Unveil my eyes that I mayPerceive hidden wonders from Your Torah – Psalm 119:18
On a Shabbat all over the world in all Synagogues, the same part (Parsha) of the Torah is read. In the following 7 parts (chapters) of this blog I am going to discuss the parts of the 5th book of the Torah, Devarim, meaning ‘words’, (Deuteronomy in English). The 44th Parshat of the Torah (*1) is read for the 44th Shabbat of the Hebrew year, and starts the book Deuteronomy.
I will be discussing each Parsha according to the following headings: The commandments that apply to us (*2); How they apply to us; What we learn from the historical background; What we learn from certain Hebrew words in the text.
“The Sages refer to Deuteronomy / Mishneh Torah which is commonly translated as ‘Repetition (or Review) of the Torah,’ or as ‘Explanation of the Torah’……R’ Hirsch explains that Deuteronomy was Israel’s introduction to the new life it would have to forge in Eretz Yisrael. Once they crossed the Jordan, the people would no longer see God’s constant Presence and daily miracles, as they had in the Wilderness. They would plow, plant, and harvest…They would need strong faith and self-discipline to avoid the snares and temptations of their pagan neighbors and false prophets. To stress these laws and values and exhort Israel to be strong was the function of Deuteronomy, its laws and Moses’ appeals….of the two hundred laws which are contained in this Book, more than seventy are completely new. (My underlining) [11.938]
In the first 4 books of the Torah, we constantly read “יהוה spoke to Moses” but now we are going to read “G-d spoke to me” – thus it’s mainly written in the first person. But do not fall into the trap and call it: Moses’s Laws! All this was spoken to and taught to Moses by G-d. This book consists of actually 4 speeches written not in the 3rd person, but in the 1st person. Israel is poised to enter the Promised Land; it’s the 40th year after their exodus from Mitzraim (Egypt) – which means constraint, narrow, limited, in Hebrew. And note how in verse 3 of Deu.1 the exact year, month and day is specified. This underlines and verifies that we are reading true history and true facts!
The Commandments –
I will list only those Commandments that apply to men, woman and children in general. Therefore, not those that only apply to Kohanim, Priests, the land of Israel, Temple, etc
Trust G-d. G-d keeps his promises [see also Hebrews 6:18]
Form a just and ordered society with honorable and wise leaders and judges. You the individual, do not judge. G-d judges.
Do not fear, do not lose resolve, trust G-d
Be fair – Moses was fair and just.
Do not commit slander; do not gossip – do not commit loshan ha’ra
Obey the Torah, then you will get to Olam Haba – The principle of the World to Come.
Listen to G-d; obey him. If you do not, there will be consequences
Now tell me which of these 7 principles Christians are not supposed to do? So if you agree that these are in fact behaviors and beliefs that you are to exercise, where do you think these commandments came from and where were they first written down?
Now write down for yourself where in the NT these beliefs and behavior principles are to be found: …
What follows are brief discussions of the above commandments:-
Deu 1:8-11 G-d promised the Land of Israel personally to Abraham, [Gen 12:1,7 & 15:17] Isaac [Gen26:2-5 ] and Jacob [Gen 7:13-15 ] and confirmed it with Moses [Ex3:8-10]. Thus many years may pass; time may pass by, but G-d will keep his promises because He is not a man that He should lie [Num 23:19]. Trust in Him. The fact that Israel became a state again in 1948 confirmed this promise of G-d to Jacob and his family!
Deu 1:13- 17 We should live in an ordered society according to G-d’s commandments and have judges that: listen, judge righteously, show no favoritism; handle big important issues as well as small, and are not bribed “for the judgment is God’s” – [see also Exodus 18:21-26]
Note! The King of Israel was instructed to write TWO copies of the Torah for himself- Deu 17:18
Deu 1:21, 29, 33 & 2:34, 3:2 3:22 See how many times in this Parasha Israel is told not to fear, not to lose resolve but to trust G-d. Moses in fact pointed out many of the miracles that G-d provided for them during the 40 year journey in Sinai, as well as the pagan enemies that they actually conquered; even the Rephamim (giant) king Og! Moses even ‘boosts their confidence’ by saying: “This day I (G-d) shall begin to place dread and fear of you on the peoples under the entire heaven… and they will tremble and be anxious before you.” [Deu 2:25]
[See also Deu 4:6 & 26:19 & 28:1-13]
Deu 1:23 Moses did not favor one tribe over the other, when the Isralites asked that men should be sent to tour (*3) and inspect the land. He chose a man from each tribe.
Deu 1:27 The principle of Loshan H’ra (bad talking) is considered a very serious transgression. The Sage Chofetz Chaim is especially known for his tome on and wisdom concerning the Laws of proper speech. “Scripture states, ‘You shall not go about as a tale-bearer among your people’ “[Levitikus 19:16] (*4) …There is a criminal act …included under this prohibition, and that is evil gossip. This means that a person speaks disparagingly about his fellow-man , even though he tells the truth; for a person who speaks falsehood is called ‘one who spreads a bad report’… יהוה will cut off all unctuous lips, the tongue that speaks proud things [Ps 12:4]…..The Sages of blessed memory taught…For three transgressions punishment is exacted from a person in this world, and he has no share in the world-to-come: idol worship, incest or adultery, and bloodshed [murder]. But evil gossip is equal in seriousness to them all….Evil gossip kills three: the one who tells it, the one who accepts it, and the one about whom it is told. But the one who accepts it is affected more than the one who tells it. ….So also if one speaks well of another person before someone who hates him, because that makes that person speak in disparagement of him. So too if someone speaks evil gossip by way of a joke…and…[if] he is an informer… [my underlining] [see further 27.163]
All those gossip magazines, Facebook, columns in newspapers and videos on the internet, of course all fall under this prohibition. Therefore, teach your children it is not good to look at those. Because in fact the ‘admiration’ and worship they have for those stars and pop-stars and presenters on channels, is in fact Idol worship! Today, during political campaigning we also often commit this sin.
Deu 1:36 Here we read that because Caleb did not give an evil report regarding the Promised Land that they spied out and because he followed יהוה wholeheartedly, he will be allowed to enter the Holy promised Land.
Here we have an example of a shadow image (*5) in the Tenach [OT]. Tony Robinson explains it so well in his discussion of this Parasha 44 Devarim:-
”..read Leviticus 18:5 ‘You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD’. This verse is the first instance where the Holy One gives us the purpose for keeping His Torah…Remember, the word Torah simply means the Holy One’s instructions (not laws). What does Moses mean by saying ‘if a man does [them] he shall live by them?’…it almost sounds like he’s saying, ‘If you listen to me, you will hear me.’….At the Pashat, or literal level of interpretation, he means this: If you obey my Torah, you will have physical LIFE!.... Those who keep the Torah will have life and remain alive in the Land. Those who disobey the Torah will not live.” (*6)
Now consider this carefully, especially if you are a Christian. Is this not also what Jacob / James means when he writes:
“So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by a Torah of freedom…My brothers what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works: This belief is unable to save him. And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, but one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it? So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead. Was not Abraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitshaq his son on the slaughter-place? Do you see that the belief was working with his works, ….You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone…For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.” [James 2:12-26]
In other words, you are not saved by faith and grace alone. Yes, it by the grace of G-d that He gave His only Son for us to die in our stead because “There is none righteous, no not one” [Rom.10:9-10] & “For there is no man so wholly righteous on earth that he always does good and never sins” [Ecclesiastes 7:20] “For thewages of sin is death but the favorable gift of Elohim is everlasting life through Messiah our Master” [Rom 6:23]You have to do G-d’s commandments; that is to walk and Live according to His Way, and if not, do teshuva – that is, ask forgiveness for what you have done wrong, and return back to the right path. [Read again the quote above of Jacob / James].
Deu 1:26; 1:42, 43. Here we read how some Israelites did not listen to G-d’s instructions as conveyed by Moses, to not be afraid, and enter the Promised Land. And in verses 42 & 43 we read: “Do not ascend and do not do battle, for I am not among you…but you did not listen. You rebelled against the word of יהוה, and you were willful and climbed the mountain..” and the consequence of that was that the Amorite went out against them and pursued them ‘as bees would do’ !!
What we learn from this historical tale
G-d’s way is not man’s way. [see Deu 2:4-30] If the Holy One helped Edom, Ammon and Moab to displace the giants, and helped Israel to defeat Og, King of Bashan, surely He will help Am Yisrael now also!. Moses did not want them to make the same mistake as before when ‘they rejected the Holy Land’ when the ‘spies’ came back and reported on what they saw in the Promised Land. Note Moses said this at the same place, the Amorite territory, when they were going to enter the Land!
It is so easy for us to forget the miracles that G-d provided, e.g Israel’s conquest after 6 days war 1967 and as also for yourself personally. One should actually specially keep a diary of one’s prayers and requests, and then fill in the day or time He answers! Recently I was so conflicted and stressed with worry what to do. I ended my prayer to יהוה with: ‘Good, blessed, Holy Father you have guided me so many, many times. Please you show me what to do!’ And two days later, His Holy Spirit gave me the answer!
We learn from an event that is described in Deu 3:18-20 an important lesson. In Numbers 32 we read that the children of Reuben and Gad had abundant livestock. When they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, on the East bank of the Jorden river which seemed perfect for their livestock for grazing, they approached Moses and asked him if they may have that land as their inheritance. Moses berated them and said: “Shall your brothers go out to battle while you settle here?” Then we read in today’s Parsha Deu 3:18ff
“I commanded you at that time, saying ‘ יהוה your God gave you this Land for a possession, armed shall you cross over before your brethren…..Until יהוה shall give rest to your brethren like yourselves, and they, too, shall possess the Land that יהוה your God, gives them on the other side of the Jordan; then you shall return…”
In other words Moses is stressing to them that they are also part of Israel, of the 12 tribes; they are part of a community and therefore need to support, help and have fellowship with their community. They cannot, and must not separate themselves from their brothers. This is in fact an important Jewish principle, for example: To bear respect and affection for every Jew as for oneself and not to separate oneself from the community; be one of the community and partake in the affairs and actions of the community.
What we learn from Hebrew words in the Parasha
Bill Bullock always magnificently explain deeper meanings [Sod and Remez information] of the Hebrew text. (*7) Here are some examples in this Parsha:-
Key Phrase #1
The first key phrase…… comes from a rebuke leveled by Moshe at our ancestors. Of the Redeemed who accepted the report of the spies, and cried out to be allowed to die in the desert or return to Egypt, Moshe said:
“. . . You did not trust the Holy One your God . . .”
” The Hebrew word our English Bibles translate as “trust”, or “believe” in this verse, [what those who received and accepted the report of the spies lacked] is a form of Strong’s Hebrew word #539, ‘aman’[alef, mem, nun sofit, pronounced aw-man’. This word is the Hebrew verb root of the word “Amen!” which is commonly spoken after a prayer. It is a key word for anyone wishing to understand their Hebraic roots. It is the word usually translated as “believe”. It is found, for instance, in Genesis 15:6 [its first instance in Scripture], where we are told:
He [Avraham] believed in[Hebrew,aman]the Holy One; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.
“…… The Hebrew pictograph formed by the combination of consonants which make up this verb root tells the story. The first consonant, alef, [א ]is the symbolic representation of the Holy One, the ‘alef and the tav’ [ת][in Greek, alpha and omega]. The second consonant, mem, [מ ]is the symbolic representation of a flowing wave, that which represents movement [as a wave carries an object to the shore]. The third consonant, nun sofit [ ן] , the form the letter nun takes at the end of a word, represents the final, ultimate son or heir of the Holy One – Messiah. Putting these together, this pictures the Holy One putting the Messiah in something [or, more particularly, someone] who will carry Him to full term and deliver Him. To flesh this out a little more, consider that the Hebrew word formed by the first two letters, alef, mem, אמ, means ‘mother’. Add the nun sofit to this, and you get one who serves as a ‘mother’ – i.e., becomes pregnant with, and carries to full term, and delivers — the Messiah [the Word – the Torah made flesh]. ….. [Hebrew letters inserted by me.]
“It is so, so much more than the English word “believe”. It means to totally yield oneself to The Holy One. It means to allow oneself to be impregnated by the Holy One with the Messiah…..
”Moshe tells us that the generation who accepted the report of the spies did not aman. In other words, Moshe is saying: your ancestors did not acknowledge, accept and agree with, and become pregnant with, carry to full term, and deliver, the Holy One’s statements of truth….”
Key Phrase #2
“The second key phrase…. comes from Moshe’s description of Kalev, son of Y’funneh…[Deuteronomy 1:36]The word translated as “whole-heartedly” in our English Bibles is Strong’s Hebrew word #4390, male’[mem, lamed, alef,pronounced maw-lay’], meaning to the fullest, to the utmost; therefore meaning without distraction, without hesitancy, without doubt, and without regret. It is this kind of single-minded, whole-hearted devotion and steadfastness to which all of us aspire. Key phrase #1 and #2 are obviously connected. Only he who truly aman the Divine Bridegroom can love or serve Him wholeheartedly. And, of course, if one is not at least moving toward loving and serving the Holy One wholeheartedly, one does not truly aman the Holy One – whatever his creed or confession may say.”
Key Phrase # 3
“The third key phrase…. is found in connection with a prophetic message Moshe received from the Holy One at the time of the chet ha-meraglim [sin of the golden calf] regarding the children under 20 who were then alive. Of those who were mere children at the time of the chet ha-meraglim, Moshe said:
“they will have possession of[the land of Kena’an, which was promised to Avraham, Yitschak, and Ya’akov]” [Deuteronomy 1:39]
” The Hebrew verb our English Bibles translate as “have possession” is Strong’s Hebrew word #3423, yarash, [yod, resh, shin, pronounced yaw-rash’], meaning to inherit and enjoy the benefits of something which one did not acquire by labor or purchase. “
Key Phrase #4
“The fourth key phrase….. comes from Moshe’s description of the ‘presumptuous ones’, who, after the Holy One said to turn around and go back into the desert, refused to do so, but presumptuously attacked the Emori. Of those who heard, but refused to sh’ma the instructions of the Holy One to leave K’desh and turn back into the desert, Moshe said:
“you wouldn’t sh’ma! Instead, you rebelled against Adonai’s order, took matters into your own hands, and went up into the hill country . . .” [Deuteronomy 1:43]
“The Hebrew word our English Bibles translate with the phrase “took matters in your own hands” or “were presumptuous”, is Strong’s word #2102, zuwd, [zayin, yod, dalet, [pronounced zood],meaning literally “to cook — to make a meal”; by implication, to try to create something by oneself, to act defiantly and arrogantly, in a show of self-sufficiency. ” [For all of the above see (*7)
I would like to end off with what Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks shared re Parasha Devarim:
“Throughout Devarim Moses is relentless in his criticism of the people: “From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord… You have been rebellious against the Lord ever since I have known you.” (Deut. 9:7, 24). His critique extends to the future: “If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!” (Deut. 31:27). Even the curses in Deuteronomy, delivered by Moses himself, are bleaker than those in Leviticus 26 and lack any note of consolation. Criticism is easy to deliver but hard to bear. It is all too easy for people to close their ears, or even turn the criticism around (“He’s blaming us, but he should be blaming himself. After all, he was in charge”). What does it take forcriticism to be heeded? The people have to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the leader is always ready to defend them. They have to know that he cares for them, wants the best for them, and is prepared to take personal risks for their sake. Only when people know for certain that you want their good, do they listen to you when you criticize them.” (*8)
FOOTNOTES
*1 The Torah, the first 5 books of the Tenach [Old Testament], was divided into 54 sections; a section for each week, including the weeks in a leap year. The Jews were in exile and the Sages decided that unless the Torah is taught and read regularly – as they were commanded to do! – the people [by now in their history, Judah & Benjamin & some of the other tribes] will lose this knowledge and G-d’s way. The Masoretic Text (7th century CE) of the Tenach as well as the Aleppo Codex (10th century CE) already had these divisions. We therefore study the Torah weekly according to the week’s Parshat [literal reading] which is named after a key word in the first verse of the Parshat.
*2 The Rabbi’s say there are 613 commandments. But note some only apply to the High Priest or Priests. Some apply only to the ceremony of sacrifices; some only to the Temple or the Land of Israel; some only to men, and some only to women.
*3 The Hebrew word is ירגלו [ or טיול ] / walked, means touring and not spying.
*4 Note that this commandment and principal is part of the ‘Heart of the Torah’ – Lev 17,18,19 & 20
*5 A Shaddow Image, is an example, event, action or person in the Tenach, that foreshadows something deeper and yet to be or come.
*6 Tony Robinson. Parshat Devarim: Parashat HaShavua teaching, Restoration of Torah Ministries.
*7 Bill Bullock. D’varim – The Final Leg of Our Great Torah Journey. rabbbisson@cableone.net
*8 Jonathan Sacks. ‘The Effective Critic’, Devarim, Covenant & Conversation 5778; on Life-Changing Ideas in the Parsha.
Sod & Remez (*1) in the Torah and Hebrew; MISSPRINTS, DELETIONS, MISS TRANSLATION, HIDDEN AGENDA in the Brit Chadasha /[NT]
G-D’S TIMING AND PROVIDENCE
The Shabbat after Ben Gurion signed the Proclamation of the State of Israel on Friday 14 May 1948, the sixth day of Iyar, the Haftarah (*2) reading for that Shabbat was Amos 9:7- 15, which reads:
:9 For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. ……..
:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
:12 That they upon whom My Name is called may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the nations, which are called by my name, said the word of יהוה who shall do this. ……
:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the desolate cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
:15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they will never again be uprooted in their land which I have given them, said the יהוה thy God.
It that not amazing!! The Word and prophecy were confirmed in the fullness of time. (*3)
TORAH CODES AND ‘SOD’ AND ‘REMEZ’ HIDDEN IN THE HEBREW TEXT
“Take the first time the Hebrew letter ת [tav] appears in the Hebrew version of the Book of Genesis. Count out 49 letters from that TAV and record the next letter, that is, record the 50th letter. Repeat this three times. The result: תורה [Torah]. Do it again in Exodus. The same result: תורה Do it again in Leviticus. The result: gibberish! However, take the first letter of the four-letter explicit name of God, using consonants for the Hebrew name of God. [the word Jehovah when transliterated into English] Count 7 letters. Repeat this three times. The result: Jehovah (or יהוה in Hebrew). Now the book Numbers. The word תורה appears at the characteristic 49-letter spacing, but backwards. That is, it faces the Jehovah of Leviticus. Repeat the process in Deuteronomy and get the same result: תורהfacing Jehovah.” (*4 )
We see here therefore how ‘Torah’ brackets G-d’s name and in effect always face it!
What gave Schroeder the clue to use 50? The counting of the Omer takes place for 49 days after the feast of Pesach. The 50th day following that is Shavuot and commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. The Messiah and his coming at the End of Days is associated with a Yovel / Jubilee. Every 50 years is a Jubilee, and we read: For from Zion will the Torah come forth, and the word of יהוה from Jerusalem [Is2:3b] Schroeder using 7 could be the association of the Sabbath with the 7th day, the first day declared holy by God; and it is also a sign that acknowledges that G-d created the universe. Seven also means completion and fulfilment.
[1]Mtt 23:1-5 “Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples,
saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do.
But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do”.
The ‘they’should be ‘ that he’, referring to Moses / Torah. When you carefully and honestly consider this mistake, the logical and Biblical sound meaning of this verse is so obvious. This is a mistranslation therefore in all Bibles:
Here I need to quote Nehemia Gordon’s (*5) research and explanation comparing ancient Hebrew manuscripts, more than 28 of the book of Matthew that he traced, and following the famous Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Manuscript of Matthew: “Saying, the Pharisees and sages sit upon the seat of Moses. Therefore all that he says to you diligently do, but according to their reforms (takanot) and their precedents (ma’asim) do not do, because they talk but they do not do.”
“The main difference is that the surviving Greek text contains the 3rd plural aorist active subjunctive form eiposin….’They said,’ whereas it should have had 3rd singular aorist active
“Subjunctive eipei…..’he said,’ which would have been equivalent to the reading in Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Matthew……..In other words, whatever the origin of Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Matthew, it clearly contains early readings not found in the surviving Greek text.
“The surviving Greek text is also missing the words kai tas paradoseis auton ‘and according to their traditions.’ I have reconstructed this missing Greek phrase based on Matthew 15: 2-3,6 in which the word paradosis ‘tradition,’ is paralleled in Shem-Tov’s Hebrew by ‘takanot’. Josephus uses the same exact Greek word when he describes the Pharisaic Oral Law…..It is possible that paradosis was the accepted Greek term for the Oral Law!” [16.88,89]
[2] In John 7:37-38 reference is made to Sukkot ! Understanding this is very important because the water and wine oblation / sacrifice that is referred to here, only takes place at this time at Sukkot. The Jewish crowd realized the importance of this and therefore reacted by remarking what is written in verses 40 & 41 “This truly is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah,”
In the Talmud it is recorded that the Messiah will come with ‘blood and water’
[3] The following acts as proof that Mathew & rest of NT is written with a Hebrew mind set; this also again illustrate Hebrew-isms, and their love of using puns:
And the crowds saw – vayir’u and they feared –vayiru [Matt9:8]
And he stretched out – vayet – his hand;….. and he turned – vayet – from there [Matt12: 13, 15]
See Matt18:23-35 [Debt payment to master – note, repeated 5 times]: = shalem, then note the ending: “so shall my father in heaven do if you do not forgive each man his brother with a complete- haSlem – heart
****NOTE the above do not work like that in Greek. The only one that does is:
“You are a little stone / Petra / peter–even-
and on this stone – Petros – I will build – eveneih – my house of prayer/ecclesia” [Matt16:18]
NOTE! What is referred to here should be house or ecclesia NOT church. Matthew was written in Hebrew. Six extant Hebrew Matthew MS [manuscripts] are in the British Library. Also note! ‘and on this stone I will build…” refers to what Peter said in verse 16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Elohim” and therefore does not refer to him, Peter!
[4 ]“ And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah [tub / measure of capacity] that goes forth. And he said, This is their form / eye in all the earth. And behold, a lead cover /disk was lifted up, and a woman was sitting in the middle of the ephah “/[translated as basket!].[Zech 5:1-8]
Here the word ‘woman’ was incorrectly translatedor written. Compare:-
אשה= woman אש = fire. The correct word here is ‘fire’ Do you see and understand the difference? And how obviously this is a writing error. Zecharia is in fact describing here what we today would describe as a ‘missile’!
[5]“ Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.” [Jn14:6]
This has always been incorrectly interpreted by the church. The Jews hearing Yeshua say that would have understood “the Temple, and what it stands for” because” the way, the truth and the life” are the names for the three curtains of the Mishkan:
1. The Way – the entrance to the court in which the Altar is (=return to G-d, make Teshuvah, ask for forgiveness of your trespasses) and the Laver with water (= be holy like G-d; I will clothe you in righteousness, I give you living water)
2. The Truth – the curtain/door to the Holy – here is the Menorah (= Torah; by being righteous, by following the Torah – G-d’s light, you are a light onto the world) and the Showbread altar (= I give you the Bread of Life / Torah and G-d sustains you and the world) as well as the golden Altar of Incense, (that represents the prayers of Israel/ you, communicating daily, all day, with G-d)
3.Life – the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies. (By walking according to the path described here in cursive, you will have life everlasting in Olam Haba / Heaven)
[I have added here, just a few examples of the meaning / metaphors of the Mishkan’]
[6] The Roman Catholic Church (RCC) inserted a verse in 1John 5:7 & 8 to justify their invention and teaching of the Trinity! NOTE the words in cursive which they added:
“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are into the one/ these three agree as one” (1Jn 5:7-8)
The RCC actually had those that did not agree with them killed.
[7] The RCC added John 6:4 to make Yeshua [Jesus Christ]’s ministry run to three years. Michael Rood after many decades of research have put together a one year ministry of Yeshua in his book: The Chronological Gospels, and the researchers Nehemiah Gordon and John Lorquet have discovered MS’s and documents that prove that John 6 verse 4 was added in old manuscripts (*6)
[8] “The Day of the Lord “ is a Hebrew idiomatic expression that means: The eighth day, the Messianic era. See Isiah 60 & Obadia 1:15 and Rev. 1:10 “I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
The word ‘Lord’ should of course be יהוה –but the Christian translators were unaware of this Hebrew-ism and understood it incorrectly; said it was a Sunday, and translated the tetragrammaton name of G-d as Lord. My contention is that one of the main reasons why there is confusion about G-d Echad [one] and the Messiah, is because the Tetragrammaton was changed to “LORD” in all translations in the Tenach (OT)– in whatever language!! Therefore, in the end when you say ‘Lord’ – who do you mean?
With Yeshuah being referred to as ‘Lord,’ (that actually stands for Adoni / Adonai / ‘Sir’, causes confusion.
[9] The Roman Catholic Church deleted verse 37 from Acts 8:36 – 38. Therefore, most bibles do not have a verse 37. This was because their doctrine says that one can only be saved by partaking in the 7 sacraments of the RCC and the adherence to their theology. Verse 37 negates this:
Act 8:37 “Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
[See if your Bible contains this verse].
[10] “In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was ofthe daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren.” [Luke 1:5-14]
If Christians had been familiar with the Priestly Orders and their service at the Temple, namely, that there were 24 orders and that they did two weeks duty each per annual cycle, they would have been able to work out exactly, with the Historical information regarding Herod’s death etc, when Yeshua was born which is NOT on December 25! See Fossilized Customs. The pagan origins of popular customs, by Lew White [#20 in the Bibliography.] Also watch the presentation: When was Jesus really born? by Rabbi Johnathan Cahn https://youtu.be/ptIsXtTf6nO .
[11] Matt 26:29,30 “But I say to you, I shall certainly not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on till that day when I drink it anew with you in the reign of My Father. And having sung a song , they went out to the Mount of Olives.
– Reading the Gospels relating this meal Yeshua had with his disciples / talmudim, one realizes this is NOT a ‘mass’ but Pesach seder. Two distinct clues are revealed in this verse:
1) The 4thcup of wine, is the cup of Restoration at the Pesach meal: This cup of ‘Restoration’ symbolizes the Restoration at the End of Days [this is the correct Hebraic/Jewish way of saying it] when the Messiah comes. That is why Yeshua said : ‘I shall certainly notdrink of this fruit of the vine from now on till that day when I drink it anew with you in the reign of My Father’ because the Day / Time of Restoration had not yet come.
2) It is custom to end off the Shabbat & Pesach meal with singing songs of praise.
[12]“And the chief priests and the elders and all the sanhedrinsought false witness against Jesus, in order to put Him to death ……. For he knew they had delivered Him because of envy. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus…. Then all the people answered and said, Let His blood be on us and on our children. ” [Mat 27:12,17,18,20,25]
It has become custom throughout the past 2000 years to blame ‘the Jews’ for crucifying Yeshua, BUT careful reading of the Gospels – as well as knowledge of that period in Israel, when they were under Roman rule – makes it very clear that it was the leaders of the community of the Temple in Jerusalem: chief priests, elders and the Sanhedrin that decided to crucify him. The High Priest ‘bought’ his position. Since the time of Greek domination of Israel, the Aronic line of the priesthood was not kept. The Sanhedrin in the time of Jeshua was therefore not a leadership of honourable leaders anymore as in the time of Moses. [43.111] Many priests were in fact political appointments, some even appointed by the Roman authority! As such also only the Romans could put someone to death.
This attitude of Christians throughout the ages has been one of the most poisonous and detrimental towards Jews. [ 43.108-111]
[13] Yeshua was a Jew that kept the Mitzvot /Commendments and kept the Moedim / Festivals
Yeshua went to the synagogue [See for example Lk 4:15]. He kept the Torah. How do we know that? Because he kept Shabbat and he kept the Moedim /Festivals. Again and again it is said: he went to, or taught in the Synagogue.
He kept Shavuot [ Pentecost] –the second major Festival/ Moedim /Appointed times with G-d. [Luke 24:49-Acts2:1–4]
He kept Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles] -see John 7:2,8. and Chanukkah
The disciples kept the festivals – they therefore attended the Temple / synagogue
See for Pesach – 1 Corinthians 5:7,8
Shavuot – Acts 20:16 and 1 Cotinthians 16:8,9
Sukkot – Acts 27:9
Hafdalah ceremony, i.e. ending off the Shabbat: Acts 20:7
[14]“Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ” (Matt25:1-9)
This has never been properly understood by the church. This is a parable that refers to the End of Days when the Messiah will come. It also clearly describes what the Jews know as ‘the Long Day’ i.e. the 1st of Tishrei when the Feast of Yom Teruha takes place. Because this feast takes place on the first day of the month, man will not know beforehand – i.e. before the scientific age & age of the computer – when this day will be. This is because a Hebrew month has either 29 or 30 days. On the 29th day two witnesses were sent from the Temple to watch the sky at sunset, to see if they see the new moon which appears only for 15 minutes above Jerusalem’s skyline. If they did, they reported to the High Priest that the new moon has been sighted and therefore the next day will be the 1st of the new month of Tishrei, the 7th month of the Hebrew Calendar. If they did not see the new moon, they will know that the 1st day will be the following day. Therefore the 1st of Tishrei / Yom Teruha is called ‘The Long Day’. Therefore, the ‘five foolish virgins that did not take additional oil for their lamps’, waiting for the Bridegroom (Messiah) to arrive and were not prepared, and oil is a metaphor for the great Light of G-d and Anointment [Messiah]. Note also the use of 10, because the 10th of Tishrei is the Feast of Yom Kippur, i.e. the Day of Atonement, when the Messiah will redeem the sanctified bride/‘sheep’. The number ten is a metaphor for the bride as well as for completion. And 5 days later, on the 15th of Tishrei is Sukkot, the Feast when the Messiah will tabernackle with us. [Note the symbolism of the numbers – this is in fact very important in all the parables: 5 often refers to the five books of the Torah.]
[15] Christianity teaches that the Shabbat of Genesis has been super ceded by a Sunday Sabbath. This was decided in 115CE and made law 321CE. And Christianity teaches that the kosher requirements of Leviticus 11 have been abolished. It’s now okay to eat pork. In fact, [they say] Yeshua specifically stated that all animals are now fit for eating.
This is not true! If they then quote Mark 7:1 – 20, they are quoting the text out of context & without understanding for in Acts 15:20 most important commandments are referred to: those that will ‘set apart’ Israel / you from other nations / unbelievers. Verse 21 puts it all in perspective.
“….so those men who are left might seek after the Lord, and all the nations on whom My name has been called, says the Lord, ……….. All His works are known to God from eternity. Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those who have turned to God from among the nations, but that we write to them that they should abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses from ages past has those in every city proclaiming him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”
(Acts 15:17-21)
Here it is stated that the Torah [Moses] is read in the synagogues each Shabbat; has been and still is. The new believers joined the Jews in the synagogues [see Acts 13:15,16 & 14:1] and therefore heard the Torah being read, and thus they will learn the whole Torah step by step., week by week, little by little and so learn all the commandments. Note also: these commandments regarding idols/ false worship/ gods & sexual conduct & how and what you eat, appears in Leviticus 18, 19 & 20 – see especially 18:3-5,6ff, 20:25 – exactly in the order that they are mentioned in Acts 15! Note also, these chapters in Leviticus [Vayikra] are known to be the ‘heart of the Torah’ and in fact are the exact centre of the five books! They also form part of the Parashat Kodeshim, in which we read more than once: You shall be holy for Me, for I יהוה am holy. I repeat: this life style was also especially that which made the Israelis / Jews different from other nations.
The false teachings that are found in Christian churches are some of the following:
* The Torah is bondage.• The Torah was done away with after Yeshua’s death and resurrection.• The Torah was only for the Jews.• The Jews were saved by keeping the Torah.
• The Torah is temporary.• The Torah was given to the Jews to curse them.
• The Torah was abolished.• The Torah was nailed to the “cross.”
• We only need to obey the spirit of the Torah • The letter of the Torah has been done away with.• The Torah brought death to those who obeyed it.
• We are 1) free from, 2) dead to and 3) delivered from the Torah as a standard of right behaviour.• Obeying the Torah today is legalism.
• Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, therefore it’s no longer necessary to obey it…on and on and on!
• The Church has supplanted Israel [the ‘Replacement Doctrine’].
Jews will go to Hell; they desperately need saving. (*8)
Now when Christians really study the Torah and its commandments, they will come to the realization that all the above are FALSE.
[16] The following verse from Revelation reminds one of the verse in 1Thessalonians copied here below, that is talking about the arrival of the Messiah.
“But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and Safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm”. (1Th 5:1-6)
Now compare the following verse:
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame”. [Revelation 16:15]
It is recorded in the Talmud that once when the High Priest went to investigate if the priest on duty in the Temple is keeping watch, seeing to it that the lights of the Menorah have not gone out, he found that the priest on duty had fallen asleep. The High Priest then took burning hot coals and poured it onto the garment of the sleeping man who woke up with a fright, tore off his garment and ran naked through the streets. So the coming of the Messiah will be.
Paul’s contemporaries would have understood “comes like a thief in the night.” Because they would have known this referred to the High Priest that would check if the priest on duty in the Temple had not fallen asleep.
[17] “Understanding the instructions….. regarding kohanim and how they were not to partake in burials of the dead like others, throws light upon Y’shua’s response, to the young man who asked to “first let me go and bury my father.” Matthew 8:21; see also Luke 9:59. “Y’shua said (Hebrew, emor): “Follow me [Hebrew ahar halach – walk intimately with Me, trusting in Me, and leaning on Me for on all aspects of life] and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:22. The young man in question is referred to as “another disciple” in verse 21. But you must look back to verse 19 to see whose disciple he was. In verse 19, we are told that “a teacher in the ‘law’ [i.e., the Torah]” – that is, a rabbi with disciples of his own – came to Y’shua and said “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Who were the teachers of the Torah? According to Leviticus 10:10, it was the duty of the kohanim to: “to distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees Adonai has given them through Moses.” – and kohanim were not allowed to come into contact with a dead body.” (*9)
[18] Michael Boaz of First Fruits of Zion named the following as ‘marks of Jewish identity’: circumcision, Tzitzit, Tefillin, Mezuzah, Sabbath, Kosher & Mikveh. Furthermore he said that Jews are compelled and obliged to keep all these laws, but for a Gentile God-Fearer not living in a Jewish context or environment, it will be extremely difficult to adhere to all these. I can appreciate that. Just think of all food having to be Kosher; not driving & working on the Sabbath; openly wearing Tzitzit in an anti-Semitic environment; being a slave and not master of your own time – and this was the reality in Galatia.
Furthermore, Lancaster differentiate between ‘Brothers’ = fellow Jews; ‘Sons of Abraham’ = Proselytes / non-Jews who made a formal conversion to Judaism; ‘G-d’fearing Gentiles’ = non-Jews, attracted to Judaism but not converting.; and these were the different people in e.g Antioch and Galatia.
[19] Whenever the word ‘Law’ is used in the NT it should be read as – should have been translated as – ‘Torah’ – this is definitely in 99.9% of the instances.
In the same way, the word ‘church’ is an incorrect translation. The word should be ‘ecclesia’ which means ‘specially selected, seperated out of / called out ones’ The word church comes from the word ‘circe’ from which the word ‘circus’ comes and has thus a totally different meaning!
[20] “Prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE the Messianic Jews fled Jerusalem to the mountains of Pella located in modern-day Jordan. Although some Messianic Jews returned to Jerusalem after its destruction, this was the first event to dilute their leadership and influence from Jerusalem. Between the two Jewish revolts (70 – 135 CE) the antagonism between the Messianic Jewish believers and the Synagogue had heightened mainly because of their theological differences concerning the Messiahship ofYeshua. The number of Gentile converts in the emerging Messianic congregations increased rapidly giving them a majority over the Messianic Jews…..
…. this created problems, as would, the [new Christian/Messianic] leaders appointed by Emperor Constantine. Ego’s,greed and aspirations to hold seats of power and influence certainly contributed to The GreatSchism that ensued between Messianic believers and Jews of the Synagogue and which still separates the two today. (*10) [my underlining.]
[21] The following words said by Stephen is actually the reason why they killed him:- “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Adam standing at the right hand of Elohim!” [quoting Tehillim/Psalms 110:1] In the Hebraic understanding ‘sitting’ means that person is giving blessing; when the person / Messiah is ‘standing’ it means He is judging, and Stephan was therefore giving the meaning of Ps 110:1-6, which was unacceptable to the people surrounding him and they therefore stoned him. They did not understand that G-d’s representative on earth/ Messiah/ the anointed, will come to do G-d’s judgement.
[22] What often caused misunderstanding for non-Hebrew speakers, or theologians and pastors without the knowledge of the Jewish language and culture, and history, are like the following Hebrewidioms:–
Mtt 24:20 [spring solstice] ‘And pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath’
Mtt 24:28 [dead of a slaughter] ‘For wherever the dead body is, there the vultures shall be gathered together.’
Mtt 24:36 [Yom Teruha] ‘But concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers of the heavens, but My Father only.’
Jn 17:22,23 [of one accord; in agreement] And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one as We are one, I in them, and You in Me, so that they might be perfected into one,…
“they shall call his name..” – said at the Bris of an 8day old baby boy.
“I came in my Father’s name” = in his nature, image or likeness; representative.
JEWS WOULD HEAR & UNDERSTAND THESE REFERENCES TO THE TENACH
[23] When Yeshua said to Miryam of Magdala after having risen ‘Do not touch me’, [John 20:17] He is saying the words that the High Priest, prepared, says before he goes into the Holiest of Holy to do Atonement for the whole of Israel on Yom Kippur. Yeshua in other words was indicating that he now is the HaKohenGadol that will plead for our sins in Heaven. If they had touched Him, He would be unclean, and unable to enter the throne room of G-d.
[24] A very important mistake and misprint is in the genealogy of Yeshua quoted in Matthew and Luke
“The Aramaic texts of Matthew 1:16 indicates that Miriam’s mighty man (gevra) was named Yoseph, and Matthew 1:19 specifies that Miriam’s husband (ba’ala) was also named Yoseph. Yoseph is a very common name in Israel. Miriam’s husband Yoseph had three grandfathers with the same name. This undoubtedly led the translators to make ‘a mistake of familiarity,’ thinking that the two ‘Yosephs’ of verses 16 and 19 were one and the same. The Greek translators chose to render both Aramaic words gevra and ba’ala as the Greek word aner, which simply means ‘a person of full age.’ The English translators then chose to translate the singular Greek word aner as ‘husband.’ This created a fatal mathematical error in the Greek and English texts, because it left only thirteen generations ‘from the carrying away into Babylon until Messiah’ while the text itself states that there are fourteen generations listed. In Aramaic, gevra technically means ‘mighty man’ and is commonly used to refer to the elder patriarch of the family, but it can refer to the ‘husband’ if he is the oldest male of the household. Both the immediate and greater context of Matthew 1:16 demand that gevra be translated as ‘Yoseph the father of Miriam’ …… [for a list of 6 more reasons see M. Rood’s book from which this is quoted.] [19.36]
[25] See Matt.15:1-3 (regarding washing of hands) , this ‘your tradition’ refers to:-
Is 29:13 “Wherefore יהוה said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men:
Or ‘The Lord said: Inasmuch as this people has drawn close, with its mouth and with its lips it has honored Me, yet it has distanced its heart from Me — their fear of Me is like rote learning of human commands’ – [ Stone edition of the Tenach]
“Traditions of the fathers”/ “traditions”/ precepts of men” is the NT apostolic term for what later would be called “the Oral Law”, that is the Mishnah (*11)
[26]One reads inLuke 24:13ff:- On the way to Amma’us /(Emmaus), “JeshuaThen, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself.”
Another translation reads: And beginning at Moses [Torah] and all the Prophets [Naviim], He expounded to them in all the Scriptures [Chetuvim /Writings] the things concerning Himself.” [Luk24:27 ]
Note the parts of the Tenach are mentioned in exactly the order as they appear in the Hebrew Canon:
The first letter in the words: Torah, Naviim & Chetuvim, spell TeNaCH
Look at this interesting info from the Torah and Hebrew
So much more is revealed through the Hebrew text of the Torah. For example, the story / prophecy regarding salvation and restoration is told through the Soresh of names of every 10th generation after Adam; Jacob / Israel’s children and David’s sons:
(Gen 5) AdammanSethappointedEnoshmortalKenan sorrowMahalalel blessedJaredshall come downChainochteachingMethuseladeath shall bringLamechthe despairingNoachcomfort and rest.
Jacob’s sons:-
Reuben See a son Simeon hated Levi loved Judah praised by G-d; Dan judged & vindicated Naphtali prevailed / paid the wages Gad how fortunate Asher happy Ishecar soon he will come to Zebulun honour Dinah judge (who will judge)
Joseph Add to me Ben-Oni Son of Sorrow / changed to Benjamin by Jacob! = Son of my Right Hand.
King David’s sons:-
(2 Sam. 5:14) ShammualistenShobabrejoiceNathan I’ll give youSoloman peace Ibhar will be chosenElishuaG-d savesNephegwill disappearJaphia will appear againElishamalisten to G-dEliadawill know G-dElipheletG-d will give salvation
A Horticulturalist tells how olive branches are grafted on to bear fruit
The method of grafting wild olive branches in on a cultivated (true) oliveTree :
The cultivated tree is planted by design, the wild olive tree by e.g. bird seed and although the latter will have blossoms, it will not bear fruit. For that to happen, cross pollination has to take place.
Healthy branches are cut from the cultivated tree. They are then laid down on the ground around the base of the tree and left there for 3 years.
In the mean time branches cut from the wild olive tree are grafted on to where the branches of the cultivated branches were cut off.
Because the wild olive branches do not have the same DNA as the cultivated tree, they are not recognized by the cultivated tree; the tree has to force sap up into the wild branches; therefore they have to attach themselves to where the cultivated branches were.
For three years, no fruit appears.
After the first 3 years, holes are drilled next to the grafted wild branches, and the cultivated branches that were lying on the ground, are then grafted on even though they are quite dry!
These cultivated branches become ‘jealous’ and after 3 years come back to life! For another 3 years, no fruit is born & they feed together.
In the 7th year they both bear fruit!! Facinating!
The first five commandments is about our relationship with G-d. But why is the fifth commandment: to honour your parents, also one of these? The Hebrew words give us one of the reasons: G-d’s name appears in the words ‘man’ and ‘wife’ / woman: G-d’s name is : יה(yah) [see Ps68:4b] Now look at the spelling of
איש(man) & אשה(woman) If you remove G-d’s name, i.e.the יה from ‘man’ and ‘woman’,you end up with אש =fire!
The implication for a relationship is very clear! Just as we must honour G-d, so husband and wife are to honour each other. [see Ephesians 5:21-28] If G-d is not in the midst of the husband and wife’s relationship, the relationship will come unstuck.
One reads Hebrew from right to left. Each Hebrew letter has a numerical (Gematria) as well as pictorial meaning. The holy and covenantal name of G-d is יהוה (a pictorial meaning for the Hebrew letter, is written in brackets after the Hebrew letter). Thus we read: The Hand = י(=hand) that reveals = ה(=window); a nail/ is nailed=ו(= nail) that will /make an opening to /reveal / free = ה(=window) ___________________________________________________________________
יהשע said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘ The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone. This was from יהוה and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (quoting Ps 118:22-23) and Matt21:42 [This is also referred to in the Talmud obliquely.]
Note the following amazing revelation tucked away in the Hebrew writing of ‘father’, ‘son’ & ‘stone’ in Hebrew!
GEMATRIA – The numerical equivalents of Hebrew letters.
Jona and the Big Fish
The gematria (*12)of the words: great fish adds up to 50: דג גדול big fish= 50 =[30+6+4+3 +3 +4] The gematria of the letter nun נis 50 and the pictorial meaning is son. Both the nun as well as the number 50 is associated with the Messiah and Jubilee . And ‘nun’ in Aramaic means ‘fish’! So can you see how the prophecy regarding the Messiah is even hidden in the words great fish’! The tradition says that the Messiah will come when it is a Jubilee. One of the main principles of a jubilee is that land (the earth) is returned to the original owner (G-d) and that debt is forgiven (restitution and redemption.)
Understand now why Yeshua said the following:
Matthew 12: 38-40 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.” But He answering, said to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Yonah. “For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Adam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (*13)
What is important and remarkable is that whenever 3, 30 or 300 etc. appears in the Tenach [Old Testament] one needs to look for hints (sod & remez,) some information regarding the coming Messiah. Note e.g. Gen 22:4; Gen38:24; Gen40:12, 16, 20; Gen42:18; Gen45:22; Ex2:2; Ex4:2-9 (three signs); Judges 7:6,7; Lev14:6 (three elements); Num19:6 & 12; 2 Samuel 5:2b,4&5. (*13)
This verse reads: “… They will look toward Me because of those whom they have pierced / stabbed.” Now, look at the Hebrew, as this verse appears in the Tenach:
ושפכתי על-בית דויד ועל יושב ירושלם רוח חן ותחנונים והביטו אלי את אשר –דקרו וספדו עליו במספד על-היחיד והמר עליו כהמר על-הבכור
This has been reported in the media of late. In Amos 8:11 we read:
‘See, days are coming,’ declares the Master יהוה, ‘that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a huמger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה
And in Revelation 18:8 ‘Because of this her plagues shall come in one day: death and mourning and scarcity of food….’
Therefore, ‘In the latter days there will be a famine of Torah / the word of G-d.’
Now, דבר means ‘speak’ and is the soresh, root letters, of ‘bee’ : דבורה– And bees point to the sourceof food! What is our spiritual bread? The words of G-d – Torah! We also read “…the judgments of יהוה are true, altogether righteous. They are more desirable than gold,….and sweeter than honey, and drippings from the combs” Ps 19:10,11
When young four year old Jewish children are taught the Hebrew AlephBet, a drop of honey is placed on their lips; and so they learn the sweetness of G-d’s Hebrew words.
Every Hebrew Letter is a sign for something. Now, if you drive the ‘nail’ i.e. the ‘vav’ [ו] inbetween the את it changes the word to ‘sign’ אות
– ‘seed & sign’ ….
The Word = Torah =תורה; when planted in our innermost being, is like a seed that grows and brings forth light = אור
– The principle of the seed [see Gen 1] is that “kind brings forth like-kind.” An apple tree will not suddenly produce oranges. A horse gives birth to another horse and not suddenly a dog; and a lion will not give birth to a leopard. This principle debunks the so called Theory of Evolution. But it underlines the fact that living according to the true ‘seeds’, pure, and holy way of G-d, will produce righteousness and truth and holiness.
“the large reptiles” / HaTaninim gadol= התנינם הגרלים = “the large reptiles”
Whereas in Gen3:1&11– the serpent is The Nachash הנחש
Placing the ה(= the) in front of this word meaning ‘snake,’ says it is a very specific snake ___________________________________________________________________________
Do you know the Hebrew riddle? The answer is in Prov 30:4
—See illustration on the left at the top of this Chapter
An example of a pictorial meaning of a word which reveals deeper understanding and gives a Messianic message, is the mysterious place name Dothan, דתן that Joseph was given by the man he came across walking in the field, when Joseph was sent to his brothers. – [note the ‘heh’ ה [= the] in front of the word that spells ‘man’ – האיש, the’heh’ means it’s a specific man] Gen 37:17] Hebrew words are constructed onto three basic letters [soresh] of a verb. Dothan is often translated to mean ‘two wells’ but the Hebrew words for ‘two’ or ‘wells’ do not contain the soresh of the word ‘dothan’. We must therefore look for the meaning of this word in the pictorial meaning of the letters of ‘dotan’. It therefore says the following according to the ‘pictures/images that these letters stand for: ד =dalet = a door, that leads to / shows the. ת=tav=covenantof the – ן=nun sofit = Son /Messiah [Remember, one reads Hebrew from Right to Left]
What is ‘a door’ to the witness of G-d? –
In the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy/Devarim 6: 4 you will notice something unusual! The Aiyn, עof the word ‘sh’ma’ as well as the Dalet דin the word ‘Echad’ are written larger than any of the other letters. That, in a very obvious way, draws our attention to some ‘hidden’ [i.e. sod & remez] information revealed by the combination of these two letters.
עד means ‘witness’.
שמע means Shma and as Bill Bullock so beautifully teach:
to listen intently to, to pay attention to, to nurture, as a gardener tends to a garden, & let things grow, to bring to full potential; to hear, to receive and accept, to meditate upon, , to treasure; speak about and teach to one’s children, and to gradually be transformed by, and conformed to, the Holy One’s creative and prophetic Words.
The עayin‘s pictogram means ‘eye’
The דdalet’s pictogram means ‘door’
Therefore the message here could be: The door that leads to the witness of G-d’s word also comes through the ‘eye’ i.e. by reading the Hebrew text. NOTE! The Sages & Rabbi’s say that a verse has up to 70 meanings or interpretations.
The Hebrews loved to make acronyms. Elul and Pardesh are acronyms, yet actually mean something and the deeper meaning what it refers to is bound up in the meaning of the word.
In Song of Songs 6:3 we read:
אני לדודי ודודי לי –I am my beloved, and beloved is mine
The first letters of each of these words spell the word ‘elul’ which is the name of the month preceding Tishrei when Yom Teruha, Yom Kippur & Sukkot takes place. This month of Elul is a month of preparation for these important Fall festivals. These verses in Song of Songs refer to the coming Messiah, which we know according to prophecies and the Shadow image of the Fall festivals, will take place at the time of the Fall Festivals mentioned here above
In Genesis 1:16 we read: ‘And God made the two great luminaries, the greater luminary to dominate the day and the lesser luminary to dominate the night;’
Long before scientists gave the measurements of the moon and the sun, it was clearly inferred in Scripture.
In Job 38: 22 we read: ‘Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow, or seen the storehouses of hail,…’
Long before the invention of the microscope, the magnificent patterns in snowflakes and crystals in hail is referred to here.
Job 26:7,8: ‘He spreads out the North over a void; He suspends the earth upon nothingness He bundles water in His clouds, yet the cloud does not burst under them;’
Isiah 14:9 ‘The nether-world from below trembles for you to greet your arrival; it has awakened the giants for you,’
Isiah 40:22 ‘It is He who sits on the circumference of the earth,’
Isiah 43:16 ‘Thus said יהוה, He Who made a way through the Sea and a path amid the mighty waters,’ – It would be centuries before men knew of the currents in the sea and deep valleys in the ocean floor!
And the Areola of the Northern sky: Ezekiel 1: 4 ‘I saw and behold! There was a stormy wind coming from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire and a brilliance surrounding it; and from its midst, like the color of the Chashmal….’
In a fascinating and beautifully illustrated book that explain how science later discovered Truths of the Bible, explains: “In kosher animals (permitted by the Torah for consumption by Jews), the blood flowing in the vertebral artery joins with blood flowing in the front (carotid) artery. This results in absolutely no pain during Jewish ritual slaughter…In animals that the Torah forbids… the blood flows from the vertebral artery directly to the brain” [ See 18.154]
____________________________________________________There are many many more such fascinating Sod and Remez information in the Bible! – listen to e.g Nehemia Gordon’s interview with Dr Roy Blizzard: https://www.nehemiaswall.com/understanding-difficult-words-Yeshua?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_7_12_2018_8_41)&mc_cid=a357e17b6e&mc_eid=65018fb999
FOOTNOTES
*1 The sod and remez are those meanings, hints, and secrets hidden in the Hebrew of the Hebrew Tenach / Bible. This is in the Hebrew letters and words, as well as the gematria (see *4) and pictorial meanings of the letters. [See the two illustrations at the beginning of this part/chapter]
*2 After the Babylonian exile of the inhabitants of Judea, and since the time that the Jews were forbidden to study the Torah, after the Greek and Roman rule, they devised a plan to keep on learning the Torah according to the weekly Parashat reading, by reading a section in the rest of the Tenach that contained information similar to that of the specific weekly parashat. These sections are referred to as the Haftarah.
*3 See also Johnathan Cahn’s book The Oracle. The Jubilean mysteries unveiled. (2019) for many more astounding examples.
*4 SCHROEDER, G. Genesis and the Big Bang p. 182
* 5 Nehemia Gordon, [received his degrees from Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and helped translate the Qumran Scrolls] affirmed that it becomes obvious when reading the Brit Chadasha (NT) and the way it has been translated into Greek, that the original text was written in Hebrew, with Hebrew-isms, i.e Hebrew idioms and a Hebrew mind set, which gets lost or confused in the – very often – incorrect Greek translation. In fact the Gospel of Matthew was originally written in Hebrew. “ancient Hebrew texts of Matthew were clandestinely preserved and copied by Jewish scribes These texts were copied in secret because the Roman Catholic Church forbade Jews to possess copies of New Testament books …..a Hebrew version of the book of Matthew had been preserved by a 14th Century Spanish Jew named Shem-Tov Ibn Shaprut….[who] lived in Spain during the Inquisition” [Copies of the Hebrew Ms are in the British Library London, HU Library, Jerusalem] [Gordon, N. The Hebrew Yeshua vs. The Greek Jesus. P. xiv, 37]
*6 Watch and listen to /Rood/FMfcgxwDqThsLWNcrNTCtRFcsWsrFMQc
*7 Thomas Lancaster’s The Holy Epistle to the Galatians, published by FOZZ (First Fruits of Zion) is an excellent book on the very early Messianic believers, and at last explains this letter of Paul properly].
*9 See Bill Bullock’s discussion of Parashat 27 Tatzria & 28 Metzora; rabbisson@cableone.net
*10 My underlining. Quoted from: Thomas Lancaster’s The holy epistle to the Galatians, pp 74, 75, 91, 92, – see Bibliography #17.
*11 The Oral Law. The term ‘mishnah’ can mean the entire corpus of oral law. It is also the title of Judah Ha Nasi’s great compilation of the 2nd Century.
*12 Every Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent as well as pictorial meanings, and because of that additional incredible information is gleaned from the Bible – but sadly missed and unknown to people reading and understanding their Bible only in a translation.
*13 The following information and explanation of the symbolism of 3, 30 or 300 as well as ‘Life from Death’ was written by Tony Robinson in his discussion of the 9th Parsha Vayeishev, of his Parashat HaShavua teachings in his Restoration of Torah Ministries. [It is a long quote that contains very valuable information and is very worthwhile to quote at length.]
“ the writers of Midrashim (midrashic interpretations of the Torah) in traditional Judaism clearly saw hints and allusions to the concept of resurrection in the Akeida. In fact, please note that one of the prominent themes in the Haftara reading is that of RESURRECTION! The major theme of resurrection can be explained as follows. In resurrection, that which was DEAD is brought to LIFE…..
“ I submit to you that it is this theme of The Resurrection that is the sign of the Messiah also given throughout the Torah! If we want to see the Messiah in the Torah, we need to look for the theme of Life from the DEAD, or Resurrection! Remember, Yeshua came to fulfill the Torah. Therefore, the Torah must substantiate everything He taught. In Yeshua’s own words, the sign that proves that He is the Messiah involves two concepts:
Resurrection—This particular word captures the general theme of Life and Death in the sense of Life from the DEAD!
THREE—Utilizing the Sod level of interpretation, we see that the number THREE teaches us about the Messiah
“In the third introductory article to this Torah commentary entitled PaRDeS, you learned that there are four levels of understanding in the Scriptures. The deepest level is Sod, which means hidden. Sod level interpretations often involve numbers. Adonai uses numbers to teach us profound spiritual truths. The number THREE is the most important number in the Scriptures concerning the Messiah. With this as an introduction, let’s see how the Torah teaches us about our Messiah, Yeshua.
“As you read the Torah, anytime you see 1) pictures of resurrection, 2) pictures of renewed life as a result of deliverance from impending death and 3) pictures of victory and renewedlife as a result of death, we know the Torah is about to give us a teaching concerning the Messiah. I call these themes of The Resurrection and the Life, and they are especially strengthened when coupled in some manner with the number three.
The Sign of the Messiah!
“The first LIVING things (plants, grass, etc.) were created on day THREE! This is not strictly LIFE from the DEAD; however, the principle of LIFE coming from a state where there is no LIFE is clear.
The Torah’s picture of the RESURRECTION of the Messiah is found in the Holy Days. The Holy Day that is a shadow of Yeshua’s RESURRECTION is the THIRD Holy Day, the Day of the Omer Wave Offering (Leviticus 23)! The offering of the barley sheaves on the day after the Sabbath that occurs during the week of unleavened bread is a prophetic picture of the resurrection of the Messiah.
Jonah, who was in the belly of a great fish, should have been DEAD. But on the THIRD day he came forth ALIVE! Truly, DEATH was swallowed in victory!
The Akeida (binding of Isaac) found in Genesis 22—Abraham was supposed to offer Isaac as an olah (whole burnt offering). Although Adonai prevented him from actually sacrificing Isaac on the THIRD day [they ascended the mountain in three days**], the manner in which the Torah relates the story hints that Isaac died and was RESURRECTED. That’s why Hebrews 11:17-19 records that Abraham received Isaac from the DEAD through RESURRECTION figuratively!
“The Sign of a Barren Womb—We have already learned that there were THREE Matriarchs who experienced barrenness. Furthermore, we learned that this was a Sign of the Messiah, because LIFE came forth from the DEADNESS of a barren womb. [see the closed ‘mem’ in Is 9:6 in the Hebrew text**] ….. we saw the Messianic significance of Benjamin’s (Rachel’s second child) birth. Therefore, we should expect to see some Messianic significance in Joseph’s life. You won’t be disappointed!
“The Sign of Divine Election—Have you noticed that the natural born firstborn never received the coveted blessings? Abel was chosen over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuven, Perez over Zerah and Ephraim over Manasseh. Why was the second child consistently chosen instead of the natural born firstborn?. Yeshua is the second Adam. All of the blessings of eternal life did not come through the natural first-born man, Adam, who originated from the earth. They came through Yeshua, the LIFE-giving Spirit (See I Corinthians 15:45-49), who descended from heaven.
“Joseph the Shepherd—We have already learned that the righteous usually have the occupation of a shepherd. This common theme unites Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. Why is this a common theme? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. The Messiah is the Good Shepherd (See John 10:11).
“The One Who Was Hated—Why was Joseph hated by his brothersJust as Joseph was hated by his brothers, so likewise, Yeshua was hated by His brothers (See John 15:24-25). The Coat of Many Colors—Why did Jacob give Joseph the coat of many colors? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. As stated earlier, the coat of many colors, a ketonet passim, was a special long-sleeved coat or garment worn by the children of kings. This was intended to teach us that Messiah was the Son of God, the Son of the Father, King of all creation. Read John 19:19-24, especially John 19:23, and note how often Yeshua’s Kingship is mentioned exactly when His garments were taken from Him and divided! Joseph was the son of his father Jacob, so likewise, Yeshua is the Son of the Father in Heaven.
“Why Did Jacob Love Joseph Over His Brothers—Earlier, we saw that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons. This was thematically connected to the great love Abraham had for Isaac. Adonai told Abraham to “Please take your son, your only one, whom you love…” and make him a whole burnt offering (see Genesis 22:2). So why was the love of Jacob for Joseph thematically connected to Abraham’s love for Isaac? ..Yeshua is the only begotten Son of the Father, whom the Father loves with an infinite love.
“The Rejection of Joseph by His Brothers—Why did Joseph’s brothers reject him?.. They rejected Joseph because this portion of Scripture shows that Joseph’s life is a picture of the first Advent of the Messiah. He was rejected at His first Advent; however—at His second advent—Yeshua will be accepted by His brothers (House of Judah), just as Joseph will be received when he reveals himself to his brothers later on in Genesis. Consider that the Tanakh presents us with Four people whose lives foreshadow the first and second advent of the Messiah.
Joseph
Moses—Initially, Moses’ leadership was rejected by his brothers. However, when he returned after forty years in Midian, they accepted his leadership.
David—David was initially rejected by Saul, who is a picture of the religious leadership who ruled during the time of Yeshua’s ministry.
Jephthah—Jephthah was initially rejected by his brothers. However, when he returned after many days, they accepted his leadership!
“They Hated Him All the More on Account of His Dreams—Why did Joseph’s dreams cause his brothers to hate him even more? ..Joseph’s dreams were supernatural manifestations of the Ruach (Spirit) of Elohim. Yeshua was also hated more because of the supernatural display of the Ruach in His life (see Matthew 12:10-15). Note how often the religious leaders wanted to kill Him precisely because of the supernatural works He performed. Joseph’s brothers obviously did not think his dreams supernatural in origin. So likewise, the religious leaders of Yeshua’s day claimed that He cast out demons by the power of hasatan.
“The Messianic Significance of Joseph’s Dreams—Why did Joseph have prophetic dreams, foretelling of his future position of leadership above his brothers? ..This was to teach us about the Messiah, of whom many prophets have prophesied concerning His Kingship. Just as there were supernatural prophecies of Joseph’s future authority, so likewise, there have been numerous prophecies of the coming Kingdom and authority of Yeshua the Messiah (see Isaiah 9:6-7).
“Joseph Was Sent to Shechem to Check on His Brothers and the Flocks—Why did Jacob send Joseph to check on his brothers and their sheep in Shechem? Just as Joseph was sent, so likewise Yeshua was sent from the Father in heaven to His brothers on earth. Note the obvious thematic connection between Jacob sending Joseph, and the Father who sent his son in Yeshua’s parable recorded in Mark 12:1-12!
“Seeking Lost Sheep—Joseph was sent to determine the welfare of his brothers and their flocks. Why was this so? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. Just as Joseph told the stranger he was sent to seek his brothers, so likewise, Yeshua was sent to seek and save the lost sheep of the House of Israel (see John 10:1-21).
“The Conspiracy Against Joseph—Why did Joseph’s brothers secretly conspire/plot against him as he approached them in Dothan? … Just as Joseph’s brothers plotted/conspired against him, so likewise, the religious leaders conspired/plotted against Messiah Yeshua (see Psalm 2; 41:9 and Matthew 26:59; 27:1).
“They Wouldn’t Kill Joseph Themselves—Why could Joseph’s brothers not bring themselves to kill Joseph? ….This was to teach us that Messiah’s brothers would not kill Him. He was handed over to the Gentiles for his execution (see John 18:28-19:42, especially John 18:31.
“They Threw Joseph Into a Pit—Why was Joseph thrown into a pit The pit was actually a type of cistern. It was a hole dug into the ground to collect water. This was also a picture of the burial place of the Messiah. It was a hole in the earth. Messiah was placed into it.
“Joseph Was Not in the Pit When Reuven Went to Rescue Him—Why was Joseph not in the pit when Reuven went to retrieve him…Note, Reuven was the only brother who wanted to save Joseph from murder. Therefore, he represents the believing remnant of Yeshua’s disciples who didn’t want him to die. Reuven went to the pit/well (a prophetic grave); however, he did not find Joseph in it. So likewise, the believing remnant (Yeshua’s disciples) did not find Yeshua in the grave. For He had Arisen, Baruch HaShem YHVH! Also note, the pit did not contain water. Water is essential for LIFE; therefore, the reference to water is a hint (Remez) that the pit/well was a place of DEATH—like a tomb.
“Joseph Was Stripped of His Garment—Why did Joseph’s brothers strip his coat from him? …..This was to teach us that they had rejected his leadership, symbolized by stripping him of his kingly robe. So likewise, The Romans stripped Yeshua of his garments (see Matthew 27:26-33). Note the thematic connection between the stripping off of clothes and Kingship!
“Sold For Twenty Pieces of Silver—Why was Joseph sold for twenty pieces of silver? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. Just as Joseph was sold into slavery for twenty pieces of silver, so likewise, Yeshua was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (see Matthew 27:3-10).
“His Kingly Coat Was Dipped in Blood—Why was Joseph’s identity made sure by his coat which had been dipped in blood…..This is to teach us how to identify Messiah when He returns in His Kingly garments, for they will be stained with blood (see Revelation 19:11-16, especially Revelation 19:13).
“Jacob Rent His Garments When He Learned Joseph Had Died—Why did Jacob rend his garments? ….This was to teach us how the Father’s heart was torn because of the death of His only begotten Son. Could the rending of the veil in the Temple be thematically connected?
“Judah and Tamar—Judah had THREE (hint) sons named Er[= ist sight/seeing], Onan [= vigerous/ full of lilfe], and Shelah [the dawn of Light/2nd coming] ( –note! All 3 APPLY to the Messiah!} . He gave Tamar to Er as a wife; however, Er died because of his own sins. It was the practice then for the living brother to marry his deceased brother’s wife if he died without any heirs. So Tamar was given to Onan as a wife. Onan also died an early death due to his own sins. In his mind, Judah felt that Tamar was causing the deaths of his sons, so he didn’t give his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar as a husband, fearing that he too would die. Seeing that Judah would not give Shelah to her as a husband, she disguised herself as a harlot and had relations with Judah, who didn’t know the harlot he slept with was his daughter-in-law! In Genesis 38, it states that after THREE months (hint) Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant. He demanded that she be burned to DEATH (hint) for being a harlot. However, she had taken THREE items; his signet, cord and staff as surety when they had relations. She produced these as evidence that Judah was the father of the expectant child, and her DEATH sentence was stayed, preserving her LIFE. Whereupon Judah realized that she had been more righteous than he. She simply wanted to raise up seed in Er’s name. Since Judah was withholding his last son, she felt compelled to deceive him into impregnating her. Thus, she was not a DEADLY woman. She actually burst forth with LIFE from her womb! She went on to give birth to twins named Perez and Zerah. Do you see the sign of the Messiah in this story?[1] So, what is the Messianic significance? Read Matthew 1:3. Thus, we see that her child, Perez, is listed as an ancestor of the Messiah!!! Joseph & Judah are thematically related, because in both instances, a son of Jacob is seduced/tempted to engage in sexual relations……… [The Messianic line appears here embedded in Gen 38, the story of Tamar, at Torah Code 49 equidistant skips: Boaz, Ruth, Obed Yishay / Jesse & David] ………..
“Joseph the Servant/Slave—Earlier, we read that Joseph experienced a descent in stature as well as a physical descent into Egypt. And why did Joseph experience THREE descents in stature…Just as Joseph was stripped of his “kingly” coat and prestige, being made a servant/slave of lowest esteem, so likewise, Yeshua emptied Himself of all Divine and Kingly prerogatives and was found fashioned as a lowly human. This process, theologically referred to as the Self-Kenosis of the Messiah, is described in detail in Philippians 2:6-9. At each stage, Joseph was second to one over him, just as Yeshua is at the Father’s right hand.
“Joseph in Prison—While in prison (Genesis 40), Joseph interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, the chief baker and butler. Note how often we read the number THREE.
“There were THREE branches on the grapevine, which equaled THREE days.
“There were THREE baskets, which equaled THREE days.
“The THIRD day was Pharaoh’s birthday.
“In Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams, one of them was promised LIFE in THREE days, while the other was promised DEATH in THREE days. And why does the Torah emphasize the number THREE and the theme of LIFE and DEATH? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. LIFE, DEATH and the number THREE are the signs that tell us Joseph’s life (and this incident in particular) is a foreshadowing of the Messiah. Still not convinced? According to Isaiah 53, Yeshua was incarcerated as a criminal. How does this fact thematically relate to Joseph’s life?[1] How is the fact that two criminals were crucified with Yeshua thematically related to Joseph’s experience in Genesis 40?[1] How is the fact that one criminal received LIFE while the other received DEATH thematically related to Yeshua’s execution?[1] How was the baker executed in Genesis 40?[1] How are the professions of the two criminals in Genesis 40 prophetic symbols of the work of the Messiah?[1] [These are pictures of the Bread & Wine, symbols of JM’s redemption**] Now do you see that Joseph’s life was a prophetic shadow of the work of the Messiah? [The BIRDS pecking at the Bread in the basket = represents the Thorn Crown of Yeshua]
“Josephthe Egyptian—Why did the Holy One cause Joseph to be sold to the Egyptians? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. Just as Joseph was rejected by his brothers and handed over to the Gentiles, so likewise, Yeshua was rejected by His brothers and handed over to the Romans. And why does Genesis 39-41 account for twenty years of Joseph’s life? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance. Through this He teaches us that the Gentiles would know the Messiah as a Savior for 2000 years. During Joseph’s twenty-year exile from his family, all of his characteristics seemed to be Gentile—he spoke the Egyptian language, had an Egyptian name, dressed like an Egyptian and looked like an Egyptian. His brothers didn’t even recognize him when they were brought before him after twenty years of separation. So likewise, Yeshua is known throughout the Gentile world as Jesus. His transformation into a Gentile has been so complete that most non-Jewish believers do not even see Him as a Torah-observant Rabbi any more. Furthermore, His Jewish brothers even see Him as a Gentile false God.
“In summary, Yeshua’s words seem truer today than ever before:
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me (John 5:46, emphasis mine).”
Many peoples will go and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the Mountain of יהוה to the Temple of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways and we will walk in His paths.’ For from Zion will the Torah come forth, and the word of יהוה from Jerusalem. Isiah 2:3
A man came to Hillel (*1) and asked him to teach him the Torah while standing on one foot. Hillel’s answer will be familiar to anyone, adult or child, who follows the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: ‘To Love יהוהyour G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself’ – the rest is commentary, said Hillel. (*2)
Now considering what the historical overview of the previous chapter highlighted, it should be clear that since the second century the new believers and followers of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Yeshua ben Josef, were constantly manipulated and brainwashed to turn their backs on the Jews and the Sabbath and Torah. These new concepts were made into theological Laws at the Council of Milan 313CE and especially at the Council of Constantinople 381CE. Therefore, the new believers in the Nations called Christians, had many pagan traditions and distortions incorporated into their belief system.
The first commandment given to Israel was the observance of G-d’s ‘time clock’ which was officially abolished by the Church at the Council of Laodicea circa 364 CE. The first thing G-d declared holy was a day, the Shabbat [Gen.2:3] The first mitzvah (command) given to the Hebrew people as a whole prior to the Exodus was the sanctification of time. [Ex 12:2] Calling together a holy convocation is mentioned concerning the instructions for Pesach, and the first and seventh day of Pesach that were given before the final tenth plague occurred in Egypt. In Ex 12:16 and in Exodus 16:23 we read: He (Moses) said to them, “This is what יהוהhad spoken; tomorrow is a rest day, a holy Sabbath toיהוה This is repeated in verse 25 and verse 30 states: The people rested on the seventh day.
In Exodus 31:12-17 we read: יהוהsaid to Moses, saying: “Now you speak to the Children of Israel, saying: ‘However, you must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you for your generations, to know that I am יהוה, Who makes you holy. You shall observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you; its desecrators shall be put to death, for whoever does work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among its people. For six days work may be done and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, it is sacred to יהוה….The Children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to make the Sabbath an eternal covenant for their generations. Between Me and the Children of Israel it is a sign forever that in a six-day period יהוה made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”
The Sabbath is also the foundation of all holy convocations, that is, the three Biblical festivals: Pesach, Shavuot and Yom Kippur & Succot. About these you read in Leviticus 23, as well as other places in the Torah. [More about them later. See Chapter 16]
יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: יהוה appointed festivals that you are to designate as holy convocations – these are My appointed festivals. For six days labor may be done, and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, a holy convocation, you shall not do any work; it is a Sabbath for יהוה in all your dwelling places. These are the appointed festivals of יהוהthe holy convocations, which you shall designate in their appropriate time. [Leviticus 23:1-4]
Do you notice these festivals are called G-d’s festivals, His appointed times, which are called moedim in Hebrew. And they are not called ‘Jewish’ festivals. These are very specific appointments we are to keep to meet with G-d at very specific times of the year. They are important shadow images of future events concerning Israel, the followers of G-d and the coming Messiah. (*3)
Christians love to say they are ‘grafted into the true olive tree’ (*4) meaning they are joined to Israel. In fact we read:
Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called‘the circumcision; made in the flesh by hands, that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisrael and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world. But now in Messiah יהושעא you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the the Messiah. For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier,….So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim,….’ [Ephesians 2:11- 14, 19]
In the previous Chapter 5 I mentioned three things that clearly separated the followers of G-d from the rest of the heathen world. They were to cease with Idolatry, to lead a sexually moral life, and the kosher principle of not eating blood – which also entailed the humane treatment of animals.(*5) But even before this all, importantly, the fact that the followers of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keep every 7th day as a day honoring G-d and resting from worldly pursuits and activities, this especially, separates us from non-believers. Therefore do not fall for the scoffers of today like those of the 2nd century, that if you want to keep G-d’s commandments, follow his word, and return to the Hebrew Roots of your faith, you are accused of Judaizing. Now you know to point out to such critics that no, indeed it is G-d who commands his followers to keep the Sabbath and His festivals.
Therefore, if you wish to follow G-d’s commandments and walk in His way, it should be self-evident that keeping the Sabbath is one of the most important steps you need to take. And note, it is the 7th day of the week: Saturday, and not the first day of the week, as the church fathers of old, coming out of their pagan traditions, changed it to Sunday, specifically as a statement against, and a rebellion against the Synagogue and the Jewish believers.
What makes keeping Shabbat, the 7th Day so special? ? In Genesis 1:3,4,& 5 we read the central heart and basic principal of G-d and His word: the Separation of light and dark; good and evil. This is what Shabbat is about: the Separation of the Holy and the Worldly.
May you also experience the excitement and building up of anticipation of the coming Sabbath. One has to plan ahead. Already by Wednesday one needs to consider what ingredients and items one needs for making the festive meal for Friday evening when the Shabbat starts. (*6) There will be no last minute rush to buy an ingredient, because all the shops will be closed. This is one of the main fundamental characteristics of a follower of G-d’s life: discipline (selfcontrol), order and fellowship. (*7)
Guests for The Shabbat meal need to be invited, and by Thursday the special outfits for Shabbat will be checked to see if they need to be washed or ironed. It is an absolute delight to see all the little children dressed up in their very best for Shabbat. I recall us three sisters all dressed in similar dresses, which made me feel especially proud and special and belonging. By not being dressed in your usual work or day clothes confirms the feeling of and making of the seventh day holy onto G-d, separating it from the ordinary and the secular. Right at the outset of the Bible we are told that G-d separated light from dark, order from chaos, that which is good from that what was formless and empty. [4.62ff]
By Thursday the wonderful aromas of the baking and cooking for the festive meals of Shabbat, fills the home. I recall how I would closely watch the mixing and kneading making bread and loved partaking in the preparations. And by Friday afternoon laying the crisp clean white tablecloth – because our table represents the altar and table of G-d – and setting the special crockery and cutlery for Shabbat, all this added to the special expectation of being together, sharing and experiencing the joy of fellowship and care and presence of our Creator.
The town goes quiet. There are no cars and noisy busses rumbling pass, only the quiet peaceful evening envelopes the homes of people that have ceased their daily running, scurrying and stressing. The moment then, when the woman (and children) of the home light the Shabbat candles, almost brings a sigh of relief of letting go. One can literally feel the holy presence of G-d; it almost feel you can reach out and touch His grace. What a blessing it is, that for 24hours you need not slave away in the kitchen, be at the beck and call of the household’s demands because everything has been prepared for the Shabbat.
With Shabbat approaching, it is such a relief, a lifting off of one’s daily load of labour of words, terminology, figures, reems of information, input, filing, red tape, conflict and frustrations, and on top of all this domestic and family duties as well; when all this can be put aside, totally ignored and forgotten, on this Holy Day of rest; just to be with G-d and G-d’s word. Thinking of this, a deep sigh of gratitude is expressed and a smile of joy appears.
Have you ever experienced this freedom?
By keeping and observing the Shabbat, we believe in G-d’s revelation to us, by this divinely ordained remembrance we are able to experience a G-d-encounter. (*8) Apart from being an important ritual in the keeping of the Moedim, Appointed times with G-d, it is also a Shadow Image of the World to Come.
‘…unique as far as I know, to Judaism – is to reveal the end at the beginning. That is the meaning of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not simply a day of rest. It is an anticipation of ‘the end of history’, the Messianic age. On it, we recover the lost harmonies of the Garden of Eden. We do not strive to do; we are content to be. We are not permitted to manipulate the world; instead, we celebrate it as God’s supreme work of art. We are not allowed to exercise power or dominance over other human beings, nor even domestic animals. Rich and poor inhabit the Sabbath alike, with equal dignity and freedom. (*9)
He who wants to enter the holiness of the [Sabbath] day must first lay down the profanity of clattering commerce, of being yoked to toil. He must go away from the screech of dissonant days, from the nervousness and fury of acquisitiveness and the betrayal in embezzling his own life. He must say farewell to manual work and learn to understand that the world has already been created and will survive without the help of man. Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else….The seventh day is the exodus from tension, the liberation of man from his own muddiness, the installation of man as a sovereign in the world of time….The Sabbaths are our great cathedrals; and our Holy of Holies is a shrine that neither the Romans nor the Germans were able to burn…”— Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man (*10)
Something to remember at the Shabbat table is what Paul instructs the young teacher (disciple) Timothy in 1Timothy 6: 20-21 to “Watch over that which has been entrusted to you, turning aside from the profane and empty babblings and contradictions of the falsely called ‘knowledge,’ which some, having professed it have missed the goal concerning the belief.” It is a tradition not to talk business, politics or discuss contentious matters. The father or host / hostess would discuss lessons learned from the weekly Parsha and any of the people at the Shabbat table, even the children, is asked to share something from the Torah learned. See also Ephesians 4:29 and 5:3&4.
‘Failing to receive and be transformed by the blessing and holiness inherent in our Covenant Partner’s love gift of Shabbat is avon (*11); so, however, is reducing the Shabbat to a day of ‘do nots’, rather than a day of freedom to pursue the Divine Bridegroom with all one’s soul, mind, strength, and physical and spiritual senses. Failing to arrange one’s calendar and life around the mo’edim of the Holy One is avon; so, however, is turning those special times of appointment into days to hold religious meetings and assemblies focused on the talents and ministries of men, rather than special appointments to meet with and receive revelation from the Holy One…(*12)
” When we recite the Kiddush [blessing of the wine and bread] on Friday night, and affirm that the world was completed on the seventh day, we are testifying that the world is a creation, which means it is meaningful, it is purposeful, it has a theme, it has direction. It means that we believe that the world is not simply the mechanistic outcome of natural laws but an expression of creativity. We believe that the world is not the product of nature at work but the creative masterpiece of G-d.’
“To know this truth and to celebrate it weekly changes my whole week and my whole life. When I stop on Shabbat and refrain from doing creative activity, I renew the image of G-d in which I’ve been created. Otherwise, I am merely an animal compelled and propelled by my natural instincts rather than a being created in the image of G-d who has a free will, who has a mind, who has the ability to choose.’
“Some people can’t stop. They don’t know how to take a rest. They don’t know how to put aside what they’re doing. They’re compulsive. These are not creative people, these are people who labor. They are slaves to their jobs and slaves to their instincts.’“(*13)
” G-d created the world for you and me and our joy, task and service is to take this world and build it into a sanctuary for the presence of G-d…… Shabbat restores your soul and makes you whole. If you are single, then the best place to find your soul mate is over a Shabbat meal. And if you are married that best to renew your love (*14) is over a Shabbat meal because that is when we are most soul. Shabbat is holy. It is time to become whole with yourself, with your loved ones and with G-d.“(*15)
FOOTNOTES
*1 Hillel (early 1st Century) Sage of the Second Temple period. He was president of the Sanhedrin. He was considered more lenient than Shammai, his contemporary. He is known for the saying: ‘What is hateful to you, do not unto your neighbor; this is the entire Torah, all the rest is commentary’.
*2 See Deut 6:5, Levitcus 19:18 and Matt 22:37-40
*3 ‘The prophets were the first people in history to see God in history, seeing time itself as the arena of the Divine-human encounter. Virtually every other religion and civilization before and since has identified God, reality and truth with timelessness. ….. So time in Judaism is an essential medium of the spiritual life. But there is one feature of the Jewish approach to time that has received less attention than it should: the duality that runs through its entire temporal structure. Take, for instance, the calendar as a whole. Christianity uses a solar calendar, Islam a lunar one. Judaism uses both. We count time both by the monthly cycle of the moon and the seasonal cycle of the sun.’ The Duality of Jewish Time. Emor. Covernant and Conversation 2017 / 5777. Johnathan Sacks
*4 See Romans 11:16-20
*5 In fact man’s first duty and instruction given by G-d was to care for the earth and animals. See Genesis 1:28.
*6 ‘Then consider the day. Days normally have one identifiable beginning, whether this is at nightfall or daybreak or – as in the West – somewhere between. For calendar purposes, the Jewish day begins at nightfall (“And it was evening and it was morning, one day”). But if we look at the structure of the prayers – the morning prayer instituted by Abraham, afternoon by Isaac, evening by Jacob – there is a sense in which the worship of the day starts in the morning, not the night before.’ The Duality of Jewish Time. Emor. Covenant and Conversation 2017 / 5777. Johnathan Sacks
*7 See Titus 1:8, 2Tim.3:3, 2Tim. 1:7
*8 Read also the notes on p.657 of the Chumash. [see 11 in Bibliography]
*9 The Sabbath: First Day or Last. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Ki Tissa 2017 / 5777
*10 Quoted by Rabbi Doctor Nathan Lopes Cardozo, The Times of Israel, 31-8-2016. Cardozo continues: “It is not the renouncement of technical progress that Shabbat requires, but rather the attainment of some degree of independence from an ever-increasing race and cruel struggle for our physical existence, in which we are all involved and which denies us embracing the presence of an eternal moment.”
*11 ‘To transform a verb root having hey as its final letter – like avah — into a noun, the hey at the end of the shoresh is transmuted to a nun sofit. The nun sofit is the Hebraic symbol of the Messiah, the ultimate Son and Heir. The Hebrew noun avon, therefore, is a Hebraic picture of a situation where something in a person [or nation’s] life which prevents that person [or nation] from seeing, recognizing, and receiving life from, the Messiah.’ [Bill Bullock, Rabbi’s son studies for Parashat Korach]
*12 Bill Bullock, Rabbi’s son studies for #38 Parshat Korach, A little negativity goes a long long way.
*13 Shabbat: Rest Assured. Sparks by Rabbi David Aaron. Isralight, 1-3-2018
*14 After blessing the children each individually, the husband blesses his wife with everyone then singing the Aishes Chayil, that is Proverbs 31:10-31 where inter alia is said: An accomplished woman, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value….a G-d-fearing woman she should be praised… Keeping and practicing this ritual is known to actually have brought families closer together, and has even mended marriages!
*15 Successful People are Unaccomplished. Sparks by Rabbi David Aaron, Isralight, 23-3-2017.
Praiseworthy are those whose way is perfect, who walk with the Torah of יהוה …….How can a youngster purify his path? By observing Your word. Ps 119: 1, 9
So many, no, I would even propose, most Christians believe many misconceptions. One easily fall into the bad habit of repeating and professing a belief wrapped up in a succinct sentence that lacks truth and depth. A good example of this is when Paul writes : All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work. [2Tim. 3:16]
What Scripture is Paul referring to? The Tenach, or what is also called the Old Testament. The New Testament [NT] did not exist when he said that!
Recently Bob O’Dell wrote: “I certainly didn’t know about the deplorable history of the church since the time of Constantine…I was undone, both by the violent history of Christians toward the Jewish people and also by the fact that [I] had never learned this history. (*1)
It is essential before you go ahead and start studying the Torah, that you familiarize yourself with the history of the first five centuries, i.e the time of the so called church fathers and the effect their teachings subsequently had on Christians who over centuries had Jews live in ghettos; forcing them to wear special clothing, expelling Jews from countries, burning synagogues with Jews trapped inside; forcing thousands to either convert or they would be drowned; attacks on Jewish institutions and cemeteries, lynching, riots and pogroms (1881 in more than a hundred towns) against Jews especially in Poland and Russia, and more.
Studying the Torah without this necessary perspective on history and especially if you do so with the misconceptions of ‘the Law being nailed to the cross’ or from a so called Replacement Theology (*2) attitude, your heart and soul will be shut to the treasures of G-d in the Torah. In fact you will be blind to the HebrewRoots in the NT.
I will never forget when a tour leader here in Israel told how shocked the widow of a pastor was to hear that Yeshua ben Joseph [Jesus] was a Jew. This aversion to Jews and Judaism goes back to the early second century CE.
“The earliest followers of Jesus followed Torah…[yet] Leader after Proto-Orthodox leader castigated them and others within their own ranks for continuing to observe Jewish customs, festivals and laws…If Christianity had remained Torah-observant, even with reverence for Jesus as a potential Messiah, there would have been no grounds for excluding the movement from the family of Judaism.’ [14.248/9] It is important therefore to know the history of the first four centuries after CE to understand the situation we – Jews and Christians – find ourselves today.
It’s amazing how the following verses are just skimmed over or ignored: Matt 12:9, Matt 13:54, Mark 1:21, Mark 3:1, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:15,16,44; Luke 4:31, Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10, John 6:59, John 18:20 -Again and again it is stated here: ‘And He [Yeshua]was teaching in one of the congregations (synagogues) on the Sabbath.’
And, after the Ascension of Yeshua, His followers also followed the customs of the Torah and the Modeim (G-d’s festivals/ Appointed times):- “You see brother, how many thousands of Yehudim there are who have believed, and all are ardent for the Torah…..you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah,” Acts 21:20,24 “..I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets,..”Acts 24:14 – wrote Paul.
And therefore we see how these believers of The Way practiced and continued Torah observant (Jewish) ways: Acts 2:1 & 20:16 [meeting on Shavuot]; Acts 18:21, Acts 20:6 & 7( making Hafdalah) ], going to the Temple [Acts 2:46, 5:42 ], going to synagogues [Acts 13:5,14&15, 44; Acts 14:1, Acts 17:1,2,10,17; Acts 18:4, 19:8; keeping the Sabbath [Acts 9:20, 16:13, & 17:2 & 18:4]
Then there is the important verse(s) that is usually incorrectly quoted (*3) and misinterpreted: Acts 15:20 & 21. At the meeting between Shaul, and Barnaba with the Ecclesia (assembly) of Yeshua’s disciples and followers in Yerusalem, Ya’aqob says the following:
20 but that we write to them [the gentiles] to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath
Note the following: What is mentioned in verse 20 is literally from the heart of the Torah, that is, Leviticus 17, 18 & 19. Here we read:
You shall be holy, for holy am I, יהוה your God…
…you shall love your fellow as yourself…
You shall observe My decrees…. (Lev19:1,18,19)
Again and again in these 3 chapters we read: Any man of the House of Israel and of the proselyte…The proselyte who dwells with you shall be like a native among you…(Lev17:10&19:33) . These three chapters touch on the heart of G-d’s commandments: to be holy, not to eat blood – and therefore the Kosher laws – not to follow the pagan idolatrous ways, and to conduct a sexually pure life style, as well as ‘You shall not commit a perversion in justice..’[ giving many examples] (Lev 19:35)
I maintain that it is especially these commandments that specifically separates and characterizes the Israelites and the people that follow the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Torah, from pagans and other nations and beliefs.
It is important not to forget or leave out verse 21 of Acts 15
It clearly continuous the former verses in which Ya’aqob, the leader of the elders and emissaries of the followers of Yesuha that were meeting in Yerusalem, explain to Saul and Barnaba who went to them to clear up the dispute concerning the new gentile and pagan believers from other nations.
The bottom line is: step by step, little by little. First, the most important commandments that characterizes a follower of G-d, and then as is the custom, to go to the Synagogue on Shabbat and hear the Torah being read,and therefore, bit by bit learn all the commandments.(*4)This same method is followed when a Christian returns to the Hebrew foundation of his faith and learn the Roots of Yeshua’s teachings. What I stress here is that ALL of the Torah commandments are to be followed. But remember what was pointed out in Chapter 3 of this Blog, namely that not all of the so called 613 commandments apply to all. Some only apply to Kohen, some only to men, some only to women and some only in Israel, and the Temple, that presently does not exist.
HISTORY of the so called early church fathers and their Anti-Semitism –and other outrages:-
I am highlighting only a few prominent issues. Much more can be found on the internet.
Note most of the ‘new believers were not Jews, and therefore came out of paganism, or like Justin Martyr was greatly influenced by the Greek culture that still dominated Israel; and he was a late convert:-
115 CE[Common Era] Bishop Ignatius – The Lord’s Day is now Sunday, is amongst his teachings, – he saw the church as a separate gathering from the synagogue. (*5)
140 CE Marcion : Misinterpreted Matt 5:17, 18 & 19 and Yeshua’s statement: ‘I did not come to destroy but to complete…’ and therefore Marcion implies the Torah does not apply. He maintains that the ‘Old Testament’ is a book of wrath, inferior to the NT book of love. His anti- Semitic Writings influenced the King James Bible. “Rejection of the Jewish writings had immediate consequences. It severed for instance , Christianity from its Jewish roots…Jesus was also detached from his Jewish roots” [14.223]
155 CE Polycarp –campaigned against Passover and promoted ‘Easter’ which of course was greatly influenced by pagan Babilonian Mythrash religion.
130-160CE Justin Martin appropriated the title of Israel for the Church and sowed the seeds for the Replacement Theology’s inception which maintains the blessings are meant for the Church and the curses for the Jews, and that the Church is the only living witness and one true faith. This pernicious and totally false belief and teaching still influences many churches!Justin Martin maintained that Jews murdered Yeshua (in stead of the Romans)
3rd CE Origen Introduced the term ‘ legalism’; This term became synonymous with Judaism in the minds of Christians – up till today! Origen and Tertullian sayings lead to the expressions ‘ KK’ / Kike / Christ Killer, said to Jews throughout centuries even up till the 20th! Furthermore, he asked for Jews’s homes and Synagogues to burn with fire; and said Jews should be forbidden to go up to Jerusalem.
3rd CE Judeophobia, anti-semitism, anti-Torah spirit had manifested itself in Yeshua’s messianic Hebraic ecclesia. [NOTE the term ‘church’ is a false translation and concept of the term ‘ecclesia’ (congregation) used in the writings of the 1st and 2nd, century.]
Jerome [347-420 CE ] author of the Latin Vulgate, and Augustine [354-430CE] called the Jews ‘accursed by God’. Augustine is also remembered for his theories regarding original sin and the Trinity.
Ambrose [340-39 CE] bishop of Milan, Italy, praised the burning of a synagogue as an act pleasing to God.
313CE Emperor Constantine – and his pagan influence: [see also the Ediks & councils here below] To unify his empire, Constantine realised that by making the new Christian faith official will be to his advantage because various nationalities being part of his Byzantine Empire. “With a sitting Emperor confessing Christianity, it was no longer a shame to be a Christian. Now, being a Christian could even secure great material and social advantages such as political, military and social promotion. As a result many heathens and pagans entered the Church. Of course they brought their pagan influences with them. Because of the deepening spiritual vacuum of humble leadership in the Church of the Western Roman Empire, the Church leaders were more than happy to pacify the heathens by allowing them to continue their pagan practices..” (my underlining) (*6)
Constantine called together church leaders and at the Edik of Milan in 313 CE which promulgated a Canon which stated inter alia Christianity teaches that the Holy Days have been done away with and are replaced by Christmas and Easter.
“in a milestone de-Judaizing edict in March of A.D. 321, declared that ‘Sun-day,’ the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god whom he continued to embrace, was to be a day of rest throughout the Roman Empire….The Church Council of Laodicea circa A.D. 364 then carried this process of the de-Judaizing of Christianity to its inevitable conclusion by declaring that religious observances were to be conducted on Sunday, not Saturday. ‘Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.’ (Canon XXIX” [15.178] (*6) Thus synagogues and teaching of the Torah were outlawed.
318 CE complaints were lodged against Arius, patriarch of Alexandria. He denied Yeshua had equality with God
325 CE Council of Nicea, Nicene Creed: declares Yeshua same substance as God, and therefore God. Anyone that dared change the creed would be punished.
365 /370CE Catholic Council of Laodicea calls Sabbath observers Judaizers’ worthy of death
381CE Emperor Theodosius : Council of Constantinople – doctrine of Trinity invented and accepted as Theology.
The following is shocking to read today. Again I need to emphasize that Christians sadly do not know this history.
One of the most eloquent Church Fathers, John Chrysostom (344-407 CE), whose name means “golden mouth,” denounced the Jews in the strongest language: “They sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils; they outraged nature and overthrew their foundations of the laws of relationship. They are become worse than the wild beasts, and for no reason at all, with their own hands, they murder their offspring, to worship the avenging devils who are foes of our life… They know only one thing, to satisfy their gullets, get drunk, to kill and maim one another… The Jews are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy, rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance, and the Jews must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Jews. It is incumbent upon all Christians to hate the Jews.” (see *6)
One particular example of anti-Semitic teachings in the Church that we would like to expose pertains to Martin Luther. [Especially because of his influence on Hitler] Luther (1483–1546 CE) originally favored the Jewish people in the hope that they would accept his form of the faith, even praising their contribution to Christianity. However, most people aren’t aware that later in his life, when he did not succeed in converting the Jewish people, his attitude towards them changed dramatically. The following are quotes taken from Martin Luther’s, On the Jews and Their Lies (published 1543 CE).
· “The rabbis should be forbidden to continue teaching the Law [Torah].”
· “Therefore be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veering his eyes on them.”
· “In brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule—if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, his dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us… With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience.”
“Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss Sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire… Second, that all their books—their prayer books, their Talmudic writings, also the entire Bible—be taken from them, not leaving them one leaf, and that these be preserved for those who may be converted… Third, that they be forbidden on pain of death to praise God, to give thanks, to pray, and to teach publicly among us and in our country… Fourth, that they be forbidden to utter the name of God within our hearing. For we cannot with a good conscience listen to this or tolerate it…” (see*6)
± 1000 CE. As an aside I need to add the little known fact that only after 1000 CE celibacy was introduced by the Roman Catholic Church. Most of the Bishops, and even some priests, were from rich and aristocratic families. With the result that when they passed away their substantial estates were inherited by their families. The RCC wanted those estates and riches. Therefore, celibacy was instituted. This of course lead to awful practices – the fruits of which has been in the news for decades – because of this unbiblical and un-natural life style.
Now for a few minutes ask yourself: to what extent has all of the above influenced your church and therefore you yourself regarding Judaism and the Jews?
All the above lead to the false teachings that are found in Christian churches.
Here are some:
* The Torah is bondage.
• The Torah was done away with after Yeshua’s death and resurrection.
• The Torah was only for the Jews.
• The Jews were saved by keeping the Torah.
• The Torah is temporary.
• The Torah was given to the Jews to curse them.
• The Torah was abolished.
• The Torah was nailed to the “cross.”
• We only need to obey the spirit of the Torah.
• The letter of the Torah has been done away with.
• The Torah brought death to those who obeyed it.
• We are 1) free from, 2) dead to and 3) delivered from the Torah as a standard of right behaviour.
• Obeying the Torah today is legalism.
• Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, therefore it’s no longer necessary to obey it…on and on and on and!
• The Church has supplanted Israel [the ‘Replacement Doctrine’].
Jews will go to Hell; they desperately need saving. (*6)
—- All of the above are absolutely WRONG! — Do you know this?
EXAMPLES of the PERSECUSION of Jews
Crusades; 1st: 1095-1099 Pope Urban II gave his blessing for the First Crusade; thousands and thousands of Jews slaughtered in Europe: e.g. Mains, Speyer & Worms along the Rhine – whole communities were wiped out. (*7) Crusaders are often remembered for their chivalry, faith, and zeal. But in reality, many of the Crusaders were cruel, men who hated the Jews with a passion. As punishment for the Jews’ role in the murder of Christ, the Crusaders took revenge on the Jewish people living in the Holy Land. In the year 1000, when the Crusaders first arrived in the Holy Land, there were 300,000 Jewish residents. But by the time the Crusaders left the Holy Land less than 200 years later, only 1,000 Jewish families still remained.
4th Crusade: sack of Constantinople 1452. (This aided the spread of Islam!) People waited desperately on the shore of the Bosporus to try to escape.
Expulsions: 1290 fromEngland, 1308-1390 from France, 1492 from Spain, 1503 from Portugal.
1478 Spanish Inquisition King Ferdinand II & Queen Isabella ; Their Inquisition carried on till 19th century in Spain and South America!
1215 Fourth Lateran Council: instituted yellow badge for Jews in Italy
Black Death 1342-1400 blamed on Jews
Blood Libel: first instance in England 1280? – boy William of Norwich found killed. Jews were accused of his murder to use his blood for baking their Matzos. An absolute preposterous accusation!
Pogroms: 1648 – 1909
Hitler in 1924 addressing a Church gathering in Berlin quoted Luther. Hitler and his henchman instituted Ghettos, Concentration camps and organized the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews known today as the Holocaust [Sho’ah]
“After enduring 1,900 years of discrimination, persecution, forced conversion, banishment and killings, can anyone blame Jews for being hesitant about entering into relations with Christians, or trusting them? Evangelicals should understand why Jews resist… the very religion more responsible for their mistreatment than any other.” [*8]
FOOTNOTES
*1 Coming to terms with History of Christian Antisemitism. Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler, Breaking Israel News, 27 June 2018.
*2 Replacement Theology: Supersessionism, also called replacement theology or fulfillment theology, is a Christian doctrine which asserts that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, supersedes the Old Covenant, which was made exclusively with the Jewish people. [Wikipedia] Followers of this maintain that G-d sees the New Believers as having replaced Israel and the promises.
Root sources:
Justin Martyr (about 100 to 165): “For the true spiritual Israel … are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ.”[22]
Hippolytus of Rome (martyred 13 August 235): “[The Jews] have been darkened in the eyes of your soul with a darkness utter and everlasting.”[23]
Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD): “Who else, therefore, are understood but we, who, fully taught by the new law, observe these practices,—the old law being obliterated, the coming of whose abolition the action itself demonstrates … Therefore, as we have shown above that the coming cessation of the old law and of the carnal circumcision was declared, so, too, the observance of the new law and the spiritual circumcision has shone out into the voluntary observances of peace. [Wikipedia]
*3 Also Wilson in his book How Jesus became a Christian misses the point– see in Bibliography no. 14.
*4 Remember there were no such thing as a book in those days. So one could not say to someone: Read and study the scriptures at home!
*5 I only give brief important points to be considered. More information can easily be found in encyclopedias or online.
*7 A little known fact and which is never referred to, is that Rashi, the esteemed Sage of Judaism, at first confirmed that Isiah 53 referred to the Messiah, but after the cruel and barbarous persecution of Jews at Mains, Speyer and Worms, where for example Jews were herded together in a synagogue which was set fire to, and where he lived, Rashi changed his opinion and thereafter said Isiah 53 referred to Israel as the ‘suffering servant’.
*8 The Jewish-Christian divide. Christians, Jews must overcome mutual misconceptions in order to achieve reconciliation. Dan Calic. Op-ed. Ynetnews.com, 24/5/2012.
Observe justice and perform righteousness….Praiseworthy is the man who does this and the person who grasps it tightly [Is 56:1.2]
North America’s first laws, from the Seventeenth century’s ‘Pilgrim Code’ …and the ‘Body of Liberties’… were confessedly based on Moses’ Torah. The American and English Puritans revered the Pentateuch…the Pilgrims tried to pattern American society upon the Torah’s moral teachings. [12.9]
How incredibly different is the world today. How many young people in the United States today will be able to explain what the above statement says and means? Would leaders today lift up their eyes and make a covenant with G-d as did the pioneers in 1836 in Natal, South Africa, when they pledged to henceforth keep that day as a Sabbath if G-d delivers them from the surrounding thousands of Zulu’s that wanted to slaughter them.
From the Seventeenth century onwards, when René Descartes (1596-1650) made the statement ‘I think, therefore I am’, man’s belief in a higher power and submitting himself to G-d, declined and disappeared, leaving man in a godless and immoral society as we face today. Descartes was ‘supremely confident that by human thought alone one could doubt all notions based on authority and could begin from himself with total sufficiency‘ [13.152] Man therefore placed himself on a pedestal, made himself the center of his universe and by the end of the 19th century Nietzsche (1844-1900) declared ‘God is Dead’ Our beautiful world of unity and meaning had become broken and fragmented as the Cubist painters like Picasso and Braque depicted in their paintings in 1905.
‘If God is dead, then everything for which God gives an answer and meaning is dead.’ [13.178]. ‘A secular universe is an impersonal universe, and thus, far from being an advance on monotheism, it in fact puts us back into the world of myth, where man is at the mercy of impersonal forces. [1.104] The abolition of God leads, slowly and imperceptibly to what C.S.Lewis called the abolition of man. (Is it a wonder that today, as I am writing this, in Canada people are insisting that an individual can choose to be referred to as either Ms /he /she /ze according to their personal choice regardless of their appearance, and want this legislated!).Many people have lost their faith in God and place their trust rather in man. The individual and his mind, abilities and emotions are now center stage. We have seen determinism and relativism influence modern man’s thinking. And today its individualism.
Kent Hovin related how a man in his audience stood up and declared ‘I decide for myself what is right or wrong, I am the god of my own universe’ Hovin responded by saying: I will shoot you now. Aghast the man responded: You cannot do that! Yet note, as C.S Lewis pointed out: If one says ‘doing or saying B is not like A, then logically there is a standard or measure C that is outside A as well as B.
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach said during a discussion of ‘Is the Torah from G-d’, that we first have to decide and establish if we need a guide. He continued: In fact we are the only species that need directions. A dog knows how to be a dog. An otter doesn’t need an engineering diploma to build his structures.
David Thomson in his new book Les Revenants, interviewed French jihadists. One of them, who grew up in a social housing project in Seine-Saint-Denis, defined jihad as a ‘response to the ideological vacuum’ of the West. Islamic extremists in Europe are now filling the Western ideological vacuum by appealing to the masses, convincing millions of Muslims to hate and fight the West. We cannot possibly be surprised by this considering the development of the West’s philosophy and world view as I briefly outlined above. Nor should we be surprised noting for example that since 1925 teaching religion in French schools are forbidden. The division of church and state has been increasingly strictly adhered to in the USA since especially the mid twentieth century. (*1)
Rabbi Sacks wrote July 2016: This is not politics as usual. I can recall nothing like it in my lifetime…we are witnessing throughout the West..a new politics of anger… The problems facing the West are real and serious…For the past half century we have been living through one of the great unstated social experiments of all time. We have tried to construct a world without identity and morality. ….Morality has been outsourced to the market. The market gives us choices, and morality has been reduced to a set of choices in which right or wrong have no meaning beyond the satisfaction or frustration of desire….Too many people in positions of public trust have come to the conclusion that if you can get away with it, you would be a fool not to do it. That is how elites betray the public they were supposed to serve. When that happens, trust collapses and a civilization begins to decay and die. (*2) Are we not seeing this today?
Rabbi David Aaron wrote : Your consciousness of reality determines the world you’re in. Your consciousness of G-d determines how much of the light and the truth of G- d will be allowed into your world. To the extent that you acknowledge G-d, to that extent G-d will be in your life. This is a very crucial idea. Although G-d is, G-d is not revealed in your perceptual world unless you actively acknowledge and invite G-d in. Each one of us has a choice. You can believe that this world is filled with the presence of G-d who cares about it and guides it. Or you can believe that this world is one big accident, a chaotic mess….How would I act if I really believed that G-d’s presence filled my life, my home, my office, my city, my world? How would I speak to my wife and kids? How would I treat the stranger? To the extent that I think, speak, and act in accordance with this heightened awareness, to that extent, G-d can be present in my world. It’s not just a matter of believing and saying so……I need a daily concrete way to walk the talk. The so-called “good- deeds” and “rituals” of Torah tradition are designed to be building blocks to nurture and concretize consciousness all day long, so that I can channel G- d’s presence into the world and into my life. (*3) [More about this later – see Chapter 17]
Maimonides wrote in his famous tome Guide for the Perplexed: ‘ The general object of the Law is twofold: the well-being of the soul, and the well-being of the body….The well-being of the body is established by a proper management of the relations in which we live one to another. This we can attain in two ways: first by removing all violence from our midst; that is to say , that we do not do every one as he pleases, desires and is able to do; but every one of us does that which contributes towards the common welfare. Secondly, by teaching every one of us such good morals as must produce a good social state.’ [10.312]
You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you. And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. (Deu 6:17-18) (*4)
Rabbi Sacks comments the following regarding what I typed in italics here above: ‘At first Moses said that you are to keep His statutes and his testimonies which He commanded you, and now he is stating that even where He has not commanded you, give thought as well to do what is good and right in his eyes, for He, G-d, loves the good and the right.
‘Now this is a great principle, for it is impossible to mention in the Torah all aspects of man’s conduct with his neighbours (sic) and friends, all his various transactions and the ordinances of all societies and countries. But since He mentioned many of them, such as, “You shall not go around as a talebearer,” “You shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge,” “You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor,” “You shall not curse the deaf,” “You shall rise before the hoary head,” and the like, He went on to state in a general way that in all matters one should do what is good and right, including even compromise and going beyond the strict requirement of the law … Thus one should behave in every sphere of activity, until he is worthy of being called “good and upright.”(*5)
Bill Bullock writes in his discussion of Parashot Matot & Masei: Only when we let the Torah mold our thought processes can we view the world in its true perspective.
Law is about universals, principles that apply in all places and times. Don’t murder. Don’t rob. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Yet there are important features of the moral life that are not universal at all. They have to do with specific circumstances and the way we respond to them. What is it to be a good husband or wife, a good parent, a good teacher, a good friend? What is it to be a great leader, or follower, or member of a team? When is it right to praise, and when is it appropriate to say, “You could have done better”? There are aspects of the moral life that cannot be reduced to rules of conduct, because what matters is not only what we do, but the way in which we do it: with humility or gentleness or sensitivity or tact. (*5)
Sacks furthermore wrote that the Law lays down a minimum threshold but the moral life aspires to more than simply doing what we must, and though we call the Torah a book of Law, it’s not without empathy.
Regarding the Torah Rabbi David Aaron writes: ‘If you think religion is going to give you a quick fix you are wrong. And if you think that religion will put you on easy street you are deluded…. People are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. And they will never find it. Because happiness is not something you find outside — it lies within your soul. You cannot find happiness, you have to learn to be happy in whatever is happening.
‘The Torah does not give any dispensations from the challenges of life. It does not promise an easy life but a meaningful life. It does not offer an instant solution to sadness but it does offer a soulution (sic) to sadness and the secret to happiness. Through its’ wisdom and guidance, Torah empowers you to be (a) soul and enables you to make I contact with the Ultimate I — G-d. ‘ (*6) and have a relationship with Him.
I think it is clear from reading this blog that it is about choices that we make. The Hebrew word בחר (choose) often appears in the Tenach. For example: G-d chose Abraham to be the first patriarch (Neh 9:7), He chose Israel to be His people (Is 44:1) and He chose Jerusalem as His city where he placed His name, and David to be king (2Chron 6:6) Leading a Biblical life means making good and godly choices ‘to abhor evil and choose good’ (Is 7:16)
*2 We need morality to beat this hurricane of anger. Sir Jonathan Sacks. This article was first published by the Daily Telegraph (UK) on 2nd July 2016.
*3 Rabbi David Aaron, Sparks, Sick Minds, Sick Bodies, Isralite, April 7, 2016.
*4 Note! Every time that the word ‘Lord’ appears in this quote from the Torah, in the actual Hebrew writing יהוה appears. In the English translation the word Hashem, meaning ‘The Name’, is used in the Stone edition of the Tenach.
*5 Jonathan Sacks. The Right and the Good. Va’etchanan, Covenant & Conversation 5775 on Ethics. 30 July 2015.
*6 David Aaron. Sparks. The Secret to Happiness. Parsha VaYeitzei. Isralite. 25 -6-2018
Before sailing forth and plunging into a detailed discussion of the commandments, ordinances and statues contained in the Torah, I need to discuss a few matters. My premises so far have surely elicited statements like: ‘but you are not supposed to teach Torah to gentiles’ or ‘the goyim have the seven Noahide laws to live according to’. So in this section I want to discuss that Jews are supposed to teach Torah to the goyim (nations), what exactly is meant with the 613 commandments and what are the so called Noahide Laws
If Israel, is supposed to be a ‘light unto the nations’ [see Chapter 2 of my Blog, and Is42:6 & Ps37:6], then saying the nations are not supposed to study and learn the Torah, is quite an illogical statement. As I have stated in a previous chapter, ‘to be a light’ surely means to show The Way; to clarify details of the way; and to spread the good life as promised and instructed by G-d, by giving information and instructions contained in the Torah. The latter in fact is what the title of this blog refers to. One can light another candle from one that is already lit and that will not diminish the light of the first In fact it will spread even more light! Rav Binny Freedman noted “we are meant to educate the world; to be a role model of how society can be” [*1]
To state that gentile or Bnei Noach should not learn Torah, totally negates Is 2:2-4.
And it shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the House of יהוה [G-d] is established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. And all nations shall flow to it. And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of יהוה,to the House of the Elohim of Ya’aqob, and let Him teach us His ways, and let us walk in His paths, for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah, and the Word of יהוה from Yerushalayim
Surely Israel was to be a light from the outset. Note for example: Deu 4:5,6, and 8:-
‘See I have taught you laws and right-rulings, as יהוה my Elohim commanded me [Moses], to do thus in the land which you go to possess. And you shall guard and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these laws, and they shall say, ‘Only a wise and understanding people is this great nation!’….And what great nation is there that has such laws and righteous right-rulings like this Torah which I set before you this day?‘
Learning Torah first of all means to learn who the Creator of our world is, why he chose Israel to live according to His instructions and what the light is that they are to show to the world. On the first or primary level it does not infer rabbinical Judaism – that is something quite different. In fact I sometimes wonder if my fellow Jews are not jealous of non-Jews learning about the marvels, beauty and depth as well as secrets of the Torah. Why are they afraid to share the Torah?
See what G-d said: “There shall be one law for you, it shall be for proselyte and native (*2) alike, for I יהוהam your G-d” [Lev24:22] Read also Deu29:9-14 and “Gather together the people – the men, the women, and the small children, and your stranger who is in your cities – so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear יהוה, your God, and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah” (Deut31:12)
When one learns that there are 613 commandments [248 positive & 365 Negative / Prohibitions] – and they will always say in the same breath ‘No -one can actually keep all 613’ – makes it sound even more mysterious or daunting. Yet no one usually then clarifies that very many commandments only applies to the Temple or the priests and the Kohen HaGadol. Also, that some only applies to the land of Israel; some only applies to women. Therefore those that apply to everyone, men, women and children, Israel as well as the proselyte and the ‘stranger in your midst’ make the fact that ALL people everywhere are supposed to follow G-d’s word much more understandable and an option to seriously consider. Rambam [Moses ben Maimond (Maimonides) 1135-1204] (*3) stated that Jews may teach Torah to Christians, because they accept the divinity of the Tora,[and] in order to correct misunderstandings (Responsa 149) [5 p.xxvi] Yet there are many Rabbis that disagree. (*4)
It is necessary and very important to point out that without the understanding of the Hebrew that the Torah is written in, incredible and marvelous information is hidden from the reader [more about this later – see Chapter 7]. Just as important is the resultant mistranslations that occur – and there are very many.
The lack of understanding the Hebrew text, and also insufficient knowledge of the traditional Jewish understanding of most of these commandments, lead to a skewed interpretation which leads to false teaching and therefore a cynicism and abhorrence of the so called “Old Testament” / Tenach as well as Torah, or even more false, Christians that maintain ‘the Law was nailed to the cross’. [More about this later – see Chapter 5]
Let me point out a few examples. Probably one of the most common that is referred to in a sarcastic and critical tone, is the command stated in Exsodus 21:24 “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand and a foot for a foot…” This sound shocking and even primitive today, but one must be careful not to just consider one tree and not see the forest. This statute (directive) cannot be understood or applied in isolation of the whole of the Torah; its context, history or cultural feed ground. When one has a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures, one would automatically realize that we are not to interpret or understand this statute literally.
(See also Levitikus 24:17-22)
First of all we learn we are created in the Image of G-d (Gen 1:26, 27) and then we learn our G-d is a loving and caring Father that is closely involved with mankind and our lives and actions. Very importantly we learn that Justice and Righteousness is very much part of the character of G-d. We read in Exodus 34:6,7- ‘….יהוה, יהוה The God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…’
Furthermore we are instructed ‘You shall not commit a perversion of justice…with righteousness shall you judge your fellow’ [Leviticus 19:15] Disfiguring a person, or to impair a person so that he/she cannot work, will not be righteous, neither gracious or loving. Therefore the sages stated that a monetary compensation should be paid that would be “equal” to the harm caused, e.g. a scribe or artisan will be seriously hampered by losing an eye and should be compensated for loss of earnings. (*5)
Another example where a poor translation lends a very different meaning is when G-d instructed Israel to build a Tabernacle (Mishkan). In Exodus 25:8 we read in English:
They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell ‘among’ them
But the Hebrew word betuach does not mean ‘among’ you, but within you. This makes quite a difference. This surely infers that this G-d desires a personal relationship with each one. That each one of Israel potentially has G-d in and with them, and in their holy walk with Him, following His commandments, they as a nation will reflect and reveal G-d; “the goal of the Torah is to establish a nation of human beings who seek perfection in their relationship with one another, no less than in their relationship with God” [11.692]
Another example where one needs to understand the historical and cultural context as well as keep in mind the overall tone and principles of Torah, is the law concerning the ‘unsolved murder of a stranger’. [Read Deuteronomy 21:1-9] A stranger is found murdered in a field. The elders and judges of the closest towns then have to measure the distance to each town to see which is nearest. The elders of the latter town “shall take a heifer, with which no work has been done, which has not pulled with a yoke…” and sacrifice it in a valley which cannot be worked or sown. The meaning of this strange ancient ceremony is to repent for the inhospitality of the inhabitants of the town that obviously did not offer the stranger a place to stay or food, nor accompanied him on his way. The mitzvah is therefore to be hospitable to strangers. A commentary also noted that this ceremony will attract a crowd and possibly lead to the murderer’s identity.
It goes without saying that the former is an example of how important it is for gentiles to be instructed by Torah learned scholars or rabbi’s. And this brings us to the so-called 7 NoahideLaws.
The Noahide Laws are not listed like the Ten Commandments are as a unit, as in Exodus 20 as well as Deuteronomy 5 (*6). These seven laws for the Nations were not even mentioned by Rabbi YehudahHaNassi in the Mishnah (author of the Oral Torah, completed ±200CE) They are only mentioned after that by Rabbi’s in the Talmud’s Gemara. ‘Israel’s Talmudic Sages had recorded the basic Seven Commandments by about 200CE – the doctrine of the Rainbow Covenant was one of the first things they wrote out’ [12.42] (*7)
In the Talmud tractate Sanhedrin [56a] one reads: [My numbering added]
Our Rabbis taught: Seven precepts were the sons of Noah commanded: 1. Social laws; 2. to refrain from blasphemy; 3.idolatry; 4. Adultery; 5. Bloodshed; 6. Robbery; 7. And eating flesh cut from a living animal.
And on page/folio 56b we read:
‘For a Tanna of the school of Menasseh taught: The sons of Noah were given seven precepts, viz., [prohibition of] 1. idolatry, 2. adulterty, 3. murder,4. robbery, 5. flesh cut from a living animal, emasculation and 6. forbidden mixtures…R. Judah b. Bathyra maintained: he was forbidden 7. blasphemy too. Some add 8. social laws.[Talmud, Sanhedrin, 56b]
There is clearly a problem here if one only considers the number mentioned in each quote, as well as the terminology used. Furthermore, considering also the ‘source’ of these so called Laws and where they are written down, it’s no wonder that Christians are not familiar with them. It is also only lately that we find books written about them. “Unfortunately, there [is] very little authoritative material to guide even Rabbis” that lately have been guiding the many Gentiles that have committed themselves to observe this universal Noahide Code. [7.13]
Let us just consider “social laws” as an example of the obvious shortcomings of the Noahide Laws as a moral and ethical basis for ordering society all over the world. These are usually referred to as ‘court system / courts of justice / establishing laws, police and courts. One can by mentioning only one example of one country, illustrate the obvious shortcomings of presenting the Noahide Code as a universal directive for moral and ethical behavior, without incorporating the whole of the Torah. The Nazis also had so called laws, courts of justice and police, but these were not conducted according to G-d’s way and principles!
Weiner writes in his book The Divine Code, a book attempting to explain the Noahide Laws: ‘permission for earthly judgment based on Torah Law applies only for a competent and empowered Torah-based court..’ [7.54] This statement – like so many others in his book – highlights the problem that I have with Rabbis, books and people that refer to the Noahide Laws with a broad sweep and as some panacea for how gentiles should conduct their lives. The former quote, clearly underlines the fact that the Nazi’s justice system does not qualify as a just and acceptable system. Therefore, the question how should we / humankindthen live, still stands, and is not answered by the Noahide Code.
In fact, his book almost reads like reading the Mishnah or Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides. In other words, its not that simple. Weiner actually points out that ‘it is incumbent on one who does know the truth…to teach him God’s truth and the commandments which apply for him as a Gentile, and to correct and improve his ways’. (7.55) (*8) The tragedy is that it is incumbent upon the people to whom the Torah was given, to inform the world of nations about G-d’s way for man, but because of persecution and exile throughout history, they were rejected, their hands were proverbially tied and their insight and wisdom lost to the world. After the first century CE, pagan influence and distortions infiltrated the Way of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. [More about that later – see Chapter 5].
Considering the term ‘adultery’ used in the Bible, it’s often referred to as sexual immorality. But without referring to Leviticus 18-20, some cultures will find pedophilia, bestiality, pederasty, marring an eight year old girl to a man of 35 or 65, as acceptable.
Michael E. Dallen in his book The Rainbow Covenant, tries to present a clear understanding of what the Noahide Code entails. As in Weiner’s book, the discussion is too limited. These Only 7 Laws are too limited. One is left with a whole big elephant in the room and questions like, “ but what about…” These I hope to point out and touch upon in my blog. Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh stated: “But keeping the seven Noahide mitzvoth does not suffice. This level of Torah study alone cannot fully realize the idea of tikkun olam (spiritual repair of the world in preparation for Messianic days).” (*9)
*2 Proselyte is someone that converted to Judaism. See Exodus 12:48&49. This is one of the many passages in which the Torah states that the convert is to be treated as equals, and one of Israel.
*3 One of the greatest Sages of Judaism.
*4 There are historical statements by Rabbis as well as in the Talmud that explains this, but is not applicable to this discussion now. Suffice is to say that they maintained Christians will distort what was written.
*5 For more details read Rav Binny Freedman’s discussion of Portion of Mishpatim, 2018, in ‘Small Tastings of Torah, Juidaism and Spirituality’; Isralite.org.
*6 The Ten Commandments are neither listed, nor appear, nor are discussed in the Koran, Hadith or Sura. Very very few Westeners are aware of this!
*7 See Mishnah, Tosefta Avodah Zarah 8:4; Tlmud, Hullin 141a-b, Seder Olam 5, Sanhedrin 56a-59 , Bava Kamma 38a; Midrash , Genesis Rabbah 16:9, 24:5, 34:8, Deutronomy Rabbah 2:17, 2:25, Song of Songs Rabbah 1:16; Jerusalem Talmud, Kiddushin 1.
*8 “Rambam writes in Laws of Kings 10:1 that a Gentile is liable for transgressing the Noahide Commandments due to negligence, since he should have learned them. But it seems that he is only referring to a situation in which the general community knows the laws…. It is clear that this only applies to the Noahide commandments that need to be taught (since they are not dictated by logic), such as details of the prohibitions against worshipping idols and eating flesh taken from a living animal. But for the logical prohibitions such as stealing and murder, it is obvious that a community is obligated to learn and know them…” [7 Weiner.55]. Again this brings us face to face with the problem that in the Koran theft and murder is often sanctioned. So what is the answer?
*9 Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler writes in her article The Time Has Come for Mass Torah Study for Gentiles, “Many Jews view the Torah as a gift from God that belongs to the Jewish people alone but is that still the case? More specifically, should Torah study only be for Jews” She then refers to a transcript of a talk The Fourth Revolution: Torah Study for Gentiles, by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, one of Israel’s foremost teachers of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and Chassidut (the study of the inner dimensions of Torah). “It is the task of the Jewish people to teach and disseminate the Torah of the Noahides to all of Mankind, Rabbi Ginsburgh acknowledged. [see Breakingisraelnews.com, 7 Feb. 2018]
Chapter 2 Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?
Today the secular West has largely lost the values that used to be called the Judeo-Christian heritage [3.256] Or as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote ‘They – people- are as they are because people think in terms of certain ideas – and ideas have a history.’ [2.23] (*1)
The chapter title here above was used in some form of other by Gauguin (*2), Francis Schaeffer and Jonathan Sacks to point to the eternal question that only religion and faith in G-d, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, can answer.
‘Faith is the call to human responsibility [1.100] The whole thrust of modern thought has been toward reducing the sphere of individual moral responsibility. Human behavior is increasingly seen as the product of impersonal forces – economic (Marx)., social (Durkheim), or socio-biological (the neo-Darwinians). We are what we are because of things over which we have no control, from the distribution of power to the “selfish gene” ‘[1.103] it is said.
The slow demise of morality and faith, is that which characterizes today the 21st century and is becoming the plight of Europe and USA’s survival. That which is needed for a society to function optimally is what Lord Sacks calls the ”moral bond” that links individuals in the shared project of society [2.35]
Freedom has never worked without deeply ingrained moral beliefs …where individuals … conform voluntarily to certain principles said Friedrich Hayek [2.37] The G-d of Israel is on the side of freedom AND human dignity [1.33] Sacks furthermore noted in 2017 that: God can change nature said Maimonides , but He cannot or choose not to change human nature, precisely because Judaism is built on the principle of human freedom.
There are no morals without discipline and authority….Morals do not look like obligations to us …unless there exist about [outside] us and above us a power which gives them sanction, wrote Emile Durkheim [2.37] When people say ‘x is not right, y is’, they do not realize they have unwittingly acknowledged that there is a principle or moral ‘right,’ say z’, outside and above x & y.
[One can define the Hebrew faith as a life of discipline and devotion– more about that later. See Chapters 6, 16 & 17],
“A person with all the faculties we associate with humanity except for the capacity to understand right and wrong is someone who could slaughter people with an axe the way you and I mow the lawn. …We call them sociopaths.”[8.7]
“Until recently [± 1960], serious thinkers argued that society depends on moral consensus…This view began to crumble with the rise of individualism. If morality is private, there is no logic in imposing it on society by legislation.”[2.47]
“When there are no shared standards, there can be no conversation, and where conversation ends, violence begins.” [2.47] This statement by Jonathan Sacks actually defines what is happening in Europe and the USA today. ” Morality has mutated into politics. Morality is about virtue; politics is about power.” [2.45] Already in 1927 Julien Benda said ‘Our age is indeed the age of the intellectual organization of political hatreds’. And today this is even more so.
“You cannot combine Greek military courage, Roman civic pride, Christian humility, Taoist wisdom and Buddhist otherworldliness into a single system… You cannot cast characters from a Greek tragedy, a Shakespearean comedy, a D H Lawrence novel and a Henry James short story in the same narrative.” [ 2.34] The world-views of these characters and the context in which they operated differ very much.
“It seems that as a people, we have somewhat lost our way; is there a ‘North Star’ we are somehow missing? And can we find a way to reconnect with it? [*3]
In 1986 Lord Patrick Devlin stated: If men and women try to create a society in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil they will fail….the society will disintegrate. Devlin was severely criticized for saying this. If there are areas within a given society that are left to individual conscience, there is no universal rule. Yet, throughout the ages philosophers have sought the Absolute, Universal, Timeless ethics & morality for mankind.
Can Multiculturalism work? On a public holiday in South Africa, at the Beach Front in Durban, people of one of the cultures in the mix that make up the population, slaughtered sheep in the open on the sidewalk opposite one of the international hotels. And, at the start of the soccer world cup 2010 in South Africa, it was decided to slaughter an ox to the ancestors in the stadium. Yet South Africa with its 50+ million black and 5million white peoples regard itself as a Christian majority country. Well today, especially after the so called first democratic vote in 1994, we observe under the Marxist black government of South Africa an accelerated disintegration of the unfortunately named ‘rainbow nation’ of South Africa. (See also footnote *4 of Chapter 1)
During the 1970’s Francis Schaeffer warned about the disintegration of society and the loss of the underlying Hebrew moral and ethical code of western society. Then in 1981 Alasdair MacIntyre in his book After Virtue wrote: ‘Moral language, had broken down. All we have left is fragments of earlier beliefs. The words survive: the beliefs that gave them meaning do not. We are unable to have genuine moral arguments any more…..all truth has become subjective or relative….Which prevails will depend not on reason but on power.’ [2.41]
In-your-face contemporary examples are the debates about same-sex marriage, abortion and gender. The scurrility of the discussion in the mass media is ad in finitum and will never reach common ground. In the 1957 Wolfenden Committee Report on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, they made a clear distinction between morality and law: ‘It is not, in our view, the function of the law to intervene in the private lives of citizens’ they said. [2.38]
Johnathan Sacks wrote ‘The sixties were the years of liberation. Within a few years the liberal revolution confirmed what philosophy taught – that there were no rules, only preferences. Moral judgments were expressions of subjective emotion, not objective truths.’“[1.27] In 2004 Rocco Buttiglioni, was disqualified to be commissioner of justice for the European Commission because some political parties criticized his conservative Roman Catholic views. “He was then disqualified…on the grounds that his private moral convictions [that homosexual behavior is a sin] were ‘ in direct contradiction of European law”.[2.43]
Ideas have power and the human freedom bestowed on man by his Creator (*4), opens up to us a wide range of choices. :The natural world consists of causes and effects. The human world is different. It is made in freedom of choices made possible by ideas. What we think shapes what we do. [cf Schaeffer & Rookmaker]
“We have many options, and no generation in history has had a wider choice. We can live for work or success or wealth or fame or power. We can have a whole series of lifestyles and relationships. We can explore any of a myriad of faiths, mysticism or therapies. “[1.40] Of course to many, many people the question: ‘ what is right and what is wrong; what is not ethical; is my behavior or deeds moral?’- never crosses their mind.
Thomas Cahill wrote in The Gifts of the Jews, to a large degree, Western civilization is framed in terms of concepts first articulated by the Jews . Furthermore Sacks writes: “Judaism is God’s perennial question mark against the conventional wisdom of mankind, and this has been the fate of Jewish identity in modern times. It belongs to a language, a way of seeing and thinking, that become hard to translate into the concepts of today.” 1.41] (*5) To be Jewish meant watching your words, lest they cause someone else harm; it meant strong family values and an emphasis on education; it meant respecting people for their inner qualities, not their social mobility. [Aish.com]
Yet few perspicacious people throughout history glimpsed the truth; as Tolstoy said: The Jew is that sacred being who has brought down from heaven the everlasting fire, and has illumined with it the entire world. He is the religious source, spring and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religion [1.3]
So let me now here state and spell out what Tolstoy and others like him like e.g. [Mark Twain] actually said reading between the lines: Our guidebook or instruction manual is the Torah and Tenach] [Old Testament]; the word of G-d, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. When we read: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.’ [2Tim.3:16,17], said by Paul, he is referring to the Tenach (the OT). That was the only Scripture available then! Christians usually ignore or forget this fact!
So I have tried in this short piece to point out to you that morals, ethics and rules have always been part of a society to function optimally. Yet on what these are based, by whom these are commanded, varied from culture to culture; and over time also drastically changed. “Under a ‘Spirit-led’ economy of personal revelation, who could say whether a particular act constituted a transgression or not?” [17.261] (*6)
Let us try to define morality. This is what Jonathan Sacks writes: ( it may surprise you, but as a believer, it shouldn’t!) “Morality is not factual (how things are) or subjective (how I desire them to be) but covenantal, meaning: God gives His word to man, and man gives his word to God. God teaches, man acts, and together they begin the task of tikkun olam.” (*7) [1.60] As the Rabbis explain it: We are partners in the work of creating this world.
FOOTNOTES
*1 See footnote *4 in Chpter 1.
*2 Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? 1897. Paul Gauguin. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
*3 See Rav Binny Freedman’s Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality, Shavuot, 6780
*4 See Genesis2:16,17
*5 The Jews started it all – and by ‘it’ I mean so many of the things we care about, the underlying values that make all of us, Jew and gentile, believer and atheist, tick. Without the Jews, we would see the world through different eyes, hear with different ears, even feel with different feelings. And not only would our sensorium, the screen through which we receive the world, be different: we would think with a different mind, interpret all our experience differently, draw different conclusions from the things that befall us. And we would set a different course for our lives. [41.3]
*6 Also read: The Story we Tell. Bo; Covenant and Conversation, 5778, Life-Changing Ideas in the Parasha, by Jonathan Sacks.
*7 To repair or, better the world. It is seen as the duty of every BELIEVING Jew.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path Ps 119:105
It was 30 000 feet up in the air, when I leaned closer to look at the little book (*1) the young man was reading. To my surprise I saw it was a book discussing faith but contained references to history, philosophy, and the arts All the fields that have been my favorites to study and in which to immerse myself. It intrigued me that this author referred to especially the visual arts in his discussion of religion and modern man. This fleeting moment turned out to be – when reviewing ones life’s path in retrospect- one of those stepping stones or the proverbial door that opened for one.
This was more than forty years ago. All the ‘loose strings’ fell into place. Professors never underpin their teaching in a world view perspective, and especially heaven forbid a religious context – that is taboo.
The decline of mankind and the loss of Biblical Hebrew roots is so clear and obvious. This refined perspective and the story of man and society’s disintegration always informed my professional output.
It is becoming increasingly fashionable to view a clear act forbidden by the Torah (*2) as completely permissible and even laudable …This is not a problem if one is an atheist. Or even a deist. It is not a problem if one is even generically religious without subscribing to any biblical doctrines. It is entirely libertarian. It is entirely humanistic…. (*3)
The above quote in a nutshell describes where we find ourselves today. Today we call white black, and black white. To quote Isaiah: Woe to those who speak of evil as good and of good as evil; who make darkness into light and light into darkness; they make bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and in their own view, understanding. [Is 5:20,21] In fact because of the philosophy of relativism prominent today, everything is a grey area.
How did we get here? I used to teach an overview of western man’s philosophies and world view from 500BCE till 2000CE illustrating it with images from the visual arts and architecture as well as references to literature and music. It so happens that what Western man throughout history has deemed important and the all-embracing mainspring of life, since ancient Greece till the 21st century, find expression in his creations. Therefore such an over view of 2500 years show clearly how the substantial influence of Greek Humanism led to where we are today. A self-centered materialistic G-dless society. [1.224]
For some time I have been feeling compelled to speak out about this and that to a wide as possible audience. This then has lead to this blog. And the message is urgent. Especially today when Europe has lost its compass, forgotten its roots and treat its culture with disdain. The US is threatened from within by the blind, arrogant and self-righteous leftists. And surprisingly the UK has opened its gates to strangers and vastly different cultures. Who would have thought ‘the superior, aloof and that ‘the sun-will-never-set on their freedom and culture’ Brits would be so short sighted. (*4)
The compelling purpose for writing this blog is to make the statement and send out the urgent message that all of mankind is supposed to live according to the directives and commandments of the Creator of this world, the G-d, יהוה of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now this presupposes that first of all a person believes there is a Higher Power; that G-d is the creator of this world, and that our purpose, for a contented and successful life, is to follow His Way and to worship Him alone.
Secondly the above statement and following discussions takes for granted the axiom that our world and the universe was createdby G-d, and nothing of the creation exists because of evolution. [For good scientific and religious discussion of this, see teachings on internet and books by Gerald Schroeder, Bruce Malone and Kent Hovin.]
I need to explain that I am not a Rabbi, Talmud scholar or Theologian. I have been brought up with a strong belief and faith in the G-d of Israel; the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. My foundation and anchor is the Tenach [Old Testament] which includes the Torah, i.e. the first 5 books of the Bible. I will though quote not only from the Tenach [Stone edition], but also reference the Talmud, various Jewish as well Christian books and the New Testament [hereafter NT]; and many articles on the Internet written by Jewish as well as Messianic authors.
The little book that I referred to above in the opening paragraph, is by Francis Shaeffer and the fact that he constantly referred to ‘judean-christian’ principles struck me. I had never come across that in religious writings of non-Jews [hereafter: gentiles].In fact, I found it remarkable that a Christian writer would acknowledge the Jewish roots of Christianity. This then is one of the central arguments of my Blog.
Furthermore, another foundational principle is that we Jews are supposed to be a “light onto the world”
Thus said the God, יהוה, Who created the heavens and stretched them forth; Who firmed the earth and its produce, Who gave a soul to the people upon it, and a spirit to those who walk on it: I am יהוה; I have called you with righteousness; I will strengthen your hand; I will protect you; I will set you for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations; [Is 42:5-6] [see also Is 49:6, Ps 37:6]
“I will set you for a covenant” infers that G-d is the causation of this covenant and therefore G-d as the author cannot and will not break the covenant. In other words it is important to realize that G-d is involved in this role of Israel. [cf Ps 89:34-37]
Lets analyze the use of “light to the nations”. A light dispels darkness; causes one to see clearly; enables one to see details; it lights up a way or to put it differently ‘shows one the way’. “By Your light may we see light” says the Psalmist [Ps36:10] . This can serve as an analogy for Israel, that by doing the commandments or decrees / directives / ordinances / statues (*5) of G-d as written in His word, we shine and reflect the light of Torah. [Torah means ‘teaching’ and not Law, as is the standard English translation of this Hebrew word!!]
Light is a given. We read in Genesis 1:3 that the first ‘thing’ G-d created is called ‘light’. (*6) Therefore man cannot create light ‘out of nothing’, he has to use or manipulate a given existing element, to bring forth light and that ‘element’ that Israel is to use and follow is Torah.
We have not always fulfilled this G-d ordained task. It is quite understandable when considering the past 2500 years and the exiles, persecution and pogroms the Jews suffered. The past few decades though, a phenomenal awakening in the hearts and souls of thousands of Christians has happened through, I believe G-d’s spirit is touching them and kindling a yearning in them to return to the Hebrew roots and Truth of their faith; especially when they come to know the false teachings of the Church the past 2000 years. [more about this later, see Chapter 5] All of a sudden all over the world there are thousands of Christians that are learning Torah and even Hebrew.
In the early 1980’s in the US, the Rebbe of Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994) ‘put forth an urgent calling to the nations of the world to fulfill their seven commandments (*7) and to the Jewish people at all levels to inform and influence Gentiles concerning the importance of this observance. [7.21] ‘Therefore, for one who is a denier of Torah or an idol-worshipper from habit, and has never known the truth because he has not learned it, it is incumbent on one who does know the truth ….to teach him God’s truth and the commandments which apply for him as a Gentile, and to correct and improve his ways’ [7.54]
I need to refer to Anti-Semitism before I continue because the use of this term is again so prevalent today. Blatant, outrageous and heinous actions against Jews and Israel unfortunately is all too common lately. As Rabbi Johnathan Sacks said: ‘ Who would have thought that so soon after WWII and the Holocaust, I would again witness an upsurge of Anti-Semitism all over the world’. Therefore if your thinking and world view in any way is clouded and poisoned by this anti Jewish thinking, I seriously urge you to carry on reading, and consider what this Blog is about.
The Jews started it all – and by ‘it’ I mean so many of the things we care about, the underlying values that make all of us, Jew and gentile, believer and atheist, tick. Without the Jews, we would see the world through different eyes, hear with different ears, even feel with different feelings…the screen through which we receive the world, be different: we would think with a different mind, interpret all our experience differently, draw different conclusions from the things that befall us…. Our history is replete with examples of those who have refused to see what the Jews are really about, who – through intellectual blindness, racial chauvinism, xenophobia, or just plain evil – have been unable to give….the progenitors of the Western world, their due. [41.3]
I propose that those that hate Jews are those that don’t acknowledge and accept יהוה [G-d] because if they really know G-d and His word, they will have to accept and acknowledge Jews and Israel.
FOOTNOTES
*1 See books 6 SCHAEFFER and 9 ROOKMAKER in the Bibliography.
*2 The Torah is the first five books of the Scriptures; also referred to as the Pentateuch or the Books of Moses.
*5 Various Hebrew words are used for which the usual English translation is the incorrect word ‘law’. For example: mitzvah / mitzvoth, chukim, mishpatim and edot are various kinds of commands, directives and rulings spread throughout the Torah. The word ‘law’ in this context, does not exist in Biblical Hebrew.
*6 See the fascinating explanation of this, creation of light before the creation of the sun, by physicist Rabbi Professor dr. Gerald Schroeder [4.13, 49, 64-68].
*7 The so called Noahide Laws. More about this later – see Chapter 3.
….for the Earth will be filled with knowledge of G-d as water covering thesea bed. Isiah 11:9
Which of the above images reflect how you feel?
I am writing this blog for everyone. Be it you are a believer, agnostic, atheist, secular, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Taoist or Buddhist et al. Yes I am especially writing it for you
I on purpose have written short chapters because we all are bombarded by information and stuff to read; in the paper, on your phone, on your PC, Facebook, etc. (There are one or two longer chapters’ contents that though merits more)
This is a work in progress and therefore a Bibliography is listed according to the number referred to in the text, and not arranged alphabetically. Updates and additions can be continuously made to the text as well as the bibliography.
Numbers that appear in the text are as follows: (*4) refer to the footnotes at the end of a chapter, in this instance the forth footnote. Numbers in square brackets e.g. [5.13,49-51] refer to a book listed in the bibliography, in this instance book numbered 5, pages 13, and 49-51.
Rav Kook, the first chief rabbi of Israel in the twentieth century, wrote: ’’Is religion man’s quest for God? Indeed, it seems as though religion is an attempt to solve the deepest spiritual problems of life…… in the past, man’s nature and desires were coarser than they are now, and in the future they will be more refined than they are at present…..in the present state, man’s desires still have many unrefined elements, and because of the merit of the good parts, the dregs also rise and become free- and in their freedom, they contaminate the world and destroy it. This creates a heated war…..The great souls must be peacekeepers between the fighter of this war by showing each side the proper boundary that is truly appropriate for it…..Up until the redemption, we can only teach the world a Divine wisdom of obligations and moral restrictions. But people do not like obligations, and when they accept them anyway, a grudge lingers in their hearts concerning whoever is responsible for them. For ethics truly come to restrict and imprison our animalistic passions.” [42.138, 193,195]
And to quote the brilliant speaker Denis Prager: If G-d is not the source of morality, morality is relative.The only way you can have an absolute right and wrong is when there is a transcendent source for it.If rights are inalienable, they can only come from G-d who is inalienable…How is it important to ‘fear’ G-d? Because then you do not fear man” [The Hebrew word for ‘fear G-d’ (yareh) actually means ‘to be in awe of’]
I would like to quote here John W. Whitehead, founder and president of the The Rutherford Institute: “…we neglected to maintain our freedoms or provide our young people with the tools necessary to survive, let alone succeed, in the impersonal jungle that is modern America. We brought them into homes fractured by divorce, distracted by mindless entertainment, and obsessed with the pursuit of materialism. We institutionalized them in daycares and afterschool programs, substituting time with teachers and childcare workers for parental evolvement. We turned them into test-takers instead of thinkers and automatons instead of activists….instilling in them the values of a celebrity-obsessed, technology-driven culture devoid of any true spirituality. And we taught them to believe that the pursuit of their own personal happiness trumped all other virtues, including any empathy whatsoever for their fellow human beings.” (*1)
In this treatise, in the following chapters I first of all discuss the situation of the world today and why we need a specific moral and ethical code to live by that is not formulated by man. Therefore, I propose that these principles and rules are from the Creator of the world and us. This information is written up in the Bible [Tenach] and especially in the Torah [first five books of the Bible]. Before I then discuss these, using as example those recorded in Deuteronomy (Deu), the fifth book of the Torah and Bible, and because my premise is that all peoples are supposed to live by these, I first have to touch on the Forgotten History of sad Misunderstandings and Hate between Judaism and Christianity to set the record strait and hopefully eliminate misunderstandings.
I truly hope that your eyes and mind will be opened and that the following chapters will inspire you, be a blessing; and give you Hope for your Life, and Peace and Contentment.
FOOTNOTES
*1 vide Whitehead’s book “Battlefield America: The War on the American People” (Select Books, 2015).
Chapter 10 Cut away the barrier of your heart (Parsha 46)
Chapter 11 You shall Rejoice (Parsha 47)
Chapter 12 Justice (Parsha 48)
Chapter 13 The Righteous Society (Parsha 49)
Chapter 14 Serve G-d יהוה with gladness and a good heart (Parsha 50)
Chapter 15 You will return unto יהוה your G-d, and listen to His voice (Parsha 51&52)
Chapter 16 Special Appointments
Chapter 17 A daily Walk
Chapter 18 Conclusion
Bibliography
_____________________________________
Praiseworthy is the man who walked not in the counsel of the wicked, and stood not in the path of the sinful, and sat not in the session of scorners. [Ps 1:1]
Dedicated to Dr Gerrit Nel
A true friend of the People of Israel, a Mentor of many, and a spiritual Shepard. [Written in the Golden Book of Israel. ]
