Thoughts on Judaism by Rony Havive

Judaism - And The Western World

One of the world's oldest living religions is Judaism. Judaism was the first religion based on monotheism, the belief in one God.

The origins of Judaism can be traced as far back as Abraham and has its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Bible's Old Testament and the Talmud. Judaism is the first religion based on ethical monotheism.

The development of Christianity and Islam was highly influenced by Judaism. Thus, had a major influence on Western civilization. Christianity, the eventually dominant religious faith of the West, was in large part a child of the Hebrew religion. When we speak of the Judeo-Christian heritage of Western civilization, we refer not only to the concept of monotheism, but also to ideas of law, morality, and social justice that have become important parts of Western culture. Given that fact, the major Western religions found their roots in Judaism.

Welcome Home Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit, an Israel Defense Forces soldier, returned home to the many friends, relatives and supporters waiting to greet him upon his return. Shalit returned to his home in the northern town of Mitzpe Hila on Tuesday afternoon, hours after he was reunited with his parents and brother for the first time since he was abducted and taken to Gaza in June 2006.

A parade of people were singing "Heveinu Shalom Aleichim" and marching with flags as the 25-year-old Shalit was driven up to his house for the first time in five years. Supporters who lined the street threw flowers at the IDF vehicle which transported the Shalit family to their home. This is a happy day indeed.

Hundreds Pray for Missing American Surfer’s Return

Hundreds Pray for Missing American Surfer’s Return

Two days after American surfer Daniel Bobis vanished beneath the waves off western Indonesia, his family is urging people to pray for the 32-year-old’s safe return.

The Previous Rebbe’s Arrival to America

The Previous Rebbe’s Arrival to America

9 Adar, 5700 • February 18, 1940
The Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, arrives in America after his miraculous rescue from Nazi-occupied Poland.

Chabad Rabbi Named Most Influential In America

Chabad Rabbi Named Most Influential In America

The Daily Beast and Newsweek have released their annual list of the 50 most influential rabbis in the United States.

Israel and Zionism

After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in CE 70, Jews scattered and began living throughout the world. But the tie with the land of Israel remains. Every Jew feels and expresses this in a different way. Some choose to 'make aliyah' - to emigrate to Israel. Others may voice their criticism of the political situation that has developed in Israel.

People experience life in different ways. According to rabbinic tradition, our uniqueness is one of the three defining features of our fundamental humanity. The others are the fact that each of us is equal to the other and of infinite value. Being Jewish means different things in the hearts of many. Though many try to label it as this or that, it is in our hearts that we know we are Jewish and no man can change how we feel.

Judaism

Jews come from all ethnic backgrounds.
The word Jew is used in a wide number of ways,

• a follower of the Jewish faith
• a child of a Jewish mother
• someone with Jewish decent

The Amsterdam philosopher Ido Abram says there are five aspects that in some way affect the life of every Jew.
These are: religion and tradition, the tie with Israel and Zionism, war persecution and survival, personal history and the exchange between different Jewish cultures.

Jewish Holiday Listing for 2011

Jewish Holiday Listing for 2011

Tu B'Shevat - Work Permitted January 20
Fast of Esther - Work permitted March 17
Purim - Work should be avoided. Consult a Rabbi if this is not possible. Nightfall of March 19 through nightfall of March 20
Shushan Purim - Work permitted March 21
Passover - No work permitted on April 19-20 and April 25-26. Work is permitted only on April 21-22 and 24 with certain restrictions. Sunset of April 18 through nightfall of April 26
Second Passover - Work Permitted May 18
Lag B'Omer - Work Permitted May 22
Shavuot - No work is permitted Sunset of June 7 through nightfall of June 9
Fast of the 17th of Tammuz Work Permitted July 19
Fast of Tish'a B'Av Work should be avoided. Consult a Rabbi if this is not possible. Sunset of August 8 through nightfall of August 9
Rosh Hashanah No work is permitted. Sunset of September 28 through nightfall of September 30
Fast of Gedaliah - Work permitted October 2 -
Yom Kippur - No work is permitted. Sunset of October 7 through nightfall of October 8
Sukkot - No work permitted on Oct. 13-15. Work is permitted on Oct. 16-19 with certain restrictions. Sunset of October 12 through nightfall of October 19
Hoshanah Rabbah - Work permitted with certain restrictions. October 19
Shemini Atzeret - No work is permitted. Sunset of October 19 through nightfall of October 20
Simchat Torah - No work is permitted. Nightfall of October 20 through nightfall of October 21
Chanukah - Work permitted, except Shabbat Sunset of December 20 through December 28

Moshiach

We must all work together to bring Moshiach, now.
Do good - the phrase of the times.

Moshiach or Mashiach is the phrase “Messiah” comes from—it’s a Hebrew word meaning “the anointed one.” Moshiach is a leader who will redeem mankind from meaninglessness, and teach the purpose of life to the universe.

What It Means To Be Jewish

Jews come from all ethnic backgrounds.
The word Jew is used in a wide number of ways,

• a follower of the Jewish faith
• a child of a Jewish mother
• someone with Jewish decent

The Amsterdam philosopher Ido Abram says there are five aspects that in some way affect the life of every Jew.