salvation

Yom Kippur Meditations that Touch the Soul

Yom Kippur Meditations that Touch the Soul

This Tuesday evening, we begin our observance of the holiest and most spiritual day of the year. If Shabbat is holy, then, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the Holy of Holies. I want to share a few meditations that make my Yom Kippur more meaningful. I hope they will enhance your experience too. As we approach God on this day, I contemplate the significance of the words, “not because of our righteousness do we pour out our supplication before You, but because of Your great compassion” (Da
Meditation salvation
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
The Missionary Tried To Bribe Me

The Missionary Tried To Bribe Me

The Missionary Tried to Bribe Me A Jewish family asked me to meet in their home to dialogue with a Christian missionary who was discussing religion with them. I accepted the invitation because I felt it was important to provide everyone with a second point of view. I listened respectfully to the familiar and classic arguments the missionary presented. When it was my turn to respond, I provided a thoughtful refutation to his claims and also pointed out the spiritual beauty of Judaism and the mi
Torah portion Shoftim bribe
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Jews for Judaism: The Response to an Urgent Need

Jews for Judaism: The Response to an Urgent Need

The Jewish Response to Missionaries - Counter-Missionary Handbook Foreword For many years I have been familiar with the fine international organization Jews for Judaism. Its founder and West Coast director, Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, has worked arduously within the Jewish community to offer counseling services and educational material to counter the arguments of missionary claims. The work of Jews for Judaism has had a major impact in disseminating the truths embodied in Jewish tradition. As a sc
jewish students jews for judaism
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Sin, Atonement and Salvation

Sin, Atonement and Salvation

It is important to note that Judaism and Christianity differ on most major theological issues. One of the more obvious issues is the matter of sin, atonement and salvation. Christian Belief * Early Christianity latched onto a notion that the messiah was someone who would be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world. * Christianity believes that we are born condemned and that without the practice of animal sacrifices Jews cannot atone for their sins. This represents a blatant misinterp
atonement salvation
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
One Way Street to Salvation?

One Way Street to Salvation?

Missionaries claim that there is no salvation from sin or any possibility of a personal relationship with G-d without belief in Jesus. Missionaries claim that there is no salvation from sin or any possibility of a personal relationship with G-d without belief in Jesus. Specifically with regard to Jews, their argument is that Jews have always needed animal blood sacrifices to rid themselves of sin. Since sacrifices were abolished after the destruction of the Temple, they claim that today Jews ca
belief in jesus personal relationship
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz