what positive events and advancements have come out of judaism?
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I agree with donald shaw.\n\nJesus A Christ, one of the 1000 faces of Buddha...\nIS the most positive event and advancement Judaism will ever hope to offer the world.  Unless of course the Jews would choose to get down off their high horse and realize they are as good as the rest of us, and quit pretending they are better---now That would be a damn good positive event they could offer to the world advancement toward peace and harmony.
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The world of kosher encompasses the history of a people and enriches countless Jewish homes around the globe. The mitzvah of kosher transforms food into a vehicle for holiness, making the kitchen the spiritual hub of the home.\n\nThe laws of kosher detail the permitted and forbidden animals, fish, and fowl, and describe the separation of dairy and meat. A significant part of Jewish observance is associated with food, from the dietary laws to the saying of blessings before and after eating, from the celebration of holidays to the agricultural laws governing food from Israel. Kosher is an all-encompassing way of life, whether at home, on the job, or eating out. Through kosher observance, every activity associated with food becomes an opportunity for spiritual refinement.\n\nNot too long ago, nearly all Jews adhered to the dietary laws without ever asking, “Why keep kosher?” It was the Jewish thing to do. Only those who deliberately rebelled against the ways of their parents and grandparents would have eaten traif, non-kosher food. Today the situation has largely reversed, in that Jews who have no thought of rebellion and even identify proudly as Jews eat every kind of non-kosher food. It requires thought and effort to keep kosher.\n\nOur thinking has changed to the extent that we no longer know why Judaism places such emphasis on eating and drinking, basic necessities shared not only by all mankind but by animals as well. We ask, “Does G-d really care what I eat?” Without a satisfactory explanation for kosher and without the simple faith based on Torah values that characterized former generations, many Jews conclude that keeping kosher is simply obsolete – that it is based upon ancient health precautions which no longer apply to modern life.\n\nWe therefore offer some of the insights into the mitzvah of kosher provided by Jewish tradition. These insights satisfy our need for understanding and motivate us to keep the mitzvoth of the Torah in the face of opposing values from contemporary culture. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the commandments are Divine in origin and can never be fully comprehended by human intellect. We keep the mitzvoth because they are G-d’s gift to the Jewish people.\n\n“Religion,” as everyone knows, deals with prayer, meditation, charity, ethics and sometimes various forms of self-denial. Judaism, however, encompasses every aspect of life. Our most ordinary daily activities become imbued with holiness when we follow the Torah dictum to “know Him in all your ways.” (Proverbs 3:6)\n\nKosher represents the meeting of body and soul. The Torah tells us not to reject the physical but rather to sanctify it. We sanctify the act of eating with kosher food and blessings before and after eating. Kosher food is the diet of spiritual nutrition for the Jewish neshamah, (soul). It is designed to bring refinement and purification to the Jewish people.\n\nWhat does this mean? Modern nutritional science recognizes what Judaism has always taught that to a large extent we are what we eat. We know that the food we eat is absorbed into our flesh and blood. Forbidden foods are referred to in the Torah as abominations to the G-dly soul, elements that detract from our spiritual sensitivity. Birds of prey and carnivorous animals, having the power to influence the eater with aggressive attributes, are among the foods that are forbidden. For a Jew, all non-kosher food diminishes one’s spiritual sensitivity, reducing the ability to absorb concepts of Torah and mitzvoth. Both mind and heart are affected.\n\nIt is easy to see why kosher is often considered the most far-reaching of all the mitzvoth. History demonstrates that when kosher observance is strong, Jewish identity remains strong.\n\nTo explain the power of kosher food, we must turn to Chassidic teachings based upon the mysticism of the Ari-Zal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria). The Ari-Zal gave a literal interpretation of the verse, “Man does not live by
250400
It gave the Jewish people a common language, so they could stay in touch even when they were separated by political boundaries.  This helped them take care of one another, especially when the Inquisition came after them.
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Good- it is a democracy, helps to develop the world, has freedom of religion, has freedom of association, has freedom of speech and has refrained from committing genocide to rid itse;f of its problems- unlike the USA with the Native Americans or Australia with the aborigines.\n\nHey- Israel with its tiny population filed more patents in 2005 that VHina did with its massive population!
602489
former Jew who transformed into atheist.
473082
This site has all the details you need.  Numbers were as of 2005.\n\nhttp://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/jewpop.html
62480
Of course you can, Judaism has always welcomed converts! A person who converts TO Judaism becomes a Jew, and a Jew who converts to another religion is no longer a Jew. I urge you to talk to a rabbi in your area, and, should you go ahead and convert, WELCOME!
618424
There are a couple of facets to an answer to this question.\n\nThe first is hard to explain and if you are interested email me and I will try.\n\nSecondly it is our educational background and emphasis. Next to G-d the most important thing in a typical Jewish family is education. For non-observant Jews education is the most important thing. 85% of College-age Jews are in College. Pick a Ivory league School and check the Jewish Population (Usually about 27% of enrollment) then consider that there are only 5.5 million Jews (About 2% of the population) in the USA.\n\nFYI: 27% of Nobel Prizes won by Americans were won by Jews.
244286
Lets see Jewish Holidays, bible gives us three Passover (when the jews left egypt) Suckot ( is actualy a holiday of thanksgiving specificly for providing for us in the desert) and Shavuot (when god gave us the torah-bible the lifeblood of the jewish people). than we have hanukah and purim which celebrate various victories against physical and spiritual adviseries. there are also the high holidays the day of judgment and the day of attonement where god looks over the actions of the world and grants life wealth health and peace accordingly.
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Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most joyous times of the Jewish year. \n\nThe reason for the celebration is twofold (both dating back to c. 165 BCE): \n\nthe miraculous military victory of the small, ill-equipped Jewish army over the ruling Greek Syrians, who had banned the Jewish religion and desecrated the Temple; \n\nand the miracle of the small cruse of consecrated oil, which burned for eight days in the Temple's menorah instead of just one. \n\n\nHanukkah is celebrated by: \n\na. lighting a menorah for eight nights with olive oil or wax candles; one on the first night and an additional one each succeeding night \n\nb. eating food fried in oil, especially potato pancakes (latkes) and jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot) \n\nc. playing with a dreidel, a four-sided top; the player wins or loses money depending on which side it lands on (each is marked with a different Hebrew letter)\n\nIn 1997, a 60-foot, 18-ton menorah was built in Latrun, Israel; a rabbi was lifted by crane each night to kindle the lights. The same year, a 12-foot pyramid of 2,400 jelly doughnuts was built near Afula, Israel; the pastries were later distributed to soldiers serving near the northern border. \n\nHanukkah began this year (2005) on the evening of December 25.\n\nSee poster:\nhttp://www.allposters.com/-sp/Menorah-w-toys-candy-and-gifts-in-background-Posters_i1459268_.htm
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I think plenty. But a few come to mind off the top of my head:\n\n1. The same issue that Jewish people have always faced, rejecting or accepting Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.\n\n2. There is a current trend in Judaism at large where most Jews are becoming more and more "reformed." Most Jews in Israel are not even believers in God. Most Jews in America care little about God, they just like to keep up appearances by going to Schul (Temple, Synagogue) on Passover and Yom Kippur. As a nation the Jews are facing the same issue that's been plaguing them since biblical times, the fact they they largely reject and ignore Yahweh (God). \n\n3. The Jews in Israel are also facing the ever severe problem of Arab and Islamic fundamentalists wanting to destroy them from the face of the earth!\n\n4. Most Jewish people are also facing the ever increasing problem that affects almost everyone at one point in time, they question who they are individually. "what does it mean to be a Jew," "what makes someone a Jew," etc.\n\nHope this helps.
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This question is vague.  Improved, as in has bettered itself the most?  If so, without a doubt, little Israel.  Little tiny Israel is at the front line of technology, protects its own, and is capable of holding off multiple hostile countries with millions more in population surrounding it.  And all since 1947.  It's the only democracy in the region and a superpower; it has nuclear weapons.
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Just for the record: in this country, jews have notoriously helped and supported all minority groups in this country... I am jewish and know my American-Jewish history very well.\n\nYou do realize that everything you said is no better than any of those you accuse to be preaching hate and separatism?
377757
YEP FOREVER JEW IT IS THE BEST RELIGION. I LOVE BEING JEWISH AND YES ALL JEWISH PEOPLE ARE CLOSELY BONDED. I AGREE WITH YOU ON EVERYTHING YOU JUST STATED
317879
New testement gave the allowance.  This was used also to show that unclean things had now become clean,  Allowing the Gentiles to become Christian.\n(although they were actually still Jewish at that time but Christian Jews)
470127
This is a good website. It comes from Judaism 101!
433047
the best website to learn about judiasm is most definitely www.chabad.org! it has everything you want to know about judiasm but from the chabad (a sect of Judiasm) perspective, which is very positive and inviting and intereseting too! But basically, the core of our religion was summed up by Maimonidies in the 13 principles of faith. they are 1)G-d created the world 2)G-d is one 3)G-d is unlimited by physical form or nature's limits 4)G-d was before the world and will be after - eternal 5)G-d is the only one that we can pray to 6)the words of a real prophet are true (there are ways to test a real prophet) 7)Moses is the greatest prophet of all time 8)Every part of Torah was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai 9)The Torah hasn't and won't ever change 10)G-d knows the thoughts and actions of everyone 11)G-d has His system of rewarding for good and punishing for bad (that we can't understand) 12)Messiah is coming and we must await him every day! 13)those who deserve it will be resurrected in the times of Messiah\n\nThose are the core faiths, basically G-d made us and gave us a Torah (Bible) that we listen to, not becasue it makes sense but because that is who we are, and we do our best to follow the commandments, thereby attaching ourselves ot G-d and bringing the messiah closer! In the Messianic time there will be the completion of Torah, with nothing blocking us from observing it completely (such as the current lack of a Temple). All Jews will gather in the Holy Land and serve G-d together. There will be peace in the land, and most importantly, "the world will be filled with knowledge of G-d like the water that covers the sea!"\nI hope this helps you. If you ahve questions, go to www.askmoses.com, where you can chat with a Chabad rabbi or woman one-on-one and ask any question that you wany. Good luck!\n\nP.S. to ammok: can i tell you something personal? my family is strictly observant, and we have, thank G-d, 8 kids who all attend Jewish school at the cost of about $50,000 per year. That is nearly our family's salary, making us not a very rich family at all. In fact, we go without many of the pleasures that non jews have, like new cars etc.