WHY DO JEWS DO THAT? - IITB 05.07

 

Chapter 5. 7

Why do Jews

Do That?

  Jeroboam:    King of Israel: TEN tribes

  Rehoboam: King of Judah: TWO tribes

 

 

First Word

     I thought it would be interesting to research some of the things found in Jewish culture.  What seems far out, actually points to a reverence, obedience and remembrance of YEHWAY.  I would like to point out that there were twelve tribes of Israel, ten were lost with only Judah and Benjamin remaining.  Since Judah was the largest tribe the name JEW became synonymous for ALL Israelites.

 

Why do they sway when they pray?

     When the Ten Commandments were read to the Israelites, the earth shook and they were moved with awe, trembling and shaking.  The spirit of the man is the candle of the lord that flickers and waves in harmony with the light of the Torah.[1]  The swaying of the body is in rhythm and time with the prayer being recited.[2]

     With limited number of books, many people had to share from the same book, bending forward to read the book on the ground then straighten back up. This tradition continued even when they had sufficient books.

 

Why be Circumcised?

     The Jewish law requires a male child to be circumcised on the eight day after he is born[3].  Circumcision in Hebrew is “brit” which means COVENANT.  The covenant is the pledge God gave Abraham to bless and prosper him and his descendants who would obey his commandments.  The circumcision is performed by a mohel (one who cuts away) a surgical specialist who recites the blessings during the procedure.  It is a SIGN between God and His chosen people[4]

 

Why is the word “Amen” used so often in Prayer?

     Amen is an acrostic for three Hebrew words El Melech Ne’man meaning The Lord is a trustworthy King and first appears in the book of numbers.[5]

     Amen has become to mean; “truly” or “so be it”.  It is a declaration; “blessed be the Lord”.

Many of the congregation could not read and would respond to the prayers or reading of the Talmud with “Amen”; so let it be.[6]

Why do Jews not intermarry with other races?

     The essential core of Judaism is weakened through the intermarriage of other races; it leads to the breakdown of the primary Jewish institution; the family unit.  Its origin was because of the leading astray of the Jew with the worship of other Gods.[7]  See the study on Balaam’s Ass.

 

Why do mourners tear their garments?

     This comes from when;

     Jacob heard his son had been killed by wild animals, he tore his garment.[8]

     King David tour his clothes at the news about the death of Saul’s son Absalom.[9]  

     Job tore his robe when he was in anguish.[10]

 

What’s in the box on their door post?

     The “Mezuza” is small verses of scripture rolled up and placed in a compartment on the door post of ever Jewish persons home.[11]  It is hand written as the scribes of old would have done and placed at an angle with the top pointing toward the interior of the home and placed high on the upper third of the door post; it symbolized reaching upward to God.

     Ironically there was a debate over whether to mount it vertical or horizontal and the 30 degree angle was the compromise.  Go figure.  It serves as a reminder of God’s laws and their own loyalty to the Jewish nation.

 

Why do some Jews wear a little skull cap?

     While the covering of the head is not dictated by the Talmud, many observant Jews prefer to keep their head covered.   They reverenced God, considering that the Shechina glory of God is above their head.

     In Germany in the 17th century, it was customary to tip your hat in respect to government officials and not wanting their head uncovered even for a moment, they wore a skull cap under their regular hat which was tipped.  It was also thought that anyone who walks around bareheaded was frivolous and disrespectful of Jewish Law; so put your hat on.

 

What Kind of tree was in the Garden of Eden?

     Christian’s commonly call the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, an APPLE tree.  Jews disagree and call it a FIG tree because Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover their nakedness.[12]  Interestingly, the Hebrew word for SIN is chet and the word chita means wheat; so some students of the word Belief System says that they ate wheat and had to get large fig leaves to cover themselves.

 

Why are the Jews are called Christ Killers?

     The Chief Priest and Elders shouted out to crucify Jesus and Pilate washed his hands of the crucifixion.[13]  However, 90% of the Jewish population was not even present.  It was the Gentiles, the non-Jews; the Romans who actually carried out the execution.

 

Why do they shout “MAZAL TOV” at weddings?

     Mazal refers to the constellation of the zodiac, a star, Tov meaning good; a good star, a lucky star.  Also Siman tov or “good omen”; both a way of saying CONGRATULATIONS.

Why do Jews not eat pork?

     This is based on the dietary laws of the Old Testament concerning the split hoof and the chewing of the cud of an animal; some were considered unclean to the Hebrew.  The Talmud goes further and says to not even raise pigs.[14]  This goes back to when the Syrian-Greeks tried to force the Jews to sacrifice on the altar of the temple, un-clean non-kosher animals; they brought PIGS and forced them to eat their flesh.   This action made the pig the most repugnant of all the non-kosher animals.  See the study on the Maccabees; Holy Jihad.

 

What is Kosher?

     Originally kosher meant good and proper and later became “something fit” for ritual use and even applied to witnesses who “were competent” to testify.  Ester asked the king do her a favor if he found it “good and proper[15] (kosher).

     Later it evolved into dietary laws NOT for health reasons, but whose purpose was to bring holiness and unity to the Jewish people.  The Bible gives NO reason for the distinction between the clean and the unclean.  A Shochet, who is trained in the laws of the Shechita (Kosher slaughtering), does the killing.   I include just one scripture which is more than you want to know.

 

Leviticus 11:2-47 – A distinction between clean and unclean.

2 Say to the Israelites: `Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat:

3 You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.

4 "`There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is ceremonially unclean for you.

5 The Coney, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.

6 The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof; it is unclean for you.

7 And THE PIG, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.

8 You must not EAT their meat or TOUCH their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

9 "`Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.

10 But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales--whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water--you are to detest.

12 Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you.

13 "`These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,

14 the red kite, any kind of black kite,

15 any kind of raven,

16 the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk,

17 the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,

18 the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey,

19 the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.  

20 "`All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you.

21 There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.

22 Of these you may eat any kind of LOCUST, katydid, cricket- or grasshopper.

23 But all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest.

24 "`You will make yourselves unclean by these; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.

26 "`Every animal that has a split hoof not completely divided or that does not chew the cud is unclean for you; whoever touches [the carcass of] any of them will be unclean.

27 Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you; whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening.

29 "`Of the animals that move about on the ground, these are unclean for you: the weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard,

30 the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon.

31 Of all those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.

32 When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean.

33 If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean, and you must break the pot.

34 Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any liquid that could be drunk from it is unclean.

35 Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; an oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean, and you are to regard them as unclean.

36 A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean.

37 If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean.

38 But if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.

39 "`If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean till evening.

41 "`Every creature that moves about on the ground is detestable; it is not to be eaten.

42 You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet; it is detestable.

43 Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.

44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground.

45 I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

46 "`THESE ARE THE REGULATIONS concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground.

47 You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.'" NIV

 

Why do the Jews refer to themselves as the chosen people?

     This comes from the agreement or covenant between God and Abram to make him a great a nation; God chose Israel as His CHOSEN PEOPLE when there was actually only one guy; Abram, and there were no children.[16]

     God changed Abram’s name to Abraham; God added an “H” that was taken from His name Jehovah as was Sara, naming her Sarah.[17]  Many names today have an “H” added to them in remembrance of who they belong to; JEHOVAH

     Abraham had a son named Isaac; and Isaac had a son named Jacob.  God changed Jacob’s name to ISRAEL[18] whose sons would become the twelve tribes.  These twelve tribes and their descendants inherited the covenant made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be His chosen people.[19]

 

Why do they wear the little boxes on their forehead?

     Tefilin (phylacteries) is a sign of devotion and obedience to God.  It is a reminder that God redeemed Israel out of the bondage of Egypt and delivered them to the Promised Land.  All male Jews were expected to wear two phylacteries at morning prayers; one on their forehead and one on their left arm which is closest to their heart.[20]  These were small leather cases containing four scriptures from the Torah.  Oddly enough, they do not wear it on the Sabbath, because that would constitute “work” or carrying on the Sabbath.

 

     The straps were wound around the arm seven times representing the seven Hebrew words in Psalms.[21]  The Hebrew Translation is; “You open your hand and satisfy every living creature.Then the end is wrapped around the hand three times and the ring finger three times to form the word Shaddai, meaning God; betrothed to God.”[22]  What the Jews deem as being obedient, the world deems as being weird.[23]

The Take Away

     As a Christian and a Gentile, I see the Jews laden down with traditions, rules and laws that are in my BS is considered LEGALISTIC.  This places the follower in bondage which the New Covenant has redeemed us from.  New Testament scripture says; “Why go back to the weak and beggarly elements. [24]

     The Old Covenant teaches man must do something to be saved. Tradition, rules and Laws.

     The New Covenant teaches man can do nothing to be saved; Jesus Christ did it all.  But my heart sees the Jew’s reverence, devotion and the striving for obedience to the Holy Scriptures as laid down by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

     The Christian does not OPENLY do these things that remind and testify of God, nor daily seek the face of God as the Jew does through the symbolism that reminds him daily of God’s provisions.

When you read the scriptures you can just feel the Jew’s hunger for God’s word as they sought for it, even out in the desert. 

     We do not have that hunger today; like God’s chosen people did… but by His grace, everyone that will believe and confess Jesus is Lord; will be grafted into the vine and will have Jewish roots[25].

 

Isaiah 65:1 - I was found by those who did not seek me

1 "I REVEALED MYSELF TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME;

I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME.

TO A NATION THAT DID NOT CALL ON MY NAME,

I SAID, `HERE AM I, HERE AM I.'

NIV

Ezekiel 33:31 – Most sitting in the pew are just Make-Believers
31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of
DOING what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.

(NLT)

Matthew 7:21-23 – Some that praise God are just Make-Believers
21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’

 will enter the kingdom of heaven;

only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly,
23 I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

(NIV2011)

James 2:26 – Faith without works is a dead faith
26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also

FAITH IS DEAD WITHOUT GOOD WORKS.

(NLT)  

 

 

 



[1] Proverbs 20:27 – The lamp of the Lord flickers and waves

[2] Psalms 35:10 – My bones MOVE and speak -- Psalms 68:8 – As the earth shook, they were MOVED at the presence of God

[3] Genesis 17:11-12 – Circumcision performed at eight days old; it is the sign of the covenant

[4] Genesis 17:2 – Circumcision is a covenant between God and His people

[5] Numbers 5:22 – First time AMEN taught

[6] Psalms 89:52 – Bless His name; Amen and Amen -- Deuteronomy 27:16-19 – Then all the people shall say Amen

 

[7] Exodus 34:16 – They will cause you to turn from the True God

[8] Genesis 37:34 – Jacob tore his clothes

[9] 2 Samuel 13:31 – King David tore his clothes in anguish

[10] Job 1:20 – Job tore his robe in anguish

[11] Deuteronomy 6:9 – Write it upon your door post of your home

[12] Genesis 3:7 – Maybe it was a FIG TREE

[13] Matthew 27:22 – The chief priest and elders said crucify Him. -- Matthew 27:24 – Pilate washed his hands of His blood; said I am innocent

[14] Leviticus 11:26 – The PIG is unclean to you -- Leviticus 11:7-8 – The pig does not chew the cud -- Deuteronomy 14:8 – Don’t eat the pig

[15] Ester 8:5 – If it’s good and proper, kosher; do me a favor

[16] Genesis 12:1-3 – The COVENANT promises of God to Abraham

[17] Genesis 17:5 – Abram’s name changed to ABRAHAM

[18] Genesis 32:28 – Jacob’s name changed to ISRAEL

[19] Deuteronomy 29:10-15 – I make this COVENANT with you this day

[20] Deuteronomy 11:18 – Fix God’s word in your heart and mind, bind on hands and forehead -- Exodus 13:8-10 – Sign on your hand; a reminder on your forehead -- Deuteronomy 6:8 - Tie them on your hands and foreheads.

[21] Psalms 145:16 - The SEVEN HEBREW words translated; you opened Your hand, and satisfied the desire of every living thing.

[22] Hosea 2:19-20 – God said Three Times – I will betroth you --

[23] Exodus 13:1-10 – FIRST Scripture “like” a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead -- Exodus 13:11-16 – SECOND Scripture “like” a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – THIRD Scripture tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes -- Deuteronomy 11:3-21 – FOURTH Scripture write them on the doorframes of your houses, teach them to your children

[24] Galatians 4:9 - Why go back to the weak and beggarly elements

[25] Romans 11:17 – The Christian now has JEWISH ROOTS

 

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