18 October 2017

Whatever This Is, It Isn't Torah

28 Tishrei 5778

We are admonished not to base our actions and decisions upon our own thinking...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely upon your understanding. Know Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own sight; fear the Lord and turn away from evil."  (Mishlei 3:5-7)
Rivkah Adler has explained many times in interviews that her goal with the Ephraimite book is to bring Jews into relationship with Christians. She expresses a belief that both Jews and Christians are part of one family and the Torah belongs to all. She admits her goal is to "build bridges" between the two faith groups.

And what sources does she bring to back her up? - "I'd like to think" and "to my mind." 



She often refers to her lack of familiarity with the Tanakh, so maybe she never read the caution in Mishlei that I've quoted up above.

Seemingly as deluded as her Christian friends, Rivkah Adler seems to honestly believe that what she is doing and what she is attempting to do is "from God." But, how can that possibly be when it goes completely against Torah and halachah

Out of the 613 mitzvot, not one commands us to be a "light to the nations" or to "teach Torah to the nations" or even share Torah with the nations. But, out of the 613 mitzvot, there are no less than 18 which directly address idolatry by name - one of the three sins for which a Jew must die rather than commit.

From The Concise Book of Mitzvoth complied by the Chafetz Chaim:
  • To entertain no thought that there is any other god except the blessed God.
  • To make no idol to worship.
  • Not to make any idol to be worshiped [by himself or by anyone else], even for a heathen.
  • Not to bow down and prostrate oneself to an idol.
  • Not to worship an idol in any way that it is usually venerated.
  • Not to swear in the name of an idol.
  • Not to lead a town in Israel astray to worship in idolatry.
  • To eat or drink nothing from an offering to an idol.
  • Not to turn one's attention to idolatry.
  • To have no benefit from any decoration of an idol or from its ornaments.
  • To have no benefit from an idol, from its offering or its attendants, or anything done on its behalf. [Considering that this is the basis upon which Hayovel offers its services to Israeli farmers, that means no Jew may have benefit from the grapes they pick or the wine that comes from them.]
  • Not to intermarry with a non-Jewish person. [Interesting juxtaposition by the Chafetz Chaim.]
  • To have no mercy on idol-worshipers.
  • Not to pay any heed to a person prophesying in the name of an idol.
  • To entice no one in Jewry to worship an idol. [Enticing Jews to form loving relationships with idolaters is so close as to be right on the edge!]
  • For the enticed person not to relinquish his hatred for the enticer*.
  • Not to rescue the enticer if one sees him in danger of death.
  • Not to prophesy in the name of an idol.
  • Not to settle idol-worshipers in our holy land. [Har Brachah???]
Call this whatever you want, but don't call it "Orthodox Judaism." Orthodox do not pick and choose what mitzvot they will adhere to and do not throw parts of the Torah out because we are suddenly announced to be in a "new era."

This is a very, very serious subject, but it is being given very short shrift by Jews ignorant of the real Torah.

RELATED: 'LIBERAL ORTHODOX ARE FAKE JEWS, A THREAT TO ALL OF ISRAEL'
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* מסיתEnticement to idolatry in Judaism is a capital offence under the Law of Moses. The Talmud distinguishes two types of enticers to idolatry - a mesit (Hebrew: מסית‎‎) is a Jew who seduces an individual to idolatry, while a maddiah is someone who publicly entices many into idolatry. An enticer to idolatry may be both.

The Law of Moses likewise takes a strong and non-compassionate approach to the enticer due to the offensive service of idolatry to which the enticer seeks to draw worshipers. The crime of the enticer to idolatry was so serious and dangerous that in some cases some legal (halakhic) requirements of due process could be relaxed in order to entrap the enticer.

In the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides the prohibition "Not to love an enticer" is listed as a negative commandment. (Source)

11 comments:

  1. The praise of the eirev rav and idolaters should give a clue.

    -me

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  2. thank you. I was confused about this book.

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  3. To quote one talmid hachman:
    "Our Torah is not "Tanach" or even the Gemora. Our Torah is the collective body of teachings of the Gedolei Yisroel throughout the generations, from the prophets to contemporary Poskim[--]those that think otherwise are simply following/practicing a different religion.

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    1. Just a minute, the body of teachings comes FROM TNaCH, Zohar, Kabbalah, etc. One cannot be divorced from the other. Their rulings are based on the body of knowledge we call the Torah (which includes all the commentaries and written works).

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    2. Key word is "collective".

      The Chumash was written by Moshe--the greatest of all naviim.

      Sefer Yehoshoua from Yeshohua, Shoftim from Shmuel, etc. -- The rest of Nakh from the other naviim, etc.

      Mishna is the tanaaim

      Gemara is the Amoraim..

      Mishna Torah by Rambam Ztl

      Shulkhan Arukh by R' Karo, Ztl

      Mishna Berua by Hafetz Hayim, etc.

      Igros Moshe by R' Moshe Feinstein, Ztl

      If a one of the gedolei yisrael gives a psak halacha on some contemporary issue it is also, in essence, becomes Torah She Ba'al peh


      I see no contradiction to what was written above.

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    3. See "mesorah is our bible" http://www.baismedrash.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/mesorahisourbible.mp3

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  4. so cringy to watch.. it was all a mixture of whashdown ''Torah'' that seem very Messianic xtian preachy..as a noahide i wouldnt subscribe to this book..the idea of building bridges already exists in a healthy way all around the world Chabad and Breslover coming to Noahides via hangouts,communities..Rivkah seems a little confuse to say the least not wary for double edged sword balagan :S

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  5. You can add to this, about the liberal leftists: "When the leftists protest, he says he's a leftist; when the rightist protest, he says he's a rightist," Elkin explained. "But anyone going over the Zionist Union's party list knows that the Zionist Union is a radical leftist party, the likes of which has never been known before.” Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Elkin (Likud) Zeev Elkin

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  6. Right. HOWEVER please note that in EVERY case where God blesses Abraham, Isaac and Jacob HE states that through us the world will be blessed. that they will be grated in "v'nivrechu" like wild vines on an olive tree (where do the Christians think Paul of Tarsus got this concept from). Genesis Chapter 12 בְּרֵאשִׁית

    א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ. 1 Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee.
    ב וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ, לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ, וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ; וֶהְיֵה, בְּרָכָה. 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.
    ג וַאֲבָרְכָה, מְבָרְכֶיךָ, וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ, אָאֹר; וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה. 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; AND IN THEE ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.'
    ד וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָם, כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו יְהוָה, וַיֵּלֶךְ אִתּוֹ, לוֹט; וְאַבְרָם, בֶּן-חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה, בְּצֵאתוֹ, מֵחָרָן. 4 So Abram went, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
    Bereshit/Genesis 12:1-4

    also Devarim/Deuteronomy Deuteronomy Chapter 4 דְּבָרִים

    א וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל, שְׁמַע אֶל-הַחֻקִּים וְאֶל-הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְלַמֵּד אֶתְכֶם, לַעֲשׂוֹת--לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּ, וּבָאתֶם וִירִשְׁתֶּם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם, נֹתֵן לָכֶם. 1 And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, giveth you.
    ב לֹא תֹסִפוּ, עַל-הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם, וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ, מִמֶּנּוּ--לִשְׁמֹר, אֶת-מִצְו‍ֹת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי, מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
    ג עֵינֵיכֶם, הָרֹאוֹת, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה יְהוָה, בְּבַעַל פְּעוֹר: כִּי כָל-הָאִישׁ, אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ אַחֲרֵי בַעַל-פְּעוֹר--הִשְׁמִידוֹ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, מִקִּרְבֶּךָ. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did in Baal-peor; for all the men that followed the Baal of Peor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from the midst of thee.
    ד וְאַתֶּם, הַדְּבֵקִים, בַּיהוָה, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם--חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם, הַיּוֹם. 4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
    ה רְאֵה לִמַּדְתִּי אֶתְכֶם, חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים, כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי, יְהוָה אֱלֹהָי: לַעֲשׂוֹת כֵּן--בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם בָּאִים שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it.
    ו וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם, וַעֲשִׂיתֶם--כִּי הִוא חָכְמַתְכֶם וּבִינַתְכֶם, לְעֵינֵי הָעַמִּים: אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן, אֵת כָּל-הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה, וְאָמְרוּ רַק עַם-חָכָם וְנָבוֹן, הַגּוֹי הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה. 6 Observe therefore and do them; FOR THIS IS YOUR WISDOM AND YOUR UNDERSTANDING IN THE SIGHT OF THE PEOPLES, THAT, WHEN THEY HEAR ALL THESE STATUTES, SHALL SAY:
    'SURELY THIS GREAT NATION IS A WISE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE.'
    ז כִּי מִי-גוֹי גָּדוֹל, אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרֹבִים אֵלָיו, כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, בְּכָל-קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו. 7 For what great nation is there, that hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is whensoever we call upon Him?
    ח וּמִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל, אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים צַדִּיקִם, כְּכֹל הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם. 8 And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?"

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  7. Regarding Liberal-Orthodox:

    "Issues central to Orthodox faith are also in a further state of ferment than one might assume. While 64 percent of respondents believe the Torah was given at Sinai — a tenet of Orthodox faith — 36 percent of respondents only “tend” to believe this or have doubts. While 51 percent of respondents believe God is involved in their lives, 49 percent only tend to believe this or have serious doubts. The theological “ferment,” as referred to by Bayme, is heavily weighted in the liberal Orthodox camps."

    http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/53-of-modern-orthodox-jews-believe-women-should-have-expanded-roles-in-clergy/

    Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the s'vara based on Rambam's conclusion of the 13 principles:

    "
    And when the person will believe all these fundamentals and his faith will be clear in them he enters into the nation of Israel and it is a mitzva to love him and to have mercy on him and to act to him according to all the ways in which God commanded us regarding loving your neighbor. And even if he did all of the sins in the Torah due to desire of the emotions, and from his physical aspect’s conquering him, he will be punished for his sins, but he still has a share in the world to come and is among the sinners of Israel. However if he rejects one of these fundamentals he leaves the nation and is a denier of the fundamentals and is called a heretic, a denier, etc., and it is a mitzva to hate him and to destroy him (financially - not physically to kill him. And not to steal either). And regarding him it is said (Psalms 139) “Behold will not the enemy of God be my enemy?”"

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