When I hear the word gospel music, I think of Christians, churches, and choirs. I guess the category also considers Jewish artists:

"I am so honored to announce that our recording, Believe, has been nominated for Best Gospel Album by the 18th Annual Independent Music Awards!! And, the title track, Believe, has been nominated for both Best Gospel Song and Best Adult Contemporary Song!" from a posting by Neshama Carlebach.

Listened to a few tracks on youtube, not my cup of tea, but thought it interesting she was nominated.

Good morning,

As you can see I am a fresh member and this is my first post in the forum.

I need your help with these two pictures if someone can tell me what is it saying or the main topic on these pages.

I am a Hebrew learner with a passion for old paper.

thank you so much

Please instruct me if and how I am wrong:

          The "new" יָרֵחַ is not representing the new חוֹדֶשׁ? I feel as I am being told פֶּסַח is starting two days off from appointed times. Can someone explain why? Do I have something wrong? Because, by my counting and what I see; it is two days off.

Hello everyone!

I am new here and trying to find my path actually. I was raised in a family without religion. I didn't know anything about religions and even God when I was a child. When I grew up, I found my own way and now I believe in God. Also I believe that one of three religions (Judaism, Christianity or Islam) is the right religion but since I was not raised with a religion, it is really hard for me to find my way.
At the same time, even if I couldn't find my path yet, I have very different feeling about Judaism. Even if I was not raised in a Jewish family, I sometimes even feel like a Jewish.   Not only the religion but also Jewish culture is really appealing to me. But I always tried to keep myself away from it since a lot of people told me that Jewish people do not accept converts and it is impossible to convert Judaism if you don't have a Jewish mom.
Since I have never had a Jewish friend before, I wanted to learn the answer from you guys. Is it really impossible for a person to convert Judaism?

In a different thread, a line of discussion started which I would like to explore in this thread.



I had mentioned that I wanted to understand regarding Jewish belief and I quoted regarding Jesus that the Old Testament had many references to the coming Messiah and the following was stated in reply:

"Isaiah 53 has nothing to do with a messiah or Jesus. If you understood the Hebrew language that would be clear."

"I repeat, there is nothing in the Hebrew bible that specifically refers to Jesus, you have been led down the wrong path as have many for thousands of years, but I understand, that's not your fault."

To be honest I don't understand that last statement. Whilst I do not know the Hebrew Bible, I am willing to learn which is why I joined this website. 

I have just searched on the web for Isaiah 53 in the Hebrew Bible and found many sites stating this is a forbidden chapter. Why would this be?

One website states the following in its introduction:

Isaiah 53 The Forbidden Chapter.

The 17th century Jewish historian, Raphael Levi, admitted that long ago the rabbis used to read Isaiah 53 in synagogues, but after the chapter caused “arguments and great confusion” the rabbis decided that the simplest thing would be to just take that prophecy out of the Haftarah readings in synagogues. That’s why today when we read Isaiah 52, we stop in the middle of the chapter and the week after we jump straight to Isaiah 54.

I don't understand so can anyone explain it to me please?

May I also ask, who are these verses talking about? Can you please tell me?

Isaiah 53
He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with [f]grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

I know many Jewish people do not believe in Jesus or that He is the Messiah, whilst Christians do. 
I'm hopeful we can discuss it a little so that I can gain an understanding. 
Just to be sure, I would like you to know that I am not trying to cause offence in case anyone should think that is the case. I respect everyone's views and it is important that you know I am asking with the uttermost respect.

Many thanks.

During all this lockdown I have started a conversation (via voice messages) with an openly Christian neighbor of mine about our beliefs. I asked her "why Jesus" because this is one huge part I could never understand about Christianity. 

Her answers are very centered on sin and mankind needing rescue (by accepting Jesus), leading back to the concept of original sin. She said that Judaism and Christianity have this in common, but so far my understanding was that in Judaism the consequences of that incident are not that any person being born "inherits" that sin, but that people start out innocent and without sin, but can, due to their own free will, commit sins in their lifetime. Are there any other interpretations in Judaism? Or is there any passage that suggests people need to be redeemed from that original sin?

Thank you!

B"H 
Hello, everyone I hope you are all doing as well as you can in this difficult time. 
I wanted to recommend some books which my Rabbi recommended to me, which I have since read and found very inspirational.

The first is Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Meaningful...b_title_bk


This book focuses on the different ways in which our modern lives are influenced by Hashem and how we must remember Him in every one of them. I think it's a helpful start in learning how to fill every corner of your life with G-dliness. 

The second book is Positivity Bias by Mendel Kalmenson.
https://www.amazon.com/Positivity-Bias-Mendel-Kalmenson-ebook/dp/B07SRD8636/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=positivity+bias&qid=1585899352&s=books&sr=1-1

This book enlightens the reader on how they can learn to change their naturally occurring negative outset into one filled with positivity and love for Hashem.

Thank you 
Ed

Hi, am Lisa and live in New York. I am an acting student and i am excited to be hear and learn and unlearn

I have recently started to look at Jewish history and I came across a book on the Internet which I think is called "A History of the Jewish People"  The problem is that I don't think that I copied down information such as the writer and publisher.  I set out below some of what I copied and wonder if you could tell me anything about it.  Regards, Brian M. Leahy

How is the corona virus and the stay at home orders from many states affecting your seder? I usually go out of town to friends and still plan to, but is anyone altering their plans because of the virus?