Reminders for some true facts. It does not matter if you are Jewish or not.
1) Israel became a nation in 1312 BC.
2) Arab refugees in Israel started to identify themselves as Palestinians in 1967, two decades after the modern state of Israel was formed.
3) After they conquered the Land in 1272 BC. the Jews ruled the Land for 1000 years and they have a running presence there for 3300 Years.
4) For more than 3300 years Jerusalem was the Jewish Capital; Citadel. Jerusalem was never a capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even the Jordanians, when they conquered Jerusalem, never made it their capital and no Arab leaders visited the city.
5) Jerusalem is mentioned more than 700 times in the Tanach and not even one time in the Koran.
6) King David established Jerusalem--Muhammad never set foot in it.
7) Jews are praying facing Jerusalem, Muslims pray facing Mecca and if they are between Jerusalem and Mecca, then their face is toward Mecca and their behind is toward Jerusalem.
8) In 1948 it was the Arab leaders who encouraged the Arabs to leave Israel when they promised to clean the Land from all Jews. 68% of them run away before they ever saw an Israeli soldier.
9) Jewish refugees was forced to escape Arabs lands for the fear of violent pogroms.
10) The Number of Arabs that left Israel in 1948 is estimated as 630,000. The number of Jews who left the Arab countries is estimated the same.
11) The Arab refugees were not absorbed by the Arab nations, despite their vast amount of land. Within the 100,000,000 refugees in the world post WWII, they are the only group that was never absorbed or assimilated in their lands. on the other hand the Jewish refugees were all absorbed into Israel, a country the size of New Jersey.
12) The Arabs have 8 nations-----Israel has only one.
13) The PLO's treaty is still calling for the destruction of Israel despite Israel relinquishing the Gaza Strip, most of the West Bank, gave them Autonomy under the Palestinian authority, and supplied them with weapons.
14) Under Jordanian rule sacred Jewish sites were pillaged and the Jews were not allowed access to them. All the sacred Muslim and Christian sites were protected and have access to believers of all religions.
15) The UN kept silence when they desecrated the ancient cemetery in the Mount of Olives.
16) The UN kept silence when the Jews did not have access to the Kotel.
These are peril times. Jew or not, truth and peace are international values. What are we going to tell our grandchildren that we did, when there was a turning point.
Let's stat doing something NOW! Like educating people with these reminders.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Egyptian Gazette.
To honor the coming Passover, we decided to search the archives and we found a copy of the "Egyptian Gazette" from the time of the exodus.
THE EGYPTIAN GAZETTE
A miracle in the Red Sea...
"Just minutes before we were caught, the water split...."
The people of Israel are still trying to absorb the events of "Yam Suff," where the sea split in two and enable the multitude to escape the wrath of Pharaoh's army.
Moses: " Until the last minute, I believed."
Nachshon ben-Aminadav: "It was easier than swimming across the Nile."
The Egyptian people demand an investigative committee, and calls of the firing of 100's of Generals.
Alert:
Thousand of Egyptian soldiers drowned in the red Sea...
Because of the spread of Vermin, all Kinder gardens are closed. There is a growing fear for the closure of all schools.
A mother in the town of Pithom: "My eldest son dies unexpectedly." The Egyptian Police investigates the mysterious death of a 17 year old youth. The investigation points to blood found on neighbors doorpost.
Weather report:
Hail throughout Egypt. Sunny and clear in Goshen.
Food:
A new combination between a sausage and dough, created by Aaron the Sheff is the new hit in Egypt. It is called "Moses in the Basket." Aaron the High priest predicted that in the future it will take over throughout the world under the name: " Pigs in a blanket."
Commentary:
1) The insistence to build a golden calf will break all laws and regulations. Written by Yehoshua Ben-Noon.
2) Despite his difficulties in speaking, Moses is doing a great job leading the Israelites. Written by Jetro the Midianite.
Anyone who has old Egyptian Gazette writings fro that time, please add on....
THE EGYPTIAN GAZETTE
A miracle in the Red Sea...
"Just minutes before we were caught, the water split...."
The people of Israel are still trying to absorb the events of "Yam Suff," where the sea split in two and enable the multitude to escape the wrath of Pharaoh's army.
Moses: " Until the last minute, I believed."
Nachshon ben-Aminadav: "It was easier than swimming across the Nile."
The Egyptian people demand an investigative committee, and calls of the firing of 100's of Generals.
Alert:
Thousand of Egyptian soldiers drowned in the red Sea...
Because of the spread of Vermin, all Kinder gardens are closed. There is a growing fear for the closure of all schools.
A mother in the town of Pithom: "My eldest son dies unexpectedly." The Egyptian Police investigates the mysterious death of a 17 year old youth. The investigation points to blood found on neighbors doorpost.
Weather report:
Hail throughout Egypt. Sunny and clear in Goshen.
Food:
A new combination between a sausage and dough, created by Aaron the Sheff is the new hit in Egypt. It is called "Moses in the Basket." Aaron the High priest predicted that in the future it will take over throughout the world under the name: " Pigs in a blanket."
Commentary:
1) The insistence to build a golden calf will break all laws and regulations. Written by Yehoshua Ben-Noon.
2) Despite his difficulties in speaking, Moses is doing a great job leading the Israelites. Written by Jetro the Midianite.
Anyone who has old Egyptian Gazette writings fro that time, please add on....
Saturday, March 17, 2012
A cheeseburger dilemma?
Every time I walk into MacDonald's I experience a guilty uneasiness. Here I am wearing a Tzitzit and about to order a cheeseburger. Oh, Lord, have mercy on me.....
Does the Torah forbids eating meat and milk together?
לא תבשל גדי בחלב אמו -" Lo tevashel gedi bechalev (not bechalav. see below) imo." (you shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk. Exodus 23:19). It is repeated two more time in exactly the same language. (Ex. 34:26 and Deut. 14:21). This verse, through the years was the subject of hundreds of Mitzvot, and rules by various Rabbis and became the Kashrut laws as we know them today. Especially the Kashrut of separating milk and meat.
What caused God to "wake up" one morning and decide that it does not suit His purpose for the "Children of Israel" to eat cheeseburgers? Just like that? Without a reason? Or maybe it was the Rabbis, throughout history who did not understand the writing of Moses?
Archaeological digs in Tel Ras Samara (north Syria), revealed instructions for an ancient pagan ritual at the time of the Canaanites, to sacrifice the offspring of the sacrificial animal (its mother) in its fat as an offering to the god-du-jour, be it Baal, Ashtoret, or Anat. It was one ritual among other known rituals in Tanach time that was practiced by the pagans who dwell in proximity to the children of Israel. Could that be the answer? You bet it is... Jump five verses forward and in Exodus 23:24 we find the reason why God commanded what he commanded in Exodus. 23:19: " You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, not do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them, and break their pillars in pieces."
It is clear from this context that the reason was not "don't eat this kind of food." but it is a command not to worship other gods. If the verse was speaking of food, wouldn't it be logical to expect it to be included with other verses where God speaks about what, and what not He allowed to consume? The verse itself does not speak of eating but of cooking.
Now to the Hebrew. Two words:
חלב-with a Kamatz under the Lamed- Chalav- milk.
חלב - with a Tzeire inder the Lamed- Chalev- animal's fat. (according to the Bible dictionary of Bar-Ilan univ. P. 301) (see also 1 Samuel 15:22).
The ancient Rabbis wrongly interpret Exodus 23:19. One of the reasons for this is, they suffered from what I call "The Elvis Syndrome." You see, Elvis Presley wore a necklace with a cross and a star of David. when asked for the reason he replied: " I Do not want NOT to reach heaven on a technicality." The Rabbis, then, and today are suffering from the same syndrome. Even some leaders in Messianic Judaism. I know of a leader of a Messianic Jewish congregation who alternates Onegs of milk and meat on Shabbat services. The reason he says is not to offend Jewish people who come to visit. You see, he actually agrees that there is no mandate to separate milk and meat in the written Torah, his reason is not to offend....
And I ask, how many Halacha keeping Orthodox Jews ever visited his congregation? Elvis syndrome is still in force....
So, dear blog readers (tip of the hat to Judah), go ahead and have your cheeseburger.
Does the Torah forbids eating meat and milk together?
לא תבשל גדי בחלב אמו -" Lo tevashel gedi bechalev (not bechalav. see below) imo." (you shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk. Exodus 23:19). It is repeated two more time in exactly the same language. (Ex. 34:26 and Deut. 14:21). This verse, through the years was the subject of hundreds of Mitzvot, and rules by various Rabbis and became the Kashrut laws as we know them today. Especially the Kashrut of separating milk and meat.
What caused God to "wake up" one morning and decide that it does not suit His purpose for the "Children of Israel" to eat cheeseburgers? Just like that? Without a reason? Or maybe it was the Rabbis, throughout history who did not understand the writing of Moses?
Archaeological digs in Tel Ras Samara (north Syria), revealed instructions for an ancient pagan ritual at the time of the Canaanites, to sacrifice the offspring of the sacrificial animal (its mother) in its fat as an offering to the god-du-jour, be it Baal, Ashtoret, or Anat. It was one ritual among other known rituals in Tanach time that was practiced by the pagans who dwell in proximity to the children of Israel. Could that be the answer? You bet it is... Jump five verses forward and in Exodus 23:24 we find the reason why God commanded what he commanded in Exodus. 23:19: " You shall not worship their gods, nor serve them, not do according to their deeds; but you shall utterly overthrow them, and break their pillars in pieces."
It is clear from this context that the reason was not "don't eat this kind of food." but it is a command not to worship other gods. If the verse was speaking of food, wouldn't it be logical to expect it to be included with other verses where God speaks about what, and what not He allowed to consume? The verse itself does not speak of eating but of cooking.
Now to the Hebrew. Two words:
חלב-with a Kamatz under the Lamed- Chalav- milk.
חלב - with a Tzeire inder the Lamed- Chalev- animal's fat. (according to the Bible dictionary of Bar-Ilan univ. P. 301) (see also 1 Samuel 15:22).
The ancient Rabbis wrongly interpret Exodus 23:19. One of the reasons for this is, they suffered from what I call "The Elvis Syndrome." You see, Elvis Presley wore a necklace with a cross and a star of David. when asked for the reason he replied: " I Do not want NOT to reach heaven on a technicality." The Rabbis, then, and today are suffering from the same syndrome. Even some leaders in Messianic Judaism. I know of a leader of a Messianic Jewish congregation who alternates Onegs of milk and meat on Shabbat services. The reason he says is not to offend Jewish people who come to visit. You see, he actually agrees that there is no mandate to separate milk and meat in the written Torah, his reason is not to offend....
And I ask, how many Halacha keeping Orthodox Jews ever visited his congregation? Elvis syndrome is still in force....
So, dear blog readers (tip of the hat to Judah), go ahead and have your cheeseburger.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Who are the real chosen people?
" The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ' You shall surely observe My Shabbats; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you, Therefore you are to observe the Shabbat, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a Shabbat of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the Shabbat day shall surely be put to death."
I have been wondering, since according to BE and "Divine Invitation," Gentile believers are not a part of the people, therefore they cannot be cut off from the people...Gentiles 1--Jews 0.
Since Gentiles are not a part of the people, and not to do any work on Shabbat is a Jewish thing, Gentiles don't get to be put to death....Gentiles 2----Jews 0.
Since "there is a shabbat of complete rest" for the Jews only, Gentiles are not restricted and can do any heavy recreational activity...Gentiles 3--Jews 0.
What a deal....
I am starting to understand why FFOZ made the switch.
Wait..We can apply the same principle to eating pork...Gentiles get to have a ham sandwich...No problem... Biblically Kosher?....
Not for nothing did Yeshua say: "Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them."
I have been wondering, since according to BE and "Divine Invitation," Gentile believers are not a part of the people, therefore they cannot be cut off from the people...Gentiles 1--Jews 0.
Since Gentiles are not a part of the people, and not to do any work on Shabbat is a Jewish thing, Gentiles don't get to be put to death....Gentiles 2----Jews 0.
Since "there is a shabbat of complete rest" for the Jews only, Gentiles are not restricted and can do any heavy recreational activity...Gentiles 3--Jews 0.
What a deal....
I am starting to understand why FFOZ made the switch.
Wait..We can apply the same principle to eating pork...Gentiles get to have a ham sandwich...No problem... Biblically Kosher?....
Not for nothing did Yeshua say: "Therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them."
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Kabbalah: the way to God or a game for adults (Part II)
Kabbalh opposite Torah
"We want Mashiach now!" the famous cry of the Lubavitch Chasidim. It looks like they believe they have the right to demend Messiah's coming now, They believe that there is increased study of Torah, and there are more Mitzvot performed then ever. They offer "food for the soul" mixed with Kabbalistic ideas. But did God really hide Himself from mankind like the Kabbalah claims? Is the Kabbalah the right way to find Him, and find the Messiah? And what do Scriptures have to say about that? What does the prophecies about the Messiah say? Who will He be? When and how will He appear? What does the Torah have to say about the nature of God and how to stay connected to Him? What does the Tanach teach regarding the sinful nature of mankind, and how can we solve the implications?
The best thing to do is to listen to what the Torah says:
" The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this Law" ( Deut. 29:29).
how clearly did Moses address the Israelites before they enter the Promise Land. The fact is, that throughout the five books of Moses we discover a personal God, who communicates with Moses and others freely and honorably. The Torah reveals to us a holy God, separate, distinct, and exalted, and at the same time unreachable. It shows us a God who distances Himself from sin, but at the same time paving a way for sinners to right the obstacles by teaching how to remove the consequences of sin. The god of the Bible loves to be close to His people.
There are many hidden things in connection to God that the Torah does not reveal. Also the God of Abraham did not insist on us knowing the precise mystery of his unique nature, yet God still revealed all we need to live a life of holiness, including strict warnings of the consequences for human rebellion and unconfessed sins. In Deut. 31:17 God is says:
" Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they shall be consumed, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day, 'is it not because God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' "
Adam and Eve sinned and were removed outside the presence of God. The Israelites were warned that they too will be exiled from God's presence if they will live a life of sin without repentance. God heeded his warning and Israel has a hard time to understand why this had happened. The Kabbalists are wrestling with this issue and uses signs and symbols to support the mystical answers they come up with. But what did God say to the first person who held the complete Torah in his hands?
" This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" ( Joshua 1:8 ).
God commanded Joshua to take His words seriously, not to add nor remove anything from them. God did not command Joshua to find some secret code in the Torah nor did He ask him to search for hidden mysterious meanings. Joshua was to keep the commandments in a practical manner, honor God and neighbor. Joshua was also to learn the severity of sin and the need for repentance before God.
Unfortunately, the philosophy of the Kabbalah concerning the redemption ignore these command completely, a command that still supposed to speak to us today. How did we get to this condition? well, a look at the historical development of the Kabbalah reveals some understanding on how this flawed philosophy concerning the redemption came to be. Rabbinic Judaism itself was developed as a result of the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD. The spirit of God resided in the Temple, but as God warned beforehand, his spirit departed the temple at the same time that the nation was dispersed. The Talmudic Rabbis were not mysticans, they seriously struggled with the event of their time, The questioned: how are we to continue living as Jews without the presence of God and without a temple? They turned toward the traditions, the Chukim- rules and the Takanot-regulations. Later on, when the Kabbalists also struggled with the loss of the presence of God, they developed a mystical yearning for His closeness, and later they systematically edited all these ideas and codefied them.
In order to explain the absence of God they combined Gnostic superstitions. As a result of the troubles that the Jewish people experienced in the diaspora, which demanded explanation, the Kabbalists in Tzefat developed mystical superstitions and beliefs concerning the departure of the Shekinah. Later on in a desperation to try to connect with God, the Chasidics zeroed in on mystical experiences, like "Dvekut" and "Kavanah," in order to try to unify with God and open a way for Messiah who will redeem and renew the world.
Despite the fact that god promised Moses that he will raise a prophet like him for the Israelites( Deut. 18:18) the Mysticans arrive to the belief that they, themselves, will be responsible to the return of the Messiah. By doing so, the Kabbalists missed the important and open to everyone source, the teachings of the prophets. Throughout the pre-exilic period God revealed clearly who the Messiah will be, and what he will do. Messiah will be the one that will be sent by God to redeem the world through his sacrificial death.
All of us long for the mysteries of the universe to be solved and reveal hidden truths, But god wants us to experience His presence without running through a maze in order to solve this mystery. he sent the Messiah to show us how we can be with god today and forever. Yeshua told His disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them, and they will know how to get there. Yeshua said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. If you see me, you see my Father."
whoever saw Yeshua, saw God. Messiah came indeed, but the mysticans missed Him. instead of searching for the answers through good intentioned scholars, but who lack godly gaudiness, we need to take into account that God revealed everything through Yeshua, who came to carry our sins, to forgive and to offer us an eternal future. A future we will not see through dark glass anymore (1 Cor. 13:12).
God bless.
"We want Mashiach now!" the famous cry of the Lubavitch Chasidim. It looks like they believe they have the right to demend Messiah's coming now, They believe that there is increased study of Torah, and there are more Mitzvot performed then ever. They offer "food for the soul" mixed with Kabbalistic ideas. But did God really hide Himself from mankind like the Kabbalah claims? Is the Kabbalah the right way to find Him, and find the Messiah? And what do Scriptures have to say about that? What does the prophecies about the Messiah say? Who will He be? When and how will He appear? What does the Torah have to say about the nature of God and how to stay connected to Him? What does the Tanach teach regarding the sinful nature of mankind, and how can we solve the implications?
The best thing to do is to listen to what the Torah says:
" The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this Law" ( Deut. 29:29).
how clearly did Moses address the Israelites before they enter the Promise Land. The fact is, that throughout the five books of Moses we discover a personal God, who communicates with Moses and others freely and honorably. The Torah reveals to us a holy God, separate, distinct, and exalted, and at the same time unreachable. It shows us a God who distances Himself from sin, but at the same time paving a way for sinners to right the obstacles by teaching how to remove the consequences of sin. The god of the Bible loves to be close to His people.
There are many hidden things in connection to God that the Torah does not reveal. Also the God of Abraham did not insist on us knowing the precise mystery of his unique nature, yet God still revealed all we need to live a life of holiness, including strict warnings of the consequences for human rebellion and unconfessed sins. In Deut. 31:17 God is says:
" Then my anger will be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them and hide my face from them, and they shall be consumed, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day, 'is it not because God is not among us that these evils have come upon us?' "
Adam and Eve sinned and were removed outside the presence of God. The Israelites were warned that they too will be exiled from God's presence if they will live a life of sin without repentance. God heeded his warning and Israel has a hard time to understand why this had happened. The Kabbalists are wrestling with this issue and uses signs and symbols to support the mystical answers they come up with. But what did God say to the first person who held the complete Torah in his hands?
" This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success" ( Joshua 1:8 ).
God commanded Joshua to take His words seriously, not to add nor remove anything from them. God did not command Joshua to find some secret code in the Torah nor did He ask him to search for hidden mysterious meanings. Joshua was to keep the commandments in a practical manner, honor God and neighbor. Joshua was also to learn the severity of sin and the need for repentance before God.
Unfortunately, the philosophy of the Kabbalah concerning the redemption ignore these command completely, a command that still supposed to speak to us today. How did we get to this condition? well, a look at the historical development of the Kabbalah reveals some understanding on how this flawed philosophy concerning the redemption came to be. Rabbinic Judaism itself was developed as a result of the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 AD. The spirit of God resided in the Temple, but as God warned beforehand, his spirit departed the temple at the same time that the nation was dispersed. The Talmudic Rabbis were not mysticans, they seriously struggled with the event of their time, The questioned: how are we to continue living as Jews without the presence of God and without a temple? They turned toward the traditions, the Chukim- rules and the Takanot-regulations. Later on, when the Kabbalists also struggled with the loss of the presence of God, they developed a mystical yearning for His closeness, and later they systematically edited all these ideas and codefied them.
In order to explain the absence of God they combined Gnostic superstitions. As a result of the troubles that the Jewish people experienced in the diaspora, which demanded explanation, the Kabbalists in Tzefat developed mystical superstitions and beliefs concerning the departure of the Shekinah. Later on in a desperation to try to connect with God, the Chasidics zeroed in on mystical experiences, like "Dvekut" and "Kavanah," in order to try to unify with God and open a way for Messiah who will redeem and renew the world.
Despite the fact that god promised Moses that he will raise a prophet like him for the Israelites( Deut. 18:18) the Mysticans arrive to the belief that they, themselves, will be responsible to the return of the Messiah. By doing so, the Kabbalists missed the important and open to everyone source, the teachings of the prophets. Throughout the pre-exilic period God revealed clearly who the Messiah will be, and what he will do. Messiah will be the one that will be sent by God to redeem the world through his sacrificial death.
All of us long for the mysteries of the universe to be solved and reveal hidden truths, But god wants us to experience His presence without running through a maze in order to solve this mystery. he sent the Messiah to show us how we can be with god today and forever. Yeshua told His disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them, and they will know how to get there. Yeshua said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. If you see me, you see my Father."
whoever saw Yeshua, saw God. Messiah came indeed, but the mysticans missed Him. instead of searching for the answers through good intentioned scholars, but who lack godly gaudiness, we need to take into account that God revealed everything through Yeshua, who came to carry our sins, to forgive and to offer us an eternal future. A future we will not see through dark glass anymore (1 Cor. 13:12).
God bless.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The truth will set you free.
Our old friend Derek finally had enough. He is against an even field. He owns the ball and if you don't play by his rules he will take the ball and go home. See here:
http://www.derekleman.com/musings/2012/02/16/cute-poodles-a-parable/#comments
You see, it is a lot more comfortable to live in a world of Poodles. You can cuddle them, you can yell at them, you can whine at them, but they don't answer, they just stare at you and sometime lick you. Wow...Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that real utopia? Can life be better than that? You present yourself as someone you ain't, and no one can expose you for the fraud you are. because the truth, Derek is, that you and your ilk spend most of your time trying to prove who you are, because you still are not sure yourself.
Derek decided he wants to become a Messianic Rabbi. But how can one become one without being a Jew? so he decided to ignore Scripture (1 Cor. 7:18) and become one. He found a small obscure organization that will convert him, and walla, he is Jewish now....Never mind that none of the Jewish organizations accepts his phony conversion, not even the group that he claim to represent, the UMJC.
Derek, among other things sees himself as a pioneer, so he mastered enough chutzpah to have his own blog and present himself as a Jew among Jews. As long that he can find some gullible poodle lovers, he is in business. So what if we have a little deceit here and there.....
So, when someone comes to his blog to remind him of the fraud that he is, Derek takes the ball and goes home....Some scholar...
http://www.derekleman.com/musings/2012/02/16/cute-poodles-a-parable/#comments
You see, it is a lot more comfortable to live in a world of Poodles. You can cuddle them, you can yell at them, you can whine at them, but they don't answer, they just stare at you and sometime lick you. Wow...Isn't that wonderful? Isn't that real utopia? Can life be better than that? You present yourself as someone you ain't, and no one can expose you for the fraud you are. because the truth, Derek is, that you and your ilk spend most of your time trying to prove who you are, because you still are not sure yourself.
Derek decided he wants to become a Messianic Rabbi. But how can one become one without being a Jew? so he decided to ignore Scripture (1 Cor. 7:18) and become one. He found a small obscure organization that will convert him, and walla, he is Jewish now....Never mind that none of the Jewish organizations accepts his phony conversion, not even the group that he claim to represent, the UMJC.
Derek, among other things sees himself as a pioneer, so he mastered enough chutzpah to have his own blog and present himself as a Jew among Jews. As long that he can find some gullible poodle lovers, he is in business. So what if we have a little deceit here and there.....
So, when someone comes to his blog to remind him of the fraud that he is, Derek takes the ball and goes home....Some scholar...
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Quote of the week.
" What does it mean to follow the Bible literally?
To follow the Bible literally-at face value, at its word, according to its plain meaning-isn't just a daunting proposition. It's a dangerous one.
Consider: In the third century, the scholar Origen is said to have interpreted literally Matthew 19:12- ' There are the eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven' -and castrated himself. Origen later became a preeminent theologian of his age and an advocate of figurative interpretation."
A. J. Jacobs
The Year of Living Biblically.
To follow the Bible literally-at face value, at its word, according to its plain meaning-isn't just a daunting proposition. It's a dangerous one.
Consider: In the third century, the scholar Origen is said to have interpreted literally Matthew 19:12- ' There are the eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven' -and castrated himself. Origen later became a preeminent theologian of his age and an advocate of figurative interpretation."
A. J. Jacobs
The Year of Living Biblically.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Kabbalah: the way to God or a game for adults. (part 1)
In the last couple of decades, the Chasidic movement geared its teaching toward spiritual Judaism. Unlike the rigid, outward, rules and regulation of Orthodox Judaism, the Chasidic movement, and especially the Lubavitch section, framed and displayed for the people a brand new kind of Judaism. A vibrant and experimental Judaism that seeks to be relevant and truthful. This movement, with it's emphasis of spiritual life, positioned itself to sit on the shoulders of the giant Kabbalah which is based on the "ספר הזוהר "-Sefer Hazohar- (Book of Splendor).
Great scholars like Carlibach, Kook and others, were so successful in introduced Kabbalah study to modern Judaism that today it is viewed by many as a new wave of spiritual Judaism. Kabbalah today is identified with Jewish celebrities such as the late Elizabeth Taylor, Jeff Goldbloom, and even non-Jews as Madona. What is the pull that the Kabbalah has on people? Why is there a renewed interest in mystical spiritualism with all its colorful options? To answer this question we need first to take a look at what the Kabbalah has to offer.
Some key ideas of the Kabbalah
The Kabbalah is trying to achieve an intimate union with God through personal experience. It teaches that acquiring knowledge of the mystics of the godly realm is necessary to achieve this union. Starting with the " ספר ההיכלות "- Sefer Hahechalot- ( Book of Palaces), the Kabbalistic mindset was aimed at acquiring a lofty knowledge on godly mystery and the higher realm.
"ספר היצירה "- Sefer Hayetzirah- (Book of creation), illuminates "Ten Sephirot"-Enumerations- which according to the belief emanates from God. According to Kabbalah, the the Sephirot illustrate the outward embodied of God and His inward character. " הבהיר "-Habahir- ( book of Illumination), is trying to picture God's nature by developing a theory that there are different powers and dimensions in His existence. Even the godly boundaries are investigated and mapped out by a "hidden tree" that tries to picture the structure of God's creative powers. God, who is referred to as "אין סוף " -Ein Sof-( infinite), is an unknown. The only way to know Him is through His attributes, as defined by the Ten Enumerations. The Sephirot are inseparable from the Ein Sof. As the Book of Zohar puts it, The Sephirot are God and god is the Sephirot. Together they represent what the Kabbalists call " העולם העליון "- Haolam Haelyon- ( the higher realm).
Under the Haolam Haelyon, there exists our world " העולם התחתון "-Haolam Hatachton- (the lower realm). ( Later on, Kabbalists from the town of Tzefat will insist that there actually three worlds that are higher than our world, each of them with a similar structure of Sephirot).
The lower realm (world) is parallel to the higher realm (world), even as the higher world is characterized by perfection and harmony, the lower world is flawed and broken. Our world, (in a Neo-Platonic way) illuminates the higher world. The material world is a perspective to what is going on in the realms of the invisible Sephirot. The Kabbalah claims that sin caused God to exit this world, and that explains why His presence is not available to the dwellers of this world.
The Kabbalah also teaches that since man was created in God's image, every human possesses an inner perspective of the structure of the Sephirot, נשמה -Neshama-(soul)-which is the connection to the God who sits in Heaven. On the basis of this unnatural connection the Kabbalah teaches that humans can influence the higher world. Every effort of humankind has a strong influence on the cosmic order of the universe. Mankind was given a large task-repairing the damage that sin caused. In Chasidic circle this is known as " תיקון עולם "-Tikkun Olam-(repairing the world). The means to achieve Tikkun Olam are the Mitzvot.
Under Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, Kabbalah studies were formulated and refined to include the idea that the redemption of the world and the return of the Messiah can be enhanced through the efforts of the Jewish people, with the Kabbalah as the key. In order to support this mystical plan, the literal interpretation of the Tanach were set aside. The names of biblical figures and places in the Tanach became symbols pointing to the "Sphirot" and their mystical role. All kind of numerical systems were invented, supposedly to study the "mystical codes" in the writing of the Tanach and every Hebrew letter received a mystical meaning. Assemblies in Tzefat and later in Russia and Europe, are aspiring to reach mystical perfection in order to free the redemption and usher the return of the Messiah from heaven.
Custom like דבקות -Dvekut- (loyalty, devotion) through mystical meditation and "כוונה"-Kavanah (intent) were employed in order to experience nearness, and partnership with the Almighty. With the growing influence of Chasidic Kehilot, these Kabbalistic customs became an important part of modern Judaism today. Modern Orthodox scholars, like Rav Abraham Itzchak Kook and Arieh Kaplan, made the Kabbalistic theology and philosophy quite popular, as did The Lubavitch Rebbe.
But the question remains, Is the Kabbalah a true teaching?
Does the Tanach support the idea of Kabbalah?
The complete base of Tanach Mitzvot (holiness and love for neighbor) was newly defined and directed by the Kabbalah. Whereas the Tanach reminds us of the need to fight sin and return to God with vigor, the Kabbalah teaches that God's respite can be achieved through the efforts of mankind. The mystical composition of the Kabbalah bestows upon mankind powers that it actually does not posses. the Kabbalah is trying to be a kind of cosmic machine, fueled by a religion that is based on human works that allegedly can control diety. " The "trick" of Kabbalistic theology is its effort to try and change completely the sovereignty of God. The role of keeping the Mitzvot was newly defined. Instead of keeping the Mitzvot because "that is what we supposed to do," The act was given a cosmic meaning which gives mankind the role of a star on the stage of redemption, taking away God's role in it. It of course stands opposite the message of the Bible that clearly teaches that God Himself is the Initiator and purchaser of redemption.
Next: Redemption, Kabbalah VS. Torah.
Great scholars like Carlibach, Kook and others, were so successful in introduced Kabbalah study to modern Judaism that today it is viewed by many as a new wave of spiritual Judaism. Kabbalah today is identified with Jewish celebrities such as the late Elizabeth Taylor, Jeff Goldbloom, and even non-Jews as Madona. What is the pull that the Kabbalah has on people? Why is there a renewed interest in mystical spiritualism with all its colorful options? To answer this question we need first to take a look at what the Kabbalah has to offer.
Some key ideas of the Kabbalah
The Kabbalah is trying to achieve an intimate union with God through personal experience. It teaches that acquiring knowledge of the mystics of the godly realm is necessary to achieve this union. Starting with the " ספר ההיכלות "- Sefer Hahechalot- ( Book of Palaces), the Kabbalistic mindset was aimed at acquiring a lofty knowledge on godly mystery and the higher realm.
"ספר היצירה "- Sefer Hayetzirah- (Book of creation), illuminates "Ten Sephirot"-Enumerations- which according to the belief emanates from God. According to Kabbalah, the the Sephirot illustrate the outward embodied of God and His inward character. " הבהיר "-Habahir- ( book of Illumination), is trying to picture God's nature by developing a theory that there are different powers and dimensions in His existence. Even the godly boundaries are investigated and mapped out by a "hidden tree" that tries to picture the structure of God's creative powers. God, who is referred to as "אין סוף " -Ein Sof-( infinite), is an unknown. The only way to know Him is through His attributes, as defined by the Ten Enumerations. The Sephirot are inseparable from the Ein Sof. As the Book of Zohar puts it, The Sephirot are God and god is the Sephirot. Together they represent what the Kabbalists call " העולם העליון "- Haolam Haelyon- ( the higher realm).
Under the Haolam Haelyon, there exists our world " העולם התחתון "-Haolam Hatachton- (the lower realm). ( Later on, Kabbalists from the town of Tzefat will insist that there actually three worlds that are higher than our world, each of them with a similar structure of Sephirot).
The lower realm (world) is parallel to the higher realm (world), even as the higher world is characterized by perfection and harmony, the lower world is flawed and broken. Our world, (in a Neo-Platonic way) illuminates the higher world. The material world is a perspective to what is going on in the realms of the invisible Sephirot. The Kabbalah claims that sin caused God to exit this world, and that explains why His presence is not available to the dwellers of this world.
The Kabbalah also teaches that since man was created in God's image, every human possesses an inner perspective of the structure of the Sephirot, נשמה -Neshama-(soul)-which is the connection to the God who sits in Heaven. On the basis of this unnatural connection the Kabbalah teaches that humans can influence the higher world. Every effort of humankind has a strong influence on the cosmic order of the universe. Mankind was given a large task-repairing the damage that sin caused. In Chasidic circle this is known as " תיקון עולם "-Tikkun Olam-(repairing the world). The means to achieve Tikkun Olam are the Mitzvot.
Under Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, Kabbalah studies were formulated and refined to include the idea that the redemption of the world and the return of the Messiah can be enhanced through the efforts of the Jewish people, with the Kabbalah as the key. In order to support this mystical plan, the literal interpretation of the Tanach were set aside. The names of biblical figures and places in the Tanach became symbols pointing to the "Sphirot" and their mystical role. All kind of numerical systems were invented, supposedly to study the "mystical codes" in the writing of the Tanach and every Hebrew letter received a mystical meaning. Assemblies in Tzefat and later in Russia and Europe, are aspiring to reach mystical perfection in order to free the redemption and usher the return of the Messiah from heaven.
Custom like דבקות -Dvekut- (loyalty, devotion) through mystical meditation and "כוונה"-Kavanah (intent) were employed in order to experience nearness, and partnership with the Almighty. With the growing influence of Chasidic Kehilot, these Kabbalistic customs became an important part of modern Judaism today. Modern Orthodox scholars, like Rav Abraham Itzchak Kook and Arieh Kaplan, made the Kabbalistic theology and philosophy quite popular, as did The Lubavitch Rebbe.
But the question remains, Is the Kabbalah a true teaching?
Does the Tanach support the idea of Kabbalah?
The complete base of Tanach Mitzvot (holiness and love for neighbor) was newly defined and directed by the Kabbalah. Whereas the Tanach reminds us of the need to fight sin and return to God with vigor, the Kabbalah teaches that God's respite can be achieved through the efforts of mankind. The mystical composition of the Kabbalah bestows upon mankind powers that it actually does not posses. the Kabbalah is trying to be a kind of cosmic machine, fueled by a religion that is based on human works that allegedly can control diety. " The "trick" of Kabbalistic theology is its effort to try and change completely the sovereignty of God. The role of keeping the Mitzvot was newly defined. Instead of keeping the Mitzvot because "that is what we supposed to do," The act was given a cosmic meaning which gives mankind the role of a star on the stage of redemption, taking away God's role in it. It of course stands opposite the message of the Bible that clearly teaches that God Himself is the Initiator and purchaser of redemption.
Next: Redemption, Kabbalah VS. Torah.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Is our God small minded?
There is a growing movement within Messianic Judaism that insists we cannot understand God's word, His Laws, rules and regulations, therefore we must rely on the teachings of the Oral Torah as a necessary partner to the Scriptures.
Sometimes I find myself questioning if God really cares for the small thing? Is nothing too small for God? Does God really care if we walk more than five steps without a Kipah (yarmulka)? Is He really upset if we eat a sandwich outside the Sukkah? If I turn the light on Shabbat, eat a cheesecake after a good New-York steak or forget to kiss a Mezuzah once in a while, am I going to hell? Is this the main purpose of God? Is God that board as to tell us not to wear strong colors only balck and white? Will He punish, hate or seek revenge if we don't study Torah 12 hours a day? If we use logic, the answer to these questions have to be a resounding, NO!
Is watching over us to keep all the thousands different Mitzvot, halachot and prohibitions, is what God is so interested in, or is He beyond this samall-mindness?
The halachot, mitzvot, the do's and dont's create traditions, Traditions create religion, religion creates separation between people, it causes pride in the individual, because he comes around to thinking that somehow, by doing mitzvot and deeds that the other don't he is better than them. Note the "Kosher" and the "Glat Kosher." Logic will tell us that God is not basing His evaluation of us on the keeping of this or that mitzvah. Good deeds are suposed to come from the heart, not from seeking any reward.
Even in a cursory reading of the Torah, we discover that the mitzvot God gave us were completely different in their intent, and way we are supposed to do them from what we understand and do today. Moreover, the mitzvot change according to the time, culture and place. God did not wake up one morning and decided "today I will prohibit them from eating Cheesburgers!"
God gave us Laws and commands to remind us on a permanet basis who we are, who He is,His person and attributes. Of course the glaring problem, throuout the Tanach and until today, is that our people, led by the religious leaders, failed to understand this. Instead of serving God, the religious leaders want us to serve the laws that are supposed to remind us of Him. They made the rules, the fence, the frame to be holy, instead of the One the frame is pointing to. Throughout the years, instead of concentrating on God, the Rabbis expended the frame to include more and more new, invented rules and regulations. Even thogh God gave us a different message: " For I delight in loyalty, rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6). Since Israel failed, God promised, through the Prophet Jeremiah, that in the future He will cut a New Covenant with His people. (Jerem. 31:31-34).
The New Covenant will bring a few chnges:
1) The Laws will be absorbed in the heart of the people who will accept the New Covenant.
2) " They shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them..." That means that our ties with God will be renewed only through this Covenant. Young or old, priests or ley people.
3) "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." That means that the New Covenant will be the perpetual sacrifice for our sins.
More than a third of the commandments are not possible to keep today. But the principles behind them are still valid. Throughout Jewish history, the Jewish people lost the understanding of the tenets of the commandments. So much so, that between the Judaism of 2000 years ago and today's traditional Judaism, there is no connection or similarity.
God made it clear to the Israelites, theoughout the Tanach, that He does not want their empty deeds, and their "pretends." God wanted their hearts "...For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7). See the story of the serpents in the desert (Numb. 21). All the people needed to do is to look up to the bronze serpent and have faith.
So, we can see, that traditional Judaism today is in a dilemma, one one hand it has to provide a קרבן -sacrifice, on the other hand, there is no Temple and no way to offer a sacrifice. The Sages constructed a whole labyrinth of rules and regulations to remedy this problem, but the Tanach offered a simple solution, THE MESSIAH.
OH, please Lord, open their eyes...
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The oral Torah. Authority of God or man?
Skepticism should not be thought of as a dirty word. Even for believers. There is nothing wrong for us believers to question things that Judaism sees as sacred, such as the Talmud.
Quite often the Apostolic Writing is bashed by traditional Judaism, for the reason that it claims to be as authoritative as the Written Torah. But at the same time the Rabbis own a vast amount of documents that were written many years after the Torah itself was written, which they claim as holding a greater authority than the Torah.
According to traditional Orthodox Judaism, Moses, at Sinai, received two sets of Laws, rules and regulations. The "written Torah" which includes the five books of Moses, and the "Oral Torah" that they claim, was given in order to be transmitted to the leaders of Israel. This "Oral Torah" is a series of arguments, opinions and commentaries that enable each generation to interpret the Torah according to the needs of that time. In this way, the Rabbis say, the Written Torah remains inflexible, and irrelevant. The need for such an accompanied document is usually explained in this way: "God told us not to work on the Shabbat day. But what constitutes work? God surely would not tell us to do something without explaining how to do it in the right way, right? Therefore the "Oral Torah" is absolutely necessary." Because of this claim, the Rabbis own an incredible vast amount of volumes that explain every outlook of the everyday life of a Jew.
This, astonishingly, makes the Rabbis not only emissaries of the new laws, but the makers of these laws. Orthodox Jews will say that this transfer of authority is part of God's plan, like it is really a fact that God gave His authority to this process. Some, explain it in this way: "actually, God limit Himself from intervening directly in the halachic process. He prefers an orderly process instead of miracles and voices from Heaven. When supernatural events are allowed to sway halachic decisions, all the structure of Torah study-the pillar on which all Judaism leans- will collapse. The moment the ability of the Sages to interpret Torah is stripped, the arguments and conversation of the Talmud become meaningless. If Judaism is supposed to be a dynamic way of life, which refereshes itself time and again, it is the right of the Sages to decide on a halacha that have to be independent from godly authority of cancellation." ( Natan T. Lopez Cardoso The torah, written and Oral P. 76.
So, the question arises, how do we become the people who decide at what level God is involved or not, in the decision making?
The Mishnah was the first time that the Oral Torah appeared in writing. It includes data that was available 100 to 200 years beforehand. But, is there any proofe that these "laws" originated at Mount Sinai? This is an important question. If at Mount Sinai there was no authority given to interpret the Torah and set up halachot, then it means that the Rabbis never had any Godly authority to do so.
By the same token, Non-Orthodox Jews need to understand that the traditions of their belief are man-made. A tradition that denies Yeshua as Messiah. Many are pointing to certain writings of the Sages that speak of Yeshua cannot be who He is. But aren't these writings a response of Rabbis who lived in the time of Yeshua, who decided that Yeshua is a threat to their authority? Leaders who cared only for their political standing?
How accurately was the Oral Torah transmitted from generation to generation?
Between Moses and the writing of the Mishanah there were 1000 years in which the Jewish people went through many storms and changes, that included, Living in the Land, exile and assimilation. These events, often, caused the people to forget the Torah Laws. If the Written Torah was neglected so easily, how much more is the case of Oral Torah? Is it really possible for the Oral Torah to be remembered in exactly the same way from Sinai to the Mishnah?
The Rabbis state many different reasons to the importance of keeping the character of the OT (Oral Torah), as oral compared to the written Torah. One of the reasons is that keeping the rules oral protects the OT from falling into the wrong hands. If this reason is so important, then why write the OT in the first place? The Rabbis answer is, that if the laws of the OT would not have been written, Judaism would have not survive. They point to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. But didn't the OT survived the destruction of the 1st Temple? Would not God continue to protect her, if her validity is the case?
Is there any hint in the Written Torah for the existence of an Oral Torah?
The Rabbis will point to Deut. 17:8-13 and say, that the Rabbis have sole authority to interpret the Torah and tell us how to live our lives. Anyone who refuses to listen to them is guilty of sin in the eyes of God. This is a complete fabrication of the text. These verses do not mention any Rabbis. They only relate to the role of Judges who set at the city gates and decide on difficult cases. The passage does not give the Rabbis, who came later in history, the authority to say to the Jewish people how to handle every detail in their private, or corporate lives. In fact, there is no mention in Scriptures that gives humans this kind of authority, an authority that exceeds the words of the Torah and the Prophets, who spoke through the inspiration of God. The Talmud says that anyone who reject the notion that Moses gave us the written and Oral Torahs, does not have a share in the world to come. There is no hint to that in the Scriptures.
Bottom line is, whereas the Tanach does not say anything of Oral Torah, it speaks of a New Covenant to come Jerem. 31:31-33.
It is not that the Talmud is devoid of value, but when Rabbis read what Rabbis before them wrote instead of reading the Scriptures themselves in order to seal their authority, authority which denies Yeshua, the Oral Torah has to be questioned.
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