#9 What is a Jew and what is Judaism?

First some history behind the name Jew- it comes from the biblical name Judah. But Judah was one of 12 tribes? Why is his name representative of all Jews?

• Historical answer: They were the most prominent tribe of the tree tribes remaining after the 10 tribes went into Exile by Sancherev. The ten tribes are the ten lost tribes. Various people and groups have claimed to belong to these lost tribes over the centuries.
• Jewish answer—Mordechai of Megillas Esther is called Mordechai Hayehudi. Anyone who is kofer in avoda zara is called a yehudi.

רבי יוחנן אמר לעולם מבנימין קאתי ואמאי קרי ליה יהודי על שום שכפר בעבודה זרה שכל הכופר בעבודה זרה נקרא יהודי כדכתיב +דניאל ג'+ איתי גברין יהודאין וגו'

אִיתַי גֻּבְרִין יְהוּדָאיִן דִּי מַנִּיתָ יָתְהוֹן עַל עֲבִידַת מְדִינַת בָּבֶל שַׁדְרַךְ מֵישַׁךְ וַעֲבֵד נְגוֹ גֻּבְרַיָּא אִלֵּךְ לָא שָׂמוּ עליך עֲלָךְ מַלְכָּא טְעֵם לאלהיך לֵאלָהָךְ לָא פָלְחִין וּלְצֶלֶם דַּהֲבָא דִּי הֲקֵימְתָּ לָא סָגְדִין: ס

This is the key behind Judaism: No idol worship But doesn’t the Hebrew word mean Modeh—admit? Not deny!

• No idol worship was a radical idea in ancient times and it is radical today

Ancient times viewed the natural forces as independent. They had spiritual beings which caused them to work. Idol worship meant worshiping this spiritual being behind that force of nature and basically bribe it to get what you want.

People today also have this attitude to God. “Oh God, if you would just give me a good mark/job/lottery ticket/ I’ll pray every day to you!”

That’s not really worship—that’s manipulation. Denying idol worship means you don’t want anything in this world for its own sake. Everything in life is there just to do God’s will. We completely submit ourselves to God and don’t hold anything back. That is being “modeh”

Any religion that has God in the center and not man in the center is taking a concept from Judaism.

• Just as human beings go through a process from immaturity to maturity, Human civilization has also gone through a maturation process. God models his relationship with us as a parent raising a child.

(ה) וְיָדַעְתָּ עִם לְבָבֶךָ כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יְיַסֵּר אִישׁ אֶת בְּנוֹ יְקֹוָק אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְיַסְּרֶךָּ:

• Our civilization is backsliding from maturity to immaturity

The average age of marriage is getting older and older. Why? Immaturity. Marriage means living a large part of your life for someone else. You work to feed your family. You go to school meetings about them, you go to the doctor with them you sleep over at the hospital with them.

But you become a great person.

• The other way to define a Jew and Judaism is with the concept of holiness.

God commands us to be holy FOR HE IS HOLY.

(כו) וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְקֹוָק וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי:

What is in common between our holiness and God’s holiness. What is holiness?

Rav Shimon Shkop explains that holiness in Judaism means you become bigger than you are. You expand your identity to encompass people beyond yourself. It is the opposite of small self-centeredness which is a definition of immaturity.

Someone else’s success becomes your success. Someone else’s loss and pain becomes your loss and pain.

Introducing a New Hashkafa Discussion Series Launched at the Derech Institute

Below is the list of topic I plan on covering over the year.
I will be posting the written outline to each discussion topic on a regular basis.
I have a nightly 45 min. slot for each topic-- which includes the time for questions, so the material is usually basic and to the point.
I distribute this list below to those who attend. The questions were culled from various sources. I do not address them in the numerical order listed here.

Subject Next to each question: Indicate if you prefer text-based or open forum discussion	Don't Really Care		clueless but curious	Thunk about it once -twice	Been there done that
Fundamental Questions:
1. What do we mean by G-d?
2. What is the Torah?
3. Why is the Torah so important?
4. How can we prove the existence of G-d?
5. How do we know that G-d created the world?
6. Does it make a difference if we believe in G-d?
7. Why do/don't we believe in the Theory of Evolution?
8. How do we know that G-d still runs the world?
9. What is a Jew and what is Judaism?
10. Why is there pain and suffering?
11. Why doesn't life/history seem to run more perfectly in line with Jewish beliefs?
12. How do we know the Tradition is authentic?
13. Why isn't there immediate reward and punishment?
14. What is the role of the Jewish woman, and are why are women different than men in Jewish life?
15. How do we know that the Torah is G-d given?
16. What is the Source of Jewish law? God or Man?
17. Are the Torah laws old-fashioned?
18. Why are there many separate branches of Judaism?
19. What is the rationale behind Shabbos and Yom Tov,
20. Why Tefillin, Tzitzis, Yarmulkah, and Mezuzah,....?
21. Why Kosher?
22. Are there rationales for the Mitzvos all together?
23. What is wrong with assimilation?
24. Why do Jews reject Jesus as a Messiah, Mohammad as the one true prophet, and L Ron Hubbard as the answer to getting our thetans to a higher level?
Where is it written in the Torah…
1. That we have to get up in the morning to daven.
2. That we have to make brachos
3. That we have to learn Torah every day
4. That we can’t use curse words
5. That we can’t get drunk and use drugs
6. That we can’t have girlfriends
7. That we have to listen to Rabbis
Specific Hashkafa Questions:
1. 1. How do we explain the bracha of שלא עשני אשה?
2. How does the concept of נשים דעתן קלות apply to the well-educated women of today?
3. Why do frum people seem to place more of an emphasis on mitzvos בין אדם למקום than בין אדם לחבירו?
4. Why do we care more about external appearances than sincerity?
5. How can we explain mitzvos like מחיית עמלק, קרבנות polygamy—which seem to defy our sense of morality?
6. If there is שבעים פנים לתורה where do we draw the line on legitimate Torah interpretation?
7. On what basis do you choose your Rav? Do you pick a rav based on your hashkafa or visa versa? Where does your upbringing fit in?
8. Why can't I just go after my feelings and not my intellect?
9. What's wrong with cremation?
10. Why do I feel that religion takes away my “private space”?
11. Why is Orthodox society so insular with its “ghetto mentality”?
12. Why is the goal to be a “Ben Torah” and not just a good observant Jew?
13. How do we relate to people who don't appreciate Torah learning for its own sake?
14. Why do chareidi people smoke?
15. Why does Judaism seem to deny normal pleasures and put up endless obstacles to enjoying everyday life?
16. Why are we obligated to do chesed to Jews and not non-Jews?
17. What should be encouraged more—learning or davening?
18. Addressing the college issue—is it so bad?
19. Why can't I listen to Goyish music?
20. Why is there such a strict dress code in the Yeshiva world? Where is there room for individualism?
21. Explain the difference between Gan Eden and Olam Habba.
22. How do I know whether to be a Yissachar or Zevuluun?
23. How can we change our attitude that Shabbos is too boring?
24. Why does there seem to be such a pull to not be observant?
25. How can I be expected to achieve total self-control of thoughts, speech, and action in light of being brought up in a free world open to “new experiences”?
26. What is the evidence for a Divine Oral Law? How can we explain the existence of rabbinic disputes?
27. Why is there free-will to do evil?
28. Why is there such an emphasis on intellect in Judaism?
29. What's a person with poor intellect supposed to do to avoid failure?
30. What will happen before, during and after Moshiach, resurrection, the war of Gog U'Magog?
31. What happens after we die regarding Gehinom, gilgulim and dibbukim?
32. Explain Malachim, the Satan, evil eye, and Sheidim
33. I try so hard to be good—why does Hashem punish me/make it so hard for me?
34. Explaining some of the Chukim: Pe'os, no razor shaving, shatnez
35. Why did Hashem create suffering/evil? Why couldn't He give us the same reward without making us suffer?
36. What can be said to someone who is dealing with a tragedy and questions God's goodness?
37. Why are we responsible for the mistakes made by our ancestors 2,000 years ago which brought about the exile?
38. What is our biggest guarantee for getting into Olam Habba?

Your Suggestions for this series—anything left out?