I have just finished watching 20/20 a NZ actuality program. Well after seeing a 35 year old male and a 23 years old female, mother of a 2 years old child, both dying from brain tumors...... I thank God that I am alive, healthy and happy. These people are fighting so that the government will help them make ends meet. They are on the verge of bankrupcy. A few hours earlier I was worring about whether I should replace my wife's car by a Holden HVS V8, a Porsche boxter or perhaps a Mercedes SLK. Suddenly I realised what an idiot am I? La'azazel ! people are suffering and we worry about nothing.

Having read both the old and new testaments several times I would have to say that for the most part the New Testament is all about love and the Old Testament is filled with death, punishments and threats - Mike

That any commentry on an article should have read the entire article. I say no more

Read the psalms again. Some lovely poetry of love that David has for his G-d! Redemption is the theme of the new testament which, many Jews do not believe. Of course, many also reject the old testament. To our detriment.

R. Brackman is correct that R. Baal Shem Tov merely "promulgated," more accurately revived, this alternative khasidic orientation that dates back to Ribi Yehoshua and is the primary contribution that caused the Hellenists to counterfeit Ribi Yehoshua, making him the singular world-recognized Jew that changed the entire world; even the calendar year used by most of the world is dated from the 1st-century Pharisaic Ribi from Beit Lekhem and Natzrat. Torah explicitly states that Ha-Sheim doesn't desire the punishment or cessation of existence of the wrong-doer, but, rather, that the wrong-doer will mold himself or herself to Torah (Yekhezqeil 33.11). Thus, the only Biblically-consistent orientation to ha-Sheim is constrained by His need to maintain הבדלה (havdalah; separation) between Himself (His Holiness), and those who transgress His Torah. This implies that, to commune with Him, we, who are fallible and incapable of perfection, must BECOME free of wrong -- which is something that only ha-Sheim can accomplish. Knowing this, He set forth the formula in His Torah, in the Shema, inter alia; NOT requiring us to keep Torah perfectly, which He knows we cannot do, but, rather, requiring only that one do his or her utmost to keep the mitzwot according to Halakhah: "It will be that, if you hearken to My mitzwot that I command you today, to love ha-Sheim, your Elohim, and to serve Him WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR NEPHESH (psyche, Hellenized to 'soul')..." (Devarim 11.13, et al). This is the prerequisite for which He promises, in His graciousness, to confer His kipur, erasing the wrongs of the one who does his or her utmost to keep Torah. This is דרך חיים (Derekh Khaiyim; the Way of Life) specified in Mishlei Shlomoh 6.23: "For a mitzwah is a lamp [of the menorah] and the Torah is the Light – ודרך חיים (wə-Derekh Khaiyim; and the Way of Life), reproofs of discipline." Notice that, in addition to specifying that Torah (none other) is the Light of the world, the Light for the goyim, there is NO OTHER REQUIREMENT FOR KIPUR and a place in Olam ha-Ba; AND that Torah instructs that nothing may be added to this formula (Devarim 13.1). If anyone does add to it -- like redmike, Petra and other Christians and Muslims, that addition is defined as apostasy (which, by definition, is of Satan) in the subsequent verses (Devarim 13.2-6)!!! Thus, one should be able to understand that reproofs and discipline are to be viewed as Torah instructs: Derekh ha-Khaiyim, not as threats of "fire and brimstone" punishment. The decision whether to pursue holiness or not is the free will of the individual -- you; and you, alone, will be held responsible and accountable for your choice. No desire to punish is involved. It's all on you. There will be no more blameshifting to rabbis, Christian missionaries, Nazis, Shoah, willful historical ignorance, Hellenist Romans or anything else. The buck will stop with you and your decision whether to do your utmost to keep Torah. Your destiny, determined by your free-will decision, is simply a matter of ha-Sheim's need to maintain havdalah between His Holiness (Himself) and transgression of His Torah (Instruction). It is simply an unavoidable matter of fact. There is no hatred, vengefulness or desire to punish involved. The vengeful aspect of ha-Sheim is directed toward the enemies of Torah-keeping Israel -- which should give all misojudaics cause for concern. PS: the most popular Israeli Jewish newspaper not publishing candlelighting times on Erev Shabbat and Erev Khag in its on-line counterpart is a disservice to Jewish readers and a disgrace to Israel. Even ha-Aretz publishes candlelighting times. Paqid Yirmeyahu Israeli Orthodox Jew Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

well once again you have managed to take a no-brainer, then examine it with a microscope, and theorize over the smallest nonsense, finally concluding with an anti climatic what-not. seriously, reading one chapter is not enough to review even the proposed intentions of the author. however the real story lays not in the books story, but in the circumstance of this author. apparently abused by the idea that god is ever vengeful, he now suffers and oy oy, we should all but flowers in our shabbos hats and prance to the delightful nonsense of the Jewish religious-lite, all soft lights and shining smiles. perhaps it has never occurred to you that life is not easy. we are all enveloped in the hectic pace of living in the modern ages. environmental freaks preach death to the earth, to those good and bad. atheists preach everlasting death of black nothingness after a mere 75 years of dubious awareness. so it is more likely that this is a man of whiny disposition, preferring to blame others of his life's problems.

This really is a poorly written article. I suggest that Ynet should reconsider posting this rabbis dribble. It's embarrassing to his rabbinic colleagues. First off read the whole book before you comment on it, anything less shows academic laziness. Second, a statement such as, "If more people were taught primarily about the primarily loving aspect of God, Judaism would be better off and there would be no need for books such as Foreskin’s Lament" Is a sad reflection on your overly simplistic world view. Besides writing 'primarily' twice in the same sentence you fail to appreciate that deep thinking Jews from time immemorial have found various ways of understanding their relationship with God including Shalom Auslander, the great Rabbis of the Talmud and the Bible itself. Their is a need for Jews to articulate all types of Godly relationships, positive or negative regardless of their fitting in your black and white little box.