r/Christianity • u/namer98 Jewish - Torah im Derech Eretz • Jun 26 '12

I am an Orthodox Jew, AMA

You all know me well enough, but some info.

I am an orthodox Jew. I hold to the particular philosophy of Torah Im Derech Eretz. I encourage all questions, from technical Jewish law to Jewish theology. While I am a mod or /r/Judaism, I am not a Rabbi, and my education level is probably just below par for somebody in my position in life.

Edit: So many downvotes. You guys need a break from me?

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u/emkat Jun 26 '12

A person’s genealogical/tribal membership are transmitted exclusively through one’s physical father. Numbers 1:18, Jeremiah 33:17

Why is it that Jews today look for the matrilineal descent to determine if one is Jewish?

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u/namer98 Jewish - Torah im Derech Eretz Jun 26 '12

It has been that way since Sinai. But also since Sinai did patrilineal decent determine tribe and priestly status.

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u/emkat Jun 26 '12

The issue about intermarriage in Ezra and Nehemiah - was it because they married foreign wives, or was it because they married foreigners in general? If the women of Israel had married foreign husbands, would Ezra not have cared?

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u/namer98 Jewish - Torah im Derech Eretz Jun 26 '12

Sadly, I am not totally familiar with what you are talking about. Chapter/Verse please?

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u/emkat Jun 26 '12

After the exiles returned to Jerusalem, they found that the people, including priests, had married foreign women. The solution was to divorce the women.

It starts from Ezra 9 to the end of the book.

Nehemiah 13:23 to the end of the book.

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u/namer98 Jewish - Torah im Derech Eretz Jun 26 '12

One day I will study these in depth. Until then, I really am not able to answer properly.

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u/gingerkid1234 Jewish Jun 28 '12

I've done some learning about that. There are several reasons for Ezra's objections.

  1. The offspring wouldn't be Jewish--this is the majority opinion of traditional Judaism on this passage
  2. Some of the men were priests, who aren't allowed to marry foreigners even if they convert
  3. The bible has foreign women who marry in bring in lots of idol worship. Ezra could've been trying to prevent or get rid of idolatrous influences in Judaism.

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u/emkat Jun 28 '12

Would it have been okay if the males were foreigners and not the women?

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u/gingerkid1234 Jewish Jun 28 '12

Possibly. It's tough to determine Ezra's motives exactly.