Rabbi's Son Spends a 'Jesus Year' in Bible Belt
Wednesday October 8, 2008
Categories: Books
People go to church to seek answers. But seldom are those people sons of rabbis looking for insight into their own Jewish heritage. All of that changes with My Jesus Year, a new book by Benyamin Cohen that also bears...
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where's the trailer?
Kathryn--you need to click on "continue reading this post."
I don't see the trailer and I don't have a "continue reading this post" link either.
I lived in a neighborhood and went to school with orediminatly Christian people.
In my junior year of high school I found myself waiting for a bus to go to a different part of town then usual so I thought I would probubly not be seeing too many people I knew. I wondered if I would be treated different if people thought I was Christian. Went across the street to Kresgee's (the origianl K mart), bought the cheepest cross I could find and just as my bus came put it on. Got on the bus, and went off, went to the store I was going to, did the reverse going home. Everything seemed the same. I took it off before getting to the stop where I knew I would meet those who knew me.
Now what do I do with it? It was not my religous symbol but it was important to others so did not want to throw it away. There was this little girl with a teen ager who turned out to be her sister. I asked the older girl if it would be alright to give this to the little girl-knowing that if they were not Christian she would say something. She asked the kid if she wanted it, she said yes and I gave it to her. Told the teen it was very cheap so be careful her sister's neck did not turn colors.
That was as far as I got. Seems that if people stare at you and you dress much like everyone else and act like everyone else nobody cares what your religon is-not on a bus or in a store anyway!
Hugs
Laura
I find God's blessing in both the old and the new testament...your walk with God will always keep you close to Him...no matter where you go...He will always be with you...if you LOVE HIM with your whole heart...soul...and mind!
I live in the bible belt and I am Jewish.It is very difficult as people seem not to be trusting if you are not christian. I have to travel 6 hours to the nearest synagouge and have to order kosher meat out of Denver.Many Christians in the area I live in think if you are not one of them you should get out and go with your own kind. As I said it is difficult living here. I will be moving next year and can hardly wait.
That would be tantamount to say that if I go to Israel and put a kippah on and pray with a tallit, people will consider me a Jew. The real situation here is that what we call christianism is actually a jewish faith based on a jewish belief on a jewish messiah. This religion did not come out of the goyim or gentiles, it was actually a jewish concept based on jewish tradition of the Ben Yusef, Ben David. The New Testament is a jewish book where Jewish authors wrote about Yeshua as the Moshiach of Israel. Of course, this form of judaism was widespread to all the world and since then different concepts have been developed thru the years. Modern Judaism is only the creation of Yohannan Ben Akiva, who was the main inheritor of Farisaic traditions. The destruction of the Temple in 70 A.C. made him wonder what would be the right way to cope with this situation of judaism with no Temple where to make more sacrifices for the sin atonment. Dig up into real historical christianity and you will find a Jewish face there.
We live in Ga..I am Jewish married to a southern Baptist. We are spiritual together but each embrace our own religions.
I am a Christian, but am interested in the Jewish culture that Christ came from. I even studied it in our church under a very knowlegable teacher who gave us a workbook who had a rabbi interpreting the Torah for us. In our study you need to know where Jesus come from to understand what he represented. Even in his own age and own hometown he was just another rabbi. What makes him so special? I am still seeking out how it could be thought about by others. I wish that I could be in a better position to express this to you. Nancy
It seems to me as a Episcopalian that knowing the culture Jesus came from is essential to understanding his message. I think my Bible studies with New Testament scholars have given me a very realistic picture of him, and has increased my respect for Judaism. I have come to believe that Jesus did not come to save me from my sins. He came to open Jewish eyes to a cleaner, purer vision of G-d.
i moved as a io year old from an entirely Jewish neighborhood in the north to a totally nonJewish one in the south. it was a nightmare of cruelty and abuse fron the other kids in school. i still remember those days when christians vow their love for Eretz.
I have no doubt that what the author reports is accurate, but -at least from the interview I heard on NPR- he was more attracted to the bizarre events than to a real search for what has brought people to Jesus. Now, I realize that much in the Christian faith as it is practiced in the present age of tv is open to ridicule. But, did he go to prisons and see sincere Christians working with outcasts, did he visit charity groups,etc.? It is difficult to understand the other person beyond shallow observation when you do not share their experience or at least sympathize with their belief.
Mr Cohen I want to appreciate your spiritual quest dubbed "What would it be like to be a Christian?" But the unfortunate thing is that you completely missed your way. You went to all the wrong places. You cannot find the Christ of Christianity in such a misguided quest. You cannot be a Christian without finding Christ Jesus. If you are a sincere seeker of the TRUTH you can find Christ right where you are now. Just open up your heart to Him and let Him in. Please don't commit the grevious error many make who adopt christianity as a religion without encountering the transforming power of Christ. Genuine acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour is the first step to becoming a Christian. If you sincerely and prayerfully look for Jesus Christ and NOT just Christian religion you will find Him. For He loves you so much that He gave His life as a ransom to save you from your sins. I know that Jesus Christ is truly whom He claims that He is because He completely and positively transformed my life when I believed in Him. He is every thing He says in the Bible that He is. Please read the Bible. You may wish to start from the New Testament. It may interest you to know that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When you encounter Christ, going to church and genuine Christian gatherings will become meaningful to you and will greatly impact your life. Remember, Jesus loves you and I love you too. I have special love for all the Jews. Thank you and God bless.
From Albert B.C. Manukwem
Owerri, Nigeria
I loved reading about Mister Benyamin Cohen, it is a blessing to know that there are other souls out there who can hear another faith, and remember that the same God is being worshipped, just in a different way. It also gives me strength to know that his Jewish faith grew. Protestant faiths, today, do not. I was raised Catholic, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when we went... I've been going to a Baptist Church since the 1990's, after I moved to north Florida. My faithe is always strong. It only waivered when I was nearly killed in a car accident... I died that day. I can't die. I'll never get to go Home.
I spent my high school years at a Anglican boarding school. Attended chapel every morning except Saturday and twice on Sunday. I learnt during those formative years what Christianity was supposed to be about and understood why I was Jewish and why I could never believe in Christianity.
Mormonism is a cult of Christianity, just as Bahai is a cult of Islam. A church connected with the KKK is a cult or, if a Christian Church, so psychologically disturbed and so hateful, that G-d is very displeased with them.
I intend to read this book, which sounds very interesting. I loved the Jews, even before I became a Christian and read in the Christian Bible, that God commands me to love them. Some of the reasons why: Personalities of ones I met, art, literature, music, and a concern for the civil rights for others, for ex. - African Americans. Evidence - Anti Defamation literature.
Since becoming a Christian, I learned how the Jews had kept safe, the Jewish Bible, which is in the Christian's Bible too. Also Jesus Christ and other important, wonderful people I read about in the Bible are Jewish.
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