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¿Es Peligroso pensar por sí Mismo?

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La mayoría de la gente quiere estar cómoda. No revuelvas el agua. ¡Déjame en paz con mis creencias y déjame vivir en mi zona de confort! 

Pero a veces el hambre de algo real suprime el aburrimiento de la melancolía esperada de una vida mundana. Y aquellos que salen de su zona de confort probablemente vivirán para arrepentirse si no encuentran algo mejor. El problema con quienes desafían los límites y decepcionan las expectativas de la gente es que a la gente no le gusta. ¡Especialmente cuando se trata de religión que puede haber estado en la familia durante generaciones!

Mi marido y yo acabamos de terminar un libro de Shulem Dean, un joven ex jasid y ultra-ortodoxo que desafió las autoridades, por así decirlo, y encontró la salida del mundo de la ortodoxia, pero al hacerlo perdió su matrimonio, su 5 niños, su comunidad, y casi termina quitándose la vida. Biblia, Los que van, no regresan, está disponible para su compra en línea y hay una copia parcial disponible aquí. Y tiene muchos YouTube. Uno que he visto es aquí. 

El lavado de cerebro desde el nacimiento ocurre en la mayoría de las familias religiosas, y creo que tiene que ver con conceptos falsos del Dios Altísimo del Universo. Miedo al infierno o a la separación de Dios basado en mentiras inventadas por la mayoría, si no todos, los movimientos eclesiásticos. No se permite el libre pensamiento, y las personas que valoran lo cómodo por encima de lo real se niegan a desafiar el sistema. ¡Es demasiado peligroso! No es fácil ir en contra de la multitud por muchas razones. 

Cuando dejé el cristianismo, mi familia quedó desilusionada. Mi padre, que en paz descanse, preguntó: “¿Cómo podéis rechazar a nuestro Salvador?” Estaba muy a la defensiva. Claramente quería hacer lo correcto. Había vivido en ese mundo durante más de 50 años y durante varios años antes de separarme de la iglesia, comencé a “ver” las trampas que estaban allí para mantener a los miembros “seguros en el redil”. La estructura jerárquica de la iglesia era clara. Los que estaban en la cima no fueron cuestionados y las ovejas (las que se sentaban en los bancos semana tras semana) eran su pan de cada día, proporcionándoles su plataforma de control financiero y de liderazgo.

Viví y trabajé en varios lugares donde pude ver lo que estaba pasando en el liderazgo de esa iglesia. Puede que haya sido ingenuo cuando era niño y joven, pero cuando comencé a ver las cosas, las ruedas de mi cabeza empezaron a girar. Durante este tiempo, conocí a un hombre de liderazgo que había trabajado en los niveles más altos de esa iglesia, alguien que fue reprendido por decir la verdad. Además, le habían ordenado que se retractara de un libro que había escrito y lo retirara del mercado, no porque fuera mentira, sino porque tenía hechos que podrían hacer tambalear la confianza de los miembros y la organización podría comenzar a funcionar. Tambalearse de arriba hacia abajo!  También conocí a otro ministro que fue expulsado por revelar algo de lo que había sucedido para transformar la iglesia en algo que el Vaticano pudiera aceptar. (Para aquellos que no lo saben, el Vaticano II trataba de alinear a todas las iglesias protestantes y llamarlas a regresar al redil bajo ciertas especificaciones de creencia fundamental). Estos cambios, de los que habló el pastor retirado y excomulgado, ocurrieron durante mi vida. Sabía que las cosas no estaban bien. Fue entonces cuando dejé de ser miembro de la iglesia y me quedé solo en el desierto, por así decirlo. Algunos amigos y algunos miembros de mi familia se alejaron un poco de la organización debido a mis descubrimientos. Pero hasta ahí llegaron. 

Después de 15 años estudiando solo, me uní a una secta liberal del judaísmo. Sabía que había problemas cuando escuché largos sermones sobre los méritos de que las mujeres tuvieran la opción de abortar, incluso los abortos tardíos. Me pregunté qué tenía esto que ver con el Dvar Torá en ese Shabat en particular.  Vi muchas cosas que no se alineaban con la Biblia y pensé que tal vez las sectas más conservadoras y ortodoxas eran más aceptables. Me mudé a la Iglesia Ortodoxa Moderna. Ahora, 15 años después, veo errores que me hacen temblar. A menudo, muchos judíos devotos ni siquiera conocen la Biblia. A menudo cito versículos de las Escrituras y recibo miradas en blanco cuando me topo con cosas como la reencarnación y la adoración de los muertos. (Así es como yo lo llamo, aunque lo nieguen). Déjame explicarte. Existe una práctica común de visitar las tumbas de los Sabios y Profetas aquí en Israel. Muchos rabinos e incluso Cohanim toman sus libros de oraciones y rezan en estas tumbas. Cuando se les pregunta por qué, dicen que están pidiendo a los muertos que medien ante Dios por ellos. ¡Yo digo que eso es rezar a los muertos! ¿No es así? Permítanme afirmar también que debido a una laguna en lo que han creado para los Cohanim, han construido caminos especiales para ellos para que puedan adorar en estos cementerios. 

Así que estoy de vuelta otra vez, estudiando por mi cuenta. Deseando la aparición del Mesías y hasta un pequeño grupo que piensa por sí mismo. Después de todo, ¿no se trata de eso? ¿No fue eso lo que hizo que Abram ganara el favor del Eterno? ¿Quién guió a Abram? ¿Yitsac? ¿Yacov? No veo nada acerca de que estén levantando sinagogas o iglesias. 

La historia de todas las religiones organizadas parece seguir el mismo camino. Vemos la primera congregación, la de Israel en el Sinaí. ¿Cuánto tiempo mantuvieron el rumbo? Cuando deseaban un culto formal, construyeron un becerro de oro y más tarde los cultos de los madianitas y moabitas que vivían en la tierra. Aparentemente, la orden de subir al Santo Templo de Jerusalén tres veces al año no fue suficiente para ellos. Luego Babilonia conquistó al pueblo judío y durante 70 años vivieron allí. No sabemos mucho sobre lo que pasó allí, pero cuando regresaron para construir el segundo Templo, nada volvió a ser igual. Hubo un nuevo liderazgo que comenzó a reescribir las Sagradas Escrituras. Talmud, Mishná Torá, Zohar. La Torá literal no fue suficiente, y la Palabra de Dios, aunque a veces hablada a través de profetas, pronto dejó al pueblo en manos del liderazgo que ha continuado hasta el día de hoy. Hubo luchas de poder entre los asmoneos, fariseos, saduceos, etc. 

Luego se produjo la aparición de Jesús, quien aparentemente reprendió muchas de las costumbres y controles que se estaban dando durante su vida. Realmente no se sabe mucho de él, ya que la mayor parte del Nuevo Testamento fue introducido por Roma. La historia que tenemos de los esenios y otros que supuestamente lo siguieron después de su muerte muestra que ninguno de ellos creía que fuera un dios de ningún tipo. Muchos creyeron que él era el Mesías, y muchos creyeron en su resurrección, y oraron por su pronto regreso. Pero este movimiento se convirtió en otro engaño. Muchos perdieron la vida a manos de Roma. Y Roma se apoderó de la religión y la utilizó para destruir a los judíos. Y la Iglesia Católica se convirtió en uno de los esquemas piramidales más controladores y destacados de la historia del mundo. 

Entre los judíos, durante el período del Segundo Templo, siempre hubo competencia por la supremacía, incluso mirando a Roma, quien ayudó a establecer el orden farisaico. Se sabe poco sobre los saduceos que se opusieron a los escritos de los sabios rabínicos y defendieron la Torá escrita dada por Moisés. Sin embargo, sabemos que los fariseos ganaron a las facciones rivales de la época y luego intercambiaron el Templo y Jerusalén con Roma. (Enlace). Investiga la historia de cómo llegamos a donde estamos hoy. ¡Puede que lleve algo de tiempo y una investigación profunda!

Toda religión organizada asume el control del pensamiento y la investigación individuales. Las iglesias proporcionan libros de investigación. Los judíos tienen muchos libros que definen sus creencias autorizadas. ¿Es posible encontrar un grupo de personas que abracen la Biblia y al mismo tiempo den libertad a otros para pensar individualmente mientras encuentran y siguen su propio camino? ¿Es peligroso entretener a personas así como amigos? 

Un fenómeno interesante parece ocurrir hoy en Israel. Hay muchos judíos en Israel que no están afiliados. Muchos son llamados seculares por los más religiosos, sin embargo, muchos de estos mismos judíos “seculares” tienen un profundo conocimiento de las cosas eternas y de la Biblia. ¿Cómo sucedió esto? Cuando los judíos lucharon por crear una nación hace apenas un siglo, fue con sangre, sudor y lágrimas. En esta lucha, descubrieron lo que significaba trabajar solos contra un mundo incrédulo. Creían que Israel había sido entregado a los judíos y muchos dieron sus vidas para recuperar esta tierra. Los hijos y nietos de estas personas son algunas de las almas más fuertes, amables y nobles que he conocido. ¿Son anti-Dios sólo porque se niegan a acobardarse ante la religión? ¡Yo no lo veo así! 

¿Será posible que éste sea el pueblo que busca el Eterno? ¿Aquellos que no tienen a nadie por encima de ellos que guíe su pensamiento? ¿Será posible que estas personas no religiosas escuchen el sonido de un viento susurrante entre los sauces que anuncia la entrada del Mesías? ¡Todavía hay una vocecita que habla de las maravillas de la fe individual! ¿Será que el Mesías vendrá de entre estos que escuchan la voz antigua que una vez habló a nuestro Padre Abraham?

“Deja a los necios y vive; y sigue el camino del entendimiento”. (Pr 9:6)

“Huid de en medio de Babilonia, y librad cada uno su alma; no perezcáis por su iniquidad; porque éste es el tiempo de la venganza de Jehová; él le dará su retribución”. (Jeremías 51:6)

En Shalom,

Ariella de la Golan de Israel

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A Free Thinker in another’s Comfort Zone

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People for the most part want to be comfortable. Don’t stir the water. Leave me alone to my beliefs and let me live in my comfort zone! 

But sometimes the hunger for something real, suppresses the boredom of expected melancholy of a mundane life. And those who break out of their comfort zone will probably live to regret it, if they do not find something better. The problem with those who defy boundaries and disappoint people’s expectations, is that people don’t like it. Especially when it comes to religion that may have been in the family for generations!

When I left Christianity, my family was disappointed. My father, may he rest in peace, asked: “How can you reject our Savior?” I was very defensive. Clearly, I wanted to do what was right. I had lived in that world for over 50 years and for several years before I separated from the church, I began to “see” the traps that were there to keep the members “safely in the fold.” The hierarchical set-up of the church was clear. The ones at the top were not questioned and the sheep, (the ones who sat in the pews from week to week) were their bread and butter, providing their financial and leadership platform of control.

My husband and I have just finished a book by Shulem Dean, an ex Hassid, Ultra Orthodox young man who defied gravity, so to speak and found his way out of the world of Orthodoxy, but in doing so, he lost his marriage, his 5 children, his community, and nearly ended up taking his life. The book, Those who Go, do not Return, is available online for purchase and a partial copy is available here. And he has many YouTube’s, one I have watched is here. 

I lived and worked in several places where I could see what was going on in the leadership of that church. I may have been naive as a child and young adult, but when I began to see things, the wheels in my head started turning. During this time, I met a man in leadership who had worked in the higher echelons of that church, someone who was chastised for telling the truth. Furthermore, he had been ordered to write a recantation to a book he had written and pull it off the market–not because it was a lie, but because he had facts that might shake up the trust of the members and the organization could begin to totter from the top down!  I also met another minister who was disfellowshipped for revealing some of what had gone on to change the church into something that the Vatican could accept. (For those who do not know, Vatican II was about aligning all the protestant churches and calling them back to the fold under certain specifications of fundamental belief.) These changes, which the retired and excommunicated pastor spoke about, happened during my lifetime. I knew things were not right. It was about then that I removed my membership from the church and stood alone in the wilderness, so to speak. A few friends and some of my family actually stepped a little ways out from the organization because of my discoveries. But that is as far as they went. 

Brainwashing from birth happens in most families who are religious, and I believe it has to do with false concepts of the Most High God of the Universe. Fear of hellfire or separation from God based on lies trumped-up by most, if not all, ecclesiastic movements. Free thinking is not allowed, and people who cherish the comfortable above the real refuse to challenge the system. It is too dangerous! It is not easy to go against the crowd, for a lot of reasons. 

After 15 years studying alone, I joined a liberal sect of Judaism. I knew that there were problems when I heard long sermons on the merits of women having the choice for abortions, even late-term abortions.I asked myself, what this had to do with the Dvar Torah on that particular Shabbat!  I saw a lot of things that didn’t line up with the Bible and thought that maybe the more conservative and orthodox sects were more acceptable. I moved to Modern Orthodox. Now 15 years later, I see errors that make me tremble. The Bible is often not even known by many devout Jews. I often quote verses of Scripture and receive blank stares when I come up against things like reincarnation and the worship of the dead. (That is what I call it, even though they will deny it.) Let me explain. There is a common practice of visiting the tombs of the Sages and Prophets here in Israel. Many rabbis and even Cohanim take their prayer books and pray at these tombs. When asked why, they say they are asking the dead to mediate with God for them. I say that is praying to the dead! Is it not? Let me assert also that because of a loophole in what they have created for the Cohanim, they have special paths built for them so that they can worship in these cemeteries. 

So I am back again, studying on my own. Wishing for the appearance of the Messiah and even a small group that thinks for themselves. After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Wasn’t that what brought Abram into favor with the Eternal. Who led Abram? Yitsac? Yacov? I don’t see anything about them raising up synagogues or churches. 

The history of all organized religions seems to take the same path. We see the first congregation, that of Israel at Sinai. How long did they stay on track? When they desired for formal worship they built a golden calf, and later the cults of the Midianites and Moabites who lived in the land. Apparently, the command to go up to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem three times a year was not enough for them. Then Babylon conquered the Jewish people and for 70 years they lived there. We do not know a lot about what happened there, but when they returned to build the second Temple, nothing was the same. There was a new leadership that began to rewrite Holy Writ. Talmud, Mishna Torah, Zohar. The literal Torah was not enough, and the Word of God, although sometimes spoke through prophets, soon left the people in the hands of the leadership which has carried on until this day. There were power struggles between the Hasmoneans, Pharisees, Sadducees, etc. 

Then there was the appearance of Jesus, who apparently rebuked a lot of the customs and control that was taking place during his lifetime. Not much is really known of him, since most of the New Testament was introduced by Rome. The history we do have of the Essenes and others who purportedly followed him after his death, shows that none of them believed he was a god of any type. Many believed him to be the Messiah, and many believed in his resurrection and prayed for his soon return. But this movement turned into another deception. Many lost their lives at the hands of Rome. And Rome took over the religion and used it to destroy the Jews. And the Catholic Church became one of the most controlling and outstanding pyramid schemes in the history of the world. 

Among the Jews during the Second Temple period, there was always vying for supremacy, even looking to Rome, who helped to establish the Pharisaic order. There is little known about the Sadducees who objected to the writings of the Rabbinic Sages and stood for the written Torah which was given by Moses. Yet we know that the Pharisees won over the vying factions of the day and then bartered off the Temple and Jerusalem to Rome. (Link). Research the history of how we got to where we are today. It may take some time and deep digging!

All organized religion assumes control of individual thinking and research. Churches provide research books. The Jews have many many books that define their authorized beliefs. Is it possible to find a group of people who embrace the Bible while at the same time giving freedom to others to think individually as they find and follow their own path? Is it dangerous to entertain such people as friends? 

An interesting phenomenon seems to be true in Israel today. There are many Jews in Israel that are unaffiliated. Many are called secular by the more religious, yet many of these same “secular” Jews, have a deep understanding of eternal things and the Bible. How did this happen? When the Jews struggled to create a nation not even a century ago, it was through blood, sweat and tears. In this struggle, they found what it meant to work alone against an unbelieving world. They believed that Israel was given to the Jews and many laid down their lives to win back this land. The children and grandchildren of these people are some of the strongest, kindest and noblest of souls that I have met anywhere. Are they Anti-God just because they refuse to cow down to religion? I don’t see it that way! 

Is it possible that this is the people that the Eternal is seeking? Those who have no one above them guiding their thinking? Is it possible that these non-religious people will hear a sound of a rustling wind in the willows that announce the entrance of the Messiah. There is still a small voice that speaks of the wonders of individual faith! Can it be that the Messiah will come from among these who listen to the ancient voice that once spoke to our Father Abraham?

“Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.” (Pro 9:6)

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.” (Jer 51:6)

B’Shalom,

Ariella of the Golan

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Hechshering Religion

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Is a Rational Faith Possible?

In the established religions of our times, Holy books written by scholars of those religions outline the obligations of observant devotees that profess to be followers of this faith. There is very little if any individual thinking allowed. And what of the Bible, which is claimed as an anchor and basis in the case of Judaism and Christianity? Wouldn’t individual study of the Bible lead to a rational, logical faith on most accounts?–Especially the foundational truths of the Tenakh or Old Testament? Is there anything logical about these ancient writings? And what of other ancient writings? Do they pass the test of common sense? Does even the Bible pass the test of common sense? I hope so!

In my quest for a satisfying religion and the right path to God, I have set aside the writings of man when they conflict with what the Bible says. In fact, they usually do conflict in one way or another.  I do not include the New Testament as part of authentic Scripture in this statement. Why?

Because, seriously studied, in most cases, it does not line up with what is stated as foundational truth in Tenakh.

Some, perhaps once “burned” by organized religion, have doubted the authenticity of any part of the Bible and seek to throw out most of it.  It seems that too many rules make the temptation greater to throw out the baby with the bath water, but let’s walk slowly here, not all that we have learned is bad. And if one chooses to follow something that is not commanded for his own health and happiness, that should be his choice. But there needs to be a clear separation between the Bible and the commentaries of sages and clergy.

Perhaps we could all agree that the 10 words spoken from Sinai are the bottom line for humanity. Do they make sense? Perhaps some would argue that keeping the Sabbath is not a logical commandment, even though in its true sense, it provides rest from an otherwise exhausting routine in a dog-eat-dog world. 

Some, who do not believe in a literal God who created the Universe, may throw out the first couple of commands, which deal with worshiping only one God and the third which speaks against blasphemy. Ok, but what about stealing, cheating, adultery, murder, coveting, honoring one’s parents? Aren’t these the universal foundation of moral laws adopted by the more stable governments in this world? It is interesting to follow what happens when a nation chooses to disregard these moral precepts. We remember France and the anarchy that reigned there during the French Revolution. We see the decline of morality in great nations such as England and America and many other places today. Will these nations survive? Probably not for long.

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa 11:3). 

Many have followed age-old organizations whose leaders have written volumes on their own views of the Bible and its simple laws, and some whom I know, once religious, have thrown their caution to the wind, and left everything lock stock and barrel, denying even the foundational truths of the Bible. Why? Why not? Could it be because they are tired of following rules that do not make sense? Which rules? Man-made rules, for the most part. And because they have equated both Biblical and man-made doctrine as stemming from the same source, they trash the whole thing. Some have left Mormonism because they want to drink Coffee. Some have left the J. W’s because of the prohibition of blood transfusions, some have stepped away from the SDA church because of it’s  focus on Veganism and the avoidance of all things alcoholic.  But coffee is not prohibited by the Bible, the view of blood transfusions is an extrapolation of the command to abstain from blood and the view on vegetarianism is not biblical. There is nothing that prohibits a person from practicing these things personally, but they were never meant to replace the Law of YHVH. 

Unfortunately, these people have been brainwashed to think that their prophets and leaders can change what the Bible says at will.  

Orthodox Jews when they get tired of the rules, throw off the head covering or begin to use electricity on Shabbat or start eating Treif (food that is not rabbinically kosher). But these rules have been taken a long ways from what the Torah really commands.  

People are tired of leading a heavily regulated life–one that they can hardly bear and for which they will be humiliated by their peers if they do not comply, one which makes little logical sense but guarantees the member’s place in the elite club they belong to. 

And some really go off the derech when they start embracing Evolution and other fallacies just to get rid of God. So what about science? A close look often shows major problems with scientific discoveries. Some will swear that science proves the Bible wrong, that man really did come from a monkey and that the world is 4 billion years old. That there was no universal flood. This science as been around for a while, but it is not logical if it is closely examined. If we take God as our Creator, and accept that mankind was made in His image, then we are elevated above something that evolved from something inferior. The first man, according to scripture, was not a cave man. Adam was created in the Image of God, and today, mankind has, if anything, deteriorated in his reflection of this image. One argument that shouts to be heard is; Why do we still have monkeys and why do we not see any in the process of evolving, none! Absolutely none. There should be some small examples somewhere. But people don’t want to delve into it. But just think further, if the original monkey evolved to create mankind, then why are there still fully formed monkeys? Why single celled organisms that show no sign of evolving?

Science appears to have an agenda to destroy God in our thinking and thus remove all faith and all obedience except obedience to elite oligarchies, which are happy to subjugate us all and eliminate those who do not follow their expectations. 

What about a Creator God who has set up a few basic rules to follow which ensure the harmony of mankind on earth? Should we have a rational faith in this God? Can we see or feel him? Some say no, but when I look at the complexities of life, the many different animal species and even strange things that exist on the bottom of the ocean, plant life and animal life that exist by themselves with no obvious maintenance by man, complex ecosystems that some think they can change and make better, while they end up destroying the balance of nature, I say that I have seen God in his creation. 

Who actually is more unscientific? Yet, I have known scores of people who have thrown out religion for the dirty rag of nothingness, which usually turns into selfish narcissistic pleasure seeking and lack of purpose. And when there is a purpose, it us usually based on golden-calf worship which is, in our day, the race for money and security. 

Then there are those who stick with the system. They may believe in it because their parents did, or to get along with their peers, but what about their faith? Do they even have faith? Or are they going along to get along, doing everything to lead a comfortable life, going through the expected routines and fulfilling religious duties even when they don’t make sense, but keeping kosher to impress kosher friends, when maybe it is all a heavily masked ritual that keeps them in the club, a very expensive club that rewards rabbis with millions of dollars skimmed off the top of hechshered products that none of the true and faithful would even question?

For those who don’t know: 

“A hechsher or hekhsher (/hɛxʃər/; Hebrew: הֶכְשֵׁר [(h)eχˈʃeʁ] “prior approval”; plural: hechsherim) is a rabbinical product certification, qualifying items (usually foods) that conform to the requirements of Jewish religious law.” Wikipedia

Basically, it is pretty simple (some would say naive) to trust that the foods that carry the right Hechsher really qualify (and there are different levels of Hechshers, some for the simple and some for the more observant),  so that people know they are not eating anything Biblically unclean or rabbinically unclean. (Believe me, there is a difference!) Some who have researched the koshering process find that it is not always trustworthy anyway, but it makes a lot of money for those who dedicate themselves to this business, and it helps create security for the faithful in trusting that their food is passable and that they can serve it with confidence to their peers. 

But kosher or not, few people are willing to face the loneliness of thinking for themselves, leaving organized religion and following the few rules in the Good Book. 

It seems to me that every religion in the world creates a hierarchy which must be respected, rules that are designated by that hierarchy, and boundaries as to what will or will not be accepted by congregants. Sometimes those who separate themselves from religion find their only companions among those who do not even believe in God or the Good Book. It’s not an easy road and mostly those who try to stay in congregations of their former systems of faith, are considered heretics or apostates. 

But, of those who think and choose differently, shall they remain in these congregations or shall they stand alone? It is hard to stand alone, but equally hard to stand for something and live with the pressure. 

“I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.” (Psa 102:6-7)

There may be a reason to stay although it is difficult. Maybe it is time to recognize that even though no man is an island, expression of individual thinking may lead others to the same path. There are those who are waiting for hope and sick and tired of going along to get along. When they see people who are solid in their walk, who choose a logical faith to guide them, may they find strength to stand for something. 

Time to shake off some chains!

Ariella

¿Descartamos la Sagrada Escritura? 

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¿Como medir lo que es la verdad?

¿El Tanaj está inspirado o no? La Biblia ha existido durante muchos años y continúa siendo reverenciada y defendida como una luz a seguir; sin embargo, hay algunos que la destrozarían y dirían que no está inspirada. ¿Cómo podemos saberlo? ¿Cómo podemos saber si incluso un profeta moderno dice la verdad? ¿Y cuál es nuestro resultado final? 

La mayoría de los judíos estarán de acuerdo en que la Torá escrita es la base de todos los demás libros del Tanaj. ¿Cuál es el propósito de esos otros libros? Hay libros de profecía, libros de alabanza, libros de sabiduría, poesía, relatos de conquista y los libros de historia de Josué y Jueces, Samuel, Reyes y Crónicas. De hecho, la historia está esparcida por todo el Tanaj. ¿Debe descartarse o ignorarse porque no es la Torá? Hay reglas para medir a los profetas dadas en la Torá.

¿Qué dice la Torá sobre los profetas?

“Les levantaré un profeta de en medio de sus hermanos, como tú; y pondré mis palabras en su boca, y él les hablará todo lo que yo le mandaré. Y sucederá que cualquiera que quiera Si no escucha mis palabras que hablará en mi nombre, se lo demandaré. Pero el profeta que hable con soberbia una palabra que yo no le he mandado hablar, o que hable en mi nombre. de otro dioses, ese mismo profeta morirá. Y si dices en tu corazón: ¿Cómo sabremos la palabra que YHVH no ha dicho, cuando un profeta habla en el nombre de YHVH, si no se cumple ni se cumple? Esto es lo que YHVH no ha dicho: el profeta lo ha hablado con soberbia, no tendrás miedo de él.” (Deuteronomio 18:18-22).

Entonces, para aquellos que dicen que no hay nada importante en las enseñanzas de los profetas, ¡lean esto nuevamente! Esta es una profecía de un profeta que vendrá después del tiempo de Moisés y la amonestación es escucharlo, pero también antes de que alguien obedezca a un profeta, debe ser probado. ¿Cómo? Lea esta parte nuevamente…

“…Pero el profeta que hable con soberbia una palabra en mi nombre, que yo no le haya mandado hablar, o que hable en nombre de otros dioses, ese mismo profeta morirá. Y si dijeres en tu corazón: ¿Cómo sabremos la palabra que YHVH no ha hablado? Cuando un profeta habla en el nombre de YHVH, si las cosas no se siguen ni suceden, eso es lo que YHVH no ha dicho: el profeta lo ha hablado con presunción, no tendrás miedo de él.

Por eso el profeta debe hablar en nombre de YHVH, lo que profetiza debe suceder, y no debe hablar en nombre de otros dioses. También debemos estar seguros de que el profeta está de acuerdo con toda la Torá o es un falso profeta. La Torá es un pacto eterno. 

“Ahora pues, si en verdad oyereis mi voz y guardarais mi pacto, entonces seréis posesión mía entre todos los pueblos, porque mía es toda la tierra; y seréis para mí un reino de sacerdotes y un reino santo. nación. Estas son las palabras que hablarás a los hijos de Israel. Y vino Moisés y llamó a los ancianos del pueblo, y les expuso todas estas palabras que YHVH le había mandado. (Éxodo 19:5-7)

“Y Moisés escribió todas las palabras de YHVH, y se levantó de mañana, y edificó un altar debajo del monte, y doce columnas, conforme a las doce tribus de Israel… Y tomó el libro del pacto, y leyeron en presencia del pueblo, y ellos dijeron: Todo lo que YHVH ha dicho haremos, y seremos obedientes. Y Moisés tomó la sangre, y la roció sobre el pueblo, y dijo: He aquí la sangre del pacto, que YHVH ha hecho con vosotros respecto a todas estas palabras.” (Éxodo 24:4, 7-8)

Deuteronomio: ¿para quién fue este pacto?

“Estas son las palabras del pacto que YHVH mandó a Moisés hacer con los hijos de Israel en la tierra de Moab, además del pacto que hizo con ellos en Horeb… Vosotros estáis hoy todos vosotros delante de YHVH vuestro Dios. vuestros jefes, vuestras tribus, vuestros ancianos y vuestros oficiales, todos los hombres de Israel, vuestros pequeños, vuestras mujeres y vuestro extranjero que está en medio de vuestros campamentos, desde el cortador de tu leña al sacador de tu agua; para que entres en el pacto de YHVH tu Dios, y en su juramento que YHVH tu Dios hace contigo hoy, para establecerte hoy por pueblo; , y para que él sea para ti por Dios, como te habló, y como juró a tus padres, a Abraham, a Isaac y a Jacob, ni contigo. Sólo hago este pacto y este juramento, pero con el que está hoy aquí con nosotros delante de YHVH nuestro Dios, y también con el que no está aquí con nosotros hoy” (Deu 29:1, 10-15)

Si estudiamos detenidamente las palabras de estos pasajes, veremos que el pacto se hizo durante la vida de Moisés, especialmente dado en el Sinaí y escrito por Moisés. Esta fue la base de la ley para todos los tiempos. 

¿Añadir o restar?

Si volvemos a la prueba de un verdadero profeta como se ve en los versículos anteriores, entonces hay otro propósito para los profetas. Nunca se les permite cambiar la Torá, ni agregar ni quitar nada de lo que le fue dado a Moisés. 

“Ahora pues, oh Israel, oíd los estatutos y las ordenanzas que yo os enseño, para ponerlos por obra, para que viváis, y entréis y poseáis la tierra que os da YHVH, Dios de vuestros padres. No añadiréis a la palabra que yo os mando, ni disminuiréis de para que guardéis los mandamientos de YHVH vuestro Dios que yo os ordeno.” (Deuteronomio 4:1-2)

“Todo lo que yo os ordene, guardaréis de hacerlo; no le añadiréis ni disminuiréis”. (Deuteronomio 12:32)

Así que ahora, para aquellos que tirarían al bebé con el agua del baño…

Hay un propósito definido en la presencia de la profecía, como guía para situaciones actuales. Sin embargo, debemos entender el resultado final: los principios de la Torá, o caeremos en el error. Y en cuanto a los profetas del Tanaj, ¡échales un vistazo! ¿Están en línea con la Torá? Obviamente, a un profeta no se le permite dictar nuevas leyes para que el pueblo las siga, pero puede dar reprensiones y advertencias cuando el pueblo de Dios se equivoca. Y esto siempre debe basarse en la ley de la Torá (¡los 5 libros de Moisés, nada más!)

¿Y que hay del concepto de los  Angeles? ¿Acaso, no hay angeles mencionados en la Tora?

Los angeles que sacaron a Lot de Sodoma no fueron meramente hombres. Y hay otros ejemplos.

Entonces, cuando leemos en los Salmos que los ángeles son siervos y ministros del Eterno, ¿deberíamos dudarlo? ¿Esto contradice la Torá y los eventos escritos allí sobre el trabajo que los ángeles hicieron por los antepasados? 

“Bendecid a YHVH, vosotros sus ángeles, poderosos en fuerza, que cumplís su palabra, escuchando la voz de su palabra. Bendecid a YHVH, todos vosotros sus ejércitos, servidores suyos que hacéis su voluntad.” (Sal 103: 20-21).

Si leemos el Tanaj y encontramos alguna contradicción con la Torá escrita, entonces tenemos una razón para descartar esa contradicción, pero si no, entonces la sabiduría dada en estos libros es para que la disfrutemos y nos haga sabios y rentables en nuestros esfuerzos. . 

B’Shalom

Ariella

Discarding Holy Writ-To Keep or not to Keep

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Is the Tanakh inspired, or is it not? The Bible has been around for many years, and it continues to be revered and upheld as a light to follow, yet there are some who would tear it apart and say that it is not inspired. How can we know? How can we know if even a modern prophet speaks truth? And what is our bottom line? 

Most Jews will agree that the written Torah is the basis for all the other books of Tanakh. What is the purpose of those other books? There are books of prophecy, books of praise, books of wisdom, poetry, accounts of conquest and the history books of Joshua and Judges, Samuel, and others. In fact, history is scattered all through the Tanakh. Is it to be discarded or ignored because it is not Torah? There are rules for measuring prophets given in the Torah.

What does the Torah say about Prophets?

“I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which YHVH hath not spoken? when a prophet speaketh in the name of YHVH, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which YHVH hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deu 18:18-22).

So for those who are saying there is nothing important about the teachings of the prophets, read this again! This is a prophecy of a prophet to come after the time of Moses and the admonition is to hearken unto him, but also before anyone obeys a prophet, he is to be tested. How? Read this part again…

“… But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which YHVH hath not spoken? when a prophet speaketh in the name of YHVH, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which YHVH hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

So the prophet must speak in the name of YHVH, what he prophesies must come to pass, and he must not speak in the name of other gods. We also must be certain that the prophet is in agreement with the entire Torah or he or she is a false prophet. The Torah stands as an eternal covenant. 

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which YHVH commanded him.” (Exo 19:5-7)

“And Moses wrote all the words of YHVH, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. … And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that YHVH hath spoken will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which YHVH hath made with you concerning all these words.” (Exo 24:4, 7-8)

Deuteronomy: for whom was this covenant?

“These are the words of the covenant which YHVH commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. … Ye stand this day all of you before YHVH your God; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water; that thou mayest enter into the covenant of YHVH thy God, and into his oath, which YHVH thy God maketh with thee this day; that he may establish thee this day unto himself for a people, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he spake unto thee, and as he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, but with him that standeth here with us this day before YHVH our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day” (Deu 29:1, 10-15)

If we study closely the words in these passages, we will see that the covenant was made during the life of Moses, especially given on Sinai and written down by Moses. This was the basis of law for all time. 

Adding and subtracting?

If we return to the test of a true prophet as seen in the verses above, then there is another purpose for prophets. They are not ever allowed to change the Torah, not to add to nor subtract anything from what was given to Moses. 

“And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which YHVH, the God of your fathers, giveth you. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YHVH your God which I command you.” (Deu 4:1-2)

“What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deu 12:32)

So now, for those who would throw the baby out with the bath water…

There is a definite purpose in the presence of prophecy, as a guide to current situations. Yet we must understand the bottom line–the principles of the Torah, or we will fall into error. And as far as the prophets in the Tanakh, check them out! Are they in line with Torah? Obviously a prophet is not allowed to make new laws for the people to follow, but they may give rebukes and warnings when God’s people are in error. And this should always be based on Torah law-(the 5 books of Moses, nothing more!)

When we read in Psalms that the angels are the servants and ministers of the Eternal, should we doubt it? Does this contradict the Torah and the events written there about the work that angels did for the forefathers? 

“Bless YHVH, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, hearkening unto the voice of his word.  Bless YHVH, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. ” (Psa 103:20-21).

If we read the Tanakh and find any contradiction to the written Torah, then we have a reason to discard that contradiction, but if not, then the wisdom given in these books is for us to enjoy and to make us wise and profitable in our endeavors. 

B’Shalom

Ariella