The Battle for Israel: Why Doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah

The IDF Spokesperson’s office is reporting that a delegation of some 60 IDF commanders arrived in Poland on Monday, April 16, as part of the Witnesses in Uniform program. Guided by educators from the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial Museum, the officers started a four day study of pre-war Poland, the Holocaust, and contemporary Jewish Polish life. “It is very, very difficult to talk about the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. It’s impossible to comprehend such a number. So the way to make it as comprehensible as possible is through the personal narrative,” said Cpt. Liat Carmi, who oversees the program. This is the 169th Witnesses in Uniform group sent to Poland by the IDF, which plans to send a total of 16 groups just this year. The trip does not focus only the horrors of the Holocaust. “We are talking about a thousand years of Jewish history in Poland,” said Cpt. Carmi. The participants stayed in Warsaw and Krakow, and visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp and other memorial sites. At some of the sites, the soldiers held military memorial services. The participants concluded each day of the journey with a reflective discussion. Commanders explored issues such as how to incorporate the ethical lessons gleaned from the journey into their leadership as commanders, how to convey the history of the Holocaust to the soldiers under their command, and how the Holocaust influences their identities as IDF soldiers.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/154727#.T4cmOdlAa-U Mel Gibson Accused of Sabotaging Maccabee Film, 'Hating Jews' Hollywood screenwriter accuses Mel Gibson of sabotaging a film based on story of Maccabees; writes letter, "You hate Jews." Rachel Hirshfeld The Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has accused Mel Gibson of sabotaging the production of a film based on the story of the Jewish Maccabees, after Warner Bros. decided to cancel the project. Eszterhas wrote an extensive letter accusing Gibson, who was expected to direct the film, of prolonged and unabashed anti-Semitism. "I've come to the conclusion that the reason you won't make The Maccabees is the ugliest possible one. You hate Jews," he wrote. Eszterhas alleged that Gibson had told him the Holocaust was "mostly a lot of horseshit" and that his intention in making The Maccabees was "to convert the Jews to Christianity." "You said the Torah made reference to the sacrifice of Christian babies and infants,” Esterhas asserted. “When I told you that you were confusing the Torah with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, ... you insisted 'it's in the Torah - it's in there!' (It isn't)."

Azeri Language

Foreign Policy magazine reported in an exclusive piece this week that Israel has purchased an Azeri airfield on Iran's northern border, prompting the United States to watch very closely. Journalist Mark Perry wrote the Obama administration is monitoring Israel's relations with Azerbaijan, particularly its military ties. Israel has tightened up its relations with Baku over the past several years, helping Azerbaijan modernize its military with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and becoming its second-largest customer for oil. In particular, the $1.6 billion Israeli deal to jointly manufacture 60 drones of various types with Azerbaijan infuriated Turkey, according to a retired U.S. diplomat quoted in the report. The IDF canceled a $150 million contract to develop and manufacture drones with the Turkish military after Ankara demanded an apology following the Mavi Marmara flotilla attempt to breach Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza. “The Israelis have bought an airfield,” an official told the journalist, “and the airfield is called Azerbaijan.” The Americans believe Israel may use the site as a springboard for an attack on Iran's nuclear plants, or as a landing and refueling spot following one. The site could also be used for aircraft needed for search, rescue and recovery in the wake of an attack.

Lars Vilks, Jesus-pedophile

It is Alciati’s Emblematum Liber (1531) in which the handsome youth Ganymede, who in classical mythology was carried off by Zeus in homosexual mood, has turned into a symbol of the pure soul which finds joy in God, and a later commentator even applied Christ’s command to ‘suffer little children to come to me’ to the story. Consider the case of tailor Jan Tyranowski, aged forty years at the time that Wojtyła met him in the second year of the war. A curious gloss on his bachelordom notes that he had rebuffed the overtures made by various women in his youth. There was an occasional hint of gay ostentation. A picture of him taken around the time he first met Wojtyła reveals him dressed in a white nightgown, sitting bolt-upright in bed between starched lace sheets, like the risen Christ, gazing wide-eyed into the camera.

Angel Gabriel and Virgin Mary

Augustine attacks a problem “whether angels, inusmuch as they are spirits, could have bodily intercourse with women? He reasons on on the ethereal nature of angels, and reaches the conclusion, fortified by many ancient instances, that they can and do. There are, he points out, “many proven instances, that Sylvans and Fauns, who are commonly called 'Incubus' had often made wicked assaults upon women, and satisfied their lusts upon them; and that certain devils, called Duses by the Gauls, are constantly attempting and effecting this impurity” (XV, 23). Thus the great Doctor vindicates the potentiality of the Holy Ghost, in the guise of the angel Gabriel, to maintain carnal copulation with the proliferous yet Ever Virgin .

Hegemonikon or the Ruler of von Lauchen's Heliocentrism

In a short passage in von Lauchen's Narratio (p. 465,12; 462,22,35) he refers to the sun not only as God’s steward of nature and king of all distinguished with divine Majesty, but also explains that the sun, like the heart in a body, guides the stars: like a ruler who does not need to go to various towns in order to execute his official duty, so the heart does not have to go to head, to feet, or to other part of the body in order to sustain life. This was a perennial mantra of all heliocentric astrologers throughout the ages. Aztec priests were accused by the Spaniards of performing 50,000 heart sacrifices a year to renew the vital strength of the sun believed to be the heart of the heaven. The Swastika means so many things: life force, rebirth, divine energy, the soul or spirit, "the inner fire" The Hindus have used Swastikas in the Chakras since ancient times. Buddhists are known for using the Swastika and they have called it the 'Buddha's heart'. In the New Testament the heart is called nous, a term denoting also the sun.

A Graphic Rendition of Copernicus's Book

In 1897 one of the best Polish artists and poet Stanislaw Wyspianski published in the magazine Zycie (Life) which he edited, a drawing by a Czech artist Frantisek Bilek unmasking the Renaissance, pagan religion promoted by Copernicus's Latin book De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. This drawing reminds us the most revealing fact that Copernicus used the macho-logic of pederastic male supremacy so characteristic of the church to this day, to prove his heliocentrism in terms of pagan religion: “we conceive immobility to be nobler and more divine that mutability and instability, which latter is therefore more appropriate to the earth than to the universe. I add to this that it would seem quite absurd to attribute motion to that which contains and locates, rather than to that which is contained and located – namely, the earth.” For scholastic philosophers woman was animal occasionatus...Mulieres non esse homines. Giordano Bruno stressed that “Nature's imperfect is doubtful to no man. The reason is clear; she is only a woman.” and as an old Italian saying affirms La donna e mobile est. Michelangelo's Zeus plagiarized on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel betrays the same gay misogyny, which we also find in his poem: The love of which I speak has high aspirations Woman is too different; and it all becomes The wise and manly heart to burn for her. One love pulls you heavenwards, the other earthwards; One is located in the soul, the other in the senses, And draws its bow towards things which are low and vile.

Aisha Qaddafi seeks asylum in Israel

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/151197#.Tvy9QnoVi-U Report: Qaddafi's Daughter Seeking Asylum in Israel The daughter of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, Aisha, is seeking political asylum in Israel, a report says. Elad Benari The daughter of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, Aisha, is seeking political asylum in Israel, according to a report on the Intelligence Online website. The report, which was quoted by Yeshiva World News on Wednesday, said that Aisha Qaddafi has hired the services of Nick Kaufman, a former prosecutor assigned to the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office to advance her cause. This past August, when Libyan rebels took over the Qaddafi family compound in the capital Tripoli, Aisha fled Libya together with her mother and a number of brothers. They found refuge in Algeria, where Aisha has since given birth to a son. Last month, she called on Libyans to topple the new government and urged them not to forget her father. According to the report, she now fears that local government officials will eventually give into demands from the new Libyan regime and she will face extradition. Friends of Aisha in Europe, according to the report, said she believes the only country where she will feel safe is Israel, and she is advancing efforts towards obtaining political asylum with the realization that her chances of receiving asylum are not particularly good.

The Committee of 300 or British CHEKA

This committee of 300 is modeled after the British East India Company's Council of 300, founded by the British aristocracy in 1727. Most of its immense wealth arose out of the opium trade with China. This group is responsible for the phony drug wars here in the U.S. These phony drug wars were to get us to give away our constitutional rights. Asset forfeiture is a prime example, where huge assets can be seized without trail and no proof of guilt needed. (See the video The Truth About the Fraud and Bank of America foreclosure) Also the Committee of 300 long ago decreed that there shall be a smaller-much smaller-and better world, that is, their idea of what constitutes a better world. The myriads of useless eaters consuming scarce natural resources were to be culled. Industrial progress supports population growth. Therefore the command to multiply and subdue the earth found in Genesis had to be subverted. This called for an attack upon Christianity; the slow but sure disintegration of industrial nation states; the destruction of hundreds of millions of people, referred to by the Committee of 300 as "surplus population, " and the removal of any leader who dared to stand in the way of the Committee's global planning to reach the foregoing objectives. Not that the U.S. government didn't know, but as it was part of the conspiracy, it helped to keep the lid on information rather than let the truth be known. Queen, Elizabeth II, is the head of the Committee of 300. The Committee of 300 looks to social convulsions on a global scale, followed by depressions, as a softening-up technique for bigger things to come, as its principal method of creating masses of people all over the world who will become its "welfare" recipients of the future. The committee appears to base much of its important decisions affecting mankind on the philosophy of Polish aristocrat, Felix Dzerzinski, who regarded mankind as being slightly above the level of cattle. As a close friend of British intelligence agent Sydney Reilly (Reilly was actually Dzerzinski's controller during the Bolshevik Revolution's formative years), he often confided in Reilly during his drinking bouts. Dzerzinski was, of course, the beast who ran the Red Terror apparatus. He once told Reilly, while the two were on a drinking binge, that "Man is of no importance. Look at what happens when you starve him. He begins to eat his dead companions to stay alive. Man is only interested in his own survival. That is all that counts. All the Spinoza stuff is a lot of rubbish." (Dr. John Coleman)

Karl Marx monument viewed from back looks like a phallus

Aldous Huxley called Darwin's bloody-fanged bulldog in his book Ends and Means, 1946, p. 70 explains enthusiastic reception of evolutionism as follows: “I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning...The liberation we desired was.;..from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom.” Maurice Samuel suggested that Jew-hatred sublimates the yearning of Christians for the freedoms of the pagan world. They resent Christian morality as the straight jacket that inhibits the release of their pagan instincts that emerge occasionally in their consciousness. Scientist Zaborovsky wrote in one of his works devoted to baboons: “Baboons stand out among other apes for their sexual lustfulness. The phallus of a male baboon is almost always erected, like the phalluses of the martyrs enjoying their 72 virgins.If a male boon is locked alone in a cage, he will die from his unsatisfied desire to copulate; The smell of a female can drive a male baboon to insanity.” A baboon with an erected penis was a divinity in ancient Egypt.” The god Min depicted with an erect phallus was his human counterpart.

UNSC rejects Palestine's bid for membership

The UN Security Council Committee for Admission of New Members was unable to endorse Palestine's bid to join the ranks of this international organization. The draft report circulated at the UN headquarters in New York said that the votes of the committee's 15 Member States were divided. On October 31, Palestine was granted full UNESCO membership. During the vote, it received the support of 107 countries, including Russia. Voting "against" were 14 states, in particular, the U.S. and Israel. (Reuters)

Qaddafi's Corpse

After his death, the corpse of the former tormenter was put on display in Misrata. People posed for pictures with Gadhafi's dead body. Stripped down to the waste, it was passed from house to house like a trophy until it finally arrived in the front room of a private residence in the so-called African Market on Friday An air-conditioning unit hangs on the wall. The body lies on a thin mattress on the floor. The head is tilted a bit to the left, and the arms lie close to the body, which is only covered by a pair of brown pants. At the entrance, people are fighting to get in. In a mix of voyeurism and the need for certainty, everybody wants to get one last look of the body and take a picture of it. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,793612,00.html

Death to Assad

http://de.rian.ru/opinion/20111021/261075526.html 17:51 21/10/2011 Inspired by Gaddafi’s death, Syrian oppositionists set mass riots in many places all over the country on Friday, shouting out: “Gaddafi is dead, now it’s Bashar al-Assad’s turn!” (Bashar al-Assad is Syria’s current president.) Syrian human rights defenders say that on Friday, 16 demonstrators were shot by the police, and, in total, over 3,000 civilians were killed in Syria since riots began in March. The government, in its turn, calls the oppositionists “bandit groups” and claim that these “bandits” are killing Syrian servicemen. (IF)

Farrakhan with Rev. Pfleger

When Farrakhan was asked at a press conference whether he truly thought Hitler was “great” he responded, “I don’t think you would be talking about A. Hitler forty years after the fact if he was some minuscule crackpot that jumped up on the European continent. He was…a great man, but also wicked…wickedly great.” Referring to Hitler’s as “great” twice in the space of a few weeks sealed Farrakhan’s fate as the New Demon, the Great Hater, the Next Fuehrer. Further condemning him was a June 1984 statement that Israel will “never have…peace, because there can be no peace structured on injustice, lying, and deceit and using the name of God to shield your dirty religion under his holy and righteous name.” Using boilerplate anti-Jewish imagery – “bloodsuckers,” “Jews control the media,” Israel is “an outlaw” nation, a people “cloaking themselves in the robes of god, but who are in fact members of the synagogue of Satan” – all of which Farrakhan presented as irrefutable “truths,” the NOI leader demonized an entire people, while simultaneously denying he was anti-Semitic. As a child, he received training as a violinist. At the age of six, he was given his first violin and by the age of 13, he had played with the Jesuit Boston College Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony. A year later, Walcott went on to win national competitions, as well as the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour. He was one of the first blacks to appear on the popular show. In Boston, Farrakhan attended the prestigious Boston Latin School. The school symbol is Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome! and English High School, graduating from the latter1. He attended college for two years at Winston-Salem State University teachers college, but left to continue a career as an entertainer. In the 1950s, Farrakhan became an up-and-coming calypso singer. He recorded several calypso albums under the name "The Charmer." [1] In 1955, while headlining a show in Chicago entitled "Calypso Follies," he first came in contact with the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Check out this ARTICLE Called: “Louis Farrakhan claims he is both a Muslim and a Christian (Catholic)” Quote from article, “A packed house welcomed Minister Louis Farrakhan to St. Sabina Catholic Church on Friday night with a standing ovation and cheers for his health.

Gilad at last home

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/148884#.Tp27V3JiK-U President Shimon Peres met German mediator Gerhard Conrad Tuesday and thanked him for his role in enabling the Shalit deal. Conrad was accompanied by senior members of German intelligence and representatives of the German government. "The entire nation of Israel is holding its breath in excitement because Gilad Shalit is the son of all of us. I wish to thank you as the president of the state of Israel in the name of the nation in Israel, for your personal contribution to the long and protracted negotiations that ended with the release of Gilad Shalit. "You carried out the negotiations in circumstances that were not simple and in a complex reality with professional, smart and devoted work. We all know the depth of your commitment to the release of Shalit."' Peres also thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for supporting the negotiations and said that she "proves through her actions the depth of the friendship and strategic relations between the two countries." Conrad said the compliments "embarrassed" him. "Both sides had to make decisions that were not simple and I am glad both sides made decisions. After all it was a very difficult challenge, sometimes demanding and frustrating, but I am filled with excitement and satisfaction when I see Gilad Shalit returning home, together with you."

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to me wishing me a happy New Year

Yes, I agree with FM of Israel that it Was Almighty God who gave the Prmised Land to his People and that the ultimate decisions always belong to Him and not to the Quartet or Quintet, or the UN no matter how powerful these entities might be. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-10/17/c_131196403.htm BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday called for other countries to respect its agreement with Vietnam on maritime issues. "The fact that China and Vietnam have agreed to settle maritime disputes through negotiations has nothing to do with a third party. We expect the third party to respect the efforts by the countries concerned to resolve the disputes through negotiations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a daily press briefing. Liu's comments came after it was reported that the Philippines opposed the latest China-Vietnam joint statement and called for a multilateral approach, rather than a bilateral agreement, to resolve disputes concerning the South China Sea. "China-Philippines maritime disputes can only be resolved through direct negotiations between China and the Philippines, a stance the Philippines is quite clear about," Liu said.

Jesus with the Pagan Symbol of Trinity

We believe in one God father Almighty maker of all things, seen and unseen: And in one Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, begotten as only-begotten of the Father, that is of the substance (ousia) of the father, God from god, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, consubstantial (homoousios0 with the Father, through whom all things came into existence, both things in heaven and things on earth: who for us men and for our salvation came down and was incarnate and became man, suffered and rose again on the third day, ascended into heavens, is coming to judge the living and the dead: And in the Holy Spirit. But those who say 'there was time when he did not exist' (Arius and his followers), and 'Before being begotetn he did not exist' , and that he came into being from non-existence, or who allege that the Son of god is of another hypostasis or ousia, or is alterable or changeable, these the Catholic and Apostolic Church condemn.

The Kurds in Syria demand an independen state of their own

Who will solve this Problem? There are also milions of Kurds in Iraq, Iran. And yet the powers disregard their "human rights" Im sure, that God won't forget them. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-10/19/c_131200697.htm ANKARA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-four members of the Turkish security forces were killed and 18 others injured in Turkey's southeastern province of Hakkari early on Wednesday in simultaneous attacks carried out by the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), the private Dogan news agency reported. PKK rebels attacked several military and police buildings and killed 24 soldiers and police officers in several locations in the predominately Kurdish province near the Iraqi border, a day after they killed five police officers and three civilians in Bitlis province in southeastern Turkey, the report said. A Kurdish news agency said the Turkish forces has crossed into Iraq in pursuit of the PKK members, who has recently intensified attacks on Turkish troops, police and civilians. Turkish officials vowed to reciprocate with absolute determination. Listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms in 1984 to create an ethnic homeland in southeastern Turkey. More than 40,000 people have been killed in conflicts involving the PKK during the past over two decades.

The Aryan, heliocentric Ruler of Canaan

The cross and the fire, the latter, the emblem of the sun were both symbols of the Hindu god of fire Agni. The Hindu term jamad agni denotes a sage who knows the identity of god and fire, like the authors of the new Roman Cathechism. Fire is heat – the central point, the perpendicular ray represents the male element or spirit, and the horizontal one the female element – or matter. Spirit (also called logos spermatikos) vivifies and fructifies the matter, and everything proceeds from the central point, the focus of Life, and Light, and Heat, represented by the terrestrial fire. Interestingly, Taunay’s Sermon of Saint John the Baptist, (s.d. 1818 Nice, Préfecture, No. 175) shows John the Baptist holding a cross in his right hand. Jesus in his baptism is hailed from Heaven as the beloved son and the only begotten of the Father, God; the Holy Spirit is represented by a dove. This dove, in later development, became the third member of the Holy Trinity i.e. third person one with the Father. Jesus in his baptism became what Cardinal K. Wojtyla called in his Lent Sermons for Pope Paul VI Sign of Contradiction according to Lk 2:34 “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising against many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” Because this dove is derived from the myth of the sun god Apollo (see attached picture). Similarly, Horus in his baptism made his transformation into the beloved son and only begotten of the father; the Holy Spirit, represented by a bird. During nightly meeting with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews Jesus lectures on how a “man can be born again” in order that he could “see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). According to v. 5 this rebirth (see below) comes from “water and spirit” symbolized by two bars of the cross as described above. Accordingly, in another Sign of Contradiction Jesus taught: “If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will let everyone who wins the victory eat from the life giving tree which is in the midst of the paradise of God”(Rev. 2:7), which nixed the warning of the God of the Hebrew Bible: “…but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said: Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest you die’ (Gen. 3:3). God who inspired the Hebrew Bible knew that many minds, hungering after proofs of immortality, are fast falling into fanaticism and fanatics are governed rather by imagination than judgment. Contemporary Israelis blown apart in buses by a Palestinian suicide/homicide bombers are victims of this insane imagination.

Madison Grant's Nordic Theory

Grant is most famously the author of the popular book The Passing of the Great Race in 1916, an elaborate work of racial hygiene detailing the "racial history" of Europe. Coming out of Grant's concerns with the changing "stock" of American immigration of the early 20th century (characterized by increased numbers of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, as opposed to Western and Northern Europe), Passing of the Great Race was a "racial" interpretation of contemporary anthropology and history, stating race as the basic motor of civilization. Similar ideas were proposed by Gustav Kossinna in Germany. Grant promoted the idea of the "Nordic race"—a loosely defined biological-cultural grouping rooted in Scandinavia—as the key social group responsible for human development; thus the subtitle of the book was The racial basis of European history. As an avid eugenicist, Grant further advocated the separation, quarantine, and eventual collapse of "undesirable" traits and "worthless race types" from the human gene pool and the promotion, spread, and eventual restoration of desirable traits and "worthwhile race types" conducive to Nordic society: A rigid system of selection through the elimination of those who are weak or unfit—in other words social failures—would solve the whole question in one hundred years, as well as enable us to get rid of the undesirables who crowd our jails, hospitals, and insane asylums. The individual himself can be nourished, educated and protected by the community during his lifetime, but the state through sterilization must see to it that his line stops with him, or else future generations will be cursed with an ever increasing load of misguided sentimentalism. This is a practical, merciful, and inevitable solution of the whole problem, and can be applied to an ever widening circle of social discards, beginning always with the criminal, the diseased, and the insane, and extending gradually to types which may be called weaklings rather than defectives, and perhaps ultimately to worthless race types. ” In the book, Grant recommends segregating "unfavorable" races in ghettos by installing civil organizations through the public health system to establish quasi-dictatorships in their particular fields. He states the expansion of non-Nordic race types in the Nordic system of freedom would actually mean a slavery to desires, passions, and base behaviors.

Moscow - Beijing Express

URUMQI, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should consider setting up a free trade agreement (FTA) which, once in place, would cover about three fifths of the Eurasia's landmass. Zhong told a forum at the on-going China-Eurasia Expo in the northwestern city of Urumqi that such a FTA will further facilitate trade and create a sound environment for pragmatic regional economic cooperation. "Eying the trend of economic globalization, Beijing considers that SCO members should discuss the possibility of setting up a FTA within the organization at a proper time," the vice minister said. The SCO, founded in Shanghai in June 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The six member states cover an area of over 30 million square kilometers, or about three fifths of Eurasia, with a population of 1.455 billion, about a quarter of the world's total. Trade among SCO members grew seven times over the past decade to reach 8.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, Zhong said, adding that significant progress had also made in the cooperation on energy, transportation, and telecommunications. In November 2009, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev presented a draft proposal on a new European security agreement as an alternative to NATO. The document called the United States, the European Union and Russia the "three branches of European civilization," and assigned priority to the UN's role in international affairs.

A New Huge Free Trade Zone in the Making

14:35 03/09/2011 Leaders of a post-Soviet alliance called on Saturday for signing a delayed free trade agreement and peacefully resolving conflicts in their final statement rounding up the summit. Leaders of the CIS alliance, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, and Uzbekistan, gathered in Dushanbe, the Tajik capital. Ukraine was also represented at the event though officially it is not a member. "Considering the sustainable growth in foreign trade, CIS member states are seeking to develop economic cooperation based on the CIS economic development strategy until 2020," the statement said. The key goal at the moment is to form a free trade zone, the document said. In May, the CIS Economic Council decided to work further on the draft agreement on free trade in the CIS. It was later discussed by the CIS premiers who failed to reach an agreement. The next meeting of CIS premiers will be held in October.

The Aryan Christ of the Jesuits

In January 1933, the Belgian mathematician and Catholic priest Georges Lemaitre traveled with Albert Einstein to California for a series of seminars. After the Belgian detailed his Big Bang theory, Einstein stood up applauded, and said, This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of creation to which I have ever listened. Lemaitres theory, the idea that there was a burst of fireworks which marked the beginning of time and space on a day without yesterday, was a radical departure from prevailing scientific understandings, though it has since come to be the most probable explanation for the origin of the universe. (In other words, a Jesuit was behind the embarrassing doctrine of the "Big Bang" theory. -TR )

The Cosmic dance of Big Bang

"I learned much from the Order of the Jesuits", said Hitler... "Until now, there has never been anything more grandiose, on the earth, than the hierarchical organization of the Catholic Church. I transferred much of this organization into my own party... I am going to let you in on a secret... I am founding an Order... In my "Burgs" of the Order, we will raise up a youth which will make the world tremble... Hitler then stopped, saying that he couldn't say any more.." Hermann Rauschning, former national-socialist chief of the government of Dantzig: "Hitler m'a dit", (Ed. Co-operation, Paris 1939, pp.266, 267, 273 ss).

the Marriage of Philology and Mercury

This single encyclopedic work, De nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii ("On the Marriage of Philology and Mercury"), sometimes called De septem disciplinis ("On the seven disciplines") or the Satyricon,[2] is an elaborate didactic allegory written in a mixture of prose and elaborately allusive verse, a prosimetrum in the manner of the Menippean satires of Varro. The style is wordy and involved, loaded with metaphor and bizarre expressions. The book was of great importance in defining the standard formula of academic learning from the Christianized Roman Empire of the fifth century until the Renaissance of the 12th century. The eighth book of M. Capella's De Nuptiis Philologiae et Mercurii describes a modified geocentric astronomical model, in which the Earth is at rest in the center of the universe and circled by the moon, the sun, three planets and the stars, while Mercury and Venus circle the Sun.[4] This view was singled out for praise by Copernicus in Book I of his De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. Dedicating the work to a powerful patron was also usual practice and Paul III, the pope to whom De revolutionibus was addressed, had previously been the recipient of the dedication in another astronomical work. In 1538, Girolamo Fracastoro had produced his own, rather less radical, reform of Ptolemy and seen fit to offer it to the same Pope The celestial marriage described by M. Capella inspired two best-known scientists of the Renaissance era: Girolamo Fracastoro (1478-1553) physician and poet, and N. Copernicus (1473-1543) also physician, poet and astrologer. In his long poem, Fracastoro argues that the infecting semina of syphilis may arise from poisonous emanations sparked by planetary conjunctions. He even invokes a linguistic parallel between transmission of syphilis by sexual contact (coitus) and the production of bad seeds by planetary overlap in the sky, for he describes the astronomical phenomenon with the same word, as “coitum et conventum syderum” (the coitus and conjunction of stars), particularly “nostra trium superiorum, Saturni, Iovis et Martis” (our three most distant bodies: Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars). In other words, Fracastoro was led in his speculations by the perennial astrological principle: “As Above, so Below”. And so was Copernicus. The expression “family of stars” suggests what Fracastoro described as “coitum et conventum syderum” and what follows logically polytheism! In one of the Thanksgiving Psalms from Qumran caves, God is addressed as “the Prince of the gods and the King of the venerable ones, and the Lord of every spirit, and the Master of every work.” This god whose rays the Essenes avoided to offend while defecating is the same sun god whom Copernicus describes as “sitting on the royal throne and reigning the surrounding family of stars.” E. Halley found the same astrological belief in Newton’s work. In his preface to the first edition of “Principia” he wrote some complimentary verses in Latin, ending in the line, “Nec fas est proprius mortali attingere divos” (t is not allowed to any mortal to come closer to the gods).

St. Paul's Golden "Calf"

These Aryan people worshipped nature; the sun, moon, sky, and earth as a comparison of ancient religions and mythology in the land peopled by Aryans, demonstrates. Their chief object of adoration was the Sun. To this race, in the infancy of its civilization, the Sun was not a mere luminary, but a Creator, Ruler, Preserves, and Savior of their world as they knew it. Around the Sun these people would develop a religious doctrine which finds its origin in the Sun and its influence upon mankind. Such is called "Astro-Theology". Their reasoning led them to believe that the Sun was the product of the Sky god; the Heavenly Father. This "offspring of the Sky-god" was none other than "the Son of the Sky", or that the Sun was the "Son of the Heavenly Father", and that the immaculate virgin, the Earth (sometimes it was the dawn or the night), was the Mother of the Sun. Hence we have the Virgin, or Virgo, as one of the signs of the Zodiac. The zodiacal sign of Aires was anciently known as the Lamb; consequently, when the Sun made the transit of the equinox under this sign, the Sun was called the "Lamb of God." Later when the Sun was personified as "the Son" then the "Son was the Lamb of God."

From Emperor Hadrian to Pope Pius XII

Hadrian attempted to root out Judaism, which he saw as the cause of continuous rebellions, prohibited the Torah law, the Hebrew Calendar and executed Judaic scholars (Ten Martyrs). The sacred scroll was ceremonially burned on the Temple Mount. In an attempt to erase the memory of Judaea, he renamed the province Syria Palestina (after the Philistines), and Jews were forbidden from entering its rededicated capital. When Jewish sources mention Hadrian it is always with the epitaph "may his bones be crushed" (שחיק עצמות or שחיק טמיא,Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took iot out of the way, nailing it t his cross. There is an ominous historical parallel; the Vatican was the first state to extend recognition to the neo-pagan Bolshevik regime (1922). Soon thereafter Pope Pius XI disbanded Partito Popolare, forerunner of the present Democrazia Cristiana (Pius XII nailed the Bible to the Cross) and forced its leader to exile. Similarly, and for the same reason the present Democrazia Cristiana disappeared from the political scene of Italy during the pontificate of John Paul II. Why? Because Christian teaching stays in the way of a new Palestinian State.29. And first of all, by the death of our Redeemer, the New Testament took the place of the Old Law which had been abolished; then the Law of Christ together with its mysteries, enactments, institutions, and sacred rites was ratified for the whole world in the blood of Jesus Christ. For, while our Divine Savior was preaching in a restricted area - He was not sent but to the sheep that were lost of the House of Israel [30] - the Law and the Gospel were together in force; [31] but on the gibbet of His death Jesus made void the Law with its decrees [32] fastened the handwriting of the Old Testament to the Cross, [33] establishing the New Testament in His blood shed for the whole human race.[34] (MYSTICI CORPORIS CHRISTI , ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PIUS XII . 1943) ”L’Osservatore Romano” proclaimed: “True anti-Semitism is and can be in substance nothing other than Christianity, completed and perfected in Catholicism.” J. Streicher, the publisher of anti-Semitic and pornographic Der Stürmer considered the Bible pornographic literature and had no use even for Christ because he was a Jew. An article published in Der Stürmer on March 19, 1942 complained that Christian teaching had stood in the way of a “racial solution of the Jewish question in Europe” and quoted as a rallying call the Führer proclamation: “the Jew will be exterminated.” To kill the “Christian teaching that had stood in the way of extermination of the Jews” the Nazis commemorated the four hundredth anniversary of publication of Copernicus’s The Revolution in 1943 by issuing a post stamp in the occupied part of Poland called Generalgouvernement bearing Copernicus’s likeness (the young seminarian K. Wojtyla used to put this stamp on his letters). At the same time book entitled Kopernikus Forschungen was published in which an author argued that Copernicus once and for all removed from human hearts belief in the Bible. Let me remind here that already in 1945, so to say on the heels of the retreating Nazis, a University named in honor of Copernicus was organized in Torun. I still remember from my grammar school “scientific” propaganda matching that being proclaimed in the Palestinian schools. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/146933#.Tk6mfF1iLmV PA Vows to Erase 'Filth,' Build Arab Homes at Western Wall

Why did he fail to marry?

At the time the position of the Pharisees was that “it was a man's unconditional duty to marry.” The contemporary Rabbi Eliezer is credited with stating: “Whoever does not engage in procreation is like someone who spills the blood.” So if Jesus was unmarried, as the Church would have us believe, why didn't his Pharisees opponents – of which there were many noted in the New Testament – use his unmarried state as a further criticism of him and his teachings?> Why didn't the disciples who were married ask Jesus to explain his failure to marry?

Bonaparte's proclamation to the Jews of Africa and Asia During the siege of Acre in 1799, the main French newspaper during the French Revolution, Le Moniteur Universel, published on 3 Prairial, Year VII (French Republican Calendar, equivalent to 22 May 1799) a short statement that: "Buonaparte a fait publier une proclamation, dans laquelle il invite les juifs de l'Asie et de l'Afrique à venir se ranger sous ses drapeaux, pour rétablir l'ancienne Jérusalem; il en a déjà armé un grand nombre, et leurs bataillons menacent Alep."[1] This has been translated in English as: "Bonaparte has published a proclamation in which he invites all the Jews of Asia and Africa to gather under his flag in order to re-establish the ancient Jerusalem. He has already given arms to a great number, and their battalions threaten Aleppo."

The Warsaw Ghetto Children

the Pope did not beg God to show Mercy. No American Charity organization ever sent millions or billions of dollars to IRC, to help those starving children etd.. Nobody dared to ask for a homeland for the Jews. Not even profesional neighbors' lovers... Jesus Christ sat on his Father's right hand and refused to talk to his deputy in the Vatican... One Million Jewish children died in Auschwitz and the powerful B52 bombers did not drop one bomb to prevent more Jewish children to be sent to the ovens. That's the world we are living in. The smell of Arab oil suffocated every humananitarian venture.

Obama Scraps the Global War on Terror

The Obama administration has ordered an end to use of the phrase "Global War on Terror," a label adopted by the Bush administration shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. In a memo sent this week from the Defense Department's office of security to Pentagon staffers, members were told, "this administration prefers to avoid using the term 'Long War' or 'Global War on Terror' [GWOT.] Please use 'Overseas Contingency Operation.'" http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/25/obama-scraps-global-war-terror-overseas-contingency-operation/

H. Clinton has a Crush on Al Jazeerah

Hillary Clinton is so over American news outlets. Speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, the Secretary of State spoke the virtues of Arab news service Al Jazeera. "You've got a global — a set of global networks — that Al Jazeera has been the leader in, that are literally changing people's minds and attitudes ... Viewership of Al Jazeera is going up in the United States because it's real news." And she's totally breaking up with Stateside media outlets. "You may not agree with it, but you feel like you're getting real news around the clock instead of a million commercials and, you know, arguments between talking heads, and the kind of stuff that we do on our news," Clinton said. "Which, you know, is not particularly informative to us, let alone foreigners." Ooh, burn! http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/03/hillary_clinton_has_a_crush_on.html

Perfect Together

Amin Al-Husseini becomes prominent member of Muslim Brotherhood. He sees the Wahhabi concept of Islamic Jihad as a key tool to rally pan-Islamic support to further his agenda of Pan-Islamic take-over. The Muslim Brotherhood now under Husseini’s influence, becomes the main vector of hatred against the West and the Jews: the Arab World, which includes Palestine, must be free of any non-Islamic faith. Therefore, Jews and Christians have no claim to any part of the Middle East or of the Arab World. Amin Al-Husseini is one of the primary founders and the inspiration of Arab League. Goal is to reinforce Wahhabi vision of Pan-Islamic unity. Founding countries are: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen. After World War II, Amin Al-Husseini was visited multiple times in Beirut by Hitler’s Swiss banker, Francois Genoud. Genoud finances the ODESSA network. He sponsors Arab Nationalism with Nazi money. In Cairo and Tangiers, Genoud sets up import-export company called Arabo-Afrika, which is a cover to disseminate anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli propaganda.Genoud sets up Swiss bank accounts for North African liberation armies of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria. In partnership with Syria, he sets up Arab Commercial Bank in Geneva. In 1962, he becomes Director of Arab People’s Bank in Algeria. Husseini, still in Germany, is appointed to President in Absentia of Fourth Higher Committee of Arab League. http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2011/02/16/peanut-head-jimmy-carter-claims-the-muslim-brotherhood-is-nothing-to-be-afraid-of/ Muslim Brotherhood unites with Hitler’s Third Reich 1933-2002 http://www.tellthechildrenthetruth.com/mbhood_en.html#part2

Comrade

David Brock in his The Seduction of Hillary Rodham (452 pp. New York, The Free Press) recounts, in absorbing detail, H. Rodham’s transformation from campus radical to Watergate investigator. In her early years Mr. Brock uncovers numerous ties to left-wing, even Communist causes. “We are building a communist organization to be part of the forces which build a revolutionary communist party to lead the working class to seize power and build socialism. [...] We must further the study of Marxism-Leninism within the WUO [Weather Underground Organization]. The struggle for Marxism-Leninism is the most significant development in our recent history. [...] We discovered thru [sic] our own experiences what revolutionaries all over the world have found — that Marxism-Leninism is the science of revolution, the revolutionary ideology of the working class, our guide to the struggle [...]"

The Quartet's Dream

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/144942 Senators Challenge Obama on Foreign Policy on Israel Sivan 13, 5771, 15 June 11 03:13, by Elad Benari (Israelnationalnews.com) Several U.S. senators have decided to challenge President Barack Obama’s policy towards Israel by introducing a resolution that opposes any Israeli withdrawal to the indefensible 1949 armistice lines. The resolution was introduced last Thursday by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah and independent Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut. “It is contrary to United States policy and our national security to have the borders of Israel return to the armistice lines that existed on June 4, 1967,” the resolution states. It calls Israel “a liberal democratic ally of the United States” and notes that it has been “repeatedly attacked by authoritarian regimes and terrorist organizations that denied its right to exist.” It then acknowledges that the United States Government “remains steadfastly committed to the security of Israel, especially its ability to maintain secure, recognized, and defensible borders; Whereas the United States Government is resolutely bound to its policy of preserving and strengthening the capability of Israel to deter enemies and defend itself against any threat.”

Cartoon from Gaza

NEW YORK – Passengers on a US-flagged boat, The Audacity of Hope, spoke at a press conference Monday to discuss their plans and reasons for joining the “International Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human,” a flotilla intended to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. It is estimated that people from more than 20 countries will participate in the eight to ten boat flotilla, which will sail the last week of June, in part from Greece. One quarter of the participants on the US boat, which will have 36 passengers, are American Jews. REPORT: Israel readies for Gaza flotilla despite IHH withdrawal Despite IHH pullout, Israel on high alert for flotilla According to a letter the Audacity of Hope group sent to US President Barack Obama, in addition to 36 passengers, 4 crew members, and 10 members of the press, the US-flagged boat “will carry thousands of letters of support and friendship from people throughout the US to the women, children and men of Gaza. There will be no weapons of any sort on board." "We will carry no goods of any kind for delivery in Gaza," the group's letter read. "Our mission is from American civil society to the civil society of Gaza. We do not serve the agenda of any political leadership, government or group. We are engaged solely in non-violent action in support of the Palestinian people and their human rights.”

Zuckerberg's Intifada

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/21/us-palestinians-israel-apple-idUSTRE75K5NH20110621 Israel asks Apple to remove intifada phone app 2:32pm EDT JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli minister has asked Apple Inc to remove an Arabic-language application from its iTunes store that calls for a Palestinian uprising. In a letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli-Yoel Edelstein said the application "ThirdIntifada" -- a reference to a future Palestinian uprising -- passed on information about protests, some violent, planned against Israel. "I am convinced that you are aware of this type of application's ability to unite many toward an objective that could be disastrous," Edelstein wrote in the letter seen by Reuters. The application offers users a stream of news stories and editorials in Arabic, announces upcoming protests, and includes links to nationalistic Palestinian videos and songs. Edelstein said the developers of the application had opened a similar page on Facebook three months ago that called for an uprising against Israel through the use of lethal force. Edelstein said he complained to the social network which removed the page. Israel has faced two large protests in recent months that turned deadly when Palestinians in Syria and Lebanon, spurred on by calls over the internet, tried to breach its borders. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the creation of the Apple application and the Facebook page marked a new pattern in attempts to provoke violent attacks against the state. "Companies like this that have a global reach also have a responsibility, and they are aware of this responsibility, and I am sure that Apple will act in the same way (as Facebook)," Ayalon told Israel's Army Radio.

Israel's enemies have been so successful at spreading their lies that fewer people all the time recognize the truth. Many college campuses are hotbeds of anti-Israel agitation. Young people are being taught that Israel is waging a genocidal campaign against Palestinians. President Obama has made it clear that his heart is with the Arab world, not with Israel. More liberal "intellectuals" than ever believe that Israel's very existence is illegitimate, and that it is a "fascist state" designing a "new Holocaust" for the Palestinians. American Jews, long caught between their leftism and their loyalty to Israel, are increasingly moving over to the dark side, helped along by organizations like the George Soros-funded J Street that pretend to be pro-Israel while pushing policies that would destroy Israel in short order. It gets worse: "Anti-Israel" has come be a code word for anti-Jew, not just in the Middle East, not just in Europe, but in the United States of America.

The United States in Burka

An extremist Muslim cleric is planning a March rally at the White House in hopes of sparking a revolution that would turn the United States into an Islamic state. According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Anjem Choudary told a reporter that "The event is a rally, a call for the Sharia, a call for the Muslims to rise up and establish the Islamic state in America." Sharia is Islamic law, and Choudary says he expects the March 3 rally to draw thousands of supporters. The event will be sponsored by the New York-based extremist group Islamic Thinkers. Choudary is a British cleric who said insisted that one day "the flag of Islam will fly over the White House" and that Americans "are the biggest criminals in the world today."

In a speech yesterday in Dearborn, Michigan, the former White House correspondent not only defended the earlier anti-Jewish remarks that led to her sudden resignation, but went on to claim that she was made to pay a price for her remarks because of the power of the Jewish lobby in the United States. Helen Thomas has nothing to say about the 1 million plus Mizrahi*/Sephardic Jews who were from Arab lands until they were shoved out. No, she hasn’t anything to say about these Jews, she buys into the myth that all Israelis are European Ashkenazi Jews. What an anti-Semite, and to think that turd was/is given front row seats to all the WH press conferences.

Russian President to visit Israel in 2011

Gorbachev: Victory in Afghanistan is impossible

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev has said that NATO troops will never achieve victory in Afghanistan. The republic should be assisted in overcoming the aftermath of military operations, Gorbachev told Moscow-based BBC correspondent Steve Rosenberg. He also praised U.S. President Barack Obama for his decision to start withdrawing troops next year, adding that before the Soviet Union withdrew from Afghanistan, an agreement had been reached with Iran, India, Pakistan and the U.S., providing for Afghanistan’s becoming a neutral, democratic country

Anna Chapman, a Russian Spy receiving Top Honor

Al Turki in Bejing

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, talks with Abdullah Al-Turki (L), secretary-general of the Muslim World League in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 14, 2010. Jia met with a delegation of the Muslim World League headed by Abdullah Al-Turki on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng). More than 120 delegates from 18 religions gathered Sept. 24, 2003 in Kazakhstan’s political capital to condemn terrorism and lay the foundations of an organization they advertised as a diverse effort to reduce violent clashes between faiths around the world. Envoys who attended the conference included Sheikh Abdullah al-Turki, secretary of the Muslinm World League based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Yonah Metzger, Ashkenazic chief rabbi of Israel, Cardinal Josef Tomko of the Vatican. “Violence and terror can only come to an end if we promote religious values on a global scale,” Ayataollah Mahdi Hadavi, professor of Islamic law at Qum Seminary School and head of the Iranian delegation, told the conference. More than 120 delegates from 18 religions gathered Sept. 24, 2003 in Kazakhstan’s political capital to condemn terrorism and lay the foundations of an organization they advertised as a diverse effort to reduce violent clashes between faiths around the world. Envoys who attended the conference included Sheikh Abdullah al-Turki, secretary of the Muslinm World League based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Yonah Metzger, Ashkenazic chief rabbi of Israel, Cardinal Josef Tomko of the Vatican. “Violence and terror can only come to an end if we promote religious values on a global scale,” Ayataollah Mahdi Hadavi, professor of Islamic law at Qum Seminary School and head of the Iranian delegation, told the conference.

Give them an ultimatum Sept.16,2010

Syria has demanded that Israel agree in principle to relinquish the Golan before talks begin, a demand that Israel has rejected. Israeli leaders say Syria must ends its ties with Iran and with PA-based terrorist groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. And the PA demands that Israel agree in principle to relinquish Judea and Samaria before talks begin. So what to talk about? Well, they want the whole Israel between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. And that's their idea of the “peace”

Goal of Science – Nobel Laureate in Physics, Steven Weinberg, stated: “Nothing has been more important in the history of science than the work of Darwin and Wallace”. He pointed out that “not only the planets but even life could be understood in this naturalistic way.” He added: “I personally feel that the teaching of modern science is corrosive of religious belief, and I'm all for that! One of the things that in fact has driven me in my life, is the feeling that this is one of the great social functions of science – to free people from superstition”. … “The Ten Commandments portray a deity who is self-centered, selfish, jealous, obsessed with his own importance; this is not a nice kind of person. The traditional teachings of religion are, from the point of view of the morality most people share today, pretty immoral”

Here are some further quotations from Peter Singer from his books Rethinking Life and Death and Writings on an Ethical Life.On how mothers should be permitted to kill their offspring until the age of 28 days: "My colleague Helga Kuhse and I suggest that a period of twenty-eight days after birth might be allowed before an infant is accepted as having the same right to life as others." Brahmins also treat their own children as untouchable. Brahmin mothers dont touch their own children and brahmin mothers also dont love their children. What a horrible people these brahmins are.

Burka

When have American academics and theatre people last refused to travel to, buy products from, or lecture, appear in performance in Jordan (clothing, manufactured goods), Egypt (oil, textiles, cotton), Saudi Arabia (oil), Turkey (oil, metals, textiles, manufactured goods) or Pakistan (textiles, manufactured goods)? Surely the human rights records of these countries cry out for free people of goodwill to do just that in response to the large number of honor-related crimes, including honor killings, the forced veiling of women, persecution of Christians and other infidels, the torture and imprisonment of artists and dissidents, the non-stop Islamist terrorist attacks against Muslims, and the “manufacture” and distribution of the most vicious propaganda against Israel and America.

Martyrs Brigaes in action

NEW DELHI — Kashmir erupted on Monday in the worst violence since separatist protests began sweeping through the disputed Himalayan region three months ago, with authorities partly blaming the inflamed tensions on televised reports of Koran desecration in the United States. The bloodshed, which came as Indian leaders were searching for a way out of the Kashmir crisis, left at least 14 civilians and two security officers dead and at least 60 people injured in clashes across the region, authorities said. In one town, Tangmarg, authorities said officers opened fire after protesters had set a school and other government buildings ablaze.

Chen Bingde (R), chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, meets with Saken Zhasuzakov, first deputy defense minister and chief of the staff of Kazakhstan's Armed Forces, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Sept. 9, 2010. Chen visited Almaty on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the "Peace Mission - 2010" anti-terrorism military exercise, which is launched under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in south Kazakhstan from Sept. 9 to 25. (Xinhua/Wang Jianmin)

Abbas resembling Einstein

By December 1948, a distinguished contingent of Jewish scientists and intellectuals warned in The New York Times that those leading the effort to establish a Jewish state bear "the unmistakable stamp of a Fascist party". Albert Einstein joined concerned Jews who cautioned Americans "not to support this latest manifestation of fascism. "The undersigned therefore take this means of publicly presenting a few salient facts concerning Begin and his party, and of urging all concerned not to support this latest manifestation of fascism." Albert Einstein, The New York Times, 4 December 1948

Glenn Beck Rally: America Turning Back to God "Something beyond imagination is happening," he said. "America today begins to turn back to God."The crowd — organizers had a permit for 300,000 — was a sea of people standing shoulder to shoulder across large expanses of the Mall. It was not clear how many tea party activists were in the crowd, but the sheer size of the turnout helped demonstrate the size and potential national influence of the movement. Activists distributed fliers urging voters "dump Obama." The pamphlet included a picture of the president with a Hitler-style mustache.

Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank were masterminded by aggressive extremists and are designed to disrupt the peace talks. A statement to that effect was made by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in an interview published by the Austrian ‘Der Standard’. Ban Ki-moon urged all parties concerned to support the negotiating process and called for extending a moratorium on the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinians, he said, ought to signal readiness for talks too.

Elul 23, 5770, 02 September 10 08:12, by Maayana Miskin (Israelnationalnews.com) President Shimon Peres plans to meet Thursday with Pope Benedict XVI in Italy. The two are to discuss the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In addition, the two will talk about captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Iran's nuclear program, and ties between Israel and the Vatican. Peres met Wednesday with Gilad Shalit's parents, Noam and Aviva, in advance of his meeting with the Pope. “We must never lose hope, we must continue to fight for Gilad's return,” he said. Shalit's parents have led a campaign to bring their son home even at the expense of releasing many hundreds of convicted terrorists, including those responsible for multiple murders. Peres praised the two for their struggle, saying, “I am proud of the noble way in which you are struggling to bring back your son Gilad, and I am proud of the Israeli public for standing at your side.” Shalit's parents asked the president to use his influence to push for Gilad's release. After meeting with the Pope, Peres plans to remain in Italy over the weekend to attend an economic and diplomatic conference and to defend Israel in the media. www.IsraelNationalNews.com

He replaced his nondescript hair style and handlebar mustache with the hanging forelock and brush mustache that he copied from a painting of Wotan. The painting “The Wild Chase,” is of the genre depicting Wotan as a figure of terror in a frenzy of action. Wotan’s assistants are a pack of killer wolves. During WWII, Hitler called one of his command posts the Wolf’s Lair, another the Wolf’s Gorge, and still another the Werewolf. He called young members of the Hitler Youth “wolf cubs” (recall that the figures of Romulus and Remus were added to the Roman she-wolf in the Renaissance period, when the Church organized the Jesuit Order) and the SS “my pack of wolves.” The Latin lupa means also a whore, and lupanar is brothel. St. Thomas Aquinas considered it necessary for every town to set up a brothel. The party organ of the Nazis was the pornographic Der Stuermer.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Why Doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah

by Tovia Singer /

Why Doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah?by Tovia Singer
Publisher: RNBN Publishers
Pages: 472
Format: Hardcover
Price: $36
Available At: Amazon
This eye-opening volume was written in direct response to the growing effort of numerous fundamentalist Christian organizations which aggressively target Jews for conversion. This book delves into the fundamental reasons why Judaism does not accept the Christian messiah. It meticulously illustrates that the core teachings and doctrines of the Church are incompatible with the cornerstone principles declared by the Prophets of Israel, and are opposed by the most cherished tenets contained in the Jewish Scriptures.

Moreover, this book illustrates how, over the course of many centuries, the Church systematically altered the Jewish Scriptures in its authorized translations of the Bible in order to persuade its adherents that Jesus is the promised Jewish messiah. To accomplish this task, Christian translators manipulated, misquoted, and mistranslated verses in the Hebrew Scriptures so that these texts appear to be speakingabout Jesus.

Over the past two millennia, Christians have been unaware of this systematic Bible-tampering because few parishioners can read the Hebrew Bible in its original language. Since time immemorial, earnest churchgoers utterly depended upon manmade Christian translations of the "Old Testament" in order to understand the "Word of God." As a result, Christians have wondered aloud why Jewish people, who are reared since childhood in the Holy Tongue, and are the bearers and protectors of the sacred Oracles of G-d, do not accept Jesus as their messiah. The central goal of this volume is to thoroughly answer this perplexing, age-old question.

One of the most common questions we receive at Aish.com is: "Why don't Jews believe in Jesus?" Let's understand why ― not in order to to disparage other religions, but rather to clarify the Jewish position.
Jews do not accept Jesus as the messiah because:

1) Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies.

2) Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah.

3) Biblical verses "referring" to Jesus are mistranslations.

4) Jewish belief is based on national revelation.
But first, some background: What exactly is the Messiah?
The word "Messiah" is an English rendering of the Hebrew word "Mashiach", which means "Anointed." It usually refers to a person initiated into God's service by being anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3)
Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as "an anointed one" (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: "God forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the Lord's Messiah [Saul]..." (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6)
Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? One of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of God. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Isaiah 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34)
Many of these prophetic passages speak of a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during the age of perfection. (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5)
Since every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed king as The Messiah. The above is the only description in the Bible of a Davidic descendant who is to come in the future. We will recognize the Messiah by seeing who the King of Israel is at the time of complete universal perfection.
1. Jesus Did Not Fulfill the Messianic Prophecies
What is the Messiah supposed to accomplish? The Bible says that he will:
A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).

B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).

C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)

D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world ― on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).
If an individual fails to fulfill even one of these conditions, then he cannot be "The Messiah."
Because no one has ever fulfilled the Bible's description of this future King, Jews still await the coming of the Messiah. All past Messianic claimants, including Jesus of Nazareth, Bar Cochba and Shabbtai Tzvi have been rejected.
Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright; in the Bible no concept of a second coming exists.
____________________
2) Jesus Did Not Embody the Personal Qualifications of Messiah
A. Messiah as Prophet
The Messiah will become the greatest prophet in history, second only to Moses. (Targum - Isaiah 11:2; Maimonides - Yad Teshuva 9:2)
Prophecy can only exist in Israel when the land is inhabited by a majority of world Jewry, a situation which has not existed since 300 BCE. During the time of Ezra, when the majority of Jews refused to move from Babylon to Israel, prophecy ended upon the death of the last prophets ― Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
Jesus was not a prophet; he appeared on the scene approximately 350 years after prophecy had ended.
B. Descendent of David
According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, (1) nor will he possess supernatural qualities.
The Messiah must be descended on his father's side from King David (see Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:17; Ezekiel 34:23-24). According to the Christian claim that Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father ― and thus could not have possibly fulfilled the messianic requirement of being descended on his father's side from King David. (2)
C. Torah Observance
The Messiah will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance. The Torah states that all mitzvot remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the Torah is immediately identified as a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4)
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus contradicts the Torah and states that its commandments are no longer applicable. For example, John 9:14 records that Jesus made a paste in violation of Shabbat, which caused the Pharisees to say (verse 16), "He does not observe Shabbat!"
____________________
3) Mistranslated Verses "Referring" to Jesus
Biblical verses can only be understood by studying the original Hebrew text ― which reveals many discrepancies in the Christian translation.
A. Virgin Birth
The Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from the verse in Isaiah 7:14 describing an "alma" as giving birth. The word "alma" has always meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries later and translated it as "virgin." This accords Jesus' birth with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by gods.
B. Suffering Servant
Christianity claims that Isaiah chapter 53 refers to Jesus, as the "suffering servant."
In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people. The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit. Throughout Jewish scripture, Israel is repeatedly called, in the singular, the "Servant of God" (see Isaiah 43:8). In fact, Isaiah states no less than 11 times in the chapters prior to 53 that the Servant of God is Israel. When read correctly, Isaiah 53 clearly [and ironically] refers to the Jewish people being "bruised, crushed and as sheep brought to slaughter" at the hands of the nations of the world. These descriptions are used throughout Jewish scripture to graphically describe the suffering of the Jewish people (see Psalm 44). Isaiah 53 concludes that when the Jewish people are redeemed, the nations will recognize and accept responsibility for the inordinate suffering and death of the Jews.
______________________
4) Jewish Belief is Based Solely on National Revelation
Throughout history, thousands of religions have been started by individuals, attempting to convince people that he or she is God's true prophet. But personal revelation is an extremely weak basis for a religion because one can never know if it is indeed true. Since others did not hear God speak to this person, they have to take his word for it. Even if the individual claiming personal revelation performs miracles, there is still no verification that he is a genuine prophet. Miracles do not prove anything. All they show ― assuming they are genuine ― is that he has certain powers. It has nothing to do with his claim of prophecy.
Judaism, unique among all of the world's major religions, does not rely on "claims of miracles" as the basis for its religion. In fact, the Bible says that God sometimes grants the power of "miracles" to charlatans, in order to test Jewish loyalty to the Torah (Deut. 13:4).
Of the thousands of religions in human history, only Judaism bases its belief on national revelation ― i.e. God speaking to the entire nation. If God is going to start a religion, it makes sense He'll tell everyone, not just one person.
Maimonides states (Foundations of Torah, ch. 8):
The Jews did not believe in Moses, our teacher, because of the miracles he performed. Whenever anyone's belief is based on seeing miracles, he has lingering doubts, because it is possible the miracles were performed through magic or sorcery. All of the miracles performed by Moses in the desert were because they were necessary, and not as proof of his prophecy.
What then was the basis of [Jewish] belief? The Revelation at Mount Sinai, which we saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears, not dependent on the testimony of others... as it says, "Face to face, God spoke with you..." The Torah also states: "God did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us ― who are all here alive today." (Deut. 5:3)
Judaism is not miracles. It is the personal eyewitness experience of every man, woman and child, standing at Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago.
For further reading: "Did God Speak at Mount Sinai?"
Waiting for the Messiah
The world is in desperate need of Messianic redemption. And to the extent we are aware of the problems of society, is the extent we will yearn for redemption. As the Talmud says, one of the first questions asked of a Jew on Judgment Day is: "Did you yearn for the arrival of the Messiah?"
How can we hasten the coming of the Messiah? The best way is to love all humanity generously, to keep the mitzvot of the Torah (as best we can), and to encourage others to do so as well.
Despite the gloom, the world does seem headed toward redemption. One apparent sign is that the Jewish people have returned to the Land of Israel and made it bloom again. Additionally, a major movement is afoot of young Jews returning to Torah tradition.
The Messiah can come any day, and it all depends on our actions. God is ready when we are. For as King David says: "Redemption will come today ― if you hearken to His voice."
For further study: • Jews for Judaism
• "The Real Messiah," by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
• "Let's Get Biblical! Why Doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah?," by Rabbi Tovia Singer
• "The Path of the Righteous Gentile," by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky
FOOTNOTES
1. Maimonides devotes much of the "Guide for the Perplexed" to the fundamental idea that God is incorporeal, meaning that He assumes no physical form. God is Eternal, above time. He is Infinite, beyond space. He cannot be born, and cannot die. Saying that God assumes human form makes God small, diminishing both His unity and His divinity. As the Torah says: "God is not a mortal" (Numbers 23:19).
2. In response, it is claimed that Joseph adopted Jesus, and passed on his genealogy via adoption. There are two problems with this claim:
a) There is no Biblical basis for the idea of a father passing on his tribal line by adoption. A priest who adopts a son from another tribe cannot make him a priest by adoption;

b) Joseph could never pass on by adoption that which he doesn't have. Because Joseph descended from Jeconiah (Matthew 1:11) he fell under the curse of that king that none of his descendants could ever sit as king upon the throne of David. (Jeremiah 22:30; 36:30)
To answer this difficult problem, apologists claim that Jesus traces himself back to King David through his mother Mary, who allegedly descends from David, as shown in the third chapter of Luke. There are four basic problems with this claim:
a) There is no evidence that Mary descends from David. The third chapter of Luke traces Joseph's genealogy, not Mary's.

b) Even if Mary can trace herself back to David, that doesn't help Jesus, since tribal affiliation goes only through the father, not mother. Cf. Numbers 1:18; Ezra 2:59.

c) Even if family line could go through the mother, Mary was not from a legitimate Messianic family. According to the Bible, the Messiah must be a descendent of David through his son Solomon (II Samuel 7:14; I Chronicles 17:11-14, 22:9-10, 28:4-6). The third chapter of Luke is irrelevant to this discussion because it describes lineage of David's son Nathan, not Solomon. (Luke 3:31)

d) Luke 3:27 lists Shealtiel and Zerubbabel in his genealogy. These two also appear in Matthew 1:12 as descendants of the cursed Jeconiah. If Mary descends from them, it would also disqualify her from being a Messianic progenitor.
Comments

(126) Anonymous, February 13, 2010
Great article, Rabbi Simmons. For any who would like to read further on this, there is a wonderful book by Asher Norman, an escapee from the missionary exploits of the "Messianic Jewish" movement. His book is entitled "26 Reasons Why Jews Don't Believe in Jesus." What impressed me the most about this book and has truly provided a day of reckoning for my former Christian faith is how the transmission of the Torah has been so well-guarded down through the ages. Not one letter has been changed in any Torah, save a couple of scrolls found in Yemen; even these were corrected. This is a true testimony, to me, of the sacredness with which the Jews have held their scriptures. - the credibility of the Torah is unimpeachable. The Christian bible, on the other hand, has been continually altered and "corrected" with what the author calls 'perverse audacity'. I know in my house alone I found at least 4 of the total eleven English versions of the Christian bible. What madness! Shalom!
(125) Anonymous, February 13, 2010
I grew up believing Jesus was both G-d and Messiah. But as I really studied both the Old testament and the New testament i came to the realization that he is not G-d or his equal as taught in christianity. As I studied more I found he isn't the promised messiah either. The very first chapter of the new testament shows error. If you read Matthew 1:22-24 Jesus was never named Immanuel as these verses say was fulfilled prophecy. No one ever even called him that any where in the new testament and the meaning of jesus is completely different from the meaning of Immanuel. "Immanuel" means "With us is G-d" where Jesus Christ means "savior annointed". This is just one thing of many that doesn't match up. Also if you look up "Council of Nicaea" you will find that the New Testament was put together by them out of a variation of many different books thought to written by prophets and they chose the ones that best expressed their views of what christianity should be. The rest were thrown out. Also that was when it was decided to make Jesus a deity where they later added in the holy spirit as a deity and came up with the trinity.
(124) Anonymous, February 11, 2010
The second coming a Jewish perspective
A second coming is not mention in the tanakh. The second coming is only in Christian theology. The liturgical calender teaches from Advent, the anticipation of the birth of Jesus, and then right after that you go into the anticipation of the second coming. You pass through the lenten season, to prepare you for the death and resurrection of Jesus. Then divine mercy, still anticipation of the second coming, till pentecost, when finally the second appearing comes, the holy spirit(Jesus) returns, and comes upon the disciples, which is called the birth of the church. Just like Jesus has already been born, you still go through the waiting like he hasn't,for the advent season, and the second coming was on the day of pentecost, yet each year as a teaching tool, you relive that anticipation, even though it happened on the day of pentecost. This is christian theology. Which means the second coming has already taken place. Which means that Jesus has had 2000 years to fulfill these prophesies, that he has not, and what Christian theology says he will do in the second coming which has already happen, as the church teaches. I am not saying this to hurt anyones faith, or their church teaching. However, I will remind you that you are on a Jewish website, and the title of this article is "why Jews do not believe in Jesus."
(123) Anonymous, February 11, 2010
Amazed by Christian readers
I am just amazed by how many christians have read this article. How many of the christians in churches, could of had Jewish ancestry, and do not know it. From the Jews that fled to the caucasian mountains after the temple was destroyed, to the spanish inquisition, and all the times inbetween when the Jews had to join the church to stay alive. When being a Jew you kept it a secret, and you didn't tell your children. And now several generations later, christians in churches are seeking their ancestery's religious roots. Thanks to your article Rabbi, they can have some understanding.
(122) HAROLD, January 21, 2010
Isaiah was misquoted
Isaiah lived 600 years before Je$u$.It concerned a Jewish King Ahaz(you would know that if you read all of Isaiah 7)and his worries of recapturing Israel Israel was split apart after King Solomon into 2 Kingdoms.King Ahaz , King of the northern Kingdom wanted to reunite both kingdoms and was getting ready for his battles and went to the Prophet Isaiah.. You can read the Prophet saying a son will be born to a young lady..The son was Emmanuel and his father born of King David was King Ahaz. the prophesy was complete. Emmanuel was not Jesus and Jesus was not related to King David. Mary was Joseph's 2nd wife The Old Testament is not Kosher. The Jewish Bible is Kosher and is called Tanakh
(121) Bobby 5000, January 18, 2010
Intellect and analysis not blind belief
I read the new testament and Jesus says a lot of nice things. My problem comes when he says you have to believe such and such. Later Paul at the Nicean conference says these are the particular idems that good Christians must believe. My Judaism is analytical and intellectual, scholars writing the Talmud and responsa poured over tough issues, sometimes reaching conclusions sometimes not. I can disagree and use my mental facilities to the ability given to me. My biblical heros periodically make mistakes though Jesus in Christianity and Mohammen are supposedly infallible. In short, my judaiism allows me to use my mind as I believe G-d intended.
(120) Jane, December 26, 2009
Yes!! Now I can explain to my family!
Thank you rabbi :) I am a convert and have struggled explaining to family why we dont believe in jesus. They have questioned me at length asking if what I say is only my believe or not. Now I can send them all this article explaining much better than I have been able to
(119) Anonymous, December 21, 2009
to jose m feliciano:
If you feel so strongly about judaism, you can contact a rabbi about converting. There are many rabbis that can help you with that, but only if you are serious about your commitment.
(118) Anonymous, December 20, 2009
This article is great on understanding the difference between the Jewish and Christian Messiah. Unfortunatly, it's not going to cut it when dealing with fanatic/ evangelical Christians. When I was a teen. I went to these types of churches. They believe Jesus is the only way to heaven and anyone who doesn't believe goes to hell. The Christians that don't like Jews defend themselves by saying that Jews belie they're the only ones going to heaven and no one else is. Once I tell them about the 7 Noahide Laws. I explain that they are attributes that allows anyone anywhere in the world, with or without religious training can go to heaven. Jews are "chosen" to uphold the law and nonjews can go to heaven without converting. Then they change their attitudes.
(117) LR, November 28, 2009
More info on mistranslations
Excellent for those of us Jews who were raised mostly among Christians. I have been on the receiving end of proselytizers for exactly 41 years now (since 1st grade) and often wondered why there weren't more articles like this written. The section on mistranslation of much of the bible is very very important yet was given the least amount of detail in your article. Please write more fully on this topic. Thanks.
(116) yaron, November 27, 2009
where does it say that in order for there to be a prophet, the majority of jews must be in israel
could someone please email me the source for the statement about majority of jews living in israel?
(115) Patrick, November 23, 2009
Jesus and Judaism
“As a former Christian Pastor who converted to Judaism...this I say: The Historic Jesus did not exist. It was all a lie. There is no real evidence for the man Jesus. There is no contemporary evidence by any scholar of his time to his exsistence. The one reference by Josephus was a latter addition and NOT written by Josephus. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE OF JESUS OR CHRISTIANITY PRIOR TO THE late 1st Century C.E. Most real Christian scholars know this but won't publicly admit it. Christianity and Jesus Christ was a myth created by Saul/Paul. “
Their reasoning led them to believe that the Sun was the product of the Sky god; the Heavenly Father. This "offspring of the Sky-god" was none other than "the Son of the Sky", or that the Sun was the "Son of the Heavenly Father", and that the immaculate virgin, the Earth (sometimes it was the dawn or the night), was the Mother of the Sun. Hence we have the Virgin, or Virgo, as one of the signs of the Zodiac. The zodiacal sign of Aires was anciently known as the Lamb; consequently, when the Sun made the transit of the equinox under this sign, the Sun was called the "Lamb of God." Later when the Sun was personified as "the Son" then the "Son was the Lamb of God."
(114) Debra, October 7, 2009
It was fine to post this comment but it was not fine to post my comment yesterday! For about 2000 years, millions of Jewish men, women and children have been murdered in the name of Jesus by his followers. That fact should be clearly pointed out time and time again.
(113) Marty, October 6, 2009
Can find “You Are My Witness: The Traditional Jewish Response to Christian Missionaries”
Trying to download this article from, http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/web/worddocs/LA2.pdf “You Are My Witness: The Traditional Jewish Response to Christian Missionaries” (free pdf file by Yisroel C. Blumenthal) -------------------- 404 - Component not found You may not be able to visit this page because of: 1. an out-of-date bookmark/favourite 2. a search engine that has an out-of-date listing for this site 3. a mistyped address 4. you have no access to this page 5. The requested resource was not found. 6. An error has occurred while processing your request. Please try one of the following pages: * Home Page If difficulties persist, please contact the System Administrator of this site. Component not found --------------------
(112) Reuben Arana, September 13, 2009
---
Thank you for your super interesting teachings. Thank you again. Shalom. Reuben Arana
(111) Kal, September 7, 2009
Good Summary
Very much liked this. My only comment is you should write more about the absence of a second coming in the Hebrew Text. Conveniently christians believe in it, yet it was never mentioned in prophecy. This would be valuable. Thanks
(110) Stan Corbett, September 6, 2009
Millions Died in the name of Jesus
For about 2000 years, millions of Jewish men, women and children have been murdered in the name of Jesus by his followers. That fact should be clearly pointed out time and time again.
(109) Anonymous, September 6, 2009
Short video of Ramban's debate on this subject
Here is a short video highlighting Ramban's position on this subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiawe2Pyzws
(108) Matityahu, September 6, 2009
Bringing Jews home from enslavement to Christianity
I have been writing a book (currently 950 pages) wherein I address all alleged "prophesies" of the Christian savior in defense of Judaism. In the book I also address the changes of Hebrew texts as well as the changes of Greek texts of the NT which have been done by the Church. I offer the information free to any Jew who is involved in Christianity that sincerely seeks Emet. Sorry, but I don't work with gentiles. They are welcomed to find an Orthodox rabbi to help them find thier place in this world and the World to Come. Jews are welcomed to contact me at mattityahu at yahoo dot com. I will be happy to visit with you as I am a ger tzaddick formally trapped in the field of the Christian evangelism.
(107) Richard Maisel, September 3, 2009
Thankyou - this is a wonderful adjunct to 'The Year Of The Seed' article
Some of the comments regarding my college experience- infiltrating the messianic Jewish community ask for exactly what you have provided here! I advise those interested - read your clear and consise explanations. Thanks again and Kol Ha Kavod - Richard Maisel ACSW
(106) Sarah, September 1, 2009
More please
I'm so pleased to see information like this becoming more and more public. It's precisely what is needed especially because it's based on our scriptures and not just dogma. I'm ba'alat teshuva and from a very assimilated family and it's purely by Hashem's hand I find myself drawn to Judaism and getting more frum by the day. In becoming so I've been very conflicted by all I've been exposed to, and information like this is a huge help. Next stop, get Gerarld Schroeder or a Rabbi to write about science (evolution, the big bang) and also aetheism. These are the relatively new challenges that assault us daily. I don't think most people who claim to be Christian are actually 100% Christian. I think they absorb aetheism into their creed. How about some tackle Islam too, in a matter of fact way. It need not be offensive of insulting.
(105) Anonymous, August 31, 2009
Thanks a lot
I was a christian but after seeing the discrepancies in the Christian scriptures I started to question a lot of things. I then recognized that there is one G-d not three etc. Thanks a lot for this article. It just confirms a lot of what I have learnt just by reading the "Old" Testament from the Jewish Scriptures
(104) Dvirah, August 30, 2009
Yet Another Reason
Another reason why Jews cannot believe in even the concept of the Christian "Christ" is that Judaism rejects the notion of putting anything or anyone between oneself and one's Creator. The relationship should be direct and personal.
(103) Nicole, July 19, 2009
Why Jews don't believe in Jesus
Your article is very well written - congratulations. However, I feel it focuses only on that man's messianic claims, missing the greater issue: his alleged deity. Jews don't believe in Jesus because the Jewish G-d has no need to become a man - consequently no man can be G-d. The Jewish G-d is eternal and incoporeal, he cannot "die" - his existence holds the universe and if he did so would all of us! Scripture itself tells us that G-d is not a man that he should lie! And even to his claim of messiahship - the messiah will bring people to G-d, not BE G-d! Apologies for writing so strongly, but many people focus on that man's messianic claims and fall victim to the arguments of missionaries of what particular verses mean, whilst mainly G-d does not give his glory to another - and that is what Christians do!!! Cul tov
(102) Mandy (Orli), March 16, 2009
Thank you so much for this wonderful explanation. I am from a minute and relatively isolated Jewish community in a very Christian country and I am not as observant as I should be and all I have is an innate belief, a knowing, if this makes sense. This will help me articulate answers to questions from Christian zealots when they call at my door and try to convert me. It will be of great value for me if I am fortunate to have grandchildren someday and they are bombarded with Christian preaching and culture all around them as I and my children were when we were at school.
(101) Anonymous, January 21, 2009
Jesus
I don`t believe in Jesus mainly because millions of antisemites believe.It`s impossible for a Jew to divide christianity and antisemitism-corner-stone of it
(100) Anne, November 26, 2007
Thank you for your explanation
Thank you for this nice and clear explanation of why the Jews do not believe in Jesus Christ, at least I have a better understanding now. I myself am from a non strict christian family who never forced any beliefs on me at all. If any body here is unsure about their faith and what path to follow, may I suggest to you to simply go into a state of prayer direct to GOD himself, on a regular basis and ask him for his guidience, maybe a bit of fasting to show him you mean business.
The enemy of the human race is a very clever satan, and not each other.
(99) roger, April 21, 2007
Hello! IÂ´m really impressed by your article
(98) Nelson D'Silva, January 13, 2007
Excellent explanation
I was born a Christian but from a very young age I always doubted whether Jesus was the Messiah. The so called New Testament seemed to have been written by a group of conniving and manipulative Romans and Greeks to give pagan Europe a religion equal in status to Judaism. When discussing with Catholic priests and Protestant pastors I have always asked them a very simple question. If Jesus was God, what restricted him from convincingly redeeming the world from its woes? What purpose did it fulfil if Jesus the so called messiah's first coming left the world in greater chaos and strife. They claim that Jesus had to die as a sacrificial lamb to establish a new covenant. To that I always retort as to why would God want to sacrifice his son (to think that God needed a son is in itself paganistic ideology); is God atonning for His sins that He has to make a blood sacrifice or is it man, the sinner, that has to make the blood sacrifice! They don't have a logical answer and indulge in further absurdities. It simply perplexes me to see how mankind has been taken for a ride by a few scheming people.
(97) Rod Ken, May 27, 2006
great
great article
(96) Peter Hirsch, May 17, 2006
An entirely reasonable approach from a startpoint of prejudice.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind: and love your neighbour as yourself."

My personal problem is at present that I find I do not know the in whom I believe; and unless one knows that, it is very difficult to love. It is as if I am outside in the chill darkness of a moonless night, in a fog; and a mist has hidden the stars. I saw them once: I remember glimpses, even of the sun; but I do not quite believe what I remember.

I hope the fog will clear, that a chill dry breeze will blow it away. Then I will get direction from the stars: but then how I would fear the dawn, the aweful uprising of the glorious sun!

In the meantime, I stumble on and blunder into obstacles and ditches, trying to work out a route from first principles and my every step is pain and fear.

The more I learn of this wonderful universe, so the more I wonder at the process and interlocking complexity of creation. Eternity and infinity are beyond imagination. These are the attributes of God. If we talk about these concepts, we talk about ideas beyond our capacity to understand and our talk is largely nonsense and all speculation.

I wonder too, about the constant consistency of ideas in ancient texts. Abraham, whose concept of one almighty God is inherited by Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, was not the first to have that idea. It is also the concept of Brahman (while Atman mirrors the idea God in us) in Hinduism, probably the oldest extant religion. God has been trying to tell us his truth from the beginning of mankind and still is trying. All religions are revelations, some more successful than others. If these are the stars in the night sky, then none are wrong but some give more light than others. All give light and each of us, no matter which star we follow, should not be blind to the light of any other, for we need the light of all of them, as we struggle to find our way through the darkness and none of them will matter much when the dawn breaks.

But before it breaks, we who believe in one God would do best to concentrate on what we agree on and serve him together rather than endlessly waste the energy whe should expend on his work on arguing with each other - or worse.

God be with us all - and may we all be the people of God.
(95) Vera Hambley, April 12, 2006
interesting reading
thank you interesting indeed.
(94) Felix Aliaga, February 12, 2006
Highly illustrating explanation
For decades I've been curious about a Jewish response to Christian theology, and now I've read it. Thank you.
(93) Anonymous, February 7, 2006
To Catholic Female From London
This is a very basic explanation: Regarding the verse referred to in the article (Isaiah 7:14), it has nothing to do with Jesus. If you read it in the Tanakh, you'll see that it has to do with King Ahaz of Judah, who was concerned about two opposing forces (King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel), who wanted to attack Jerusalem. Isaiah told Ahaz that there was a young woman in the House of David who was pregnant and close to giving birth (to a son), and that 'before the lad knows how to reject the bad and choose the good, the ground whose two kings you dread will be abandoned' (Isaiah 7:16). Keep in mind that Ahaz needed a sign that was going to occur during his lifetime - not several hundred (about 700) years in the future.
If you read it out of the Tanakh, you'll see the entire, detailed context.
(92) Catholic female, London, 16, January 30, 2006
Contradiction
Might I add that you contradict yourself. You say that the messiah has to be of the line of David, right? Therefore, Jesus cannot be the messiah because he was born of a virgin, and the messiah has to be in the line of david on his fathers side. Fair enough, but later on you say that Jesus wasn't born of a virgin. The word is alma, and was mistranslated from young woman, to virgin. Therefore, you are saying Jesus WASN'T born of a virgin, but of a young woman, however, you just said that Jesus couldn't be the messiah because he WAS born of a virgin. Which is it? Sorry if this sounds aggressive, just curious (I'm a Catholic btw)
(91) Etaoin Shrdlu, December 25, 2005
Other differences with Christianity
Thanks for the excellent discussion of why Jesus is not the messiah. But what about the other differences between the faiths? For all the rhetoric about the so-called "judeo-christian tradition" it would really be more accurate to speak of a Judeo-Christian Division!

The plain fact is that many of the fundamental concepts of Christianity are a blasphemy to Judaism: Original Sin, Vicarious atonement by the crucifixion, Salvation through Grace, all are contrary to the essential Jewish concept of G-d as a god of Justice. We are answerable only for the sins we commit, not for those a remote ancestor. Furthermore, we must obtain forgiveness from those we have wronged, and receive it by our own efforts, not through the vicarious act of another. Finally, deeds, not faith, are the key to "salvation". The righteous of the earth all have a share in "the life to come", regardless of their beliefs. While, of course, it would be preferrable that the world recognize the G-d of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, the obligation to do so only falls on those who wish to accept the covenant with Israel.
(90) cappy anderson, December 24, 2005
Makes sense to me a Christian
I have to say-your article makes more sense to me as a putative only Christian. I grew up in a quasi anti semitic household but the bible stuff they tried to feed me did not digest well.
Bottom line-the spiritual PRINCIPLES of the major religions and one's attempt to live up to them are what count as far as I'm concerned
(89) John Wilson, December 23, 2005
Thank you for "Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus". It is very useful in both format and content. I have printed out a copy for ease of reference in the future.

It is appallingly common to hear Christians(and not just fundamentalists)claim: "If Jews would only believe their own prophecies, they would acknowlege Jesus as Lord." Most Christians have never been exposed to the Jewish interpretation and understanding of Jewish Scripture. It is common for Christians to feel a love for the "Old Testament" and when confronted skillfully with jewish scholarship there is an emotional response, a kind of inner knowing, that for the first time one is finally hearing the truth about something with which one has lived yet not known at all.

Once again, let me express my appreciation for "Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus".
(88) wayne stevens, August 9, 2005
your beliefs in the messiah
i dont know how many idiots it takes to know GODS word NEVER CHANGES. He is ALPHA AND OMEGA. hOW HARD IT TO UNDERSTAND?IF IT IS IN THE INTERPAITON OF HEBREWW EXPLAIN???
(87) Anna Dickan, August 7, 2005
As a practicing Catholic and religious studies educator, I appreciate your informative article, even though I feel the Catholic view has been misprepresented in some of the readers' comments.I respect your informative comments
I am a practicing Catholic who has been teaching Catholic Christian religious studies on the high school level for nineteen years. I have also been chairperson of the religious studies department of an Archdiocesan Cahtolic high school for the past five years. First, I would like to express my appreciation for the informative article on the Jewish view of Jesus. The points are clearly articulated and supported. The Catholic Christian Faith which I embrace, however, is one which emphasizes its roots in Judaism. Please know that a great deal of reverence is attributed to the Jewish Faith and people in the religious studies curriculum of Catholic high schools. The Jesus we teach of does not contradict the Torah; rather, he expands the message of the Torah, emphasizing the "Spirit" of the Law, rather than the "letter" (the reason why he seemingly contradicted the Torah by curing people on the Sabbath). Catholics believe that the "perfect kingdom" our Messiah (Jesus) brings about was begun by him in this world, is to be continued by us in acts of charity, understanding, justice, etc. during our lives, and will be brought to perfection in the next world. In this way, the Catholic belief is that each one of us takes part in building the Kingdom of God on earth. Also, the Catholic belief is that Jesus did indeed fulfill Messianic prophecies, such as his birth in Bethlehem (foretold by Isaiah), and in the words of Psalm 22, fulfilled at his death. Please know that Catholic educators today consider Jewish history and teachings with profound respect.
(86) jose m feliciano, August 6, 2005
Being Jewish
I was cristian for more than 20 years and a year visit to Israel showed me the way to G-d, and I feel in my heart that I am Jew. Although I can't trace any hebrew lineage on my family; can I still become Jew? I'm circumcized and I read the Torah everyday. I follow the laws (deut) and I'm awaiting the Messiah. Is it posible?

Shalom: Brujim Havaim
(85) majezan, August 3, 2005
Concept of God that raise confusion
I am 46,raised in a moderate Muslim socio-culture.I think the problem with us is regarding the concept of God.It is due to the learned men of all religion to adhere to their own interpretation and exploitation of God's meaning of Himself that confuse the mass.As normal human being,we do not have enough time to explore all religious books to have a good grasp of what is being told or written,worst if the written scriptures was altered and coloured by individual interest passing history.I would like to suggest all our friends to read the Holy books unaided by mentor and we can explore them and will definitely understand the meaning of God,so we can save the world and live in harmony.
(84) Victoria, July 17, 2005
this is not anti-christian! it's straightforward explanation of the jewish position
How the visitor Randolph Smith came to view ideas like the following as slander is beyond me: "How can we hasten the coming of the Messiah? The best way is to love all humanity generously, to keep the mitzvot of the Torah (as best we can), and to encourage others to do so as well."
Clearly, he couldn't read the very words you wrote!
(83) JEHIEL CHALEFF, July 14, 2005
VIRGIN BIRTH
TO BE VALID UNDER HEBREW LAW A MARRIAGE NEED HAVE BEEN CONSUMMATED. IF MARY & JOSEPH WERE INDEED MARRIED AT THE TIME OF JESUS' BIRTH THEN SHE COULD NOT FAVE BEEN A VIRGIN.
(82) Ramon E. Vicioso, May 28, 2005
My deepest respect and admiration.
I am 41 years old, born in Dominican Rep., Catholic, but a firm believer in Israel.

For long time has been my believed that the world has a debt with Israel.
The courage, bravery and suffering of Israel is without equal.
I do not understand how blind is the world. The world do not realize how much the world owe to Israel.
I am a poor man, but one day I wish God give me the means to be able to pay my debt.
The Children of Israel are the chosen one and they have shown why.
If is possible I would like to help Israel. Like I said, I am poor, but just let me know.
I dont like writing, but I could give you my phone number.
Is there a forum where I can talk to ppl with my way of thinking?
(81) randolph Smith, May 25, 2005
If you insist on slandering my savior as you are, you are only fanning the fires of anti-semitism which sincere Christians seek to extinguish because Jesua's message is one of love, not bigotry. When you slander him and diminish him to the nations you are a bigot yourself.
(80) Karen Kennedy, May 11, 2005
I didn't know
I didn't know. This article has been informative and insightful.
(79) jolene, April 23, 2005
i will pray for all of you for i would not want any to perish
(78) Ernest Torres, April 18, 2005
Awaking
I need to know more about religions other than Christianity
(77) PEDRO R POLIDARIO, March 30, 2005
to,rabbi shraga simmons,i would like to have a features of this,,,,,for my perspective of research in religion, thanks, pedro
(76) Adina, March 22, 2005
loved the article. It brought insight to a beter understanding. I have been looking for a website like this.
(75) Maxine Endy, February 15, 2005
a real eye-opener
Thanks so much for helping me to be able to explain this to my fellow Jews and non-Jewish friends. I always give your site as a reference to people looking for answers!
(74) Adina, February 15, 2005
Helpful information for Jewish chat rooms!
There are as many missionaries as Jews in Jewish chat rooms. I appreciate having facts with which to counter their arguments.
(73) Jody, February 10, 2005
Very interesting-thank you for this clarification!
I was raised Lutheran, but am very interested in religion and do not follow the christian faith specifically anymore. I felt this article answered so many questions that had disturbed me for most of my life. Thank you!!!!
(72) Michael Granados, January 27, 2005
Why Jews don't believe in Jesus?
Todah Rabah ! We need more information like this. Thank you.
(71) Nathalice, November 6, 2004
what a relief!
I was catholic, but I left the church because I was feeling as if I were living a kind of lie there. My questions and doubt weren´t answered. Now reading your text I feel a relief. You explained an important issue clearly. Above all you based your arguments on the Bible.
Todah rabah lecha!!
(70) Anonymous, October 18, 2004
so much to learn!
as the saying goes, you never stop learning.i'm a christian.i discovered the truth about the shabbat 14 years ago and stopped worshipping on sunday.will continue reading your articles.thanks for the explanations.
(69) Anonymous, August 15, 2004
from black south african
this has been an eye opener. I learned so much about judaism in less than 5min
(68) Roy Amick, August 14, 2004
Thank you for answering some questions I have had.
I recently converted from Christianity to Judaism for many of the reasons you have mentioned. Unfortunately, I belong to a Conservative/Reform Synagogue and there isn't much teaching there as our rabbi is itenerant. Your website is excellent and a great help in convincing me that I made the right decision. I began to think of conversion when I served for five weeks in the Sar-El program in Israel. My wife and I again went back this summer for another four weeks. We hope to finish our conversion and someday move to Israel. I also discovered recently that my ancestors were Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe. HaShem seems to be calling out his people from pagan Christianity. Thanks again for the excellent commentary and Shalom.

Roy Amick
(67) Livia, July 15, 2004
Incredibly thorough!
After reading "all of this articles links" there will be no doubt about how to answer a missionary. Thank you for the concise explanation.

(66) Geoff, April 18, 2004
As jews we need articles like this to understand the weak foundation that unerdlies Jesus' teachings. For a more comprehensive treatment of how Christianity and Islam have distorted the Old Testamant and how their claims can be easily refuted, read Rejoice O Youth and Awake my glory be Rabbi Avigdor Miller.
(65) Anonymous, April 9, 2004
I was raised in a Catholic Home, my grandfather was a very religious man, and I spend most of my years of school in a private catholic school where I was not supposed to ask questions, I was just told to have faith in what I was learning about my religion, so everything I learned was inconclusive and questionable, and there were many things that contradicted themselves and many, many things that I never understood one of them the Trinity, but I never asked questions because I was only to have faith. Now that I am grown up and reading the old testament and also the new testament my mind is full of quetions. In the old testament I found many readings that make so much sense. My catholic religion is based on both the new and the old testament but now that I am reading it again I can see there is many things that we as Catholic don't follow through, also my big question is Jesus the mesiah came and there is still no peace on earth? What happened? I want to read more books regarding judaism. Can you recoment good books, please.
Thank you,
Patricia
(64) Laura, April 9, 2004
Curious for faith
i was bought up in a non religious family, i used to go to a baptist church on my own from the age of 9. i hae been searching for the true faith and it gives me joy to read texts like why jews dont believe in jesus, it sets my mnd working, positive energy and i can see the world from another point of view. thank you
(63) Christina, April 2, 2004
It all makes sense
Having been raised Catholic, I never quite "got" what the big deal was. At a VERY early age, I began questioning the faith that was being imposed upon me. As I got older, I gave up and began to learn more about Judaism. And once again, I didn't quite "get it." But this article somehow put it all in perspective. I get it now!! Although I have not converted as of yet, I probably will. If anything, this article has brought me closer to making that decision. Thank you, Rabbi Simmons.
(62) EDITH ALSTER, March 31, 2004
THE JEWISH FUTURE
We need to educate our own Jews on our religion, history & Torah. It is sadly amazing to find so much ignorance especially from college students, that is why they are so easily persuaded. This is a sad commentry on what our future holds in store for us. Learning begins at home.
EDITH ALSTER
(61) Mike Kruger, March 24, 2004
another reason
I am a Jew that is living in a christian home. Because of my beleif that Jesus was not the messiah,I basically got disowned. However, I mentioned to my parents that if Jesus was the messiah and he "saved us from our sins" why is there so much sinning in the world still today.?
(60) Karey Skinner, March 23, 2004
I wish everyone had access to websites like this. If we were all familiarised with eachothers' beliefs there wouldn't be so much prejudice and intolerance around.
(59) Anonymous, March 23, 2004
The Jesus myth has caused the world misery.
Most Christians do not understand that Jesus is not his name and he did not created a new religion. Saul did but irrationality still permeates human concepts. We must support Israel and our people through education.
(58) Anna R, March 21, 2004
Jesus article
I am a Christian who is 1/8 Jewish, the 1/8 being enough to get me anti-Semitic remarks and attitudes in London;'that Jewess' being the nicest. I took it as a compliment, as my Jewish heritage is very precious to me.

I found the Why Jews Don't Believe In Jesus very informative & not 'vitriol'. I don't see it as anti-Christian, but as a concise summary of what the Jewish attitude to Jesus is.

If anyone finds this hard to take, I would suggest that they examine their own faith. I know what I believe, and also respect others' rights to their own beliefs. As a friend of mine says, we should look at what we have in common, not dwell on our differences. In my opinion. G-d will not ask why we were a Jew/Gentile/Sikh et al but what kind of Jew/Gentile et al we were!

Shalom to all readers.

PS Does being 1/8 Jewish count as being Jewish ???
(57) yehudite, March 20, 2004
Superb;concise
As a Jew brought up in Israel until age 3, and growing up in a totally Jewish home in New York, Philadelphia, Virginia,going to a Hebrew speaking camp in the summers with Flatbush Yeshiva kids who knew so much more than I about Judaism, I always knew the minhagim,how to davin, and speak Hebrew fluently. However, I never studied about Judaism. I am now an adult woman and have sent all my children to Jewish Day School. They know more than I about their roots and I find it difficult to study. Life is full of mundane pressures. Readings like this are invaluable as a way of enriching my knowledge. Thank you. The more the better.
(56) Iris, March 20, 2004
Thank you for your excellent article
As a Jew who is surrounded by Christians, I truly appreciate this article which explains why Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. I much prefer this scholarly and thoughtful explanation to the knee jerk type of response which betrays understandable hatred for a figure upon which so much Jewish suffering and death have taken place. This article should be used in all places of Jewish and Christian education.
(55) Anna, March 20, 2004
I am a Christian, but I have long realized that my reality may not be someone else's and I respect that. However, in reading the comments posted on this and other Jewish websites, I must say that I am a bit taken aback at all the vitriol leveled against my faith. I may be a goy, but if I insulted Judaism the way I have seen my faith insulted, would I not be considered (with reason) anti-Semitic? And why is it acceptable for others to bash my faith? Bigotry is bigotry, wherever you find it. There are no exceptions.
(54) Bonnie, March 17, 2004
Outreach
Dear Rabbi Simmons: The phrase you quoted in the beginning of your excellent article: "the best Christian outreach opportunity in 2000 years" is exactly where I would place your article and the many other excellent commentaries that are coming forth from Jewish sources. You and countless other Jews hold age old knowledge of not just what it means to be a Jew, but what the definitions and meanings are relating to G-d.

The links you provided are EXCELLENT!

For almost two years I have been reading and searching my heart, praying and considering much before the Lord.....I want definition and knowing. From reading the response to your article, it seems I am not the only one, Jew or Christian who is hungry for true knowledge.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
(53) Anonymous, March 15, 2004
nice summary of beliefs
shalom, thanks for the well written article...i am part jew and undergoing conversion...i was raised christian...and believed it for a while..until God opened my eyes and i started to ask the questions which no one wants to hear...it has taken me a while to reach all the conclusions you have put into your article...and when i had asked my jewish friends about why they didnt beleive in jesus....to be blundt...they knew less about their faith and beliefs than i did....it was disheartening....your article should be read by all jews who are sincere in their quest for the knowledge of God in their life...and most importantly..they need to study the tanakh and take it to heart...not just listen to a few lines from a boring cantor/rabi on saturday morning.....live the tankakh and take it to heart! make it a part of you so that when a gentile or a non believing jew ask why you dont believe in jesus....you wont have to stumble around trying to think of reasonable sounding answers....another thing i have noticed with dismay, is the mean spirited or cowardly way many jews respond to christians when they are challenged about their belief in God and why they dont believe in jesus...... a lot of christians are trying very hard to know who God is....they have been brought up NOT to ask hard questions but to just "have faith and believe"it is a golden opportunity for every faithful jew to give a possibly life changing response to someone who could truly be searching for the truth.......sure...many christians will not listen to anything you have to say no matter how rightly you speak......but there are more christians out there who will listen if you approach them with kindness and love than you might ever imagine.......dont be hateful and arrogant..but dont shrink from the challenge.....and above all dont be ignorant of what you are supposed to believe.....know the torah and the prophets.........i have read many of the anti christian books available now....most have many valid points......but many are given to exageration which is neither desireable nor neccessary......just know the tanakh and speak to them out of loving kndness...which is how we received it from God
shalom
michael
(52) Anonymous, March 15, 2004
Very clear explanation
Thank you for clarifying our position towards J. The article's point by point explanation makes our position crystal clear. After reading this article, there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the claims used by missionaries to shmad our innocent/unlearned brethren are nothing more than twisted misrepresentations of the Torah. Moshe emes v'soraso emes. Thank you!
(51) Anonymous, March 13, 2004
The Catholics I know
psst! The Catholics(including a priest brother-in-law age 66, my other brother-in-law age 60, and my husband age 68 (I'm 59 and raised Lutheran) do not want to read this or hear about it. In fact on a regular basis from them, I hear how the Jews own and control the media so much I want to hit them over the head! But, my voice is a little one crying in the wilderness and easily dismissed by them (they like to say I'm nervous, or anti-catholic, or I have abandoned my Catholic religion - which I think I should). They don't care nor want to listen to facts or a voice of reason. I even mentioned the new book, THE NEW ANTI-SEMITISM, which scares me as I believe it is true, but they don't care and won't listen because only they are correct! The most anti=semitic people I know are Catholic (and are Irish and Polish). This is my experience after converting (before I met my husband) and marrying 40 years ago. When I was a young mom and was bothered by some Catholic teaching, and went to confession. I told the priest that I guess I would stay Catholic and raise my children in the Church as the Church must be the one true church because it has lasted so long, or it has to be pure evil! I still have tons or trouble with these "good and holy Catholics". Once when I talked about Bill Kurtis' report on pedofile priest (many many years ago), the brother-in-law the priest jumped up, pointed his finger in my face, and said I needed psychiatric help! My husband said I caused a rift in the family - which unfortunately isn't true, because he would walk through fire for them, but can't even introduce me as his wife when our daugther was recently in ICU without first introducing "my good, holy brothers" first! It's a sickness!!! Just last week I was being shouted at in the car by my brother-in-law (who's the bacheor) that the Jews own and control the media! The controlling ones are these holy Catholics, not the evangelical Protestants. I have to "suck-it-up" and listen to this prejudice becuause my husband's brothers are so good and help us out when he and our daughter are so sick(so he says - its just a command to have to sit and listen to them!) If it was the Inquisition, I would be dead and condemned to hell already. This prejudice of theirs even pervades a comment on the soup I made for my husband (and I'm known as a good cook). Because I had to go to the store and buy the kosher noodles I liked, my husband said the soup wasn't as good as I usually make- "what did you do, use the Jewish noodles?" Maybe you are Catholic and reading this and will be very insulted by these accusations. Well, why did Gibson go to the evangelical groups to show this movie? I think because he know they would embrace it without accepting the Catholic theology (the exact meaning of a few words that can be interrupted differently by Catholic vs. Protestant theology). In my area, it's the Protestant churches, not the Catholic, ones that are advertising this movie. Again this is my experience in a big Catholic metro area. Sometimes I think I was Jew from the Holocaust born into a gentile soul that converted to Catholic Church to be the reluctant conscience of the Pope's holy followers. Or, you may think I am a little bit nuts, but beware. These same good Catholic brothers I know wooed and joked their way into the good graces of my jewish doctors, and them come home and think our country is being control by the Jews who are very anti-catholic! Wake up America and the world! The Jews are God's timetable and we should be so lucky as to be God's chosen people. Shalom.
(50) Anonymous, March 13, 2004
if so, then what?
Shalom.

Thank you for the article. My next question is what's next if this is the case. Has anyone at Aish thought about putting up an article or a link to another site that describes Judaism's requirements for gentiles - specifically the Seven Commandments of Noah? I think this would be very helpful in explaining the part about the world recognizing the God of Israel: when people recognize that they have a part in Judaism as "Children of Noah," they won't need to define themselves as Christians in order to have a relationship with the God of the Bible.
(49) Anonymous, March 13, 2004
Finally, clarity on why we don't believe in Jesus!
This article by Rabbi Simmons is nothing less than magnificent. It is clear and gets straight to the point. Everything I more or less knew - but couldn't articulate - I now understand clearly. Thank you!

May we see the true messiah speedily in our time!
(48) Hillary, March 12, 2004
Thanks for helping me clarify why
I have so many gentile friends who ask me what Jews believe about Jesus. They ask if we believe he was a prophet, but not the messiah, or if we even believe he existed at all. Thank you for giving me very distinct and clear answers to that question. Now I can intelligently explain to my friends why we Jews believe in Hashem, not in a man named Jesus.
(47) Anonymous, March 11, 2004
Powerful and Educational
Terrific Job,

Thank you
(46) David K., March 11, 2004
Not offensive, but informative and STRAIGHT to the point
Well done! You have shown yourselves to be an informative website with a wealth of information for the honest and true thinker.
Thank you for enriching me and helping me broaden MY knowledge.
(45) Lonnie Craig, March 11, 2004
Thank You...!
Tripping & stumbbling thru 15 different
versions of KJV for over the last 38 yrs & the nagghamadi documents- You confirmed my doubts about Jesus as Messiah. He was just a "good ol boy" with a soft spot for the sick & poor... Thank you again.
(44) Mae Eye, March 11, 2004
Thank you for this article!
I have been trying to find something like this article to help me make some explanations re the Messiah. Thank You
(43) Melvyn Berger, March 11, 2004
Everyone should read this, especially Mel Gibson.
You have explained to us the reasons why we still follow our true faith and not a false one. Peolpe of other faiths should read this and understand why we do so.
(42) Paul Simons, March 11, 2004
Gibson's hateful movie spreads the opposite of Christian love.
Gibson fits his own definition of Satan. He grins, bats his eyes at Barbara Walters, says in effect "I'm a good guy'" but his hateful movie spreads the opposite of any Christian message of love. No one in the film even looks right - Jesus, Mary and that family look like German-Irish Catholics, and the Jews look not like Middle Eastern Mediterranean people, but like contemporary American Jews. The movie is trash.
(41) Peltz, Feivel, March 10, 2004
S. Simmons' work is masterful
Rabbi Simmons article should be required reading for evryone involved in
Jewish outreach.
(40) Mustafa Khan, March 10, 2004
Very good web site for every one, specially information about jews.
(39) Anonymous, March 10, 2004
Jews didn't accept the theology of the New Testament because it did not agree with normative Judaism.
I am auditing a course this year at Bar-Ilan University about the growth of Christianity in the First Century. The main idea I have come away with is that the tenents of the Christian faith which did attract a small number of Jews and a larger number of gentiles just did not agree with normative Judaism. (E.g.: Baptism in Christianity brings an abolition of sin. This is not acceptable in normative Judaism where emercement (tvila)brings ritual purity. Christian morality as put forth in the NT negates people living in a normally functioning community. I am definitely not an expert on any of this, but I do have the feeling that the majority of the Jewish people (all through history) just were not willing to accept the precepts of Christianity.
(38) Al Puglisi, March 10, 2004
book
Wonderful piece. This site, along with Jews for Judaism and Judaism 101, and several books, was intrumental in my departure from trinitarian Christianity.
As you can see, you article was an eye opener for the Christians who do read this site.They had never heard this before. Either had I. Unfortunately there is what, maybe 1 Christian for every fifty Jews that read this site.The point being, the most Christians will never hear what you had to say here. What is needed is a book in which Judaism confronts the theology of the Christian church.I am sure many Christians would be receptive to and have their eyes opened by such a work.
(37) Anonymous, March 10, 2004
Great Explanation
I was raised a Christian and taught to revere Jesus. I was taught to pray to Jesus and that Jesus would be my savior and that he alone would have all of my sins forgiven. Our Church used the new testatment as do most christian churches. As I grew older and began to read the Old Testament, I began to notice discrepancies. I am not a genious. If I can read the Bible and notice things are not right with my religion, then most of the christian population should also be able to do the same. For the life of me I can not understand why they refuse to see the truth. You would think everyone has the yearning I have. It brought me to the Bible. It brought me to search for the truth. It brought me to this site. Even though I was raised with this strong belief in Jesus I still had this yearning for something that was missing. I still do. I still do not have the courage to go to a synogog to worship. I miss the spiritual aspect of not going to Church. I pray every night and day directly to G-d now, but I still feel ike something is missing. I have shared your information with other Christians and some flat out say you are lying. They deny the truth. One was so ignorant and surprised that Jews did not believe in Jesus. I was totally amazed at the person's reaction. I grew up in a remote part of the world, yet I knew Jews did not believe in Jesus. The mentality of the human population absolutely amazes me. I pray for the day the real Mesiah comes and opens everyone's eyes to the truth. G-d Bless Isreal and the Jews. I hope you can get the message out the needs to get out to everyone in this troubled world. There is so much hate. People are raised to hate other people. It seems like an impossible undertaking to get this peace to all the world.
(36) Greg Wotton, March 10, 2004
Messiah -- messiah
If there was such a person as Jesus he was certainly "a" messenger, a philosopher if you will, but certainly a Good Jew.

Most Christians are completely unaware of the sheer butchery that the "New Testament" went through before the Roman Emperor accepted it and "declared" it "true". There are many versions of the Gospels and many Gospels that didn't make the cut (i.e. didn't agree with the political agenda of the time). With these "Gnostic" Gospels in combination with the four that made the book we get a very different view of Jesus.

I don't think that he meant for people to think of him as THE Messiah (capitals intended), rather he felt that it was important to impart the role of the messiah into every single person. We are all Children of G-d and within us all there is a spark of the divine. We have Mitzvot to perform, many of which exemplify charity, kindness and community. This may have been the man's message. It is too bad that it got blown out of proportion.

Whether the man was fictional or real, the message was to love each other, be kind and charitable and take on the personal responsibility of setting an example for the whole world. It's sad that we can go from a message like that to a 90 min. bloodbath about his execution. What about the others that were executed for annoying the Romans? Why don't we remember their names as well? Was their sacrafice any less than his?

Today we need people to act as examples of Good more than ever before so please, the next time you're doing a mitzvot, consider how important it is for others to see that some people in this world still care.

in Light
Greg
(35) Anonymous, March 9, 2004
Printed your article for the Mother of a friend
Firstly thank you for your article which I have printed for a friend whoose Mother has been dragged by her Catholic daughter in law to a a special screening of this film at their Church.

I have no doubt that this will not be the only attempt at "evangelising" and promoting their faith.
(34) anita passman, March 9, 2004
I really enjoyed reading the article and even though I knew some of the information, I still can't help but wonder how so many people have accepted Christianity.
Could it be as I have always thought that it is easier to believe in Jesus because you don't have to do all the mitzvot to have a relationship with G-d.
Secondly , is that really a bad thing. I wish there was a web site to discuss this with other people. Thank you again
(33) Anonymous, March 9, 2004
This article should be part of the curriculum of every Hebrew school, Sunday school, wherever Judaism is taught. Our children should internalize why we do not believe in Jesus and at the same time what we as Jews do believe.
(32) Steve Walker, March 9, 2004
Appreciate the clarity
As a believer in Jesus, I found your concise comments very helpful in understanding the Christian position from a Jewish point of view. I appreciated your irenic tone and specific disagreements. Thank you!
(31) susan, March 9, 2004
for my son
This article is helpful, especially for my son. We live in South Carolina. Where there is mostly christians.So now I can talk to huim about this. thank you
(30) betti miner, March 9, 2004
amazing!
Rabbi Simmons is right on!!!! I was not aware that tribal affiliation is through the father. I grew up a Christian but chose Judaism 10 years ago along with my husband who I had long and thoughtful talks with. We had read over 25 books on the Catholic Church and its invention by Constantine in CE 325 and the corruption and hatred against the Jews. Mel Gibson's movie we will never go see, it is anti-Semitism in its purest form and makes us Jews look bad, and we do not want to watch a man get killed slowly for an hour-and-a-half. No thank you. It is a fictional account in places, thanks to a nun who must have had a bad piece of bread. Thank you Rabbi Simmons for your revealing article.
(29) Anonymous, March 9, 2004
Very interesting...
I've always wondered why the Jews didn't believe in Jesus. I've never truly heard an explanation like that. Now that I've heard it I find it very very interesting. Thank you.
(28) Leon Blum, March 8, 2004
Very Concise Thanks
Thanks for your clearly written discussion of this important issue. We are beginning a discussion of this topic in a bi-weekly meeting sponsored by the United Orthodox Synagogue, TORCH (in Texas). I forwarded this link to the participants of our group to jump start our discussions.
(27) Rabbi Yerachmiel Milstein, March 8, 2004
Outstanding!
The clarity of your piece is exceeded only by its brevity. It should be required reading for everyone searching for truth. For an even more compelling understanding of the power of National Revelation, readers are urged to attend the Discovery Seminar.
(26) Simmy Lager, March 8, 2004
Brilliant!
Didn't know all the answers till I read these expounded views and commentary. It has certainly revealed all I ever wanted to know
(25) Edward Emsley, March 8, 2004
Toda Rabbah
From someone who believes in Emet HaTorah but who is niether a Jew, Christian or Muslim,...thank you Rabbi Simmons for feeding my Soul.
(24) JUAN, March 8, 2004
IT'S VERY TRUE
THANK YOU, VERY MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION.NOW I HAVE MORE INFO TO TELL PEOPLE WHY I CONVERTED.I AM A LATIN.SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRY TO CALL ME A TRADER.BECAUSE I DON'T FOLLOW WHAT THEY BELIEVE(CATOHLIC).BUT THANK G~D!.I KNOW THE TRUTH.ONE G~D!SHALOM!.
(23) JOYCE, March 8, 2004
Enlighted
Thank you for writting this topic, It will help us a lot to explain to our gentile friends why Jews doesnt recognize JC as Messiah.
(22) Debra, March 8, 2004
All the answers
(21) Anonymous, March 8, 2004
clear cut
Plain and simple; this brief piece has articulated a book full of learning in one page. I read 'On Eagle's Wings' which helped me to understand the Jewish perspective on the Moshiach. An excellent book, but this article even more so, crystalises why the Nazarene is not accepted as the Moshiach.

Shalom.
(20) Anonymous, March 8, 2004
A key point
One key point that you didn't mention is that Judaism is based on peace, justice, love, obeying the second Commandment, even to the point of letting your slaves go free in the 7th year. The cruelty, savagery and brutality, that was inflicted upon Jesus obviously is in direct opposition to Judaic beliefs.
(19) Anonymous, March 8, 2004
Excellent, concise and clear
Thanks for a quotable, useful treatise on some very important differences between Judaism and Christianity.
(18) Yaakov, March 8, 2004
Moshiach on the front pages
Gibson and his message are ugly and hateful, but it is surely for the best that the world is now abuzz with dicussions of who can be Moshiach, what will he accomlish, etc. As Jews especially begin to feel the need to know what Torah, and particularly the inner Torah of kabbalah and Chassidus have to say on the matter, it will serve to bring about the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.
(17) j spencer, March 8, 2004
Helpful
Thanks for your contribution to the discussion. I fear this movie may be the beginning of a pressure to proselytize. Your words are ammunition, especially for children of secular, unaffiliated parents who haven't been given the background, sense of identity or skills to retort. I hope your readers will forward your comments.
(16) sheila minnich, March 8, 2004
This is the best explanation I've ever read!
I have needed something like this to show my Gentile friends. Many thanks!
(15) Bob MacLAughlin, March 8, 2004
On The Passion
Dear Rabbi Simmons: I have not yet seen the Passion. Maybe I will, maybe not. I have read with interest your comments, and those of Rabbi Blech, Charles Krauthammer, and Rabbi Shapiro. They certainly give a person a lot to think about. I guess we'll differ on who Jesus was: but when I pick up my Bible I'm hold Jewish history in my hands, and for that may the Almighty bless you, His people. Thanks to you all, oh.. there was an editorial cartoon that you should have scene. One panel showed the Crucifixion and the other showed a crowd with money in their hands waiting to see "The Passion". It seems that what it all comes down to is not faith, but money. Keep well, Best regards
Bob MacLaughlin
(14) Colin White, March 8, 2004
What every one should read
These writings are invaluable for a person to form their own informed opinions and hence to conduct their life accordingly.
(13) Good, March 8, 2004
Thanks
This article answered my questions very simply, without all the complicated going on andn on and losing me, thanks for this great article.
(12) Anonymous, March 8, 2004
thank you
What a wonderful consice statement, Rabbi, and so needed among many of us. In a way, we should be thanking Mel Gibson for giving us an impetus for learning about and affirming our own faith. I learned a lot from the book, "You take Jesus, I'll Take God" But I must state that I have never heard nor have I been taught to hate or despise Jesus or those people who profess belief in him. AS Maimonides stated, those people who have descended from pagans have come to an understanding of God which they would perhaps not otherwise had. Many of those people are supporters and friends of Jews. If one beleives that God orders all and sends all things then one must accept that God had a hand in the beginnings of the Christian religion and has organized the world for Christianity's place. I believe that Mel Gibson has much to answer for and that he has mmainipulated the whole situation for his own personal pride and aggrandizement, not to mention the slew of money that he is making from this venture. As the saying goes, he is crying" all the way to the bank." But we should not let a Mel Gibson stand in the way of us all helping to bring the Messiah and that way is through the betterment of the world which won't happen by the belittlement of one group or another. wonder if the embrace of this movie that we see is an indication of the fact that many of its viewers feel a lack of spiritualty in their lives.
(11) Anonymous, March 8, 2004
Wonderful, meaningful article
Thank you for the wonderful article, but unfortunatly this is only read by Jews!re: Comments- Don't you think it is time to stop criticising Reform and Conservative Jews!!! I think we do concern ourselves about keeping our children and grandchildren Jewish!!!and remember that anti-Semites do not discriminate...so why should we?
(10) John Hummel, March 8, 2004
Thank you
I am an evangelical Christian and have read many pieces outlining the differences between Judiasm and Christianity. Often times the arguments are full of vitriol, from both sides. Thank You for a clear and unantagonistic presentation.
(9) Len, March 8, 2004
A thoughtful and civil response
Thank you so much for your fair and reasonable discussion of the issue of the nature of Jesus. I am a Christian who has been offended by the furious condemnation of the central theme of my faith; the redemption of mankind by the suffering and death of Jesus.
Your discussion is informed, well thought out, and fair. Thank you for establishing a high standard in putting forth your position.
I hope we all will get over the anger and begin to dialogue constructively.

Bless you.
(8) Lea S. Krasniker, March 8, 2004
not pointed enough
Dear Rabbi Shaga, everything you write is of course correct, but I think that you should start with the basics 1, 2, 3: according to our Torah (Deut.13.1 and onwards, the laws about the false prophet)that are ironically copied in the N.T. "not to add or to omitt the smallest sign" shows that Jesus of Nazaret was a false prophet who omitted and added to the Law of Moses. Once a false prophet, always one and it is impossible to rectify with a "second coming". Another question: how is it possible to kill a god? "DEICIDE??????" Christianity is maybe the religion of double talk: Love= S.M. (Masochism/Sadism) and that is the basis of this belief. It cannot exist without carefully preserving each blow,drop of blood etc. etc, BECAUSE that is their raison d'etre: their founder HAS to suffer, because that takes away all responsibility of the followers of any bad deed. They are free because he is the sufferer, and the more the better. Of course somebody has to be the perpetrator and guess who? The Jews!!!!. It is a given that Esav hates Ja'akov(Edom versus Israel)and our Sages long ago recognized Edom as Christianity (the sign of the pig who shows is split hooves: "look how kosher I am", but not on the INSIDE). The hypocrisy is nausiating. The so called love for Israel has only one basis: to hunt our souls for conversion.
We do NOT need them in any way. Just like Mordechai said to Esther: ...relief and deliverance will come to the Jews ...We in Israel live with the daily wonders of G'd's Protection against all our oppresors and we should concern ourselves with ourselves and living according to the Law of Moses. Edom will stand trial, don't worry. It is written by the Prophets. With regards from Zion and impatiently expecting the arrival of our King the Mashiach and total redemption
Lea
(7) silvia borges, March 8, 2004
Exceptional write-up....
I'm a "newly self proclaimed" Sephardic Jew and having attended Cathollic schools thru College, your article addressed so very many points that I should have been asking myself. It's as if you answered questions before I (who is highly inquisitive and hopefully intelligent)thought of them. As a matter of fact it addressed so many issues that I have to go back to them slowly and digest them. It is difficult to understand as fully as I'd like since I've forgotten what little Catholic dogma I knew. Two things crossed my mind: I wish there would be a "debate" (as American presidents have) between a Rabbi and a Catholic priest...in order to hear "both sides of the story" AND I wish I could talk one on one with a Rabbi. I contacted my local synagogue (Easton, Maryland, USA)about 4 months ago when I was learning of my Sephardic roots and it didn't heed my request. (I respect the Jewish ways of not just "opening up" the doors to those that just knock on them) I respectfully want to comment on something said here...."that the Jewish people are growing in their numbers and returning to their homeland" I had just read in the last week about the "problem" with jews NOT being antisemitism but the dwindling numbers and that by year 2080 what a fraction of Jews will be on earth.
Nevertheless, thank you for your article and must say that even if "not fully Jewish" I can finally hold my chest upright and feel good about who I really am!
(6) Anonymous, March 7, 2004
I am so grateful
Thank you Rabbi Simmons. Wonderful!!!
I am so grateful to be a Jew, and I appreciate the reminder of the beauty that I sometimes forget to remember!! :)
(5) Anonymous, March 7, 2004
Excellent
A relatively comprehensive look "at the facts", without belaboring any one point.
(4) stu reder, March 7, 2004
thank you!
once again, Rabbi, you have come forward to help your people. thank you and may God bless you and yours.
stu reder
stureder@gci.net
(3) Norma Rockman, March 7, 2004
Desperately need that we Jews have erudite response to The Passion
Besieged by the immediacy brought about by The Passion, I have started out reading the New Testament for the first time in my life, with The Gospel according to Matthew, the Synoptic Gospels, to try to find out for myself just what Jesus preached and what is said. In the reading, I found myself immersed in feelings of pain, feelings of fascination with Oh, so this is what [this version] says, so this is what Christians read and preach, yet intellectually desperate for a learned response to who and what all of this is about from a Jewish standpoint. Never in my Orthodox shirium has anyone addressed the New Testament and we can barely utter the name "Jesus." This has proven a mistake, for me, because ignorance does not make one stronger. Best to educate ourselves and have the information you have presented here. I have Gibson to detest for waking sleeping dogs, yet have him to thank for catapulting me into the desire for edification. Thank you enormously for your erudition, because for Jews to remain silent and ignorant in the face of The Passion would be a grave mistake. We may detest Jesus for the false messiah that he was, a rabble rouser, seducer, sourcerer, etc., but better to educate ourselves so we can strengthen ourselves. Thanks. (I revised this about four times, so I hope you get this copy only!)
(2) Meira Forgy, March 7, 2004
An excellent article.

Perhaps it should be circulated in Reform and Conservative religious schools. It would give the students (and their parents) some well-needed protection against missionaries and against their own doubts.
(1) Chaia Sperling, March 7, 2004
Fantastic article! Now we (Jews) can more effectively respond to the goyim who make it their mission in life to convert us. Presenting facts and logic to discredit their very own arguments instead of offering emotional responses or half-recalled facts strenthen us.The experience most gentiles have with most Jews is that we are not as well versed in Torah (if at all) as they are. How can we then possibly dispute their arguments even if the tenets of their belief are based on distorted interpretations and mistranslations of our own Biblical scriptures .
Thank You, Rabbi Simmons, for writing this article. It couldn't have
come at a better time !

Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus
David Klinghoffer explains what he wishes Christians understood about the Jewish rejection of Jesus--in the 1st century & today.
BY: Interview by Rebecca Phillips and Laura Sheahen
Print
Send To a Friend
Share
Good
1
2
3
4
5
Rate(2 votes)
Comments (95)
Resize - Minus Resize - Plus
Jewish author David Klinghoffer has long been a thought-provoking voice on Beliefnet, commenting on issues ranging from Jewish holidays to politics to Mel Gibson's "Passion." His new book, "Why the Jews Rejected Jesus," traces the history of the debate between Christians and Jews over Jesus, from the first century to modern days. Beliefnet editors Rebecca Phillips and Laura Sheahen, approaching the book from a Jewish perspective and a Christian perspective, respectively, joined Klinghoffer for a conversation about the meaning of Isaiah 53, would-be messiahs in ancient Palestine, why Christian evangelism is healthy for Jews, and contemporary Jewish-Christian relations.
LS: What's the general attitude toward Jesus in Judaism?

The reality is that Judaism doesn't regard Jesus as particularly important. He's not a big subject. I wrote this book mainly for non-Jews, because to them the Jewish view of Jesus is a much bigger deal.

[Jewish radio personality] Michael Medved has made the point that this is the one thing that all Jews have in common--that we don't accept Jesus as our savior. That's the one and only thing on which all Jews agree. For many Jews, tragically, that's where their Judaism ends. For them, Judaism means we don't believe in Jesus. That's really a sad, impoverished version of Judaism.
RP: What Medved said has a lot of implications about the current state of Judaism itself within a larger Christian world. Jews often feel threatened by Jesus. Why is that?
Well, there's obviously history, 2,000 years of friction. In my book, I also deal with the historical backdrop. In the first century, there was a perception of Christian Jews as essentially deserters. When Jerusalem was under siege by Roman forces, the Jews looked around and discovered that the Christian Jews had fled across the Jordan to safe ground.

LS: If you talked to a contemporary rabbi about Jesus, would he or she consider Jesus a renegade rabbi who was a traitor to his religion, or a good person whose followers went astray and became traitors?
There's a huge diversity of opinion. You have someone like Rabbi Irving Greenberg, an Orthodox rabbi who is quite liberal and provocative, who regards Jesus as having been a failed messiah. You also have [Talmudic scholar]
Jacob Emden
, who died in 1776. He was traditionally Orthodox--in no way a modernizer--and regarded Jesus as a hero who brought religious civilization to the gentile world. He writes amazingly positively of Jesus.

In a lot of ways, the [contemporary] rabbinate has not really caught up to Emden. Most people don't know about his view of Jesus.

LS: Is Jesus ever mentioned in Hebrew school or in other Jewish contexts?
There's a lot of Jewish ignorance about Christianity, a lot of fear and mistrust--not so much about Jesus the person but about Christianity as a historical phenomenon. Unfortunately, in every area of Jewish life, you'll find people who have an irrational fear of Christianity. The more serious the Christianity is--for example, evangelical Christianity--the more of a bogeyman it becomes in the mind of some Jews.

RP: I often find it hard to explain to serious Christians exactly how Jews regard Jesus. I remember a conversation I had with a woman on the subway who invited me to a Bible study class. When I explained that I was Jewish and didn't believe Jesus was the Messiah, she exclaimed, "But he was such a great guy!" For a lot of Jews, that's the hardest thing to explain--why we can believe he was a good person, but not the Messiah. Are there a few talking points for Jews you can give us?
There's a lot of misunderstanding among Christians about how a Jew is "saved." Even using that word, you're already using Christian vocabulary. Christians, especially evangelicals, regard Judaism as a system where you purchase salvation with acts, good deeds, sacrifices. That's such a misunderstanding of Judaism.
Jews were assured that we had been "saved"--to use Christian language--at Mount Sinai [where the Jews received the Torah]. The 613
mitzvot
--commandments--are our
response
to being saved. They're the grammar in which we conduct our relationship with God. The relationship has already been given to us as an unmerited gift at Mount Sinai. Just as there's a grammar of your relationship with your parents, your friends, your spouse. It's the same with God and the Jews and the Torah.

When Christians say, "You're receiving the gift of Jesus' sacrifice," it's like they're offering us a gift that we already had, in return for giving up something--namely, our relationship with God expressed through the Torah, through the commandments--that's the essence of what we've been for 3,300 years.

For a non-Jew, the offer of Christianity is wonderful. For a Jew, the offer of Christianity is getting something you already had, and giving up something of eternal, immeasurable worth--namely a unique relationship with God.
LS: In your book, you talk about meeting a window washer in Seattle who is sincerely puzzled that Jews don't accept Jesus. Many Christians feel there's this overwhelming stack of evidence--usually connections made between the New Testament and the Hebrew scriptures--"proving" that Jesus is the promised Messiah. What should both Christians and Jews know when a Christian says, "clearly Isaiah shows that Jesus is the one"?
One thing to know is that for every Christian claim about, for example,
Isaiah 53
[which describes a "suffering servant" who is persecuted to redeem the sins of his people], there's a Jewish response.
You
can
make an intelligent case from Isaiah 53 on behalf of Jesus. You can construe the Hebrew prophets as if they pointed forward to Jesus. But you can construe them to mean lots of different things.
Shabbatai Zevi
, the false messiah of the 17th century--his followers used those very same texts, including Isaiah 53, to prove that Shabbatai Zevi had to undergo suffering as the Messiah. You can use these texts to prove virtually anything.
What do Jews say the Messiah will be like? Read more >>
Related Features
Jesus: Just Another Wonder-Worker?
Rabbi David Wolpe: Why Jews Don't Accept Jesus
Jesus for Non-Christians

LS: And your book says first-century Palestine was full of would-be Messiahs--a lot of people going around [like Jesus] with healing powers and other things.
Right. For Jews to give up the unique relationship with God that we have on the basis of a plausible, but by no means the only plausible, interpretation of scripture, is asking a lot.

There are one or two verses in the Hebrew Bible that some Christians will point to as showing that the laws were going to be transcended or discarded. But if you look at the context, those verses, to my mind, don't indicate that.

But even if you thought the Christian interpretation was plausible, it's only a couple of verses. To base a decision to give up Torah on a couple of ambiguous verses in
Jeremiah
is not, to me, a serious response for a Jew. For a Christian, who defines his spirituality through the lens of the New Testament, it's different. The Christian prioritizes the new over the old.
LS: What do Jews believe the Messiah will be like, and how does Jesus differ from this?
The Messiah will change the world. There won't be any question about whether he's come.
LS: It will be completely obvious?
Yes. There's no indication that it will be a test if someone accepts him. In my book, I make the analogy of seeing a woman who's clearly pregnant, and then later her stomach is flat. There's no need to ask, "Did you have the baby?"

The trite response is, "Jesus didn't bring world peace." That's just the beginning. Ezekiel describes the third temple being built in the time of the Messiah--things anyone with eyes can verify.

Some Christians will say, it's a two-part process.

LS: Or they'll say it's metaphorical.
Well, if it's metaphorical, then everything's up for grabs. They'll be inconsistent about what's literal and what's metaphorical; Jews have a tradition that tells us what to understand literally and what figuratively.
LS: So the Christian interpretation of the rebuilt temple being Jesus' resurrection--that kind of symbolic, metaphorical reading--just doesn't work in terms of Jewish beliefs about the Messiah? You're saying the actual temple will be there. It will be an actual stone building?
There's no question. In the
last chapter of Ezekiel
, he describes a temple in great detail, down to exact measurements. The measurements are all wrong if it's supposed to be the First or Second Temple. So either he's describing something that's never going to happen or something that will happen.
Christians and Jews who take prophecy seriously can't understand his very architectural description as a metaphor. It clearly hasn't happened yet.
RP: I had never realized that Jesus was censored from the Talmud. You write that all mentions of Jesus were removed in the 16th century to avoid Christian wrath. I wonder if we would have been saved a lot of interfaith relations problems later if he had been left in. How did that happen and why?
There are a handful of references to Jesus in the pre-censored text of the Talmud. I struggled with whether to bring this up in my book, because some of them are off-color and offensive, certainly to Christians.

RP: Offensive because of the way Jesus is depicted?
The Talmud described his being punished after death--in a way that is clearly meant to be a metaphor. The story is a vision of villains suffering in hell, and one is of Jesus in hell [for 70 years]. It's clearly a metaphor, because Jews don't believe people suffer in hell longer than a year.

LS: So Jews believe people suffer in hell for a year?
Up to a year, if you've committed evils and haven't repented. In Jewish terms, it's not possible for Jesus to have been in hell 70 years after he died. It's clearly meant as a metaphor.
Nevertheless, I struggled with whether to bring things like that up at all. Why hurt the feelings of Christians? In many ways, it's the most religious Christians who are our very best friends--because they are friends of Israel and are on our side morally. But I ultimately decided that you can't write an honest history of the Jewish-Christian debate about Jesus without bringing up some disturbing things. The truth is, anti-Semites are already aware of this.

LS: What do Jews wish Christians understood about their feelings about Jesus?
I'd like them to understand that there is a serious and pretty massive response to Jewish arguments on behalf of Jesus. The story I tell in the book about being evangelized--that happens not infrequently. My friend Michael Medved, who speaks to a lot of Christian groups, tells me he gets asked about five times a week by Christians, in effect, "You seem like such a wonderful person, why don't you accept Jesus?"
It's not out of ignorance or impiety or not caring that Jews remain Jews. It's because we take the Hebrew Bible seriously. Christians, especially evangelicals--who also take the Hebrew Bible very seriously--should be able to understand that.
In a sense, I welcome Christian evangelism, because I think it's a very healthy challenge and prod to Jews. In my own case, my whole journey to Orthodox Judaism started because I got into an argument with a Jew for Jesus in 1982 on the UCLA campus. He argued with me about Isaiah 53 and showed me I didn't know anything about my inherited religion. I was disturbed by that, and it made we want to go out and learn more about the religion I'd been raised in.

For a lot of Jews it's the same. We sort of blithely go along and say, "To be a Jew means we don't believe in Jesus," which is nonsense. Christians, when they evangelize us in their sweet, respectful way-which is always the case in my experience-are challenging us to learn more about our own religion.

RP: At the same time, Jews spend millions each year on counter-missionary efforts. I doubt whether most Jews would say, "evangelism is a blessing."
I'm friendly with the guys at Jews for Judaism. They do a great job. I don't mean this in an insulting way to Christians, but when your body gets an infection it produces antibodies, and the antibodies are good to have around. Jews for Judaism wouldn't exist if it were not for Jews for Jesus. Jews for Jesus doesn't have a lot of success attracting actual Jews. A lot of the people who attend Messianic synagogue are not Jewish by birth.

LS: There have been many recent debates about religion in the public square. But do Jews feel uncomfortable seeing a creche scene on someone's lawn, or a crucifix or painting in someone's home?
There are definitely Jews who, while driving around a non-Jewish neighborhood and seeing a depiction of the Nativity on someone's lawn, would think "Oh, it's evangelism." It's a minority of Jews, but there are some Jews who have a very thin skin about any hint of any religion whatsoever. Not that they would take offense at a crucifix in someone's home, but they might feel "they might try to evangelize me." There's a weird fear, as if Jews haven't learned how to say "no thank you." I don't understand the fear, but it's definitely there.
LS: For many Christians, the Hebrew scriptural links are prioritized, as you said, according to how well they mesh with the story of Jesus. The interpretations are so ingrained. It's a big conundrum--how to gently explain to Christians that the evidence linking the Old Testament and New Testament isn't quite as self-evident as most Christians believe.
The only point where I disagree is "gently." My preference is for vigorous civilized debate in these issues.

LS: What about on a more personal level--when you're in someone's living room?
Yeah, for sure. We live in a really special time when Jews and Christians for the first time can discuss these questions in a spirit of friendship and love, not in a spirit of being threatened or angry. We should take that opportunity and not pretend it's still the Middle Ages when a Jew could get killed for saying the wrong thing.

1 comment:

Superb JonSeptember 26, 2011 at 2:34 PM
Brzezinski set up Arab Spring and Zia, so why surprised bin Laden was in Sineurabia code? Pakistanis descend from weasels who sold their Hindu brothers into hundreds of years of islamic slavery. That is why FIAT supplied Iran and every Catholic is like a Manchurian Candidate programmed to kill their best friend of they felt the "Holy Father" required it. Vatican Osservatore Romano editor Vian said on May 18th that Obama "is not a pro-abortion president" - proves stand to encourage Catholics to breed and to encourage non-Catholics to abort out of spite. The Vatican likes the abortion status quo in the USA for this reason. Their purpose is only conquest, not faith. Carolignian Brzezinski spawned Zia al Haq, Khomeini, and bin Laden - breaks up superpowers via Aztlan and Kosovo as per Joel Garreau's Nine Nations. Brzezinski, Buckley and Buchanan winked anti-Semitic votes for Obama, delivered USA to Pope's feudal basket of Bamana Republics. Michael Pfleger and Joe Biden prove Obama is the Pope's boy. Obama is half a Kearney from County Offaly in Ireland. Talal got Pontifical medal as Fatima mandates Catholic-Muslim union against Jews (Francis Johnson, Great Sign, 1979, p. 126), Catholic Roger Taney wrote Dred Scott decision. John Wilkes Booth, Tammany Hall and Joe McCarthy were Catholics. Now Catholic majority Supreme Court. Catholics Palmisano, Grasso, Damato, Langone, Mozilo, Ranieri, Dioguardi, Palmieri destroyed American industry with their casuistrous ethics. Subprime construction mobsters had hookers deliver mortgages to banks. McCain's Keeting started it all. They find American cars too advanced to use or their mechanics to fix. Ellis Island Popecrawlers brought in FDR. Since Pio Nino banned voting they consider our Constitution and laws immoral and illegitimate and think nothing of violating them or passing legislation that undermine them. They believe that they can not be fully loyal to their superiors if they do not go the extra stretch and break the law intentionally. Their slovenly, anti-intellectual work ethic produces vacuous, casuistrous blather and a tangle of hypocritical, contradictory regulations. Their clubhouse purges provided praetorian training for corporate misgovernance. They sided with the enemy in both World Wars and now, too. Their brutal, vindictive tradition was manifest when Pompey crucified Spartacus and his six thousand fellow rebel slaves as a grisly display along the Capua-Rome highway. They know no mercy or forgiveness: when the subjugated Carthage asked permission to defend itself, they were so paranoid, they burned and salted it to the ground - they now treat Russia the same way, exposing us to muslim risk. Vercingetorix was strangled in prison five years after he surrendered. Every American boom has been caused by an Evangelical Revival and every major Depression by the domination of new Catholic immigrants. NYC top drop outs: Hispanic 32%, Black 25%, Italian 20%. NYC top illegals: Ecuadorean, Italian, Polish. Ate glis-glis but blamed plague on others, now lettuce coli. Their bigotry most encouraged terror yet they reap most security funds. View this life as casuistry training to survive purgatory. Rabbi circumcises lower, Pope upper brain. Tort explosion by glib casuistry. Hollywood Joe Kennedy had Bing Crosby proselytize. Bazelya 1992 case proves PLO-IRA-KLA links. Our enemy is the Bru666elles Sineurabia feudal Axis and the only answer is alliance with Israel and India. They killed six million Jews, a million Serbs, half a million freemasons, a quarter million Gypsies, they guided the slaughter of Assyrians and Armenians, and promoted the art of genocide throughout the world now they are relentless in their year to canonize nazi pope. They had no qualms hijacking American policy in Vietnam or Balkans to papal ends, but when American interests opposed those of the papacy in Iraq and Iran, they showed their true fangs (Frum, Unpatriotic Conservatives).
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

B. Clinton unhappy with Russian Israelis

The former US President Bill Clinton feels that Russian immigrants and settlers in the Middle East are the main barrier in the way of reaching a settlement in the region. He told the Global Initiative conference in New York that Israel’s Russian-speaking population is the least interested in concluding an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. The former US President complained that 16% of Israelis are Russian-speakers, which is a shocking problem, since they make Israel a different country.

The Prime Minister told the Cabinet Sunday morning, "I hear about two states, but I don't hear two peoples." In a press conference Friday, President Obama directly told reporters that Israel should meet Abbas' demand but ignored the Israeli demand, stated in a reporter's comment that “Abbas…said the Palestinians won’t recognize Israel as a Jewish state.” The reporter continued, “The question is, if these talks fail at an early stage, will this administration disengage? Or maybe you’re ready to step up and deepen your personal involvement.”

Title: "The debate on the 10 commandments heating up! "Head of the [oppositionist] CHP [party] Kemal Kilicdaroglu responded to the statement of the Turkish prime minister, who addressed Israel by quoting the sixth commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill.' Kilicdaroglu told Erdogan, The eighth commandment is 'Thou shalt not steal,' and the ninth commandment is 'Thou shalt not lie." Kilicdaroglu: "Recep Bey, the ninth commandment is 'Thou shalt not lie.'" Erdogan: "Are you the one to teach me the Bible?" Moses (in center): "Don't rely on me to break up the fight..." Penguen (Turkey), June 22, 2010

The sun god Baal worshiped by Palestinians

And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying: 'O Baal, answer us.' But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they danced in halting wise about the altar which was made... And they cut themselves after their manner with swords and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them. 1 Ki 18:26 And they forsook all the commandments of the Lord, their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal; and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through fire, and used divination and enchantments, and gave themselves over to do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him 2 Kg 17:16

G. Grass writes a poem

The Symbol of the Latin Christianity

Guenther Grass in 1944

The Passion inspired by M. Gibson's movie

Christian Communism Logo

Che Guevara and Castro meet

Benedict XVi and Castro meet

The Geocentric Dome of Dome of 13th century Bibi-Heybat Mosque

Azeri Language

Lars Vilks, Jesus-pedophile

Benedict XVi kissing sheikh

K. Wojtyla's Ordination as imam-bishop Cracow 1958

Body-soul (Cp. Paul's Spiritual body). Be ready for cosmic journey!

Bonestell-Landing on the Moon

Lunar-lander

Vishnu

Vishnu as Buddha in the sun and Greek Nature

Baal, Shiva, Aten, Odin - Greek god of Nature

The same greenish Hue

The same greenish Hue

Trident Jesus

Angel Gabriel and Virgin Mary

The Darwinian struggle for Survival at theVatican

The Most Learned canon of Ermland

Hegemonikon or the Ruler of von Lauchen's Heliocentrism

A Graphic Rendition of Copernicus's Book

Such circles deceived Copernicus into believing in heliocentrism

Death of Nicolaus Copernicus

Aisha Qaddafi seeks asylum in Israel

The Committee of 300 or British CHEKA

Black SS-Pope

Pope John Paul II's 'Breviary'

Workers-priests

Communist Pope

Superhubris

Very Evil Pope

Lethal Mix AIDS and Alkoholism

Theology of the Body or by boobs and by crux

Theology of the Body or from Palestine with Love

Justin Martyr: Jesus is an erected phallus, like Egyptian Min

The Phallic Mosque in Jerusalem

Symbol of Islam

Karl Marx monument viewed from back looks like a phallus

Hittite, Phoenician, Kassi cult of the Sun and Cross

The Nicene, evolving cat of Massachussetts

The Nicene Jesus in Trinity

UNSC rejects Palestine's bid for membership

An Italian Poster on the funeral day of pope JP2

Irish Embassy to the Vatican to be Closed

Swastika - the Perennial symbol of sun gods

Allah is the sun god. He is Mar Alah, or the sun god Surya

Ethereal body in Hindu religion

Saint Paul, an ancient klansman

Obama, the Enabler

Qaddafi's Corpse

OccupyAurora Protest in Sankt Petersburg

The relics of John Paul II in Odessa

The Afghan Crucifix: Jesus died al kiddush ha-Shem

Wernher, shoot him down

Death to Assad

Nazi and fascist Dictators

Farrakhan with Rev. Pfleger

M. Gibson receives a honorary degree from a Catholic Notre Dame University

The Hate Propaganda sposored by theVatican

Gilad at last home

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon to me wishing me a happy New Year

Enough is enough

Baal, Ashera with the pagan symbol of Trinity

Jesus with the Pagan Symbol of Trinity

Putin meets Hu Jintao Oct. 12, 2011

Paul and Nancy

The Kurds in Syria demand an independen state of their own

A. Hitler's letter of 1919 postulating destruction of Jews

Who is Confucius but Moses speaking Chinese?

Yassir Arafat Dying of AIDS

The Aryan, heliocentric Ruler of Canaan

Mussolini, a sculpture by Polish artist S. Szukalski

The Jedwabne Monument in Poland Vandalized

Map of the Indo-British Empire of the Sun

Aria in the Behistun Inscription