World Religion Student looking for a partner

[southerngirl]

Hello Southerngirl and welcome to the forum!

Just to let you know, the first 3 posts are moderated to keep out spam and bots.

Sure, I think there are several members here that would be happy to speak to you.

Fire away with your questions an we'll answer them to the best of our knowledge.

Glad you found us!

Thank you so much! I apologize for any ignorance. I'm from a very small community who doesn't have a lot of religious diversity, and there's only so much you can learn from a book. 

As I mentioned, I'm a Christian. Religious studies consider both Jewish and Christian religions to be based in history (our bible and the Jewish Tanakh). We have Bible Studies, in which we gather around and study the Bible as one would study a language in school. I assume it's the same with the Tanakh so I was curious if there's an official name for such a service and if it's like Bible Studies. 

There are a lot of subsets with the Christian faith, but in my area, most people aren't too harsh on one another. There are, however, some that believe in more strict rules who think others aren't faithful enough. Is that true for the Jewish religion as well?

On a personal level, how much would you say the Jewish faith shapes your identity? Using me as an example,  there are certain jobs I couldn't take without it conflicting with my faith, and then I would be unhappy. 

Thanks for the help!

No need to apologize!

Yes, we have many ways of studying Torah. Some are smaller Torah classes and others are in bigger venues. It is a constant ongoing journey we are on. Not sure if there is an "official" name for it though. We also break down the Torah into segments called "parsha". Each week we study a different one (or 2 in some cases) and usually a corresponding text from a different part of the Tanach.

Yes, there are different denominations within Judaism that adhere to the commandments differently and even within those denominations there are those that are stricter than others.

Judaism shapes my identity by providing guidelines and instructions on how to live life, to better myself and for the better of mankind.

Not sure if those answers are too general or not, but it's a starting point!

These answers are great. Thanks! Studying something and speaking to someone who lives it are two different things. It sounds odd to admit, but this board is my first time speaking to the Jewish community. 

So, the Torah is one part of the Tanach, right? It's like learning a new language! So, piggybacking that question, we also have Sunday school, which is more targeted to children. It's done through fun and games to help them understand the basics. Is there a Jewish version? 

While the Jewish community is larger than some others, the US seems to predominately Christian. This might not apply if you live in a Jewish-heavy community, but if not, do you find people less understanding of your Jewish traditions? For example, many businesses are closed on Christmas, which Christians consider to be the day Christ was born. Obviously, other people of different believes still celebrate it.