Today I finished my translation of Toldot Yeshu, the real Jesus narrative. This amazing midrash will shock you with the real story. It's nothing short of absolutely eye opening and astounding - and it's not very long at all (about 11.5 pages in a Word document). Enjoy! :)
Click here to read Toldot Yeshu in English
Showing posts with label new covenant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new covenant. Show all posts
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
What Makes People Convert?
In the Torah of Rebbe Nahhman MeUman, entitled Likutei Moharan (roughly translated: 'the compiled teachings of our Teacher, HaRav Nahhman'), R' Nahhman delivers unparalleled insights, drawing on the Tanakh, the statements of the Sages from within the Talmud and Midrashim, as well as from the Holy Zohar and the writings of the Ari z"l.
So here in Torah 17 of Likutei Moharan, R' Nahhman tells us why some gentiles end up converting to Judaism. I will only post key sections of the Torah itself. The rest may be read here. I will underline key points and my comments/clarifications are in parentheses:
"5. But just how is it possible to make converts? — are they not quite far from the holiness of Israel? — and where does this come from, that it comes to their mind that they should convert? Just know, that this is done through the aspects of (Eccl. 19): "Wealth adds many friends;" i.e. through charity that one gives to a wise scholar, who is made up of several souls of Israel, for actually, how is it possible for a gentile to come to the faith of Israel? — are they not quite far from Israel? — and how is it possible to talk to them, that they should hear and come to the holy faith? — but, like when one is very far from another, and it is impossible to talk to him so that he can hear, it is necessary to write him some writing, so likewise it is necessary to send the idea of writing to them, until they can hear, though they be far. For the root of the sense of hearing is because the letters of the speech are engraved in the air, and the airs strike each other, until it comes to the ear of the hearer, and therefore when the air is still and pure and clear, then when one speaks who is able to speak, then the speech is heard from afar, as we see tangibly, but when there is stormy wind, then it is impossible for the other one to hear, for the wind confuses and scatters parts of the airs and they are scattered, until it is impossible for the other one to hear even the voice, and even less so, the speech itself:
[skipping two paragraphs]
And then when the air is still and pure, then when the one speaks who can speak Israelite speech, i.e. holy speech, then this speech is written and engraved in the air, like (Ps. 45): "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer;" and then the speech goes and is heard from afar, like (Es. 9): "and his fame went out throughout all the provinces" for because the air is still and pure, they are able to hear from afar, and then this speech is written in the books of the nations, in various lands according to their writing, and then the nations find in their books the reverse of their faith (they found contradictions), like we have found, several converts who converted because of this, because they found in their books the reverse of their faith. And where does this come from, that they should find now what is against their faith? — this comes but through the speech of the Tzaddik, which is engraved and written in the air, like: "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer;" and the air was still and pure through the aspect of "wealth adds many friends;" until the speech went out in the aspect of "and his fame went out throughout all the provinces" and was engraved and written there in their books (bits of truth from the speech of a Tzadik becomes written in their books, and causes contradictions, and through this they cling to the truth and convert to Judaism), and through this aspect they found in their books the reverse of their faith, and through this they converted, as several converts who converted through this relate, through their finding in their books the reverse of their faith, and all this is drawn from the aspects, as mentioned above.
And this is like (Es. 6): "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told." Mordechai is like the unbeliever at idol worship, as is written: "the Jewish man;" as our Rabbis of blessed memory said (Megillah 13): "Whoever denies the worship of stars and signs is called a Jew." i.e. that the words that Mordechai spoke, which are words of denial of worship of idols, they were written in the air, until writing was found in their books, as mentioned above. And this is [the meaning of]: "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told," that the utterances which Mordechai spoke, which are utterances of faith of the true Tzaddik, was found written in their (the nations') books, for the speech of the Tzaddik went afar, until it was written and inscribed there in their books, through which the reverse of their faith is found in their books, for it is found in their books holy speech which Mordechai spoke, who is like the Tzaddik, as mentioned above. And this is: "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told," as mentioned above. And then, when these nations come and find there the reverse of their faith, from this are made converts, like (Es. 8) "And many of the people of the land became Jews:"
6. But from just where does it come, that these ones specifically should find in their books the reverse of their faith and should come back and should recognize the faith of Israel, and the others should not find at all, and remain in their [false] faith? Just know, that this is because of the aspect of good, that is suppressed under their (the nations') hands, i.e. the aspect of parts of souls of Israel that is suppressed by them, for all the good is only the aspect of souls of Israel, i.e. when the nations strengthen up, they do not allow Israel to do mitzvot, like it was found, that they decreed that they should not circumcise their sons that they should desecrate Shabbat (see Rosh Hashana 19, Baba Batra 60: Me`ilah 17). Hence, the good that Israel needed to do, was suppressed under their hands, and also when they prevent Israel from serving Hashem Yithbarakh, through causes that they cause through taxes and property taxes that they levy on them, and also through their withholding benefits from Israel, through all this the good is suppressed under their hands, i.e. parts of souls of Israel.
And in the beginning this good (the bits of souls of Israel) that is suppressed by them remembers that it comes from a very holy and high place, (the parts of souls under the nations' suppression realize that their source in Israel) but they (the nations) just overcome this good and suppress it under their hands, until it is caught and tied by them, until the good itself forgets its loftiness, and through the Israelite speech, that goes out and is written in their books, as mentioned above, then this suppressed good there finds it in their books, i.e. it finds there the reverse of their faith (contradictions), and then this good recalls its loftiness, how that it comes from a very high place, i.e. that it is parts of the souls of Israel, that all the worlds were created for them, and "These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants... there they dwelt with the king for his work" (Chron. I 4), for Hashem Yithbarakh, consulted with the souls of Israel to create the world (Bereishit Rabbah 8, Midrash Ruth 2), and then the good begins to be sorry and yearn because of it fell from such a high place, and is now suppressed under their hands, and will come, God forbid, to annihilation and loss, and it wants to go on and return to its place; and because the good is already tied and caught by them in ties of ties, therefore when the good begins to return, then it draws and tears off with itself more from their evil. And this is like the converts that come to convert, who are like the evil that is torn off from them with the good, through the good returning to its place, for it is impossible for the good to return to its place, because of the vastness of the tying that is very tied and clipped there, and it is unavoidable that it should tear off with it from the bad, and this is the idea of converts."
So here in Torah 17 of Likutei Moharan, R' Nahhman tells us why some gentiles end up converting to Judaism. I will only post key sections of the Torah itself. The rest may be read here. I will underline key points and my comments/clarifications are in parentheses:
"5. But just how is it possible to make converts? — are they not quite far from the holiness of Israel? — and where does this come from, that it comes to their mind that they should convert? Just know, that this is done through the aspects of (Eccl. 19): "Wealth adds many friends;" i.e. through charity that one gives to a wise scholar, who is made up of several souls of Israel, for actually, how is it possible for a gentile to come to the faith of Israel? — are they not quite far from Israel? — and how is it possible to talk to them, that they should hear and come to the holy faith? — but, like when one is very far from another, and it is impossible to talk to him so that he can hear, it is necessary to write him some writing, so likewise it is necessary to send the idea of writing to them, until they can hear, though they be far. For the root of the sense of hearing is because the letters of the speech are engraved in the air, and the airs strike each other, until it comes to the ear of the hearer, and therefore when the air is still and pure and clear, then when one speaks who is able to speak, then the speech is heard from afar, as we see tangibly, but when there is stormy wind, then it is impossible for the other one to hear, for the wind confuses and scatters parts of the airs and they are scattered, until it is impossible for the other one to hear even the voice, and even less so, the speech itself:
[skipping two paragraphs]
And then when the air is still and pure, then when the one speaks who can speak Israelite speech, i.e. holy speech, then this speech is written and engraved in the air, like (Ps. 45): "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer;" and then the speech goes and is heard from afar, like (Es. 9): "and his fame went out throughout all the provinces" for because the air is still and pure, they are able to hear from afar, and then this speech is written in the books of the nations, in various lands according to their writing, and then the nations find in their books the reverse of their faith (they found contradictions), like we have found, several converts who converted because of this, because they found in their books the reverse of their faith. And where does this come from, that they should find now what is against their faith? — this comes but through the speech of the Tzaddik, which is engraved and written in the air, like: "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer;" and the air was still and pure through the aspect of "wealth adds many friends;" until the speech went out in the aspect of "and his fame went out throughout all the provinces" and was engraved and written there in their books (bits of truth from the speech of a Tzadik becomes written in their books, and causes contradictions, and through this they cling to the truth and convert to Judaism), and through this aspect they found in their books the reverse of their faith, and through this they converted, as several converts who converted through this relate, through their finding in their books the reverse of their faith, and all this is drawn from the aspects, as mentioned above.
And this is like (Es. 6): "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told." Mordechai is like the unbeliever at idol worship, as is written: "the Jewish man;" as our Rabbis of blessed memory said (Megillah 13): "Whoever denies the worship of stars and signs is called a Jew." i.e. that the words that Mordechai spoke, which are words of denial of worship of idols, they were written in the air, until writing was found in their books, as mentioned above. And this is [the meaning of]: "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told," that the utterances which Mordechai spoke, which are utterances of faith of the true Tzaddik, was found written in their (the nations') books, for the speech of the Tzaddik went afar, until it was written and inscribed there in their books, through which the reverse of their faith is found in their books, for it is found in their books holy speech which Mordechai spoke, who is like the Tzaddik, as mentioned above. And this is: "And it was found written, that Mordechai had told," as mentioned above. And then, when these nations come and find there the reverse of their faith, from this are made converts, like (Es. 8) "And many of the people of the land became Jews:"
6. But from just where does it come, that these ones specifically should find in their books the reverse of their faith and should come back and should recognize the faith of Israel, and the others should not find at all, and remain in their [false] faith? Just know, that this is because of the aspect of good, that is suppressed under their (the nations') hands, i.e. the aspect of parts of souls of Israel that is suppressed by them, for all the good is only the aspect of souls of Israel, i.e. when the nations strengthen up, they do not allow Israel to do mitzvot, like it was found, that they decreed that they should not circumcise their sons that they should desecrate Shabbat (see Rosh Hashana 19, Baba Batra 60: Me`ilah 17). Hence, the good that Israel needed to do, was suppressed under their hands, and also when they prevent Israel from serving Hashem Yithbarakh, through causes that they cause through taxes and property taxes that they levy on them, and also through their withholding benefits from Israel, through all this the good is suppressed under their hands, i.e. parts of souls of Israel.
And in the beginning this good (the bits of souls of Israel) that is suppressed by them remembers that it comes from a very holy and high place, (the parts of souls under the nations' suppression realize that their source in Israel) but they (the nations) just overcome this good and suppress it under their hands, until it is caught and tied by them, until the good itself forgets its loftiness, and through the Israelite speech, that goes out and is written in their books, as mentioned above, then this suppressed good there finds it in their books, i.e. it finds there the reverse of their faith (contradictions), and then this good recalls its loftiness, how that it comes from a very high place, i.e. that it is parts of the souls of Israel, that all the worlds were created for them, and "These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants... there they dwelt with the king for his work" (Chron. I 4), for Hashem Yithbarakh, consulted with the souls of Israel to create the world (Bereishit Rabbah 8, Midrash Ruth 2), and then the good begins to be sorry and yearn because of it fell from such a high place, and is now suppressed under their hands, and will come, God forbid, to annihilation and loss, and it wants to go on and return to its place; and because the good is already tied and caught by them in ties of ties, therefore when the good begins to return, then it draws and tears off with itself more from their evil. And this is like the converts that come to convert, who are like the evil that is torn off from them with the good, through the good returning to its place, for it is impossible for the good to return to its place, because of the vastness of the tying that is very tied and clipped there, and it is unavoidable that it should tear off with it from the bad, and this is the idea of converts."
To summarize briefly:
1. Potential converts' souls are comprised of parts or perhaps entire souls of Israel that are trapped underneath the nations' control via the nations imposing some authority over the people of Israel.
1. Potential converts' souls are comprised of parts or perhaps entire souls of Israel that are trapped underneath the nations' control via the nations imposing some authority over the people of Israel.
2. This good that was suppressed begins to affect SOME of the gentiles, while others do not.
3. Even if many gentiles see contradictions in their religious books, as a result of the utterance of the Tzadik being written in the air, spiritually, and finding their way into their books, causing contradictions in the religious books of the gentiles, like the Christian Bible/"New Testament" or the Qur'an - even though some gentiles may see these contradictions but not repent and convert, other gentiles will.
4. The gentiles who DO repent do so because they have an Israelite soul, or part of one, that is the good that the nations suppressed from Israel, and when it sees bits of truth that causes the contradictions in the religious books of the nations, it yearns for that truth, that Torah, because it remembers its origin and rightful place, among Israel.
Now, in the book of Hhayei Moharan, "The Life of Our Teacher Rav Nahhman", it tells us a little background about this Torah, #17, in the book of main teachings of R' Nahhman, Likutei Moharan. There it states.
"When he (R' Nahhman) said [this] Torah/teaching...in that same year, many converts had converted as a result of finding contradictions to their faith in their [religious] books...
"When he (R' Nahhman) said [this] Torah/teaching...in that same year, many converts had converted as a result of finding contradictions to their faith in their [religious] books...
...particularly, in the same year that Rabeinu z"l (R' Nahhman) said this teaching, there were then many stories that were, suddenly after Shabat Hanuka when Rabeinu z"l said this teaching, suddenly a [Christian] priest converted from the village. Afterwards, he (the former priest) was by Rabeinu z"l, and he told him that he found contradictions to their faith (Christianity) in their [religious] books.
Also, one woman converted with her children then, and she told that her family converted also because they found contradictions to their faith apparent in their books... (the text goes on to explain more examples of the same thing)"
Here we see that after the Tzadik, R' Nahhman, had told over this Torah, several people converted in the same year. Amazing!
Here we see that after the Tzadik, R' Nahhman, had told over this Torah, several people converted in the same year. Amazing!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
What Covenant Are YOU Under?!
Are You Under the New Covenant?
There is a whole belief held among Messianics, and almost exclusively among them, about "covenants". A series of "covenants" which is supposed to make it work that Yeshu initiated a "new covenant" for all of mankind. Giving them that "magical loophole" that I touched on in the very last post before this one. A magical loophole making them the new chosen people, or the Super Israel. As if...
Islam doesn't even take it that far. They just say that the Jews messed up, and they have the real divine book, the Quran, and that Muslims are the new chosen people. And that's why a small group of Jews came into the middle of tons of their own and they still can't get us out of 'their' land.
So where does this idea come from? Well, there was the covenant given to mankind after the flood. There are universal laws for everyone in the world to obey, and we know that the world will not be destroyed again by a flood.
We have the covenant given to Avraham which actually just started with him and extended onto his righteous and chosen offspring.
We have the fruition of that covenant given at Har Sinai between HaShem and Israel, the descendants of Avraham who were to possess the Land of Israel, promised to Avraham, and obey all of the commands of HaShem in order to be a special nation in the world with a special purpose.
Then there is the covenant with Pinhhas, Dawid, etc. So what do these covenants have to do with Messianic theology?
"Brit Chadasha" - Its NOT the 'NT'
They say that Yeshu came to initiate a new covenant, which they say is what a verse in Yirmeyah ('Jeremiah') 31:30 is talking about. In this new covenant, which the supposed magical effect of believing in Yeshu automatically initiates people this new covenant, and apparently into the people of Israel too.
But not so fast - let's go over 31:30-32 for a second:
ל הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה וְכָרַתִּי אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת-בֵּית יְהוּדָה בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה
30Behold the days are coming, says HaShem, that I will cut with the House of Israel and the House of Judah a new covenant.
לא לֹא כַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר כָּרַתִּי אֶת-אֲבוֹתָם בְּיוֹם הֶחֱזִיקִי בְיָדָם לְהוֹצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲשֶׁר-הֵמָּה הֵפֵרוּ אֶת-בְּרִיתִי וְאָנֹכִי בָּעַלְתִּי בָם נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה
31 Not as the covenant I cut with their fathers on the day of the gripping of their hands, taking them out from the land of Egypt, in which they broke my covenant, and [in which] I had been a master to them, says HaShem.
לב כִּי זֹאת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר אֶכְרֹת- אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָהֵם נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה נָתַתִּי אֶת-תּוֹרָתִי
בְּקִרְבָּם וְעַל-לִבָּם אֶכְתֳּבֶנָּה וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים וְהֵמָּה יִהְיוּ-לִי לְעָם
32 Surely this is the covenant which I will cut with the House of Israel after those days, says HaShem, I will place my Torah inside of them, and on their hearts I will write it. And I'll be God to them and they will be My people.
The Malbim comments extensively on these verses, which is the norm for his excellent commentaries. Basically the Malbim explains that the previous covenant was on the conditions that they don't cross it, that they don't sin. But, you see, people have a yesser hara ('evil inclination'). In this future covenant, it is stated that HaShem will write the Torah in Israel's heart, place it inside of them. The Malbim comments specifically: "...שלא תתעורר אצלם בחירה הפך התורה", meaning that there will not be aroused in them any [free] choice opposite to the Torah. Annulment of any free choice contrary to Torah. That is what the REAL new covenant that will be.
Has Yeshu Annulled Your Desire to Sin? LOL
So did you just read those verses, or what? What do they have to do with Yeshu? I have never met a Messianic that fully accepted the Torah, either (you kinda can't, believing in Yeshu and all).
So how are they supposedly in a new covenant where the Torah is written on their hearts, etc? They're not! And trust me, I had been Messianic before, and I sure had the desire to sin! I had an inclination to do wrong, like every other human being on the planet.
And what has come from Yeshu in this world? The advancement and expansion of Torah Judaism, as well as people no longer being able to choose contrary to the Torah? Definitely the exact opposite. WHO are we kidding here? This "new covenant" idea of theirs is completely unfounded, and it takes a monkey reading the above verses to extract this theology from it.
Don't be a monkey. If you're a Messianic reading this, please remove the emotional conditioning and recognize how obviously erroneous your theology is. It just doesn't mesh with Torah.
There is a whole belief held among Messianics, and almost exclusively among them, about "covenants". A series of "covenants" which is supposed to make it work that Yeshu initiated a "new covenant" for all of mankind. Giving them that "magical loophole" that I touched on in the very last post before this one. A magical loophole making them the new chosen people, or the Super Israel. As if...
Islam doesn't even take it that far. They just say that the Jews messed up, and they have the real divine book, the Quran, and that Muslims are the new chosen people. And that's why a small group of Jews came into the middle of tons of their own and they still can't get us out of 'their' land.
So where does this idea come from? Well, there was the covenant given to mankind after the flood. There are universal laws for everyone in the world to obey, and we know that the world will not be destroyed again by a flood.
We have the covenant given to Avraham which actually just started with him and extended onto his righteous and chosen offspring.
We have the fruition of that covenant given at Har Sinai between HaShem and Israel, the descendants of Avraham who were to possess the Land of Israel, promised to Avraham, and obey all of the commands of HaShem in order to be a special nation in the world with a special purpose.
Then there is the covenant with Pinhhas, Dawid, etc. So what do these covenants have to do with Messianic theology?
"Brit Chadasha" - Its NOT the 'NT'
They say that Yeshu came to initiate a new covenant, which they say is what a verse in Yirmeyah ('Jeremiah') 31:30 is talking about. In this new covenant, which the supposed magical effect of believing in Yeshu automatically initiates people this new covenant, and apparently into the people of Israel too.
But not so fast - let's go over 31:30-32 for a second:
ל הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה וְכָרַתִּי אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת-בֵּית יְהוּדָה בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה
30Behold the days are coming, says HaShem, that I will cut with the House of Israel and the House of Judah a new covenant.
לא לֹא כַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר כָּרַתִּי אֶת-אֲבוֹתָם בְּיוֹם הֶחֱזִיקִי בְיָדָם לְהוֹצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֲשֶׁר-הֵמָּה הֵפֵרוּ אֶת-בְּרִיתִי וְאָנֹכִי בָּעַלְתִּי בָם נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה
31 Not as the covenant I cut with their fathers on the day of the gripping of their hands, taking them out from the land of Egypt, in which they broke my covenant, and [in which] I had been a master to them, says HaShem.
לב כִּי זֹאת הַבְּרִית אֲשֶׁר אֶכְרֹת- אֶת-בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל אַחֲרֵי הַיָּמִים הָהֵם נְאֻם-יְהֹוָה נָתַתִּי אֶת-תּוֹרָתִי
בְּקִרְבָּם וְעַל-לִבָּם אֶכְתֳּבֶנָּה וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים וְהֵמָּה יִהְיוּ-לִי לְעָם
32 Surely this is the covenant which I will cut with the House of Israel after those days, says HaShem, I will place my Torah inside of them, and on their hearts I will write it. And I'll be God to them and they will be My people.
The Malbim comments extensively on these verses, which is the norm for his excellent commentaries. Basically the Malbim explains that the previous covenant was on the conditions that they don't cross it, that they don't sin. But, you see, people have a yesser hara ('evil inclination'). In this future covenant, it is stated that HaShem will write the Torah in Israel's heart, place it inside of them. The Malbim comments specifically: "...שלא תתעורר אצלם בחירה הפך התורה", meaning that there will not be aroused in them any [free] choice opposite to the Torah. Annulment of any free choice contrary to Torah. That is what the REAL new covenant that will be.
Has Yeshu Annulled Your Desire to Sin? LOL
So did you just read those verses, or what? What do they have to do with Yeshu? I have never met a Messianic that fully accepted the Torah, either (you kinda can't, believing in Yeshu and all).
So how are they supposedly in a new covenant where the Torah is written on their hearts, etc? They're not! And trust me, I had been Messianic before, and I sure had the desire to sin! I had an inclination to do wrong, like every other human being on the planet.
And what has come from Yeshu in this world? The advancement and expansion of Torah Judaism, as well as people no longer being able to choose contrary to the Torah? Definitely the exact opposite. WHO are we kidding here? This "new covenant" idea of theirs is completely unfounded, and it takes a monkey reading the above verses to extract this theology from it.
Don't be a monkey. If you're a Messianic reading this, please remove the emotional conditioning and recognize how obviously erroneous your theology is. It just doesn't mesh with Torah.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The New Israel?
The New Israel?
There is the classic Christian idea that they are the "new Israel", God's new chosen people. In fact, Islam has the same thing. "Oh the Jews, ohh the Jews... Once God's people then they [insert: 'changed the Tanakh', if you're Muslim]/[insert: 'rejected the Messiah', if you're Christian/Messianic] and now we ['have the restored religion of old which we now call Islam, as delivered to us by the prophet Muhhammad']/['have the new covenant of God which breaks all barriers between Israel and the nations, making all true believers in Jesus God's new chosen special people'], and the Jews are still going on their own fallen path, never recognizing the truth."
Do you see the pattern?
A popular question going on in some of the Messianic blogs of late has been "are Gentiles considered part of Israel [now that Yeshu apparently changed the Torah's clear distinction between Israel and the goyim]".
This idea comes from various places in the Christian Bible (what they call the "New Testament") which refer to goyim, via Yeshu, becoming "part of the commonwealth of Israel", or becoming "grafted in", and other such terminology. What is funny to me is that lots of these people say they are totally "pro-Torah" and believe that Torah is still valid (contrary to popular Christian thought) because of Yeshu's statement in Matthew 5:17-19, in which he says that he didn't come to abolish the 'Law and Prophets', but rather to fulfill them.
But rest assured that this statement is both contradicted and supported various times throughout their texts, as bipolar as they are.
So let's see what Torah has to say about this.
First, there is the fact that HaShem delivered the Torah to the Israel at Har Sinai. There ARE universal laws of Torah, called the Noahide Laws, which are binding on all goyim. However, there is much, much more given to Israel that is specific to Israel. We have Shabat which is a "sign forever", "between Me and between the sons of Israel", mentioned specifically. The whole system of Torah: written and oral, constantly refers to the separation and difference between Israel and the goyim. In brakha of Havdalla, we say "hammavdil bein qodhash lahhol, bein or lahhoshakh, bein Yisroal lajoyyim, bein yom hashavi`i lasheshath yamei hama`asa" ("[HaShem] who distinguishes between holy and common, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the 7th day and the rest of the days of Creation"). Then to top it off, we have this concept - as if it weren't clear enough already! - mentioned blatantly in Tehillim 147, in the last two verses:
מגיד דבריו ליעקב, חוקיו ומשפטיו לישראל. לא עשה כן לכל גוי, ומשפטים בל ידעום.
He declares His Words to Ya`aqov, His statutes and ordinances to Israel. He hasn't done such for any other nation (literally "for any goy"), and [His] ordinances they have not known.
Magical Loophole?Seriously, how much more clear do we need to be? If these Messianics believed in Torah, believed in Tanakh like they claim - how do they get over this verse and the whole entire concept of separation between Israel and the nations? It is quite ridiculous. But here is a probable Messianic "answer" to that question:
"Since Yeshu made a way for everyone to come to God through him, and since this new covenant is circumcision of the heart (a claim they make based on Yirmeyah 31:30-31), then all are made holy through him and brought into the commonwealth of God's people."
See, this is their loophole: Yeshu's magical powers. Even though they believe Yeshu said, as I cited earlier, that he didn't come to abolish or annul the Torah, but to "fulfill" it. No one can believe that, and then believe his supposed special powers changed a fundamental and extremely important aspect of Torah like this.
Let's keep in mind, in the days of `Ezra, many Jewish men were called out for having goyot as wives. Now, this was not like in the days of Shimshon, Dowid, etc, whose foreign wives were converted into Israel. In `Ezra's day, clothes were torn over this sin, and repentance was done. As one stated to `Ezra concerning this (`Ezra 10:2): "'We have broken faith with our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing." This shows how serious this concept is to Torah.
God's Truly ChosenWhat goyim may do to actually become God's chosen is convert to Judaism. Then they will be fully Jewish. But how could conversion into `Am Yisrael be promoted by Messianics, when they cannot adhere to or promote Judaism because of their above-stated beliefs. Even among the ethnically Jewish minority of Messianics, and the further minority who seek to adhere, they cannot adhere to halakhic observance completely because they breach a whole aspect of Torah/halakha.
IF Yeshu were truly the Messiah of Judaism, we would see many goyim perhapts of lost or partial Jewish ancestry (or possibly neither) convert to Judaism. This would be in fulfillment of many pasuqim in Tanakh regarding goyim coming to HaShem. But we see, this is NOT the case with Yeshu. In fact, it is much the OPPOSITE. Instead, there are attempts to take Jews away from Judaism, an overall hatred or looking down upon of Judaism. That is directly opposite of what will happen when the real Mashiahh comes into the world.
The ReasonAll of these erroneous concepts and absurd ideas are rooted in one thing. And that is a lack of understanding Judaism/Torah. Anyone who understands isn't fooled by a collection of Roman writings aimed to mix Judaism with Roman 'pagan' concepts. That's why the Yeshu narrative is paralleled to the supposed life, death, and resurrection of the classic universal mythologies of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, etc, etc. And that is why Catholic means universal. What Romans did was mix everyone under their domain into a common belief and culture.
They took some known and common Jewish concepts and mixed them with their religion. Thus Christmas, December 25th, had been known as Saturnalia, the birthday of the god of the sun. Easter maintained the name of the goddess of fertility (known as Isis, Ashtar, etc, by other civilizations). Most Messianics distance themselves from these holidays and from Sunday "sabbath", etc. That is fine and good - but they still maintain the idolatry and most of the totally mixed beliefs of Christianity, but simply put a supposed "Torah" label on it, attempting to make their pig kosher.
There is the classic Christian idea that they are the "new Israel", God's new chosen people. In fact, Islam has the same thing. "Oh the Jews, ohh the Jews... Once God's people then they [insert: 'changed the Tanakh', if you're Muslim]/[insert: 'rejected the Messiah', if you're Christian/Messianic] and now we ['have the restored religion of old which we now call Islam, as delivered to us by the prophet Muhhammad']/['have the new covenant of God which breaks all barriers between Israel and the nations, making all true believers in Jesus God's new chosen special people'], and the Jews are still going on their own fallen path, never recognizing the truth."
Do you see the pattern?
A popular question going on in some of the Messianic blogs of late has been "are Gentiles considered part of Israel [now that Yeshu apparently changed the Torah's clear distinction between Israel and the goyim]".
This idea comes from various places in the Christian Bible (what they call the "New Testament") which refer to goyim, via Yeshu, becoming "part of the commonwealth of Israel", or becoming "grafted in", and other such terminology. What is funny to me is that lots of these people say they are totally "pro-Torah" and believe that Torah is still valid (contrary to popular Christian thought) because of Yeshu's statement in Matthew 5:17-19, in which he says that he didn't come to abolish the 'Law and Prophets', but rather to fulfill them.
But rest assured that this statement is both contradicted and supported various times throughout their texts, as bipolar as they are.
So let's see what Torah has to say about this.
First, there is the fact that HaShem delivered the Torah to the Israel at Har Sinai. There ARE universal laws of Torah, called the Noahide Laws, which are binding on all goyim. However, there is much, much more given to Israel that is specific to Israel. We have Shabat which is a "sign forever", "between Me and between the sons of Israel", mentioned specifically. The whole system of Torah: written and oral, constantly refers to the separation and difference between Israel and the goyim. In brakha of Havdalla, we say "hammavdil bein qodhash lahhol, bein or lahhoshakh, bein Yisroal lajoyyim, bein yom hashavi`i lasheshath yamei hama`asa" ("[HaShem] who distinguishes between holy and common, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the 7th day and the rest of the days of Creation"). Then to top it off, we have this concept - as if it weren't clear enough already! - mentioned blatantly in Tehillim 147, in the last two verses:
מגיד דבריו ליעקב, חוקיו ומשפטיו לישראל. לא עשה כן לכל גוי, ומשפטים בל ידעום.
He declares His Words to Ya`aqov, His statutes and ordinances to Israel. He hasn't done such for any other nation (literally "for any goy"), and [His] ordinances they have not known.
Magical Loophole?Seriously, how much more clear do we need to be? If these Messianics believed in Torah, believed in Tanakh like they claim - how do they get over this verse and the whole entire concept of separation between Israel and the nations? It is quite ridiculous. But here is a probable Messianic "answer" to that question:
"Since Yeshu made a way for everyone to come to God through him, and since this new covenant is circumcision of the heart (a claim they make based on Yirmeyah 31:30-31), then all are made holy through him and brought into the commonwealth of God's people."
See, this is their loophole: Yeshu's magical powers. Even though they believe Yeshu said, as I cited earlier, that he didn't come to abolish or annul the Torah, but to "fulfill" it. No one can believe that, and then believe his supposed special powers changed a fundamental and extremely important aspect of Torah like this.
Let's keep in mind, in the days of `Ezra, many Jewish men were called out for having goyot as wives. Now, this was not like in the days of Shimshon, Dowid, etc, whose foreign wives were converted into Israel. In `Ezra's day, clothes were torn over this sin, and repentance was done. As one stated to `Ezra concerning this (`Ezra 10:2): "'We have broken faith with our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing." This shows how serious this concept is to Torah.
God's Truly ChosenWhat goyim may do to actually become God's chosen is convert to Judaism. Then they will be fully Jewish. But how could conversion into `Am Yisrael be promoted by Messianics, when they cannot adhere to or promote Judaism because of their above-stated beliefs. Even among the ethnically Jewish minority of Messianics, and the further minority who seek to adhere, they cannot adhere to halakhic observance completely because they breach a whole aspect of Torah/halakha.
IF Yeshu were truly the Messiah of Judaism, we would see many goyim perhapts of lost or partial Jewish ancestry (or possibly neither) convert to Judaism. This would be in fulfillment of many pasuqim in Tanakh regarding goyim coming to HaShem. But we see, this is NOT the case with Yeshu. In fact, it is much the OPPOSITE. Instead, there are attempts to take Jews away from Judaism, an overall hatred or looking down upon of Judaism. That is directly opposite of what will happen when the real Mashiahh comes into the world.
The ReasonAll of these erroneous concepts and absurd ideas are rooted in one thing. And that is a lack of understanding Judaism/Torah. Anyone who understands isn't fooled by a collection of Roman writings aimed to mix Judaism with Roman 'pagan' concepts. That's why the Yeshu narrative is paralleled to the supposed life, death, and resurrection of the classic universal mythologies of the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, etc, etc. And that is why Catholic means universal. What Romans did was mix everyone under their domain into a common belief and culture.
They took some known and common Jewish concepts and mixed them with their religion. Thus Christmas, December 25th, had been known as Saturnalia, the birthday of the god of the sun. Easter maintained the name of the goddess of fertility (known as Isis, Ashtar, etc, by other civilizations). Most Messianics distance themselves from these holidays and from Sunday "sabbath", etc. That is fine and good - but they still maintain the idolatry and most of the totally mixed beliefs of Christianity, but simply put a supposed "Torah" label on it, attempting to make their pig kosher.
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