How do most folks who are Jewish by birth view new converts to Judaism?
927131
if they are genuine and sincere converts then with the up most admiration. \n\nI was lucky I was born Jewish, but for someone to leave what ever religion they were part of and join a group of strangers on the sincere belief that they were right knowing the hardship deserves and commands my automatic respect.
270680
I am not sure if you are saying that you are Jewish and you are trying to understand for yourself what that means.  Or if you are asking generally what it means when a person considers themself Jewish.  \n\nIf your mother is Jewish and her mother was Jewish, etc. all the way to Biblical times then you are by definition Jewish.  To research this more for yourself, these websites are good. http://www.aish.com and http://www.chabad.org\n\nIf you were asking in general what makes a person Jewish, usually they are born into it but there are also many converts.  Within Judaism there is a whole range and spectrum of beliefs.  But generally we believe in the Torah given to us by G-d over 3300 years ago, and is our guide for life now and forever. (Torah is what Christians refer to as the Old Testament).  Judaism also involves many customs and traditions.\n\nI hope this answered your question.  \nFeel free to e-mail for more info.
663730
On the surface - i would say probably not \n\nthe bible says for example 'those who steal should steal no more but work with their hands so they have something to give to others'\n\nso if someone who was a thief is still a thief that would be fairly clear cut for example that the expected change has yet to begin itself.\n\nhowever - a conversion can take time to 'take' and the person may have a huge number of issues to work through before there are perceptible differences are apparent
311180
generally it takes about a year or two.. to become a jew.. you must study in a class held by a rabbi. You will also need to attend services, learn history, traditions, culture etc. When you are done you will be considered 100% jewish as though you had been born a jew. \nGood luck, its difficult but well worth it.. YOu should read books about it too. Also be prepared for some intitial rejection, the rabbi will want to make sure you are SERIOUS about it. \nFinally, it is best to convert orthodox, and then choose the level of observance that is right for you. \nFind a synagoe in your area to start
1184989
I have one big problem with your statement. Exactly how many Jews have tried to convert you? Jews have no inclination, and quite to the contrary according to Judaism there is no reason for you to convert. All people are judged on our actions not what faith we espouse. So from a Jewish perspective the only thing that truly matters is if you live a Just life or not.\n\nAnyone who claimed to be Jewish and tried to convert you had no concept of what Judaism is.
1170653
In order to convert, you have to go through a process.  It involves many things, including meetings with a Rabbi.  You should go to your local synagogue or temple and see what their requirements are to convert.  It is a significant process and not fast or easy.  Several friends have done it and they are very happy with being jewish.  Start attending the local jewish house of worship and ask about conversion classes.
534603
Dose man bring Christianity whit him when he born?\ndoes man bring Jewess's with him when he born?
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!
43913
no, all christians donot have jewish roots. the christian faith does. jesus was born jewish and raised jewish  and had followers from the jewish faith.   basically,  christians have converts from the begining and some were jewish and some were pagan and there are and where others.
1004457
I think the answer lies in historical context.  As I understand it, a group of people came to believe that rather than many gods there might just be one.  So those people who recognized one God banded together, and became known as Israelites, and all this got written into a book called the Old Testament.  These people intermarried and become a people called the Jews.  And then Jesus arrived and spread the idea that God loves every individual, that anyone who chooses to accept God is in the special fold.  Some people felt that Jesus' message was so perfect that he was the long-hoped-for Messiah.  Certain Jews went with this and become Christians, and others did not and remained Jews.  And still other people were none of these things are retained indigenous religious values -- Hinduism, for example, seems to me to be largely a collection of varying spritual practices.\n\nI suspect my answer won't work for people who think that the holy books were handed down fully-formed and perfect.  But the key to understanding and peace, I think, is trying to understand where others come from.\n\nI always find that the difficult part about understanding religion is clinging to the beauty of its ideals without being sidetracked by the human need for rules and absolutes.  I think you are quite right that "Divine expression would manifest in as many ways as there are people on the earth and infinitely throughout the universe."
837555
what is the afterlife going to be like? judaism doesn't have a whole lot to say about the afterlife but if you want to read our strongest speculations about it try here: http://www.jewfaq.org/olamhaba.htm . we don't believe that a person must be a member of the jewish faith in order to get to "heaven". the focus is on being a good person not on your faith\n\nIs there heaven or hell? not really, at least not the cristian idea of either of the terms. read the article above, specifically the parts on Gan Eden and Gehinnom\n\nHow is God viewed? G-d is an absolute unity - a jewish person cannot believe in a trinity G-d, because the oneness of G-d is the most absolute and basic part of the jewish faith. the most recited jewish prayer is "shema yisra'el, adonai elokeinu, adonai echad" - "hear O israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One". this is supposed to be the first words a baby hears and the last words of a dying person. G-d in judaism has absolutely no physical manifestation or qualities and never will - this means belief in a human man (jesus) as G-d is completely out. jews believe G-d is merciful, loving, and available to everybody, no matter what their religion.\n\nDo I have to believe in God to be jewish? no. but you have to believe in G-d to CONVERT to judaism. once you are a jew, you're jewish forever, even if you stop believing in G-d\n\nCan I still believe in evolution and be jewish? lots of jews do (i do too). depending on which branch you want to convert into, you will get different views. an orthodox conversion would probably still accept you though, if you could show that your belief in evolution does not contradict your strong belief in the torah as having been literally given by G-d. if you do not believe that the torah was given by G-d, you cannot convert to orthodox. conservative and reform would not care if you believe in evolution. however, most conservatives don't recognize reform converts, and most orthodox don't recognize reform OR conservative converts.\n\nDo I have to take the bible as literal truth? once again, it depends your branch. reform - nope. conservative - nope. orthodox - yes, for the most part. judaism (even orthodox) tends to view many parts of the bible as being highly allegorical and not always saying what it actually means. we believe that the true meaning of the bible is found in the oral torah (G-d's explanation of the torah to moses). you can read about the written torah and the oral torah here: http://www.jewfaq.org/torah.htm\n\nHow do you get into heaven if you are jewish? by being a good person, and if you are a jew, by following the mosaic laws\n\nand Are convert Jews welcome and accepted in synagogs/Jewish community's? \nyes
838511
There is an excellent magazine that comes out every two months that can help.  It is called "Israel My Glory."  You can preview some articles to get a feel for it, and subscribe at the following link:\n\nhttp://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID306608|CHID556140|CIID,00.html\n\nThey really help to get a Jewish perspective of the Christian faith, and its Jewish roots.\n\nAlso, if you'd like, Alfred Edersheim was a biblical scholar who write four excellent resources.  Many Christian bookstores carry his works as a four-volume set.  He was Jewish, and had converted to Christianity.  His works can help you along those lines as well.\n\nHope that helps!
25124
Jews very definitely welcomes converts, and up until the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325, we Jews were very definitely missionaries. At the Council of Nicaea, Constantine gave the death penalty to any Jew caught missionizing, and to anyone listening to that Jew who was missionizing!\n\nOf course, this did not stop people from converting to Judaism, and becoming Jews.\n\nThere is even a verse in the Christian's New Testament that describes the zealousness with which Jews used to missionize. See Matthew 23:15! \n\nThere are quite a number of places in the Hebrew Scriptures where Gd tells the Jews to convert all the nations of the earth to Judaism. Here is one quick example, from Psalm 96:\n\n     Psa 96:1  O sing unto the Etrnl a new song: \n     sing unto the Etrnl, ALL THE EARTH. 2  Sing \n     unto the Etrnl, bless his name; shew forth his \n     salvation from day to day. 3  DECLARE HIS \n     GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN, HIS WONDERS AMONG ALL \n     THE PEOPLE. 4  For the Etrnl is great, and \n     greatly to be praised: HE IS TO BE AWED ABOVE \n     ALL GODS. 5  FOR ALL THE GODS OF THE NATIONS \n     ARE IDOLS, BUT THE ETRNL MADE THE   \n     HEAVENS......9 O worship the Etrnl in the \n     beauty of holiness: fear before him, ALL THE \n     EARTH. 10  SAY AMONG THE HEATHEN THAT THE \n     ETRNL REIGNETH: the world also shall be \n     established that it shall not be moved: he \n     shall judge the people righteously. \n\nNow, yes, there is a "Unique Path" as you put it, for non-Jews, it is through the covenant Gd first established with Noah, but why settle for the lesser of two Great Things?\n\nConvert to Judaism, and WELCOME!\n\nHere is a web site to help you convert to Judaism: http://Convert.org \n\nAnd below under Sources are web sites for the Noachides as they are called.
249263
That would be interesting. Being a Jew and not a Christian I can honestly say that would surprise me and would require me to seriously rethink some of my practices in life but I do not think it will change how I am as a person. Though I would wish he/she/it would leave some instructions on what we should do IE how to be a good person stuff like that. That being said I will still continue leading a moral life I just may redefine what morality is.
1124011
That is about my perception as well. As a Jew I cannot fathom how Christianity developed out of Judaism. The Christian god cannot be the same as in Judaism the difference are just to staggering.
895000
This is usually because new converts are generally more obnoxious about their new faith than life-long believers and end up driving their old friends away.  No, it's not a good thing.\n\nOne of several examples:\n\nI knew a girl, very clever, very pretty, who sadly connected with the JWs.  Her minister actually told her that her beauty was "sinful" and that she had to make herself "plain" to please God.  She's still pretty, but the way she carries herself, dresses, and behaves, one would think she was a mouse.  She started avoiding the rest of us because we "stood out too much" according to her pastor (What a joke:  We were the outcasts.).  Today she's in San Francisco standing on street corners and handing out Watchtower pamphlets.  \n\nNo.  It can be a very bad thing.
791205
I hear a lot of people bashing the Jewish people, mostly out of jealousy, they see how, as a whole, blessed and prosperous the Jewish people are- I see that there is a higher intelligence and higher rate of success amongst the Jewish people-  I truly believe this is because the Jewish people as a whole take God's instructions seriously, they do not take for granted the covenant that God made with Abraham.  God created the world with certain laws and principles in motion and obedience to God's word brings blessing and I believe that this is what has happened amongst the Jewish people.   For the rest of the world, I believe that God made a way for us to be grafted in- this is described in the Bible but basically, having a respect for the Jewish people, seeing that the ways they are set apart as a Holy people are for a reason and recognizing the picture of the Messiah in those ways rather than looking down on them, opens the door for the same blessing for the gentiles as well.