Hey Veeky Forums I'm an Orthodox Jew who has come from a traditional Conservative upbringing. I have devoted a great portion of my life to studying scripture, alas of course I still have hobbies, and I make time to spend with my friends and fiancé.
I will be answering most, if not all questions, however, please try to keep them on topic, as I will primarily be answering questions in regards to scripture (Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, Midrash, Zohar etc.), Haggadah (Law), and any other curiosities.
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Why did you reject salvation through Christ?
why did Jews stop using urim and thummim?
Well, to first apply my own experience, I've studied numerous religious texts in regards to Christianity, and I have to say; brilliantly written, alas inconsistent.
I've read the Christian Bible in both Hebrew and Aramaic, and it completely contradicts Jewish faith.
Ask me a follow to this question, as I must answer other questions. Thanks.
What do you think of Chiam Delzinger?
For something more theological and less gossipy, do you think that Rambam's ultimate point, that "modern" scholarship can replace the Talmud, holds any water? Because at least some of his letters indicate that he thought the Mishneh Torah could be used as a replacement for the Gemarah, only to retreat from that stance when that provoked a nasty reaction. Yet his fundamental reasoning seems sound, as long as you don't take it as axiomatic that earlier Rabbanim are necessarily wiser and better than later ones.
Whether or not it could ever be accepted, do you think it's possible for a modern Rabbi to come up with a work that could displace the Gemarah if it were found to be clever enough?
Explain further.
I suspect you are asking about the ornaments connected to the breastplate of the Kohanim? For that matter, I am unsure. Alas, I vaguely believe it has to deal with the destruction of the Second Temple.
One other question, now that it pops into my head.
You look at the Garden of Eden narrative, and "nakedness" is quite a prominent theme. So when we get to ג;א we have הַנָּחָשׁ, הָיָה עָרוּם,
מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה
Which is usually translated as some sort of varation of the serpent being the most clever/cunning/subtle/whatever of all the beasts of the field. But ערום has as its core meaning of smoothness, which is why it also can be translated as naked, and is done so in the immediately preceding verse.
What parallels do you think should be drawn from this? Is it supposed to be a suggestion of untapped intelligence on behalf of mankind? Or that the serpent is more naked than others, for whatever value you want to assign to nakedness?
I'm going to apologize and skip your first question as I am unfamiliar with that person.
In regards to your second question, the simple answer is 'Yes'. Talmud, and any other piece of rabbinic literature are not divinely inspired by G-d (albeit maybe internally inspired), thus it always has the potential to be rewritten and reinterpreted.
Now, can something of equal or greater caliber replace the Talmud? Possible, yet doubtful. The Talmud is an extensive series of commentaries spanning multiple volumes of books, and something of the same sort can take generations. If I recall reading, if you are to read one section of a chapter of the Talmud a day, it would still take you seven years to finish it in I entirety.
Why aren't Ashkenazi Jews being bred for their superior iq?
Before CRISPR becomes a norm we should strive to increase the number of high IQ people as much as possible