Initially, Judaism and Christianity were the same teaching, but over time they split into two directions: that is, two religions that largely contradict each other. Although they have common origins, there are now more differences between them than similarities. What's the difference between Jews and Christians? Let's find out the answer to this question in this article.

Judaism acts as the religion of the Jews, distant descendants who made a vow to Abraham. Main distinguishing feature Judaism - it talks about the chosenness of the Jewish nation relative to other nations.

Christianity– is a religion that does not depend on nationality. Every person who considers himself a follower of Jesus Christ can become a Christian.

Difference between Judaism and Christianity

How do these two religions differ from each other? Do they have anything in common? We will talk about this in more detail now.

Features of the early relationships between Jews and Christians

It should be noted that Jews have not treated Christians very well since the independent formation of the church. Jews often engaged in provocation of the Roman authorities in order to begin persecution of Christians.

And in later times in the New Testament we find mention that it was the Jews who were responsible for the suffering of the Savior, as well as for the subsequent persecution of his disciples.

This, in turn, led to the negative attitude of adherents of the new religion towards Jews. Later, as a result of this attitude, many anti-Semitic actions were justified in a number of countries around the world.

Since the second century AD, there has been an increase in negativistic sentiments towards Jews on the part of Christians.

Modern relations between Jews and Christians

Some improvement in relations between the two religions begins in the sixties of the twentieth century. At that time, there was an official change in the Catholic Church's perception of Jews, and most prayers were freed of anti-Semitic elements.

In 1965, the Vatican adopted a declaration “On the attitude of the Church to non-Christian religious teachings.” According to it, Jews are no longer blamed for the death of Christ, plus any anti-Semitic activity is condemned.

Pope Paul the sixth had to officially ask for forgiveness from non-Christian peoples (in particular the Jews) for long persecutions. As for the Jews themselves, they are characterized by a fairly loyal attitude towards Christians. Although they find some of the Christian religious customs incomprehensible to themselves, despite this they show a favorable attitude towards the fact that basic elements Judaism is used in other religions (in particular Christianity).

Do Jews and Christians have the same god?

It is no secret that the Christian Bible consists of two parts: the Old and New Testament s. The Old Testament is the basis of Judaism, and the New Testament is the teaching of Christ and his disciples.

It turns out that both Christians and Jews have the same basis of religion and worship the same Deity, the difference lies only in the rituals of serving him.

Even the name of the Deity remains the same - Yahweh, which translated into Russian means “Existent”.

Differences in postulates

Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the main differences in worldview.

Christians believe in the existence three main dogma, namely:

• the original sin of all humanity;
• the second coming of Christ;
• atonement for all sins through the death of the Savior.

Adherents of Christianity believe that the main human problems can be resolved with the help of these dogmas. As for the Jews, they do not recognize these principles.

Different Perceptions of Sins

Another important difference between Jews and Christians lies in their different attitudes towards sin. For example, Christians believe that all people were already born sinners (due to original sin) and can only get rid of it by living a decent life.

As for the Jews, on the contrary, they believe that all people are born innocent, and throughout their lives they independently choose whether to commit sins or not.

Methods of cleansing from sin

From the previous difference in attitude towards sins, a difference in their atonement follows.

Christians believe that all human sins have already been atoned for by Christ through his sacrifice. But for all the actions a person commits during life, he will answer before the Creator after death. In this case, absolution can be obtained from a priest endowed with such power in Christianity.

In Judaism, it is believed that a person is able to receive forgiveness solely through his good deeds and actions.

And all sins are divided into two types:

• committed against God's will;
• committed against other people.

A Jew receives forgiveness of the first category, subject to sincere repentance and regret for what he has done. At the same time, he does not need to go to confession in church - it is enough to pray to the Almighty from the heart.

Perception of other world religious movements

In almost all religious teachings of the world, there is a single doctrine - only people who believe in the real God can end up in Heaven (or Paradise). For all those who ignore this rule eternal life in Heaven becomes inaccessible.

In Christianity, this doctrine is also observed to some extent. But Judaism is characterized by a more tolerant perception of other religions.

In particular, the Jews believe that any righteous person who during his life adhered to the seven main commandments given to people by Moses and received by him from the Most High can end up in Paradise.

These commandments are universal, so it is not necessary that a person believes in the Torah.

Let's take a look at these 7 basic commandments:

• one must believe that the Universe was created by a single Creator;
• you cannot blaspheme;
• laws must be followed;
• prohibition on worshiping idols;
• prohibition of theft;
• prohibition of adultery;
• prohibition on consumption from the living.

It is believed that even if a person is not a Jew by blood, if he observes all these commandments, he will be able to end up in the Garden of Eden after death.

Also speaking in general, it should be mentioned that Jews have a fairly loyal perception of monotheistic religions (for example, Islam in Christianity), however, paganism is categorically not accepted (due to polytheism and idol worship).

Different perceptions of good and evil

Another very big difference is the attitude towards good and evil between Jews and Christians. What is this difference?

Christians place great emphasis on the concept of Satan (Devil). It is he who is personified by a huge, powerful force, which represents the root cause of evil and all disasters on earth. Christians made Satan the antipode of the Creator.

It is here that the difference is hidden, because the main belief of the Jews is the belief in a unique (!) and omnipotent Creator. The Jews are firmly convinced that no other Higher power can exist besides the Creator. And, based on this, a Jew never divides good into the will of God, and does not attribute evil to the machinations of evil spirits. In Judaism, God acts as a fair judge, rewarding for good transgressions and able to punish for bad ones.

Perception of original sin

You already know about the concept of original sin among Christians. and did not comply with God's will, for which they were expelled from Garden of Eden. It is for this reason that all newborns are already considered sinful.

The Jews deny this approach and say that all children are initially innocent and can achieve any worldly blessings. And only the responsibility of the person himself is what kind of life - righteous or sinful he will live.

Perception of worldly life and worldly comforts

The final difference is in perception. worldly life and consolations among Jews and Christians. How does it manifest itself? Christians consider the subsequent life after death to be the main purpose of life for all people. Jews, of course, also believe in the existence the afterlife, but their main task in life is to improve their real life.

These concepts can be clearly observed in both religions' perceptions of worldly and bodily desires:

• Christians believe that all human desires are wicked and are designed to tempt the righteous to commit sins. They are convinced that only pure souls who were not subject to temptation during their lifetime. And based on this, every Orthodox Christian is supposed to pay more attention to his spiritual development than to worldly desires. It is because of this that the Pope and priests are supposed to adhere to the vow of celibacy, limiting themselves to worldly pleasures in order to gain greater holiness.
• Judaism also believes that the soul is more important than the body, but it does not believe that one should completely limit all one's carnal desires. Jews make the process of fulfilling them a good deed. Therefore, they do not understand the Christian vow of celibacy, because for them family and procreation are a purely holy act.

Likewise, these two religions perceive wealth and material goods differently. Christians take the vow of poverty because for them it represents an ideal of holiness. And the Jews from their position find the accumulation of financial wealth positive quality. We hope that we have helped you understand the differences between the religions of Christians and Jews.

Original taken from alanol09 The main differences between Christianity and Judaism

First difference. Most of the world's religions, including Christianity, support the doctrine that those who do not believe in this religion will be punished and will not receive a place in Heaven or the World to Come. Judaism, unlike any significant world religion, believes that a non-Jew (who does not necessarily have to believe in the Torah, but who keeps the seven commandments given to Noah) will definitely have a place in the World to Come and is called a righteous non-Jew.

Second difference. In Christianity, the most important idea is faith in Jesus as a savior. This faith in itself gives a person the opportunity to be saved. Judaism believes that the highest thing for a person is to serve God by doing his will, and this is even higher than faith.

Third difference. Judaism holds that G‑d, by definition, has no form, image, or body, and that G‑d cannot be represented in any form. This position is even included in the thirteen fundamentals of faith of Judaism. On the other hand, Christianity believes in Jesus, who as God accepted human image. G‑d tells Moses that a man cannot see G‑d and live.

In Christianity, the very purpose of existence is life for the sake of the hereafter. Although Judaism also believes in the World to Come, it is not sole purpose life. The prayer “Aleynu” says that the main task of life is to improve this world.

Judaism believes that every person has a personal relationship with G‑d and that every person can communicate directly with G‑d on a daily basis. In Catholicism, priests and the Pope serve as intermediaries between G-d and man. Unlike Christianity, where the clergy is endowed with sublime holiness and a special relationship with G-d, in Judaism there are absolutely no religious actions that a rabbi can perform that any individual Jew cannot perform. Thus, contrary to what many people believe, a rabbi does not have to be present at a Jewish funeral, a Jewish wedding (the ceremony can be performed without a rabbi), or when performing other religious activities. The word "rabbi" means "teacher." Although rabbis have the authority to make official decisions about Jewish law, a Jew who is sufficiently trained can also make decisions about Jewish law without receiving orders. Thus, there is nothing unique (from a religious point of view) about being a rabbi as a member of the Jewish clergy.

In Christianity, miracles play a central role, being the basis of faith. In Judaism, however, miracles can never be the basis of faith in G-d. The Torah says that if a person appears before the people and declares that G-d appeared to him, that he is a prophet, shows supernatural miracles, and then begins to instruct people to violate something from the Torah, then this person should be killed as a false prophet ( Devarim 13:2-6).

Judaism believes that a person begins life with " clean slate” and that he can receive good in this world. Christianity believes that man is inherently wicked, burdened with Original Sin. This prevents him from achieving virtue, and so he must turn to Jesus as his savior.

Christianity is based on the premise that the Messiah has already come in the form of Jesus. Judaism believes that the Messiah is yet to come. One of the reasons why Judaism cannot believe that the Messiah has already come is that in the Jewish view the messianic times will be marked by significant changes in the world. Even if these changes occur naturally and not supernaturally, then universal harmony and recognition of G-d will reign in the world. Since, according to Judaism, no changes occurred in the world with the appearance of Jesus, then, according to the Jewish definition of the Messiah, he has not yet come.

Since Christianity is aimed exclusively at the next world, the Christian attitude towards the human body and its desires is similar to the attitude towards ungodly temptations. Since the next world is a world of souls, and it is the soul that distinguishes man from other creatures, Christianity believes that man is obliged to nourish his soul, and neglect his body as much as possible. And this is the way to achieve holiness. Judaism recognizes that the soul is more important, but the desires of the body cannot be neglected. So instead of trying to deny the body and completely suppress physical desires, Judaism turns the fulfillment of these desires into a holy act. The Holiest Christian priests and the Pope take a vow of celibacy, while for a Jew creating a family and procreating a family is a holy act. While in Christianity the ideal of holiness is a vow of poverty, in Judaism, wealth, on the contrary, is a positive quality.

Very often, Christians mistakenly regard Jews who belong to Judaism as brothers in faith, not knowing that these religions, although related, have significant differences. After all, the Old Testament is common, Jesus came specifically to Israel, the Jews are universally called God’s people. What are the differences and how should an Orthodox Christian approach Judaism?

Judaism - what kind of religion is it

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion, whose followers were born Jewish or converted to this faith during their lives. Despite its ancient age (more than 3000 years), there are not many followers of this movement - only about 14 million people. At the same time, it was from Judaism that such movements as Christianity and Islam emerged, which today have the most large number followers. What do the Jews profess?

Judaism is the faith (religion) of the Jewish people

The main idea of ​​the religion is faith in the One God, Yahweh (one of the names of God) and observance of His commandments, which are set out in the Torah. In addition to the Torah, the Jews also have the Tanakh - another sacred text, the belief in the holiness of which has become one of the fundamental differences from Christianity.

Based on these two documents, Jews hold the following views:

1. Monotheism - believe in One God the Father, who created the earth and man in His Image and Likeness.
2. God is Perfect and Almighty and is also presented as the source of Grace and Love for all. He is not only God for man, but also loving Father who has mercy and helps to be saved from sin.
3. Dialogues can take place between man and God, i.e. prayers. To do this, you do not need to make sacrifices or any other manipulations. God wants to approach man directly and does this according to His desire. Man only has to strive for dialogue and the holiness of God.
4. The value of a person who is created in God's Image is enormous. He has his own purpose from the Lord, which consists in endless and comprehensive spiritual improvement.
5. In the history of mankind there are great people and prophets, about whose lives the Old Testament writes. Among them are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah and other sages who are fundamental figures in Judaism and role models.
6. The main moral principles of religion are love for the Almighty and for one’s neighbor;
7. The basis of religion is the Ten Commandments, which a Jew must strictly observe.
8. The doctrine of openness of religion, i.e. opportunity for anyone to apply to it.
9. The teaching about the coming of the Messiah - a prophet and king who will save humanity.

These are not all the theses of Judaism, but they are fundamental and allow us to form an opinion about this religion. In fact, it is the closest to Christianity in its beliefs, but still has significant differences.

Difference from Orthodoxy

Despite the same belief in an Almighty and Loving God, Christianity differs significantly from Judaism in a number of theological issues. And it was these differences that became irreconcilable for their followers.

Jews pray in the synagogue

Differences include:

1. Recognition of Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and Lord, as part of the Holy Trinity - Jews reject this fundamental basis of Christianity and refuse to believe in the divinity of Christ. They also reject Christ as the Messiah because they do not understand the importance and value of His death on the cross. They wanted to see a Messiah-Warrior who would save them from the oppression of other peoples, and a simple man came who saved humanity from sin - the main enemy. Misunderstanding and denial of this is the main and fundamental difference between these religions.
2. For a Christian, the salvation of the soul is only in faith in Jesus Christ, but for a Jew this does not matter. In their opinion, people of all faiths, even radically different ones, can be saved, provided they follow the basic commandments (10 Commandments + 7 Commandments of the sons of Noah).
3. For a Christian, the fundamental commandments are not only the 10 laws of the Old Testament, but also the 2 commandments that Christ gave. Jews recognize only the Old Testament and its laws.
4. Belief in chosenness: For followers of Christ, it is clear that anyone who confesses Christ can be saved and become part of God’s people. For Jews, the belief in their chosenness is fundamental and indisputable, despite their actions and lifestyle.
5. Missionary - Jews do not seek to enlighten other nations and convert them to their faith, but for Christians this is one of the commandments of Christ “Go and teach.”
6. Tolerance: Christians try to be tolerant towards representatives of other faiths and to be meek during oppression; on the contrary, ideas are extremely aggressive towards other religions and always militantly defend their beliefs and rights.

Important! These are the main differences between Orthodoxy as a Christian branch and Judaism, but there are actually many more. It is also important to take into account the presence of various branches and schools in Judaism, which may have different concepts and views from the main teaching.

The attitude of the Orthodox Church to Judaism

Throughout ecclesiastical Christian history (as well as the history of Judaism), there have been bellicose skirmishes over disagreements over dogmatic issues.

The synagogue is a place of public worship and the center of life of the Jewish community

At the beginning of the emergence of Christianity (the first centuries AD), the Jews were extremely militant towards its representatives, starting with the crucifixion of Christ himself and the persecution of His first disciples. Later, with the widespread spread of Christianity, its followers began to treat Jews cruelly and infringe upon them in every possible way.

According to historical documents, forced baptism of Jews took place in 867–886. and later. Also, many people know about the persecution of Jews as a people already in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in the USSR and during the Second World War, when millions of Jews suffered.

The Church today responds to this as follows:

• a violent attitude towards the Jews took place, but much later than the Christians suffered;
• this was an exception and not a widespread practice;
• The Church has a negative attitude towards such manifestations of violence and condemns the actions and the very idea of ​​forced conversion.

Alexander Men once very clearly expressed his attitude towards Judaism, and it completely coincides with the opinion of the entire Orthodox Church and its attitude. According to him, the Old Testament became the basis for the three main monistic religions that arose in the womb of the culture of Ancient Israel. Both Judaism and Christianity, despite their unambiguous identical recognition of the Old Testament, have their own teachings and canons, which have their own theological differences.

Despite this, by the independent definition of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is multinational and does not want and will begin to expel Jewish elements from its bosom, since it has many of them within itself.

Important! Christianity is a brotherly religion and accepts anyone and everyone who shares its values. However, she does not deny different cultures and nationalities, but strive to spread faith in Christ among all peoples and cultures.

Orthodox Church accepts all nations, including Jews, but is not ready to recognize the beliefs of Judaism, since it finds them incorrect. If a Jew wishes to attend religious services, no one will hinder him or treat him with disdain. But an Orthodox Christian cannot accept his beliefs, since he professes Christ, whom the Jews reject as Lord.

From this it follows that every Orthodox Christian should accept other cultures and religions politely and tolerantly, but without renouncing his national origin and faith in Jesus Christ.

The fundamental difference between Christianity and Judaism

Judaism and Christianity

Christianity's relationship to Judaism cannot be compared with its relationship to any other religion. In essence, Christianity and Judaism are two branches of the same religion- biblical religion, which is indicated at least by the fact that Christians and Jews have the same Scripture. And, of course, more: Israel, God's chosen people, is an irreducible element of Christian theology. Jesus was a pious Jew. Obviously, there is nothing more contraindicated to Christianity than anti-Semitism: “Semitism” is inscribed in Christianity, so to speak, “eternally”; but why then is anti-Semitism such a chronic disease of Christians? Christianity is not the abolition, but the completion of Judaism, a Judaism where they no longer wait for the Messiah, but believe that He has come. And here, of course, the most important question arises: why did the majority of God’s chosen people not accept the Messiah? What does Paul mean then when he says that “all Israel will be saved”? What happens to the Covenant of God and Israel after the Resurrection of Jesus? The Second Temple is destroyed, sacrifices have not been made for two thousand years - has Judaism “lost”? At the same time, the Torah is distributed among all the peoples of the world - does Judaism “win”? Isn't this fundamentally important for both Christian and Jewish theology?

Jews at the Western Wall

One way or another, for many centuries Israel has been scattered among the Christian nations. The two-thousand-year history of the Jewish Diaspora ended with the Shoah... After this, Christians (Europeans in general) no longer have the right to remain anti-Semitic. The ban on anti-Semitism, however, has often come to be understood as a ban on criticizing Jews in general. One of the effects of the Shoah is the creation of the state of Israel: it cannot be criticized. The situation is paradoxical: when Jews existed as a diaspora, it was indeed immoral to criticize them: but it was then that the history of Judeo-Christian relations for the most part can be reduced to anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism became absolutely taboo precisely after the creation of the state of Israel: that is, precisely when Israel is not only possible, but also morally necessary to criticize (like any state). In other words, discrimination against Jews remained, but became positive (in particular, this can be seen in expressions like “Hitler wanted to destroy all Jews” - yes, of course, but also the Roma: why did the genocide of the Roma not shock the world as much as the genocide of the Jews?).

Badiou wrote well about all this in “The Orientation of the Word “Jew””: “Jew” once meant: “emancipation”, “struggle against oppression”, “equality” - in short, it was a word from the left spectrum; now “Jew” rather rhymes with “war”, “segregation”, “state” - in short, with a word from the right spectrum. Theologically, we can grasp it this way: we need to complement “theology after Auschwitz” with “theology after the creation of the State of Israel.”

One way or another, today we offer a fairly weighty selection of books, articles, lectures on Judeo-Christian relations.

Israel shoots down Palestinians at border demonstration (2018)

Books

The Shoah is an event that forever changed Christian-Jewish relations, European anti-Semitism developed to the point of absolute evil and collapsed (as one would like to believe: although one could say that if in one country or another the conditions of Weimar Germany are reproduced, then these conditions will reproduce an analogue of Nazism ). In the collection Socio-political dimension of Christianity" you will find a section on “Christians and Jews after Auschwitz”, which contains several articles by contemporary thinkers. The most interesting thing here is the connection between the Shoah and the problem of creating the state of Israel, where Jews for the first time in many centuries became a political force, like any political force that oppresses its “enemies.” “Theology after Auschwitz” must have in itself such an element as “Jewish liberation theology”: Jews after their Holocaust and Palestinians after their: Shoah and Nakba(paradoxically, the evil done by Europeans to the Jews was reflected in the evil done by Jews to the Palestinians).

Lectures

Here's what you'll find in them:

Righteous John of Kronstadt- famous review of the Jewish pogrom in Chisinau: “What stupidity or lack of understanding of the greatest Christian holiday, what stupidity of the Russian people! What disbelief! What a misconception! Instead of a Christian holiday, they organized a foul-killing holiday for Satan.”

F. M. Dostoevsky. Writer's Diary. Perhaps the greatest Christian writer... was an anti-Semite. Well, you need to know this too.

Nikolay Leskov. “The Jew in Russia” - the text of another great Christian writer.

“From the spiritual books of the Jews, which Christianity also honors, we know that according to the biblical view, Jehovah himself dealt with the fate of the Jews. The Jews upset Him, betrayed Him, “offered themselves to alien gods - Ashtoreth and Molech,” and Jehovah punished him for this either with domestic misfortunes, or with captivity and dispersion, but, however, He never took away from them the hope of the Father’s forgiveness.”

V. S. Soloviev. “Jewishness and the Christian Question”, “New Testament Israel”, “Protest against the anti-Semitic movement in the press”, “Letter from V. S. Solovyov to the author (Instead of a preface)<к книге Ф. Б. Геца «Слово подсудимому»>».

“It is possible to prove to the Jews that they are mistaken only in fact - by putting into practice the Christian idea, consistently carrying it out in real life. The more fully the Christian world expressed the Christian idea of ​​spiritual and universal theocracy, the more powerful would be the influence of Christian principles on privacy Christians, on social life Christian peoples, on political relations in Christian humanity - the more obviously the Jewish view of Christianity would be refuted, the more possible and closer the conversion of the Jews would become. Thus, the Jewish question is a Christian question».

Vasily Rozanov- the main Judophile and the main anti-Semite of Russian thought, rushing from one extreme to another, the philosopher leaves us perplexed about his attitude towards the Jews. Having once supported the “blood libel”, another time he calls for a return to Old Testament and learn to live from the Jews... Maybe nonsense, maybe “dialectics”: “Judaism”, “Jewish secret writing”, “Do Jews have “secrets”?”, “More about the Jewish secret”, “The olfactory and tactile attitude of Jews towards blood”, “Something “to myself””, “In the neighborhood of Sodom (The Origins of Israel)”, “The Angel of “Jehovah” (The Origins of Israel)”, “Europe and the Jews”, “Why are Jews really not allowed to carry out pogroms?” .

D. S. Merezhkovsky. The Jewish question is like the Russian one.

“It’s hard, painful, embarrassing...

But even through pain and shame, we shout, repeat, swear, assure people who do not know the multiplication table that two and two are four, that Jews are people just like us - not enemies of the fatherland, not traitors, but honest Russian citizens, loving Russia no less than ours; that anti-Semitism is a shameful mark on the face of Russia.

But, besides shouting, is it possible to express one calm thought? Judeophobia is connected with Judeophilia. Blind denial causes the same blind affirmation of someone else's nationality. When it says an absolute “no” to everything, then when objecting, one must say an absolute “yes” to everything.

V. I. Ivanov. On the ideology of the Jewish question.

“We have so completely confused, distorted and forgotten all the holy and right traditions that we have become so unaccustomed to delving with our minds into those we have learned by heart. clear words ancient truth that the statement may seem paradoxical: the more alive and deeper the church consciousness is in a Christian..., the more alive and deeply he feels himself as a son of the Church - I will not say just a philo-Semite - but truly a Semite in spirit.”

N. A. Berdyaev. “The Fate of Jewry”, “The Jewish Question as a Christian Question”.

“The Jewish question is a question of the Christian vocation of the Russian people. There are some similarities in messianic consciousness between these peoples. And it is no coincidence that extreme communism turned out to be primarily a Russian-Jewish idea, a Russian-Jewish anti-Christian faith. In the Russian spiritual element and Russian Christianity, Judaistic-chiliastic, national-messianic elements were strong.”

S. N. Bulgakov. “Zion”, “The Fate of Israel as the Cross of Our Lady”, “Racism and Christianity”, “Persecution of Israel”.

“This people not only were, but also remain chosen, for “the gifts and election of God are immutable,” according to the words of the apostle. Paul (Rom. XI, 29). His current detractors should remember and know this, unless they themselves deny faith in Christ and veneration of His Most Pure Mother.

Here we are approaching the last secret that the ap talks about. Paul, to the conversion of Israel (26). What is this secret? It is not open to us. However, pious conjectures remain, which have a certain persuasiveness and even obviousness. This evidence is connected with our common hope in the intercession of the Mother of God. Can the work of “salvation of all Israel”, its spiritual resurrection, be accomplished, apart from She for whose sake his election took place in order to serve the cause of incarnation? “The Mother of God, who has not left the world, leaves with prayerful help and care the tree from which She Herself grew on earth in order to ascend into heaven? Is there any effective help from Her? It is enough just to pose such a question to see that it is exactly this way and cannot be otherwise. If the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, all the Old Testament forefathers and prophets, the Forerunners and the Apostles, heeds the prayer they utter among their people, then at the head of this prayer host stands before God “the never-sleeping Mother of God in prayers,” and through this intercession a mystery still unknown to us is accomplished.” salvation of all Israel in its conversion to Christ."

L. P. Karsavin. Russia and the Jews.

“Jewry is connected with Christianity by one Messiah, Who came to the Jews and Whom they reject. We recognize Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the God-man, who by humanity is blood-related to the Jewish people and who first of all came to the children of the house of Israel and who made us the new Israel, spiritual Israel.”

A. Z. Steinberg. Reply to L.P. Karsavin. “Russian Jewry represents a kind of organic unity, although it simultaneously belongs to two different wholes that embrace it: to the national community of Israel and to Russia. Russian Jews have tasks in relation to world Jewry and have tasks in relation to Russia.”

V. V. Zenkovsky. On topics of historiosophy.

“Recent years have been marked by an acute and persistent raising of the problem of Jewry. This is an age-old problem, but our time has brought a special passion here, often reaching genuine mania. In addition to the brutal persecution of Jews in Germany, which with its inhumanity embarrassed many even hardened anti-Semites, here was added the preaching of the absurd theory of racism, penetrating like an infection into a whole series countries All this sharply distinguishes the Jewish question from the large complex of other difficult problems with which our time is burdened. To a certain extent, this also includes the collapse or impotence of the traditional position of liberalism - not in the sense that this position turned out to be incorrect - but the position of liberalism in relation to Jewish question revealed a clear insufficiency and inability to cover the full complexity of the topic of Jewry. A purely legal approach to this topic did not bring a real resolution to the issue - obviously the roots of anti-Semitism, evil hostility towards Jewry cannot be paralyzed from the outside, through legal culture alone.”

G. P. Fedotov. New on old topic(Towards a modern formulation of the Jewish question).

“There are two reasons why the fate of this people now affects the non-Jewish, and especially the Christian world, more painfully than the fate of others. The first is the universal spread of the Jewish Diaspora and its far-reaching assimilation. Every Christian in any country has friends and relatives among Jews. Through their personal grief, he can easily feel the national catastrophe of Jewry, unless, of course, he himself belongs to its conscious enemies. The second reason is religious. For a Christian, Jews are not just a people among others, but a people marked by divine election, the people of Christ, who gave birth to Him and rejected Him: a people whose fate has a special, world-historical significance.”

M. O. Gershenzon. The fate of the Jewish question.

“The first, most characteristic sign of Zionism is lack of faith, its unbridled rationalism, which considers itself called upon and capable of controlling the elements. Our ancestors knew how to wisely humble themselves before sacred secrets; The modern mind does not know its limits. But there are secrets; If our thought has unraveled the secret of natural selection, if it has managed to subjugate the power of electromagnetic waves, this does not mean that everything is under its control. Zionism encroaches on the forbidden mind; in this sense, he is the flesh of modern positivism, which, however, is directly evidenced by his nationalistic-utilitarian attitude towards religion.”

Vladimir Martsinkovsky. Christ and the Jews.

“Jews are afraid of accepting Christianity as a betrayal of their people, as betrayal and apostasy. Hence the hostility towards missionaries and opposition to any agitation in the name of this or that Christian church.

But we have already clarified our main idea above: precisely in order to be genuine Jews, Jews must believe in Christ, their Messiah. And in order to believe in Christ, modern Jews must revive the spirit of the prophets in themselves. Jews are “sons of the prophets and the covenant.” This is what the Apostle Peter said about them (Acts 3:25). This is their calling. His memory has not faded in Israel to this day.”

Prot. Alexander Men. What is Judeo-Christianity.

“The Jewish religion was intended—I use this term specifically—by God as a world religion. This is clear throughout the Bible. This religion cannot remain within Israel. What was put together within the framework of our people should be and was brought out for the whole world, Despite mutual conflicts, mutual accusations, mutual struggle, which I will not talk about now, the idea of ​​kinship and closeness of two faiths is now more and more becomes obvious."

Antisemitism

“We can say with relief: the roots of anti-Semitism are in the pre-Christian world. Anti-Semitism is a pagan phenomenon, and in double meaning this word. Firstly, it completely contradicts the foundations of Christian doctrine, is alien and hostile to them. Secondly, genetically and historically it is also associated only with paganism. Anti-Semitism arose and developed in the world of ancient paganism.”

“Standing on completely different positions, the Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain and the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, equally identify the source of Christian hatred of Jews. In their opinion, it is rooted in unconscious hatred of Christ, in rebellion against the “Christian yoke.” For these people, the “yoke of Christ” is by no means good and “his burden” is not at all light. Therefore, Christian anti-Semitism is nothing more than Christophobia. Unable to openly express his hatred of Christianity, the Christian anti-Semite unconsciously transfers it to Jews, related by blood to the Founder of Christianity. He accuses the Jews of killing Christ. In fact, he would like to condemn them for the fact that He came out from their midst, that it was they who gave Him to the world. And this makes Christian anti-Semitism similar to Nazi anti-Semitism.”

Nikolay Berdyaev. “Christianity and anti-Semitism. The religious fate of Jewry": “The combination of religion with blood and nationality, the belief in the chosenness of the people, the preservation of the purity of the race - all this is ancient Jewish origin, introduced by Jews. I don’t know if the German racists notice that they are imitating the Jews. There is precisely nothing “Aryan” in racism; the Hindu and Greek “Aryans” were more prone to individualism. But there is a difference between Jewish and German racism. Jewish racism was universally messianic, it nurtured a universal religious truth. German racism is an aggressive, world-conquering particularism. Racism now means de-Christianization and dehumanization, a return to barbarism and paganism.”

Priest Vyacheslav Perevezentsev. "The sin of anti-Semitism": “Anti-Semitism, like any other racial discrimination, is not only contempt for another person as a bearer of the image of God, but also (this time this is its exclusive feature) humiliation of Christ and the Mother of God.”

Andrey Desnitsky. "Anti-Semitism at the Foot of the Cross": "Services last days Holy Week- bright, unique, speaking about the most important thing that exists in Christianity. Easter will be full of rejoicing, but here there is such a range of feelings, such a height of theology...

And here there are words over which prayer literally stumbles. We hear that not only God is called upon, but also... “the evil one, the most obstinate generation of the Jews” (Article 2 of Matins of Holy Saturday). And even this sounds like this: “... you were not content with betrayal, O Christ, gave birth to Jewry, but shook your heads, bringing blasphemy and abuse. But grant them, O Lord, according to their deeds” (11th Antiphon of Good Friday Matins). A request for mercy, repentance - and “give according to deeds”?

Priest Georgy Chistyakov. “From marginal Judeophobia to party anti-Semitism”- a note about anti-Semitism in Russian media and politics in the 90s. (how spontaneous anti-Semitism can turn into a political respectable ideology).

Art

"Jephthah's Daughter"- Gertrude von Le Fort's story about the relationship between the Church and the Synagogue. Medieval Spain, the Inquisition is persecuting Jews, a plague has spread in the city. Suffering and hatred rule the world: and only the rabbi’s daughter understands that “our enemies are also our brothers”... A story about the relationship between Christians and Jews: “The synagogue is also Mary, for she is the gate through which Salvation came into this world”; about Love and compassion.

"Gog and Magog"- unique book. The only novel the great philosopher Buber, reflecting the most interesting real story: dispute between tzaddikim (Hasidic saints) about Napoleon. Some of the tzaddikim wanted to use magical means to make Napoleon “Gog and Magog,” thereby bringing Deliverance closer. Other tzaddikim believed that only inner righteousness could bring about Deliverance. Thus, the novel resolves the question of how believers of the biblical tradition should relate to history and its end. It is interesting that Buber writes in the afterword that one of the reproaches to the novel was this: Buber Christianized Hasidic traditions.

"God's Judgment" - TV movie Andy de Emmony (2008). The Jews in Auschwitz decided to put God on trial, accusing Him of breaking the Covenant. The trial will examine the main events in the history of the relationship between Israel and God: based on biblical history and what it came to in the 20th century, questions of theodicy, suffering, justice, etc. will be raised.

“We found God guilty. What now? “Now we need to pray.”

"Ushpizin"- a good light movie. “Ushpizin” are guests who, according to Jewish beliefs, should come to the house for the Feast of Tabernacles. The spouses Moishe and Malka actually receive guests: escaped prisoners, but there is nothing to be done: these are the kind of guests the Lord sent them.

The reason for the tragic tension between Christianity and Judaism cannot be explained simply by differences in religious beliefs and dogmas, which also exist in relation to all other religions. If you look from the Jewish side, you can assume that the reason is a long history of Christian persecution. However, this is not the root cause, since persecution is a consequence of an already existing conflict between Christianity and Judaism. This problem is more relevant than ever in our time.

A time to reflect on the future of relations between Jews and Christians. After all, only now have representatives of Christian churches openly admitted that the cause of crimes against Jews is primarily religious intolerance. In the 20th century, anti-Semitism took on a form that was dangerous to Christianity itself. Then certain circles of the Christian world began to reconsider their positions.

There were apologies from catholic church for centuries of persecution of Jews. Protestant churches, for the most part, call for an understanding of G‑d's mission for the Jewish people in this world. It is difficult to judge the current position of Orthodoxy on this issue, since this position is simply not expressed.

It is necessary to talk about the problems that have arisen between Christians and Jews, starting with an analysis of the contradictions into which the church found itself, declaring itself the New Israel. The first Christians declared that they new religion, but consistent successors of Judaism. All Christian concepts are taken from the promises and prophecies of the Hebrew Holy Scripture (TaNaKha). Myself central image Christianity Jesus, not just a savior, but also the Moshiach promised to the Jewish people, a descendant of King David. By the way, the origin of Jesus presented in the New Testament raises a lot of fair questions.

The Church insistently declared that it was a direct continuation of that Divine action in history, the main part of which is the chosenness of the people of Israel. Meanwhile, the Jews continued to exist, claiming that the Bible belonged to them, that their understanding of the Bible was the only legitimate one, and branding the Christian interpretation as heresy, lies and idolatry. This mutual opposition created a climate of hostility and rejection that made the already complex Judeo-Christian relationship even more contentious.

The reluctance of the Jews to accept the new teaching gave rise to many problems for Christian theology, including one of the main doctrines - missionary, the essence of which is to convey the Gospel, i.e. "Good news" to those who do not know about it. The Jews, however, were originally in a different category, being the first recipients of G‑d's promise but rejecting it. In the eyes of Christians, Jews became living evidence of stubbornness and blindness.

Jewish history in Christendom has been marked by alternations of more or less severe oppression, relative tolerance, expulsions and periodic pogroms. Ideologically, Christianity is completely imbued with the philosophy of Judaism. The answers offered by Christianity to questions about the meaning of existence, the structure of the Universe, the human soul, birth and death, and eternity are based on ideas formulated long before the appearance of Jesus Christ. They are given in the Torah.

It is an undeniable fact that most people still do not know about such a close spiritual relationship between the two religions and that the basis of all moral values The Western world is based not just on Christian values, but on values ​​borrowed from Judaism. Even the ten cardinal commandments offered in the Gospel, which have become the basis of Western morality, are known to every Jew as the ten cardinal commandments given by G-d to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.

Yet Christianity is different from Judaism, otherwise it cannot be a different religion. The outstanding scholar of our time, Rabbi Nachum Amsel, cites ten such differences.

First difference. Most of the world's religions, including Christianity, support the doctrine that those who do not believe in this religion will be punished and will not receive a place in Heaven or the World to Come. Judaism, unlike any significant world religion, believes that a non-Jew (who does not necessarily have to believe in the Torah, but who keeps the seven commandments given to Noah) will definitely have a place in the World to Come and is called a righteous non-Jew. These commandments include: 1) to believe that the world was created and governed by one G-d (not necessarily a Jewish one); 2) establish courts of law; 3) don't steal; 4) not commit adultery; 5) do not worship idols; 6) do not eat parts of a living animal; 7) do not blaspheme. Anyone who observes these basic principles receives a place in Heaven (Sanhedrin 56b).

Second difference. In Christianity, the most important idea is faith in Jesus as a savior. This faith in itself gives a person the opportunity to be saved. Judaism believes that the highest thing for a person is to serve God by doing his will, and this is even higher than faith. There is a verse in the Torah that says, “He is my God, and I will glorify Him.” In discussing how a person can glorify and exalt G-d, the Talmud answers that it is through actions. Hence, highest form becoming like G-d is performing an action, not feeling or believing. Faith must be manifested in actions, not words.

Third difference. The core belief of Judaism is the belief in one G-d. There can be no other in the world higher power except G-d. In addition to believing in the concept of God, Christianity believes in the concept of Satan as the source of evil, who is the force opposite to G-d. Judaism is very specific about the belief that evil, like good, comes from G-d and not from another force. A verse from the Holy Scripture reads: “I [G-d] create the world and cause disasters.” (Ishayahu, 45:7). The Talmud tells the Jew that when trouble comes, the Jew must recognize G‑d as the Just Judge. Thus, the Jewish reaction to obvious evil is to attribute its origin to G‑d and not to any other force.

Fourth difference. Judaism holds that G‑d, by definition, has no form, image, or body, and that G‑d cannot be represented in any form. This position is even included in the thirteen fundamentals of faith of Judaism. On the other hand, Christianity believes in Jesus, who as God took on human form. G‑d tells Moses that a man cannot see G‑d and live.

Fifth difference. In Christianity, the very purpose of existence is life for the sake of the hereafter. Although Judaism also believes in the World to Come, this is not the only purpose of life. The prayer “Aleynu” says that the main task of life is to improve this world.

Sixth difference. Judaism believes that every person has a personal relationship with G‑d and that every person can communicate directly with G‑d on a daily basis. In Catholicism, priests and the Pope serve as intermediaries between G-d and man. Unlike Christianity, where the clergy is endowed with sublime holiness and a special relationship with G-d, in Judaism there are absolutely no religious actions that a rabbi can perform that any individual Jew cannot perform. Thus, contrary to what many people believe, a rabbi does not have to be present at a Jewish funeral, a Jewish wedding (the ceremony can be performed without a rabbi), or when performing other religious activities. The word "rabbi" means "teacher." Although rabbis have the authority to make official decisions about Jewish law, a Jew who is sufficiently trained can also make decisions about Jewish law without receiving orders. Thus, there is nothing unique (from a religious point of view) about being a rabbi as a member of the Jewish clergy.

Seventh difference. In Christianity, miracles play a central role, being the basis of faith. In Judaism, however, miracles can never be the basis of faith in G-d. The Torah says that if a person appears before the people and declares that G-d appeared to him, that he is a prophet, shows supernatural miracles, and then begins to instruct people to violate something from the Torah, then this person should be killed as a false prophet ( Devarim 13:2-6).

Eighth difference. Judaism believes that a person begins life with a “clean slate” and that he can achieve good in this world. Christianity believes that man is inherently wicked, burdened with Original Sin. This prevents him from achieving virtue, and so he must turn to Jesus as his savior.

Ninth difference. Christianity is based on the premise that the Messiah has already come in the form of Jesus. Judaism believes that the Messiah is yet to come. One of the reasons why Judaism cannot believe that the Messiah has already come is that in the Jewish view the messianic times will be marked by significant changes in the world. Even if these changes occur naturally and not supernaturally, then universal harmony and recognition of G-d will reign in the world. Since, according to Judaism, no changes occurred in the world with the appearance of Jesus, then, according to the Jewish definition of the Messiah, he has not yet come.

Tenth difference. Since Christianity is aimed exclusively at the next world, the Christian attitude towards the human body and its desires is similar to the attitude towards ungodly temptations. Since the next world is a world of souls, and it is the soul that distinguishes man from other creatures, Christianity believes that man is obliged to nourish his soul, and neglect his body as much as possible. And this is the way to achieve holiness. Judaism recognizes that the soul is more important, but the desires of the body cannot be neglected. So instead of trying to deny the body and completely suppress physical desires, Judaism turns the fulfillment of these desires into a holy act. The Holiest Christian priests and the Pope take a vow of celibacy, while for a Jew creating a family and procreating a family is a holy act. While in Christianity the ideal of holiness is a vow of poverty, in Judaism, wealth, on the contrary, is a positive quality.

I dare to add an eleventh distinction to Rabbi Nachum Amsel.

In Christianity, a person is responsible for the sins he has committed before God; they can be corrected by repentance and confession before a priest, who is endowed with the power, in the name of God and Jesus Christ, to let them go in peace. In Judaism, sins are divided into two categories: sins against G-d and sins against man. Sins committed against G-d are forgiven after a person’s sincere repentance before the Almighty himself (no intermediaries are allowed in this matter). But even the Almighty himself does not forgive crimes against a person; only the offended party, that is, another person, can forgive such crimes. Thus, a person is necessarily responsible to G‑d, but this does not exempt him from responsibility to people.
Jewish roots of Christianity. First of all, we must note the form of worship in Christianity, which has signs of Jewish origin and influence. The very concept of church ritual, namely the gathering of believers for prayer, the reading of Holy Scripture and a sermon, follows the example of worship in the synagogue. Reading passages from the Bible is the Christian version of reading the Torah and the Book of the Prophets in the synagogue. The Psalms, in particular, play very important role, both in Catholic and Orthodox liturgy. Many early Christian prayers are excerpts or adaptations of Jewish originals. And what can we say about many wordings in prayers, like “Amen”, “Hallelujah”, etc.

If we turn to one of the central events of the New Testament - the Last Supper, we will see that there is a description of the real Passover seder, obligatory for every Jew on the holiday of Passover.

Needless to say, the very existence of similarities did more than just exacerbate the conflict. It became impossible for the Jews to consider Christians as mere bearers of an unfamiliar and completely alien religion, since they laid claim to the heritage of Israel, tending to deprive the Jewish people of the reality and authenticity of their religious existence.

PAVEL ARYE