From: inteligencialtda
Jewish identity is deeply intertwined with the city of Jerusalem, which is considered the city of faith and holds immense historical and spiritual significance for the Jewish people. This connection extends beyond mere geography, encompassing a rich history of oral traditions and their importance in Judaism, resilience, and a unique influence of spirituality and faith on global society.
Jerusalem: The Heart of Jewish Identity
Jerusalem as the City of Faith
Jerusalem is described as the “most impactful city in human history” and the “city of faith” [00:05:16]. With over 4,000 years of historical and biblical perspectives [00:05:35], it is a central reference point for the entire monotheistic tradition, influencing over 4 billion people [00:06:32]. It is regarded as a fundamental point of the Abrahamic universe [00:06:41], concentrating immense historical importance [00:06:50].
Biblical Roots and the Promised Land
The city’s earliest known name was Salem, with a king named Melchizedek, and it is the place where Abraham met him [00:07:58]. Later, it was occupied by the Jebusites and called the city of Jebus or Jerusalem [00:09:10]. An ancient papyrus from the 10th-8th century BCE bears the name “Jerusalem” [00:09:21], and a cuneiform writing from the 14th century BCE also mentions it [00:09:38].
Jerusalem is the city where God established His presence through the Temple [00:56:29]. The site where Solomon built the Temple, identified as Moriah (mentioned in Genesis 22), holds foundational significance for Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions [00:22:11]. For Jews, Jerusalem is the city they desire to inhabit because one day the Temple will be rebuilt, embodying a promise of the future [00:56:36].
The promise of the land dates back to Genesis Chapter 12, where God commanded Abraham to leave his land for a promised land [00:27:20]. The site of Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac is believed to be the mountain that is now Jerusalem [00:27:53].
Reconstruction and Return
After its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 or 586 BCE, the people of Israel went into Babylonian captivity but were later allowed to return by the Persians to reconstruct Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah [00:11:20]. This pattern of destruction and return recurs throughout history.
The Jewish People: History, Resilience, and Development
A History of Persecution and Anti-Semitism
The Jewish people have endured a long history of persecution, marked by “violent anti-Semitism” and “pogroms” [00:40:36]. This hatred, initially poorly founded religiously, evolved into a racial basis and later opposition to the state of Israel [00:40:48]. The Holocaust, although horrific, was preceded by centuries of expulsions and massacres across Europe [02:08:55]. Historically, Jewish people suffered “much more oppression and for much longer than blacks” [02:20:18]. Academic and philosophical justifications for anti-Semitism existed long before Hitler, who merely amplified existing propaganda [02:11:14].
The Zionist Dream and the Birth of Israel
Despite ongoing challenges, the Jewish people sought a homeland, leading to the Zionist movement [00:41:10]. The modern State of Israel was founded in 1948, recognized by the UN [01:17:15], allowing Jews to return to their ancestral land [01:59:15]. This return was seen as a fulfillment of God’s promise to their people after two thousand years [01:59:13]. The country, initially a desert, was developed through hard work and innovation [01:05:16].
Innovation and Progress in Israel
Israel, despite being 60% desert and the size of Sergipe [01:05:19], has achieved remarkable progress. People who arrived as “Holocaust survivors” [00:52:48] transformed the land, planting crops, developing cherry tomatoes, and colored peppers, and pioneering drip irrigation [01:05:34]. Israel has surpassed Japan, Great Britain, and France in per capita intelligence [01:06:28], selling “intelligence” in the form of apps and technology [01:06:37]. This progress is attributed to a mentality rooted in “Divine word well understood” that produces society, civilization, family well-being, and progress [01:06:50].
Community and Cultural Values
Jewish cultural and spiritual movements influencing society emphasizes the invaluable value of community and brotherhood [01:14:46]. This communal spirit fostered a unique form of “socialism that God spoke” [01:15:07], characterized by cooperatives and freedom, rather than state control [01:15:15]. Jewish prayer often emphasizes collective worship [01:16:09]. A key aspect of Jewish identity is an “optimistic mindset of construction” [01:30:32] and a mission to make the world a better place [01:25:58].
Jewish Identity in Relation to Other Faiths
Coexistence and Conflict in Jerusalem
Jerusalem is central to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, leading to historical conflicts [00:07:25]. The city has been conquered and re-conquered by various empires, including Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Muslim, Crusader, Mamluk, and Ottoman [01:14:40]. Despite the disputes, a Jewish-Arab coexistence is seen, with Arab drivers working with Jewish guides and instances of mutual respect [01:08:21]. Israel is described as a Jewish country but “open to everyone” [01:06:11].
Views on Jesus and Christianity
The relationship between Jewish and Christian traditions is complex. Protestantism and its relationship with Jewish communities and Christianity in general have a history of “theological anti-Semitism,” wrongly accusing Jews of murdering God [00:59:05]. Some Jews show great respect for Jesus, even without recognizing Him as the Messiah [01:02:12], while others are aggressive or use derogatory terms [01:01:59]. The New Testament, despite being written in Greek, must be read against the background of Judaism [01:00:50].
A historical joke illustrates the perception of who “came first” to the land, with a Rabbi claiming an Arab stole Moses’ watch, prompting the retort that Arabs didn’t exist then, highlighting the deep historical roots of the Jewish people in the land [00:35:54].
Dialogue and Understanding
There is a call for mutual recognition and peace between Jewish and Palestinian Arabs [02:00:34]. It is acknowledged that “good people and bad people” exist on all sides, regardless of faith [01:01:05]. The emphasis is on rejecting generalizations and acknowledging excesses from all sides, while recognizing the presence of “good people on both sides” [01:03:11]. The Rabbi Roni Gurwicz and his perspectives on Jewish traditions highlights the Jewish desire to live in peace and the need for others to recognize their right to existence [02:00:34].
Preservation of Jewish Heritage
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are seen as evidence of how Jews preserved the Bible [03:32:05]. Discovered in 1948, these ancient manuscripts, including a nearly complete Isaiah scroll dated to 270 BCE, revealed minimal textual differences from later versions, demonstrating meticulous preservation by Jewish copyists over millennia [03:19:18]. The scrolls also provide extraordinary insight into the Jewish world of the first century, aiding in the understanding of both the Old and New Testaments [02:42:20].
The Importance of Biblical Texts
The Bible, particularly the Old Testament (Tanakh), is considered the “Constitution” of the Jewish people, given by God before they even saw the land [01:59:46]. The Hebrew language and culture are fundamental to understanding the Bible’s core message [02:07:17]. The Jewish tradition of “telling stories” [01:49:23] emphasizes the narrative power of their heritage.
Challenges to Modern Jewish Identity
Secularism and Loss of Faith
Despite historical resilience, modern societal challenges and religious perspectives include secularism, which has led to a decline in religious adherence among some young Israelis [02:47:58]. While the Holocaust did not diminish the faith of survivors [02:54:04], external influences like prosperity and the “brightness of Hollywood” have managed to erode the faith of many Jews more effectively than persecution [02:49:40]. There is a concern that if the Jewish people “lose perspective” and don’t maintain “the basis of its creation,” they will lose their identity [02:50:06].
The Influence of Hollywood
Hollywood, though founded by Jews, is seen as contributing to the “greatest declines in seventh art” with explicit content and a distancing from core Jewish values [02:48:51]. Many Jews involved in Hollywood are secular and indifferent to religious belief [02:49:03].
Conclusion: An Optimistic Outlook
Despite historical suffering and modern challenges, there is an underlying optimism. The return of Israel to its land in 1948 is seen as a “movement of God” [02:19:54], leading to unprecedented progress of the Gospel worldwide [02:21:19]. The Jewish tradition maintains a mindset of trust and hope, emphasizing construction and positive community aspects. This deep spiritual teachings and beliefs and historical and biblical perspectives highlight the enduring nature of Jewish identity, continually seeking to fulfill its mission as a “blessing to all nations” [02:03:06].