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Bombs, Terror and Sweet Simcha

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By Binjamin Casey

It’s two fifteen in the morning and the low roar of the F15s flying overhead on their constant patrols wakens me once again. Even with the gentle hum of the window fan we use for “white noise” the deep throated vibration disturbs my slumber and my body tenses from the stress of “is this just another sortie, or is this the real thing?”

The airplane banks overhead and begins its wide turn that takes it over the Hermon Mountain Range, across the Jordan valley and then down the Lebanese border back into central Israel across the Kinneret or Sea of Galilee.

Ever since October’s Black Sabbath, just over six months ago, aerial patrols and strikes into Syria and Lebanon have become a fact of life and a constant physical reminder to those of us in the Golan Heights that we are indeed at war. The noise should be reassuring and logically is, most of the time. During the daylight hours we look upward to see the aircraft as they fly overhead. It’s somewhat difficult spotting the planes as they fly so high and so fast. You have to judge elevation by the noise intensity and then look ahead of where the sound appears to be. Sometimes you are lucky and get a glimpse of an F15, F16 or F35. Other times you are fooled because an aircraft may have made a tight turn and is going back towards the sound.

But, as I said earlier, reassuring as it should be, I find the sound after six months beginning to wear on my war weary mind. This is the eleventh major conflict I have been involved in and it is the longest and most conflicted one.

A few days ago my PTSD damaged mind finally gave into the sound and I broke down in tears from the stress. As I sat in our yard with my head in my hands weeping, my long-haired German Shepherd Simcha, (joy in Hebrew), came and gently laid her massive shaggy head in my lap. She looked up at me with her big doleful eyes and gently licked me. I broke into a torrent of tears and slowly the tension began to subside. Whatever dark recess of my mind that had allowed the ghosts of the past to emerge, slowly closed their doors and the demons receded.

I’m sure many of us in Israel have felt this overwhelming sorrow of late but not all of us have a Simcha to help us through it. Sensing my change in mood it was now her turn for some attention. It was payback time and this two year old bundle of love wanted some serious playtime in return for her affection.

The days rolled on until one morning the news we had expected but dreaded arrived. Iran, the state sponsor of global terror, had finally decided to launch an attack on Israel. We were warned that a massive missile attack had been launched and that we were situated between 1 1⁄2 to two hours before the onslaught depending on which type of projectile was launched. Take your pick; UAVs, ballistic and cruise missiles–so while we waited our erstwhile cousins in Lebanon were upping their quota of Quassam and Katyusha short range rockets.

My eyes caught the view across the valley of the Yarden or River Jordan, which was as always beautiful. Below the massive mound of Mount Canaan the lights of Rosh Pina and Hazor Hagalil twinkled in the night-time darkness whilst the crown of the mountain was lit from the lights of Birya. Hazor which is where the prophet Joshua, the protege of Moses fought his final battle after entering the land some 3500 years ago after the years of exile in Egypt then the saga of the Exodus. This area was about to witness yet another onslaught against the children of Yisrael.

The lights continued to twinkle reassuringly and there was an unusual quiet to the night as if the whole countryside was holding its breath in anticipation. Either the airplanes had gone back to base to rearm and fuel or they were heading eastwards through Syria to meet the coming onslaught.

The attack itself was not entirely unexpected as saber rattling had been going on for days, if not weeks. What did surprise me though was a rush of messages from friends in Britain and even the USA asking if all was well and ensuring us that we were in their thoughts and prayers.

Since I had spent most of the night awake from my adrenaline waiting for whatever would befall us, there was nothing much to do but wait. So as any good Brit would do in a crisis, I went to  make myself a cup of tea and settle down while I waited.

At 1:45 a.m. the home front alarm on my phone started blaring out warnings of attack after attack and this now came faster than I could read them. So far, the majority of the strikes were in the south in the empty expanses of the Negev desert. Suddenly my eye caught the glow of a red orb slowly rising into the sky in the direction of Tiberius, the ancient Roman and biblical city on the Kinneret. I knew at that moment that it had started. The orb rises into the sky reminiscent of happier days long ago when people would sit and watch Roman Candles throw their orbs into the night sky on July Fourth or Bonfire Night to the delight of the children. This time though the purpose was far more deadly as a sudden bright flash indicated. At least one missile would not now reach its target thanks to the amazing Iron Dome system of air defense that has saved so many lives since its first deployment in 2011. Countless thousands of rockets have been fired into Israel since 2007 when Hamas took control of the Gaza strip and Hezbollah the Iranian proxy in Lebanon and since then  jointly fire frequent and indiscriminate rockets into Israel. The financial cost of stopping these rockets is outrageous and yet without the Iron Dome it is only a guess to calculate the cost in lost human lives. 

The sound of explosions began to echo up and down the valley and the loud boom of an exploding rocket knocked out by our defenses. The Iron Dome is able to track and compute the speed, direction and probable landing point of the incoming missiles so only fires at those that it deems are likely to hit populated areas. Even so the cost of each missile is around 60,000 dollars–Millions of dollars that could have been spent on schools, hospitals or used for scientific exploration to the benefit of mankind have been used instead to knock rockets out of the sky launched by ultra religious fanatical muslims.

Surprisingly the attack was over very quickly and the initial reports started to come in. The only reported injury was a young Bedouin girl who had sustained shrapnel injuries and some buildings which were hit on an airbase. Truly a miracle was being witnessed this night but to what extent we still did not know.

The night returned to its solemnity, the aircraft had returned to base and no more explosions were to be heard in the valley. I took one last look out of the window, amazed that so little damage or injury had been caused, then finally headed off to the comfort of my bed for a couple of hours of sleep.

Suddenly I was awakened by the shrill air raid siren rising and falling and warning us we had 30 seconds to get to our safe room. This time we were the target, we had slept in our clothes knowing that this possibility might happen so we grabbed an emergency bag and of course Simcha, who thought this was just a fun game.  We headed for our alcove beneath the stairs. This time the sound of the Iron Dome interceptions were much louder, like a clap of thunder directly over our heads, but much more ominous as we understood the danger that the shrapnel from these rockets could cause. Again after what seemed a very short time it was over, and the sudden silence reminded me of tales my Grandfather had told me about how after an artillery barrage in WW1 the sudden silence was almost as oppressive as the noise of the bombardment itself. All hell for 15 minutes then silence like the grave as your ears returned to normal. Later that morning we found out that a rocket, probably a Katushkya, had indeed landed in our town. Without taking any of the credit away from the members of the IDF and IAF who had all done an amazing job that night the real credit has to go to the Almighty without whom our country would lay a smoking patch of land with untold casualties.

The rocket that had landed in the town had impacted about two meters from a concrete and rock wall topped by an iron fence into the only patch of soft dirt in the vicinity. The rock wall directed the blast away from the houses across the street and threw small clods of dirt and small stones some two blocks away. There were several fruit trees on the piece of ground and it was easy to see how the roots of the trees also helped to contain the blast and direct it away from the houses some ten to fifteen meters away. All around the point of impact there were multi story dwellings that could easily have been hit and destroyed. Had the rocket landed on the other side of the brick wall it would have buried itself into a cobblestone road made with three kilo bricks. Each one of those bricks could have become missiles themselves and the damage they would have caused is not hard to imagine. However, the only damage and it was slight, was to a nearby car, the railing on top of the wall and several solar panels damaged by clods of dirt thrown into the air by the impact. 

Since that night, it has been confirmed that some three hundred projectiles were fired at Israel on that occasion. The vast majority were either shot down by the armed forces of Israel and the Iron Dome and possibly some of our so-called allies, while others were allowed to fall into open areas.

Thanks to the Creator only one major injury occurred that night and we pray that she recovers to full health speedily.

All in all the attack was a complete and miserable failure as far as Iran is concerned. With the largest missile attack in history being launched against us, our defenses stood up to the test and humiliated the aggressor.

In the ensuing days the aircraft have resumed their patrols and attacks on targets inside Lebanon, but the noise of their passage still grates on my nerves.

Even though I know the commitment of our brave soldiers and pilots, their skill, dedication and commitment continually amaze me but above all I give thanks to the Eternal for his mercy and guidance.

I am also grateful to my wife, Ariella and dear friends for their encouragement and support. Lastly, my sweet puppy Simcha, I know it’s time to play–Again!

Josephus and the Pharisees

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By Hakham Meir Yosef Rekhavi

One should always bear in mind that history is written by the victors, and in this case, the victors were the Pharisees who collaborated with the Romans. Many people labour under the assumption that the Pharisees were the “Party of the People”, attracting the masses. This is simply not true. Such information as this is drawn from the Talmud and the works of Josephus, who himself was a Pharisee. However, if we comb through Josephus’ works we will notice that he has not been consistent in his white washing of the Pharisees. First, Josephus confesses as a Pharisee that the Pharisees added to the Tora laws that had not been handed down by YHWH to Moshe and the Children of Yisrael. What I would now explain is this, that the Pharisees have delivered to the people a great many observances by succession from their fathers, which are not written in the laws of Moses; and for that reason it is that the Sadducees reject them, and say that we are to esteem those observances to be obligatory which are in the written word, but are not to observe what are derived from the tradition of our forefathers. (Josephus Ant. 13 Ch. 10 Par. 6) The following passages taken from the works of Josephus clearly illustrate that the people did not adhere to the ways of the Pharisees but to those of the Sadducees. It will also become clear, against popular misconception, that it was the Pharisees who allied themselves and collaborated with the Roman Empire and not the Sadducees. “So she (Alexandra) made Hyrcanus high priest, because he was the elder, but much more because he cared not to meddle with politics, and permitted the Pharisees to do every thing; to whom also she ordered the multitude to be obedient. She also restored again those practices which the Pharisees had introduced, according to the traditions of their forefathers, and which her father-in-law, Hyrcanus, had abrogated. So she had indeed the name of the regent, but the Pharisees had the authority; for it was they who restored such as had been banished, and set such as were prisoners at liberty, and, to say all at once, they differed in nothing from lords.” (Josephus Ant. 13 Ch. 16 Par. 2) In the above passage, we notice several things; i) Queen Alexandra (76-67 b.c.e.), who succeeded her husband Alexander Yannai (103-76 b.c.e.) to the throne, was a sympathizer of the Pharisees. Alexander Yannai was a Sadducees. ii) We also notice that John Hyrkanos (134-104 b.c.e.) the second Hasmonean king and father of Alexander Yannai was also a Sadducee. iii) Queen Alexandra made the Pharisees her advisors and gave them a free hand in the affairs of State. iv) Queen Alexandra’s elder son Hyrkanos was weak and turned a blind eye to the Pharisaic coup d’etat. v) The people were ordered to follow the Pharisees, in other words a totalitarian dictatorial government of “do what we say or else” came about, the people therefore followed the Pharisees not because they loved the Pharisees nor because they agreed with them, but out of fear. vi) The Pharisaic way was installed by the power of the crown and not by the will of the people. vii) The Pharisees now had the power of government and not the Sadducees. Seventy two years later we notice that not much had changed; “HOW Sosius and Herod took Jerusalem by force; and besides that, how they took Antigonus captive, has been related by us in the foregoing book. We will now proceed in the narration. And since Herod had now the government of all Judea put into his hands, he promoted such of the private men in the city as had been of his party, but never left off avenging and punishing every day those that had chosen to be of the party of his enemies. But Pollio the Pharisee, and Sameas, a disciple of his, were honored by him above all the rest; for when Jerusalem was besieged, they advised the citizens to receive Herod, for which advice they were well requited.” (Josephus Ant. 15 Ch. 1 Par. 1) Herod was placed in power by Rome and therefore owed his allegiance to Rome. We notice in the above passage that the Pharisees supported Herod. Therefore, with Herod being a Roman proxy and the Pharisees being supporters of Herod, the Pharisees were also lackeys of the Roman Empire. During Herod’s rule the Kohen Haggadhol (High Priest) was appointed by Herod and seeing that the Pharisees were supporters of Herod it is only natural that he would appoint a Pharisee to the position of Kohen Haggadhol and not a Sadducee who would have been loyal to the Hasmonean dynasty. Therefore, during the Roman occupation the Kohen Haggadhol would have been a pro-Herodian Roman lackey, in other words a Pharisee, and not a pro-Hasmonean anti-Roman nationalist, i.e. a Sadducee. The victors, i.e. the Pharisees, after the Great Revolt and at the time of Emperor Hadrian rewrote history making themselves into anti-Roman nationalist and changing the Sadducees into collaborators when in truth, it was the other way around. Further proof can be found in the works of Josephus that the people supported the Sadducees and not the Pharisees. The words in brackets are my notes. “NOW Hyrcanus (a Pharisee) was heir to the kingdom, and to him did his mother (Alexandra) commit it before she died; but Aristobulus (a Sadducee like his father and grandfather before him) was superior to him in power and magnanimity; and when there was a battle between them, to decide the dispute about the kingdom, near Jericho, the greatest part deserted Hyrcanus, and went over to Aristobulus; but Hyrcanus, with those of his party who staid with him, fled to Antonia, and got into his power the hostages that might he for his preservation (which were Aristobulus’s wife, with her children); but they came to an agreement before things should come to extremities, that Aristobulus should be king, and Hyrcanus should resign that up, but retain all the rest of his dignities, as being the king’s brother. Hereupon they were reconciled to each other in the temple, and embraced one another in a very kind manner, while the people stood round about them; they also changed their houses, while Aristobulus went to the royal palace, and Hyrcanus retired to the house of Aristobulus.” (Josephus War. 1 Ch. 6 Par. 1) We can clearly see from the above passage that the people went over to Aristobulus who was a Sadducee. In fact there were only two Hasmonean rulers who were Pharisees, Alexandra and her weak son Hyrcanus, the rest were Sadducees and the Hasmoneans held the support of the people. It would seem a little strange, if indeed the masses did follow the Pharisees, why they would support a Sadducean dynasty. Josephus further furnishes us with evidence that the people supported the Sadducees and that the Pharisees were pro-Roman and not the other way round as we are led to believe. “At this treatment Pompey was very angry, and took Aristobulus into custody. And when he was come to the city, he looked about where he might make his attack; for he saw the walls were so firm, that it would be hard to overcome them; and that the valley before the walls was terrible; and that the temple, which was within that valley, was itself encompassed with a very strong wall, insomuch that if the city were taken, that temple would be a second place of refuge for the enemy to retire to.” “Now as be was long in deliberating about this matter, a sedition arose among the people within the city; Aristobulus’s (a Sadducee) party being willing to fight, and to set their king at liberty, while the party of Hyrcanus (a Pharisee) were for opening the gates to Pompey… So Aristobulus’s party was worsted, and retired into the temple, and cut off the communication between the temple and the city, by breaking down the bridge that joined them together, and prepared to make an opposition to the utmost; but as the others (the party of Hyrcanus, in other words the Pharisees) had received the Romans into the city, and had delivered up the palace to him (Pompey)… he then disposed all things that were round about them so as might favor their attacks, as having Hyrcanus’s party very ready to afford them both counsel and assistance.” “Now here it was that, upon the many hardships which the Romans underwent, Pompey could not but admire not only at the other instances of the Jews’ fortitude, but especially that they did not at all intermit their religious services, even when they were encompassed with darts on all sides; for, as if the city were in full peace, their daily sacrifices and purifications, and every branch of their religious worship, was still performed to God with the utmost exactness. Nor indeed when the temple was actually taken, and they were every day slain about the altar, did they leave off the instances of their Divine worship that were appointed by their law; for it was in the third month of the siege before the Romans could even with great difficulty overthrow one of the towers, and get into the temple.” “And now did many of the priests, even when they saw their enemies assailing them with swords in their hands, without any disturbance, go on with their Divine worship, and were slain while they were offering their drink-offerings, and burning their incense, as preferring the duties about their worship to God before their own preservation. The greatest part of them were slain by their own countrymen (the party of Hyrcanus, in other words the Pharisees), of the adverse faction, and an innumerable multitude threw themselves down precipices; nay, some there were who were so distracted among the insuperable difficulties they were under, that they set fire to the buildings that were near to the wall, and were burnt together with them. Now of the Jews were slain twelve thousand; but of the Romans very few were slain, but a greater number was wounded.” “But there was nothing that affected the nation so much, in the calamities they were then under, as that their holy place, which had been hitherto seen by none, should be laid open to strangers; for Pompey, and those that were about him, went into the temple itself whither it was not lawful for any to enter but the high priest,… Moreover, he made Hyrcanus high priest, as one that not only in other respects had showed great alacrity, on his side, during the siege, but as he had been the means of hindering the multitude that was in the country from fighting for Aristobulus, which they were otherwise very ready to have done.” (Josephus War. 1 Ch. 7 Par. 1-2,4-6) In the above passages, we notice several things; i) The Sadducees offered resistance to the Romans. ii) The Pharisees sided with the Romans and opened the gates of Yerushalem to let them in, thus betraying the nation to Rome. iii) The Pharisees not only opened the gates of Yerushalem to the Romans but were “very ready to afford them both counsel and assistance” in other words they fought alongside the Romans against the people. iv) The majority of the Jews fought against Rome and supported Aristobulus, they thus supported the Sadducees. v) The defenders of Yerushalem, i.e. the Sadducees, were meticulous in keeping the Shabbath and the Torah. vi) 12,000 Jews were massacred when Yerushalem was taken. vii) This massacre of the people was carried out by the Pharisees and not by the Romans. I find it rather difficult to believe that the people would then wilfully accept the ways of those who were responsible for such a massacre. viii) The people were greatly affected by these events, i.e. the massacre and desecration of the Temple, which were carried out by the Pharisees. Again it seems hardly likely that after such acts as these carried out by the Pharisees that the people would wilfully accept the ways of the Pharisees. ix) Hyrcanus a Pharisee is made Kohen Haggadhol by Pompey and not his brother Aristobulus who was a Sadducee. x) Pompey made sure that the Nation of Yisrael, which sided with Aristobulus a Sadducee, were unable to support him, “but as he had been the means of hindering the multitude that was in the country from fighting for Aristobulus, which they were otherwise very ready to have done.” When it came to the time of the Great Revolt against Rome we see again that little had changed. “Hereupon the men of power got together, and conferred with the high priests, as did also the principal of the Pharisees; and thinking all was at stake, and that their calamities were becoming incurable, took counsel on what was to be done. Accordingly, they determined to try what they could do with the seditious by (their) words, and assembled the people before the brazen gate, which was that gate of the inner temple [court of the priests] which looked toward the sun-rising. And, in the first place, they showed the great indignation they had at this attempt for a revolt, and for their bringing so great a war upon their country; after which they conflated their pretense as unjustifiable.” “So the men of power perceiving that the sedition was too hard for them to subdue, and that the danger which would arise from the Romans would come upon them first of all, endeavored to save themselves, and sent ambassadors, some to Florus, the chief of which was Simon the son of Ananias; and others to Agrippa, among whom the most eminent were Saul, and Antipas, and Costobarus, who were of the king’s kindred; and they desired of them both that they would come with an army to the city, and cut off the seditious before it should be too hard to be subdued.” “Upon this the men of power, with the high priests, as also all the part of the multitude that were desirous of peace, took courage, and seized upon the upper city [Mount Sion;] for the seditious part had the lower city and the temple in their power; so they made use of stones and slings perpetually against one another, and threw darts continually on both sides; and sometimes it happened that they made incursions by troops, and fought it out hand to hand, while the seditious were superior in boldness, but the king’s soldiers in skill. These last strove chiefly to gain the temple, and to drive those out of it who profaned it; as did the seditious, with Eleazar, besides what they had already, labor to gain the upper city. Thus were there perpetual slaughters on both sides for seven days’ time; but neither side would yield up the parts they had seized on.” (Josephus War. 2 Ch. 17 Par. 3-5) i) The Pharisees were in allegiance with the men of power. ii) The Pharisees through seditious words tried to persuade the people to surrender to Rome. iii) The Pharisees did not support the revolt. iv) The Pharisees went over to the Romans and desired that the Romans should conquer Yerushalem. v) The Pharisees helped the Romans and fought against the people. Conclusion: Just as the Pharisees were divided into various schools, the main two being Beth (House) of Hillel and Beth Shammai, the Sadducees were also divided into various schools. However, none of them were Hellenists, but were rather ardent upholders of the Torah. The Rabbanites in the early medieval period tried (to ruin) the name of the Sadducees by claiming they were Hellenists and assimilationists. This lie became entrenched in Rabbanite Judaism and was later taken on by Christian and secular historians of the Second Temple period. The raison d’etre of both the Pharisees and Sadducees can be seen in the meanings of their names. The name Pharisee in Hebrew is Perushi (singular) Perushim (plural), which actually means Separatists and not Interpreters as the Rabbis of the late medieval period liked to claim in order to white-wash themselves. In other words they were Separatists from the pure way of the Torah. The name Sadducee is usually pronounced in Hebrew as Sedhoqi (singular) Sedhoqim (plural). However, this is a misnomer and is a label applied to them by the Pharisees/Rabbanites in order to besmirch them by claiming that the Sadducees were founded by a man named Sadhoq (Zadok). The proper pronunciation was probably Sidduqi (singular) Sidduqim (plural), which is a Second Temple period Hebrew word meaning; justification/righteousness derived from the word Sedheq meaning justice, righteousness, correctness; hence the Hebrew sedhaqa meaning charity/righteous act; and Sadhiq (Zadik) a righteous person. In conclusion, it was the Sadducees who were anti-Roman, pro-Hasmonean, nationalistic, and had the support of the people. While the Pharisees were proRoman, fought against the people, were in control under the Roman occupation, invited the Romans into Yerushalem, aided the Romans during the Great Revolt and thus brought about the destruction of the Temple. 

Un Segundo Exodo: ¿qué tiene que ver esta guerra contra Israel?

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Han llegado tiempos difíciles para nosotros. Los judíos y los creyentes de la Biblia en todas partes están conteniendo la respiración, inseguros de lo que está sucediendo en términos de sus creencias y de lo que dice la Biblia sobre los eventos del fin de los tiempos. ¡Especialmente los acontecimientos que incluso ahora están fuera de control en Tierra Santa! ¿Pero de qué se trata?

Israel ha estallado en una guerra catastrófica justo en el momento en que los judíos están regresando a su tierra en masa. Es casi como un segundo Éxodo y esta vez el Faraón parece estar EN LA TIERRA así como en las fronteras tratando de destruir a cualquiera que quiera regresar. Ahora no es sólo Egipto, sino todas las naciones limítrofes las que se han unido a los ataques diarios para robar la tierra de Israel y matar a sus habitantes. ¿Porqué ahora?

Ok, los judíos han celebrado el primer día de Pesaj de 2024, y en la mayoría de los seders, al menos se contempla, si no se discute, la cuestión de por qué los judíos parecen sufrir eternamente, como si fuera nuestro destino sufrir. Este año la celebración de nuestra libertad es cuestionable. ¡Cómo podemos celebrar la libertad cuando las naciones quieren acabar con nosotros, otra vez! — ¿Esta vez desde nuestra propia tierra dada por Dios? ¡Seguramente Hashem no debe estar mirando! ¿Por qué está pasando esto? ¡Pensábamos que el fin de los tiempos se trataba de regresar a la tierra, terminar el exilio y darle la bienvenida al Mesías! Quizás haya algo más que no hayamos visto. ¡Quizás el pueblo de Dios necesite una transformación!

Quizás podamos sacar fuerzas de las cosas negativas que están sucediendo. Miremos más allá de la realidad de lo que está pasando.

De acuerdo a un Artículo del Times of Israel con fecha de El 23 de diciembre de 2023, más de 2600 personas se mudaron a Israel entre el 7 de octubre y la fecha del artículo. De acuerdo con lacrónica judía, más de 6.500 judíos emigraron a Israel antes del 14 de febrero y se han presentado muchas solicitudes de aliá.

¿Qué se puede deducir de esto? Hasta el momento de la declaración en Times of Israel (23/12) no se habían producido muchas protestas anti israel en todo el mundo, al menos no como las ha habido recientemente. Entonces, ¿qué las motivó? ¿Culpa por no estar en la tierra para sustentarlo? ¿Un sentimiento de querer permanecer juntos, pase lo que pase? ¿O hay algo más?

Durante la seder en la casa de unos amigos aquí en los Altos del Golán, conocimos a algunas personas nuevas que acababan de mudarse de Estados Unidos. Todavía no han establecido residencia pero afirman que Israel es el único lugar para los judíos. ¡Vendieron todo y se apresuraron aquí, con o sin beneficios de aliá! ¡Definitivamente esta no es la primera vez que escucho a gente afirmar esto!

¿Es realmente Israel el lugar más seguro para los judíos, como sugiere el artículo anterior? Bien puede serlo, pero no lo parece en este momento. Dejando a un lado los sentimientos, ¿cuál es el plan de Hashem para Israel? ¿Existe un plan? ¿Los judíos serán perseguidos y atacados para siempre? ¿Será porque son el Pueblo de Alianza? ¿Es porque de alguna manera se extraviaron hace miles de años? Bueno, tal vez, pero no veo a un Dios amoroso y misericordioso castigando eternamente a un pueblo con persecución cuando no tienen idea de por qué. Estoy seguro de que hay algo más involucrado en el abrumador impulso de regresar a la tierra de nuestros antepasados. ¿Por qué estamos aquí, de hecho?

Otra cosa, ¿por qué las organizaciones cristianas, especialmente las evangélicas, creen que los judíos deben regresar a su tierra?

Según la declaración cristiana sionista en Wikipedia::

“Dios Padre, El Todopoderoso, eligió a la antigua nación y pueblo de Israel, los descendientes de Abraham, Isaac y Jacob, para revelar Su plan de redención para el mundo. Siguen siendo elegidos de Dios, y sin la nación judía Sus propósitos redentores para el mundo no se completarán”.

Por supuesto, detrás de esta declaración está la premisa de que el mesías cristiano (Jesús) debe regresar a Jerusalén y, como algunos han dicho, “convencer a los judíos de su misión divina y de su posicion de Mesias”.

Aunque sea tan falso como afirmamos la mayoría de nosotros, el resultado es que se está ayudando a muchos judíos a regresar. ¿Condenaremos su buena voluntad y nos negaremos a aceptar sus regalos, aunque estén motivados por razonamientos erróneos? Votemos al bebe junto con el agua del baño? No creo. Hashem ha trabajado con las naciones para hacer realidad su voluntad a lo largo de milenios y no lo veo cambiando de planes ahora. Entonces, ¿cuál podría ser Su propósito al llevar a los judíos a experimentar una horrible guerra contra Israel en lo que muchos de nosotros creemos que es el fin de los tiempos? ¿Vamos a ver algo espectacular?

Algunos ven esta guerra como completamente controlada por un gobierno secular que no está dirigido por YHVH. ¿Algunos han declarado que Dios no está entre nosotros y no puede trabajar con este gobierno? ¡Esperar!

¿Trabajó Dios con Ciro de Babilonia para enviar a los judíos de regreso a la tierra? ¿No significa eso que todo está en Manos del Eterno Arquitecto de la Historia?

Otra cosa, además del atentado del 7 de octubre (ver mi artículo Bailando con el Diablo aquí, pronto lo tendrá en español), se han disparado muchos misiles, drones, cohetes y bombas contra Israel desde todos lados. Además de que muchos de nuestros queridos soldados murieron en la lucha con Hamás, Hezbolá y todos los representantes de Irán, ha habido muy pocas víctimas civiles. Como por ejemplo lo que ocurrió la noche del sábado 13 de abril cuando más de 300 proyectiles fueron disparados contra Israel desde Irán y nadie resultó herido excepto una niña beduina que resultó herida. ¿Es la fuerza de nuestra cúpula de hierro? ¿O es posible que alguien allá arriba nos esté cuidando? Es cierto que nuestro gobierno en su mayor parte se considera la única protección de Israel. Por más malvado que sea, ¿está Hashem ahí trabajando detrás de escena? ¿Puedes decirme que no lo es? Él puede desarraigar a los reyes cuando quiera. ¿Simplemente sucede que Él está trabajando junto a él y logrando lo que Él quiere?

Algunos de nosotros todavía cuestionamos la estúpida estupidez de nuestro gobierno por sorprenderse con el ataque del 7 de octubre, o incluso ignorarlo hasta que fue demasiado tarde. ¿Tenía Dios un propósito al permitirlo? ¿Tenía Él un mensaje para nosotros? ¿Lo usó de alguna manera para comenzar un ataque a mayor escala contra Israel que se desarrollaría para mostrar su mano poderosa al final? Y ahora, ¿qué pasa con nuestros 133 rehenes, que muchos de nosotros creemos que ya están en su mayoría muertos? No puedo entender el motivo de su tortura y muerte, pero no permitiré que mi fe en YHVH falle. He orado por ellos una y otra vez y es hora de dejarlos con el Todopoderoso que protege a los inocentes. ¿Lo hace o no? Algunos dicen que claramente no ha protegido a ninguno de ellos. ¿Asi que que hacemos? ¿Desechar nuestra fe? ¿Podría haber una razón para todo esto? Digo que lo hay, pero no puedo decirte qué es. ¿Echaremos la culpa al gobierno, o el gobierno es sólo una marioneta en manos de Hashem?

Si leemos las profecías de Ezequiel 37-39, queda bastante claro que algo corresponde con lo que está pasando.

Sé que estoy argumentando para salvar la reputación de Di-s. Algunos podrán afirmar que soy un fanático religioso. Puede que lo sea. Pero tengo claras un par de cosas.

  1. Esta guerra es necesaria para cumplir el Plan Divino y está insinuada en la Biblia.
  2. El pueblo siempre ha sufrido, especialmente el Pueblo de Alianza.
  3. La Biblia promete traer de vuelta a los que han muerto (¿rehenes?) en la resurrección. (Ver Isaías 26, Daniel 12, Ezequiel 37).
  4. La Tierra de Israel pertenece a YHVH y Él promete acabar con Edom (Isaías 63). Dice que lo hará solo (Isaías 63:3).
  5. Debe haber una separación entre los justos y los malvados. (La maldad está mostrando su rostro especialmente ahora. Esta guerra está revelando las actitudes y motivaciones secretas de la gente. Algunos judíos se aferran a su dinero como lo más importante que tienen. Algunos están vendiendo todo y mudándose a Israel, cueste lo que cueste. Muchos no- Los judíos hacen fila para ayudar, mientras que otros se tapan los oídos para no oír. Algunos buscan la ascendencia de sus padres y hacen búsquedas de ADN para ver si pueden ser judíos o de las 10 tribus perdidas.

Entonces, sí, hay mucho que contemplar y lo mejor que podemos hacer es confiar en que Dios hará Su voluntad. Sólo él está a cargo, sin importar lo que estén haciendo los gobiernos y las organizaciones. ¡No nos interponemos en Su camino!

Mi esperanza es una fe mayor mientras vemos que las montañas se desmoronan y las torres caen. ¡Que seamos fieles a través de todo!

Ariella

¡Por favor, comparte, comenta y sigue si te gusta alguno de mis artículos!

A Second Exodus–What does this War have to do with It?

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Difficult times are here for us. Jews and Bible believers everywhere are holding their breath unsure of what is going on in terms of their beliefs and what the Bible says about end time events–especially events that are even now spiraling out of control in the Holy Land! But what is it all about? 

Israel has broken into a catastrophic war just at the time when Jews are returning to the land en masse. It is almost like a second Exodus and this time Pharoah seems to be IN THE LAND as well as on the borders trying to destroy anyone who wants to return. Now it is not only Egypt, but all the bordering nations who have joined in on the daily attacks to steal the land of Israel and kill its inhabitants. Why now?

Ok so Jews have celebrated the first day of Pesach of 2024, and at most seders the question is at least contemplated if not discussed as to why Jews seem to suffer eternally, as if it is our destiny to suffer. This year the celebration of our freedom is questionable. How can we celebrate freedom when the nations want to wipe us out, again! — this time from our own G-d given land? Surely Hashem must not be watching! Why is this happening? We thought the end times was about returning to the land, ending the exile and welcoming the Messiah! Maybe there is something else that we  have not seen. Maybe God’s people need a transformation! Maybe returning to the Land is a test!

Perhaps we can draw strength from the negative things that are happening. Let’s look behind the reality of what is going on.

According to a Times of Israel article dated December 23, 2023, more than 2600 people moved to Israel between October 7 and the date of the article. According to the Jewish Chronicle, over 6500 Jews emigrated to Israel by February 14 and many applications for aliyah have been made.

What can be deducted from this? As of the time of the statement in Times of Israel (12/23) not a lot of anti-Israel protests had taken place around the world– at least not like there have been recently.. So what motivated those who came? Guilt for not being in the land to support it? A feeling of wanting to stand together, come what may? Or is there something else?

During the seder at some friends’ house here in the Golan Heights, we met some new people who had just moved from the United States. They still have not established residency but they claim that Israel is the only place for Jews. They sold everything and high-tailed it over here, with or without aliyah benefits! This is definitely not the first time I have heard people claim this! 

Is Israel really the safest place for Jews as the above article suggests? It may well be, but it does not feel like it at the moment. Feelings aside, what is Hashem’s plan for Israel? Is there a plan? Are Jews going to be forever persecuted and targeted? Is it because they are the Covenant People? Is it because they somehow went astray way back thousands of years ago? Well, maybe, but I don’t see a loving and gracious G-d eternally punishing a people with persecution when they have no idea why. I am sure there is something else involved in the overwhelming drive to return to the land of our forefathers. Why are we here, indeed? 

Another thing, why do Christian organizations, especially evangelicals, believe that the Jews must return to the land?
According to the the Zionist Christian statement in Wikipedia:
“God the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation and people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption for the world. They remain elect of God, and without the Jewish nation His redemptive purposes for the world will not be completed.”
Of course underlying this statement is the premise that the Christian Messiah (Jesus) must return to Jerusalem and as some have stated, “convince the Jews of his “divine mission and Messiahship.”  

Be that false as most of us claim, the outcome is that many Jews are being helped to return. Shall we condemn their good will and refuse to accept their gifts, even though they are motivated by wrong reasoning? Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? I am not so sure. Hashem has worked with nations to bring about his will over the millennia  and I don’t see Him changing plans now. So what could be His purpose in bringing Jews to experience a horrible war against Israel at what many of us believe to be the end times? Are we to see something spectacular?

Some see this war as being completely controlled by a secular government that is not directed by YHVH. Some have stated that G-d is not in our midst and cannot work with this government? Wait!

Did G-d work with Cyrus of Babylon to send the Jews back to the land. Does that not mean that all is in the Hands of the Eternal Architect of History? 

Another thing, besides the attack on October 7 (see my article Dancing with the Devil here), there have been many missiles, drones, rockets, and bombs fired at Israel from all sides. Besides many of our dear soldiers being killed in the fight with Hamas, Hezbollah and other proxies of Iran, there have been very few civilian casualties. Like for example what happened on Saturday night April 13 when over 300 projectiles were fired at Israel from Iran and nobody was hurt except one bedouin girl who was injured. One missile landed in our town between a couple of apartment buildings and left a 10 foot hole in the yard and some structural damage. But curiously, it did not hurt anyone! Is the secret in the strength of our defense forces and our Iron dome? Or is it possible that Somebody Up There is watching out for us? It is true that our government for the most part looks to themselves as the sole protection of Israel. Evil as that may be, is Hashem there working behind the scenes? Is it possible that He alone is guiding the movements of the war? Can you tell me He is not? He can uproot kings whenever He wants to. It just happens that He is working alongside and bringing about what He wants?

Some of us still question the apparent stupidity of our government for being surprised at the October 7 attack, or even ignoring it until it was too late. Did G-d have a purpose in  allowing it? Did He have a message for us? Did He use it somehow to begin a bigger scale attack on Israel that would play out to show His Mighty Hand at the last? And now, what about our 133 hostages which many of us believe are mostly dead by now? I cannot fathom the reason for their torture and death, but I will not allow my faith in YHVH to fail. I have prayed for them over and over and it is time to leave them with the Almighty who protects the innocent. Does He or does He not? Some say He clearly has not protected any of them. So what do we do? Throw out our faith? Could there be a reason for all of this? I say there is, but I cannot tell you what it is. Shall we place the blame on the government, or is the government just a puppet in Hashem’s hands? 

If we read the prophecies of Ezekiel 37-39, it is pretty clear that something corresponds with what is going on. 

I know I am arguing to save G-d’s reputation. Some may claim that I am a religious fanatic. I may be. But a couple of things are clear to me.

  1. This war is necessary to fulfill the Divine Plan and is hinted at in the Bible.
  2. People have always suffered, especially the Covenant People.
  3. The Bible promises to bring back those who have died (hostages?) in the resurrection. (See Isaiah 26, Daniel 12, Ezek 37).
  4. The Land of Israel belongs to YHVH and He promises to wipe out Edom (Isaiah 63). He says he will do it alone (Isaiah 63:3).
  5. There is to be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. (Wickedness is showing its face especially now. This war is revealing people’s attitudes and secret motivations. Some Jews are hanging onto their money as the most important thing they have. Some are selling everything and moving to Israel, whatever the cost. Many non-Jews are lining up to help, while others are covering their ears so that they do not hear. Some are searching the ancestry of their parents and doing DNA searches  to see if they may be Jewish or from the 10 lost tribes. 

So, yes, there is a lot to contemplate and the best thing we can do is trust G-d to work out His will. He alone is in charge no matter what governments and organizations are doing. Let’s not get in His way!

My hope is for a greater faith while we see mountains crumble and towers fall. May we be faithful through it all!

Ariella

Please like, share, comment and follow if you like any of my articles! 

A Second Exodus–What does this War have to do with It?

Difficult times are here for us. Jews and Bible believers everywhere are holding their breath unsure of what is going on in terms of their beliefs and what the Bible says about end time events. Especially events that are even now spiraling out of control in the Holy Land! But what is it all about? 

Israel has broken into a catastrophic war just at the time when Jews are returning to the land en masse. It is almost like a second Exodus and this time Pharoah seems to be IN THE LAND as well as on the borders trying to destroy anyone who wants to return. Now it is not only Egypt, but all the bordering nations who have joined in on the daily attacks to steal the land of Israel and kill its inhabitants. Why now?

Ok so Jews have celebrated the first day of Pesach of 2024, and at most seders the question is at least contemplated if not discussed as to why Jews seem to suffer eternally, as if it is our destiny to suffer. This year the celebration of our freedom is questionable. How can we celebrate freedom when the nations want to wipe us out, again! — this time from our own G-d given land? Surely Hashem must not be watching! Why is this happening? We thought the end times was about returning to the land, ending the exile and welcoming the Messiah! Maybe there is something else that we  have not seen. Maybe God’s people need a transformation!

Perhaps we can draw strength from the negative things that are happening. Let’s look behind the reality of what is going on.

According to a Times of Israel article dated December 23, 2023, more than 2600 people moved to Israel between October 7 and the date of the article. According to the Jewish Chronicle, over 6500 Jews emigrated to Israel by February 14 and many applications for aliyah have been made.

What can be deducted from this? As of the time of the statement in Times of Israel (12/23) not a lot of anti-Israel protests had taken place around the world– at least not like there have been recently.. So what motivated them? Guilt for not being in the land to support it? A feeling of wanting to stand together, come what may? Or is there something else?

During the seder at some friends’ house here in the Golan Heights, we met some new people who had just moved from the United States. They still have not established residency but they claim that Israel is the only place for Jews. They sold everything and high-tailed it over here, with or without aliyah benefits! This is definitely not the first time I have heard people claim this! 

Is Israel really the safest place for Jews as the above article suggests? It may well be, but it does not feel like it at the moment. Feelings aside, what is Hashem’s plan for Israel? Is there a plan? Are Jews going to be forever persecuted and targeted? Is it because they are the Covenant People? Is it because they somehow went astray way back thousands of years ago? Well, maybe, but I don’t see a loving and gracious G-d eternally punishing a people with persecution when they have no idea why. I am sure there is something else involved in the overwhelming drive to return to the land of our forefathers. Why are we here, indeed? 

Another thing, why do Christian organizations, especially evangelicals, believe that the Jews must return to the land?

According to the the Zionist Christian statement in Wikipedia::

“God the Father, Almighty, chose the ancient nation and people of Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to reveal His plan of redemption for the world. They remain elect of God, and without the Jewish nation His redemptive purposes for the world will not be completed.”

Of course underlying this statement is the premise that the Christian Messiah (Jesus) must return to Jerusalem and as some have stated, “convince the Jews of his divine mission and Messiahship.”  

Be that false as most of us claim, the outcome is that many Jews are being helped to return. Shall we condemn their good will and refuse to accept their gifts, even though they are motivated by wrong reasoning? Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? I am not so sure. Hashem has worked with nations to bring about his will over the millennia  and I don’t see Him changing plans now. So what could be His purpose in bringing Jews to experience a horrible war against Israel at what many of us believe to be the end times? Are we to see something spectacular?

Some see this war as being completely controlled by a secular government that is not directed by YHVH. Some have stated that G-d is not in our midst and cannot work with this government? Wait!

Did G-d work with Cyrus of Babylon to send the Jews back to the land. Does that not mean that all is in the Hands of the Eternal Architect of History? 

Another thing, besides the attack on October 7 (see my article Dancing with the Devil here), there have been many missiles, drones, rockets, and bombs fired at Israel from all sides. Besides many of our dear soldiers being killed in the fight with Hamas, Hezbollah and all the proxies of Iran, there have been very few civilian casualties. Like for example what happened on Saturday night April 13 when over 300 projectiles were fired at Israel from Iran and nobody was hurt except one bedouin girl who was injured. Is it the strength of our Iron dome? Or is it possible that Somebody Up There is watching out for us? It is true that our government for the most part looks to themselves as the sole protection of Israel. Evil as that may be, is Hashem there working behind the scenes? Can you tell me He is not? He can uproot kings whenever He wants to. It just happens that He is working alongside and bringing about what He wants?

Some of us still question the lame stupidity of our government for being surprised at the October 7 attack, or even ignoring it until it was too late. Did G-d have a purpose in  allowing it? Did He have a message for us? Did He use it somehow to begin a bigger scale attack on Israel that would play out to show His Mighty Hand at the last? And now, what about our 133 hostages which many of us believe are mostly dead by now? I cannot fathom the reason for their torture and death, but I will not allow my faith in YHVH to fail. I have prayed for them over and over and it is time to leave them with the Almighty who protects the innocent. Does He or does He not? Some say He clearly has not protected any of them. So what do we do? Throw out our faith? Could there be a reason for all of this? I say there is, but I cannot tell you what it is. Shall we place the blame on the government, or is the government just a puppet in Hashem’s hands? 

If we read the prophecies of Ezekiel 37-39, it is pretty clear that something corresponds with what is going on. 

I know I am arguing to save G_d’s reputation. Some may claim that I am a religious fanatic. I may be. But a couple of things are clear to me.

  1. This war is necessary to fulfill the Divine Plan and is hinted at in the Bible.
  2. People have always suffered, especially the Covenant People.
  3. The Bible promises to bring back those who have died (hostages?) in the resurrection. (See Isaiah 26, Daniel 12, Ezek 37).
  4. The Land of Israel belongs to YHVH and He promises to wipe out Edom (Isaiah 63). He says he will do it alone (Isaiah 63:3).
  5. There is to be a separation between the righteous and the wicked. (Wickedness is showing its face especially now. This war is revealing people’s attitudes and secret motivations. Some Jews are hanging onto their money as the most important thing they have. Some are selling everything and moving to Israel, whatever the cost. Many non-Jews are lining up to help, while others are covering their ears so that they do not hear. Some are searching the ancestry of their parents and doing DNA searches  to see if they may be Jewish or from the 10 lost tribes. 

So, yes, there is a lot to contemplate and the best thing we can do is trust G-d to work out His will. He alone is in charge no matter what governments and organizations are doing. Let’s not get in His way!

My hope is for a greater faith while we see mountains crumble and towers fall. May we be faithful through it all!

Ariella

Please like, share, comment and follow if you like any of my articles! 

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¿Quién de todos está en el cielo?

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Estudio sobre la Muerte y la Inmortalidad del Alma

Recientemente escuché a un amigo comentar acerca de todas las almas en el Cielo que están observando los acontecimientos en esta tierra, aplaudiendo el buen progreso en la restauración de la tierra de Israel y llorando por todos los errores cometidos por el gobierno israelí. Me sorprendió porque la Biblia, el Tanaj, el Antiguo Testamento, por así decirlo, no dicen estas cosas. Es claro que los que están muertos no participan en lo que sucede bajo el sol, ni siquiera saben cuándo sus hijos llegan a ser honrados o deshonrados. No hay forma de que ningún ser humano que conozcamos aparte de Enoc y Elías esté ahí afuera mirándonos y observando los eventos que nos suceden. Y no pretendo saber lo que hacen Elias y Enoc allá. Es mi opinión de que sepan lo que pasa aquí en la tierra. (Recuerde, este estudio está basado en las Escrituras hebreas y no consulta la Biblia cristiana).

Entonces, comencemos con una lectura minuciosa de los textos relacionados con este tema.

Génesis 2:7:: “Entonces Jehová Dios formó al hombre del polvo de la tierra, y sopló en su nariz aliento (alma) de vida; y el hombre se convirtió en un ser viviente”.
 וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה׃

Génesis 2:17 ”Pero del árbol de la ciencia del bien y del mal no comerás, porque el día que de él comas, ciertamente morirás.” (o muriendo morirás),

וּמֵעֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע לֹא תֹאכַל מִמֶּנּוּ כִּי בְּיוֹם אֲכָלְךָ מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹת תָּמוּת׃

La idea de morir “ese mismo día” es algo que muchos estudiantes de las Escrituras han tratado de entender. El versículo usa dos palabras para la muerte (מוֹת תָּמוּת). Esto se encuentra en otras partes de las Escrituras. Cuando los hijos de Israel estaban en el desierto y se habían quejado de muchas cosas, YHVH le dijo a Moisés que muchos morirían en el desierto.

Números 26:65 “Porque Jehová había dicho de ellos: Ciertamente morirán en el desierto. No quedó ningún varón de ellos, excepto Caleb hijo de Jefone y Josué hijo de Nun.”

Este pasaje también usa las dos palabras que se traducen como “ciertamente morirás” en algunas Biblias (מוֹת תָּמוּת). De ambas historias vemos que la muerte física ocurrió algún tiempo después. ¿Pero podría significar también que Adán y Eva, en ese día, se volvieron mortales y ya no tenían vida eterna dentro de ellos? En ese momento el elemento de la vida eterna los había abandonado.

Pero, ¿qué sucede realmente cuando alguien muere físicamente? Esta es realmente una pregunta importante y muchas religiones afirman que solo el cuerpo muere y deja de respirar, pero el alma sigue viviendo como un elemento eterno, ya sea en el cielo o en otro lugar. Pero ¿qué dice la Biblia?

¿Existe evidencia de que la teoría de la eternidad del alma es algo que proviene del paganismo? ¿Cuándo comenzó esta creencia? Sé que en el Antiguo Egipto, los restos momificados de los gobernantes eran enterrados con tesoros y comida para que pudieran pasar al más allá. No sólo Egipto, sino también Babilonia, el culto de Osiris/Isis y los griegos mantenían esta creencia. Mira aquí. Parece que todas las religiones paganas se aferraban a esta creencia: la idea de una vida eterna del alma que elevaba los sentidos a la bienaventuranza o los destinaba al infierno y al tormento. ¿Pero es esto lo que dice la Biblia? Miremos todo esto mientras lo abrimos al escrutinio. Los siguientes versos tratan de la muerte:

Job 7:9-10 “[Como] la nube se consume y se desvanece, así el que desciende al sepulcro, no volverá a subir [más]. No volverá más a su casa, ni su lugar lo conocerá más”.

Job 14:10, 14,15, 21, “Pero el hombre muere y se desgasta; sí, el hombre entrega el espíritu, ¿y dónde está? Si un hombre muere, ¿vivirá [de nuevo]? esperaré todos los días de mi tiempo señalado, hasta que venga mi cambio. Llamarás, y yo te responderé: desearás la obra de tus manos. Sus hijos vienen a honrar, y él no lo sabe; y están abatidos, pero él no se da cuenta de ellos”.

A veces la gente me dice que estos versículos hablan de los malvados, no de los justos, pero no veo ningún versículo circundante que sugiera esto. Observe en el versículo anterior que Job está esperando un tiempo señalado. Confiando en que Dios se acordará de él.

Sal 6:5 “Porque en la muerte no hay memoria de ti; En el Seol, ¿quién podrá alabarte?

Nuevamente, no se menciona que existen dos tipos de personas con diferentes condiciones de muerte. De hecho, los malvados no estarían alabando a Yah de todos modos.

Salmo 115:17: “No alaban a Jehová los muertos, ni los que descienden al silencio”.

Sal 13:3 “Considera y respóndeme, oh Jehová Dios mío; ilumina mis ojos, para que no duerma el sueño de la muerte”. Por eso aquí el salmista llama a la muerte un sueño.

Una vez, el rey Saúl buscó un médium espiritual (uno que practica la nigromancia) que había sido prohibido por YHVH en la Torá (ver aquí). Quería saber el resultado de la batalla con los filisteos. Deuteronomio 18:9-11 Ver aquí.

Saúl pidió que le trajeran a Samuel para contarle el futuro de la batalla. Samuel dijo lo siguiente:

1 Sam 28:15: “Entonces Samuel dijo a Saúl: “¿Por qué me has perturbado haciéndome subir?” Saúl respondió: “Estoy en gran angustia; porque los filisteos están en guerra contra mí, y Dios se ha apartado de mí y ya no me responde, ni por profetas ni por sueños; por eso te he llamado para que me digas lo que debo hacer”.

Note que Samuel dijo: “¿Por qué me has molestado?” Como estamos viendo, Samuel estaba muerto y no, no bajó del cielo, fue despertado para hablar con Saúl y no se alegró por ello. YHVH claramente prohibió la comunicación con los muertos. No se les debe despertar ni molestar. Saúl pagó cara su desobediencia. Lea el pasaje completo en el enlace de arriba.

Sal 16:10 “Porque no me entregarás al Seol, ni dejarás que tu santo vea el abismo”.

Aquí parece que tal vez el versículo, si se toma solo, significa que los justos no descienden al Seol, pero note que dice que el Eterno no “me entregará al Seol”. Otras versiones utilizan la palabra “abandona mi alma”. Si el alma tiene la posibilidad de ser abandonada en el Seol (la tumba), entonces David está diciendo que confía en que su alma no permanecerá allí permanentemente. ¿Y cuánto dura eso?

Sal 49:15 “Pero Dios rescatará mi alma del poder del Seol, porque él me recibirá”. [Sélah]

¿Qué pasa con la resurrección? ¿Por qué YHVH siquiera necesitaría una resurrección si Él ya tiene las almas de las personas buenas con Él? La resurrección es un principio de fe tanto para los judíos, ver aquí, como para la mayoría de las organizaciones cristianas, ver aquí.

En Job 19:25-27, Job habla de esperar la resurrección: “Porque yo sé que mi Redentor vive, y al fin se levantará sobre la tierra; – y después que mi piel haya sido así destruida, entonces desde mi carne veré a Dios, – al cual veré en mi costado, y mis ojos verán, y no a otro. ¡Mi corazón desfallece dentro de mí! Vea el versículo 25 en hebreo a continuación:

וַאֲנִי יָדַעְתִּי גֹּאֲלִי חָי וְאַחֲרוֹן עַל־עָפָר יָקוּם׃

Nuevamente, ¿cuál sería el propósito de Job al afirmar con fe que el Gran Redentor de las almas lo recordaría en el último día sobre la tierra?

Daniel 12:1-2 “En aquel tiempo se levantará Miguel, el gran príncipe que está a cargo de tu pueblo. Y será tiempo de angustia, cual nunca ha sido desde que hubo nación hasta entonces; pero en aquel tiempo será libertado tu pueblo, todo aquel cuyo nombre se encuentre escrito en el libro. Y muchos de los que duermen en el polvo de la tierra despertarán, algunos para vida eterna, y otros para vergüenza y desprecio eterno. .”

¿Te diste cuenta de las palabras “Dormir en el polvo”? Nuevamente vemos que los muertos están dormidos y no deambulan ni en el infierno ni en el cielo. Pero, ¿qué regresa a Hashem de todos modos?

Eclesiastés 12:6-7: “Antes que se rompa el cordón de plata, o se rompa el cuenco de oro, o se rompa el cántaro junto a la fuente, o se rompa la rueda junto a la cisterna, y el polvo vuelva a la tierra como era, y el espíritu (ruach) vuelve a Dios que lo dio.”

Observe que el espíritu (aliento) regresa, no el alma.
וְיָשֹׁב הֶעָפָר עַל־הָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁהָיָה וְהָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ׃

Sal 146:4 “Cuando le falta el aliento, vuelve a su tierra; ese mismo día sus pensamientos perecen”.

תֵּצֵא רוּחוֹ יָשֻׁב לְאַדְמָתוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָבְדוּ עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָיו׃

Si sus pensamientos perecen, ni siquiera sabrá que está sepultado, ni sabrá si está en el Cielo.

Eclesiastés 9:5-6, 10 “Porque los vivos saben que han de morir, pero los muertos nada saben, y no tienen más recompensa; sino que se pierde la memoria de ellos. Su amor, su odio y su envidia ya han perecido. , y nunca más tendrán participación en todo lo que se hace bajo el sol. Todo lo que tu mano encuentre para hacer, hazlo con tu fuerza, porque no hay trabajo ni pensamiento ni conocimiento ni sabiduría en el Seol, al que estás destinado. yendo.”

Lo siguiente muestra que las almas nunca existen y aquí incluso las almas de los que pecan (que somos todos nosotros), mueren junto con el cuerpo. Nadie está en el infierno sufriendo condenación, ni en el cielo disfrutando del paraíso, excepto aquellos como Enoc y Elías, cuyas historias de traducción están escritas para nosotros en el Tanaj. Y ellos no murieron primero sino que fueron tomados por el Creador. ¿Cuál era su propósito? Podría especular que fueron tomados como jueces de la generación en la que vivieron. ¿Hay otros? No lo sabemos.

Ezequiel 18:4, 20: “He aquí, todas las almas son mías; tanto el alma del padre como el alma del hijo es mía; el alma que pecare, esa morirá”.
“El alma que pecare, morirá. El hijo no sufrirá por la iniquidad del padre, ni el padre sufrirá por la iniquidad del hijo; la justicia del justo recaerá sobre él, y la maldad de los impíos recaerá sobre él. él mismo.”

Nefesh y Neshama: El cuerpo y el aliento que contenia el alma puro de YHVH hicieron un ser viviente.

Génesis 2:7: “Entonces Jehová Dios formó al hombre del polvo de la tierra, y sopló en su nariz aliento (Neshama o alma) de vida; y el hombre se convirtió en un ser viviente”.

וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם עָפָר מִן־הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּפ ַּח בְּאַפָּיו נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים וַיְהִי הָאָדָם לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה׃

Nuevamente vemos este versículo, pero con el propósito de identificar el cuerpo y el alma como una unidad una vez que el aliento de su Creador ha sido colocado en sus fosas nasales.

Muchos interpretan que esto significa que el aliento de Di-s era en realidad el alma y así lo parece en este versículo. Pero entonces, ¿por qué más tarde, cuando el hombre muere, sólo el Ruaj (aliento) regresa a Dios? Déjame explicarte la pregunta nuevamente. En Génesis 2:7, el hebreo es bastante claro en cuanto a que el Creador sopló un alma en Adán y luego él se convirtió en una criatura viviente (Nefesh). Entonces, como hemos visto anteriormente, cuando el hombre muere, sólo el aliento (no, no neshamá-alma, sino ruach-viento o aliento) regresa al Eterno. Sin embargo, y observemos de cerca esta línea de pensamiento, Adán fue creado con vida eterna: era un alma que existía eternamente. Entonces algo cambió cuando él y su esposa Eva comieron del fruto del árbol del conocimiento del bien y del mal.

Génesis 2:17 “Pero del árbol de la ciencia del bien y del mal no comerás, porque el día que de él comas, ciertamente morirás”.

Sabemos que comieron del árbol y algo les pasó en ese momento. Mi mejor estudio me dice que la primera pareja se volvió mortal ese día. Eso significa que hubo un cambio en el alma. El alma ya no era inmortal. Y entonces surge la pregunta: si Adán y Eva ya no eran inmortales y esta parece ser la muerte que fue predicha como “el día que comáis de él”, entonces esto describe el cambio del alma de inmortal a mortal. Se perdió la inmortalidad. Entonces se seguiría que el alma ahora no podría regresar al Creador en su forma contaminada, no, no por mucho tiempo. El cuerpo ahora estaba ligado al alma y esta combinación (cuerpo y alma) tendría que esperar hasta la resurrección de los muertos. Si volvemos a ver el versículo de Ezequiel 18 arriba que dice “el alma que pecare, esa morirá”, está claro que no sólo muere el cuerpo, sino que también muere el alma que está encadenada a él. Después de todo, ahora es un alma mortal, no inmortal.

Espero que este estudio resulte claro. Si no, por favor deja un comentario en la sección de comentarios.

Para otro estudio, el tema del juicio y la recompensa y el castigo eternos debe dejarse para más adelante.

¡Bendiciones mientras excavamos en la mina de la verdad–La Tanaj!

Ariella

Comparta sus comentarios conmigo, dé me gusta y compártalos con otros y haga clic en el enlace a continuación para seguir mis estudios. ¡Gracias por su apoyo!

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