Posted bt Ellen W. Horowitz
Fire, Brimstone and White Powder?
The JTA is reporting that the deceased Dr. Anthrax was actually an evangelical who believed the Jews were God's chosen people. The government scientist who killed himself as he faced arrest for the 2001 anthrax attacks appeared to feign a radical Islamist as he wrote notes stating, "Death to America, Death to Israel, Allah is Great." He saw President Bush's re-election as a victory for evangelicals and wrote a letter stating "You can get on board or get left behind, because that Christian Nation Express is pulling out of the station!"
Sparks fly live on air when Rabbi Tovia Singer debates the head of Jews for Jesus!
I don't wanna spoil the ending, but Tovia wins this one hands down.
Singer also wrote an extensive article on the most debated text in Tanach: Isaiah 53. This chapter is used by missionaries more frequently than any other text in Tanach to evangelize Jews. Essential reading.
Sit this election out, Virginia!
Jews stay clear of Virginia's 8th district. The Republican challenger of a Democratic congressman is an ardent supporter of Jews for Jesus. Republican Mark Ellmore founded "Know the Truth," a web site that promotes fund-raising for Jews for Jesus and other proselytizing Christian groups. He is running against Democrat Jim Moran who has some incredibly nasty things to say about AIPAC and Israel. So it's like this, ... a vote for the Republican is a vote against Judaism; whereas a vote for the Democrat is a vote against Israel. American Jews, time to pack those bags and make aliyah. Dual loyalties has just run its course.
A Cantor for Vice President?
John McCain's may be considering Virginia Republican Eric Cantor as a running mate. He's Jewish and the evangelicals love him (he likes to talk about the "Judeo-Christian tradition"). Cantor even garnered an endorsement from the influential Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention. This is important, because Dr. Land doesn't love all Jewish politicians. About six months ago the Christian minister delivered a speech to theology students at Criswel College, in which he referred to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer as "the schmuck from New York." You can bet that ADL's Abe Foxman got Land to apologize and admit to his "ignorance" of Yiddish.
But Cantor may have other problems... Hint: It seems that his ties to a certain former indicted evangelical House Majority Leader and a convicted Jewish Republican lobbyist - who named a sandwich after Cantor - may get in the way of success.
The Knesset in Texas for the End of Days
More than sandwiches will be served at the Fort Worth Stockyards come end of August. The Knesset Christian Allies Caucus will convene in Texas where Jews and Evangelicals will usher in "The Days of Elijah" Conference. The whole shebang has a definite Evangelical/Messianic ring to it. I was not invited to this event... but Tovia Singer was.
Tovia - whom I greatly admire - got more than an earful from me already over this tough issue (hope your headache is better today, Tovia). Suffice to say that I hope he uses his platform at the event to call the powers-that-be to order ( not the Christians, but our own people who run the Caucus). It seems that the evangelicals look forward to " the opportunity to participate in a live radio broadcasting to Jerusalem" via Tovia's show (I'll be listening...)
Christian Zionist missionary Jack Hayford has a new messianic academic endeavor
Dr./Pastor/Chancellor Jack Hayford of the Kings College and Seminary has his literal seal (crown and cross) of approval stamped right over the forehead of that innocent looking Yeshiva student on the homepage (just about where his tefillin would sit).
Yisrael Medad blogged about their Bachelor of Theological Studies Degree with a Messianic Jewish Studies Concentration.
Hayford is also a teacher at the seminary and is a master of deception...It seems Hayford duped Chairman of the Knesset Allies Caucus, Rabbi MK Benny Elon, into appearing at the opening ceremony of Hayford's Messianic Jewish Restoration Conference at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. Elon was asked by Hayford to "invoke the presence of God into their midst and lead them in prayer" Just look at who the main speakers were at that conference.
Ya gotta wonder who gives Binyenei Hauma their hechsher for these events.
Breaking News: The Rabbi Kook Institute (Mossad HaRav Kook) held their Annual Conference on the Oral Torah. The Rosh Yeshiva of Mercaz HaRav, Rav Yaacov Shapira - son of Rav Avraham Shapira, z"l - addressed the issue of whether or not it is permissible to accept tzedakah from Gentiles. I am pleased to see major rabbinic leaders finally addressing this issue in a very clear and public manner. The address was recorded and it will hopefully be transcribed. Rav Shapira relayed a recent incident in which he was offered a donation from Pastor John Hagee for Mercaz HaRav. He declined the offer. But when asked to “think again”, Rav Shapira recalled the memory of Rabbi Ammnon of Mainz - which prevented him from having any second thoughts.
4 comments:
> Sparks fly live on air when Rabbi
> Tovia Singer debates the head of
>Jews for Jesus!
>I don't wanna spoil the ending, but
>Tovia wins this one hands down.
I can't disagree more ... seems to me that the two are presented as differing, valid positions, with the J4J guy being more "hip" and "with it", thus probably appealing more to the younger crowd.
I'm afraid that Rabbi Singer will appeal to those who already espouse his ideas, but those who are unsure have now been given entree into a theologically dangerous cult (i.e. J4J).
I suggest that you drop the link.
Anonymous,
Seems to me that even the two radio hosts who are "hip" and "with it" credited Tovia with a knockout. The J4J guy simply had nothing to stand on, blew his cool, and was trounced.
Tovia won not because he was espousing "his ideas", but because he upheld eternal Torah truths.
I am usually opposed to theological debate because I think it is futile and foolish. But in a case where a group like J4J is so aggressive and blatant in their efforts to convert Jews, I think people like Tovia should bring 'em down.
"addressed the issue of whether or not it is permissible to accept tzedakah from Gentiles."
The charedi yeshiva world would collapse without such donations, so don't expect any charedi rabbi to ever say that it's forbidden.
The halacha is complex, requires study and applies differently to individual cases, but numerous Chareidi and Zionist rabbinic leaders are on record for clearly
opposing Christian donations to Torah institutions, as well as any donations given in the name of a church, Christianity or Jesus.
It is difficult to find respected halachic authorities who
sanction such donations.
Even Rabbi Grossman who accepts millions of dollars in donations from Pastor Hagee has refused to commit in writing that it is acceptable.
He is correct in refusing, because it would present him with a conflict of interest, and would be ethically untenable.
As far as your view that the Chareidi yeshiva world would collapse without such donations, don't count on it.
Christian groups may want it that way in the same way that Anne Coulter declares,
"The survival of Israel is inextricably linked to the survival of the Republican Party and its evangelical base."
But the reality is that a lack of funds from evangelical sources would more likely cause the Chareidi world and the rest of Israeli society to tighten their belts, simplify, get back to work and get back to themselves.
Israel and the Torah world will survive.
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