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Conservative Judaism/Catholic Student Assignment Question

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Expert: - 11/9/2006


Question
Dear Rabbi:

I am 13 and go to a Catholic Jr High in Missouri.  During our religion class we are encouraged to explore other religions and tie them back to God.  One question that has stumped me is:

While the Jewish people were preparing for the coming of the Messiah, they used symbols for "who and what" the Messiah would be.  These are called the:  ??????

Plus, the extra credit question is:  name two of the symbols for the above answer.

Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer
Dear Shane,

Thanks for writing, but we don't answer questions from exams.

The messiah in Jewish terms was to occur just after the Assyrian and Babylonia conquest, not in the centuries later attributed to Jesus.

The messiah was to be descended directly from the dynasty of David, which Jesus was not - Joseph was. Secondly the messianic figure was a king who would re-establish the Jewish State, not an apocalyptic figure that Christianity sought or define. For these and many other reasons Jesus didn't satisfy Jewish "expectations" or what you might consider "signs."

I can't imagine the "symbols" of which you are speaking.

Good luck and check the Encyclopedia Judaica in the library.

Rabbi Dov

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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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.

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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!:-)

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