[Avodah] Rav Yaakov Emden & Christianity

[Daniel Eidensohn]

There is a major difference. Rambam holds that Christianity is idolatry

*Rambam(Commentary to Avoda Zara 1:3):* Know that this Christian nation, 
which advocates the messianic claim in all their various sects, all of 
them are idolaters. On all their various festivals it is forbidden for 
us to deal with them. And all Torah restrictions pertaining to idolaters 
pertain to them. . . . We deal with them as we would deal with any 
idolaters on their festival. (commentary on Mishnah, Avodah Zarah 1.3)

*Rambam (Hilchos  Avoda  Zara 9:4): *Christians are idolators and Sunday 
is their religious day. Therefore it is prohibited to do business with 
them in Israel on Thursday and Firday every single week of the year and 
it is not necessary to even mention that it is prohibited on Sunday 
itself everywhere. And thus we conduct ouselves with them on every one 
of their holy days.


 while Rav Yaakov Emden says they have no prohibition of shituf except 
in Israel.

R' Emden seems more  the view of Kuzari:  

*Kuzari(4:23):… *The law of Moses changes all religions that come after 
it to be closer to the truth even though outwardly it might appear as if 
these religions are distancing themselves from Judaism. These derivative 
religions are in fact merely preparations and introductions to the 
expected Moshiach. Moshiach is the fruition of the process. At the end  
of time with their acknowledgment of G‑d they too will become His fruit 
and all of mankind will constitute one tree. At that time they will 
revere the source religion which they had previously despised as we have 
discussed concerning Yeshaya (52:13), “Behold My servant prospers.”


Micha Berger wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 24, 2007 at 01:26:13AM -0400, Daniel Eidensohn wrote:
> : I just came across an interesting article written 30 years ago by Blu 
> : Greenberg - Judaism 27:3 1978 p351-363...
> : page 358 "In his commentary Eitz Avos (40b-41a) on Pirkei Avot (4:11), 
> : Emden describes Christianity as a "religion in the service of God," a 
> : religion which God sees as good and, therefore, He sustains it..."
> :         Emden continues: these two families, Christianity and 
> : Mohammedanism, which God selected as vehicles to bring faith into the 
> : world, were never brought under the yoke of mitzvot of the Torah...
>
> Shitas haRambam, no?
>
> Tir'u baTov!
> -mi
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