Judaism: Its identity and position to society

Judaism is more than a religion. It is the way of life of the Jewish people. Culture, customs, ethics, and sense of self – these are a part of Judaism as much as the faith and the rituals of the Jewish religion. A Jew can be defined in more than one way. Within Jewish law, being Jewish is a kind of citizenship. One is a Jew if one is born of a Jewish mother or has undergone a conversion. Conversion to Judaism is like a bestowal of citizenship – it makes one a member of the people. A person who fits the legal definition of a Jew is recognized as a fellow Jew by the Jewish community. Even if a Jew does not share the religious beliefs of Jews and does not participate in the customs and practices of Judaism, one is still considered a Jew if he or she fits the legal definition. One could define a Jew religiously to the religious beliefs and practices of Judaism. A Jew is one believes in the One God, Creator and master of the Universe, the God with whom the people Israel have a special relationship. Many Jews believe God chose them to be his people. They follow the laws that God revealed to Moses. The Ten Commandments are the most important of these laws. In ancient times the Jews were the only people who worship a single, exclusive God, and the only people who worshiped without physical images of God. The Jews were resented by other people for not participating in the worship of all gods. This led to the accusation that Jews were antihumanitarian, since sharing gods was considered to be an act of friendship and universalistic concern for other people. When Christianity replaced the pagan religions of antiquity, the old misunderstanding of Jews did not die out. Added to it was the resentment that the Jews, Jesus’ own people, has not become Christians. Jews were protected under Christian law but were restricted in many ways. The laws in Christian lands called for Jews to be humiliated and despised in order to encourage Jewish conversions to Christianity. When Jews did not convert they were accused of stubbornness or spiritual blindness (Wylen). Judaism teaches that God is the God of all humankind and that He wants all people to serve Him by living their lives the way He wants. The guidelines for this lifestyle are set down in the Noachide Laws, the basic framework for a moral and spiritual life. They believe that every person is completely free to choose whether to do good or evil for God is completely free to do as He wishes, so are humans. Jews regard any religion which upholds the Noachide Laws as an acceptable way for non-Jews to serve God. This does not mean that they agree with everything that other religions teach, but that they can recognize some religions as pointing out a path to God. For this reason, Jews do not see the need to convert other people to their religion. In particular, Jews recognize that Islam teaches pure monotheism and that Muslims have a strict morality that upholds the principles of the Noachide Laws. The same may be said of the Sikh religion. Jews have always been less certain about Christianity. Although they acknowledge Christianity’s high moral principles, they feel uneasy about the Christian belief that Jesus is God. They are also unhappy about the use of images and icons in Catholic and Orthodox worship. They feel that this comes rather close to idolatry. Nonetheless, Jews have always recognized a special relationship with Christianity and Islam. Rabbi Judah Halevi, a twelfth-century scholar, described Judaism as the seed of the tree and Christianity and Islam as the branches, since through these religions, millions of people have come to worship the one God (Forta). At the turn of the twentieth century, a movement of interfaith dialogue between Jews and non-Jews served as a medium that facilitated the changes upon conflicts in religion. Although there had been some obstacle along the process, the interfaith dialogue helped to develop a better relationship between Jews and non-Jews in America. As a result it came into advancement of the well-being of the Jewish community in America. This interfaith dialogue took place in America in 1893 when the World Parliament of Religions (WPR) convened in Chicago bringing together Protestants, Catholics, Greek Orthodox Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Bahai, Muslims, Native Americans and representatives of other faiths as well. It offered Jewish religious leaders such as Alexander Kohut, Isaac M. Wise, Kaufmann Kohler, Emil G. Hirsch, and Marcus Jastrow, an opportunity to present their views to a non-Jewish audience and make a case for Judaism (Kaplan). The majority of Jews, especially in North America, resided in religiously pluralistic communities where people of diverse backgrounds and faiths, including many who had themselves experienced religious persecution, live side by side. Perhaps for this reason, they felt more comfortable interacting with Christians than Jews did in most parts of the world – so much so that we know of Jews and Christians who joined forces in business, witnessed each other’s documents, and socialized in each other’s homes (Bernardini and Fiering). Over the century new discoveries, new methods of manufacture, new social conditions have changed people’s way of living and thinking about the world. For Jews, this has always created the need to reapply the halakhah (Jewish religious law) to ever-changing conditions for living by halakhah is essential for Jews to fulfill their part of their covenant relationship with God. During this century advances in technology have led Jews to raise questions which could not have been thought of in earlier times – questions about the use of automated electrical machinery on Sabbaths, whether computer hacking is theft, whether surrogate mother is permissible, whether a person on a life-support machine is alive or dead. To enable rabbis to answer this questions, up-to-date commentaries have been added to the Shulchan Aruch (written catalogue of halakhah), and whole books concerned with specific topics of halakhah are now being published. The continued reapplication of halakhah is an ongoing process (Forta). Works Cited Bernardini, Paolo, and Norman Fiering. The Jews and the Expansion of Europe to the West, 1450 to 1800. Berghahn Books, 2001. Forta, Arye. Judaism. Heinemann, 1995. Kaplan, Dana Evan. The Cambridge Companion to American Judaism. Cambridge University Press, 2005. Wylen, Stephen M. Settings of Silver: An Introduction to Judaism. Paulist Press, 2000. Â   Â  

Ben Carson Essay

English 52 3:00pm class Faith Ben Carson today is a neurosurgeon that once was just a young black kid from the ghetto with no knowledge of anything the world. Today he is one of the most inspiring person in the world, he was the first neurosurgeon to separate conjoined twins from the head, without bleeding to death. He had no dad, and a mom with psychiatric problems. He faced a hard teenage and childhood, in his life he faced problems from racism, anger management, and poverty. This book shows us how having faith with no fear of the unknown, this book ould lead anyone to have a successful spiritual life and career. His faith led him to go through all the struggles and come out successful. Ben Carson had different experiences throughout his childhood, and having faith led him to go through struggles. When he was just a boy, his father left him, his brother, and mother, because of another family he had. As a child Ben tried to figure out why his father had left them for another family, Ben used church as a way to escape his problems.He began to really have faith, when he heard the preacher talk about a missionary doctor; from then on, his faith set him on a path to become a doctor. There also came a time where his faith was put to the test. At 14 years old he struggled with a bad temper. All the hate he felt from his dad leaving him was in his heart, and he had never let it go. One day at school, he sat listening to classical music when one of his friends made fun of him and was going to change the music.Carson, with all the hate he had, he pulled out a pocket knife he had bought and aimed for his stomach, he hit his friend’s belt buckle. He ran home and thought to himself he was crazy. He got home and locked himself in the bathroom and prayed to God to take his temper away and he prayed and sang, â€Å"Jesus is All the World to Me. † From then on his faith only became stronger, and whenever he felt anything negative, going back to this moment made him feel better. God gave him a second chance to life and make more of it. From then on, he knew he was going to be an instrument of God to save people.When he went on a job for the university to recruit students with his current wife, he almost had an accident while falling asleep on the wheel; he felt relieved and thanked God for helping and giving him yet another chance to life. His struggle through Yale University, when he couldn’t find a job, his faith and willingness helped him find one. Even in his junior year, when he had no money, he walked through the university, thinking and asking God how he was going to make it through, and, just like that, he found 10 dollars in the ground. He knew God was guiding him through and watching over him.In another school year, when he also went through rough economic times, he then again walked through his campus to see if he would find money again, but, no luck, his university did a test of honesty and said that all of the test the c lass had taken, had been burned in a fire his whole class, there were notices posted some of the students just said, that they will just say they did not see the post. Carson was the only one left and the teacher and a photographer came to take the picture of the only honest student in class and right then and there the teacher handed him a 10 dollar bill.As he grew older and became a doctor during surgeries and he felt lost his faith helped him and believed God would guide his hands and even though he did have times, he failed, his surgeries he had faith, that made him strong to overcome it. At the end without faith he wouldn’t be where he is at today. In my life, without faith I wouldn’t be where I am right now. Ever since I read this book, it has inspired my faith in a spiritual and professional way. I have gone to church more often and found the peace I was looking for.I no longer have temper issues, either. I have been more successful in my job and will soon be ge tting another job. I have been dedicated more, and I don’t make sudden decisions, which only benefits me. My faith has also made me outgoing in my career. I never give up finding a solution to a problem. There’s a saying that says â€Å"faith can move mountains. † I believe that Ben Carson is a perfect example of this, and it’s an example that I am following step by step in school and work. When I feel frustrated and ngry, I let my faith intervene and help me get through my own struggles, My marriage has also gotten much better. I have set my life goals based on this book and I know I could achieve them. There is a saying that says faith is the last to die, and that’s the difference between hope and faith. I believe those who hope wait around for things to come out good or wait for things to be handed to them are the ones who never step to the world of the unknown because of fear and like of faith. But with faith you have to put in your work and no t give up on your goals.Ben Carson made it from the ghetto to being a successful, respected Neurosurgeon; because of his faith, he never once stopped believing in himself. His mom’s faith in him also helped; she knew he was going to be special. I believe we all have our destiny this life and that God has set a path for us, our choices, decisions and faith are the ones that decide our path. I will follow my own path just as Ben Carson did; I do not where it will take me, but I know that faith will keep me on the right path. Because faith is the last thing to die.

Principles of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Principles of Marketing - Essay Example Under this alternative, a company concentrates on extending an already existing brand name but focus on creating new flavors, colors, size, ingredients, as well as new forms of an existing product category. Most of the new products on the market today actually consist of line extension. A good example of line extension can be the make new flavors of Doritos products. A company can also opt to use multi-brands as a means of developing brands. As mentioned earlier, multi-brands entail a company introducing additional brands into the same product line or category. An example of developing brands using multi-brands is gamble and proctor markets which have a variety of different brands in every category of their products. Introducing new brands is another alternative that a company can choose from in developing new brands. Under this option, a company may be of the view that the strength of the already existing brand name is fading off, and the introduction of a new brand name is necessary. The introduction of scion by the Toyota Company for purposes of the millennial customers is a perfect example of new brands. Finally, a company has the option of developing brands through brand extension. Through this alternative, the company uses an established or existing brand name in designing new product lines. Ultimately, the newly designed product category to which the brand is created can be unrelated or sometimes related to the already established product categories. An example of a brand extension is the Nike brand which is renowned for shoe production; however, Nike has now extended to producing golf equipment, sunglasses, basketballs and soccer balls. An already established brand used in brand extension is known as a parent brand. Indeed when it comes to developing brands, a company has got four alternatives from which it can choose from.  

Conway Inn & Restaurant Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Conway Inn & Restaurant - Research Paper Example We removed the franchise tag in the late 1980s because the customer flow was excellent, and there was no need to pay the franchise fee; therefore, we made it into an independent hotel. Conway Inn and Hotel has been a Better Business Bureaus (BBB) accredited enterprise since mid-2010. The BBB came to the determination that Conway Inn and Hotel complied with its accreditations standards. These include the organization’s commitment to resolving all complaints of the consumer in good faith. Nestled in Panhandle, Texas, the Conway Inn and Hotel is a traditional establishment that seeks to be successful in today’s business environment. It has a living room style eating area, a traditional pub area, as well as comfortable fireside sofas. The establishment also has an outdoor area for guests when the weather is permissive. In the hotel and inn areas, there are blackboard areas that offer daily seasonal specials, classic pub favorites as well as some of the establishment’ s own quirky dishes. The bar area has a great wine list while also serving a selection of ales, all available by the glass and the bottle. In the past few years, the customer flow has slowed, and we can see that trend by looking at the registration logs, which we keep for our records to show us the rate of drop. By offering amenities such as refrigerators in the rooms, a free Wi-Fi connection, and cab services for tipsy guests, the organization has always been popular with locals and a preferred hotel for those traveling through the town. However, Conway Inn & Restaurant began to suffer a downturn in the customer flow in 2010, and this decline has been a major area of concern ever since. The organization used to have diverse visitors of various races, but of late, a trend towards senior citizens has been seen, which has reduced the customer flow drastically. This concern has caused the organization to cut back on some of its services such as the discounted cab services. The reduced customer flow has also led to staff layoffs, although this has not been on a large scale. With the decrease in the customer flow, Conway Inn & Restaurant has been forced to cut back on its discounted cab service as discussed. While Conway Inn & Restaurant has always tried to offer the best possible services to its customers, this has become more difficult with the decrease in the customer flow. At the present time, the management is even considering scaling back on its room service as well as subletting some of its rooms. This decision is because Conway Inn & Restaurant has been trying to cut back on costs given the reduced revenue stream. The loss of the discounted cab service altogether would be a big loss given that it has been a major selling point for the organization, especially for the inn customers. I work as a manager with Conway Inn & Restaurant, where I started in 2009. It is under my watch as a manager that the customer flow has decreased, and for this reason, I feel it is up to me to find the underlying cause of the issue and come up with workable solutions. The long time employees at Conway Inn & Restaurant often remember with nostalgia the days when customers would turn back to the inn as well as the fully booked hotel rooms in summer. Last summer, we only had half occupancy, which shows the problem is stark. The recent state of the customer flow has given the employees reasons to worry, as there are constant rumors of layoffs. Problem Statement Conway Inn & Rest

Macro Economis - Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Macro Economis - - Essay Example Macroeconomics As noted above, this present paper is based on the concept of macroeconomics, which has been described by Bauman and Klein (2011) as the branch of economics that majorly deals with the wider perspective of the national economy rather than a single segment of the economy. With reference to the writings by Mankiw (2011, p23) macro-economic is stated as â€Å"a branch of economics that focus on the trends and movements in the entire economy,† and some of these movements and trends concern employment, inflation, price levels, rate of growth, national income, and gross domestic product of a particular country, or region/ economic block. In comparison to the other branch of economics, Chung et al. (2007) stated that microeconomics mainly focus on smaller aspects of the economy such as the behaviour of consumers and business organisations, and how this affects quantities and prices within a particular market. According to Buiter (2010), even thou the field of macroecon omics is broad, it largely focuses on two critical areas of studies, which include the study on the causes and repercussions of short-run business cycles on the national income and the study on determinants of long-run economic growth. Dale et al. (2010) stated that usually the central government as well as the large corporations, utilise macroeconomic forecasts and models primarily to develop and evaluate economic policies and business strategies. Macroeconomic objectives In the previous sub-section, it was stated that macroeconomics is simply a branch of economics that focuses on the wider aspect of the economy; however, Keynes (2011) further added that macroeconomics also concerns itself with the conscious and deliberate management of economic variables within an economy in order to attain certain objectives. It is of essence to note that macroeconomics relies on three critical policies to attain its objectives, and these policies include the monetary policies, fiscal policies an d supply-side policies. Monetary policies are defined by Krugman and Wells (2009), as measures that are adopted by the central government through the central bank in order to increase or decrease the supply of money in circulation while fiscal policies are the policies of the central government, which focus on the country’s budget and especially issues pertaining to borrowing and taxation. As for supply-side policies, they are mainly devised to ensure that the market works efficiently. According to the writings by Bauman and Klein (2011), they wrote that the top objectives of macroeconomics include price stability, exchange stability, full employment, growth of the economy, and the balance of payment equilibrium. a) Price stability According to Buiter (2010), the maintenance of price stability is crucial to the national economy because higher price levels contribute to various problems pertaining to consumption, distribution, exchange, and production. For example, inflation d istorts economic calculations as well as expectations and it generates varying problems in different sections of the economy. Moreover, Buiter (2010) stated that during inflation creditors lose while debtors gain. Furthermore, inflation strains the relationship between capital and labour, and the distribution of national income becomes

Action Research - Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Action Research - - Assignment Example I have gained confidence while in class. I find duty delegation to be one of my strongholds in managing students. I have constantly built on this vice without considering the credibility of my objectives. However, some of my classes have been affected by late arrival of students, murmuring among students and absenteeism. In my career as a teacher, I am perplexed by fact that teachers are expected to effectively manage classroom arrangement which is independent of good student behavior but due to poor planning. Classroom arrangement requires that the teacher observe all the students at ago and monitor their behavior and work. It also demands that teacher must see the door while in his or her desk. Furthermore, teachers should make sure that frequently used areas are easily accessible and unobstructed. In addition, common classroom materials such as student reference materials and attendance pads should be availed. As if to make it worse, the students should be able to see the teacher without movement and undue turning. Furthermore, setting the expectation of students and periodically talking to them is very difficult. In addition, monitoring the degree by which students comply with school rules and regulations is one of the irritating outcomes as a teacher. The use of teacher led instructions and explaining school wide regulations is a source of irritation. What can I do about it? Again and again I get angry about the fact that students are held accountable for their performance and work. In addition, I get angry by the fact that focus of students is centered on academic purpose while learning is considered as the core purpose of students’ effort. As a teacher, if there is disruptive behavior like fighting, possession of drugs continuous lesson interruption stealing in my class and later actions taken in accordance to the school rules and

Music Copyright & Interband Agreements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Music Copyright & Interband Agreements - Essay Example (c) The Members agree they will act in good faith in connection with any matter relating to the constitution of the group and any of the activities of the Group and any obligation of the Group entered into with third parties. (d) the choice of record company and publishing company and the negotiation of the terms of any long term agreement relating to the professional services of the Group or any promotion or exploitation of any product of or rights in the goodwill and reputation of the Group; (g) the making of any request for or commitment to any significant loan or any other Group financial liability to any party (including any guarantee of third party obligations) and for any purpose in this context the term "significant" shall mean a transaction or series of related transactions or a facility exceeding (e.g. Â £30.00 - insert appropriate amount) whether or not the whole amount thereof is intended be drawn down at any time; 3. (a) Any decision not being within clause 2 or which is otherwise stated to require the unanimous consent of all Members will be decided upon by a majority vote on a show of hands each Member having one vote. (c) If the Group appoints its manager or any other party to adjudicate on any matter which cannot be resolved by voting then a condition of that appointment is that the decision of the adjudicator will be accepted by the Group. (ii). In the case of any ground for expulsion other than fundamental disagreement on Group policy or development the expelled Member must first (if appropriate) have been given a reasonable opportunity to remedy the complaint or to have been warned about his or her activity complained of and the written notice of expulsion must state the reason for the expulsion. (b) If the unanimous decision is given without reasonable cause such as (but not limited to) a material breach of this Agreement or permanent incapacity or a serious criminal conviction or a fundamental