Preparing for the Shofar

The Shofar and the Pooch. The Shofar and the Pooch.

This posting is about a little fun while getting ready for the High Holidays.
Enjoy.

Shalom,
Yaakov

What If . . . .?

What If . . . . has started so many statements, I doubt that there is a means to estimate the usage of that phrase. What if G-D is not real? What if people wrote the Books of Moses in order to give power to ...? What if the Torah and Tanach are just lies?

My response is, What if . . . .it is TRUE, all of it? What if G-D IS and the Books of Moses were dictated to Moses?

So how can we know the Truth? --I know that Man Kind cannot write a book or series of books without flaws in them. Even after writing, re-writing, and again re-writing, then editing, checking and editing then, . . . . Using computers we create huge documents, but not with out errors. In the Torah (Five Books of Moses), written more than two thousand five hundred years ago with skin, ink and quill. Copied with such a demand for correctness that even one dot on the page out of place, the page is removed and re-written for accuracy of the texts. This document has been read, studied, re-studied again and again by hundreds of thousands of scholars.

Where is the mistake that can be used to declare the TORAH is a lie? Okay, that is harsh, but if dictated by G-D, over seen by HIM, it is then to HIS Glory or failure. I have not been able to find the flaw myself, and I have looked for them most of my life. Do you know where the flaw is? Can you prove it to me? Will you prove it to me? Other wise...moving on.

This leads me to this: What if you cannot prove the Torah is a lie, would it then be to your benefit to assume there is truth there? If it is true, then G-D is true. Maybe we should find out what HE wants and what we need to do and DO IT?

Shalom,
Yaakov

“Human Rights” Verses “What Is Right?”

“Human Rights” Verses “What Is Right?”

Recent news:

Lutheran Group Eases Limits on Gay Clergy - NYTimes.com
Aug 22, 2009 . . . The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America voted to allow non celibate homosexuals to serve as clergy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/us/22lutherans.html 

Presbyterian leaders OK gay clergy - Los Angeles Times (Clergy Say OK)
Jun. 28, 2008 . . . Leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) overturned a long-standing ban on the ordination of gays and lesbians Friday, providing yet the . . . 
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/28/local/me-ordain28 -

Presbyterians vote against gay clergy - Washington Times (Followers say NO)
Apr 26, 2009 . . . Efforts to allow gays and lesbians to serve as clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) have been defeated again, sealed by votes Saturday.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/26/presbyterians-vote-against-gay-clergy/
   

Poland Gets 1st Openly Gay Rabbi - International News | News of . . . 
Jun 23, 2009 . . . Poland Gets 1st Openly Gay Rabbi, When Rabbi Aaron Katz walks the streets of Warsaw's former Jewish quarter, scenes of that lost world fill . . . 
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528480,00.html

RABBI SCHOOL GAY-OK - New York Post
Mar 27, 2007 . . . Oy gay! In a historic move that could divide Conservative Jews, the Jewish Theological Seminary announced yesterday that it has lifted a ban . . . 
http://www.nypost.com/.../rabbi_school_gay_ok_regionalnews_david_andreatta. htm -

The Badger Herald: News: Gay rabbi reevaluates customs
Apr 5, 2005 . . . Rabbi Steve Greenberg, the first openly gay Orthodox rabbi, spoke about the power of discourse to alleviate difference and achieve . . . 
http://badgerherald.com/news/2005/04/05/gay_rabbi_reevaluate.php
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These are all articles available today on the Web. The links were active as of this writing.
 
I present this information only as a way of showing that Isaiah 5:20 . . . Those who call evil good and good evil; Who present darkness as light and light as darkness . . .  

These things are but signs of how close we are to THAT DAY. 

So what does the Five Books of Moses(Torah) tell us about “Human Rights” and “What Is Right?” What is demonstrated there for us to know?

First I would present that “Human Rights” is a choice. A choice where we as humans have decided that whatever we want is our right. A choice that Morals should not impede, for we have the right to choose this . . . ”whatever it is” for ourselves. We are very great at self-justification on these grounds. 

Genesis 3:17 . . . ”Because you did as your wife said and ate of the tree about which I COMMANDED YOU, “YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF IT” . . . 

There are two choices presented in this verse, two crimes committed. The first and most important Adam choose Eve over The LORD, if this were not important a simple statement that Adam ate of the tree would be enough. In this case it was not enough, therefore The LORD’s is the great concern. Adam did not choose G-D over his “Human Rights.” Result :: Have you seen Eden, The Garden? I think we miss placed it and don’t seem to remember the way back. 

Genesis 6:5_8 . . . The LORD saw man’s wickedness on the earth, and how every plan devised by his mind was nothing but evil all of the time(Human Rights?). Result:: wipe the earth of everything with the breath of life on the land, except those in the Ark. 

Genesis 9. What did Ham do to his father Noah, that Noah should curse his grandson Canaan, with such a curse that the LORD maintains the curse even now?

Genesis 19 –The story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Verse 4 When the men of Sodom, young and old –all the people to the last man –gathered about the house. And they shouted to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may be intimate with them.“ In verse 8 Lot offers his two daughters who have not known a man. The men of Sodom persisted in their demands . . . Result::The Valley where Sodom and Gomorrah were, became almost totally a cinder before dawn. 

There are many things listed in the Torah which are forbidden but (Leviticus 18:22) Do not lie with a male as one lies with a woman; it is an abhorrence. (Is seems very straight forward to me.)

(Leviticus 18:23) Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 
(Leviticus 18:24) Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
(Leviticus 18:25) And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

(Deuteronomy 22:5) The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

I have heard that these items are “Human Rights”. (choice?) But, The LORD is very explicit in what is RIGHT. Are we still doing what Adam did? Choosing Human Rights over G-D? Do you think it will turn out better this time? 

Last:: Why should I or You try so hard to be Righteous? In Jeremiah 4, The LORD gave Jeremiah things to say and do to Israel and Jerusalem, but Jeremiah argues that this is not right. In chapter 5, Jeremiah is sent to find in Jerusalem one man: “if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” 

Maybe one of us will be good enough to save a great many. I am will to try to be righteous. 
What have you decided to do?  
   
Personal Note: The Tanach is not an easy read for me, and must be studied with an open heart, seeking G-D, and the truth to know and do that which is righteous. I have found that it is well worth the effort and time.

Shalom,

Yaakov


  

Tuff Questions about G_D

Today I am asking questions this time, and I would like your response.... if you have one.

To set up the questions I need to present some assumptions:

1)  The G_D of Abraham, Issac and Jacob is G_D

2)  Moses was told by G_D what to write in what we call, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Therefore, if the original text is wrong, G_D made it flawed.

3)  G_D loves all of HIS creation, especially mankind. When we make a mistake, we really only need to accept that G_D is G_D, Tell HIM we are sorry(and really mean it), try harder to be better, then almost always G_D is ready to accept us back and forgives us.

4) That G_D has declared many times that HE is the only G_D, None were before Him,  None are beside Him, None will be after Him. G_D is jealous and will not share his Honor or Glory with another.

These seem so straight forward to me, so do not understand "Why does most of the humans on this planet not what to know or acknowledge G_D?"

It seems that mankind looks for any reason to not accept the word of G_D, Why? 

Do you have any thoughts on this?

Shalom 

Yakov.

It's Official

It is official, I am a JEW!

I came out of the mikvah May 21, 2009 in Los Gatos, CA and claimed my Hebrew name, which in English is Jacob.

There are many differing reactions to this particular event, some of which you are experiencing even as you read this. Besides the Congratulations and Mozal Tov types of responses, there are also the, “Why?”, and “Are you kidding?”, types of responses.

I would like to tell you why I decided and chose to be a Jew. The challenge for me here is to make it short but understandable.

Foundation: I know that the L’RD IS, that there is only ONE, and that I am to Love the L’RD with all my heart, all of my soul and all of my being. What is “Love” again? I only asked this one because Man-kind has been trying to define that one since the beginning of thought. So, I am not going to explain what I know about that word. I will explain that everything that I am, everything I have done, everything I have been, has only been possible because the L’RD has done miracles for me. These miracles are some of the reasons that I know that HE IS and that HE has taken notice of ME. He has also heard my prayers for other people. This does not mean that I always get the answer I want. Sometimes I am not even sure what the BEST outcome would be, so I only explain my concerns and thoughts to HIM.

I have learned that HE must have known all of our choices and what we(each one of us) are going to do before HE said “Let There Be Light!” The evidence is in the Tanach(Hebrew Old Testament), for all to read and try to understand. I have learned so much in the decades that I have been seeking wisdom and G’D. I know that all I have learned is only a single drop in a five gallon bucket of understanding. Here are a couple examples: The snake in the garden knows that we(people) do not understand that the L’RD is talking about the death of our soul, not the body; G’D’s real anger at Adam was not because he ate of the fruit, it was because Adam chose to listen to Eve instead of G’D; last, that Adam really fell down because he was not “paying attention” –Eve took of the fruit and ate, and then gave to the man and he did eat( no discussion with Eve) and Adam told Eve about not eating of that tree not G’D.

My studies of religion and many of the various flavors of religion, lead me to distrust all of them by the time I was fifteen years of age. Judaism is the closest text I have found to the source of knowledge about the L’RD. Here is why I study the Hebrew text, I have not found any deceit or lies or errors in the text, the only errors have been in our understandings of the text. But as you can see from the previous paragraph, I am continually learning.

Why be a Jew? Because of the Children of Israel, they are the only ones we can prove exist. Because I want to be as close to G’D as I can get. Because, I know that the tribe of Judah and all of the chosen people have the task of witnessing to all of the world that G’D IS, WAS and WILL ALWAYS BE. This is HIS Universe not ours, HIS rules not ours, HE gives the Love and Mercy we don’t. If I really believe all of this, I should not only be telling others to do it, I must do it also. I must live my believe and faith not just talk about it. So I am, demonstrating what I believe.

I continually pray that the L’RD will put me on the path in front of HIM and KEEP ME THERE, I ask that I not be allowed to turn left nor right, that HE will fill my mouth with HIS words; my head with knowledge; my heart with understanding and my soul with HIS spirit so that I may always do that which is righteous. I also ask that HE have mercy on me and forgive my sins when I slip and fall because I was not on guard and I am only dirt, but I am trying and must continue to try harder.

Last line: Seek Truth, Love Justice and Choose G’D.

Shalom,

Yud Ayin Kuf Vet –Jacob
James Jeffries