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A few months ago my mom was redecorating the house and she put up several Buddha statues, including two in her room.
Lumanny: Umm... We're Jewish, not Buddhist....
Lumommy: I just like how they look.


But then she went to Buddhist Prayer services one Sunday...

Today she picked me up from a sleepover and tried to make me go to Buddhist services. I was told I had no choice. I said I didn't want to go. She said she didn't care. I said it wasn't fair. She said fine, it's not fair, it's still happening. I said I was up late last night because my Colitis was flaring (which is actually true). She dropped me off at home.

Is my Mom a Bu-Jew?

Wow....she made you go? What the heck?


But yeah, Buddha statues and other statues are dangerously close to Idol Worship, isnt that not allowed in Judaism too?

I think your mom may just be testing the waters. Honestly, my mom was drawn to Buddhism too and dabbled in it for like a year. Then she decided Buddhism had some wise ideas but the stayed in the Abrahamic scope.

I agree w/ Divash when she said talk to your Rav (Idk what this is?).

Oh sorry! I misread, hehe.

Have you talked to your dad about this by the way?

Idol worshipping is absolutely disallowed in Judaism. There is actually a question as to whether having a statue of a Buddha is idolatry, however, because even a Buddhist does not worship Buddha, only uses the Buddha's example for guidance.

Then there's the question of representational art. Not all representational art is forbidden in Judaism, unlike in Islam -- only images that are carved/engraved/sculpted. Photographs, paintings, and the like are permitted.

Then there's the question of whether a Jew is permitted to enter a Buddhist worship space. The answer depends on whether the space is being actively used for worship (devoted to any entity other than Hashem/God/Allah) or simply for meditation at that time; whether there are statues of Buddhas on display; whether those statues are being faced directly during meditation or worship; whether one is visibly Jewish and therefore could be seen as a Jew going into a non-Jewish worship situation.

Lots of considerations, all of which should be discussed with a rav.



Rav is Hebrew for rabbi, though the literal translation is "master" or "great person." It's also directly related to the word rabbah, meaning great, and rabu, meaning manifold, as in "Mah rabu ma'asechah, Hashem (How manifold are your acts, God)," a line from one of the Hebrew Psalms, which also appears in several prayers. A rav is a man who has been given ordination and is certified to answer in-depth questions on Jewish law and observance, both practical and theoretical. He can also be a spiritual leader of a congregation; a kosher butcher; a teacher of Jewish religious law; an expert on kosher certification procedure; or a "singing rabbi," also known as a cantor in English or a chazzan in Hebrew, which means he maintains the tradition of Jewish liturgical music and trop.

According to the Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism does not understand ANY deity to exist, ANY human being as having supremacy or creative power over another, and therefore no, they do not worship the (any) Buddha as a deity.

The rest of what you said about Buddhism, I have no grounding to confirm or refute. My main point is, even when one thinks they understand, they may not in fact understand. It is very, very difficult to truly know one's own religion, let alone another's. I am not a rav, but my non-authoritative advice would be to avoid any non-Jewish worship spaces, services, or meditations unless cleared with your rav/competent halachic authority.

The Dalai Lama only has the authority to speak for one of four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Some schools of Tibetan Buddhism don't even have monks but married clergy, so that their gurus can more fully practice Karma Mudra.

Well under religious ethos, so long as she is not forcing you to take part in it, then you're fine.

Under mother/son ethics, you're supposed to listen to your mom, hell my mom has me do things I don't want to do all the time. Usually involves the garden.

So then go to the Bhuddist Temple, experience it and re-affirm your Judiasm by rejecting taking part in it.

Just because you're Jewish doesn't mean you're an isolationist to avoid other cultures that they may influence your thinking and lifestyle.

Also

*Lumanny's Mom's Voice* I PULLED THIS LOBSTER OUT OF THE OCEAN WITH MY BARE HANDS!!! NOW PUT UP SOME WATER!