Californian Judaism
Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Amy Klein writes:
“Do Jewish people still practice sacrifices?”
This was among the questions asked recently by a group of Mormon missionaries, 50 students who came to Palos Verdes’ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to hear a lecture by Rabbi Isaac Jeret of Congregation Ner Tamid, located right next door to the church.
Jeret was one of three rabbis to address the Mormon missionary groups in an attempt to build further understanding between the two religious groups.
Jeret explained that no, Jews no longer practice sacrificial rites. He also answered questions, including, “Which tribe are the Jews descended from?” “Who was the last Jewish prophet?” and “Are Jews planning on building [a] third temple?”
These questions, which followed a 45-minute lecture by Jeret explaining the essentials of Judaism, showed the missionaries’ familiarity with the Jews of the Torah — the Old Testament — but they also revealed their lack of knowledge about modern Jews and Jewish practices.
Because Parades had already built ties to the Jewish community, he started the training with Judaism. He invited Jeret, Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple and Rabbi David Woznica of Stephen S. Wise Temple to speak to different groups of young missionaries at their “Zone” (regional) conference. (The men, the majority, were ages 19 to 21, and the females aged 21 to 23 — the preferred ages for the two-year voluntary missionary service that some 60 percent of Mormons undertake.)
www.revver.com/video/825121/bedikat-hametz-passover-with-your-moral-leader/
www.revver.com/video/807821/lunch-with-the-homeless/
www.revver.com/video/807801/heeb-magazines-hollywood-issue-at-von-dutch-v/
“If you really want to build a bridge between the Mormon and the Jewish communities, understand who we are and how vital and important and precious the Jews are to the Jewish people,” he said. Jeret ended on a note of collaboration: “The Mormon faith is the fastest-growing faith in the world, and you have the opportunity to stand up and join with Jewish people for the state of Israel,” he concluded. After the session, Jeret said he believes his lecture will dissuade these Mormons from proselytizing to Jews.
“My message is that there’s nothing comparable about Mormon faith and Jewish faith.”
“I didn’t realize how strong the Jewish family is.”
Jews have an easier excuse to close doors,” she said, noting their purpose isn’t to convert, but to understand more. Spencer Blackburn, president of the California Los Angeles Mission, said the “aggressive” missionaries need to learn about other faiths.
“People say, ‘I’m Jewish.’
Many of the missionary students said their purpose is to spread the message of God and begin a dialogue about faith.
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