Hello Joe,

JB>The only thing that makes a Jew a Jew is that one is born
JB>of a Jewish Mother. That's it in totality. Everything else
JB>is philosophy, and is also geographical and/or secular in
JB>nature.

"What is a Jew?" - Sigmund Freud

To the best of my knowledge, that question has never been sufficiently
answered by anybody.  One man's definition of a Jew might be totally
different than another man's definition.  As such, how can anyone define
what cannot be defined?

JB>It does no good to try to nail it down, because it can't be nailed-down.

Kind of like trying to nail jello to a wall.

JB>There is no one description of Judaism or Jewishness other
JB>than the one I stated.

Even your description is open to question.

>SA>The Rambam explicitly rules (Code, Kings 8:10):
>SA>"Moshe Rabbeinu commanded from the mouth of G-d to convince all the
>SA>inhabitants of the world to observe the commandments given to the
>SA>Children of Noach."

JB>Moses Maimonides, also known as Rabbi Moses ben Maimon or
JB>Rambam, was just another Rabbi. He was a great philosopher
JB>and theologian, but he was not G-d, as it seems he is being
JB>made out to be.

Philosophy is an intellectual discipline.
Theology is also an intellectual discipline.
Both philosophy and theology serve to answer
certain questions.  But no philosopher or
theologian is God.

Was Jesus "just another Rabbi", as some have claimed?  During his public
ministry, He was asked, many times, what His source was for what He
stated.  Who, or what, was His authority?  A rabbi is expected to have
learned from another rabbi.  Original thought being unthinkable.  What
rabbi, or school of religious study, did Jesus cite?  Or is it true that
Jesus claim was that He truly was the Son of God?

>SA>It is the Jew's duty to see to it that all peoples lead the righteous
>SA>and decent life which comes from compliance with the Seven Noachide Law
>SA>Not only is it a Jew's duty because he has been so commanded by G-d, bu
>SA>it is also to his own benefit.

JB>Not a bad teaching, I must say. But only a teaching, nonetheless.

Was Jesus just a teacher (rabbi), as some have claimed?
Was Jesus just a philosopher, as George W. Bush claimed?

"What is a Jew?" could be restated "Who is that Jew?"
Certainly Jesus was no mere teacher (rabbi) or philosopher.

--Lee


 * SLMR 2.1a * Allons Bingo.

--- Maximus 3.01