A Jewish Perspective of G-d
What is different about Jewish views of G-d and Christian views?
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Many years ago I wrote some articles on a "pay per click" site. I had read an article there which spotlighted a Christian view of G-d. I decided that many people don't understand the differences between Christianity and Judaism. So I wrote an article in answer to the one about Christianity.
When that site went under, I saved my articles. This is one of the articles I developed into a Squidoo lens (which has now migrated over to HubPages).
Many people want to know how Judaism views different things. This hub presents one Jewish perspective on G-d.
Abraham Joshua Heschel was one of the most revered religious leaders of the 20th century, and God in Search of Man and its companion volume, Man Is Not Alone, two of his most important books, are classics of modern Jewish theology. God in Search of Man combines scholarship with lucidity, reverence, and compassion as Dr. Heschel discusses not man's search for God but God's for man--the notion of a Chosen People, an idea which, he writes, "signifies not a quality inherent in the people but a relat...
Jewish Perspectives on G-d
I would like to present a Jewish perspective on G-d (notice how I say "a" Jewish perspective not "the" Jewish perspective -- there is no one "Jewish Perspective")
Disclaimer: I hope you all will forgive me for speaking in G-d's voice. I don't purport to be G-d or even to know all of G-d's thoughts (k'v'y'chol -- as if it were at all possible). I am only speaking as G-d to show my view of what G-d's thoughts might be.
Disclaimer 2: This is not meant to belittle or counter Christian beliefs, only to explain how we as Jews feel about them. Quite the contrary, I am indebted to an article on Christian beliefs that helped me to put my ideas into words. This is written as though it were G-d's thoughts.
Almost 5,800 years ago, as the millennia are reckoned, I created the earth. I created a system to give my love to people. I wanted them, my children, to have the best possible lives they could on earth. About 3,200 years ago, I even gave some of my children, the "Children of Israel" a guide to the best possible life they could have. These were the "rules for the game of life" -- if people follow these rules, they will have the best possible life they can. I even spent 40 days and 40 nights teaching Moshe (Moses) son of Amram, called Moshe Rabbeinu (our teacher) by the Children of Israel, how to interpret this guide, called the Tora, from the Hebrew word for teaching and learning. Moshe taught the entire people (the Children of Israel) these rules for understanding the Tora.
But the people didn't follow my words and I spoke to prophets to tell the people to return to my ways. The words of the prophets were written down also. Eventually, the Rabbis of the Great Assembly codified the laws and the later Rabbis wrote down the rules of learning and understanding My Tora.
In the fifth book of My Tora, called in Hebrew Devarim and called in English Deuteronomy, I warn the people of the false prophet. I even tell the people that this false prophet will do things that appear to be miracles. But the people forgot my words, or chose to ignore them, and, about 2,000 years ago, many followed a false prophet, believing his words and were encouraged by his followers to replace My words with the words of his followers. And I cried. I cried for My children who lost the path to a perfect life. I cried for my Children, Israel, who were slaughtered for centuries for not following the false prophet and his followers. But I was also proud that my Children, Israel, thought My true words were so important that they were willing to die for them.
I still wait for the day when all My Children understand My words and work to live by these laws. When all people of the earth, My Children, treat each other with respect and understand the moral laws that they need to have a good life, I will reach the pinnacle of Joy and Pride in My Children. On that day, all the people of the world will be one family, together on the earth I created for them to show them My love. Or, as Zechariah the Prophet said, "And G-d will be the King of all the land. On that day, G-d will be One and His Name will be One."
Kaplan shows that meditation is consistent with traditional Jewish thought and practice. The book presents a variety of meditative techniques to help make the reader a better person, and develop a closer relationship to God.
Compugraph Designs' Printfection Store
In addition to our Cafe Press and Zazzle sites (see modules above), we also have a store on "Printfection" which includes cutting boards (good wedding or housewarming gifts), mugs and cups, tees, etc.
This cutting board is only one of several Jewish themed items at our store:
(Click on the picture to go directly to this product's page)
Compugraph Designs Designs on Printpop
Printpop is another "Print on Demand" site -- check out my entire portfolio or click on the graphic to see just this product (called "Cosmos"). Check back periodically as new designs are uploaded.
Compugraph Designs Arts Now Site
"Arts Now" is another "Print on Demand" site. They have a nice collection of clocks and watches, including the one pictured here (with "Ehad Mi Yodeia" -- a song sung at the Passover Seder -- on it). Click on the picture to see the entire site.