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Rabbi: Pray against missionaries on Purim
Neta Sela
Published: 03.03.07, 17:10
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1. funny
dunam ,   spania   (03.03.07)
this guy in the picture...what is his name rabi...he looks like olmert...look at his face carefully
2. The missionaries are pests, frustrated sales people
Roger ,   USA   (03.03.07)
The normal, secure Jews will never buy their garbage.
3. Who are Jehovah's Witnesses?
Danny Haszard ,   Bangor Maine USA   (03.03.07)
Rabbi: Pray against missionaries on Purim Ynetnews, Israel - 55 minutes ago This comes on the heels of the court’s ruling that a Jehovah’s Witness conference may take place at the Congress Center in Haifa ... ------ Who are Jehovah's Witnesses? Up close and personal Jehovah's Witnesses can be wolves in sheep's clothing. Think about this-When the devil comes knocking on your door he may not have the 'dark goth look'.They could be smartly dressed and wielding the Christian Bible. I have Jehovah's Witnesses family who practice the Watchtower JW enforced ritual shunning that i have not seen or heard from in 15 years. The central core dogma of the Watchtower is Jesus second coming (invisibly) in 1914 and is a lie.Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the man made Millerite movement of 1840. A destructive cult of false teachings, that frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths (bogus blood transfusion ban). Yes,you can 'check out anytime you want but you can never leave',because they can and will hold your family hostage. The world has the Internet now,and there are tens of thousands of pages up from defrauded Jehovah's Witnesses like myself who have been abused by the Watchtower cult. The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world. ---- Danny Haszard Jehovah's Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation http://www.freeminds.org
4. Freedom of Religion
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (03.03.07)
As distastful as we find missionaries, this is what freedom of religion means. We should not emulate our backwards neighbors with their intolerent views. The rabbis should concentrate on education better to protect people from these bizarre sects.
5. Good for the rabbi
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (03.03.07)
#2 Even if "secure jews" are not going to convert, it does help to ban missionaries activities
6. Not even seculars
charles ,   petyach tikva   (03.03.07)
will fall in their trap . But even if those "witnesses" have to be banned , let them have their congress. You don't know the danger they represent for weak people . They come at your door , try to come in with different pretexts [ we want to show you a good way of life ] but it's their "religion" they want to sell . It was so in Galut where i lived , they came Shabbat morning , allways two people , the same every time , and nothing did help , you could send them to ......, two months later they were again there .
7. common denominator
Michael ,   Haifa   (03.03.07)
The common denominator between Jehovah's Witnesses and Hassidim, and all other religions for that matter, is the lack of ability of the followers to think for themselves.
8. Frightened Rabbi
mike ,   gedera   (03.03.07)
If the rabbis version of judism is so strong and rightous then what is he so afraid of?
9. ignoramouses like you #8
yoni ,   jerusalem   (03.03.07)
the rabbi is not at risk but rather ignoran tpeople who have no real grasp on judaism. as the rambam put it in hilchot avoda zara- if everyone went according to their lack of understanding and held by their opinion the world would be destroyed. Israel has an obligation to recognize its roots and realize the dream of the jewish people. to be a free nation on our land. no missionaries should be allowed to interfere with our freedom and impose their crooked views on the weak and ignoratn ones among us like amalek. get them out of our land NOW
10. If Christianity is such a "good" religion,
David ,   Jerusalem   (03.03.07)
why do they have to force it upon people and torture them and kill them if they do not accept it, as in the Inquisition, the missionaries, the Cantonists in Czarist Russia, the Crusaders, WWII by Christians, etc. etc. etc. If this religion is so good, there's no need for missionaries. The Rolls Royce is not advertised anywhere and doesn't need much talk... Can someone please explain.
11. #8 Mike: Once a Jew, Always a Jew
David ,   Jerusalem   (03.03.07)
A jew can never change or quit his religion even if he "believes" that he converted to a different religion, he still remains a Jew. The Rabbi is trying to prevent the "weak" Jews (the Jew who are not that strong in his religion) to be approached. Although the Jew will remain a Jew, but his religious beliefs can drop if he's persuaded by bad influence.
12. Are you so insecure with your identity? Who cares?!?!
Shuki   (03.03.07)
Every day each of us is bombarded with hundreds if not thousands of sells for all sorts of products and services. Why not religion? The benefit gained for what it means to be an open society by allowing these missionaries to do their thing far exceeds the annoyances that must be put up with. If they cross the line to harassment, that's another story -- and one that can be pursued separately.
13. Nut cases
RedStarYeast ,   USA   (03.03.07)
Of course the Jehovah's Witnesses are nut cases. But then, what Hassidic rabbi (or fundamentalist Christian, for that matter) isn't also a nut case? In any case, I can tell you from long experience that JW missionaries (all members of the cult are missionaries) are also quite docile and zombie-like. Simply tell them firmly to go away and they will shuffle off without a whimper.
14. Consumer protection
Josh   (03.03.07)
There was a device that is a magnet and connects on the outside of pipes. It was proported by the seller to clean the water. After it was found to be a fraudulent claim in the US the banned its sale and it was no longer legal to sell. To the same degree the New Testament comes with the Old Testament. If one reads these books the find that the Old Testament is close to the Torah in its translation and that it disproves that Jesus could be the Messiah. Not one prophecy matches when the intend and context of a complete passage is taken. Why does the cort of Israel not prevent fraud when it not only bilks money from people but worse attempts to take souls too. There is only one G-d. The Messiah is to be like Moses and returning from sin. These statements (amoung thousands) makes what their doing fraud as Jesus was not a returning Jew nor was he with sin, nor could there be another G-d. END OF STORY. It should be banned in my opinion.
15. A time for praying, a time for fighting
Ephraim ,   Tel Aviv   (03.03.07)
It is too late for praying. Now is the time to fight those judges who fight against Judaism.
16. 8#
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (03.03.07)
They "are fraid" of the not so strong elements in the Jewish people I know of 3 who already fell prey ..... they are doing a public service on behalf of the seculars. It's not a hareidi who makes the easiest catch They can wipe their a-- whith that convention
17. Jesus come to mediate new covenant not a religion
marilyn   (03.04.07)
Jehovah God , loved us so much he sent us his Son, a person, that whoever execises faith in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Jesus teaches us that' the Kingdom of God is like a 'net' that goes into the sea and catches fishes of all kinds.' Most people learn the discipleship required of being a follower of Christ through the 'net' of religion they have been caught in.Some people end up as Habakkuk states 'offering up sacrifices to his dragnet, 'which really is an error because sacrifice is then rendered to the Creation rather then the Creator. This is where originally the Jews went wrong in looking to their system of worship rather then to their Creator. Others go on to enter into the new covenant that has been mediated by Christ, but all will go through their baptizm of fire.For as Psalms says "'Our soul is lke a bird that is escaped from the trap of baiters. The trap is broken and we ourselves have escaped, Our help is in the name of jehovah ,The maker of heaven and earth.'
18. Hallo, David Jerusalem #10
Christian ,   Sweden   (03.04.07)
1) Most of us Christians do not look at Jehova's Witnesses as fellow Christians. They are beyond the pale. And for the record: The Witnesses for sure don't look at us as fellow believers. If we don't convert to their religion we are destined for hell. 2)Missionaries are we all in that meaning that we are sending out a message. The content of that message is the beliefs and values that govern our everyday life and the way we treat each other. If we like what we see, we would like to know that person and his beliefs better. Sectarian religious or political propaganda often put forward in a rude and offensive way is quite another thing. Freedom of religion, yes, but not without limits. Sects, political or religious with destructive and asocial beliefs and values should be forbidden. 3) There is a lot of whining about the crusades. Don't forget that the Christian form of jihad was a reaction to the muslim jihad which had occupied the holy land and persecuted the Christians. The atrocities committed by the crusaders against the Jews were not only evil and sinful acts, they were acts of great stupidity which deprived the crusaders of the blessing from heaven. And so they were delivered into the hands of their enemies. 4) And yes good religion needs no pushy marketing!
19. Christian Missionaries.
Dave ,   Toronto, Canada   (03.04.07)
I suggest a few things:: 1. All the Haredim start showing their love for the "seculars"- instead of always preaching the same old "my way or the highway" attitude. 2. For every Christian group sending missionaries to Israel, the municipality or any Israeli company renting them the hall should require from a list of the hometowns of all the people involved, and also the head office addresses of all the missionary organizations involved. 3. We should send Jewish missionaries to all the cities in the U.S.A./ wherever these missionaries are from
20. Jewish Missionary ????? :))) LOL
ben ,   singapore   (03.04.07)
1) SIX POWERFULL WORDS : Sh”ma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad .: that means:..... ....Hear O Yisrael, the Lord is Our G-d, the Lord Alone. That means the Lord is ONE, the Lord ALONE. This is the Heart and Soul of EVERY JEW which is also the summary of monotheism and the essential ethical and a philosophical revolution in Judaism FOREVER ! PERIOD ! 2) IF YOU THINK WE ARE STRICT AND REGID, SEE THE UNIVERSAL VALUE of MICAH ! ..For let all people walk everyone in the name of his god, AND WE (Jews) WILL WALK IN THE NAME OF THE LORD G_D FOR EVER AND EVER. 3)_ ABOUT JEWISH MISSIONARY Please ! there is no such thing as Jewish Missionary, this is the term created by Xtians Zionist, their sole purpose is to convert the Jews. The Jewish missionary CAME AND EVEN THESE DAYS coming in many denomination of the xtian version. 4) CONVERTS TO JUDAISM Not THAT EASY ! But we have GREAT RESPECT for righteous gentiles. One name that most forget to look at is JETRO and he is part of the system of Justice established in the Torah . I say - the Torah is legacy of righteous JETRO, a man of a the desert , Kenite Tribe, and Moshe’s gentile father – in- law. Converts and Prospective Converts should know and understand the demands entering the gate and staying in Orthodox Judaism is unlike any other Judaism that we see today. Choose your path !
21. Christianity is cut off out...
Norway   (03.04.07)
Shortcut to: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=79 Shabbat Commentary :) http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=11003 Yahoo! - search Did Jesus rise from the dead... Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty... Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God... because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ... whom He did not raise up- -if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile you are still in your sins!’ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable... I Corinthians 15:12-19 NKJ Who has the keys... to the kingdom of heaven? And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you - Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven...” Matthew 16:18- But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23 “Jesus - I am He who lives... and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Rev. 1:18 His winnowing fan... is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat (followers of Jesus - - the messiah of both Christians and Moslems) into His barn but the chaff (the Jews) He will burn with unquenchable fire." Luke 3:15-17 NKJ Thus saith the LORD of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.' Zechariah 8 :))
22. #20 Ben Singapore
AY_Lamb ,   USA   (03.04.07)
What about Lubavitcher's they send out Shluchim? But anywho! I work in an office where every Friday my coworkers gather and consume bread and fishes and every Christian American Holiday they gather and feast right there at the office. If there is a gospel event i.e. a musical concert or a revival etc. an invitation is disseminated via email to everyones inbox from the Government and since it comes from that source you can't route it to Spam folder you must read it the same as an inclement weather advisory. These are examples of the "Quote" Freedom of Religion in America they so proudly tout. continued on next post
23. #10
CHRISTIAN OBSERVER ,   MELBOURNE   (03.04.07)
Christianity is a good religion but unfortunatly many christians & mainly polititians failed to follow the teaching of Christ. Christ preached peace, forgivness, accepting others, giving without keeping account, loving the lord, the neighbours and even the enemies. In Jesus's teaching there is no mention to violene, killing or revenge. He even prayed to the father to forgive those who crussified him. The problem is not with Jesus or with christianity but with some christians who committed evil by the name of christianity. Jesus showed us the way how to achieve peace, it was us who failed to follow his way. Shalom.
24. continued from previous to #20 Ben
AY_Lamb ,   USA   (03.04.07)
When I casually ask about the religious themes of these events always get the same response Christmas, Easter, Lent, evangelical functions aren't really religious functions because these things are universally embraced and these things are a necessity. I have learned so much from them; about their beliefs and ours as well and, I have grown in so much respect for both. As gentiles see it the text of the "New Testament" is infallible and the culpability of historic Jewish crimes is indisputable "in the rejection of the Paraclete" even though the secular education is good and they rarely admit this openly out of good manners the fact is it is clearly and repeatedly mentioned in their sacred texts and Non-Christians are viewed by them as "Amelek" (for a concise albeit not totally accurate approximation). They know not what they do and "proselytization" is intrinsic to that belief system. Before this I was never a huge fan of the Talmud to me it was complicated, boring and antiquated, not to mention "expensive to purchase in print" and almost completely not followable in the Galut but, now I see the beauty and necessity of it. Without it their would be no "us" the sedarim Nizikin talks to Avoda Zara and establishes clearly what we must observe so the line that separates doesn't become so blurred and likewise prohibits our passion from overcoming our reason and prevents us from trying to stop that which cannot be stopped. Throughout history, there have been so many messianic claimants’ and those that desire to see what lies beyond flock to their teachings. I guess the point is from my humble perspective is "That which makes us similar exceeds that which makes us different" but, the small amount that does make us different is vitally important and 1,937 years ago at the first compilation of the Mishnah by the elders with the approval and oversight of the Nasi this ideal was already well understood and for so many subsequent generations sages and scholars redacted additional academic works in the same merciful, compassionate and enlightened manner to emphasize and reiterate this to keep us alive, united and vital. You can't blame anyone who so disparately mourns at the state of this fractured world from seeking out a force that is supernatural to repair that which seems irreparable. You must take caution while living and working with them because they do not and cannot accept or comprehend yours and my difference and in some extreme cases will react with fear if they can't ignore it for some reason. I learned from a Christian friend of mine that when ardent Christians "Evangelicals" bless Israel it is a "Gallows Blessing" because it was written earlier we rejected their oracle and the sole conduit to the judge of the universe and for that we have but one fate in their eyes. I hope this reality about the "friends of Israel" is soon recognized. I have come to recognize the nature of non-Jewish attitudes towards Israel and it doesn't even bother anymore because the source of that belief is in the basic human desire to have a connection with that which lies beyond. I believe Amelek is confusion and doubt and it is always there and always present but, the only way through it without sacrificing my beliefs and acting hastily or irrationally is by reading the writings of the sages and knowing that despite the challenges they faced and the grave and ever present dangers of the world they bore witness and stayed true to the "one". Let us hope that the despite the fact that the challenges we face are in so many ways greater but, also lesser that we to continue to do the "right thing" as recorded in the Shas. Barux to all Shalom
25. # 22 & 24 AY Lamb of USA.
ben ,   singapore   (03.04.07)
Thank you for your time and afford,in response to my posting above.I read your post very slowly and I digest them and i respond : Orthodox Judaism is Religion of Jews who adhere strictly to traditional beliefs and practices; the official form of Judaism in Israel. Orthodox Jews hold that both the written law (Torah) and the oral law (codified in the Mishna and interpreted in the Talmud) are immutably fixed and remain the sole norm of religious observance. Orthodox Judaism has held fast to such practices as daily worship, dietary laws, intensive study of the Torah, and separation of men and women in the synagogue. It also enjoins strict observance of the Sabbath and does not permit instrumental music during communal services. As such if you were to sit there in your office on Friday evening eating fish and bread, it dosent mean anything. The question is if the things you ate is kosher or not or is it khasrut ? Fish means what fish ? Fins and scale or not ? Bread ? what bread ?What kind of intention associated with that bread ? If you observe the Xtain American holiday, does that mean, a HOLY DAY as the Jewish Sabbath? Is in accordance with Orthodox Judaism? Well, In our mind there is NO such thing as the – Old testament (O T )and New Testament ( NT), these are compilation works of the Xtains in accordance to their doctrine and faith. You noted about the Xtian American Holidays. But none of those are HOLY Days as the Sabbath or The HIGH HOLY DAYS as in ORTHODOX JUDAISM , please see the Jewish Calender.These Jewish High Holiday are rooted and derived from the Torah and their dates have not changed ever since, as our Sages and Seers have and we keep a good record of the new moon too ( Check it out ). The note on the OT and NT as being a book that curses The Jews ! Well it is nothing new to us as the OT and NT is full of anti –semetic chants. About the Talmud, well it is not very expensive now. Go to the internet and read, we have bundles of them on the internet and the commentaries will never stop, because we Jews will never stop writing. So Keep Reading, and don’t worry that it is too expensive to purchase the Talmud. About the Xtian and evangelicals blessing Israel - of course they do! But it comes with a underlying agenda, to convert Jews . About Amalek, please read No. 613.And look at todays world,Ask yourself one question, who are the Amalek ? I think you know the answer :) Ben Singapore
26. Jehovah's Witnesses a cult
Rev. August Rosado ,   Somerset, Mass (USA)   (03.04.07)
The Jehovah's Witnesses is not a Orthodox Bible centered Christian faith. It is a cult that denies Israel as the chosen people of G-d and feels it has replaced the Jews. This cult rejects, birthday celebrations, blood transfusions, Government, and many other such things that help and govern our societies. Because Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East with freedom of expression and religious rights, they have to accomodate this cult unfortunatley. This cult is not a true Christian orginization nor does it care about the current status of Israel and the Jewish people as true Christian Zionist do. Please don't lump these people with true biblical orthodox christianity. Their is indeed a vast difference of doctrine between us as true Christian Zionist and them (JW's) as a cult that denies Israel in God's prophetic future program of blessings.
27. Jehovah's Witnesses
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (03.04.07)
Could the Rabbi, please, include me in his prayers?? I don't care what these people or anyone else does or doesn't believe at 7:30 AM on Saturdays, when they usually bang on my door. The only thing I believe in at that time and especially on Saturdays is SLEEP.
28. Hasidim - Your eyes are closed
Geoff ,   USA   (03.04.07)
Who gave you the right to supercede God's Word? From the Gentile point of view, the “Tanakh,” or Jewish Bible, is the most important of Jewish writings. However, the Jewish view is different. Many Jews would agree with the comment by Adin Steinsaltz, a rabbi: “If the Bible is the cornerstone of Judaism, then the Talmud is the central pillar, soaring up from the foundations and supporting the entire spiritual and intellectual edifice . . . No other work has had a comparable influence on the theory and practice of Jewish life.” (The Essential Talmud) What, then, is the Talmud? Orthodox Jews believe not only that God gave the written law, or Torah, to Moses at Mount Sinai but also that God revealed to him specific explanations of how to carry out that Law, and that these were to be passed on by word of mouth. This was called the oral law. Thus, the Talmud is the written summary, with later commentaries and explanations, of that oral law, compiled by rabbis from the second century C.E. into the Middle Ages. The Talmud is usually divided into two main sections: The Mishnah: A collection of commentaries supplementing Scriptural Law, based on the explanations of rabbis called Tannaim (teachers). It was put into written form in the late second and early third centuries C.E. The Gemara (originally called the Talmud): A collection of commentaries on the Mishnah by rabbis of a later period (third to sixth centuries C.E.). In addition to these two main divisions, the Talmud may also include commentaries on the Gemara made by rabbis into the Middle Ages. Prominent among these were the rabbis Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac, 1040-1105), who made the difficult language of the Talmud far more understandable, and Rambam (Moses ben Maimon, better known as Maimonides, 1135-1204), who reorganized the Talmud into a concise version (“Mishneh Torah”), thus making it accessible to all Jews.
29. Hasidim vs. JWs
Geoff ,   USA   (03.04.07)
JWs are a cult, right? To all those that cannot push an elevator button, turn on an oven or drive a car (and walk instead) because the Sabbath should be held sacred, I ask this question: The Mosaic Law forbade the eating of blood. Why? Because it tasted bad? No, because blood is sacred in God's eyes. Yet, your conscience allows you to take a Gentile's blood into your body to save your earthly life? Don't you believe you are going to heaven anyway?
30. #20 Ben of Singapore -- TY!
AY_Lamb ,   USA   (03.04.07)
Benyamin - it just isn't easy in these perilous times. I sometimes feel a sense of loneliness, isolation and maybe some despair. Your postings in combination with those of others give me hope and I proceed into the future and look joyously unto the future time. Anyway I do want to attend those Friday luncheons with my co-workers because I think "in my heart" they are good and I almost did join them on several occasions but, right before I did a co-worker who is a Jehovah Witness told me that it is Catfish being served there. If she indeed suffered ill-will or was a person with "contempt" why would she tell me before. There is good in all people I believe and, I think it is a Mitzvah "to be happy"; (R. Nachman of Breslov) and that is what I try to do. Knowing that Hashem put happiness in everyones heart gives me hope. I hope I am right and the fracture shall one day be healed. Toda Raba
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