Shalom.
This is the first in the series of Ask the e-Rabbi questions. Several people wrote me questions which I am not going to answer as this is the first in the series of videos.
First question was basically just to describe the general theory of Revelation of Judaism. And this came from a named Abraham, a Muslim interesting converting to Judaism. Well, you have to see my videos on the various basis of who wrote the Torah and other videos I have on this subject, but essentially, there is a big difference between what the Orthodox, fundamentalist believe and what the rest of the Jewish people believe. Orthodox believed that the Torah, five books of Moses was essentially written exactly by God to Moses, either on Mount Sinai or during the 40 years which would be a liberal interpretation. The rest of the Jewish people believed, followed the general theories of the documentary hypothesis that the Torah is a composite document of several other documents. It was oral for long time and finally edited some time around the fifth century or after B.C.E. And there are various fused about the extent to which how much of it actually revelation from God ranging from Jews who say all of it, to Jews who say none of it like the original re-constructionists for example.
On the second question, there was a question about a fellow who was not circumcised as a child as Jewish. And wants to know he still is obligated to be circumcised. You should see my video on circumcision brit milah. I mentioned to them that we have several examples in Jewish history of people like that. In a large groups for example, the generation that was in the desert after the slavery, Exodus, they said that they rolled back to their parchment of being not circumcised in the desert and they got circumcise when they got to Israel. And recent times, a lot of them Russian males who came from Soviet Union who were not circumcise and become circumcised. Yes, you are under the obligation to still be circumcised, you are still Jewish. If you are not but it is the first mitzvah and you should have that taking cared of.
Next question from Jeremy. What is the biblical basis of Messiahnism, of the Jewish idea of the Messiah? Well, there are some standard ideas and Rabbinic literature about the Messiah does but I give you some other biblical sources, mostly from the book of Isaiah, Isaiah 1, the son had not be reestablished. Isaiah 2, wants the Messiah is king leaders of other nations, will look them for guidance. Isaiah 2, the whole world will worship the one God of Israel. In Chronicles and Isaiah 11 he will be the center from King David. Isaiah 11, the messiah will be a man of this world and observe Jew with the fear of God. Isaiah 11, Evil and tyranny will not be able to stand before his leadership. Isaiah 11 Knowledge of God will fill the whole. Isaiah 11, he will include and attract people from all cultures and nations. Well, Israel will be returned of their homeland. Death would be swallowed up forever. Isaiah 25, that there will be no more cases of hunger, illness and death will sees. Isaiah 26, well, the dead will rise again. Isaiah 51, that Jewish people will experience eternal Joy and gladness. 52 will be a messenger of peace. Isaiah 52, nations will end up recognizing the wrongs they did to Israel and there is thousand of more. Basically, it is clear the Messiah has not come. Anybody who says the Messiah is coming is blind to the evidence. And no words that should say that Messiah is going to come again.
Okay, then Jeremy also asked what is their exactly in a written record of Jesus by is contemporaries outside the New Testament. And there are Josephas, the historian mentions Jesus although some scholars question on the authenticity of that. Selection, a test it is, mentions Jesus, there are some references that Jesus in the Tomad. For the New Testament, was written from 10 to 70 years tomad is dead after his death.
Okay then Jaime asks, can you wheat fowl milk. The answer is no. Not for hundred of years, it originally fowl this considered to be pave neutral but now it is considered to meat, therefore cannot be eaten together. And he asks, does the chicken need to be ritually slaughtered. And the answer is absolutely yes to be courtier, needs to be ritually slaughtered.
Jaime also asks, he said he was converted by independent Rabbi, will that be recognized by conservative Rabbis. The answer is essentially, if he studied and if he went to the Mikveh and if he has been ritually circumcised or symbolically circumcised in a ritual manner on how to fight dom. Most conservative rabbi would recognize it, and it should be a bating that signed the certificate but most conservative Rabbis I cannot say all you know I do not know what all my colleagues would do but most would.
And finally, Christopher asks about Gematria. And by the way, I have videos and kashrut. I have video many videos on Jews and Jesus and Jews not for Jesus. A videos on Messiah which can help explicate all of this answered I have given. And the final question for this week Christopher asks about Gematria, you should see my video on Gematria, he asks. Gematria is basically a system where every letter of the alphabet gets numerical coefficient. you derives spiritual and mystical meanings from various words base on the numerical content. And he asks if that was aeromak too. And the answer is yes, it was done in many languages, in fact, the rabbi who emigrated here does it very quickly in English. If A is 1 and Z is 26 he can come up instantly with all the variety of words which based in any number. Now there is no basis for that historically in Judaism. He has a lot of fun with that and derives insights from it. But the point is that Gematria was done in many languages but the one that considered to be authoritative by the entire mystical Jewish tradition and by Judaism in general is the one that is done in Hebrew.
So those are my answers briefly to the questions that you would ask, week 1, and next week, we will be back with more questions. If you have any questions, please email me at rabbi@ehnt.org. Thank you. Shalom.
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