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Israel is at War! Did God Leave Us?

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By Ariella Casey

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What most people believe today is extracted from what they have been taught. Most people are not thinkers. Most people have no idea of the real history that made up their religion. Most of us believe what we have been brought up to see as reality. Try, as a young person, questioning anything that your church or synagogue teaches! Most of those who question are silenced, and if they crave companionship in a non-threatening environment, they soon buckle down and stop rocking the boat. Others–those that are more insistent and less attached to people, separate themselves and become rebels looking for a cause to fight. They are often black-balled as rebels, loonies or druggies. See what happens when you don’t go along with the status quo! Most of us want to be accepted, and so we have gone along to get along! Case in point: the COVID-19 Vaccine. How many actually didn’t want to get it but succumbed to media, public and peer pressure? And how many have paid dire consequences?

Yesterday I read an article about how mistakes are actually helpful to a person’s growth. And I thought about my past. I thought about how and what led up to my leaving the church I was raised in. And how I wandered alone for over 15 years, looking for something. I had to find solid rock to base my faith on. The leaving was based on several choices I had made in my life that were not exactly favored by the church. The attitude towards me pressed me to study. And THAT was not a mistake. What was it that the church believed? What was it that was brainwashed into me, and how many centuries had this been going on?  I studied and researched for years. I finally left Christianity completely, I found community in a Jewish synagogue in Central California. After changing streams, that is, doing a conversion and moving to Israel, I began to research that school of thought and found that Judaism has a long history and some of it is not what it claims to be. Most of what is known today is not what was known at Sinai or even at the time of King David. So here I go again! I am not satisfied with mediocrity! In something so important as religion, I won’t go along to get along if what is being taught is not sound doctrine based on the Torah. Some, lately have pressured me to give up the Bible altogether. But without any standard, where is our anchor? Where is the basis of faith?  

Last week, I sat inside a friend’s Sukkah with several people. We chatted and discussed several things, but what still rings in my ears were the words my friend said during the conversation. “If we didn’t have the rabbis, would there be God?” I was shocked. She said she was leaning towards being an agnostic because it made more sense in the light of what is happening. She said perhaps God created the world and then left us to sort it all out. What could I say? What would really convince a Jewish woman who was raised to believe that Judaism is true Torah? 

I have my own ideas as to why the Jewish people suffer–why the Holocaust, why pogroms? Why the Inquisition? And why is God apparently Missing in Action? But how can I tell people, whom for the past 2000 plus years, have been brainwashed to believe that God gave all authority to rabbis for them to manage His people? 

The rabbis have created a cult and most branches of Judaism are taught that Halakha is divine instruction, when it is, at best, the will of the rabbis to gain control over the people to keep an organized religion under their authority. Did God really abandon His people? Is it possible that His Hands are tied by the extra-biblical teaching engrained in those who are most religious? When you compare Halakha to what the Torah actually says, there is very little that ties the two together. 

There was a time when the leading rabbis declared that they would no longer listen to Heaven. If that is the case, then how can the Jews hear God when He is trying to speak? This comes from the story of the Oven of Achnai. 

Here is an excerpt from the Talmud: Baba Metzia 59b:

“The Gemara presents a fairly straightforward argument between the Sages. A question was raised about the status of an oven that was made of separate pieces and then placed together with sand between the pieces. Should this tanur shel akhnai – this “snake oven” – be seen as having lost its status as an existing oven when taken apart and rebuilt, or is it considered an oven throughout, since it was made to be taken apart in this way? Rabbi Eliezer felt that it lost its status as an oven and therefore, had it become ritually defiled, it would lose that status, as well; the Hakahmim (sages) ruled that it retained its status throughout.

Rather than argue the case on its merits, the Gemara records that Rabbi Eliezer called on the carob tree to support him, the flowing water to support him, and the walls of the study hall to support him. In response to his call, the carob tree uprooted itself and moved 400 amot (=cubits), the spring flowed backwards, and the walls began to collapse – until Rabbi Yehoshua stopped them. The Sages refused to be influenced by any of these miraculous occurrences.

Finally, Rabbi Eliezer asked the heavens to support his position, and a bat kol – a heavenly voice – was heard to say “Why are you arguing with Rabbi Eliezer, whose rulings are always correct?” In response, the Sages said lo ba-shamyim he – since the Torah was given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, decisions are no longer made based on heavenly decisions, but on the decisions of the Rabbis who interpret it.” (See reference here).

Looking closely at this story, it shows that it is not the voice of one rabbi that makes decisions for the people, but the majority–dare I say:  even if they are wrong? There is a lot of pressure to take the rulings on Halakha according to the consensus of the rabbis.  There is little room for individual study. If people only understood the history of how the rabbis replaced the Levites and the Cohanim (priests) back at the time when the Jews returned from Babylon! Then there would be room to differ with rabbinic Halakha. When people run to their rabbi for advice rather than to the Torah, they have virtually replaced the Torah with the instruction of the rabbis. This is remarkably similar to the Catholics who run to their priest for interpretation of the will of God. 

I have been advised many times not to tear down what has been established for centuries. Not to question! But my questioning of religion began many years ago. If there is no voice of God anymore, then why? Why did the holocaust happen? Why were Jews exiled, and the second temple destroyed when they were so set on following the rabbis? 

The Talmud tells us of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai who bartered off Jerusalem for Yavneh and the sages:

“The Talmud in Gittin and the midrash in Avot De Rabbi Natan tell us that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai snuck out of Jerusalem during the siege that led to the destruction of the Second Beit HaMikdash in a coffin to make a separate peace with the future Roman emperor who would level Jerusalem. Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai asked for Yavneh and its scholars to be granted the religious freedom to study and continue growing the rabbinic tradition but would leave Jerusalem for Rome to destroy. Vespasian accepted the deal. Yavneh was saved, Jerusalem was destroyed, and rabbinic Judaism survived…”(see reference here). 

All of this raises a red flag for anyone who is used to following the clear instruction of the Creator. What if all religious leaders truly followed the Torah and were guided by the God of the Universe? Could we feel safe following them? Has any of us been given a mind to discern truth? Are we all to be like robots that never question what comes before us even if it appears to be contrary to logic or contrary to Biblical/Torah standards? Again, we see an elite majority controlling the minds of the common and brainwashed people. Why, if the Torah is not complicated, should not an average person be able to understand and follow it? 

When the rabbis quoted that “the Torah is not in Heaven”, they used only part of what the verse in Deuteronomy says:

“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. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;” (Deu 30:11-15).

I say that Heaven is trying to open the eyes of the Jewish people. In 2021, I saw that many rabbis urged their congregants to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Some people, to their credit, did not, but many did, even in Israel. Many suffered grave consequences. 

Now we have a horrible war raging against Israel by the surrounding nations. The question in the forefront of those inclined to religion, is: Why? Where is God? I ask: Where should He be? Where is the power of those who usurped God’s throne over 2 millennia ago? Go seek your rabbi, maybe he can make the missiles go away. 

Unfortunately, many are becoming more religious. Many try to reform becoming Shomer Shabbat, meaning no switching on or off of electricity, no phones, no driving, no use of makeup, no writing, no musical instruments, no carrying even a small purse or one’s keys in the street without an Eruv. Really? An Eruv is a city wall? Who are we kidding? But we go along with it? And then men must remember to go to pray twice a day in a synagogue, where hundreds of prayers are said at top speed to satisfy the Lord of the Universe! What about the prayer of the contrite heart? And of course we must have two sets of plates and flatware, pots and pans or use disposable dishes because of the rabbinic stand on the separation of milk and meat. Check it out! Chickens don’t produce milk! Nor is a goat the mother of a young cow!

I may be wasting my time here. I hope not. But I challenge anyone who has read this far to start thinking for himself. Read the Torah and don’t be afraid to question! 

Your’s for a greater challenge than the individual has ever faced! 

Ariella

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Messiah? What is the gathering about? 

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Who will go for Me?

By Ariella Casey

Who will bring the outcasts and the children of those who were once lost in the diaspora? We all have dreamt of someone, perhaps a divine being or a superhero, that would seek out the lost Jews and ten tribes and bring a portion of them back to the land of Israel. We know that not all will return, for it is only a remnant that will be gathered. And yet, what is this gathering all about? And how does one become selected?

How will those who desire to come be tested for their worthiness? Will they be given everything, free passage, benefits on arrival, and a large shipment to help them come? Or will there be a sacrifice required on their part? How much of a struggle will be involved? What about the old folks and the children? How will everyone make this happen? 

Many over the past 2000 years lost their lives in pograms and Holocaust and mass slaughter. Many got frostbite on their feet walking across snowy mountains with torn shoes and little clothing to escape the atrocities. Some had the vision of returning to the land. Some even came.  The inner voice was all they had to drive them on to make a home in the Holy Land for their descendants. What about now? Will it be easier to wait and let someone else take care of the details? 

Descendants of those who accepted Catholicism, rather than face the guillotine or the martyr’s pyre, may have some decisions to make. Are they going to somehow summon up enough courage to face death if necessary to be included among those called to the land and to follow God’s covenant? Will they come to Israel to fight with their bare hands if necessary to fight off Israel’s enemies and carve out a living for their families? Will their children or parents keep them from coming? What about homes and pets? What is it worth to you? 

During WW2, Jews in Europe were mass slaughtered, simply because they had Jewish blood. Why? And where was the God of the Covenant at this time? It is a big question, one that created many Jewish atheists. Many, even in the land of Israel, do not really believe in a God like this. No one really knows the answer to that question. But even though this is a mystery, the precious land of Israel was bought with the blood of these martyrs! Their descendants often took whatever path they could over land and sea to  return to the howling wilderness of what was then called Palestine. It was a land completely desolate, filled with swamps and desert and little productivity, but a land for free people even with its humongous challenges! And the courage and human effort of those who came and by their own sweat and blood, drained the swamps, planted vineyards, restored the desolate places. This courage and effort is what has turned the land of Israel into a liveable, productive and free country, the only democratic country in the Middle East. Can we do any less?

Let us not think that the land of Israel is going to be handed to us without a price! I have seen too many people come and when they find it difficult, turn tail and run back to the comforts of their home country. And all this after having wasted precious resources that Israel happily bestowed upon them.  Israel is not for the fearful! It is for warriors, farmers that will work until they drop, soldiers that will die for the land of Israel if it is called for!

Is this voice, the one that drives people to sacrifice, actually the voice of the Messiah? It may be!

If we look at the promises in the Bible, it is easy to think that Someone Else is going to gather us. But what if the voice that calls us is a conviction of soul that we must be part of the land? What if that conviction is actually the work of the Messiah, bringing the true sons of Jacob together and to the land? 

Are there those who will work to bring the elderly, the disabled and the children who cannot do this for themselves? Where are the leaders among us? Who will go for us? Where is Moses now? Wouldn’t these leaders actually be doing the work of the Messiah?

“Also the sons of the alien, that join themselves to Hashem, to minister unto him and to love the name of Hashem, to be his servants, every one that keeps the sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast to my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar: for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. The Lord Yehovah, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, saith: Yet will I gather others to him, with those of his that are gathered.” (Isa 56:6-8)

It says that YHVH will bring the sons of the alien, but who are the hands, and who are appointed to speak for Him? Who will lead them out? Are these not human hands and human voices?

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, Here am I; send me.” (Isa 6:8)

Shabbat Shalom

Ariella 

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Choices

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By Ariella Casey

There is a philosophy among religious groups that proclaims that people are born into a certain path and that no matter which choices they make, they will end up according to their predetermined destiny. Sadly, this is embraced by a lot of people, religions and even some branches of Judaism. 

Alongside this belief in Destiny, comes the fact that many Jews believe that being born Jewish actually makes them chosen and that this automatically makes all of their choices lead them to fulfill their predetermined destiny. I have heard that all Jews inherit the hereafter. But none of this is Biblical. 

Speaking to Israel, Moses challenged them before he died: 

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou may live, thou and thy seed; to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou may dwell in the land which Jehovah swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (DEU 30:19-20)

Adam Rishon chose in Gan Eden to eat the fruit that would open two options for their descendants–two consciousnesses, if you would, are out there speaking to the human will; the power for good and the power for evil. If a young person chooses correctly even as a small child–that is, to follow the path of good, it becomes easier and easier each time faced with a decision, to choose the correct path. The evil voice becomes quieter and quieter until there is almost no drive for the evil inclination. The same thing happens if a child is rebellious and tries out the evil that is before him. The next choice becomes easier and easier, and if he does not correct his path, he will end up fully under the power of evil. It becomes as a steel trap for which he cannot choose the right even if he thinks to do so. 

But it is clear that this is all up to the individual. The Bible does not support the idea of people who are destined to hell. It often seems that way when we see evil parents abusing their little ones and causing them to rebel and try out the path of evil. Maybe we should say that parents have a lot to do with the choices their kids make! 

Exodus 20:5 tells us that evil continues to the third and fourth generation of those who hate the God of the Universe. But is that predestination? Or is that the result of a person’s choices? Is one’s destiny affected by the choices his parents make?

So what about those before the Great Flood?

When we study the lives of those before the Flood, we see two lines of people, the righteous and the wicked. Perhaps this suggests predestination. But let’s not jump to that conclusion, yet. Those who chose well opened a path for their descendants, just as those who did evil to their offspring. If we take the mathematical rule established above, (of 3 to 4 generations of evil after a parent rebels), then, if the offspring do not turn and repent of the evil of their fathers, and leave that system, the evil will continue from them another 3 or 4 generations and thus, from one generation to another, maybe onward thus forever. But once in a while we see someone rebel against the evil that has been placed upon them, turn 180 degrees and do what is right. Let’s see if this is right!

“And if he has begotten a son that is violent, a shedder of blood, and that does only one of any of these things, and that does not any of those duties, but also has eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor’s wife, hath oppressed the poor and needy, exercised robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, committed abomination, given forth upon usury, and taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall certainly die; his blood shall be upon him.” 

“But lo, if he has begotten a son that sees all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considers, and does not such like: — he hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he hath not defiled his neighbor’s wife, and hath not oppressed any, nor withholden the pledge, neither hath exercised robbery; he hath given his bread to the hungry, and covered the naked with a garment; he hath withdrawn his hand from the poor, hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, and walked in my statutes: he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall certainly live. As for his father, because he practiced oppression, exercised robbery upon his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity. And ye say, Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father? But the son hath done judgment and justice, hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them; he shall certainly live.” (Eze 18:10-19)

It is really simple, do good and live, do evil and die! The choice is yours! But it will take some self-denial and complete overhaul of one’s inclinations! 

The mistaken idea that Jews are somehow born sanctified is erroneous. In fact, all mankind is allowed to follow the Torah if they so choose! God forbid that the King of the Universe should alienate anyone who desires to serve Him!

People say that the Tanakh was written for Jews (including all the 12 tribes), but is this true? What about that person out in La La Land who suddenly sees that there is a better way and chooses to join himself to the covenant and follow as best he can? Some call them Gerim. Some call them Gentiles. But is this person exempt from the covenant just because he was not born Jewish? 

It is a terrible lie that only Jews can be chosen! Read all the verses in Tanakh about the Ger, the stranger, the foreigner, or however your Bible reads! 

“Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that holds it fast; that keeps the sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil. Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also, the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keeps the sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. The Lord Jehovah, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, besides his own that are gathered.” (Isa 56:1-8)

Read that again! YHWH is going to gather together “others, besides his own”!

We see Jews making people into Noahides because they can’t accept the idea of being challenged by the multitudes that want salvation. The Tanakh makes it clear that people can take hold of the covenant and live among the people of Israel. According to the Torah, even some of the enemies of Israel could become part of the people and worship with them after several generations. 

“An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah forever:” (Deu 23:3). 

A close reading of this verse shows that until the 10th generation, they would not be permitted in the Beit HaMiqdash. When it says forever, it cannot mean never. As I understand it, it is this rule that applies forever. So what does it mean? That a Moabite chooses to live among the people of Israel is not allowed to enter into the Temple for 10 generations. Why so strict? Evidently, with these idolaters, the evil was so great that it was uncorrectable for 10 generations! What about Ruth–(a Moabitess)? Did this somehow not apply because she married a Jew? Only three generations later, David was born and lived as a Jew and entered the Holy Temple. He even planned the building of the first temple. Did that somehow invalidate the declaration made by Moses in Deuteronomy? Does marriage change a bit of the effect of one’s ancestry?  Could it be that the combination in marriage changes the curse of the tenth generation? Obviously, the children will be raised differently in a mixed marriage.

To sum it up, the door of Heaven is always open to those who repent and turn from their evil ways and take hold of the covenant. Choices have to be made and resolute firmness in following the path of the just:

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” (Pro 4:18)

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Parsha Koraj–6 Julio 2024

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La Rebelión de Koraj (Números 16:1-18:32)

El libro de Números, ya sea que revele eventos dados en secuencia real o no, revela varias rebeliones del pueblo de Israel mientras aún estaba en el desierto. Están las quejas por la falta de agua y luego las murmuraciones pidiendo alimento “sustancial” además del maná; están las dudas de Mirian sobre la autoridad de Moisés y su posterior separación del campamento durante siete días. Está el hombre que claramente recogió leña para encender un fuego en sábado. Luego sigue la historia del malvado informe de los 10 espías y la consiguiente rebelión. Ahora asistimos a otro levantamiento y revuelta catastrófica. Varios levitas, primos de los hijos de Aarón, se sienten ofendidos por ser excluidos del sacerdocio, y vemos cómo esto nuevamente conmueve a todo el pueblo de Israel. Vemos la forma en que YHWH maneja la rebelión, destruyendo por completo a quienes instigaron el caos y a sus seguidores; Koraj, Datán y Abiram y 250 más que eran líderes de la congregación. Después, comienza una plaga entre la gente y 14.700 más son destruidos.

Al examinar los relatos de estas rebeliones escritos uno tras otro, veo que Israel tiene problemas para seguir su liderazgo divinamente designado. Uno se preguntaría cómo alguien podría involucrarse en una revuelta después de tantos años de esclavitud en Egipto, donde, bajo el látigo, recibieron órdenes de malvados capataces y las siguieron con precisión. ¿Donde si desobedecían, el resultado era la muerte? Cuando, después de una salvación milagrosa de la mano de Faraón, se relajan en una atmósfera de misericordia y protección de Dios y son guiados por su líder designado, Moisés, quien estuvo dispuesto a morir por el pueblo, adoptan la actitud de mimados, niños con derechos (al igual que la sociedad hoy en día) y se rebelan ante cualquier cosa que suponen que ha pisoteado sus derechos. Ahora rechazan la disciplina, son un pueblo testarudo (Exo 32:9). Lo que los ha hecho así es un misterio y continúa en nuestro mundo hoy. ¿Por qué alguien se rebelaría cuando todo está a tu favor? Fueron liberados de Faraón en el Mar Rojo, tenían alimento provisto diariamente, tuvieron protección del sol y del frío por una nube que les sigue en sus viajes, tuvieron un lugar de adoración ya preparado. Se les da protección contra Egipto y las otras naciones. Quizás lo único que no tuvieron era trabajo duro. Quizás ese sea el problema o parte de él. Cuando eran esclavos, no tenían tiempo para pensar, ni para quejarse y quejarse. Quizás esta sea la razón del mandamiento del sábado que declara: “seis días trabajarás”, que puede ser el secreto del verdadero descanso. Tenían demasiado tiempo libre y lo emplearon dudando y quejándose en lugar de construir su nueva sociedad. Las malas decisiones conducen al desastre.

En la historia de hoy, figuren Koraj, un Levita y sus amigos, Datán y Abiram y On.

“Y Koraj, hijo de Izhar, hijo de Coat, hijo de Leví, y Datán y Abiram, hijos de Eliab, y On, hijo de Pelet, hijos de Rubén, tomaron hombres: y se levantaron delante de Moisés. , con algunos de los hijos de Israel, doscientos cincuenta príncipes de la asamblea, famosos en la congregación, varones de renombre:” (Números 16:1-2)

“Y se juntaron contra Moisés y contra Aarón, y les dijeron: Vosotros tomáis demasiado sobre vosotros, siendo santa toda la congregación, cada uno de ellos, y YHWH está en medio de ellos; por tanto, os levantéis sobre los congregación de YHWH? Y cuando Moisés lo oyó, cayó sobre su rostro:” (Números 16:3-4)

La rebelión se abordó rápidamente, resultaba en la muerte no sólo de Koraj y sus dos amigos, sino también de los otros 250 a quienes se les ordenó quemar incienso en braseros. El terreno mismo se abrió y se tragó a los tres cabecillas y todo lo que poseían, incluidas esposas, hijos y pertenencias. Los 250 partidarios fueron consumidos por un fuego de YHWH.

Es fácil decir que tal vez el castigo fue demasiado duro. ¿Cómo afrontaríamos esto hoy, cuando casi todos los países han eliminado la pena de muerte? Antes, la traición solía conllevar la pena de muerte. ¡Quizás por eso el mundo se ha vuelto loco hoy! Seamos amables con los que se rebelan, al fin y al cabo, ¡sus sentimientos también importan más que la paz de la sociedad! Pero, afortunadamente, esta no fue la forma en que Dios manejó las cosas; tal vez nos hemos desviado mucho de la manera en que Dios obra en este mundo.

Lo que realmente sorprende de esta historia, es que el resto del pueblo, con su historia de rebelión, es decir, el maná, el informe de los espías y la rebelión de Koraj, protagonizaron una revuelta, alegando que Moisés y Aarón habían matado al pueblo de YHWH.

“Pero al día siguiente toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel murmuró contra Moisés y contra Aarón, diciendo: Habéis matado al pueblo de YHWH. Y aconteció que cuando la congregación se reunió contra Moisés y contra Aarón, miraron hacia el tabernáculo de reunión; y he aquí, la nube lo cubrió, y apareció la gloria de YHWH.” (Números 16:41-42)

¿Cómo podría alguien creer que el asesinato de los tres cabecillas y sus 250 cohortes fue una maniobra inventada por Moisés y Aarón para mantener su liderazgo? ¿Estaba la gente completamente loca? ¿Cómo habría abierto Moisés la tierra y se habría tragado a estos hombres y sus familias? ¿Qué tal el incendio que vino y quemó el 250? De donde vino eso? ¿Creían que Moisés era un mago y que al rebelarse podrían obtener lo que querían y reemplazarlo?

En ese momento comenzó una plaga entre el pueblo y Moisés ordenó a Aarón que interviniera, saliendo entre el pueblo con su brasero e incienso. Y la plaga se detuvo después de que 14.700 personas murieran.

Para mostrar finalmente el liderazgo de Aarón el Cohen Gadol y sus descendientes directos, YHWH da una señal. Le dice a Moisés:

“Habla a los hijos de Israel, y toma de cada uno de ellos una vara según las casas de sus padres, y de todos sus príncipes, según las casas de sus padres, doce varas; escribe el nombre de cada uno en su vara. Y tú escribirás el nombre de Aarón en la vara de Leví; porque una vara será para los jefes de las casas de sus padres, y las guardarás en el tabernáculo de reunión delante del testimonio, donde me reuniré contigo. Y sucederá que florecerá la vara del hombre que yo escoja, y haré cesar de mí las murmuraciones de los hijos de Israel con que murmuran contra vosotros. (Números 17:2-5)
“Y aconteció que al día siguiente Moisés entró en el tabernáculo del testimonio; y he aquí, la vara de Aarón para la casa de Leví reverdeció, y produjo renuevos, y floreció en flores, y dio almendras. … Y YHWH dijo a Moisés: Trae de nuevo la vara de Aarón delante del testimonio, para que sea guardada como señal contra los rebeldes; y quitarás de mí sus murmuraciones, para que no mueran.” (Números 17: 8, 10).

¿Pero qué vemos hoy? No tenemos un templo santo, solo tenemos sinagogas. La mayoría de los judíos religiosos no han aceptado realmente la Torá de Moisés, sino su propia sustitución, a la que llaman Torá Oral (o tora shebal peh). ¿No es esto nuevamente un movimiento similar al de Koraj para destronar a Moisés y al Dios del Universo? Creo que todo el caso de persecución de los judíos desde la destrucción del Templo tiene que ver con una Torá Oral erudita babilónica y un rechazo de la única religión verdadera establecida en el Sinaí. Pero pocos saben lo que pasó en Babilonia y a pocos, si es que a alguno, les importa. ¡Quizás necesitemos algún terremoto para abrir la tierra nuevamente!

Parsha Korach — 6 July 2024

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The Rebellion of Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32)

The book of Numbers, whether it reveals events given in actual sequence or not, reveals several rebellions of the people of Israel while still in the desert. There is the complaining about lack of water, then murmuring for “substantial” food other than the manna; there is Miriam’s doubting of Moses’ authority and her subsequent seven-day separation from the camp. There is the man who clearly gathered wood to build a fire on the Sabbath. Then follows the story of the evil report of the 10 spies and the consequent rebellion. Now we see another catastrophic uprising and revolt. Several Levites, cousins of Aaron’s sons, are offended that they should be excluded from the priesthood, and we see how this again stirs up the entire people of Israel. We see the way YHWH handles the rebellion, completely destroying those who instigated the chaos and their followers; Korach, Dathan and Abiram and 250 more who were leading men of the congregation. Afterward, a plague starts among the people and 14,700 more are destroyed. 

As I examine the accounts of these rebellions written one after the other, I see that Israel has a problem following their divinely-appointed leadership. One would wonder how any could become involved in revolt after so many years of slavery in Egypt, where under the whip, they took orders from evil task masters, and followed them precisely? Where, if they disobeyed, the result was death?  When, after a miraculous salvation from the hand of Pharaoh, they relax in an atmosphere of God’s mercy and protection and are led by His designated leader, Moses, who himself was willing to die for the people, they take on the attitude of spoiled, entitled children (much like society today) and rebel at whatever they assume has trampled their rights. They now refuse discipline, they are a stiff-necked people. What has made them this way is a mystery and continues in our world today. Why would anyone rebel when you have everything going for you? You were delivered from Pharaoh at the Sea of Reeds, you have food provided daily, you have protection from the sun and the cold by a cloud that follows you on your travels, you have a ready-made place of worship. You are given protection from Egypt and the other nations. Perhaps the only thing you do not have is hard labor. Maybe that is the problem or part of it. When they were slaves, they had no time to think, no time to grumble and complain. Maybe this is the reason for the Sabbath commandment that declares: “six days you shall labor,” which may be the secret of real rest. They had too much time on their hands and spent that time in doubting and complaining rather than building up their society. Bad choices lead to disaster. 

In today’s story, Korach a cousin of Aaron, and his two friends, Dathan and Abiram and On who were Reubenites, rebel.

“Now Korach, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:” (Num 16:1-2)

“And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and YHWH is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of YHWH? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:” (Num 16:3-4)

The rebellion is swiftly dealt with, resulting in the death of not only Korach and his two friends, but the 250 others who were ordered to burn incense in fire pans. The ground itself opened up and swallowed the three ringleaders and all that they owned, including wives,, children and belongings. The 250 supporters were consumed by a fire from YHWH. 

It is easy to say that maybe the punishment was too harsh. How would we deal with it today, when almost every country has done away with the death penalty? Treason used to carry the death penalty. Maybe this is why the world has gone mad today! Let’s be kind to those who rebel, after all, their feelings matter too! But this was not the way God handled things–perhaps we’ve wandered a long way from God’s ways of dealing in this world. 

What really is surprising about this story, is that the rest of the people, with their history of rebelling, i.e., the manna, the report of the spies, and the rebellion of Korach, they staged a revolt, claiming that Moses and Aaron had killed the people of YHWH. 

“But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of YHWH. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of YHWH appeared.” (Num 16:41-42)

How could anyone believe that the killing of the three ringleaders and their 250 cohorts was a maneuver trumped-up by Moses and Aaron to maintain their leadership? Were the people completely mad? How would Moses have made the ground open and swallow these ringleaders? How about the fire that came and burned up the 250? Where did that come from? Did they think Moses was a magician and that by rebelling they could get what they wanted and replace him? 

At this point, a plague began among the people and Moses commanded Aaron to intervene, going out among the people with his fire pan and incense. And the plague stopped after 14,700 had died. 

To finally show the leadership of Aaron the Cohen Gadol and his direct descendants, YHWH gives a sign. He tells Moses:

“Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man’s name upon his rod. And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you. And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.” (Num 17:2-5)

“And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. … And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron’s rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.” (Num 17: 8, 10).

But what do we see today? We have no holy temple, we have only synagogues. The majority of religious Jews have not truly accepted the Torah of Moses, but rather their own substitution, which they call Torah. Is this not again a Korach like movement to dethrone Moses and the God of the Universe? I believe the whole case of persecution of Jews ever since the destruction of the Temple has to do with a Babylonian learned Oral Torah and a rejection of the one true religion established at Sinai. But few know about what happened in Babylon and few, if any, care. Perhaps we need some earthquakes to open the ground again!