Jews & Judaism Today

Answers.

1. T or F   The Jewish Talmud (a commentary by Rabbis) is considered "Holy Writ" in the Orthodox Jewish religion.

True

In Orthodox Judaism, the Talmud is not only "Holy" it is the most Holy, and supersedes the Bible in final authority.
(See page 10 for more on the Talmud.)

2. T or F   The Bible calls Jews the "apple of God's eye."

False

The phrase the "apple of God's eye" can be found in the Bible in Zechariah 2:8.  However, God is not referring to Jews in this passage. The paragraph this verse is taken from begins at verse 6 and continues to verse 13. Therefore, when the entire paragraph is taken in context, it is obvious that what God is calling the "apple of His eye" are the future believers of the Messiah Jesus. (See  page 16 for more detail.)

3. T or F   What is called Zionism, the move to create a Jewish State in Palestine, began in the late 1800s.

True.    (see page 28 for more detail)

 

4.  T or F   In all of world history, the modern state of Israel, that came into existence in 1948, is the first and only independent Jewish state that has ever carried the title of a Jewish nation (a nation defined as a land with its own specific defined borders).

* True ... (but possibly False)

The name Jew first appears in God's Word (the Bible) near the end of the Old Testament era, after God divorces the northern state of Israel (Jer 3:8), and the southern state of Judah is conquered and enslaved by the Babylonians. Nowhere in the Bible is anyone called a Jew prior to that time period. From that time onward, those who God now called Jews, were never again, even during the *Hasmonian Dynasty, a totally independent sovereign nation with their own borders, language and culture. Moreover, hundreds of years later, the Khazarian Empire, which adopted Judaism as its official religion, and from where most modern Jews derive their ancestry, is historically recorded as being an empire rather than a single independent nation. Therefore, the modern state of Israel, founded in 1948, is the first independent, sovereign, state to ever carry the title of a Jewish nation.

* Some people claim that the Hasmonian Dynasty WAS an independent nation for a brief period, with its own specific defined borders, but this is in dispute by others. However, if proven to be so, the answer to this question would then be .... False.

5. T or F   In the Jewish Talmud Jesus is considered to have been nothing more than a mere man who did a few good works.

False

The Jewish Talmud does not teach anything good about Jesus, but teaches He was evil. There are many passages to confirm this.  One example can be found at Gettin 57a, wherein it is said that "Yashu’ [Jesus] is in Hell being boiled in hot excrement."  (see page 10 for more on this subject)

6. T or F   The Star of David, which Israel used as their symbol at the time of King David, is now the common symbol for Judaism.

False

What is called the "Star of David" has no historical connection to King David of the Bible, or to Israel during, or prior to, his reign.

The two interlocking triangles, now commonly called the "Star of David,"  can be found throughout history, and in various ways, including inside a circle. For centuries it has been called, by some, the "Seal of Solomon" where the upright triangle represents fire and the inverted triangle represents water. (However, it must be noted that even though it is called the Seal of Solomon, there is no verifiable, traceable, connection to the Biblical era of King Solomon; although some unprovable claims are that its origin came through one of his Pagan wives). 

Therefore, the "Star of David," previously, and for centuries also called the "Seal of Solomon" by some, was not used as the symbol for Israel until the modern nation of Israel was founded in 1948.  Prior to that, in the 1800's, this symbol was adopted as a symbol of Zionism and eventually became a symbol for modern Jews. Some historians also claim that it was used by some Jewish communities as early as the 17th century, although it it is not mentioned or given authority in the Talmud. Therefore, what is now called the Star of David is an ancient Pagan symbol and has no historical connection to King David of the Bible, or to Israel during, or prior to, his reign.

7. T or F   Even though the modern science of DNA has confirmed that many Jews today are the descendents of ancient Israelites, it still cannot identify the tribe to which the DNA originates.

False

The modern science of DNA has never confirmed anyone as a descendent of ancient Israel. Some people claim to be able to trace a Jewish ancestry through DNA.  However, since there is no accurate Jewish DNA available from 2,000 years ago, any such conclusion is, at best, foolish, or just plain speculation. (Also see page 8)

8. T or F   In the Jewish Talmud, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is identified as a harlot who had sex with carpenters.

True

The Talmud, in Sanhedrin 106a, states this about Mary: "She [Mary], who was the descendant of princes and governors played the harlot with carpenters."  (see page 10 for more on the Talmud)

9. T or F   Until the year 2019, only two Christian evangelistic rallies (like Billy Graham crusades) had ever been allowed within the borders of Israel.

False

Israel is hostile to Christianity.  Therefore, there has never at any time been a Christian evangelistic rally, or crusade, in the modern nation of Israel.  Moreover, open Christian proselytizing in Israel is illegal and can lead to violent attacks by religious Jews. (See page 11 of this site)

10. T or F   The Jewish Talmud is not a single book, but rather a volume of books similar to a small set of  encyclopedias.

True

The Talmud is a set of books (commentaries), not a single book.  Moreover, what many people have in their library and call the Talmud, is a very brief single volume book which contains only selective verses. The numerous vile, and blasphemous teachings of the Talmud are almost never published in these abbreviated books. (see page 10 for more on the Talmud)

11. T or F   In Israel, Christianity is considered a false religion, but open Christian proselytizing is still allowed and tolerated, albeit reluctantly.

False

Open Christian proselytizing in Israel can, and often does, lead to violent attacks by the religious Jews, and arrest by the authorities. Christianity, and therefore Jesus, is not welcome in Israel. (see page 11 for more on this subject)

12. T or F   Orthodox Judaism considers Christianity as a deceived splinter branch of true Judaism and, therefore, their  members seek to enlighten Christians and bring them back to the truth.

False

Orthodox Judaism "spits" on the name of Jesus and, therefore, works to destroy Christianity, or to eliminate it as much as possible. This should not surprise any Bible believing Christian since Jesus told the world that those who reject him also reject the Father.  Judaism, by officially rejecting Jesus, rejects God the Father and, therefore, is a Godless, antichrist religion.

13. T or F  As of 2019, only slightly over 10% of Jews can directly trace their ancestry back to ancient Israel.

False

No person alive today can trace their ancestry back to ancient Israel.  (See page 7 & page 8 of this site for more on this subject)

14. T or F  The designation of "Judeo-Christian" is a modern term that has only been in the Church vocabulary for less than 200 years.

True

The name Judeo-Christian was first used in the 1800's. (See page 15)

15. T or F    Israel was founded, in 1948, with a written Constitution establishing it as a Democratic State, and with a Bill of         Rights for its citizens, similar to, and patterned after, the rights granted to United States citizens.

False 

​Israel was not founded with a written Constitution and, as of 2019, still does not have one.

16. T or F  Orthodox Judaism is the official State Religion of Israel.

Both True & False

Some will argue that since Israel does not have a written constitution, it also does not have an official State Religion, therefore, Judaism cannot be Israel's State religion. However, Israel's actions show that it is. Orthodox Judaism is elevated above all other religions and some who practice it get special privileges, i.e. * Orthodox Judaism students are exempt from military service. Therefore if by no other means Judaism is at least the de facto State religion of Israel. The antichrist (Christ-rejecting) religion of Judaism is also the only formal religion openly and truly accepted by the Government of Israel ..... Although, it needs to be noted that many religious Jews claim that secular Zionism is actually the state religion of Israel, not Judaism. However, since Zionism is not recognized as a world religion, Judaism is therefore Israel's only openly and truly accepted religion.

* There is currently a movement in Israel to eliminate this military service exemption, however, as of 2019 it is still in place.