Your post is full of Jewish stereotypes and I considered deleting it or heavily editing it.

Violation of rule #3. Non-Jews are free to ask questions about Judaism but non-Jews attempting to teach Judaism will have their posts edited or removed. Such posts are misleading.

Statements that begin:
There are many religious Jews that want. . .
Presume that you know what "many" Jews believe and / or think let alone what a religious Jew is or is not.

I suggestion you re-read rule #3.

Your comment:
It's absolutely natural for the Jewish people , considering their history and what they have had to put up with through out the centuries , particularly in Christian Europe , to develop a degree of contempt and detachment towards Gentiles / Christians . It's Human nature , can't blame Judaism or any particular Jewish "gene" for that .
Is false, prejudiced, small minded and anti-Jewish (although I doubt that you meant it to be). Jews perhaps SHOULD be contemptible of non-Jews but the fact is that we are NOT. The Torah says that G-d made MAN in His image, not Jews.
[Ben Azzai] would say: Do not regard anyone with contempt, and do not reject anything, for there is no man who does not have his hour and nothing that does not have its place. Talmud Avot 4:3
This comment:
It's likewise natural , for the Jewish people to feel a sense of superiority , essentially seeing themselves as being better than Gentiles
Is both insulting, one that has gotten us killed with non-Jews presuming Jews feel superior and indeed very anti-semitic. I take it you've never heard the midrash about how G-d CHOSE the Jews?

Avodah Zarah 2b tells us that . G-d offered the Torah to all the nations of the earth, and the Jews were the only ones who accepted it.) So much for superiority!

The story goes on to say that the Jews were offered the Torah last, and we accepted it because G-d held a mountain over our heads!

In Exodus 19:17 is usually translated:
Moses led the people out of the camp toward the Divine Presence. They stood transfixed at the foot of the mountain.
It really translates to "underneath the mountain"!

Another midrash says that G-d chose the Jews not because we were superior, but just the opposite, because we were the lowliest of nations. thus our success and only be due to G-d's might rather ourselves. Clearly, these are not the ideas of people who (as you put it) feel a sense of superiority , essentially seeing themselves as being better than Gentiles.

I was agnostic for many years and you are more than welcome here if your desire is to LEARN. Kindly do NOT tell us what Jews believe or should believe or even what you THINK Jews are XYZ. It is about as insulting as saying that African Americans all love fried chicken, all Muslims are murderers, all priests molest small boys and any other prejudice you care to add to the mix.
(Psalms 146:8) "G-d loves the righteous." G-d said: 'I love those who love Me and so it says

(1 Samuel 2:30) "For I honor those who honor Me."

They love Me so I love them in return.' Why does G-d love the righteous?

Because righteousness is not an inheritance or a family trait. You find that priests are from a priestly family and Levites are from a levitical family as it says

(Psalms 135:19-20) "O house of Aaron bless G-d! O house of Levi bless G-d!" If someone wants to become a priest [from the family of Aaron] or a Levite he cannot because his father was not a priest or a Levite. However, if someone wants to become righteous even if he is a gentile he can because it is not a family trait as it says (ibid.) "O those who fear G-d bless G-d!" It does not say the house of those who fear G-d but those who fear G-d. It is not a family trait rather on their own they chose to fear and love G-d. Therefore, G-d loves them. Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 8:2

סופי

And everything that Sarah tells you, listen to her voice. Bereshit (Genesis) 21:12
Last Edited By: Sophiee1 Mon, 7-Jul-08 17:18:11. Edited 7 times.