Rabbi David Novak has some bracing words for those who believe that Judaism is exclusively tribal, whereas Christianity may only be meaningfully called universal:
[Conrad] Black’s second error concerns the present state of the Jews and Judaism. What does he mean when he says “Judaism, though close theologically, is more tribal and philosophical than spiritual”? I [...]
Archive for the ‘Judaism’ Category
Tribes
Posted in Judaism on October 14, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Abortion, Bible, Judaism on October 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Jewish New Year celebration underway is marked by the final Torah passage of the year. This reading completes the annual Torah cycle from the beginning of Genesis to the passing of Moses’ leadership to Joshua at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy.
One passage from Deuteronomy chapter 30 is worth noting; [...]
“The seal of God is Truth”
Posted in Judaism, Theology on August 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This Aish HaTorah (“Fire of The Torah”) analysis for the coming Sabbath’s Torah portion is worth repeating for us Christians.
It reminds us why we, Jews and Christians, are forbidden to worship idols. Yes, sports fans: those pesky commandments in Exodus still apply:
The commentators give another reason for the Biblical disdain of [...]
White Crucifixion
Posted in Judaism on July 7, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Today is the 121st anniversary of Marc Chagall’s birth. A great impressionist painter and sculptor, a Russian Jew, a man whose works sing to us of the faith of our fathers.
This particular painting may have shocked his Jewish fans, but should not have. It is a stark reminder that Christianity is a Jewish [...]
Elder Brothers
Posted in Catholicism, Judaism on April 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Pope John Paul II referred to the Jews as his “elder brothers.” The important theological point, lost on so many generations of allegedly Christian people, is that God’s covenant with the Jews has not been broken. There is a new covenant, made through His son, Jesus Christ. Who, himself, was part of [...]
“Not a real Christian, of course.”
Posted in Judaism, apologetics on January 10, 2008 | 1 Comment »
David Klinghoffer is an interesting, if flawed and apparently conflicted author. His personal spiritual journey from non-observant Christianity to Orthodox Judaism is touching, and well-told in his book, The Lord Will Gather Me In. David and I might have met on the path; me going the other direction away from Judaism and [...]
Christians and Jews
Posted in Evangelicals, Jews, Judaism on October 10, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, has perhaps the best explanation of how Christians should relate to the Jews. It is an older article, The Chosen People Puzzle, but well worth the time. Some summary points:
I have a nonnegotiable commitment to evangelism, and this includes witnessing to Jewish people about my [...]
Kings
Posted in Judaism, Scripture on August 14, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
This week’s Torah portion* is Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9, and it is worth recounting that part of it that relates to kings. Being ruled by a king, or any royalty, may strike up moderns as being wrong. The difference, of course, is at the time God set aside Israel as the witness to the one [...]
“holy and righteous and good”
Posted in Judaism, Theology on August 11, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Paul can be complicated, but can also cut through the fog like a laser if one knows where to look. Case in point is Romans, chapter 7. The topic is an age-old bone of contention — the law versus justification by faith alone.
To any who think that Paul hated the law, this would [...]
Yeshua
Posted in Judaism on July 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
Marc Chagall’s images have always been special to me, especially because of the artist’s affinity to biblical themes. I also shared, up to a point in my life, Chagall’s secular Judaism.
When I came to accept Christ as Lord, at first I thought I had left Judaism behind. After several years as a Christian, [...]
