In advance I apologize profusely, if anything I say comes across offensive to anyone. Please know it is not my intent. I am inquiring, because I have a sincere desire to know. Still, if you are upset, there is no excuse, and I am sorry, but please educate me if I do cause upset.

I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood and have the highest respect, admiration and love for Jewish people. There were only 3 Catholic families on the block and the rest of the families were Jewish. The harmony was priceless.

Still, I know very little about the Jewish faith other then Jewish people seemed to be most reverent. My mom felt it disrespectful to ask questions of the my neighbors about their faith as she felt it was too personal. I do remember wanting to inside the synagogue up my street, but if memory serves me correctly, it was a Saturday and I wasn't allowed in. Could that be right? I could be wrong, it is a faint memory.

My main reason for this post is, it seems with some Christians, not all, but some, they become very animated and vocal to the point of pushy and even harsh, where it becomes difficult to see God's love. I have not dealt with any on here recently, so please don't think I am referring to anyone in particular.

But this type of behavior is not seen, at least by me, of those in the Jewish faith. Through my view, they come across, respectful, reverent, caring and with deep strong believes. This is a huge credit to the Jewish community and it is one I greatly admire about them, along with many great qualities they possess.

Why the difference and how does the Jewish community accomplish this? What is the teaching for spreading God's word?

Thank you.

HistorianChick

Wow.... good question, AH....

Deserves a "reawakening" on the board, in my opinion.

I'm interested, too!

ScottGem

Part of this is that Jews look on themselves as the "chosen people". Chosen by God so they do not have the same evangelical urges that christian sects have. In fact, Jews generally discourage conversion and make it rather difficult to do.

Anyone should be wlecomed in a Synagogue, except maybe for high holy days which often require a ticket to ensure a seat.

Allheart

Scott that is amazingly interesting. So to convert to the Jewish faith would be difficult?
This all makes sense now and is in line with the reverence applied to the faith. I have even greater respect now.

The visit to the synagogue, is a childhood memory so I could have it confused and may very well have been a high holy day.

Scott, thanks so much for sharing.

Gernald

Yea it's really hard, to convert. It's a pretty long process, first you talk with the Rabbi, then you take classes and learn everything you can about the religon, and then if you're still really dedicated to converting you go in front of the Beit Din (hope I spelled that right???) who ask you questions and stuff like that, and then once they say your ready, you go through a mikva which is almost like a baptism but obviously isn't. And I think that's about it (...feel free to correct me anyone, if I'm wrong.)

I know what you mean by some christians being pushy. I remember going to my grandmothers church when I was younger and someone was talking about a Jewish boy who had attended the previous week and someone said that, "I think they're finally getting it." I was kind of enraged, but obviously couldn't say anything. The same grandmother and I get in debates constantly about this kind of stuff. My ideas to put it simply kind of conflict with hers, and I hate to say it but she is one of those Bible pushing christians. I can't stand it!

Allheart

What did the person mean, "I think they are finally getting it?" Sorry, I'm not always the quickest.

Dark_crow

Redemption is the most significant difference (from sin through Jesus sacrifice) between Christianity and Judaism and some people get a little excited when attempting to spread that message. For the Jew there has been no redemption…no exciting message.

Allheart

No, DC that is not what I see. I see a security in belief that is deeper then I can imagine.
A strong sense of belief, so much so, it doesn't require convincing.

Does that make sense? That's what I see.

Gernald

They meant about Jesus. That Jews after all these years were finaly getting that Jesus was the savior. The poor kid, I can only imagine what they said to him. (The funny part was that he was only their because he had spent the night with a friend who went to the church).

Dark_crow

What you are experiencing when you say, “see a security in belief that is deeper then I can imagine.” is a subjective feeling you have.

What I wrote is an objective conclusion. If what you are wondering is whether Judaism is a deeper faith than Christianity I don’t believe there is an objective answer to that. No one can know the mind of another and therefore can only judge with a subjective conclusion.