Jewish Connection is Ready to Roll
by Moshe Lehmann – 12 th Grade
Why be Jewish? What does Judaism say about Jesus? How can one defend a missionary? These are just a sample of the thought-probing and sometimes difficult topics dealt with in Jewish Connection, a new program for YRHS students, generously funded by a grant from Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Fund for the Enrichment of Jewish Education.
Jewish Connection aims to raise awareness about the threat of missionaries who use deceptive tactics to target the uninformed. “This program not only teaches the crucial material needed to refute missionaries but applies it in practice,” said Rabbi Yitzchak Jaffe, the Project Coordinator. “It addresses a very important and practical need.”
The thirteen participants will visit several congregational Hebrew Schools in the area to make presentations about the world of missionaries. The program also includes preparatory courses for the students participating, led by members of the local Jews for Judaism chapter. Rabbi Scott Hillman, Director of the Greater Washington office, and his colleagues, have trained and instructed the students about Judaism's response to Christian missionaries. Louis Coplan, a participant in the program, noted, “Rabbi Hillman not only knows his stuff but also has plenty of experience.”
During the sessions, Rabbi Hillman went through the “job application” or the five requirements of the Messiah (which, by the way, only means “the anointed one,” not “savior” as many believe) and showed how Jesus and the many other false messiahs did not meet them. Students also learned about proof-texts and the art of proof-text analysis. Rabbi Hillman went through several passages in both the Christian and Jewish Bibles and showed how passages and words can be misinterpreted and mistranslated. Don't believe everything you hear. Another interesting and eye-opening fact is that the Christian and Jewish Bibles do not match up – even the Old Testament with the Torah! Apparently, the Christians not only switched the order of certain works but even added a book of Revelations – a completely Christian production. Although it is in the Old Testament, it should not lead you into thinking that it comes from Tanach. The participants also learned about Jesus himself. His very existence is hard to prove – hardly any historic text clearly mentions him and even those that do are disputed. Christians claim Jesus was born to a virgin as the son of G-d. They also claim that he is from the Davidic lineage, of the Tribe of Judah, and thus the Messiah. Yet it is not possible for a man be born to a virgin with holy seed and at the same time have a human father-to-son lineage. Some answer that Joseph adopted Jesus as his son, but as far as Jewish law goes, an adoption does not constitute transference of tribal lineage. Jesus could not have been from any Davidic line unless he truly was born to two human parents and if so, he is not a son of G-d. This is one of the important theological quandaries explored in Jewish Connection.
Everyone who participated found the training sessions extremely insightful. Ariella Esterson said, “It was great…I learned a lot and feel better prepared for the future.” The ideas learned in this course help people not only learn more about all religions but also more about themselves. In one session, students were asked to write down an answer to the question “Why be Jewish?” It is important to know this about oneself. This is a program which not only strengthens one's own convictions but those of others. All the students are excited to go out to the community to share what they have found after giving trial presentations to their high school peers this week. Jewish Connection is a truly remarkable and vital program which deserves high praise for its goals and its up and coming achievements.
PHOTOS:
Yeshivat Rambam's Jewish Connection teams presented their programs
to their high school peers recently, in preparation for going out to do
presentations to students at Congregational Hebrew Schools in the community.
