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Various Topics Discussed
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issionaries present Jewish teachings as one thing -- as literal. "Rabbi ___ said the messiah _____ speaking of Isaiah (or Jeremiah or any other book in the Bible)." Quite possibly said source did say it (although it is often mistranslated and sometimes 100% false) -- but he wasn't speaking literally. These "Jewish sources" given by missionaries usually boil down to one of four areas: - Outright lies (totally made up); - Misquoted (badly mistranslated beyond all recognition); - Out of context -- ignoring the overall meaning of the sage; - Taking homily (not meant to be read literally, but rather for the moral purpose) as if it were plain meaning (drash as p'shat). Here is a big red flag: prophecy is never based on hints, types, shadows and so on. This is called p'shat -- plain meaning. Torah interpretation has many levels -- at its core is the plain meaning which is always the "literal" meaning. One can learn a great deal by looking at passages from different perspectives -- but this NEVER changes its plain meaning. Torah interpretation is called PaRDeS. This is an acronym formed from the first letters of the four levels of study and it means 'orchard' in Hebrew. Prophecy is always based on plain meaning -- p'shat -- the first level. For those reading this who do not know the terms p'shat, drash and sod, these terms relate to the various levels the Jewish bible is read, PaRDeS: * P'shat (פְּשָׁט) - the "plain" ("simple") meaning of a passage (prophecy is always based on 'pshat); * Remez (רֶמֶז) - "hints" implied in the text but not explicit; * Drash (דְּרַשׁ) - which is a deeper or even midrashic meaning -- often inferred from other scripture; * Sod (סוֹד) - "secret" ("mystery") meanings. So missionaries ignore the p'shat and instead search through the teachings of Jewish sources to find anything they think can be used to convince a Jew that the idolatry of worshiping a man as G-d is somehow supported by our sages. As if. Prophecy is never based on hints, or shadows or vague possibilities. Judaism is replete with stories and "tall tales" -- but those are not literal and are not meant to be taken literally. A principle of the Talmud that Rashi quotes several times states that אֵין מִקְרָא יוֹצֵא מִידֵי פְשׁוּטוֹ -- in English this would be "A verse cannot depart from its plain meaning." (Treatise Shabbat 63a, Treatise Y'vamot 11b, 24a; quoted by Rashi at B'réshıt / Genesis 15:10, 37:19, and Sh'mot / Exodus 12:2). It seems this missionary's purpose in abusing Jewish sources is to "prove" that a human can be a "sin sacrifice." Totally forbidden -- human sacrifices are disgusting to G-d and this is repeated time and time and time again in the Hebrew Bible. The Torah vehemently FORBIDS human sacrifices: Vayikra / Leviticus 18:21; "you shall not give any of your offspring to pass through for Molech. And you shall not profane the Name of your G-d. I am the L-rd." (Molech was a false god, but the point is that human sacrifices profane the name of G-d and are forbidden). Vayikra / Leviticus 24; "if a man strikes down any human being he shall be put to death.. . . one who strikes a person shall be put to death. . . One law shall be exacted for you, convert and resident alike, for I am the L-rd, your G-d. Yesterday I had a conversation with someone who brought up a meme by a missionary quoting a highly respected man: R' Chaim ibn Attar, known as Ohr HaChaim (after one of his most famous works) and also R' Moshe Chaim Luzzatto known as the RaMCHaL. The missionary quoted both men out of context and, of course, ignoring that the men he was referencing were both kabbalists, not speaking at a literal level at all. Perhaps he found these "quotes" from some other missionary and is clueless as to the identity of both men. Let's be gracious and give the missionary the "benefit of the doubt." So let me introduce you to both of them. R' Chaim ibn Attar, known as Ohr HaChaim lived fairly recently (per Jewish timing). He was born in 1696 and died in 1743. As a young man living in Morocco he became famous as a Talmudic scholar and Kabbalist. Kabbalist. Mysticism. Not literal. Kabbalah is based on drash and sod -- looking for hidden meanings. Prophecy is never based on hidden meaning. Missionary misuse and distortion yet again by quoting this saintly man and not explaining to anyone who he was or that he was a Kabbalist -- of great renown! Sadly he passed away at the age of 47. So this is a holy man whom the missionaries try to use to lure Jews by distorting his teachings. He is one of many. The missionaries do not quote the beginning of his section they abuse. He begins: "The Torah says: או הקמה, "or the standing corn;" this is a hint..." HINT. Not literal. Another meme does the same thing to R' Moshe Chaim Luzzatto 1707 – 16 May 1746 (26 Iyar 5506), known as the RaMCHaL. Another Kabbalist, aka "mystic." The distortion here is from Derech HaShem which he wrote in the 1730s. it discusses Jewish concepts about G-d from His existence, to the purpose of His creating our world and more. Again: NOT LITERAL. This particular missionary was trying to point to Jewish sources saying that the death of a tzadok (righteous person) is like a sin sacrifice -- but again, they are NOT speaking literally and they are not pointing to anything in the Hebrew Bible that supports the murder of a human as being an ACCEPTABLE sacrifice. They were simply saying that bad things happen to good people and when it does their deaths are not meaningless -- their lives and good deeds stand for something and help to heal the world. Kabbalah is complex and difficult to understand without years of Torah education. Far too many today are trying to "dabble" in the deep waters of Kabbalah without first learning how to swim (and understand the basics, and foundations of Judaism). At its heart Kabbalah explores G-d's interaction with the world, and the purpose of Creation. It may be ignorance on the part of these missionaries, or they may know they are lying. It's hard to say -- but they are being completely deceitful and innocent, uneducated Jews are their target. The Orthodox Union puts it well: "Some authorities maintain that there should be a general limit on the study of kabbalah and other esoteric subjects. Rabbi Shlomo Luria, the Maharshal (d. 1573) complains (Shu”t 98 ) about ignoramuses learning kabbalah." Ignoramuses' learning kabbalah... Missionaries will dabble quoting sages speaking of drash or remez -- as if they are literal. They are doing so out of ignorance -- and as the Rambam wrote: "I maintain that it is not proper for a person to stroll in the Pardes unless he has filled his belly with bread and meat. "Bread and meat" refer to the knowledge of what is permitted and what is forbidden, and similar matters concerning other mitzvot." If only missionaries would understand this! But they have a purpose and probably don't care!
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