Why will this post "drive a wedge between Christians and Jews"? Please, explain.
~Theo
The post emphasizes differences, not commonalities.
For example, the statement by Maimonides would be seen as offensive by many Christians. And then there is the statement from Cardinal Ratzinger, asking if Christians should "tolerate" Judaism. Many Jews would find that offensive.
But I will say this. The article ended well, with the "Love is the Key" remarks.
It doesn’t drive a wedge for me. I don’t consider Maimonides infallible, though he was brilliant and is an important Jew. If Jewish leaders were involved in the decision to kill Jesus I’d like to think Christians wouldn’t hold it against all Jews forever.
For Jews, Jesus did not bring among other things a messianic era. No, because to us he didn’t fulfill the prophecy. It doesn’t mean he is evil or mad. It means we can’t call him a prophet.
Is it OK that Jesus is a prophet or savior to Christians? Yes. Because for Christians it is so. For Christians, praying to or through Jesus is not idolatry. It would be for us Jews. But it is right for Christians.
I a. Not offended nor should any Jew be that you all struggle and think and pray on this difference. We respect struggling with Gd.
It’s a different paradigm. We are commanded to be Jews. We accept that others are not, nor should they be. Others have their own Ways. For them, their religion is the right way. Christianity feels it must convert others. So in your Way you must struggle with Judaism because yours is to be, for you, the Only Way. This is to me the saddest thing about Christianity, though I mean only expression of my honest feeling and no offense at all. I respect your theology even though it isn’t mine.
There is only one Gd. One creator. There are apparently different ways to worship Him. I can accept that. I think that is how Jews feel, or are supposed to feel, about Christian theology.
Because there’ll be a huge theological debate and we all know how that works out.