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The latest from R’ Yair Hoffman, Cheif Rabbi of YWN:
The first paragraph states that there is a historic opportunity to work together with Christian brothers and sisters to address the moral challenges of our era. While it is true that in general, Jews should work together with others to address and improve moral challenges, there is a grave distinction between working together with individuals and working together on broad denominational and organizational level. Like it or not, the churches in which Rabbi Riskin is encouraging us to work with together do not share.
The truth is that almost all of the denominations of Christianity in which Rabbi Riskin has entered into dialogue with are halachically considered Avodah Zarah.
There are those, of course, who are members of mainstream denominations of Christianity that do not truly share the theology of their denomination. Their conceptualization of the nature of G-d is, what Rav Elchonon Wasserman describes as intuitive. In an unofficial survey, a good percentage of this country falls under this category.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
[VIDEO IS BELOW]
Some excerpts of the 5 minute video:
What was the point of pasting an article from YWN’s main page to YWN’s forums?
cause you can’t bump a news article
MW13,
1. Rabbenu Tam rules (Bechorot 2:2 d”h shema itchayev) that sheetuf is permitted to gentiles and this is the view of the Rema (OC 156:1)
2. Rambam does not consider any other religion avoda zara (Iggeret HaShemad). While eh does not allow establishing a new religion he does allow them to adopt any of our mitzvot except Shabbat and talmud Tora (Hilchot Melachim 10,9-10). As Xtianity and Islam are offshoots of Judaism (Kuzari) it is a question as to into which category they fall.
3. In the same video Rabbi Riskin stated that any Jew who accepts Xtianity turns his back on the Jewish people.
4. The main problem with the statement is the use of the word “truth” which can be taken in different ways (there are, in a manner of speaking, two truths – the taryag mitzvot and the sheva mitzvot).
5. I think that it is abundantly clear that the two main threats today are a secular liberalism that is trying to force everyone to bow down to the idol of “equality”, as Oregon bakers Melissa and Aaron Klein discovered, and radical Islamism. On these threats, as well as on Eretz Yisrael, we have common cause with Xtians. I agree that the RCA, Moetzet Gedolei HaTora and NCYI should analyze the subject and issue statements. I do not agree that they should dismiss it out of hand but should demand some revision.
6. Is YWN now a country that it has a Chief Rabbi?
Isn’t this like years old?
Qutoting Rishonim about Christianity would not totally be correct because before the Reformation christinity was mostly either Catholic or Orthodox which has one doctrine. After the Protestant Reformation which began in 1517 there was a schism in christianity about theological ideas. Wars were fought over these ideas and while we might think they are insignificant obviously they did or they would not have fought all these wars.
If you want an example , see what some evangelicals think of the Pope and you might be shocked how little esteem some have for him. Icons are also not present in many forms of Protestanism and I dont think they exist in the largest denominations in the US of Methodist and Southern Baptist
Zahavasdad, the concept of the Trinity is idolatrous (although some, such as the Unitarians, do not believe in it). However, as all believe in Gd according to many poskim gentiles are not over on their prohibition.
There is certainly a disgreement if Christianity is Assur or not, according to some its assur for jews, but not for goyim (regards to the trinity)
“There is certainly a disgreement if Christianity is Assur or not, according to some its assur for jews, but not for goyim (regards to the trinity)”
Bite your tongue! According to ALL, it’s assur for Jews. The only debate is whether or not it’s avoda zara. We all like to say that there’s nothing wrong with what goyishe Christians are doing in order to promote healthy relations. However, when it comes down to it, is conversion to Christianity preferable over death for a Jew? For Islam, it definitely is because Islam isn’t idolatry. For Buddhism, it’s definitely not because Buddhism is idolatry.
Froggie: “cause you can’t bump a news article”
Touche.
Judaism can only exist within a classical society. A strong Church makes an easier environment for frum Jews to live and work. This has nothing to do with finding common idealogical underpinnings between the two religions.
NC
Bite your tongue! According to ALL, it’s assur for Jews. The only debate is whether or not it’s avoda zara.
You misread the statement, I never said it was permitted for jews, I only said there is a disagreement if it was assur for Goyim. It could be the grammar was misread
Neville, all agree that it is a”z (at least the Trinitarian denominations). The question is whether or not it is a type that is permitted to gentiles.
ZD,
So you are effectively saying that Riskin is a goy and therefore this is ok for him?
No where did I see Rabbi Riskin bowing to a cross saying Ave Maria
ZD,
So? That is not germane to the conversation.
Traditionally Jews have turned to the church for help but they have never pardoned the Church for 2000 years of pillage and murder.
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