AboutRabbi Barry Dov Lerner Expertise Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history,
philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.
Experience I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)
In the book of Genesis
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
The view of this by many is as a prophetic messianic prophecy. Christians view this as being fulfilled by Jesus. Is this a messianic prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the future for Israel since you are waiting for the messiah?
Thanks
Murel
Answer Dear Murel,
We have to call a halt to this.
Judaism does not interpret any part of canon Scripture to relate in any way that would prove Jesus was divine, is or was the messianic figure.
If Jesus really lived, he would have lived as a Jew, perhaps free-thinking and a bit marginal from the mainstream but not the messiah.
He died at the hands of the Romans on the cross because Rome saw him as a revolutionary who threatened the political stability of the area. Crucifixion is the standard Roman punishment for revolt and sedition.
Crucifixion is totally foreign to Judaism - at any time in our history - even when we speak of theoretical punishment or death. Hence no prophet would ever have dreamed of crucifixion in a Jewish society.
You are free to believe as you do, but we don't agree. If you wish to read and learn about Jewish rejection of Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures, Jews For Judaism is a website that is reliable, http://jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=196.
I would pose your questions to them as they deal with Jews who have been approached by missionaries and with Christians who are sharing their beliefs, even when unwanted.
