Q&A: Belief in the Crucified One
Belief in the Crucified One
Question
I came across this video: Christian missionaries disguised as Haredim invite religious seminary girls for Sabbath – YouTube
And my question is this: from what the rabbi says in the video, I understand that these people truly and sincerely believe in the messiahship of Jesus while at the same time observing every commandment, major and minor alike. Is there a problem with such a theology from a halakhic standpoint? Is there any reason to exclude them from the bounds of Judaism? (Assuming they do not believe in his divinity, etc.)
Answer
I didn’t watch the video. I don’t understand what it means to ask whether there is a problem with this or that theology. That’s what they believe. Are you asking whether I agree? No. I don’t know what it means to exclude them from the bounds of Judaism.
Discussion on Answer
So here is a clearer answer too: there is no difference at all. That Christian’s belief is also entirely legitimate (though in my view probably mistaken). The problem with Christianity is not the belief that the crucified one is supposed to return and redeem them/us, and not even the Trinity (for those who believe in it), but rather the lack of commitment to Torah and commandments. By the way, both the Chabad followers and the Christians wear pants. Is there a difference between them?
I’ll write it more clearly:
Is there a difference between a Chabad follower who believes that the Rebbe will return in the future and redeem the Jewish people, and a Torah-and-commandments observant Jew who believes that Jesus will return in the future and redeem the Jewish people?