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
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
I'm Back - With an English Translation of Toldot Yeshu!
I've been absent from this blog for some time, but I'm coming back. I have translated most of Toldot Yeshu, a book I've mentioned in a previous post, and I'll be posting my translation of it here, probably incrementally for easier reading, and I may make a PDF file of the whole thing as well.
Thursday, April 21, 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!
Friday, February 19, 2016
"The Talmud isn't the Bible"
There is an argument I've heard many a time, and that argument is that "the Talmud isn't canonized in the Bible, it's not the word of God". This idea comes from a complete lack of understanding the Torah.
It also comes from the erroneous "sola scriptura" doctrine of mainly the Protestants. But don't they think the "Old Testament" isn't binding except for paying your tithes to the preacher? Oh, the irony. Well, I'm not going to focus on them. Instead, as the blog title implies, I'll focus on what many Messianics believe.
Many Messianics succumb to Karaite-like thinking, which rejects the Talmud, which is the codification of the oral Torah. You know, the Karaites, who were okay with Jews being killed by the Nazis, and appealed to the Nazis to not be considered Jewish? Heard of them? Yeah, what bigger sell outs, what bigger disgraces of human beings could there be? But let's not "judge", right?
It also comes from the erroneous "sola scriptura" doctrine of mainly the Protestants. But don't they think the "Old Testament" isn't binding except for paying your tithes to the preacher? Oh, the irony. Well, I'm not going to focus on them. Instead, as the blog title implies, I'll focus on what many Messianics believe.
Many Messianics succumb to Karaite-like thinking, which rejects the Talmud, which is the codification of the oral Torah. You know, the Karaites, who were okay with Jews being killed by the Nazis, and appealed to the Nazis to not be considered Jewish? Heard of them? Yeah, what bigger sell outs, what bigger disgraces of human beings could there be? But let's not "judge", right?
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Where Most Anti-Missionaries Go Wrong 2
In the second post on this topic, I'll be discussing another concept that I haven't heard by many anti-missionaries. I'll explain why they sweep it under the rug and why they shouldn't.
Monday, February 8, 2016
My Conversation with Carlos
I had an extended email conversation with someone named Carlos who sent a few emails, citing verses that supposedly prove his belief in the most popular heretical mamzer of history, Yeshu.
I took it up to argue with him, and that is what I certainly did. This is a long discussion, but it's golden.
I took it up to argue with him, and that is what I certainly did. This is a long discussion, but it's golden.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Where Most Anti-Missionaries Go Wrong 1
I have a little bit of an edge over some anti-missionaries, at least in one way, since I know the inside mindset of Christians and Messianics. As I've stated before on this blog, many anti-missionaries focus on 'Jews for Jesus' and other normative Christian groups. What they don't realize is that many former Protestants, who you could easily argue are still Protestants, but call themselves Messianics or Hebrew Roots Christians, are not really mainly focused on converting Jews. They're mainly focused on discovering the supposed Jewishness of the most popular mamzer perhaps in all of history: Yeshu.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Isaiah 7 & 8 - The `Alma
I have had multiple conversations with Christians/Messianics about Isaiah 7 recently.
Many quote a single verse from Isaiah 7 which is mistranslated, supposedly saying a 'virgin' will give birth to a child and his name will be `Immanu'el
Many quote a single verse from Isaiah 7 which is mistranslated, supposedly saying a 'virgin' will give birth to a child and his name will be `Immanu'el
Monday, December 28, 2015
Toldot Yeshu?
There is a very interesting book titled Toldot Yeshu which explains the life of Yeshu HaNotzri. It is based in part upon the account of one of the multiple 'Yeshu's mentioned in the Talmud. This specific Yeshu is the one that the self-conflicting 'gospels' draw from the most.
"Toldot Yeshu - The real history of Jesus of Nazareth" (In Spanish)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
The Goal Of Many Messianics Is Not To Missionize
This title may come as a shock to you! I didn't even realize until recently that many Jews think that the entire Messianic 'thing' is mainly about missionizing Jews in attempt to get them to believe in their god and messiah. If I am telling you otherwise - then why is my blog self proclaimed as an anti-missionary one? Surely, there are many other questions that would arise from this. It will all be very clear to you shortly, and not just that. You will understand more about the minds of Messianics that will undoubtedly give you a psychological advantage in addressing their claims against the Jewish people.
Jews for Jesus, as I have mentioned before, is not really a Messianic organization. It is mainstream Christian in theology and countless Messianics would not consider them having the same purpose as they themselves do. The confusion that comes from Jews for Jesus being labelled Messianic is that they target Jews for conversion to Christianity, and therefore they want to show the targeted Jew a Jewish depiction of Jesus.
Both might use copious amounts of Jewish imagery in an attempt to feel really, really Jewish - while in reality being very ignorant and looking pretty hilarious. Take this picture, for example:
That's right, seven branched menorot, a shofar which I'm sure they use on Shabbat. Shabbat candles they probably light on Shabbat day... phew - good thing most of them aren't actually Jewish!
However, as I have also explained in previous posts, the majority of those who title themselves Messianic are not heretical Jews, but are former mainstream Christians seeking a deeper understanding of their god and messiah, which has led them, via a handful of quotes from the New Testament, to a Karaite-like view of Torah (reminiscent of the sola scriptura doctrine of Protestantism), and a kind of craving for the supposed Jewish aspect of their messiah.
The difference between these former mainstream Christians who now embrace a new sect of Christianity called "Messianic" and the missionaries at Jews for Jesus is that the former are concerned more with getting other Christians to a supposedly more authentic form of Christianity, while the latter are not focused on that but instead seek to convert Jews to Christianity.
Now, there certainly are Messianic organizations that are concerned with converting Jews, but when it comes to the individual Messianic, they are more often than not, not focused on trying to change Jews' beliefs. A few even believe that you shouldn't change Jews' beliefs, but that they are fine as they are and even "saved" by observance of Torah. Others consider them heretical for that, since Paul clearly told them no one is saved by works, while at the same time occasionally stressing the importance of the "law" in his epistles.
Are things clearer, now?
Really, though, is it important to know the intentions and mindsets of all kinds of different Messianics that there are? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because it can give you a better idea of what you might encounter and why. Knowing why, as in where this person comes from and what their motivation in their beliefs are, will give you a big advantage. Also, anti-missionaries can have much better precision in combating this brand of Christianity as opposed to another brand. You cannot always use the same weapon against them all, because among themselves they often do not agree, and they usually are often shooting from totally different positions.
The answer is also no, in that there are universal Christian arguments that cover the Messianic sect as well, which you can combat regardless of whether the opponent is a more mainstream Christian, or a Hebrew-Roots Messianic, or a FFOZ kind of Messianic, or a Nazarene Jewish or Nazarene Israel kind of Messianic, or this other kind, or this kind, or that kind - given the complexity and sometimes minutia of difference between one group to the next.
So, now you know the answer to the question in my beginning paragraph: this blog is not just an anti-missionary blog, it is even more than that. It is an overall Messianic combating blog, as the name clearly implies, because it will argue against Messianic ideas whether or not they are used to try to convert Jews to Christianity.
Every Jew reading this who knows a little bit about his faith, I can tell you - the ideas that abound in Messianic theology are severely limited and can often be shot down with even just a basic knowledge of Hebrew. For example, at a Friday night Messianic "Shabbat gathering", "bible study" on the weekly parasha, I heard someone quote a Messianic commentator correlating the name Levi to the Hebrew word "lev" (meaning heart for those not aware). This is severely comical, since, as you might know, Levi/לוי is spelled with a ו and lev/לב is spelled with a ב - not the same letter thus the words do not originate from the same root word which indicates they would have a similar meaning. Also, ו is truly pronounced w, not v. The confusion is based on the fact that this guy didn't was reading the words Levi and lev in transliterated Hebrew (Hebrew in English letters), and he could not read Hebrew. This oh-so great and insightful Messianic commentator didn't know anything about Hebrew, yet he thought he sure did.
This is why dealing with Messianics and Christian missionaries can be so difficult sometimes - not because they know what they're talking about, but because they know so little about Hebrew, the Torah, Jewish tradition, and they are so stubborn in their ignorance that even when you prove them wrong, to them it is not proving anything. Albeit, of course there are Messianics who do know Hebrew; especially the more scholar-tastic folks at FFOZ and some other organizations.
However, that's not the point. The point is, Jesus was a far cry from being the Jewish Messiah, and that is clear to anyone with even just a basic, unadulterated understanding of Tanakh. Without going into the Oral Torah, which is denied as being authentic by many Messianics, their claims surely can be refuted by merely a surface reading of the Tanakh. The best answer is understanding who the Messiah is supposed to be as pretty clearly laid out in Tanakh and of course with sources in Oral Torah.
Reading the sequence of Tanakh from Samuel through Isaiah is particularly eye-opening. It shows clearly that the yearning for the Messiah to restore Israel to its former glory, and greater, means another David. After Kings David and Solomon, who had finally begun to achieve what the exodus of Egypt and all the generations of Shoftim had been leading up to, the people of Israel began the fall via mainly idolatry and other sins. Therefore, the process of ultimate redemption was unfulfilled and was put off for a later time. Jesus, lehavdil, was nothing like David whatsoever, in fact, polar opposites. What happened as a result of his existence, or supposed existence, has been absolutely the opposite of what the result of the coming of the real Messiah will accomplish. This, perhaps, will be the topic of a future post of mine.
Jews for Jesus, as I have mentioned before, is not really a Messianic organization. It is mainstream Christian in theology and countless Messianics would not consider them having the same purpose as they themselves do. The confusion that comes from Jews for Jesus being labelled Messianic is that they target Jews for conversion to Christianity, and therefore they want to show the targeted Jew a Jewish depiction of Jesus.
Both might use copious amounts of Jewish imagery in an attempt to feel really, really Jewish - while in reality being very ignorant and looking pretty hilarious. Take this picture, for example:
That's right, seven branched menorot, a shofar which I'm sure they use on Shabbat. Shabbat candles they probably light on Shabbat day... phew - good thing most of them aren't actually Jewish!
However, as I have also explained in previous posts, the majority of those who title themselves Messianic are not heretical Jews, but are former mainstream Christians seeking a deeper understanding of their god and messiah, which has led them, via a handful of quotes from the New Testament, to a Karaite-like view of Torah (reminiscent of the sola scriptura doctrine of Protestantism), and a kind of craving for the supposed Jewish aspect of their messiah.
"We're Torah observant!"
Now, there certainly are Messianic organizations that are concerned with converting Jews, but when it comes to the individual Messianic, they are more often than not, not focused on trying to change Jews' beliefs. A few even believe that you shouldn't change Jews' beliefs, but that they are fine as they are and even "saved" by observance of Torah. Others consider them heretical for that, since Paul clearly told them no one is saved by works, while at the same time occasionally stressing the importance of the "law" in his epistles.
Are things clearer, now?
Really, though, is it important to know the intentions and mindsets of all kinds of different Messianics that there are? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because it can give you a better idea of what you might encounter and why. Knowing why, as in where this person comes from and what their motivation in their beliefs are, will give you a big advantage. Also, anti-missionaries can have much better precision in combating this brand of Christianity as opposed to another brand. You cannot always use the same weapon against them all, because among themselves they often do not agree, and they usually are often shooting from totally different positions.
The answer is also no, in that there are universal Christian arguments that cover the Messianic sect as well, which you can combat regardless of whether the opponent is a more mainstream Christian, or a Hebrew-Roots Messianic, or a FFOZ kind of Messianic, or a Nazarene Jewish or Nazarene Israel kind of Messianic, or this other kind, or this kind, or that kind - given the complexity and sometimes minutia of difference between one group to the next.
So, now you know the answer to the question in my beginning paragraph: this blog is not just an anti-missionary blog, it is even more than that. It is an overall Messianic combating blog, as the name clearly implies, because it will argue against Messianic ideas whether or not they are used to try to convert Jews to Christianity.
Every Jew reading this who knows a little bit about his faith, I can tell you - the ideas that abound in Messianic theology are severely limited and can often be shot down with even just a basic knowledge of Hebrew. For example, at a Friday night Messianic "Shabbat gathering", "bible study" on the weekly parasha, I heard someone quote a Messianic commentator correlating the name Levi to the Hebrew word "lev" (meaning heart for those not aware). This is severely comical, since, as you might know, Levi/לוי is spelled with a ו and lev/לב is spelled with a ב - not the same letter thus the words do not originate from the same root word which indicates they would have a similar meaning. Also, ו is truly pronounced w, not v. The confusion is based on the fact that this guy didn't was reading the words Levi and lev in transliterated Hebrew (Hebrew in English letters), and he could not read Hebrew. This oh-so great and insightful Messianic commentator didn't know anything about Hebrew, yet he thought he sure did.
This is why dealing with Messianics and Christian missionaries can be so difficult sometimes - not because they know what they're talking about, but because they know so little about Hebrew, the Torah, Jewish tradition, and they are so stubborn in their ignorance that even when you prove them wrong, to them it is not proving anything. Albeit, of course there are Messianics who do know Hebrew; especially the more scholar-tastic folks at FFOZ and some other organizations.
However, that's not the point. The point is, Jesus was a far cry from being the Jewish Messiah, and that is clear to anyone with even just a basic, unadulterated understanding of Tanakh. Without going into the Oral Torah, which is denied as being authentic by many Messianics, their claims surely can be refuted by merely a surface reading of the Tanakh. The best answer is understanding who the Messiah is supposed to be as pretty clearly laid out in Tanakh and of course with sources in Oral Torah.
Reading the sequence of Tanakh from Samuel through Isaiah is particularly eye-opening. It shows clearly that the yearning for the Messiah to restore Israel to its former glory, and greater, means another David. After Kings David and Solomon, who had finally begun to achieve what the exodus of Egypt and all the generations of Shoftim had been leading up to, the people of Israel began the fall via mainly idolatry and other sins. Therefore, the process of ultimate redemption was unfulfilled and was put off for a later time. Jesus, lehavdil, was nothing like David whatsoever, in fact, polar opposites. What happened as a result of his existence, or supposed existence, has been absolutely the opposite of what the result of the coming of the real Messiah will accomplish. This, perhaps, will be the topic of a future post of mine.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Rome's Jesus
Many Messianics Admit: Rome Invented Catholicism... But...
There are a large amount of Messianics, who after defection from the mostly Protestant churches, have researched the origins of the things they rejected from mainstream Christianity. Like Christmas, Easter, Sunday sabbath - things they could not find in the Bible. So when they figure out where these things came from, they realize that they were supposedly created during or around the time of Constantine, a Roman Emperor who further organized Christianity from its founding.
In other words, Constantine added certain pagan elements to Christian belief, contrary to what original Christians believed.
What they do not realize is that before Constantine, Christianity was founded by a Roman emperor, Titus, destroyer of the second Temple, and who suffered a horrible death as a result of his sins. According to the Talmud (Gittin 56b), a mosquito or insect flew in his nose and into his brain where it slowly ate away at it for seven years. When he died, his head was opened and the insect had grown to the size of a bird. He did not just get this for destroying the second Temple, but I believe also for the creation of the Jesus fable. You'll find out soon what I am talking about, if you don't already. This stuff gets really interesting...
Roman Catholicism Was Not Original Christianity?
A big claim by many Messianics is that Christianity was not originally the Roman Catholic brand that was put together by Constantine. I can prove that wrong, and I want to make this blog short and sweet, so I will.
Why Rome's Christianity Was First
Aside from Christmas, Easter, Sunday sabbath, etc, which Messianics are well to know isn't "in the Bible", there are other things done and believed throughout the whole Christian spectrum, Catholic, Protestant, and Messianic, which also clearly have nothing to do with a real Jewish messiah.
And these things were present at the very beginning of the Christian religion, along with Christmas and Easter which were already Roman holidays. Messianics say the "New Testament" is free of these things, and while there is no mention of Christmas, there is of a virgin birth and a multitude of other things you will see shorlty which parallel the life of Mithras, the Roman's sun god.
The Christian Bible's narrative of the Jesus story corresponds to several main life events of the pagan sun god of the collective pagan religion of the various ancient world powers, like Egypt, Babylon, Greece, and Rome.
The details are vivid and undeniable!
Is there anything else I can say? Throw in some Jewish concepts, names, a couple ideas, mix it with the sun god's life and story and - wallah! you've got Jesus!
But who put it together in the first place, since it already existed in Constantine's time?
Author of Christianity
The evil slime I mentioned above, Titus Flavius. In very, very short words, when Titus came to attack Israel, a Jewish scholar named Yosef, or Josephus in Latin, defected and endeared himself to the Roman general Titus. Josephus changed his name to Flavius Josephus in honor of his new master. As the Roman Empire deified their emperors to the status of gods (like the Pharaohs of Egypt), Titus, who had succeeded his dead father as emperor became the "son of god". With the help of Flavius Josephus and others to throw in some Jewish ideas and concepts, in order to put an end to the Jewish uprising against Rome that were fueled by their strong belief in a Davidic Messiah who would restore Israel to Jewish hands, the Jesus narrative was formed.Titus did something extraordinary for evil by mixing himself (a Roman "god") and the Mithras sun god myth of Roman paganism with the concept of a Jewish Messiah, only changing the warrior Messiah concept, which had cost a lot of Roman soldiers their lives in a Jewish revolt shortly before Titus' destruction of the Temple, to a pacifistic man.
By doing this, he sought to end the idea of a Jewish warrior Messiah like David, so the Jewish people would be docile and accepting of Roman rule in the future. He fused the Roman religion with some Jewish concepts, and created a monster that is one of the biggest religions today, and has been for the past near two thousand years.
For this summary in its full detail, watch this very interesting documentary:
What Titus Didn't Expect
Is that, after 2,000 years of exile, the Jewish people have survived anything and everything that Rome's successor, Christian Europe, could throw at them. It was a low time, a down point, a real dark age. But now, Jews have not only survived, but we are now in our land and the redemption of everything is about to happen.
Christian Europe is dying, being raped by Islam. Christianity is dying altogether in Europe, only maintaining to exist strong in America. The whole world's societies are experiencing religious decline as secularism and religious-in-name-only reign supreme. The Jewish people are still waiting for a warrior Messiah who will shake off all foreign rule, and that is what we are going to get - someone completely different than Jesus. Someone who will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, return the exiles of Israel, and lead Israel back to a Kingdom, the Kingdom of HaShem on this earth; something Jesus never did and never did anything remotely alike. In the end, there will be only one truth and all will admit the truth of Torah and King David's throne will rule once again.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Dwindling Messianic Numbers? Family Matters 2
My Jesus-Loving Brother
It has been almost a year before my last post, but I want to get back into blogging regularly here, so stay tuned.
My Messianic blogger brother, Judah Himango, whose blog site is called Kineti L'Tzion (if only!) recently blogged about "apostates", Messianics leaving Yeshu. I am glad to announce, former Messianic blogger Gene Shlomovitch has rejected the Christian messiah. This is especially good for me to hear, being that Gene is a Jew. I have been trying to find Gene's email address, but I haven't been successful. Gene, if you're reading this, contact me, I want to congratulate you.
What Went Right With Me
The blog also mentions me, and the descriptions of my exit out of that world are not accurate. Twisting the facts to present things well is okay for Messianics and Christians, I guess, since Paul said its okay. I will tell you all how it really happened:
It started by studying Judaism. Judah got that much right. When you study Torah and are really interested in it, it can have life changing effects. It can make an idolater into a worshiper of the One True God. After all, isn't the whole point of Torah serving HaShem and Him only? Shema`, anyone?
And as I began learning Torah, I began to realize how little Messianics know about it. How little I knew about it. Today, after studying for a couple years, clearly I do not know much. That is the scope of how huge Torah is. By it's nature, being divine, it is actually infinite. In the end, it just doesn't take long to figure out, Jesus and Torah don't go together; and that was ultimately the sole changing factor in my ascent from the pit.
There were other factors which helped, but were not the main cause. Such as Messianics are as fractured as a community as Protestants, in fact perhaps worse. Every person believes something different that puts them at odds, at conflict, and even sometimes considering others heretics. That's what I saw among the many Messianics I knew and knew of, all different kinds ranging from those who are almost just like regular Christians to those who lived as Orthodox Jews. And that lack of unity is what I am about to talk about...
No True Messianic Unity
While the lack of unity in the Messianic community may be a strong point of it's impending downfall, it is only an outside view of the deeper issue. The deeper issue is that either you will find it to be a nice little denomination of Christianity that makes you feel important and righteous for leaving certain elements of Christianity (that, by the way, which is not true for the J4J crowd who promote standard Christianity and disagree with most of who call themselves Messianic), or you do like I did and learn so much Torah that Jesus is just going to have to go for good. Because, once you learn so much about HaShem and His will, you cannot serve another.
As someone who had never been Messianic pointed out to me, it seemed to him that the whole Messianic thing is just a dying cause, because there is no stable framework to maintain it. Either people will just end up being Christian, or their own thing altogether, or they will end up in Judaism or being Bnei Noah.
You know what? That guy was right. And I think the second option, their own thing altogether is what the reality already is in the Messianic world. So many Messianics are fragmented into little groups or even individual people, that it is just like a fantasy club where people make up their own religion - and that brings me to my next point.
Feeling Like God?
For the majority of Messianics it is this: you get out of the Christian church. You realized Christmas isn't in the Bible. Easter isn't, either. Heck, neither is the Sunday sabbath. Oh, and eating pork is bad, the Bible says. Yeshu said he didn't come to abolish the Torah, so I must have to keep it now. Paul says we aren't saved by works, but we are under grace, but that works are still necessary for salvation - wait, doesn't that contradict?
So some reject Paul, but most don't. But they get to the Torah part, so what do they do? Learn Hebrew? Listen to the people who have been living it through thick and thin for the last couple thousand years? Usually not. Usually, they end up making their own brand of "observance" of Torah. They have no Oral Torah, they reject it, therefore the Written leaves them confused and incomplete, especially since they don't even understand Hebrew to really read it for themselves. And no Oral Torah means no Torah at all and no stability. Anyone who really knows Torah knows what I am talking about. Halakha is the how-to guide and yes, it is of divine origin. Moshe learned the background info for the mitzvot of Torah that we term "Oral Torah". Of course he knew the background information! Of course he knew how to answer someone about all the details, how-tos, all the intricate depth of the Torah! Of course that was passed on! Anyone with a clear head, not brainwashed to think otherwise, will say: yeah, you have to listen to the Jews and their ancient traditions to know about the written law given to them.
Do you know how many times I have been left with no response by Messianics about what happened to the Mosaic Court of Devarim (Deuteronomy) 17? Or how they carry out that clear command from HaShem given in the verses of that chapter? Regardless that it is a rhetorical question, the answer is that no Messianic has ever told me how they carry out the command to not veer to the right or left of what the Hakhamim of Israel say. Not even one.
The point of these last three paragraphs is that they make themselves their own halakhic authorities (yet, halakha is a bad word by them). And how do they claim to have that authority? By the authority of Yeshu, who told Peter he now had the ability to "bind and loose", terms of halakhic significance. And that this power is accompanied by their "holy spirit". Yeah... riiiight...
And now we have come to the next point - keep following, I can't imagine any other anti-missionary has gone this deep!!!
Spiritual Authority?
Judah also mentions in my blog that one thing I had been "into" in my Messianic days was personal spiritual revelation. Yes, that's right. And so is he still into, along with my parents and all of my siblings. Is it reliable? No. How do I know? Because I have witnessed literally hundreds and hundreds of "words of the Lord", "words of knowledge" and "prophetic words" come out to either never happen, being false completely, or having some truth mixed with error, or rarely actually coming true.
Their is some reliable knowledge, and some things are not prophecies but rather they are information. This comes from the fact that you can definitely gain knowledge from the other side. You can even gain extra-sensory information from having no spiritual contact, merely being in touch with your soul which sees lots of things all the time.
That isn't the point. The point is, it does not have the reliability to give any psychic a career - much less determining Torah law! Guessing can be more accurate than these "words" people get. Nonetheless, people claim that they have the spiritual knowledge to know if they are sinning or not.
Clearly, with the wide ranging variety of Messianic ideas about the laws of Torah that exist, this claim couldn't possibly be true. Everyone ends up believing they are the ones who have it. Like my parents said in response to me asking them how they believe they can drive on Shabbat, igniting the engine, without transgressing "do not light a fire". I also asked that if they take the written command so literally, how do they even leave their house on Shabbat, since the Torah says no one can leave their place on Shabbat. To these questions, they replied "we feel that the need for fellowship overrules these things". Who actually buys that answer?
What if Mr. McMessianic number two or three thinks he can't drive, on the contrary? And he is spiritual too, listening to the same spirits you do - what then? They don't even think about these things.
It is a whole big disaster (especially since most of them shouldn't be attempting to keep Shabbat, unless they're actually Jewish), and it all comes back to everyone deciding for himself what the right way is. That means no unity, no adhesiveness, no future for any Messianic community which will continually split up into offshoot after offshoot after offshoot...
So, Uh... Messianic Numbers Dwindling?
I don't know statistics, and I don't care. Even if Messianic numbers happen to be on the rise, it doesn't take away from anything I said because it means that the whole Messianic "movement" is just a waypoint. There may be big influxes of former standard-Christians, but in the end, they will either end up leaving or becoming their own Messianic sect, like everyone else. And if they end up going the second route, they may be called Messianic and even meet and "fellowship" (I always loved that goofy term) with other Messianics, but they will ultimately be doing their own thing if they never eventually leave.
Judah said in his blog that Judaism is not the problem for people turning from Yeshu, but as we will see, his Messianic religion was perhaps not made for any other purpose than to introduce some aspects of Judaism to goyim.
Higher Purpose?
So, based on this idea, perhaps the Messianic "movement" is a movement in the right direction for some people, in that some definitely choose unadulterated Torah over the joke that exists in Messianism and their dead messiah who didn't do diddly-squat to bring in no exiles, to build no temple, nuthin'. It could be that this is why people usually eventually leave the Messianic world one way or the other.
Maybe Messianism is a gateway drug for some Christians to get them eventually hooked on the real stuff that gets you the highest. I would like to believe that, and I see that it happens like this sometimes. A large part of the Assyrian-exiled "northern tribes" never returned but were absorbed into various nations. Some of them have come back, like the Bnei Menashe of India for example. For those of you who say "I'm Ephraim", the answer is clear: Torah is the only way. Real Torah, conversion to Judaism by a beit din of kosher Jews. That is how it works, that is what HaShem says in Torah, and that is the only way you'll be an Israelite. Yeshu doesn't have any magical miracle cure for your gentile-ness. Nor do you need a cure for that - you can have a place in the next world without being Jewish! The Master of all the worlds laid out His standard of righteousness for Jews and non-Jews in His Torah.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Getting Through to Messianics Part 1
I recently watched a featured video by Jews for Judaism Canada:
Now, readers, the content is well and good, but it doesn't necessarily get through to Messianics. Of course, Jews for Judaism is primarily countering Jews for Jesus, not necessarily Messianics. And yes, there is a difference. As my brother recently wrote about in his Messianic blog, there is indeed a difference. While some J4Jesus might call themselves Messianic, the difference I am talking about is in the intentions of the missionary organization J4Jesus and the intentions of most groups titling themselves Messianic.
Again, I agree entirely with the content of this video, but let me show you some places that Messianics will try to get a word in to prove otherwise.
1. Rabbi Skobac's first point is that when the coming Mashiahh is reigning as King, Israel will have been returned from exile. He says the past 2,000+ year exile, but couldn't it have been around the first century CE? It definitely could have been, and that is what any given Messianic might point out regarding this first point.
However, Rabbi Skobac is correct in that - this didn't happen in the time of Yeshu. It could have, but didn't. There were many Jews still in Bavel, and that is actually given in the Gemara, by Resh Lakish, as one of the reasons for this past Roman exile.
I don't believe, however, that all Jews must be in Israel in order for the Mashiahh to return Dawid's Kingdom. I think that will be a result of that Kingdom being re-established, and should it be soon in our days.
2. Rabbi Skobac's second point is of the Temple and that it was still standing when Yeshu is said to have existed. That doesn't necessarily mean there couldn't have been a return of Dawid's Kingdom via his descendant to be Mashiahh, but it definitely would have needed to be at least somewhat reconstructed to its former glory.
However, that did not happen in the early centuries CE.
3. The third point raised is that when Mashiahh comes, world peace will come about. This is true, but only after Israel destroys many nations.
But neither destroying Israel's enemies nor the resulting world peace happened via Yeshu. In fact, the opposite. As the Rabbi mentions, wars increased, sometimes in the name of Jesus, and very often against Israel. The Crusades, which resulted in persecution and destruction of Jewish life that had yet remained in the Land of Israel. Christian Europe was constantly involved in the persecution of Jews, a special hatred that is specifically bred by Christianity itself which labels Jews as "primitive" and non-believers in their claimed salvation.
I don't believe, however, that all Jews must be in Israel in order for the Mashiahh to return Dawid's Kingdom. I think that will be a result of that Kingdom being re-established, and should it be soon in our days.
2. Rabbi Skobac's second point is of the Temple and that it was still standing when Yeshu is said to have existed. That doesn't necessarily mean there couldn't have been a return of Dawid's Kingdom via his descendant to be Mashiahh, but it definitely would have needed to be at least somewhat reconstructed to its former glory.
However, that did not happen in the early centuries CE.
3. The third point raised is that when Mashiahh comes, world peace will come about. This is true, but only after Israel destroys many nations.
But neither destroying Israel's enemies nor the resulting world peace happened via Yeshu. In fact, the opposite. As the Rabbi mentions, wars increased, sometimes in the name of Jesus, and very often against Israel. The Crusades, which resulted in persecution and destruction of Jewish life that had yet remained in the Land of Israel. Christian Europe was constantly involved in the persecution of Jews, a special hatred that is specifically bred by Christianity itself which labels Jews as "primitive" and non-believers in their claimed salvation.
4. The fourth point is that at the time of the reign of King Mashiahh, Dawid, and his restored Kingdom, Jews will collectively become observant.
This is true, because by both physical and spiritual means, this re-establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven upon this earth, which is the Kingdom of Dawid, the aspect of emuna (faith) in HaShem will be elevated to it's proper place. This will affect the whole world, in fact, and lead to remaining nations in the earth to undoubtedly draw closer to HaShem.
This is true, because by both physical and spiritual means, this re-establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven upon this earth, which is the Kingdom of Dawid, the aspect of emuna (faith) in HaShem will be elevated to it's proper place. This will affect the whole world, in fact, and lead to remaining nations in the earth to undoubtedly draw closer to HaShem.
For especially over the last 2,000 years, secularism and philosophy (the attempt to rationalize the Creator) have flourished, causing atheism, and people who follow their family's religion only in name. The Catholic who goes out and parties, does whatever he wants in his college years, indulges in hedonism. The Muslim who does whatever, just prays extra on Friday. And the Jew who minorly observes some religious customs while basically doing whatever he wants, following along in the culture of where he lives.
It would have been better had all of the nations stayed with their native pagan beliefs instead of forming new religions like Christianity and Islam which make mention of the Jewish people and claim to be the correct extension of them, and claim to correct mistakes that the Jewish people supposedly made. That is the largest catalyst of world anti-Semitism.
5. Point number 5 goes together with the rest and has much to do with point 4.
This blog is getting a bit long, so I'm going to insert "Part 1" into the title and continue with the rest in a second post.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
"Shadow of Things to Come" 2: Shavu`oth
The great day of Shavu`oth, the memorial of the giving of the Torah to Israel at Har Sinai through Moshe Rabbenu. A time to celebrate the Torah which separates the people of Israel from all other nations.
The Torah proclaims that HaShem is One; that there is no other Creator besides Him. One of the biggest forbidden things in the Torah is serving, worshiping, or even thinking about doing such. In fact, even if one defecates on an idol as an insult, if that is the way its worshipers praise this false deity, that person is still guilty of a sin, albeit an accident.
Merely giving the impression of serving any other god, even when one is not actually doing so, is forbidden. This is because a Jew must be seen as serving only HaShem, being that he is chosen for special service to HaShem, and any indication of foreign service is forbidden to the extreme.
So clearly, Shavu`oth has nothing to do with anything contrary to HaShem and His Torah. However, the Messianics and in fact all strains of Christianity say that on this day, there was a supposed outpouring of the "Holy Spirit" on "Pentacost" which is their holiday partially derived from Shavu`oth.
The term in Hebrew is Ruahh HaQodesh (please note: "hh" refers to the guttural "h" sound of the letter "hheth"; whereas most people pronounce this the same as the letter "khaf", a "kh"/"ch" sound). I distinguish between this and the Christian concept of Holy Spirit. It is said that the followers of the Christian messiah had a day paralleled by the Shavu`oth account of the Torah being spoken by HaShem in all the 70 languages of the goyim. What is claimed to have happened is people "speaking in tongues".
Speaking in tongues is meant in the NT to mean speaking in foreign languages at random. Whereas today, the Pentacostal sect of Protestant Christianity as well as some Messianics and other Christians know it is unintelligible speech as well as foreign languages.
So what is the point of all this?
"Speaking in tongues" may be random jibberish, a form of demonic influence on speech, or be a mixed spiritual experience; or it could be all of those or any combination of those. The point is, people who worship a foreign entity and breach a basic law of Torah - to serve only HaShem - are not in a position for spirituality in qedusa, rather they partake in the side of qelipa; the other side.
In other words, the Pentecost and the "Holy Spirit" of the goyim and of `avoda zara are the sittra ahhra (other side) version of what is in true Torah-Judaism.
Just as I learned earlier today on Shabat (it is motza"sh as I am writing this), in Liquttei Moharan, torah 8, the sighing of a Jew is great. The breath (neshima) is related to the soul (neshama) and has to do with the ruahh (spirit/wind/breath) of life that HaShem breathes into creation. The sigh of the Jew, fills the hhesron (lack) which exists in a given thing because of a lack of 'ruahh' in that thing. This sigh draws life into the thing.
On the flip side, the resha`im (the evil) symbolized by `Esaw who is "ish se`ir" draw their fulfillment of lack from the other side in what is a "ruahh se`ara" (storm wind), which is strong temporarily but results ends up sweeping away the bodies and souls of those who use it.
This "Holy Spirit" of the Christians is an aspect of `Esaw, the "ruahh se`ara"/storm wind, which has strong but temporary strength, and eventually passes away like every storm, bringing the bodies and souls of those who are caught up in it away into destruction. As we see, Christianity is passing away; and Messianism will either result in the currently non-Jewish, potential Jewish souls eventually coming to true Torah or the withering away of their lives.
The Torah proclaims that HaShem is One; that there is no other Creator besides Him. One of the biggest forbidden things in the Torah is serving, worshiping, or even thinking about doing such. In fact, even if one defecates on an idol as an insult, if that is the way its worshipers praise this false deity, that person is still guilty of a sin, albeit an accident.
Merely giving the impression of serving any other god, even when one is not actually doing so, is forbidden. This is because a Jew must be seen as serving only HaShem, being that he is chosen for special service to HaShem, and any indication of foreign service is forbidden to the extreme.
So clearly, Shavu`oth has nothing to do with anything contrary to HaShem and His Torah. However, the Messianics and in fact all strains of Christianity say that on this day, there was a supposed outpouring of the "Holy Spirit" on "Pentacost" which is their holiday partially derived from Shavu`oth.
The term in Hebrew is Ruahh HaQodesh (please note: "hh" refers to the guttural "h" sound of the letter "hheth"; whereas most people pronounce this the same as the letter "khaf", a "kh"/"ch" sound). I distinguish between this and the Christian concept of Holy Spirit. It is said that the followers of the Christian messiah had a day paralleled by the Shavu`oth account of the Torah being spoken by HaShem in all the 70 languages of the goyim. What is claimed to have happened is people "speaking in tongues".
Speaking in tongues is meant in the NT to mean speaking in foreign languages at random. Whereas today, the Pentacostal sect of Protestant Christianity as well as some Messianics and other Christians know it is unintelligible speech as well as foreign languages.
So what is the point of all this?
"Speaking in tongues" may be random jibberish, a form of demonic influence on speech, or be a mixed spiritual experience; or it could be all of those or any combination of those. The point is, people who worship a foreign entity and breach a basic law of Torah - to serve only HaShem - are not in a position for spirituality in qedusa, rather they partake in the side of qelipa; the other side.
In other words, the Pentecost and the "Holy Spirit" of the goyim and of `avoda zara are the sittra ahhra (other side) version of what is in true Torah-Judaism.
Just as I learned earlier today on Shabat (it is motza"sh as I am writing this), in Liquttei Moharan, torah 8, the sighing of a Jew is great. The breath (neshima) is related to the soul (neshama) and has to do with the ruahh (spirit/wind/breath) of life that HaShem breathes into creation. The sigh of the Jew, fills the hhesron (lack) which exists in a given thing because of a lack of 'ruahh' in that thing. This sigh draws life into the thing.
On the flip side, the resha`im (the evil) symbolized by `Esaw who is "ish se`ir" draw their fulfillment of lack from the other side in what is a "ruahh se`ara" (storm wind), which is strong temporarily but results ends up sweeping away the bodies and souls of those who use it.
This "Holy Spirit" of the Christians is an aspect of `Esaw, the "ruahh se`ara"/storm wind, which has strong but temporary strength, and eventually passes away like every storm, bringing the bodies and souls of those who are caught up in it away into destruction. As we see, Christianity is passing away; and Messianism will either result in the currently non-Jewish, potential Jewish souls eventually coming to true Torah or the withering away of their lives.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
"A Shadow of Things to Come"
It has been a while since my last blog post since I've been enjoying all of the hhagim. In light of the holidays, I'd like to take a brief look at the overview of all 7 of the DeOraita holidays. These are usually used as "proofs" by Messianics and "Hebrew Roots" Christians to the authenticity of their god's supposed miraculous birth and his claimed existence and ascension.
In fact, they are each usually referred to as "prophetic pictures" having described their god and messiah's supposed first coming and his fantasized second. In response to such an idea, I'd like to briefly refute their main points, and give the correct understanding. This post will be dedicated to Pesahh, and I'll continue with Shavu`ot, and Sukot.
Pesahh, firstly, as everyone knows, is a memorial of the exodus from Egypt. This is replayed in the exodus from every exile, in fact, since our Sages say that every exile is called "Egypt". A huge reason many of the Jewish people are often ensnared in exile, despite the fact that there is abounding persecution in each, is cultural assimilation and the idols of materialism. Cultural assimilation works in two ways. While in one way it leads to a loss in the number of Jews via intermarriage and through Jews thinking of themselves as one with the local populace, acting, talking, and dressing like them - it can also work in spreading Jewish lineage to those who are born goyim, and after a generation or two, those children often feel an arousing to return to some of their ancestors' people and religion.
This is explained by Rabi Nahhman of Uman, as I recall, having to do with Jewish souls being overpowered by the forces of the "other side", actualized by the goyim, and they end up being freed and returning to their source after some generations. This is the beauty of the idea of encouraging zera` Yisrael (that is, non Jews with some Jewish lineage or ancestors; for example, someone with only a Jewish father) to return to Judaism.
Nonetheless, Pesahh has nothing to do with Jesus. His worshipers claim him to be the "sacrifice lamb", akin to the pascal lamb, the blood on the doorposts, etc. What is quite comical is that slaughtering this lamb was a direct affront to the Egyptians, since they worshiped a lamb-god. Egyptians wouldn't kill and eat sheep or cattle, just like modern day Indians wouldn't the latter. Meaning slaughtering this lamb had to do with defamation, insult, and affront toward foreign deities, yet these people assign it to the exact opposite. Think about that for a moment.
I could go into the placing of sins upon sacrificial animal for atonement, for the Tanakhic fact that prayer is as these sacrifices. I could tie in the idea of repentance and confessing sins to HaShem as necessity in the act of repentance, etc. All of these things are known and written of, and I am fairly proficient in that knowledge. However, not many Messianics are very much. There is tons of confusion in their minds about this issue, as a result of the erroneous doctrines they are brainwashed with. I am not going to go in this topic on this particular post, but it would be a good one to write about in the future.
Pesahh truly symbolizes Jews getting out of exile, returning to the Land of Israel, rejection the way of life of the goyim, and their religions and idolatry (whether of gods or materialism). Christianity and all its forms, including Messianism, couldn't be a better example of the kind of foreign religion and idolatry. As you'll see, Messianism claims to be a fulfillment of the Tanakh, but yet is actually be the direct opposite, as in this case.
So let's see who HAS done HaShem's will and has gotten out of exile, back into the Land of Israel and have merited this return which keeps coming into fruition, continuously removing the layers of galut. Is it the Messianics, the vast, vast majority of whom live outside of Israel and most of whom are not halakhically Jewish? Or is it the Jewish people, who continue to go according to the Sages of Israel, not those who come up with their own interpretations, and who have returned to the Land of Israel in mass, established a thriving nation there, and are on their way to complete redemption? The answer is extremely obvious.
In fact, they are each usually referred to as "prophetic pictures" having described their god and messiah's supposed first coming and his fantasized second. In response to such an idea, I'd like to briefly refute their main points, and give the correct understanding. This post will be dedicated to Pesahh, and I'll continue with Shavu`ot, and Sukot.
Pesahh, firstly, as everyone knows, is a memorial of the exodus from Egypt. This is replayed in the exodus from every exile, in fact, since our Sages say that every exile is called "Egypt". A huge reason many of the Jewish people are often ensnared in exile, despite the fact that there is abounding persecution in each, is cultural assimilation and the idols of materialism. Cultural assimilation works in two ways. While in one way it leads to a loss in the number of Jews via intermarriage and through Jews thinking of themselves as one with the local populace, acting, talking, and dressing like them - it can also work in spreading Jewish lineage to those who are born goyim, and after a generation or two, those children often feel an arousing to return to some of their ancestors' people and religion.
This is explained by Rabi Nahhman of Uman, as I recall, having to do with Jewish souls being overpowered by the forces of the "other side", actualized by the goyim, and they end up being freed and returning to their source after some generations. This is the beauty of the idea of encouraging zera` Yisrael (that is, non Jews with some Jewish lineage or ancestors; for example, someone with only a Jewish father) to return to Judaism.
Nonetheless, Pesahh has nothing to do with Jesus. His worshipers claim him to be the "sacrifice lamb", akin to the pascal lamb, the blood on the doorposts, etc. What is quite comical is that slaughtering this lamb was a direct affront to the Egyptians, since they worshiped a lamb-god. Egyptians wouldn't kill and eat sheep or cattle, just like modern day Indians wouldn't the latter. Meaning slaughtering this lamb had to do with defamation, insult, and affront toward foreign deities, yet these people assign it to the exact opposite. Think about that for a moment.
I could go into the placing of sins upon sacrificial animal for atonement, for the Tanakhic fact that prayer is as these sacrifices. I could tie in the idea of repentance and confessing sins to HaShem as necessity in the act of repentance, etc. All of these things are known and written of, and I am fairly proficient in that knowledge. However, not many Messianics are very much. There is tons of confusion in their minds about this issue, as a result of the erroneous doctrines they are brainwashed with. I am not going to go in this topic on this particular post, but it would be a good one to write about in the future.
Pesahh truly symbolizes Jews getting out of exile, returning to the Land of Israel, rejection the way of life of the goyim, and their religions and idolatry (whether of gods or materialism). Christianity and all its forms, including Messianism, couldn't be a better example of the kind of foreign religion and idolatry. As you'll see, Messianism claims to be a fulfillment of the Tanakh, but yet is actually be the direct opposite, as in this case.
So let's see who HAS done HaShem's will and has gotten out of exile, back into the Land of Israel and have merited this return which keeps coming into fruition, continuously removing the layers of galut. Is it the Messianics, the vast, vast majority of whom live outside of Israel and most of whom are not halakhically Jewish? Or is it the Jewish people, who continue to go according to the Sages of Israel, not those who come up with their own interpretations, and who have returned to the Land of Israel in mass, established a thriving nation there, and are on their way to complete redemption? The answer is extremely obvious.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Antidote To The Big Swindle
I want you all to click this link and read my article that was published (thanks to R' Lazer Brody!) on Breslev Israel. It is about my spiritual journey from the fake sadiq to the Sadiq-Amath. Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Family Matters
Still Waiting...
I've been waiting for over 2 weeks for a response from one of my brothers (biologically speaking), combating an issue he raised on my other brother's blog. I countered what he said and backed it up with verses from the Tanakh and common Torah knowledge and concepts. Very basic, not hard to do.
I still haven't received an answer, after reminding him about 2-3 times.
Just today, I confronted my ex-sister about a Christian anti-Semitic picture she 'liked' on Facebook, stating something like: "Draw the line between tradition and Torah, or you'll end up like the Pharisees". She proceeded to tell me that Torah isn't tradition (because, you see, tradition is just so bad...), but that it is a command, something obligatory.
I told her that if the Torah commands to teach it to our children and thereby be passing it on... it is logically and obviously then also tradition. This is a very simple concept. It is extremely elementary, and it just goes to show how much logic these people must throw away in order to maintain their senseless theology.
The Rooster, or the J-man?
I also mentioned to her that Messianics sure like to take verses here and there from the Tanakh to supposedly support their beliefs - but they CAN'T EVEN answer me when I ask them one single question raised against them from the Tanakh. Weak. They apparently don't realize, taking out snippets of the Tanakh and mis-applying them can be done to make a chicken look like the promised messiah. Poppycock (pun intended) like this is what happens when people who aren't adept at any level in Hebrew and Judaism try to make messianic claims.
It is so ridiculous how they tout and tout but then when I confront them they can't answer back. It is actually comical. When I recently began to converse with a Messianic blogger, I wrote to him a lot and answered some of his questions. It was civil until he chose not to answer my questions at all in our emails, but instead posted one of my questions on his blog. In the comments, this guy used the "born of a virgin" verse in the Tanakh - which doesn't actually exist since the word in question is alma, not bethula (idiots...). Despite that he doesn't know any Hebrew, he wanted to convince me that the Septuagint backs him up. He said that I was having a hard time arguing with him (HAHA), and that I should call for some back up.
People asked questions, but never answered any of mine. It was funny, this repetitive trend of me debunking lies and calling out their misconceptions, just for my own questions being ignored and me being asked more questions as if I didn't know how to answer. Or as if I didn't understand their assumptions that they were trying to get across. As if I had never heard such before in my younger years as a captive in Messianic theology. I answered and wasn't polite with them at all.
Ignorance and Arrogance
But you see, it doesn't get through to them ever. It is all about emotional connection and believing what you believe, knowing what you know, holding on to that "spiritual" emotionally warm feeling, and that assurance that you don't need to do jack, since Yeshu has it all covered. And how could you think twice? After all, if you're wrong, you really are screwed...
So they decide not to believe the people who actually do speak Hebrew and who make it their business to learn Torah for the length of their lives. The people who have the Torah not just as God-given law, but as a tradition ingrained in their very culture as well as their constant daily lives.
Every time I eat or drink anything, after I go to the bathroom, before I do a misswa, when I behold the greatness of HaShem's creation; I give thanks and recognize the power of my Creator. And that is an obligation. These people choose to ignore those on a higher level than them and to learn from those who are actually in the position to teach. Not so Zekharya 8:23 of them, now, is it?
It is time wasted to try to convince a die-hard `oved `avoda zara.
I've been waiting for over 2 weeks for a response from one of my brothers (biologically speaking), combating an issue he raised on my other brother's blog. I countered what he said and backed it up with verses from the Tanakh and common Torah knowledge and concepts. Very basic, not hard to do.
I still haven't received an answer, after reminding him about 2-3 times.
Just today, I confronted my ex-sister about a Christian anti-Semitic picture she 'liked' on Facebook, stating something like: "Draw the line between tradition and Torah, or you'll end up like the Pharisees". She proceeded to tell me that Torah isn't tradition (because, you see, tradition is just so bad...), but that it is a command, something obligatory.
I told her that if the Torah commands to teach it to our children and thereby be passing it on... it is logically and obviously then also tradition. This is a very simple concept. It is extremely elementary, and it just goes to show how much logic these people must throw away in order to maintain their senseless theology.
The Rooster, or the J-man?
I also mentioned to her that Messianics sure like to take verses here and there from the Tanakh to supposedly support their beliefs - but they CAN'T EVEN answer me when I ask them one single question raised against them from the Tanakh. Weak. They apparently don't realize, taking out snippets of the Tanakh and mis-applying them can be done to make a chicken look like the promised messiah. Poppycock (pun intended) like this is what happens when people who aren't adept at any level in Hebrew and Judaism try to make messianic claims.
It is so ridiculous how they tout and tout but then when I confront them they can't answer back. It is actually comical. When I recently began to converse with a Messianic blogger, I wrote to him a lot and answered some of his questions. It was civil until he chose not to answer my questions at all in our emails, but instead posted one of my questions on his blog. In the comments, this guy used the "born of a virgin" verse in the Tanakh - which doesn't actually exist since the word in question is alma, not bethula (idiots...). Despite that he doesn't know any Hebrew, he wanted to convince me that the Septuagint backs him up. He said that I was having a hard time arguing with him (HAHA), and that I should call for some back up.
People asked questions, but never answered any of mine. It was funny, this repetitive trend of me debunking lies and calling out their misconceptions, just for my own questions being ignored and me being asked more questions as if I didn't know how to answer. Or as if I didn't understand their assumptions that they were trying to get across. As if I had never heard such before in my younger years as a captive in Messianic theology. I answered and wasn't polite with them at all.
Ignorance and Arrogance
But you see, it doesn't get through to them ever. It is all about emotional connection and believing what you believe, knowing what you know, holding on to that "spiritual" emotionally warm feeling, and that assurance that you don't need to do jack, since Yeshu has it all covered. And how could you think twice? After all, if you're wrong, you really are screwed...
So they decide not to believe the people who actually do speak Hebrew and who make it their business to learn Torah for the length of their lives. The people who have the Torah not just as God-given law, but as a tradition ingrained in their very culture as well as their constant daily lives.
Every time I eat or drink anything, after I go to the bathroom, before I do a misswa, when I behold the greatness of HaShem's creation; I give thanks and recognize the power of my Creator. And that is an obligation. These people choose to ignore those on a higher level than them and to learn from those who are actually in the position to teach. Not so Zekharya 8:23 of them, now, is it?
It is time wasted to try to convince a die-hard `oved `avoda zara.
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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