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This is the beginning of a WikiProject on Judaism.

Scope

This WikiProject aims to standardize Misplaced Pages articles on Judaism, halakha (Jewish law and tradition) and other subjects phenomena that are directly related to Judaism as a religion. It is not aimed at Jewish history (unless this intersects with religious issues), anti-semitism, Jewish culture, Zionism, Jewish art or literature, or social issues, except as when such social issues directly influence the development of religious aspects of Judaism.

Parentage

This WikiProject is currently not a child of any WikiProject.

Descendant Wikiprojects

No descendant WikiProjects currently defined

Formatting

Discussion of how each topic is to be formatted, sample given, including eg: Name, alternate names, description, evolution, relatives, see also, etc)

NPOV policy

In line with Misplaced Pages NPOV policy each religious denomination should have its POV (point of view) represented as they see it, without the article speaking ex cathredra.

Misplaced Pages articles attempt to treat issues in light of their historical development. We do not merely describe the way that Judaism's beliefs and practices exist now. We certainly do describe these, but we also describe their historical origins as known from the best evidence.

Misplaced Pages articles on history and religion draw from a religion's sacred texts, in this case including the Torah, Tanakh, Tosefta, Mishnah, the two Talmuds, the midrash literature and the responsa literature. But Misplaced Pages articles on history and religion also draw from modern archaeological, historical and scientific sources

Misplaced Pages articles describe changing social, religious and political conditions, and how Judaism's beliefs and practices may have developed over time.

Many Orthodox Jews will strenuously object to a critical historical treatments, claiming that this discriminates against their religious beliefs. They would prefer that the articles describe their faith as they see it, which is from an ahistorical perspective (e.g. the way things are is the way things have always been; any differences are from heretical sects that don't represent the real religion.) This point of view can also be mentioned; there is no necessary contradiction. NPOV policy means that we say that Group A says one thing for somesuch reasons, while group B says another thing for other reasons.

The meaning of the term "fundamentalism"

See the article on fundamentalism for the technical definition of this term. This word is used in articles on religion, but only in one its technical senses, and not as a pejorative phrase.

Does Orthodox Judaism belong on a "fundamentalism page? See further comments on talk page.

Mystical perspectives versus rationalist perspectives

Some Misplaced Pages contributors tend to look at Judaism from the perspecive of Kabbalah, esoteric Jewish mysticism, while others tend to look at Judaism from the perspective of philosophical rationalism. When an interpretation of a practice, belief or verse is given, the article should note if this is the unanimous view found within Judaism, or if it is the Kabbalisticic view.

POV conflics

As there tend to be POV conflicts on some issues, this WikiProject also aims at minimising the edit warring, and other forms of antagonistic behaviour. Disputes should be taken to the talk page as soon as possible; questions that span several different articles can be discussed on this WikiProject's talk page.

Jewish vs. Christian perspectives

Many Jewish pages on the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Tanakh, etc, "live" side-by-side with Christian views on the self-same texts. Here are some serious issues to consider, in responding to and standardizing articles relating to Torah, Tanakh and "Scripture" etc:

  • Almost all articles on Tanakh are drawn from the Christian dominated Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 (there is even a template for it). There is a need for good Jewish sources as alternatives to "Eastons".
  • Usage of words such "Old Testament" and "New Testament" in articles. Need to standardize introductions and usages of Torah and Tanakh / Hebrew Bible etc and to explain why and how Judaism views and uses these terms (differently).
I would like to make a radical suggestion related to the above two points, and to the next one. Every culture and religion on WP has its its literature discussed objectively and fairly (hopefully), but nevertheless merits articles presenting it as part of that culture. In the case of Judaism and Christianity, however, because the canon is partially shared, there is a great deal of conflict, implied bias, and a deep sense that a meaningful picture is hard to paint within some of the articles. This is especially true for the biblical books.
I think most of us would agree that reading the Bible is two different "worlds" in the Jewish and Christian traditions. (I write this as someone who was and is involved in interfaith activities, including study groups. The meeting between the two worlds can be fascinating and meaningful, but they remain two different worlds.) Therefore, I suggest the following radical idea: That articles on the biblical books be parallel. I.e. one article on the history of Christian interpretation and study, another on the how the book was and is studied in the Jewish traditions. These articles need not be POV: A "Jewish" article, for instance, can and must, for instance, discuss how Christian exegesis influenced Jewish study, how Jewish study has been influenced by modern theories, etc. But there should still be to separate articles. How to give them titles would also take some thought. Do people agree with me?Dovi 20:08, Jul 15, 2004 (UTC)
  • Within articles there is a need to create standardized method for presenting a Jewish view seperately from the Christian views. At the moment many paragraphs and sentences in Tanakh articles often jump from "New Testament" views to "Old Testament" views. Articles need to be clear about each religion's view and not become a hodge-podge shoddy attempt at ersatz ecumenism that represents nothing in reality.
  • Usages of words relating to the Tetragrammaton and the names of and for God. Much work has already been done via "redirects" when words like "Jeho-va" or "Yah=we" etc are used, but this subject needs further attention and standardization.
  • Issues relating to Category:Biblical criticism. Often pages on Tanakh will end off with links to see "Documentary hypothesis" as if it's the "final word" on the subject at hand. Why does Wellhausen deserve the "final say" ever? It sends a "mixed message", a kind of "wink-wink, what you have just read here is all silly, for the 'real' truth, look somewhere else." It's as if articles on Science would all end with notes to see links on "religion" or something contrarion just to confuse the reader and prevent them from obtaining a NPOV about Judaism.
  • Responding to those who would classify Judaism and its texts as Mythology, as some do with Christianity.
  • Usage of the name "Jesus". It happens that articles on Tanakh refer or have links to Jesus Christ. Since Jews do not accept Jesus as "Christ" (and "christ" means "annointed" which is not acceptable to Judaism) , therefore any mention of his name should be stated as Jesus and NOT as Jesus Christ (which is only a "redierct" to Jesus in any case). Using "Jesus" alone is better NPOV and will be understood by all, regardles of POV. Naming him "Christ" is a definite POV as all non-Christians reject his claim to be "christ", i.e. " annointed ".
Regarding "Jesus Christ" or "Christ", I just change them to Jesus wherever I find them. Actually, I've done it in the Jesus article. I don't see it as being at all controversial (from a NPOV perspective). Jayjg 16:42, 15 Jul 2004 (UTC)
  • Need to standardize methods of citation for books, chapters, and verses. Also, Christians include different Jewish books in their canon such as the Book of Baruch and the way they classify and use Category:Old Testament Apocrypha in general runs counter to Jewish scholarship. Need to respond in a standardized manner.
  • Being on the lookout when certain "Biblical" articles are written with clear subtle and not-so-subtle anti-Semitic intent, such as Verses criticizing Jews in the Old Testament. Need to respond, dispute, correct, and establish a true NPOV.

Categories

Many pages exist under Category:Jews and Judaism:

Pronunciation

Example sentence and possible ways of writing it:

  • On Succos it is a mitzvah to shake a lulav and esrog.
  • On Succot it is a mitzva to shake a lulav and etrog.
  • On Sikkes it is a mitzveh to shake a leelev and esreg.
  • During the holiday of tabernacles Jews are commanded to shake a palm branch and a citrus fruit similar to a lemon.
  • On Succos (Succot, the feast of tabernacles) it is a mitzvah (Jewish commandment) to shake a lulav (palm branch) and etrog (lemon like fruit).
  • During the holiday of tabernacles (Succos, Succot) Jews are commanded (have a mitzvah) to shake a palm branch (lulav) and lemon like citrus fruit (Esrog, Etrog).

Some standard must also be made concerning capitalization, order of alternate pronunciations, linking, italicizing, and bolding.

Possible Introduction to Article

Succot

  • In Judaism 'Succot' (Succos, Sikkes, Feast of tabernacles) is a holiday where Jews sit in booths and shake a lulav and esrog.

(add variations)

(Start with the word you are defining first):

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