Jewish Scene
NYC: Ex-Muslim to be ordained as rabbi
Ynetnews
Published: 07.07.12, 08:22
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1. Let me see if I got it. He is muslim, black and gay?
David ,   NY - US   (07.07.12)
2. nothing like Muslim-born man in Islam
observer ,   Egypt   (07.07.12)
all converts of whatever ethnicity are full blown Muslims.
3. A "rabbi" in one year ???
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (07.07.12)
Then i'm Chief Rabbi !
4. I can't begin to imagine myself changing my religion since
m r ,   israel   (07.07.12)
it is such a basic, personal thing ! Muslim father - Afro American mother makes for a Jewish rabbi !
5. When H-Shem canvassed the world's nations, we were the only
Moshe ,   Usa   (07.07.12)
ones who chose to accept the Torah. That is why we are the chosen people because we made the choice. No other nation did. Why would H-Shem chosen us if we were not willing to accept the Torah ?
6. Monstrous phenomena point to the end of the age
Hamma   (07.07.12)
The bizarre, the weird, the lawless, this is what people are interested in in these declining days.
7. Let me get this straight
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (07.07.12)
Nothing wrong with an African /Persian muslim converting to Judaism.However this online course seems like a joke.Add to this he wants to perform gay intermarriage weddings sound like something like a comedy. My Father is Jewish my mother a German convert to Judaism however she did it the Conservative way.When i got out of Navy and moved to N.Y. i wanted to do it my mind trhe correct way.I went to an Orthodox Rabbi he understood my predicament .Although most converts are pushed away a few times i wasn't due to fact i already ate Kosher and lived a Religious oriented life.No9w i'm trying to keep Shabbos completely i hope in a few months i will succeed completely. I knew a muslim who converted but not the same way as this guy. He is completely orthodox and is getting ordained semichah.by a Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Brooklyn.These conversions and so called Semicha's seen like a Joke and are a joke.
8. There is nothing Jewish about Jewish Universalism.
Katamon ,   Jerusalem   (07.07.12)
It rejects the idea of Judaism as a true religion to the exclusion of all others, so the only thing left is some weird mish mash of 'there is truth in everything' spiritualism lightly sprinkled with whatever parts of Judaism (or whatever else anyone wants) on top.
9. Why so much hate? The man comes
8th Generation Sabra   (07.07.12)
from an Abrahamic religion. He realized that Islam lacks compassion and is a hateful cult. Since Judaism is the root of monotheism and is based on love, compassion and Tikun Olam, it makes perfect sense why he would chose to become a Jew. Yasher Koach to a man who knows the power of Tikun Olam and wants to spread it to the rest of us. There is no stronger proponent than a passionate convert.
10. right of "return" ?
Danilo ,   Palestine   (07.07.12)
11. A Rabbi ?
Lenya ,   Australia   (07.07.12)
Abraham as he descended from the Holy Mountain with the Ten Commandments heard laughter and reveling in the camp...Aaron had given over to the demands of the evil people...False prophets, and worshiping of a false gods..This abomination is here today and followers of these false Rabbis will be swallowed up like on the day of wrath when Moses dashed the tablet of the Ten Commandments into pieces at the foot of the mountain.
12. Charles...what is happening man ? :-)~
benjamin ,   singapore   (07.07.12)
13. Given how his former brothers treat gays in Iran &
PETER SM ,   MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA   (07.07.12)
elswewhere in the Moslem world,moving in the oppositte direction is perfecly understandable. Hanging gays does not seem to bother the self righteous preachers on human rights
14. An old adage comes to mind
Sagi   (07.07.12)
From the pot to the frying pan.
15. #2 Since when is Islam based on birth ? numb skull ?
Iranian Hunter   (07.07.12)
Islam is based on conversion, and other means which i should not talks about since it's unethical. For example, is Observer stops believing Mohammad is a prophet, he ceased to be muslim. Simple as that.
16. How can there be an ex-Muslim? They do not let people leave
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & NY   (07.07.12)
The Muslim religion only has 1 kind of ex that they allow to exist - a dead one. Anyone that tries to leave is sentenced to death. So how can there be an ex-Muslim Rabbi?
17. Unitarian?
Johanna ,   Orlando, USA   (07.07.12)
With all due respect to the new rabbi, he's going to throw aside the Bible and declare that God suddenly doesn't have a "chosen" people? That makes him a lot of things, but Jewish isn't one of them. He's a Unitarian Universalist, whether he knows it or not. He really ought to re-read the Torah very carefully. The defining moment in history when the Hebrews agreed to the Covenant with G-d ought to be particularly revealing to him.
18. "Rabbi"
Yoav ,   Germany   (07.07.12)
Not only he became this status in 1 years but also onlin (!) what a joke. Moreover to be gay is strictly against Judaism and the laws of Torah. We wrote that to get a Rabbi is so easy today and here you got it.
19. Some Rabbi! He Disagrees with G-D and G-D's Word !
Linda Rivera ,   New York, USA   (07.07.12)
Has this guy even read the Bible? G-D has CHOSEN the Jewish People! Psalm 135: For the L-RD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession...And He gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people."
20. Most persecuted man on the planet.
Jacob ,   Holon, Israel   (07.07.12)
Iranian Black Jew Gay Former Muslim This guy is awesome! Props to him for what he has done.
21. Lovely, But I'm Sure You Left OUT:
David H ,   Marietta, GA   (07.07.12)
Pro Palestinian, anti-Zionist, Liberal-Democrat, Pro Marxist, anti Christian, and on welfare. Just saying. Sorry, I am not in the least impressed with his "achievements" in life. By the way, just how long would it take me to get one of these on-line Rabbi Certifications? I need a Federal Income Tax deduction this year.
22. Wilmar5@yahoo.com
Sam ,   USA   (07.07.12)
I see more Orthodox hate here, what are they so afraid of ? They present like the US Southern Baptists. God bless this man and his quest to find G-d and his true meaning.
23. To #7 Sagi
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (07.07.12)
It's actually "from the fire into the frying pan," but when one's butt is burning, the source of the heat doesn't matter too much, does it? :-) BTW, I always enjoy your comments. We must have been soulmates in some other life. But then again, I say that to all the guys, hahaha
24. #7 quite a contrast indeed Rod.
martin ,   uk   (07.07.12)
Welcome back. By the way, you live in a beautiful area. Had friends in Beach
25. To #19
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (07.07.12)
I read the bible several times, because I tried to make sense of the contradictions, of the viciousness by the God described therein, and of the scientific fallacies and I came to the conclusion that ny mother had the right ideas and that I wanted nothing to do with a God, who sounds like a vengeful, bumbling moron, something that only humans on power trips could invent. My God is The Creator of All that is, including of universes of which we don't even have an inkling, yet. Other than generations of more, even if different, sages, prophets and experts, what will happen to the believers in the God of the present-day Good Book inventions, when, a few millenia into the future, other intelligent beings are discovered, for whom the idea of a Creator dividing up real estate and the notion of eating meat, whether cow or pig, is as horrible as Huitzliopochtli demanding the "sacrifice" of ripping beating hearts out of living people? As my mother had always "preached," I wasn't born wrapped in Good Books. Instead and as it turned out, God had blessed me with a good brain, which not to use is as monstrous an insult to my Creator as not listening to my conscience for what's right and wrong. Somehow, I can't imagine getting away with "but, but, but the learned, highly respected X, Y and/or Z threatened me with all sorts of heavenly disasters, if I refused to believe that you talked to him/her and that's what you said and/or meant." Ridiculous? Well, isn't that religion?
26. Teachers of falsehood
RC ,   USA   (07.07.12)
Maybe someone can ask him when homosexual acts stopped being an abomination to God. There are many false teachings by supposed rabbis and preachers that need to be pointed out and confronted.
27. Converts
Terry ,   USA   (07.07.12)
Excuse me ! Where in the Torah does it show that you need an Academic Degree to teach what Hashem is telling us?
28. writing the book on suffering
Arn ,   Yehud, Israel   (07.07.12)
Lets see... a Muslim, a black. gay, and a Jew... That's some cross this gentleman is carrying. And he just found a slightly used crown of thorns on eBay.
29. #25
Belinda ,   Texas, USA   (07.07.12)
Wow! You sound like a pushy US atheist that has drank too much of the atheist Kool-Aid!
30. Any 'Jew' who finds
Paul ,   Jerusalem   (07.07.12)
anything inspirational, or positive about this story is seriously confused. This so-called Muslim will neither be a "Jew' or benefit to any people. This man has nothing Spiritual to offer the Jewish people and I can't imagine anyone with the slightest understanding of Judaism that would accept him as a 'Jew'.
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