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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A BRIEF JEWISH CRITIQUE OF CHRISTIAN "MISSIONARY" BIBLICAL TEXTS, April 14, 2011
This review is from: V'Da Mah SheTashiv: Know What To Answer (To Missionaries) A Thorough Jewish response To Missionaries (Paperback)
The author writes in the Introduction to this 2007 book, "This book contains many 'proofs' Missionaries use (and have used for many centuries) from Scriptures, responses that show these proofs to be absolutely meaningless, and even some pieces of interest from within the New Testament itself that help shed light as to the falsehood of what the missionaries are selling... The author does not intend to use this publication as a means of attacking Christianity, but rather as a means of defense to Jews that are so massively targeted by Christian missionaries in multi-million dollar campaigns to betay their Heritage on G-d."
Here are some quotations from the book:
"(T)he significance of this sign (from Isa 7:14) is Isaiah was actually speaking of his own pregnant wife, the sign being that it will be a boy... that he will be born before Isaiah arrives home and that he will be called by his mother, Immanuel." (Pg. 6)
"They say (Isaiah 53) must be talking about Jesus when it talks of one 'servant of G-d' who suffered and was pierced and reviled but in Isaiah 53:10 is says, '...he will see SEED and LONG DAYS and his hands shall succeed..' Jesus HAD NO SEED and DIED AT A YOUNG AGE." (Pg. 12-13)
"MIssionaries say (Deut 6:4) means the 3 gods ('father, son and holy ghost') are 'united' as one... That is obviously not the clear meaning of the passage. That is forcing 'paganism' onto the Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures clearly say G-d is one. The Hebrew word 'echad' does not mean 'united,' as 'yachad' does but 'one.' This is obvious." (Pg. 27)
"This (Isa 11:1-10) is how Isaiah describes the true Messianic period. That he will be descended from King David and there will be universal peace in the whole world and the Jewish people shall all be back in Israel and all the world shall be 'full of the knowledge of the L-rd.' NONE of these 4 MAJOR things happened in the times of Jesus, indeed they have not happened yet... So Jesus can not be the 'messiah.'"
"Yes, indeed, Jesus is actually quoted (in Jn 8:44) as calling Jews the sons of 'the devil.' Countless millions of Jews were killed over the centuries because of the anti-Semitism such quotes have engendered." (Pg. 34)
"The main targets of missionaries are uneducated Jews and lonely people. In response the Jewish community needs to promote Jewish education, such as Jewish schools for example, and we need to make our fellow Jews feel like they are not alone." (Pg. 38)
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19 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Counter Missionary Book, September 15, 2007
This review is from: V'Da Mah SheTashiv: Know What To Answer (To Missionaries) A Thorough Jewish response To Missionaries (Paperback)
This book is short but packed with all you need to see why Judaism can not accept Jesus/YEshua as a god, son of god or messiah. It brings the 'proofs' missionaries have brought since JEsus' times for centuries as they tried to convert Jews, whether by the sword (Inquisition, Crusades) , expulsions (most of Europe), or massive missionarizing campagns. This book is short and straght to the point! (see my comments to Midrasin's post via the comments link by his message)
Here's an idea of the style of what's in this info packed small book.
It appears there was one "point of inference" used by missionaries from the TOrah ("Old TEstament") I forgot to bring in the book. So here's what I have to say regarding it. For more get the book - it's all there. :)
ISaiah 9
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty "Ail" (Hebrew word) , The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
In these verses missionaries say it shows a "son" will be born and he seems to be called G-d. Firstly, the Hebrew word here is "AIL". That means "Mighty". G-d is refered to as "Mee Kamocha BaAilim Adonie" - Who is like you among the Mighty, Oh L-rd. It does indeed sometimes refer to G-d or can to an angel or the "mighty". When refering to G-d it means the AlMighty. Many commentators explain it says indeed that G-d who is "Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty "Ail" (Hebrew word) , The everlasting Father," shall call this child the "Prince of Peace".
It refers to King Hezekiah, in who's days shall come peace. In his days the Assyrians tried to conquer Jerusalem and laid siege and miraculously the Assyrian army died in their sleep (see Chronicles 2 Chap 32). In Hebrew it says "VKara Shmo", which can mean his name shall be called Wonderful, etc or "Shall be called By the Wonderful, etc" - shall be called the "Prince of Peace".
However to proclaim something massive such as that god shall have a son, and that this "son" shall change the religoun as until now it was for so many centuries, would not be hidden in such a manner in these 2 verses. Rather it foretells of King Hezekia and reassures the King of Judah of G-ds protection of Judah for much time to come.
Do they mean only Jesus would talk of kindness and peace but JUdaism did not before him?
Here are just a few verses from the Torah (Old Testament)
Exodus 22
[22] Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
[25] If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
Exod.23
[1] Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
[4] If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
[5] If thou see the donkey of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Leviticus 19
[13] Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.
[14] Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind,
[18] thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:
[34] But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the L-RD your G-d.
Lev 25
[35] And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Indeed there has NOT been Peace from Jesus time, consider the destruction of the Temple and 2 Roman wars upon Judea since and of course the countless wars all over the world to the present.
Is Jesus a "Prince of Peace"? Wars Fought by Christians -> Crusades, Empire wars of England, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, Hundred Years War, US Revolution, French Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War in US, Sinco Demayo, Spanish American War, WW1, WW2, Nato versus Serbia, Falkland Islands War. This does not count of course all the many other wars the world has seen since Jesus time. Indeed many tens of millions have died in wars by the Standard Bearers of the "Prince of peace".
For those that have been born and bred and in communities of such that a man killed over 2000 years ago is a man-god, messiah and son of god at the same time it's hard to see the falsehood of such notions. Such premises ordinarily shouldn't even see the light of day. Re-forumulating words in the large verbose Scriptures to somehow suit such ideas is really trying to remake the Scriptures to suit their desires. How can god be killed or why would he literally have a son (from an engaged woman at that) that would then be killed and re-born. It's actually all to attract converts from the Pagan world of those times. But for many living like so many hundreds of millions of people do is very tempting, so they would overlook Truth just to "be accepted". Abraham did not do that when the world was Pagan. This book will help Guide You To the Truth You Know in Your Heart. Hear Oh Israel the Lord Our G-d The L-rd is One. Say it in Hebrew - Shma Yisroel Adonie Elohainoo Adonie Echad.
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14 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A sad book, September 11, 2007
This review is from: V'Da Mah SheTashiv: Know What To Answer (To Missionaries) A Thorough Jewish response To Missionaries (Paperback)
The author, writing under the name "Ben Solomon", is understandably upset at the emphasis and resources which certain Christians place on trying to present the Gospel Message to Jewish people. It is true that many of these attempts are unwise, but there still remains a Christian mandate to propagate the New Testament Message among all the peoples of the World. Solomon claims that his work is not intended as an attack on Christianity, but that is what it is (p.3). Unlike Mosaic `Judaism', Talmudic Judaism is based on a rejection of Jesus' Messiahship. Since Jesus' Messiahship is fundamental to the Christian faith, any intellectual rejection of it inevitably must constitute an attack on Christianity. Having said that, Ben Solomon writes clearly and this gives his book a punchy, confident feel.
The Hebrew title of this book is taken from chapter 2 of the famous Jewish book *Pirkei Avot* [= "Chapters of Our Fathers"]. It means "And know what to answer/reply". Chapter 2 says that we should be educated enough to refute those who propagate teachings which conflict with our faith.
Solomon has tried to distil Jewish arguments against the Christian Gospel down to 18 key points, some of which duplicate responses already made in the famous anti-"missionary" book, "Chizzuk Emunah [= Faith Strengthened]" by the Karaite Rabbi Isaac of Troki. Solomon warns:
"we owe it to ourselves, our ancestors, our people, 3000 years of solid heritage, to give it a good hard look before tossing it out for the sake of assimilation." (p.3)
In response to this warning, I would make two points:
1. Conversion is God's work. Therefore the author is quite right to encourage Jewish people to think most carefully before accepting New Testament teaching. A person who becomes a Christian for the wrong reasons will not be able to withstand the onslaughts he will experience and anyone who accepts the New Testament and then later rejects it is worse off that if he had never accepted in the first place. Indeed, any professing Christian needs to be sure that his or her introduction to Messiah Jesus really is God's work. However, the author is wrong to accept the stereotypic Jewish position that experiencing spiritual redemption through Messiah Jesus involves a "tossing out" of the Jewish heritage. Therefore all Jewish people should be encouraged to evaluate the New Testament message of redemption for themselves without undue prejudice.
2. The author is wrong to equate such a step with "assimilation". "Assimilation" is too often an irrational taboo among Jewish people. Jewish people, as a group, will always exist, however much the devil hates them! No-one can change that. Even if 50% of Jews become secularists or marry nonJews, there will always be more Jews to make up their numbers. Furthermore, there is nothing to say that Jews who follow Messiah Jesus should lose their Jewish identity. The New Testament is a-cultural, unless we redefine `culture' to include religious obligations contrary to New Testament teaching. This use of "assimilation" to block conversion to our Messiah is, therefore, based on a fundamental misperception.
The main function of a Jewish presence in the World is as a witness to God's Truth. Jews constitute this witness just by being around. What other ancient people has retained this distinctive presence in the world until the present day? God Himself can be trusted to maintain this witness and He *will* maintain it until, and even beyond, Messiah's return. Jewish people do not need to "help God" by laying their hands on His Work - as Uzzah did (2 Sam.6:6-8).
Lastly, I will limit myself to four key points:-
1. *Bara Elohim* (pp.17-18): We know that the word *Elohim* [= God] is grammatically plural, because it is often used to mean "gods". So the combination of *bara* [= He created], which is singular, with *Elohim" ought to raise eyebrows. The question is this: why did God use a grammatically plural word like this to designate Himself? The so-called "royal we" was not known before Victorian times, so the most satisfactory understanding is that such plurals denote fullness. Thus *panim*, for example, denotes "presence" or "countenance" rather than simply "face". Its use in the case of God Himself, then, could easily imply that God is much more than the Rambam's simple unity (for which he adopted the term *Jachiid*). In essence he adopted *Jachiid* as a Hebraized equivalent of the Arabic *Tawhiid* which (under the influence of Greek philosophy) was an attempt to re-define God's Unity more narrowly as a simple unity. By contrast, the Scriptures allows for God's being a complex (if not compound) Unity.
2. *God and Abraham* (pp.16-17): The author is correct to point out that Abraham's 3 visitors (Gen.18) cannot be The Trinity, even though the 3foldness is suggestive of God's completeness. Two of these "men" were created spirits ("angels") and, while Abraham was left speaking to Jhwh, they continued on their way to Sodom (Gen.18:16+19:1). However, it is evident that one of the 3 men was actually God in human guise (Gen.18:22). The entire incident is introduced in the Torah by these words: "Jhwh appeared to Abraham" (Gen.18:1). So we know that God was one of these 3 men, namely one who remained with Abraham while the others were going down to investigate Sodom. This shouldn't surprise us. God did the same thing on a number of occasions, most notably when He visited our GreatParents in the Garden (Gen.3:8) and when He handed the Law-Tablets to Moses (Ex. 31:18). We know that no-one can see God and live (Ex.33:20+23), yet we are told that Moses knew God face-to-face - unlike the other prophets (Num.12:6-8; Ex.33:11). So there is a conundrum which is solved only if we understand that God sometimes appears in angelic form and sometimes even clothes Himself in a human body (so that He can eat a meal with people, for example), just as angels sometimes do. And this teaching agrees entirely with the New Testament: "No-one has seen God at any time", yet Jesus has declared Him (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12).
3. Sometimes this author takes Messianic prophecies and applies them exclusively to the Jewish people (pp.8-9, 9-10, 12-13). However, in some cases the prophecies have a dual application to both the Jewish people as God's intended representatives and to the Messiah himself, who is God's Ultimate Representative. Predictably Jewish commentators disagree about the focus of Messianic passages, but some Jewish interpreters (e.g. David Kimhi) largely agree with the Messianic interpretation.
4. Regarding the author's charge (p.34) that Jesus was attacking "Jews" in general by calling them "sons of the devil", we find that generally in English translations of John's Gospel that the Greek word "Ioudaioi" has been translated as "Jews", when the translation "Judeans" would be more accurate (John 7:1; 11:54; 1:19) - after all, Jesus and His Jewish disciples were ethnic Jews (John 4:20) and essentially orthodox in both theology and practice (John 4:22). And when Jesus accused certain of his opponents for advancing the devil's agenda, he was describing the character of their opposition to him, not delineating a characteristic of every individual Jew. He was adopting an "if the cap fits wear it" position. Obviously this cap does not fit the heads of those who repent and submit themselves to him! Jesus cannot be held responsible for how people translate the Bible into other languages or how they might choose to mis-apply it.
Although understandable, it is strangely inappropriate for Jewish people to fight against God's Work in the present age of calling Jews to their own wonderful Messiah (Jesus) before the general restoration of the Jewish people at the end of the age (Romans 11:11-36).
To those who would argue that I should be reviewing a book rather than critiquing its subject-matter, I would argue that it is often impossible to review a book without examining its subject-matter and, in that way, pointing out its limitations. So, stars for objectivity and sensitivity to other points of view: nil. Stars for clarity of style and brevity: one.
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