Please explain this phenomenon: How can non-Jews call themselves Jews or?
spiritual Jews? That makes as much sense as me being a white Jewish woman and saying "But I'm really a black, Muslim woman, cause that's how I feel inside!". Those that follow Christ (G-d bless if that's what you believe!) cannot consider themselves Jewish! It goes against all of our beliefs! I cannot believe that so many people are "wanna-be's", but that's what it looks like! I understand if you identify with certain Jewish rituals (they are lovely and heartfelt), you may feel you are following Jesus in his original (since he was Jewish), but to identify yourself by another's label is misleading at best and at worst, deceitful. Why would people do so?
2008-12-02T06:30:03Z
Edit to Agnosticat - yeah, I know, but It kinda amazes me, so I wanted to see some justifications. Pull me a Guiness, would you?
2008-12-02T06:49:35Z
Edit to Nightmare - actually, I wasn't even referring to the Messianics; that's a completely different post! :-) However, being Jewish is NOT a race (that was both Hitler's and the Vichy government's justification) - you cannot convert to a race. Also, it's not an ethnicity, because there are many different ethnic peoples who are Jewish.
Anonymous2008-12-02T10:51:36Z
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I'm sorry, I just need to comment that the stupidity in these answers, especially referencing the xian bible as a source text (somewhat like referencing a beef recipe to a vegan), is sadly-
no suprise.
But in reference to IAME's answer- now we know where the word 'schmuck' really came from!
in the beginning it relies upon what do you define as Messianic Jews. actual, a ok-enjoyed extremely-Orthodox flow of messianic Jews by utilising the call Chabad is between the main widely used Jewish messianic strikes. The call Chabad provides the Hebrew letters ???. each and each by utilising itself stands for yet another vital it incredibly is a center fee for this flow: ????=expertise, ????=perception and ???=know-how. by utilising know it incredibly is obvious that this flow is in keeping with fee of reason and good judgment, even nonetheless it incredibly is criticized for its non secular inclination while in the previous due Nineties its followers had thrown their Rabbi (the top of a non secular flow) as a results of fact the Messiah and nevertheless have self assurance he's, even a decade after his passing away. nevertheless, the Chabad flow is between the main suitable Hassidic sects in the Jewish worldwide which contradicts any declare what so ever as to hatred Jews experience in the direction of Messianic sects interior Judaism. Messianic sects which at the instant are not Jewish is an entire non-appropriate tale and that i additionally think of there is not any hate in the direction of them the two.
Yet again, people apparently think that we Jews are SO stupid that we don't know what we're talking about.
They also ignore the *fact* that YES - there ARE Xians going around calling themselves 'jews' and then accusing REAL JEWS of 'lying'.
I'll say it really clearly so even the morons among us can get it:
It doesn't matter WHAT the Xian bible claims about Xians being 'spiritual jews'.
----------------------------------------------------- The XIAN bible does not get to define JEWISH identity. -----------------------------------------------------
There - that clear enough for the idiots among us?
And maybe people would like to know that most XIAN leaders have TOTALLY CONDEMNED the Xians that DO go round posing as "messianic jews". As far back as 1997 they warned about these Xian Evangelists and their deceit: In the summer of 1997 in Washington D.C. (USA), there was held an Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington. Partaking in the conference were representatives of various Protestant churches, Roman-Catholics, together with Moslems and representatives of Jewish organizations.
The Conference concluded with an official statement (published in "Interfaith Connector" Vol. 8, No. 2) which stated: “We condemn proselytizing efforts which delegitimize the faith tradition of the person whose conversion is being sought. Such tactics go beyond the bounds of appropriate and ethically based religious outreach.
"Examples of such practices are those common among groups that have adopted the label of 'Hebrew Christianity', 'Messianic judaism', or 'jews for Jesus'. These groups specifically target Jews for conversion to their version of Christianity, making claim that in accepting Jesus as the savior/messiah, a Jews 'fulfills' his/her faith.
"Furthermore, by celebrating Jewish festivals, worshipping on the Jewish Shabbat, appropriating Jewish symbols, rituals and prayers in their churches, and, sometimes, even calling their leaders 'Rabbi', the seek to win over, often by deception, many Jews who are sincerely looking for a path back to their ancestral heritage.
"Deceptive proselytizing is practiced on the most vulnerable of populations - residents of hospitals and old aged homes, confused youth, college students away from home. These proselytizing techniques are tantamount to coerced conversions and should be condemned."
People can call theirselves anything they want but doesn't mean it's true.May walk & talk like a duck but doesn't make them ducks..Maybe 'smucks'.
Seriously,I've no idea why non-Jews call themselves Jewish..Perhaps some Messies do to keep in touch with their families & observe the holidays?
VillageAtheist,why shouldn't Jews respond to ?'s re Judaism? Also,we don't burn/kill those that differ in their beliefs,it's Xtians who burned Jews during the crusades/inquisitions ie..Ya sure you're an Atheist not a fundie with your unjustified hatred towards Jews??
Did you really think you would get cogent answers to this question? I know it has been asked before, but this question has never gotten real answers. All you get is cut and paste from the New Testament or snideness. I am coming to the conclusion that even trying to start a dialogue is a waste of time. We, as Jews, know the truth; let them fool themselves all they want. They are not worth the time.