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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality · 1 decade ago

If Judaism values different people differently (Jews higher than non-Jews), how is that different from Hitler?

"In general, when the Torah states a law applying to one's 'neighbor,' the rabbis understand the law as applying to Jews and not to non-Jews."

"Other [Jewish] rules assume that gentiles are, at best unreliable and at worst malevolent and violent. For this reason, a gentile is grouped together with dishonest butchers, gamblers, usurers and thieves who cannot act as witness."

"some legal authorities distinguish between the obligation to save a Jewish life and a non-Jewish life; to save a non-Jew, a Jewish doctor is allowed to violate rabbinic law but not Torah law."

"Traditional Jewish law treats Jews better than non-Jews."

All quotes from:

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Issues/Jew...

Question inspired by:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AowyJ...

Update:

That may be, Newell, but it doesn't change what Judaism teaches. Many Catholics disregard Catholicism's teaching on contraception, but it doesn't change what Catholicism teaches.

Update 2:

angel, I'm talking about Judaism, not Jews. See my response to Newell.

Update 3:

Ape, this has nothing to do with thinking a RELIGION is superior, but rather whether certain PEOPLE are superior.

Update 4:

>>Since only Jews are subject to Jewish law, I'm not sure why most of this would be of concern to non-Jews.<<

Because it is a non-Jew who may die because a Jew refuses to call 911 to save his life, Ambivalent.

Update 5:

>>Not only doctors, OK? Everyone sees saving life as a first priority.<<

No, Ambivalent. See the moderator's posts on this thread on a Jewish forum:

http://frumteens.com/topic.php?topic_id=30&forum_i...

And this from another Jewish forum:

"I talked with a Rabbi by the way, and he said that you can save a Gentiles life any means necessary if you do not risk your life and AS LONG AS IT ISN'T SHABAT." (#43; emphasis mine)

http://www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php?t=...

Update 6:

>>anti semitic hate sites<<

Debbie, since when are these sites "anti semitic hate sites"?

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/

http://frumteens.com/

http://www.israelforum.com/

9 Answers

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  • Favorite Answer

    Judaism provides a path to salvation for non-Jews through the Noahide laws that doesn't require conversion to Judaism.

    Hitler only saw death for non-Aryans. They weren't even afforded a grave in most circumstances.

    Hope that clears up the confusion.

  • 1 decade ago

    If you want to get into how people are valued, take a look at Christianity - all who don't believe the same way as them are condemned to hell. Judaism, and Jews, believe that all who lead a moral life have an equal place in the world to come (and no concept of hell). Truth is, all religions and cultures favour their own in some ways.

    Since only Jews are subject to Jewish law, I'm not sure why most of this would be of concern to non-Jews. As even your quotation acknowledges, it's only 'some' Jewish legal authorities who distinguish between saving a Jewish and non-Jewish life and guess what? Doctors follow the ones who don't distinguish. Saving a life makes it possible to violate most other laws.

    And, as the article makes absolutely clear, modern authorities work hard to get round anything in traditional Jewish law which discriminates against non-Jews.

    And, above everything, this is rather massively different from Hitler!! His intent was to deprive Jews first of education and employment, then their homes, and finally their lives. Some problematic laws that don't benefit non-Jews so thoroughly as Jews can scarcely be said to be in the same league.

    EDIT: You haven't understood what I said. Not only doctors, OK? Everyone sees saving life as a first priority. Why are you so keen to make out Jews are near-murderers? It's not how it is.

  • Debbie
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    It would seem that someone has been trolling anti semitic hate sites,how unusual!

    Judaism teaches that non Jews are also worthy of G-d's love and they too have a share in the world to come and all they need do is observe the seven Noachide laws.

    As for Jews refusing to phone an ambulance to save the life of a non Jew I have never heard such rot.

    However I am just an Orthodox Jew so what would I know about what my religion says?

    I recommend a look at jewfaq.org it might educate you about Judaism.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    stop ripping off my questions.

    my question covers this and is directed at ALL religions chosing to value people differently based on thier mythologies.

    also you didnt' throw in the other factors about the psycological aspects and segregation.

    because its more a psycological comparison than one group actually putting the other into concentration camps.

    you have taken a legitimate comparison and turned it into the ignorant ramblings of an anti-semite that has no purpose other than to piss off jews rather than make a comparison between judeo christian mythologies and atrocious world events.

    this would seem (and my comparison) better compared to american slavery or more appropriately segregation.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    That is probably true of Orthodox Jews, but don't put all Jews into one lump. There are many Christians who back Israel because they are the foundation of our faith. Without the Jews there would be no Bible and no Christians and many of us are gentile.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Only really extreme extreme orthodox Jews take that view. The vast overwhelming majority of Jews view all human life as valuable.

    Source(s): Gay Catholic, with a lot of Jewish Friends.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Not much different, it's pretty well known that all the stupid religions of the book, believe in world domination. You can always make it seem different, but they all think that they are the one true religion and that the rest of us convert or die.

  • 1 decade ago

    Because their religion is as crap as anyone elses

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