Something I don't get about the jewish faith/jewish stereotype?

Well, 'waiting' might be putting it a bit strongly. Judaism isn't about waiting for the messiah. The focus of our religion is the life we are living, and living that to the very best that we can.

We have a hope of a future messianic age of peace, ushered in by a messiah. But while I wouldn't call this peripheral, it certainly isn't a central concern. It will happen in G-d's own time.

Meanwhile, we get on with what we're meant to be doing - repairing the world through every means we know and enjoying the life we have been given.

Messiah is a small part of Jewish theology, especially when compared with the emphasis that Christians place on Messiah, but there are some specific ways that Christian theology and Jewish philosophy differ on who and what Messiah means. In Jewish theology Messiah is a mortal man who will usher in a utopian future that is free of warfare, hatred, hunger, etc and in which Jews will be seen universally as a light unto the world. Many Jews believe that strict adherance to the Laws of Moses and the performance of "mitzvoth", or good deeds that are required of Jews, will hasten the coming of Messiah.

(Mitzvoth are often misunderstood to mean good deeds, when a more accurate translation would be commandments, which are also good deeds). Many Jews give little thought to Messiah, preferring instead to worship our creator in our daily lives by being always mindful of our many blessings. And of course, there are many secular Jews who think of Judaism as more of a tribe and culture.

There are scoundrels, atheists, and sinners among us. And there are many Jews more knowlegable than I who would argue with just about anything I say or have said here. Part of the Jewish culture is the encouragement of spirited debate, discussions, and arguments about various points of law.

But there is one thing that I believe most Jews would agree on, and that is that we are a people, a tribe, a family, who have survived centuries of persecution and exile because we usually do stick together. That is one stereotype, often presented negatively, that I have observed many times in many ways. And---if we ARE wrong about the Jesus thing, I kind of think that we have a good chance of being forgiven---but I could be mistaken... Judaism is not so much a faith-system as it is a way of thinking, and being allowed to think.

And, you know, I really really like it.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.