3) Do not worship false gods.
4) Do not be sexually immoral.
5) Do not eat the limb of an animal before it is killed.
6) Do not curse God.
7) Set up courts and bring offenders to justice.
I am a Christian and I was going out with a Jewish lady. Her parents did not approve. Can you tell me why? I have heard this stuff from people can someone tell me why? I want to be as godly about this as I can. Money means a lot to Jewish people why is that
March 10, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsFirstly, shame on you for that classical anti semitic remark about the money – Hitler would be SO proud of you.
Secondly: if that’s your attitude then NO WONDER your girlfriend’s parents were less than impressed with you.
Why didn’t the ancient Hebrews accept Jesus?
March 10, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsThey were Jews, not Hebrews. They didn’t believe Jesus for the same reason we don’t today: he was one of MANY young preachers claiming to be the maschiach, and he failed to fulfill our 23 messianic prophecies.
Was Jesus circumcised?
March 9, 2009 — jewishanswerstochristianquestionsYes, Jesus would have been. All Jewish boys are circumcised at eight days of age.
Jewish Answers To Christian Questions 