NZFOI: A particularly relevant and timely piece, after Golriz Ghahraman’s recent allegations that Jesus was a “Palestinian refugee.”
Was Jesus a Jew? The idea shouldn’t be controversial. Yet there have been plenty of attempts to challenge his connection to Judaism. Dissociating Jesus from his Jewishness has a dark history that continues to poison discourse today.
In the early 20th century, the anti-Semitic and racist German-British philosopher Houston Stewart Chamberlain argued that while Judaism provided the religious background for Jesus, he “had not a drop of genuinely Jewish blood in his veins.” The Nazis picked up on this thread. As Hitler consolidated power, German theologians insisted that Jesus was not a Jew but an Aryan, descended from Galilean gentiles.
In the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has sought to sever Jesus’ religion from his nationality or ethnicity. In a 2014 Christmas message, Mr. Abbas called Jesus “a Palestinian messenger of love, justice and peace.” This remains a common refrain from anti-Israel activists.
Sometimes this rhetoric is aimed at erasing Judaism from the religious and moral history of Western civilization. Other times it’s an attempt to undercut Jewish appeals to a uniquely ancient relationship with the land of Israel. Either way, these objections place Jews in a complicated position.
The problem I see is that many have painted a “Strawman” image of who and what Jesus is outside of the actual source of where you find Jesus…The Bible.
Facts that come up that tear down these strawmen images from Judaism and Christianity alike.
Facts:
1. Jesus real name would closer be to the name of Joshua or in Hebrew Yehoshua where the name Yeshua is derived which in Hebrew means Salvation, to which the angel told Miriam to name him.
2. The contention in Judaism partially comes from the fact that they believe Jesus was born from Joseph and Mary and no miracle birth happened.
3. Jesus family was from galilee but born in Beit lecheim closer to Jerusalem
4. In Judaism only Rabbis were and still today are given the oportunity to speak within congregations for teaching. Which means Yeshua would have been born a Jew raised a Jew and became recognised as a Rabbi.
5. In Jesus time there were different sects of Judaism about. Orthodox or Ultra Orthodox were the majority controlling the local culture at the time. Evidence being they controlled the temple politics and were the ones who dispised any other sect other than theirs.
6. Jesus by biblical and outer sources would have actually supported similar teachings as those in the Karaite movement.
7. The notion that Jesus was a Palestinian refugee is factually and historically untrue. Jesus parents fled to Egypt and then returned to Judea and Sumaria once the edict to kill all children under 2 years old was lifted. Proving refugees who do not wish to stay in their adopted land can return home. Also Palestina was not heard of until around 70AD as it is a Roman term made up to ridicule the land of Israel at the time.
8. Jesus knew much of the hebrew culture, for one he said it was a blessing that a Roman centurion would help build a synagogue in Israel at the time. Jesus support of Israel would have been seen today as very much patriotic even against those who would call him labels just because they disagree with what he was teaching and doing. Much like today
9. The name Israel is mentioned many times and even Jesus cried out to Jerusalem because he said he wanted to gather his lost sheep like hen mother does because the culture was so divided against itself.
10. Jesus is also seen in the bible with his disciples celebrating Sabbath, advocating biblical kosher diet and celebrating the appointed holidays as commanded to observe. Jesus even celebrated a preliminary Passover Seder before he died.
11. It is evident in the bible that Jesus would have worn a Tallit as referenced how a woman “Touched the hem of his garment” which has been argued and supported as an actual fringe of a Tallit.
12. Another issue Judaism has in the strawman version of Jesus is that many Christians believe in the Trinity but have a simple and different interpretation of this concept and to which is why many Jews do not like Christianity. As they have been told by un articulate Christians that Christianity serves 3 gods. This is untrue as believers we know we serve one G-d. But too Judaism hasnt grasped the idea that G-d has 3 parts to him. not 3 seperate deities.
13. Many do not believe Jesus existed which includes some within the Jewish Community. Yet A secular Jew who experienced Jesus time also wrote of his experience from his point of view as he came across this brilliant man speaking about peace and love. His name is famous within Jewish History and groups. Josephus Flavius who wrote “The Antiquities Of The Jews”