Jtube: Arrested Development

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Published: May 12, 2007

Visitor Comments: 24

(24) S, March 3, 2013 10:04 PM

if hes in prison, he shouldnt be teaching JudiASM\

(23) Sailor, January 14, 2008 4:22 PM

Where does it say that we should proselytize?

Judaism's foundation is the Torah. We have laws such as be fruitful and multiply, but no where does it say, spread my word out to others. The concept of chosen people talks directly to this concept of a covenant between the Jews and G-D. G-D asked the Jews to accept his laws and the Jews agreed.

For us, it is a calling, a choice to follow the Law. While other religions have it pretty easy, Judaism is unique in it rigid legal structure and Rabbinical authorities that provide interpretation like a court.

To specifically answer Yosef's issue, there are differences between laws that are between G-D and Man and Man and Man. Judaism has a notion of morality tat we all have. If you read about the Noah-esque laws. Noah was a righteous man before the Torah was given to man.

So I wouldn't get too concerned that you have to teach the ways of being a Jew in order to get to heaven. But if you see someone violating moral codes, you have an obligation to provide good counsel on that.

(22) yosef, December 2, 2007 11:00 AM

if you see a kid doing something wrong you tell about his bad actions, if you a goy who perhaps does no torah and you sont tell him, who will hashem ask, the one who knew and kept silent or the not knowing did it, I think that Israel has a light that should be share not to convert but the share the true knowledge of hashem for many who have been lied to and are looking but the light is hidden.

(21) Michelle, September 17, 2007 5:57 PM

If we convert the goyim, ...

We have no push to make everyone like us. If we did, who will turn on the lights on winter Shabbatot?

(20) jacqueline, August 19, 2007 11:57 PM

Hummm

Hasn't the Jewish population always been relatively the same to the world population?,one percent or less.One can find a lot of truth in the math..

(19) Efrat, May 30, 2007 8:25 AM

Freedom to choose a deep commitment, or: let your action talk

a main idea of Judaism is freedom of choice.
If you are proselytisating, it takes away some of that freedom, because a person may be weak or feel pressured.
Of course we hope for a big nation, there is power in the numbers, but there is more power in the spirit.
The way I see it, if we follow the Mitzvot of Torah, we are better people, and our deeds and Midot will be the light to (ourselves and) the Goyim, and they may want to follow. Because of our deeds, not our words or promisses. They will see the true blessing in it, and respect us and the way of the Torah, and that gives them more freedom to choose.
Also, the choice to be a Jew is a very deep commitment, like a marriage- if not more, and should not be taken light-headedly. Proselytisation puts pressure on a person, and he may want to convert now, but change his mind later. if someone wants to convert, they need to go thru a lengthy process to show they really mean it.

(18) miriam, May 22, 2007 2:51 PM

prosetylization is not a Jewish concept. a non-Jew has no obligation to become Jewish, and there is no commandment to convert them. we responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of our fellow Jews and no one else.

(17) JBerkowicz, May 21, 2007 8:48 AM

Let's have more Jews

oops, sorry, as I was saying, they think they can get away with it! Let there be 200 million or half a billion Jews, and then we will see how much less likely it is for every two bit dictator to threaten us with destruction!

(16) Tammy Fesspoint, May 19, 2007 7:50 PM

Well, If we're truly a light to the world..........

..........then we need to quit being a bunch of lilly-livered chickens and open our mouths. Everybody isn't wearing an orange jumpsuit. When people ask questions about our beliefs, we should share in great detail. The rest of course, is up to them.

(15) pieter onyenapu, May 18, 2007 12:24 PM

i need security for both of family

I want trusted person my family can do something with. I am from a Royal family, i am prince and my father is killed under government problem in conutry.

(14) chana, May 16, 2007 8:09 PM

History Tells All

One only has to study a little history to know about the persecution from other religious groups if proselytization was even suspected from the Jewish community -- I think that is why it's not encouraged even in today's society.

(13) Char, May 16, 2007 4:21 PM

The Lor'd Viewpoint from the Nevi'im

To quote HaShem: "My people perish for lack of knowledge."

How shall they hear unless someone preaches? Pray the Lord send the workers into the harvest, for the field is white (ripe).

(12) Dvirah, May 16, 2007 3:01 PM

Funny and not so far from the truth

Historically, one reason for disallowing proselytization was indeed the retaliations carried out by the then ruling authorities - the Romans; and this before they became Christian. It wasn't a big change since Judaism never emphasized proselytization anyway. After all, any Gentile who practices the 7 Mitzvot given to the Sons of Noah is fulfilling his obligations and has no need to be Jewish to be "good" - very unlike most if not all other religions.

(11) MRS.D, May 16, 2007 2:35 PM

POOR CHOICE

THAT CLIP WAS IGNORANT AND IDIOTIC. I DID NOT FIND IT A GREAT SPRINGBOARD FOR DISCUSSION. FURTHERMORE, WHAT'S THIS WHOLE THING DOING UNDER THE "JEWLARIOUS" FLAG? JEWS NEED TO LAUGH. WE HAVE ENOUGH ANGST. SO LEAVE JEWLARIOUS FOR LAUGHTER, PLEASE.
LASTLY, I CAN'T RESIST COMMENTING, OF COURSE: MOST OF THE PREVIOUS COMMENTATORS HAD GOOD POINTS. AN OUT-OF-THE BOX ANSWER MIGHT ALSO BE THAT REALISTICALLY, THERE IS CERTAIN PROSELYTIZATION NEEDED IN OUR DAY IN A VERY SELECTIVE WAY. BECAUSE INTERMARRIAGE IS CUTTING OFF WHOLE FAMILIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS FROM THEIR NATION, THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE WHEN THE FATHER IS ATTRACTED TO JUDAISM (IN THE CASE WHERE THE MOTHER/WIFE IS THE JEW, THUS RENDERING THE CHILDREN HALACHICALLY JEWS), SOMETIMES BRINGING THE FAMILY BACK. I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN, AND KNOW IT TO BE APPORVED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BY RELIABLE RABBONIM,. BUT NOT BEYOND THAT. EXCEPT, OF COURSE, FOR THOSE BRAVE ONES AMONG US WHO WANT TO HELP BRING MOSHIACH BY ENCOURAGING THE NON-JEWS TO ACCEPT THE 7 MITZVOTH OF B'NEI NOACH

(10) Roberta, May 16, 2007 6:56 AM

G-d is within us whether we admit it or not. The way that each one of us chooses to acknowlege G-d is his own. Judaism cannot be sold but can be found through a wish to learn, and you don't have to be born a Jew to feel it in the deepest recess of your gut.

(9) don muntean, May 15, 2007 10:05 PM

God calls people - not us.

I think that it's because sincere 'conversions' come from within the convert - not through 'sales' - thus - if God calls one to the Faith then - one can and will find out about that Faith....

To be out selling the Faith is to undermine the sincere attraction that comes from within...it's to undermine the real salesperson - God.

(8) Anonymous, May 15, 2007 7:17 PM

No need to proselytize.

People that want to enbrace Judaism do not need to be encouraged or urged by those who feel it is the only "true" religion.
It must be done by study, and coming to the realization that Judaism is for those who see it as the only way of life,

(7) sue, May 15, 2007 4:55 PM

A feeling in your kishkas!

Judaism is not something you can learn. Its a very powerful feeling of belonging. Its like being in a very exclusive club that not just anyone can join. Its the feeling in your kishkas thats impossible to experience unless you are born a Jew.

(6) Nic, May 15, 2007 3:46 PM

Convert or be converted

One of the issues of our religion is that we are targetted all the time, by other religions.

I feel that at times it is as though we are sitting ducks--being plucked away, one by one--relying on our birth rate for the increase in numbers.

And yes, we have converts, but this is slow and laboursome.

Being a Jew is not like people getting "born again". It is unlike someone simply choosing to state a prayer, like in Christianity or Islam. It is joining in with a nation of Priests. So, the same with any Priesthood, it is not something that is quick, like fast food.

We need to take better care of our own. Then, if in doing that people feel called to convert to Judaism, then so-be-it.

(5) elaine, May 15, 2007 12:35 PM

We create so much trouble within the comminty (patraliean descent, who is a Jew, intermarriage, Agunah issues, corrupt leaders, lashon hora against anyone who observed differently). Lets clean up our own act first.

(4) Bonnie, May 15, 2007 11:37 AM

Very informative

(3) Hilda, May 15, 2007 11:21 AM

Jewish prostelization

It wouldn't hurt if we did. I bet we could get a lot of good converts. It's nice to be exclusive but the time has come when we need to increase our numbers to match others and raise our ability to influence the world. We are taken for granted and because we are such a small minority, we are often not taken seriously.

(2) Mathew Abraham, May 15, 2007 10:01 AM

A sense of elitness

The word "proselytization" is a mischaractariztion of the duty. In light of what Isaiah says"I will make you a light for the gentiles that you may bring my salvation to gentiles" is failure to live up to what is expected of.

(1) Anonymous, May 15, 2007 9:56 AM

Why Judaism doesn't encourage proselytization?

We are either born a Jew or a Gentile. Being a Jew is in our blood which has recently been proven by DNA. We do not have a commandment from God to go to all the nations and convert gentiles to Judaism (biblical Judaism) nor are we encouraged to do so by our rabbi's (rabbinical Judaism).

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Jtube: Arrested Development

Why doesn't Judaism encourage proselytization?

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