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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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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

Cómo Hervir una Rana… ¡Sin asustarle”!

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Cómo la historia transformó la religión, la política y casi todo…

Por Ariella Casey

¿Por qué los profetas casi invariablemente sufrieron el rechazo de aquellos a quienes vinieron a instruir? Hay muchos ejemplos. Desde el fallecimiento de Moisés y luego de Josué, el pueblo de Israel se resistió a seguir cualquier cosa que no fuera lo que querían seguir. ¡Fueron llamados tercos por Hashem y también por Moisés, incluso cuando él estaba allí para supervisar!

“Por tanto, entiende que YHVH tu Dios no te da esta buena tierra para que la poseas a causa de tu justicia, porque eres un pueblo de dura cerviz… “Además, YHVH me habló, diciendo: ‘He visto a este pueblo, y ciertamente son un pueblo de dura cerviz.” (Deuteronomio 9:6, 13).

¿Qué hace que una nación de esclavos gobernada por Egipto se vuelva dura de cerviz? ¿Fue el abuso lo que los llevó a rebelarse? Supongo que hay explicaciones psicológicas de por qué la gente que alguna vez estuvo bajo el látigo no se preocupa por obedecer a un Dios amoroso, interesado en su bienestar, y, sin embargo, incluso después de la purga de 40 años en el desierto, los hebreos seguían siendo tercos, haciendo lo suyo, sin confiar, en YHVH,  tratando de encontrar las cosas que les convenían. Pero todavía eran el pueblo elegido y amado de su Salvador. ¡La paciencia de Dios a veces está más allá de nuestra comprensión humana!

¿Estamos mejor hoy? Realmente me lo pregunto. Cada religión en la tierra tiene su propio liderazgo que guía a su gente de maneras que les funcionan. ¡A veces las enseñanzas y normas son incluso más duras y pesadas que las instrucciones originales dadas en el Libro de los Libros! 

Entonces, ¿por qué no comprobarlo? Si realmente describiéramos las reglas de la Halajá y las pusiéramos una por una, además de las leyes literales de la Torá, ¿qué encontraríamos? ¿Y si hay discrepancias? ¿Qué conjunto de leyes debemos observar? ¿Debemos simplemente seguir adelante y pensar que tal vez el verdadero significado esté dado en lo que enseña el liderazgo? Déjame preguntarte, ¿hubo alguna vez desde la vida de Josué en que el liderazgo de los israelitas no los hizo extraviarse? Es interesante ver cuántos profetas surgieron para reprender a la nación en casi cada generación.

Entonces, ¿qué pasa con los profetas? Realmente no quisieron el trabajo. Especialmente cuando leo acerca de las cosas que les hicieron sufrir a manos de aquellos a quienes vinieron a advertir. 

Una anciana judía me dijo hoy que en Deuteronomio se nos instruye a seguir a la mayoría. Es extraño que no recuerde que la verdad es todo lo contrario. Veamos un versículo sobre la mayoría: 

“No seguirás a la multitud para hacer el mal; ni testificarás en un pleito, desviándote tras la multitud, para pervertir la justicia” (Éxodo 23:2).

¿Qué tendría que ver todo esto con hervir una rana en una olla? 

Tengan paciencia conmigo mientras preparo el escenario. La siguiente cita es de la revista Forbes y muestra el peligro de permitir que el liderazgo corporativo establezca el pensamiento en el mundo empresarial. Lo mismo ocurre con la religión: 

En negocios

“Hay un fascinante 19th Experimento científico del siglo.  como el historia Así, los investigadores descubrieron que cuando pusieron una rana en una olla con agua hirviendo, la rana saltó rápidamente.  Por otro lado, cuando pusieron una rana en agua fría y la pusieron a hervir con el tiempo, la rana simplemente murió hirviendo.  La hipótesis es que el cambio de temperatura es tan gradual que la rana no se da cuenta de que está hirviendo hasta morir.el…A menudo, la falta de confianza y compromiso nos invade. Ni siquiera lo sentimos venir. Simplemente, sabemos que algo huele raro.  A menudo no estamos seguros de qué hacer al respecto. Ni siquiera estamos seguros de si es nuestro trabajo hacer algo al respecto.” (Fuente)

¿Qué ejemplos tenemos de Israel siguiendo a una multitud para hacer el mal? 

  • El becerro de oro
  • Murmurando sobre comida y agua
  • El informe de los 10 espías.
  • La rebelión de Koraj
  • El rechazo del rey David a favor de su hijo Absalón

Y hay muchos más. ¿Cómo se manejaron estos casos? 

El judaísmo hoy sigue a los rabinos en lugar de a los Cohanim y Leviim del linaje de Aarón (podríamos preguntarnos cómo surgió esto) y ¿cómo es que ahora seguimos la halajá en lugar de las leyes de la Torá literal? Quizás sea necesario uno o dos profetas más. 

¿Cómo diablos llegamos aquí? ¿Quién robó nuestra Torá y la convirtió en algo tan pesado de soportar? Por supuesto, esto ha sucedido durante miles de años, de modo que nadie entiende realmente lo que se requiere de él. Surgió como una metamorfosis. Como una rana en una tetera que poco a poco llega a hervir. 

Entonces, ¿qué nos dicen los Sabios sobre esto? ¿Sabemos realmente algo al respecto? ¿Y cuándo empezó todo esto? Esto es lo que dice OU Torá acerca de seguir a la mayoría: 

“Seguir a la mayoría es la regla general al decidir asuntos de la ley de la Torá, suponiendo que todas las personas involucradas en el debate sean de estatura comparable… La razón de esta mitzvá es que si a cada individuo se le permitiera observar la Torá como lo hace personalmente, Si lo entendiéramos, ¡habría tantas versiones de judaísmo como judíos! Nadie podría ceder jamás a otra opinión, ya que cada uno estaría personalmente obligado a seguir su propia conciencia en cada asunto. Para tener una sociedad viable, la Torá tenía que dictar que un consenso mayoritario de los Sabios decidiría las cuestiones de práctica religiosa. Esto unifica a los judíos en todo el mundo y permite que la Torá sobreviva y se transmita de generación en generación”. Ver contexto aquí.

Tomando esto superficialmente, parece ser consejo sabio, pero ¿qué sucede cuando los líderes añaden leyes a la Torá y luego las hacen pasar como si fuera la verdadera interpretación de la Torá? Y pregúntese si el Creador de la Torá alguna vez tuvo la intención de entregar Su Torá a un grupo de eruditos para que decidieran qué significa. ¿No podemos saber en nuestro corazón lo que significa estudiar diligentemente las palabras literales de la Torá? No digo que no haya lugar para el liderazgo, pero sí me pregunto por qué el Eterno permitió que el Templo fuera destruido en el momento en que el liderazgo estaba entregando el liderazgo a los sabios en lugar de a los Cojanim (sacerdotes) divinamente designados. Esto fue hace muchos años cuando declararan que la Torá estaba en sus manos y que no necesitaban ya escuchar al Cielo. ¿Recuerdas el Horno de Akhnai? (Fuente)

“Había un horno llamado el horno de ‘Aknai – Sobre el que estos sabios diferían. El rabino Eliezer consideraba que aquel horno era como un edificio y sostenía la opinión halájica de que no era susceptible a la impureza. Sus colegas, sin embargo, lo consideraron como una vasija de barro, y por lo tanto creían que podía llegar a ser impuro. Fue una acalorada discusión, y aunque el rabino Eliezer apoyó su punto de vista con una gran cantidad de argumentos y pruebas, los otros rabinos se negaron a cambiar de opinión. En este momento Rabi Eliezer dijo: “Si mi autoridad no es suficiente para usted, entonces deje que el Charuv ‘(‘ El algarrobo ‘) decida”

El rabino Eliezer lo llamó, para que expresara su opinión sobre el asunto tan disputado. ¡Y el resultado fue que el gran y célebre rabino Chanina ben Dosa estuvo de acuerdo con Rabi Eliezer! Pero los colegas del rabino Eliezer seguían sujetos con firmeza a su punto de vista.

Así que el Rabino Eliezer dijo: “Si nuestra autoridad es insuficiente, entonces ¡deje que el arroyo” decida! “

El también tenía la misma opinión que el rabino Eliezer. Pero los sabios todavía se negaban a aceptar esa decisión.

El rabino Eliezer propuso entonces el siguiente desafío: “¡Si realmente insistes en la regla de la mayoría, entonces deja que las paredes del beis midrash decidan!”

Así que los alumnos que estaban presentes se levantaron y ellos también confirmaron la opinión de Rabi Eliezer. En reacción a esto, el rabino Yehoshua les dijo bruscamente: “Mis queridos discípulos, ustedes todavía son demasiado jóvenes e inmaduros para unirse a este debate”. Así que permanecieron en silencio. Ya no se atrevían a tomar parte en la controversia de sus mayores.

El rabino Eliezer se puso de pie y dijo: “Así dejemos que se decida arriba”.

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Y Dios aceptó su apelación. Y se escuchó una voz en el cielo: “¿Por qué están luchando contra Rabi Eliezer? ¡Él siempre tiene razón en sus decisiones!”

El rabino Yehoshua se levantó y respondió: “En la Torá se dice: ‘La Torá no está en el Cielo’. La Torá nos fue dada por Dios en el monte Sinaí, y en ella encontramos el precepto de que las decisiones se tomarán de acuerdo a la regla de la mayoría “.

Natham se encontró con Elijah y le preguntó: ¿Qué hace en ese momento Ha Kadosh Baruj Hu (Dios)?- Él reía con alegría, respondió diciendo: “¡Mis hijos Me han vencido, Mis hijos Me han vencido!” (Fuente)

La historia da testimonio del hecho de que este cambio se llevó a cabo bajo intensa lucha y horribles combates, entre las facciones rivales de liderazgo en ese momento. Estaban los grupos asmoneos, saduceos y fariseos, los fariseos cediendo y apelando a la autoridad romana en un momento en que todo se estaba uniendo para un nuevo orden para los judíos. El templo realmente ya no le importaba a los líderes. ¿Y cómo nos atrevemos a decir eso?

Ejemplo en La  Política

Sabemos muy bien lo que sucede en una situación política que ha llevado a su gente en una dirección durante tanto tiempo que ya no saben lo que realmente creen sobre cómo se debe gobernar un país. Votan de una manera porque siempre han votado de esa manera, incluso cuando algo ha llegado poco a poco para cambiar todo lo que alguna vez representó el partido. Sucedió lo mismo hace 2000 años, cuando los fariseos tomaron el control trabajando con Roma. 

Un famoso Rabino

En el momento de la conquista de Jerusalén por Vespasiano, ocurrió algo que no muchos conocen.  Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakai hizo un intercambio impío para preservar a sus alumnos.  Esto es historia. Pidió a Yavne y a los Sabios a cambio de Jerusalén. ( enlace) Y por mucho que eso estuviera y esté justificado, demostró el poco valor que le daba al Templo y al Monte del Templo. Vespasiano le concedió su deseo y los sabios fueron los líderes elegidos de Israel. En consecuencia, la educación Yeshivá se fundó como la formación aprobada para todos los rabinos de la religión judía y, por lo tanto, se reemplazó el sacerdocio basado en la descendencia de Aarón. 

¿Quién era Yojanan ben Zakai? 

“Yohanan ben Zakai[a] (hebreo: Yohanan ben Zakai, romanizado: Yōḥānan y Zakkaʾy; siglo primero ESTE), a veces abreviado como ריב״ז‎ usura para Rabbi Yoh mi ben CONakka, era un tanna, un importante sabio judío durante la última hora Período del Segundo Templo durante la transformación era posterior a la destrucción. Fue uno de los principales contribuyentes al texto central de Judaísmo rabínico, el Mishná. Su nombre suele ir precedido del título honorífico. Rabino. Es ampliamente considerado como una de las figuras judías más importantes de su tiempo, y su fuga del imperio romano destrucción de jerusalén (que le permitió continuar enseñando) puede haber sido fundamental en la supervivencia del judaísmo rabínico después del Templo. Su tumba se encuentra en Tiberíades dentro del Complejo funerario de Maimónides.

Yohanan ben Zakai fue el primer sabio judío al que se le atribuyó el título de rabino en la Mishná” (fuente)

Entonces, él fue el sabio principal que fundó la Mishná junto con otros. Muy respetado por establecer, por así decirlo, el orden rabínico. Honrado como fue y es, ¿será que había algo que huele raro en esto? 

Quizás esto estaría muy bien si no hubiera habido consecuencias nefastas. El Templo fue destruido, los judíos fueron exiliados y convertidos a la fuerza al catolicismo, comenzaron los pogromos, ocurrió el Holocausto y ¡mucho más! ¿Dónde estaba Dios en todo esto? ¿Cómo me atrevo a afirmar que la razón de toda la persecución fue la aceptación de un sustituto del Cielo? Bueno, lo estoy diciendo y lo que digo se basa en las profecías de lo que sucedería si Israel se desviara de la Palabra que les fue dada en el Sinaí.

Hay una terrible advertencia en la propia Torá sobre lo que sucedería si Israel se desviara de la Torá divinamente ordenada. ¿No se da una predicción en las maldiciones sobre el Monte Ebal de lo que ocurrió casi exactamente?  ¿Cuáles fueron las consecuencias expresadas de agregar o restar a la Torá tal como fue dada en el Sinaí? Las advertencias de la Torá se han cumplido. ¿Pasaron estas cosas y todavía no lo entendemos? ¿Por qué Israel tiene que luchar tan duro para recuperar la tierra que Dios nos dio, perdiendo tantos soldados y civiles cuando, si volviéramos a la Torá tal como fue dada en el Sinaí, podríamos tener una salvación completa y rápida de nuestros enemigos? Pero YHVH es un Dios de compasión. Él conoce la historia de cómo surgieron las tradiciones y la Halajá y lo difícil que es abrir los ojos de la gente a lo que ha sido y lo que solía ser. 

“Observa y oye todas estas palabras que yo te mando, para que te vaya bien a ti y a tus hijos después de ti para siempre, cuando hagas lo bueno y recto ante los ojos de YHVH tu Dios. Cuando YHVH tu Dios corta de delante de ti las naciones a las que entras para desalojarlas, y las desposeyeses, y habitas en su tierra; ten cuidado de no ser tú; atrapados para seguirlos, después que sean destruidos delante de ti; y que no preguntes acerca de sus dioses, diciendo: ¿Cómo sirven estas naciones a sus dioses? Así no haré yo lo mismo con YHVH tu Dios. Porque toda abominación que YHVH aborrece, la han hecho a sus dioses; porque hasta sus hijos y sus hijas queman en el fuego a sus dioses todo lo que yo os mando. Guardaréis de hacer: no añadiréis ni disminuiréis.” (Deuteronomio 12:28-32)

Y la maldición del exilio por no seguir la Torá: 

“Pero acontecerá que si no escuchas la voz de YHVH tu Dios, para observar y cumplir todos sus mandamientos y sus estatutos que yo te mando hoy, todas estas maldiciones vendrán sobre ti, y te alcanzarán. .” (Deuteronomio 28:15)

“…por tanto, servirás a tus enemigos que YHVH envíe contra ti, con hambre y con sed y con desnudez y con falta de todas las cosas; y él pondrá yugo de hierro sobre tu cuello, hasta que haya YHVH traerá contra ti una nación de lejos, desde el fin de la tierra, como un águila que vuela; una nación cuya lengua no entenderás, una nación de rostro feroz, que no respetará la persona del; viejos, ni mostrar favor a los jóvenes,…;” (Deuteronomio 28: 48-50,)

“…Y quedaréis pocos en número, mientras que en multitud erais como las estrellas del cielo; porque no escuchaste la voz de YHVH tu Dios. Y sucederá que, como YHVH se regocijó sobre vosotros para haceros bien y multiplicaros, así se regocijará YHVH sobre vosotros para haceros perecer y destruiros; y seréis arrancados de la tierra adonde entréis para poseerla. Y YHVH te esparcirá entre todos los pueblos, desde un extremo de la tierra hasta el otro extremo de la tierra; y allí servirás a dioses ajenos, que ni tú ni tus padres conociste, ni siquiera de madera ni de piedra. Y entre estas naciones no encontrarás descanso, ni habrá descanso para la planta de tu pie; pero YHVH te dará allí corazón tembloroso, y desfallecimiento de ojos, y tristeza de alma;” (Deuteronomio 28:62- 65)

Ahora que una gran parte del pueblo judío ha regresado a vivir en la Tierra de Israel y estamos asediados en siete frentes, ¿no es tiempo de apelar al Eterno que hizo el Pacto Eterno con nosotros en el Sinaí? ¿Realmente necesitamos todos los libros de instrucción para guiarnos? Lamentablemente, todo lo que leemos arriba le ha tocado a nuestro pueblo.  Entonces, ¿cómo volvemos al programa original de servir a YHVH con todo nuestro corazón? Después de todo, ¿no nos resulta demasiado difícil cambiar? ¿Y cómo sabremos el camino? 

“Él te ha mostrado, oh hombre, lo que es bueno; y ¿qué exige YHVH de ti, sino hacer justicia, amar bondad y caminar humildemente con tu Dios?” (Miqueas 6:8I)

“Porque este mandamiento que yo te mando hoy, no te es demasiado difícil, ni está lejos. No está en el cielo para que digas: ¿Quién subirá por nosotros al cielo y nos lo traerá? , y haznos oírlo, para que lo hagamos? Ni está más allá del mar, para que digas: ¿Quién cruzará el mar por nosotros, y nos lo traerá, y nos hará oírlo, para que podamos hacerlo? ¿Puede hacerlo? Pero la palabra está muy cerca. a ti, en tu boca y en tu corazón, para que lo hagas.” (Deuteronomio 30:11-14)

Sé que es casi imposible cuestionar todo lo que has aprendido sobre tus tradiciones, tu cultura y tu comprensión de la verdad bíblica, pero ¿qué pasa si de alguna manera estamos cegados a la verdad por un liderazgo que salió mal? ¿Qué pasa si seguimos a una multitud para hacer el mal? ¿No sería malo decir que Dios ya no nos habla? ¿No sería malo cambiar las leyes de Dios para adaptarlas a las decisiones de la mayoría? 

¿Sería más prudente, aunque no más fácil, saltar de la olla hirviendo antes de que nos convirtamos en guiso de ranas?

Siga, comparta y comente, ayuda a hacer crecer mi audiencia. ¡Gracias!

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How to Boil a Frog… and keep it “Kosher”!

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How History transformed Religion, Politics and Everything

By Ariella Casey

Why did the prophets almost invariably suffer from rejection of those they came to instruct? There are plenty of examples. Ever since the passing of Moses and then Joshua, the people of Israel balked at following anything but what they wanted to follow. They were called stiff-necked by Hashem and also by Moses even when he was there to supervise!

“Therefore understand that YHVH your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people. … “Furthermore, YHVH spoke to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people.” (Deu 9:6, 13).

What makes a nation of slaves ruled by Egypt become stiff-necked? Was it the abuse that drove them to rebel? I suppose there are psychological explanations for why people once under the whip do not care to obey a loving God, interested in their welfare, yet even after the 40-year purge in the desert, the Hebrews were still stiff-necked, doing their own thing, not trusting, trying to figure things out to suit them. But they were still the chosen people and beloved of their Savior YHVH. The patience of God is beyond our human comprehension at times!

Are we any better today? I really wonder. Every religion on earth has its self-styled leadership that guides it’s people in ways that work for them. Sometimes the teachings and rulings are even harder and more of a burden than the original instructions given in the Book of Books! 

So why not check that out? If we really outlined the rules of Halakha and laid them one by one besides literal Torah laws, what would we find? And if there are discrepancies? Which set of laws should we observe? Shall we just go along to get along and think that maybe the true meaning is given in what the leadership teaches? Let me ask you, was there ever a time since the life of Joshua when the leadership of the Israelites did not cause them to go astray? It is interesting to see how many prophets arose to rebuke the nation in nearly every generation.

So what about the prophets? I really would not want the job. Especially when I read about the things they were made to suffer at the hands of those they came to warn. 

I was told today by an elderly Jew by choice that we are instructed in Deuteronomy to follow the majority. Strange that she doesn’t remember that just the opposite is true. Let’s look at another verse about the majority: 

“You shall not follow a multitude to do evil; nor shall you bear witness in a suit, turning aside after a multitude, so as to pervert justice” (Exodus 23:2).

What would all this have to do with a frog in a boiling pot?

Bear with me as I set the stage. The following quotation is from Forbes Magazine and shows the danger of allowing corporate leadership to establish thinking in the business world. The same goes for religion: 

In business

“There is a fascinating 19th century science experiment.  As the story goes, researchers found that when they put a frog in a pan of boiling water, the frog just quickly jumped out.  On the other hand, when they put a frog in cold water and put the water to boil over time, the frog just boiled to death.  The hypothesis is that the change in temperature is so gradual, the frog does not realize it’s boiling to death…Often the lack of trust and engagement creeps up on us. We don’t even feel it coming. We just know something smells funny.  Often we’re not sure what to do about it. We’re not even sure whether it’s our job to do something about it.” (Source)

What examples do we have of Israel following a multitude to do evil? 

  • The Golden Calf
  • Murmuring over food and water
  • The report of the 10 spies
  • The rebellion of Korach
  • The rejection of King David in favor of his son Absalom

And there are a lot more. How were these cases handled? 

Judaism today follows Rabbis instead of Cohanim and Leviim from the line of Aaron, (we might ask how this came about) and how is it that we now follow halacha instead of the laws of the literal Torah? Perhaps there is a need for another prophet or two. 

How on earth did we get here? Who stole our Torah, making it into something so heavy to bear? This of course has happened over thousands of years so that none really understands what is required of him. It came about like metamorphosis. Like a frog in a kettle that slowly comes to a boil. 

So what do the Sages tell us about this? Do we actually know anything about it? And when did this all start? This is what OU Torah says about following the majority: 

“Following the majority is the general rule in deciding matters of Torah law, assuming that all of the people involved in the debate are of comparable stature…The reason for this mitzvah is that if every individual was left to observe the Torah as he or she personally understood it, there would be as many versions of Judaism as there are Jews! No one could ever defer to another opinion, as everyone would be personally obligated to follow his or her own conscience in every matter. In order to have a feasible society, the Torah had to dictate that a majority consensus of the Sages would decide matters of religious practice. This unifies Jews worldwide and enables the Torah to survive and be transmitted from generation to generation.” See context here.

Taken at face value, this appears to be wise, but what happens when leaders add to the laws of Torah and then pass it off as if it is the true interpretation of Torah? And ask yourself if the Creator of the Torah ever meant to give His Torah over to a group of scholars to decide what it means. Can we not know in our hearts what it means by diligent study of the literal words of Torah? I do not say there is no room for leadership, but I do question why Hashem allowed the Temple to be destroyed about the time that the leadership was turning over to sages instead of divinely appointed Cohanim? At a time when they had just declared that the Torah was in their hands and that they did not listen to Heaven. Remember the Oven of Akhnai? (Source)

History bears testimony to the fact that this change was carried out under intense struggle and horrible fighting, between the vying factions of leadership at the time. There were the Hasmoneans, Sadducee and Pharisee groups, the Pharisees giving in to and appealing to Roman authority at a time when everything was coming together for a new order for Jews. The temple really didn’t matter to the leadership anymore. And how dare we say that?

In politics

We know very well what happens in a political situation that has led its people in a direction for so long they no longer know what they really believe about how a country should be run. They vote one way because they have always voted that way, even when something has come in little by little to change everything the party once stood for. It was the same thing back 2000 years ago when the Pharisees took over by working with Rome. 

At the time of Vespasian’s conquest of Jerusalem, something took place that not many know about.  Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai made an ungodly exchange in order to preserve his students.  This is history. He asked for Yavne and the Sages in exchange for Jerusalem. ( link) And as much as that was and is justified, it showed how little value he placed on the Temple and the Temple Mount. He was granted his wish by Vespasian, and the sages were the chosen leaders of Israel. Yeshiva education was consequently founded as the approved training for all rabbis for the Jewish religion and thus, the priesthood-based on the descent from Aaron was replaced. 

Who was this Yochanan ben Zakkai? 

“Yohanan ben Zakkai[a] (Hebrew: יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי, romanized: Yōḥānān ben Zakkaʾy; 1st century CE), sometimes abbreviated as ריב״ז‎ ribaz for Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai, was a tanna, an important Jewish sage during the late Second Temple period during the transformative post-destruction era. He was a primary contributor to the core text of Rabbinic Judaism, the Mishnah. His name is often preceded by the honorific title Rabban. He is widely regarded as one of the most important Jewish figures of his time, and his escape from the Roman destruction of Jerusalem (which allowed him to continue teaching) may have been instrumental in Rabbinic Judaism’s survival post-Temple. His tomb is located in Tiberias within the Maimonides burial compound.”

Yohanan ben Zakkai was the first Jewish sage attributed the title of rabbi in the Mishnah” (source)

So, he was the primary sage founded the Mishnah along with others. Highly respected for establishing, as it were, the rabbinic order. Honored as he was and is, can it be that there was something that smells funny about this? 

Perhaps this would be well and good if there had not been dire consequences. The Temple was destroyed, Jews were exiled and force converted to Catholicism, the pogroms started, the Holocaust happened and so much more! Where was God in all of this? How dare I assert that the reason for all the persecution was the acceptance of a substitute for Heaven? Well, I am saying it and what I say is based on the prophecies of what would happen if Israel strayed from the Word given them on Sinai!

There is a dire warning in the Torah itself for what would happen if Israel strayed from it’s divinely mandated Torah? Is there not a prediction given in the curses on Mount Ebal for what almost exactly took place?  What were the expressed consequences of adding or subtracting from the Torah as given on Sinai? The warnings in the Torah have been fulfilled. These things happened and we still don’t get it? Why does Israel have to fight so hard to win back our God-given land, losing so many soldiers and civilians when, if we returned to the Torah as given on Sinai, we might have a complete and quick salvation from our enemies? But YHVH is a God of compassion. He knows the history of how the traditions and Halakha came to be and how difficult it is to open people’s eyes to what has been and what used to be. 

“Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee forever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the eyes of YHVH thy God. When YHVH thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to dispossess them, and thou dispossessest them, and dwellest in their land; take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto YHVH thy God: for every abomination to YHVH, which he hates, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deu 12:28-32 ASV)

And the curse of exile for not following the Torah: 

“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of YHVH thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.” (Deu 28:15)

” … therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies that YHVH shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. YHVH will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young, …;” (Deu 28: 48-50, ASV)

“ … And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou didst not hearken unto the voice of YHVH thy God. And it shall come to pass, that, as YHVH rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so YHVH will rejoice over you to cause you to perish, and to destroy you; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest in to possess it. And YHVH will scatter thee among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of thy foot: but YHVH will give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul;” (Deu 28:62-65 ASV)

Now that a large portion of the Jewish people have returned to live in the Land of Israel and we are embattled on seven fronts, is it not time to appeal to the Eternal who made the Everlasting Covenant with us on Sinai? Do we really need all the books of instruction to guide us? Sadly, all that we read above has come upon our people.  So how do we get back with the original program to serve YHVH with all our hearts? After all, is it not too difficult for us to change? And how will we know the way? 

“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth YHVH require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mic 6:8 ASV)

“For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou should say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou may do it.” (Deu 30:11-14 ASV)

I know that it is nearly impossible to question everything you have ever learned about your traditions, your culture and your understanding of Biblical truth, but what if we are somehow blinded to the truth by a leadership gone wrong. What if we are following a multitude to do evil. Would it not be evil to say that God doesn’t speak to us anymore? Would it not be evil to change God’s laws to fit the decisions of the majority? 

Would it be wiser, though not easier, to jump out of the boiling pot before we become frog stew?

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Parasha Noah–Strange things Unexplained

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Why the Curse on Canaan

By Ariella Casey

Somewhere around 4000 years ago, just before the flood, if we take the timeline of the Bible to be accurate, YHVH declared that the earth was unredeemable and began the quest to find any righteous who might be living. If he had not found Noah, we who inhabit the earth today may have never seen the light of modern day. For some of us, it isn’t so hard to imagine the extent of wickedness to which the world had fallen at that time for we see our world today in a similar condition, excusing every type of sin imaginable; rape of little children, murder, thievery, almost every sexual aberration imaginable and other things not even mentionable. And what is worse, the authorities are hesitant to punish this evil. Children are taken from parents who refuse them a sex change. 

Image from Freepic.com

But Noah found favor with the Creator being the only righteous person He could find upon the earth. But what of that world that we know so little about other than the giant craters and jutting mountains that stand as a witness to the Bible’s story? Is it all just a myth as many like to claim, basing their beliefs on “scientific” discoveries that predate the creation of our world to millions of years ago? And rather a massive celestial explosion, “a big bang” if you will, as its Designer rather than a loving God who carefully planned each and every creature with the idea of a harmonious universe?

As we look at the pre-flood story, a lot of questions come to mind. Chapters 4 and 5 of Genesis (Bereshit) are especially intriguing. After Cain slew Abel it seems that Adam did not recognize him as his son for it was only upon the birth of Seth 130 years later that he claimed a son in his likeness (image). 

“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:” (Gen 5:3 KJV)

What happened to create such anger in Cain that he slew Abel? Why so close to the time of Gan Eden, did we find this overpowering urge to sin? I know about what the Catholics teach about Original Sin. But there is a verse in this story that shows clearly that people are not forced to obey a so-called “fallen nature:”

“But on Cain and his offering he (Elohim) did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then YHVH said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”” (Gen 4:5-7 NIV)

Very early on we see that sin can create an urge to act out, but as the Creator pointed out to Cain, “you must rule over it.” Humans are not subject to sin, it presents itself, but it must be resisted. Cain followed his inclination and that began a process of evil that continued right up until the time of the flood. His lineage was not noted for good morals. This is why Adam was relieved when he begat Seth who was in his image. After taking of the fruit in the Garden, Adam himself was not recorded as having sinned in any other way. Chapters 4 and 5 are about the two lineages from Adam. The one through Cain which was markedly evil and the one through Seth that showed very little evil. It is almost as if the power of good was manifest through this royal lineage–the lineage of Seth that continued up until Noah. At the time of the flood Noah was the only one of this lineage still alive. His father Lamech had died and Methuselah, his grandfather died the year of the flood. An outstanding example from this lineage is Enoch, who walked with Elohim after the birth of his son, Methuselah. 

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Gen 5:21-24 NIV)

We do not see men who walked with God among Cain’s descendants. Why? It is often taught by religious groups that people from all levels of sin can repent and change. We can take what is said about sin extending to the 3rd and 4th generation (see following verse) and assume that this lineage never ever corrected their ways, repeatedly sinning and thus extending and amplifying the urge to sin on down the line.  

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I YHVH thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,” (Exo 20:5 ASV)

But why the striking contrast in the two lineages? It seems that the righteous lineage from Seth actually carried some kind of extra inherent blessing as two of this line were mentioned as walking with Elohim. (Enoch and Noah). 

But what happened in chapter 6? 

The sons of Elohim took the daughters of man and procreated with them because they were fair to look upon. 

Who were the sons of Elohim? Many say the angels were seduced by these women and thus the mighty giants were formed and thus God had to put an end to the world as it was then. But, I have a lot of problems with that assumption. I thought Angels only serve the Eternal, that they are without free will. How would they be tempted? They were not subject to the knowledge of good and evil as the descendants of Adam were after the choice our first parents made at the tree. Also, an angel does not have human flesh so how could he/she create children. These are eternal beings that serve before the Throne of the Most High continually. They are not of the same DNA. How does one mate with an angel if they are not made of flesh and blood? 

We must remember that there is nothing in Tanakh that says that Angels ever sinned. 

“The Hebrew Bible reports that angels appeared to each of the Patriarchs, to Moses, Joshua, and numerous other figures. They appear to Hagar in Genesis 16:9, to Lot in Genesis 19:1, and to Abraham in Genesis 22:11, they ascend and descend Jacob’s Ladder in Genesis 28:12 and appear to Jacob again in Genesis 31:11–13. God promises to send one to Moses in Exodus 33:2, and sends one to stand in the way of Balaam in Numbers 22:31. Isaiah speaks of מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו “the Angel of the Presence” (“In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them, and carried them all the days of old”) (Isaiah 63:9). The Book of Psalms says “For He Will give His Angels Charge over you, to keep you in all your ways” (Psalms 91:11).” Wikipedia, see link here. 

Not only that, if angels were susceptible to temptation with humans and could be distracted from their appointed missions, how could humans trust that God was dealing rightly with them? What if they changed the words of the message that they were sent to bear? Wouldn’t they be wiped out by the great YHVH? 

So who were the “sons of God” mentioned in chapter 6 if not the men of the royal righteous lineage of Seth? And could a human ever be exalted to be called a “son of God”? Are there instances in the Bible where men are called Sons of God?

Sons of YHVH:

“And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith YHVH, Israel is my son, my first-born:” (Exo 4:22 ASV).

“When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;” (2Sa 7:12-14 ASV)

“Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.  I will tell of the decree: YHVH said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. ” (Psa 2:6-7 ASV)

“Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith YHVH.” (Jer 31:20 ASV)

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” (Hos 1:10 KJV)

It is very clear from these verses that humans can be called “sons of God.”

So who were the Sons of God in the book of Job? 

“Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHVH, that Satan also came among them. And YHVH said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered YHVH, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And YHVH said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.” (Job 1:6-8 ASV)

So we have Satan which is an angel created for a special work-that of being an adversary to mankind. The word Satan is used several times in the Tanakh and it always means adversary. It does not always refer to an angel and a fallen angel it is not. It is true that the Satan is rebuked for attacking the High Priest, Joshua in Zechariah. Why?

“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of YHVH, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. YHVH said to Satan, “YHVH rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”” (Zec 3:1-2 NIV)

What can be said about a Satan that is assigned the work of finding the evil among mankind and reporting it. He seems to be set up as a prosecuting attorney, framing mankind in the courtroom of the Universe. 

Back to Job 

The others gathered at the assembly were called “Sons of God.” Satan notably comes “also among them”. He is not one of them. He  comes as an imposter. We already discussed men who walked with God. We also know of Elijah who was taken up in a fiery chariot. Can these be the sons of God mentioned in the first chapter of Job? Or could those gathered there be representatives of unfallen worlds? Could it be that Satan comes to the meeting as the representative of this fallen world? (Since Adam no longer is living). He clearly is not welcome there among them, but God allows him to accuse Job and sends him back to earth to test him. The story is heartbreaking. But in this, Satan shows his work. If he had not been limited, he would have destroyed Job along all the other things he lost. 

Based on my earlier suggestion, the Sons of Elohim took wives from among the descendants of Cain who were very beautiful women. Their offspring became renowned in the works of evil. They were called Nephalim (the fallen ones). 

This is not the whole story, however. There were strange creatures that roamed about the earth. In ancient mythology of different pagan cultures, there are stories of odd creatures, Centaurs, half men and half beast, giants, perhaps including the well documented dinosaurs which never made it on the ark. Where did these come from? Where did Og come from? Og appeared after the flood and was finally killed during the time of conquest before Moses died. 

In my speculation, one of the women on the ark may have had DNA from a Nephalim relative. Or perhaps Ham himself was the son of one of these women. No verse says that Noah had all three children from one woman. The strangeness in having 3 children would force them to be triplets or from a different woman or women if they were born in the same year. The other possibility is that the Bible merely summarized the birth of the sons of Noah as happening in his 500th year? It seems out of character considering all the other timelines and begats that are written before and after this time. Was Noah tempted with one of these women and then took their son on the ark? 

The sin of Ham.

After the flood, Noah planted a vineyard and upon drinking the wine, became very drunk. Perhaps the change in the earth made fermentation possible at this time. Obviously, either he planned to get drunk or he drank and didn’t know about alcohol. Perhaps he was depressed, but he was seen by Ham uncovered in his bed. Now accidentally seeing his father naked, was not the sin, but scoffing about it and doing something which provoked a curse on his son Canaan, certainly was. 

“When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” He also said, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend Japheth’s territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.”” (Gen 9:24-27 NIV)

What Ham had done it does not say, but it could have involved some kind of sexual act and it could have produced Canaan. Did he have relations with Noah’s wife? Is it possible that just joking about it to his 2 brothers was what happened? Yet why was Canaan cursed if he was not involved? It leaves a lot to be imagined, and perhaps we should not explore further, yet how is it that Og, who was a Rephaite, a giant and was a descendant of Canaan, came to possess that strange DNA if Ham or Canaan had not some type of warped DNA from the time before the flood? This points strangely to one of the women on the ark or even the wife of Noah, or a former wife who might have been the mother of Ham. 

But we don’t know anything for certain and therefore the elephant in the room still looms large but without definite identification. I hope you found it enjoyable to search for hints in Scripture and find things that might be bigger than our current understanding. For now, we must leave Ham and Canaan alone, but the questions certainly indicate something went wrong. That something we may have to wait a while to discover.

We still don’t know much about the Nephalim except that they came about by the Sons of Elohim cohabiting with the daughters of man of which I am certain that these women were of the lineage of Cain. One thing I believe we can be sure didn’t happen is the assumption that angels or aliens mated with women bringing about the mythical characters portrayed in paganism. These creatures may have existed, but it was not by mating with angels or aliens. Perhaps they experimented in crossing animals with humans. Some sources claim this has been a practice even in recent years. 

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