How to Explain Judaism to a Christian Child
Explaining Judaism to a Christian child can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Start with the similarities between the two religions, then use those similarities to highlight how the religions are different. It is a great way to talk to a Christian child about her own religion, as well as to teach her about Judaism.
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Instructions
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Explain that Jewish people and Christian people both worship God the Father, but unlike Christians, Jewish people don't believe God to be a trinity of three divine persons. In Judaism, Jesus is viewed as a prophet, not as God, and Jewish people don't view the Holy Spirit as a separate person.
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Tell the child that the Christian Old Testament (part of the Bible) is the same thing as the Torah to Jewish people. Both Christians and Jews study these writings and include them in their worship. However, Christians believe that the New Testament, as the continuation of the Old Testament, is also inspired by God, while Judaism holds that only the Old Testament is inspired.
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Point out that Jesus was Jewish. He attended synagogues (Jewish temples) for church, observed Passover, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and all the other Jewish festivals and feast days. Jesus was also considered a rabbi (teacher of Judaism). Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah of the Jewish people, or the redeemer foretold by the Old Testament writers. Jewish people do not believe this, and they are still waiting for the Jewish Messiah to come.
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Talk about the persecution that both Jewish people and Christian people have faced throughout history. While the Christian church was still new, Christians faced harsh treatment, imprisonment and death at the hands of both pagans and Jews. However, the Christian church eventually became the dominant religion in the many parts of the world, and antisemitism (dislike of Jewish people) by some Christians was a fact of life for Jewish people for centuries. They, like Christians, faced terrible treatment and death for their religion, the most recent example being the Holocaust.
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Tips & Warnings
If you need help getting the conversation started, ask the child what he knows about Judaism. Then you can fill in any gaps or correct any misconceptions.
