• J

  Judy -5 years ago

  Why was the Jewish nation subject to the challenges of Christianity and Racism?  What Tikun were we to achieve to recalculate our values and align ourselves with Hashem and our mission?

  Christianity:

  Up until the birth of Christianity the challenges that faced the Jewish people were of a practice, culture or philosophy that was foreign to Judaism and explicitly prohibited by the Torah. This would include child sacrifice, ever min hachai, inscest  and paganism.

  Christianity presented a ‘religion’ that was a subtle corruption of Judaism.  Christianity professed charity, humility, caring for the sick and brotherly love. These are ideas we understand and value.  As the dominant society Christians outnumbered us with wealth, strong armies and political power. 

  In this environment, away from land and leaders, the Jewish people developed a  strong identity to retain and further develop their connection to Hashem. We honed super sensitive antennas, and even an untutored, simple Jew living in an isolated village could discern Truth from imposture.  A Jew could live in any country or culture, even without a community, Yeshiva or Bais Yaakov would not be swayed and would commit to the sacrifice needed to perpetuate Judaism.  

  Racism:

  The secular world has clearly expressed the message of Racism loud and clear.  Racism is Zionism.  The concept of racism, the holocaust and our return to Eretz Yisroel are all connected.

  Please refer to the Torah enclosed.  It clearly connects the Holocaust to the Loshon Hara of the Meraglim and our return to Eretz Yisrael.   

  Historically, before WWII Jewish society was culturally fractured, we perfected racism before the German's distinguished us with racist laws.  Loshon Hara, our nemisis, is the ultimate form of racism.  

  Prior to WWII.  A Jew in Greece could not identify with a Jew from France, a Jew from the city could not identify with a Jew from the country, secular reviled the religious and vice versa.   Even with in the frum 'mainstream' world of my grandparents in Hungary to make a shidduch your wealth, your town, and even your specific geographic location within the country (oberland or unterland) defined you.  Can you imagine if today it would be impossible for someone living in Pennsylvania to make a shidduch with someone from New Jersey? The Holocaust democratized the Jewish people. 

  Perhaps, return to our land is predicate on becoming more ‘democratic’ within our communities, to respect one another despite our differences (this is a very different concept from ‘Ahavas chinam’-to love everyone). The Torah considers Loshon Hara antisocial behavior, or in today’s terms ‘racist’ behavior.  The German’s perfected the idea of the ‘perfect race.’  We should not Ch’V follow in their way to demand a ‘perfect’ frum society. ‘Racism’ got us into golus, and being more inclusive and understanding will get us out.

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• Anonymous -5 years ago

  Tolstoy

  He, similar to Bilaam, waxed and waned in his admiration of Jews. Some of his works portray us negatively. 

  His praises of us are however, indeed, spectacular. 

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• MSB

  Mrs. Sarah Birnhack -6 years ago

  A question on the Shiur "Why the Jews?"

  Rabbi Jacobson,

  This shiur is amazing and it is obvious that you invested much resarch preparing it.  I learned a lot and was (and am) deeply inspired. However, I'd appreciate hearing from you why, during this wideraning shiur you never mentioned the universally known and accepted reason for antisemitism: Halalchah yadu'a sheh'Aisav soneh l'Yaakov.  I look forward to hearing back from you, and thank you in advance.

   

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  Amazing

  Can you supply source sheets for the different sources and quotes? Like the trotzky article?

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  Do you sense that we are on the eve of a new possible holocaust?

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  Thanks so much!

  This is an amazing shir

  This Needs to be shared and go viral. 

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• M

  Malka -6 years ago

  Iran is still shouting "kill the Jews"seen tonight on PBS documentary on Frontline. BH we have absolute emunah .
  

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• M

  Mordechai -6 years ago

  Antisemitism

  Dear Rabbi,

  Do you really feel that the revelation of the Torah, at Mt. Sinai, by G-d,  was the root cause, that led to the hatred of 

  the Jews?  

  Do you feel that G-d, with all His wisdom, would enter into a covenant with us, knowing it would cause such

  destruction and murder of  innocent Jews?

  Perhaps I misunderstood your  point...

  Please explain

   

  Thank you

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  • JF

    Judith Friedmann -6 years ago

    Antisemitism sadly in certain way helps some people to stay Jewish.Heinrich Heine a prominent German writer who converted I think used to say"keine Glocken werden nach meinem Tod laeuten und  kein Kaddish wird gesagt "because he said the Jews call me a Goy but the Goyim still call me a Jew "and so  he realized it was futile to convert.

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• SS

  Shloime Schwimmer -6 years ago

  Epic

  This shiur should be implemented into the ciriculicum of every cheder and beis yakov.   

  This shiur gives us a clear prespective  in the concept of קידוש ה'   and why "all" our brethern that were killed thruout history are considered קדושים   a Jew is a Jew is a Jew is a Jew .no physical or spiritual  chemical can erase that . 

   

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  Basics of Emunah 20

  Will this class be available on the Yeshiva.net site or only on You tube?

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• T

  Terry -6 years ago

  Why the Jews

  Extraordinarily powerful...thank you.

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  The Cause

  It is important to make it clear. Of course, at times, Jewish behavior can increase the flames of Antisemitism. But they do not create it. All they can do it trigger what is pre-existing, and bring to the fore a dormant hatred. This does not justify immoral, obnoxious, selfish and disrespectful behavior on the part of Jews. But Jews should not blame themselves for Antisemitism. The response to wrong behavior of Jews would be akin to someone else doing something wrong -- not with such obsessive venom and deep hatred, and always blaming "the Jewish people." That is why so often, even when Jews mend their behavior, new excuses are born why to shun him and object to everything he wants. It is vital to maintain perspective.   

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• R

  Rachel -6 years ago

  מדהים

  .שיעור של אתמול היה גאוני, מדויק, מדהים ביופיו. בשבילי זה מסע מעל הזמן והמרחב

  מסע אומנותי ואמונתי.

   

  מסע של טעמים וניחוחים של התלמוד והתנ"ך בהוויה חסידית מעודכן ואותנטית. 

   

  בהחלט נותן הבנה עמוקה של האגוצנטריות הקיומי האנושי, הבדלי תרבות ודתות, גם בתוך תוכנו.

   

  וכשיש מטרת על עמוקה ומשמעותי להיות כהנים וגוי קדוש אזיי מממלאים את כבוד ה' בכל הארץ ומאירים את אור האין סוף בכל פינה ופינה.

   

  אשריכם שזכיתם ואשרינו שזכינו לשתות מענייני הישועה. 

   

    

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  Excellent!!

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• Anonymous -6 years ago

  There is a loud buzzing noise...

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The Emunah Series

Rabbi YY Jacobson

• February 22, 2018
• |
• 7 Adar 5778
• |
• 5898 views

Classes in this Series

• 

  1 hr 50 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #1: Is Judaism Afraid of Questions?

  Three Paths in Jewish History: Reason, Tradition & Emunah
• 

  1 hr 34 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #2: Can Faith and Reason Co-Exist?

  What is the Meaning of Faith?
• 

  1 hr 19 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #3: Five Features of a Faith-Based Life

  Confidence, Integrity, Divine Intimacy, Joy and Love
• 

  1 hr 26 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #4: Why So Many Restrictions? What Is Hell?

  Understanding Reward and Punishment in Judaism
• 

  1 hr 37 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #5: Can an Intelligent Person Believe in G-d?

  The Spiritual DNA of the Universe
• 

  1 hr 43 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #6: Can An Intelligent Person Believe That Torah Is Divine?

  How Do We Know That We Heard G‑d at Sinai?
• 

  1 hr 22 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #7: Can an Intelligent Person Believe the Oral Tradition is Divine?

  How Judaism Developed Over the Ages
• 

  1 hr 41 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #8: How Judaism Developed Over the Ages -- Part Two

  The Story of the Oral Tradition
• 

  1 hr 42 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #9: Where Is G-d When It Hurts?

  Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
• 

  1 hr 49 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #10: Q& A

  Addressing Diverse Questions on Jewish Faith and Practice
• 

  1 hr 31 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #11: Why Did Jews Reject Christianity & Islam?

  The Historical “Evolution” of a Mysterious Baal HaTurim
• 

  1 hr 39 min

  The Emunah Series

  Basics of Emunah #12: Are We the Chosen People?

  Can You Believe in Chosenness without Being Racist?