The Great Jewish Failure: non-promotion of Noahide Laws

[MGB8]

Israel has been described as a Nation of Priests.

Nevertheless, the Laws of Judaism are specifically NOT FOR everyone, only for the Israelites. It is our covenant. However, the Noahide laws ARE for everyone, Jew or not-Jew.

1. Idolatry is forbidden. Man is commanded to believe in the One G-d alone and worship only Him.

2. Incestuous and adulterous relations are forbidden. Human beings are not sexual objects, nor is pleasure the ultimate goal of life.

3. Murder is forbidden. The life of a human being, formed in G-d's image, is sacred.

4. Cursing the name of G-d is forbidden. Besides honoring and respecting G-d, we learn from this precept that our speech must be sanctified, as that is the distinctive sign which separated man from the animals.

5. Theft is forbidden. The world is not ours to do with as we please.

6. Eating the flesh of a living animal is forbidden. This teaches us to be sensitive to cruelty to animals. (This was commanded to Noah for the first time along with the permission of eating meat. The rest were already given to Adam in the Garden of Eden.)

7. Mankind is commanded to establish courts of justice and a just social order to enforce the first six laws and enact any other useful laws or customs.


However, Jews, for example, appear not only to not have promoted the Noachide laws among the gentiles, but in fact to have argued that, for example, the deification of Jesus was a violation of law no. 1 and so Christians could not be Noahides or were in violation of the law.

I don't know much about Jewish law - bits and peices. I am no rabbi. However, it seems to me, granting the possibility of the truth of Jewish Prophecy, of the possibility that there is a Divine Plan, that it would make sense that part of that is the (Talmudicly expressed) obligation that Jews promote the Noahide laws.

But, instead, Jews turned inwards, not living up to being a nation of priests.

Does this explain Christianity? Islam? The need for prosthletyzing (expansionist) religions to spread the word of G-d, because Jews failed to do so?

This is all abstract, speculative, and in the realm of faith and not secular logic. But I think its a legitimate question.

[Toga]

The Great Jewish Failure: non-promotion of Noahide Laws

Agree! But does Judaism allow it?

[Achihud]

But, instead, Jews turned inwards, not living up to being a nation of priests. MGB8, from my own recent experience. On occasion I talk about the ME-conflict at work. If the subject of the history of the jews becomes the centre of the discussions, I do my best to place the Jewish state in biblical perspective. The 'prejudices' I find the most difficult to counter are the ones based on the impression that jews "should have been more open to others" so that a chance if offered for a better understanding. Now, with that one I was silenced, such prejudices are a normal reaction to what they perceive as a closed society.
Because then I have to explain why 'they' are being regarded with distrust. It can only be explained properly with the bible.

[Toga]

By Jewish openness they want the Jews to be less Jewish or not be Jewish at all. This is the old European anti-Semitism. The Europeans anti-Semitic virus is not a curable condition. Do they even know who their savior was? Do they know who they dedicated their beautiful cathedrals to? Do they know that univesal values of morality, ethics and civility are based on the Jewish values? If anyone is open it is the Jews and Judaism. We have the Jews of every color, race, shape, etc. Anyone can convert to Judaism but it takes a lot of transformation, learning and perseverance.