Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 1/19/2005

Question
Hi Rabbi Lerner,
I am 50 years old and have been basically protestant all of my life. I was always taught that the Jewish people were God's chosen people.
A young man at Home Depot and I began a religious discussion yesterday. He began discussing a few things about the Jewish faith. I asked if the Jewish people believed in Christ because I had heard that they did not. He stated that they had not accepted Christ, but one day God would open their eyes to the son of God. He said how God would bless the Jews and then they would fall short and he was always punishing them for their sins. I had already accepted that this also occurs in the Christian religion also. I asked if they were being punished by God for not accepting God's only son. He said, "That could be likely".
If the Jewish people are God's chosen, is he angry now at Jews for denying Christ? Are New Testament Jewish who have not accepted Christ going to eternal punishment, or does the creator understand this in some way and forgive them?
I would appreciate any guidance to clear my confusion.

Thank you very much!

Mike Eidson, LAc.

Answer
Dear Mike,

Thank you for writing. Your encounter with someone who claimed to be Jewish did confuse you a bit I am sure. It sounds as though you may have encountered a Hebrew Christian and not a Jew.

No Jew believes what you describe, nor do they even concede that it could be likely. God is not angry at the Jews any more than He is angry with other religions, and if He is angry or disappointed at least for their lack of compassion, their greed, their disdain for the hungry and orphans and widows -  we don't understand how He expresses His anger.

I for one don't interpret natural disasters such as tsunamis as God's anger, to mention just one instance.

If anything, Maimonides taught in the 10th century that we know nothing about God, but rather only what we don't know and can't know about God.

If you'd like to read further on this difference, I'd suggest "Judaism and Christianity: The Differences" by Trude Weis Rosemarin.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov