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As a Jew, I disagree with the substance of that statement, whether she actually uttered those exact words or not. No one is going to convince me otherwise under any circumstances, so please don't waste my time or yours by trying to get me to change my mind.

I don't quite understand your position. I presume that you, as a Jew, affirm the truth of your scripture and tradition. If so, do you think others should convert to Judaism? Or that the world would be better off if we were all Jews?

I understand that Jews historically have not proselytized. I presume this is rooted in the long history of the Jews as a dispossessed and oppressed people who could not afford to offend the peoples among who they lived. But why the attitude persists today, at least in the United States, is beyond me.

For a very brief answer see post 326 . There is no reason to prostylize to a monothiest. That is Jewish tradition.

I understand that Jews historically have not proselytized. I presume this is rooted in the long history of the Jews as a dispossessed and oppressed people who could not afford to offend the peoples among who they lived.

No. Jews have not proselytized because being the chosen people, they know not everyone is invited.

I understand that Jews historically have not proselytized. I presume this is rooted in the long history of the Jews as a dispossessed and oppressed people who could not afford to offend the peoples among who they lived. But why the attitude persists today, at least in the United States, is beyond me.

Actually pre Christian and pre rabbinic Jewish folk did proselytize. The proselytizing stopped when they were faced with the loss of their heads from Rome.

To tell the truh I really don't understand what there is to be offended about. I understand that modern Jewish proselytizing is pretty much anathema but Christians are called by Christ to spread the gospel.

Though I don't understand why Jewish folk don't want to spread the good word of the God of Abraham, it certainly doesn't offend me.

Perhaps I have a mutated offense allele.

I don't quite understand your position. I presume that you, as a Jew, affirm the truth of your scripture and tradition. If so, do you think others should convert to Judaism? Or that the world would be better off if we were all Jews?

I do affirm the truth of the 5 Books of Moses, AKA the Torah. Nothing in the Torah requires or even urges the conversion of non-Jews to Judaism. Our job - why we were chosen - is to obey G-d's laws and to set an example (to be "a light unto the nations"). Under Jewish law, non-Jews absolutely DO have a place in "the world to come" (Heaven) if they simply obey the 7 Noahide Laws. These are laws set forth by G-d for Noah and his descendants to follow. Until Abraham, that's all there was. Upon Abraham's arrival on the scene, his descendants had additional laws to follow. Nothing in the Noahide laws would prevent a person of any religion that worshipped one G-d (THE one and only G-d) from Heaven.

Would the world be better of if everyone was Jewish? I can't answer that, only G-d can. But since He doesn't require it, I would presume that it isn't part of His plan.

As far as Jews not proselytizing, it has nothing to do with being an oppressed minority. Though I'm far from an expert, my understanding is that it has everything to do with making sure that everyone who claims to be a Jew is really a Jew, heart & soul. We Jews had a very difficult time because of the "mixed multitude" that came out of Egypt with us - these were non-Jews, some Egyptian, some of other nationalities, who were very opportunistic and adopted Jewish customs and laws (for a time) in order to leave Egypt. Afterward, they were a constant source of strife, and a constant drain on the faith of the Jews. To this day, a proper conversion only occurs after the Rabbi supervising it has discouraged the person 3 separate times. It is part of a millenia-long effort to keep Jews as Jews, to avoid outside influences.