In my opinion the founding of Christianity happened because in Judaism where a closely knit society of the jews are defined; it is difficult for gentiles to integrate. The messiah is promised always to Israel in the old testament. This happens when the people of Israel is oppressed and in trouble with other nations. Moses and Cyrus the Great of Persia are messiahs to Israel because these men saved Israel from perdition. Messiah means savior and to the jews he is not God but a man... just like Cyrus the Great of Persia and Moses.
When the OT was translated into greek by 70 rabbis it was that opportune time for the greeks and hellenists to understand the hebrew writings. They found out that in the OT jews abhorred to intermingle with gentiles. The greeks and hellenists burned their eyebrows studying the hebrew scriptures until they were able to understand and write the NT in harmony with the scriptures of the jews... but making Christ the God of the gentiles.
This is where they are divided... Judaism which is a hebrew philosophy of worship and Christianity which is greek in origin. But this division did not start by just a snap of a finger. It took years for Christianity to develop since the Septuagint Version of the bible was written.
The jews until today reject Jesus as the Christ because in Judaism Christ has to fulfill a task for Israel. There are 10 tasks; first and foremost is for a Christ to rebuild the third temple. The question is; how can Jesus Christ rebuild the third temple when he proclaimed in the NT that his body is the temple and he is the lamb of God to be sacrificed?
There is no more solution to the division. Furthermore if you want to understand it clearly the NT is a discourse against Judaism because jews do not believe in Jesus Christ.
It is really very interesting that , indeed, the Jews today are adamant in their refusal of Jesus Christ. I personally know of the Orthodox / Ultra Orthodox Jews who go as far into claiming that Jesus Christ was a 'false prophet' / 'charlatan'. I was very saddened to hearing this and the Jewish view of Christians and Christian Pilgrims, Christian Missionaries in Israel to this day. A very good friend of mine who went on a Christian evangelization mission to Israel was met with stiff resistance from Jews who were condescending in their words towards Christians. Some even were throwing rocks and pushing my friend and other missionaries with him.
It is very apparent to me , after hearing of this, why Jesus Christ was so very critical of the pharisees and the saduccess of the time. The Jews who were observant of all the Laws, but were not close to God in prayer and in the spirit. This same mentality, unfortunately, is common in Israel and for most Jews (practicing Jews, that is).
You mention how the New Testament is a discourse between the Jews and the Christian Faith.
A big difference between Judaism and Christianity is an understanding of the role of the Messiah. Christians say that Jesus was Messiah in accordance with prophecy, and that his work and kingdom was spiritual. “My kingdom is not of this world.†(John 18:36) Jews, both at the time of Jesus and now, believe that the Messiah will come to set up a physical kingdom on this earth. As you said, the Jews' understanding of the Messiah is that of the physical and personal revelation of that.
What I also realize, from my reading of the Tanakh is that it does not focus on the here-after, but on the here-and-now. Jews are not worried so much on the life after death, so much as the life of the now and living life according to the Laws passed on by Moses. They have many rules and laws in how to do things, such as: what to pray , what to think about when praying, how to prepare food, how to shave, how to clean, how to act with gentiles, etc.
It is different in many levels to Christianity in that Christianity teaches on spiritual acceptance of God, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and on the salvation of the soul for the next life.
It is rather interesting. The Jewish concept of 'SALVATION' is the physical, the salvation of current oppression from an enemy and a nation state. The Christian concept of 'SALVATION' is of the metaphysical, the eternal soul in the here-after.
Salvation for the Jews is according to pure works. While for Christians, salvation is not by works but by grace and
living that faith.
The wailing wall is the part of the temple of Solomon that was not destroyed by the Romans. In their diaspora it is the tradition of the jews to pray facing Jerusalem. Part of their prayer is; "next time in Jerusalem". It means that their prayer is for the rebuilding of the temple of Solomon and once restored all jews will be delivered up in Jerusalem praying to their God.
The Jews want a reconstruction of a second temple? This cannot occur as it would lead to an Islamic Jihad. As the Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah (Dome of the Rock) is located on the site of the ruins of the Jewish Temple. If the Jews were to rebuild the Temple, it would require the demolition of the Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah, which is one of the Holy Sites in Islam. This would lead to a massive Intifada and eventual JIHAD.
They do not believe Jesus Christ and they do not also believe in the new testament. According to them; christians hi-jacked the hebrew bible to be integrated with Christianity and to make their God also the God of christians.
Most Jews reject Jesus Christ and the Christian Faith. Tho there are some , Messianic Jews, who believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Messianic Jews also worship with other Christians.
Those who reject and deny Jesus Christ have a fate. Jesus Christ tells us this in:-
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.-John 12: 48
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