Of course not. This is a question we are often asked. What does it mean to be saved?

For Christians, “salvation” usually refers to being saved from eternal torment in hell. No Jew believes that anyone has to convert to Judaism to be saved from this kind of torture. In fact, most Jews believe that this type of torment in hell will not befall most people except for possibly the extremely wicked. But we will talk about hell and the afterlife in a different study. The bottom line is that Jews absolutely do not teach or believe that non-Jews will go to hell. This is a Christian belief, that people that do not adhere to their faith will go to hell.

For Jews, salvation means simply being saved from trouble. The trouble can be salvation in any area such as physical, spiritual, political, personal, tribal, or national. It can mean being saved from a disease, a circumstance such as poverty or famine, an enemy, or some other unfavorable situation. We believe Hashem is in control of all things, and He brings salvation to all who call upon Him.

Not only does He bring salvation, but He even brings the turmoil, because as Jews we believe that Hashem is in total control of the whole universe. Nothing good or evil happens unless He allows it.

The children of Israel needed salvation because of their slavery in Egypt that eventually led to the mass murder of their baby boys. However Hashem Himself orchestrated their settlement in Egypt and even prophesied their coming slavery beforehand.

Thus the saying, “Ein od milvado,” or “There is nothing besides Him.” So if we are in any sort of trouble, it’s either because we deserved it because of our sin, because of our lack of faith or emunah, or it’s because Hashem is using the situation in order to wake us up, learn an important lesson, or draw us closer to Him, and lead us to a greater purpose that we would not have been able to understand without first experiencing suffering or hardship.

Does anyone need to be Jewish to be saved? No. What do we need to be truly saved? Everyone needs faith in Hashem. This faith is what will lead to salvation in all areas of life.

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