Question: “Typically, why don't Jews evangelize? That's what the book of Jonah and so many other books and events in the bible are about (in the questioner's reading of them)”.
I am glad you asked this question, though I would certainly differ on your interpretation of the specific biblical reference that you made. (More on that later.)
This is a question for which there is no one, authoritative answer. Judaism has, in the distant past, been quite a proselytizing religion, but this occurred primarily in the first millennium of the Common Era, and then the activity seemed to have died out. A Jewish historian of the early First Century, Flavius Josephus, noted the desire for Jewish expansion; the Mishnah and Talmud explicitly permit conversions into Judaism; and the Roman writers Horace, Seneca, Juvenal and Tacitus were among those who seem to have been afraid of it. (A web search might yield pages such as this one: http://mondediplo.com/2008/09/07israel, which should only be the beginning of one’s study on this topic.)
In this era, at a time when other religions have long histories of forced conversions, Judaism has stopped all activity for active outreach to non-Jews who are not connected in some way with the Jewish community. Why this is so is connected with the pure act of evangelism as practiced by Christians today and in years gone by.
The word “evangelist” means the “bringer of good news’, and referred specifically – at first – to the four Christian Gospel writers who composed their stories about the ministries of Jesus and tales of the the goodness that he brought to the world. The further implication of this term, especially in modern times, is that one who evangelizes brings ‘good news’ of salvation that comes from belief in Jesus’ saving power, a uniquely Christian viewpoint. This ‘salvation’ is from eternal damnation that would come to those who do not believe in Jesus’ salvation.
Since the philosophy of Judaism essentially excludes the belief in eternal torment for sinners, and instead believes (1) that sinners can successfully repent if they’re sincere and (2) that everyone will benefit in the “world to come”, there is no need to “save” others by converting them to Judaism.
This is the issue that I take with the implication of your question. The book of Jonah cannot be read as referring to Jonah’s mission being one of conversion of the people of Nineveh. Rather, it was one of returning sinners to Godly and goodly ways, not of turning Ninevites into Jews. That was not in Jonah’s mission papers.
If you check out Jonah 1:2 and 3:1-4, you will not find “conversion” in Jonah’s orders. You will find a direction from God to seek repentance from the residents of Nineveh. If they did not repent within 40 days, God would destroy the city. The Ninevites repented within one day, following the lead of the King of the city. Jonah was successful in his task, even though he was reluctant at the start, because, he complains to God, he knew that God was compassionate and God would forgive without the effort that Jonah put forth. (You can ask a further question about the message of the book of Jonah if you choose.)
The “other books and events in the bible” certainly contain the message of Israelite dominance over the original inhabitants of the land of Canaan (today Israel), but there is doubt over the historicity of the events of the Bible in any case, and these “events” may have been recorded as polemical arguments rather than historical fact. But this, too, is the subject for another question.
If there were to be modern-day proselytism of Jews toward non-Jews, I would presume that it would be for the purpose of strengthening the Jewish people, still feeling decimated in the century following the Holocaust. But Jews do not desire to force people to their religion, but rather teach patiently and accept sincere converts when they present themselves.
For different motivations, perhaps, the American Reform movement leadership, in the past 15 to 20 years, has initiated Jewish educational programs toward those non-Jews who are married or partnered to Jewish members of synagogues. Synagogue leaders are encouraged by national leadership of the Union for Reform Judaism to suggest – gently – conversion to the non-Jews in their midst who seem to support the programs, worship services, and philosophies of Judaism.
Jews, largely, do not feel the need to “witness” to others, as do others in the world marketplace of ideas today. There is a need to replenish the numbers of Jews following the loss of the Six Million, but this will occur over time with the remnant that remains. And even among those Jews who feel keenly the loss of people following World War II, they are content to bring Judaism and strengthen Jewish identity among those already attached to the people of Israel.
Answered by: Rabbi Jonathan Biatch
