What are the benefits of being Jewish?

Answer 1

We are good people who have good hearts. Our religion is something to believe in

and stand strong in what they believe in. Christians used to stone our ancestors

because of what we believed and when we practiced.

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The question is peculiar, and it's difficult to ignore the hint of challenge one senses

while reading it.

The first answer, above, is a fair and reasonable one, even if it responds more directly

to the challenge implicit in the question than to any alleged or sincere quest for factual

information.

I can only add a comment paraphrased from the words of none other than Albert Einstein,

who remarked to the effect that what the Jews need is not the privilege and permission

to be scholars, statesmen, philanthropists, businessmen, doctors, and scientists.

What the Jews need is a society in which even when there are thieves, scoundrels,

low-lifes, drunkards and murderers who are Jewish, the members of that society

do not say to one another "Well, we always knew about those Jews, didn't we!"

Answer 2

1) An identity and tradition. Jews have an unbroken tradition stretching back for 3800 years to our founder, Abraham.
2) A life. Some might consider the laws of Judaism as being too much, but for us they are a life, with happy festivals, structured family life, daily activities, and a sense of purpose.
3) Community; friends. Every Jewish community provides mutual help, daily and weekly classes in Torah-subjects, and community activities.
4) Eternity.
Consider this famous quote from Mark Twain:
"The Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded and passed away; the Greeks and Romans followed and made a vast noise, and they were gone; other people have sprung up, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, survived them all. What is the secret of his immortality?"

Answer 3

We don't seek converts, so I'll answer this purely subjectively.

Judaism's tradition is close to four thousand years old.

It's founded upon national revelation: God speaking to the entire assembled nation; not the words of any particular individual.

The Hebrew prophets were a bulwark of morality and ethics, much of which has become part of Western tradition.

Judaism possesses an unbroken chain of tradition, with thousands of names of teachers and disciples throughout the millenia.

Judaism is a religion of trust in God, and of optimism.

Answer 4

• An identity and tradition.
  

Jews have an unbroken tradition stretching back for 3800 years to our founder, Abraham. We possess the exact same text of the Torah that God gave to Moses over 3300 years ago. We have the names, dates, and teachings of the leading sages in every generation since Abraham.

Link: Jewish history timeline

• A life.
  

Some might consider the laws of Judaism as being too much, but for us they are a life, with happy festivals, structured family life, daily activities, and a sense of purpose. Judaism is famous for its ambiance and its optimism.

Link: The Jewish holidays

• Community; friends.
  

Every Jewish community has individuals and groups who give free help in loans of money or useful items, visiting the sick, preparing the dead for burial, assisting young mothers, etc. This is done voluntarily and is not for profit.

Jewish communities have free daily and weekly classes in Torah-subjects, both in synagogues and in other public and home-venues. In these settings, laypersons can ask questions in topics such as halakha (Torah-laws) and Talmud.

Link: The Talmud.

• Eternity.
  

Rabbi Jacob Emden (1697-1776) once said that the survival of the Jewish people is the greatest of miracles. It can be explained only as a fulfillment of God's covenant.
Consider also this famous quote from Mark Twain:
"If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one quarter of one percent of the human race. The Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of.
The Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greeks and Romans followed and made a vast noise, and they were gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, survived them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no dulling of his alert mind. All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"