Basics of Judaism
- Basic Values and Morality
- Chosen People
- G-d and Torah
- Heaven and Hell
- Other Denominations
- Reward and Punishment
- Science and Torah
- Sin and Repentance
- The Messiah
- Who is a Jew?
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Matrilineal Descent
What is the source of the law that a child is Jewish only if its mother is Jewish? The statement that Jewish identity is determined by the mother is found in the Mishnah (Kiddushin 3:12), which says that the child…
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The “Messiah” in Daniel
Who is the Messiah referred to in Daniel 9:25? According to the Jewish commentators, in both of these occurrences, “messiah” (“anointed one”) refers to a king. In v.25 it refers to King Cyrus of Persia, who is called “G-d’s anointed…
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The Messiah as Head of the Sanhedrin
Will the Messiah be the head of the Sanhedrin? Maimonides (Melachim Ch.11) says that the Messiah will restore the Davidic kingdom and rebuild the Temple, and that the laws that have lapsed will be reestablished in his time. This implies…
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Conditions before the Messiah Comes
What must the world be like before the Messiah comes? The verse in Psalms 95:7, “Today, if you will listen to His voice”, is interpreted by the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) as meaning that the Messiah is ready to come as…
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The Jews as the Chosen People
Where does it say that the Jews are the chosen people? The chosenness of the Jewish people is found in many Biblical verses; a few examples are Ex. 19:5-6, Deut.4:37 and 7:7, and Isaiah 45:4.
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Jesus as the Messiah
Why didn’t the Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah? The Jewish view (Maimonides, Kings 11:4) is that the Messiah will be a descendant of David who will inspire the Jews to follow him, establish a monarchy in the Land of…
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The Messiah as the Son of David
Must the Messiah be a descendant of David? In what line? Apparently anyone in the male line (son of a son… of David) is eligible; birth order doesn’t necessarily give priority. Until the middle ages, the heads of the Jewish…
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The Messiah as a Religious Leader
Will the Messiah be a religious leader? Will he be a Kohen? According to Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Kings 11:4), the Messiah will be a king from the house of David who studies the Torah, observes the commandments, and inspires the…
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Sheol
What is “Sheol”? The word “sheol” occurs in Gen. 37,42, and 44, in Num. 30 and 33, in Job, and many other places in the Bible. Many of its uses imply that it is an underworld inhabited by (the spirits…