Every Jewish home library should have this book on the shelf. Judaism from an Indigenous perspective. Gift one to your local synagogue, as well! – Indigenous Judaism for the 21st Century CE, available on Amazon (link at bottom of post). Decades of expressions all in “a nutshell”. I only want to see us Jews having the honest conversation with the ruling majorities around us.
To answer your desire to understand Jews, who we are, and what we believe….
1) Jews are a victim of a Colonial Arab-European established false equivalency. Jews are an Indigenous Judean people/nation of the Levant, with an ethno-religion and Judean-orignating law system that informs and defines us – both in the land of Israel and in the Arab-European colonized diasporas. The majority of people in this world are either Christians, Muslims, Hindus, or Marxists. Of these – Christians, Muslims, and Marxists are adherents to a Colonial religion/theology that is universalist and ethnic assimilating.
2) Antisemitism was invented in the Aegean north by the Church Fathers of Roman Christianity. It is foundational to Christian doctrine. Jewish history and beliefs since Roman times has been directly informed and defined by this Christian antisemitism. They taught the Muslims of Arab Islam in the Hejaz south this anti-Indigenous racism, as well. We Jews, being an extreme minority people in this world, do not get the opportunity to define ourselves within the social world of Colonial Christian-Muslim supremacy. Instead, we survive this world by capitulation and secrecy. We behave like chameleons, matching our environment just enough to not be (hopefully) genocided and to survive as the Indigenous Judeans of the Canaan Levant that we Jews are.
3) There is no set “theology” in Judaism, Judea-people-ism, other than the fulfillment of mitzvot/halachot – our indigenous Jewish laws of the land of Israel. Jews are a people who observe our people’s laws, regardless whether we are theistic or atheistic in our personal views. Rabbinic Judaism is only one version of traditional Judaism, and does not speak for all Jews. Jews have no set established “eschatology”, being not a religion like Christianity and Islam. There is no “Hell”, some Jews believe in reincarnation, and some Jews in a “world to come” (resurrection to live again here on earth in Israel during the messianic age of world peace).
4) As to “life after death”, some Jews believe what Torah teaches: That ha’Shem – the Jewish deity of the Levant, YHWH, who is the “God” of the people of Israel – is a god “of the living” and not of the dead, full stop. That only “God” has a “soul” that is breathed into all nefesh (humans, animals, birds, fish, and insects) at their birth with the first breath, and this “soul” is removed from the dying nefesh at the last breath. Other beliefs within Judaism, especially among Jews of the Western diasporas, were a later introduction to Judaism through European/Christian colonialism of planet Earth. By default, being an Indigenous Judean people with an ethno-religion, we Jews have a “world-accepting” Levantine worldview.
In the words of Hasidic rabbi, Menachem Manis HaKohen Friedman, on what Judaism is – for comparison:
“I’m glad Judaism is not a religion….
Religion offers salvation, enlightenment, a place in heaven. Religion teaches self-improvement: humility, devotion, patience, faith. Religion demands a standard of behavior that benefits our souls, our bodies and our society. I’m glad Judaism is not a religion. Because all of the above can be self-serving and narcissistic. Religion can be its own worst enemy.
Religion emphasizes the importance of being good, and of being right. It condemns those who are bad and those who are wrong. Those who practice a religion strive to be perfect. If they fail they may be condemned, and if they succeed they may become intolerant of others. I’m glad Judaism is not a religion.
Religion must invariably create a caste system — more religious is better, higher, holier. Less religious is lesser, lower, more profane. The pious can be measured in percentages. 100%, 50%, 2%.
Religion insists our nature is evil. To be good, we are told, we must resist our natural impulses and replace them with other worldly virtues. You can’t be “you” and good at the same time. You must therefore sacrifice the “you” and choose “good.” I’m glad Judaism is not a religion.
What is Judaism?… The opportunity to serve provides an escape from narcissism by taking us beyond ourselves. The objective now focuses on the deed rather than on the person. Is it good? Is it right? That is the question.
My own goodness and righteousness is not the issue. Even when I’m not all good I can do that which is truly good. And when you do a mitzvah it is as good regardless of who you are or what you are. The gratitude for this opportunity brings real joy to life….
Cooperation, not religious competition. Equally significant is the fact that we are born to these mitzvahs. G‑d created us for this mission. It is therefore our truest self that fulfills the mitzvah, not a denial of self.
The 613 mitzvahs don’t make you religious or pious. They simply bridge the most Jewish in the Jew with the most G‑dly in G‑d. One to One. The mitzvahs are the many intimacies we can share with G‑d. They express the Jew in you. Every mitzvah counts — every Jew is precious. Now, that’s Judaism.”
– Menachem Manis HaKohen Friedman מנחם מניס הכהן פרידמן; born 1946, is a Chabad Lubavitch Hassid, Shliach, rabbi, author, social philosopher and public speaker. He is also the dean of the Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies
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META Description : We Jews are so glad that Judaism is not a religion. We want others to understand. Indigenous Judaism for the 21st century!
Link to the book directly below. Touch the cover!
Read this book and you won’t disparage the Jewish people nor Israel ever again! This book exposes the Colonial lie of false equivalency between Jews (Indigenous Judeans of the land of Israel) and Christians and Muslims (world colonizing European and Arab religions), that have been assimilating Indigenous lands worldwide for 1,600 years in the names of Jewish ancestors. Zionism is the Jewish people’s “land back” movement. Israel’s successful full decolonization is every Indigenous People’s/Nation’s hope!
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