CHALLENGE the TRADITIONs~Challenge your Beliefs - ShekinahLife2024-03-28T13:43:04Zhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/forum/categories/challenge-the/listForCategory?feed=yes&xn_auth=noThe Magitag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2013-07-30:967043:Topic:864812013-07-30T16:24:20.392ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<p>Who are the Magi as depicted in Christian Literature?<br/><a width="737" height="491" target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2866078206?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"><img width="737" height="491" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2866078206?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="396" width="595"/></a><br/>What was their purpose ...</p>
<p>Ok your turn,...</p>
<p>Who are the Magi as depicted in Christian Literature?<br/><a width="737" height="491" target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2866078206?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"><img width="737" height="491" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2866078206?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="396" width="595"/></a><br/>What was their purpose ...</p>
<p>Ok your turn,...</p> According to Jewish sources, the messiah-moshiach-will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people.tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-07-21:967043:Topic:737412010-07-21T15:54:27.885ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
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According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people. <br></br><br></br>He will not be a demi-god, nor will he possess supernatural qualities.<br></br>
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The Messiah must be descended on his fathers side from King David (see Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11:1).<br></br>
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However,...according to the Christian claim that Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father—and thus could not have possibly fulfilled the…
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According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people. <br/><br/>He will not be a demi-god, nor will he possess supernatural qualities.<br/>
<br/>
The Messiah must be descended on his fathers side from King David (see Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11:1).<br/>
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However,...according to the Christian claim that Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father—and thus could not have possibly fulfilled the messianic requirement of being descended on his father’s side from King David! (2)<br/>
Ps the Virgin Birth fabrication was invoked by the 'Imperial church of Rome' in 646-CE/AD and was not 'Canonized by Rome until 697-CE/AD for your Info...I really think the boys in the original traveling Yeshiva of Yeshua were pretty much dead and gone by then.<br/>
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The Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from the verse in Isaiah 7:14 describing an "alma" as giving birth.<br/>
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The word "alma" has always meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries later ...and translated it as "virgin."<br/>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">This accords Jesus’ birth with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by gods.</span><br/>
Ok I can keep going for you...However you might want to Note that...and begin to correct the fallacy of Romes, RCC lies<br/>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Also christianity claims that Isaiah chapter 53 refers to Jesus, as the "suffering servant."</span><br/>
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In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people.<br/>
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The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit.<br/>
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The Torah is filled with examples of the Jewish nation referred to with a singular pronoun.<br/>
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Ironically, Yesayahu's-Isaiah’s prophecies of persecution refer in part to the 11th century when Jews were tortured and killed by Crusaders who acted in the name of Jesus.<br/>~~~~ Gewiz, Go figure that!<br/>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">From where did these mistranslations stem?</span><br/>
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St. Gregory, 4th century Bishop of Nazianzus, wrote: "A little jargon is all that is necessary to impose on the people.<br/>
The less they comprehend, the more they admire."<br/>
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For further reading on the "suffering servant":this may help someone~<br/>
<a href="http://jewsforjudaism.org/">http://jewsforjudaism.org/</a><br/>
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<a href="http://jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=48&Itemid=353">http://jewsforjudaism.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=48&Itemid=353</a><br/>
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But then what do I a lifetime follower of Ha'shem have to offer the astute and intellectual Excellencies I encounter here. Do Not follow that which is not of HaShem:tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-07-09:967043:Topic:734612010-07-09T00:24:01.629ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
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For my Christian friends who often wonder why is there a difference in what Yeshua taught and what the church of Rome handed down to the Gentile protestant church.<br></br><br></br>The people who follow YHVH and Torah basics do not subscribe that yeshua/ or whatever name/flavor the sacred-namers prefer this week]....is g-d or anything of the sort...<br></br>This may help someone:…<br></br><br></br>
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For my Christian friends who often wonder why is there a difference in what Yeshua taught and what the church of Rome handed down to the Gentile protestant church.<br/><br/>The people who follow YHVH and Torah basics do not subscribe that yeshua/ or whatever name/flavor the sacred-namers prefer this week]....is g-d or anything of the sort...<br/>This may help someone:<br/><br/><a href="http://shekinahlife.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mashiach-and-redemption" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://shekinahlife.ning.c</span><span>om/profiles/blogs/mashiach</span>-and-redemption</a><br/><span class="text_exposed_hide"><br/><br/><span class="text_exposed_link"><a>See More</a></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="http://shekinahlife.ning.com/profiles/blogs/notable-people-who-study-torah%7E" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>: http://shekinahlife.ning.c</span><span>om/profiles/blogs/notable-</span>people-who-study-torah~</a><br/><br/>Many people have accepted that J-sus or Yeshua was in fact G-d the creator when even the christian bible shows that Paul never called Yeshua in that manner...However tha t does line up with proto-gnostic Hellenism and that is what has permeated the gentile~church'<br/>~~,Actually it is demeaning to think that the Master of the Multi-verse has to come into your hearts when YHVH Is everywhere, You just need to un-lock your stony hearts: and second to that dispense with the idolatry of J-sus and seek the Creator not a servant who was IMHO worthy of Note.<br/>I am in agreement with other great Rabbis [Like Rabbi Emden]-Who stated to the orthodox; we need to re-claim Jesus") If they choose to do so It will facilitate the age we are looking for. Why? because they will dissect it, and teach it Right. trow out the junk and set the children straight..or at least try.certainly could not do it any harm.<br/><br/>so yes we study everything Trust me the Jews really do know there scriptures and anyone who tells you different is a deciever...because the Deep well of Adonai cannnot be compromised nor can it ever be totally realized within I tried It was overwhelming<br/>.~Anyway My point is this: if Rome does not believe there own dogma~~Why should anyone else~?<br/>I reesearched They refute the Virgin Birth as a first century doctrine that gods (get that Hellenistic thought) could impregnate women..<br/><br/>FYI the virgin birth was not established until 646 CE (time when the muslims were establishing(again following a failed messiah~~Rome will eventually tie in Lady-Fatima of the Imperial church of Rome) and the 'Favored' daughter of Mohammad (Fatima) as one in the same~ and they will merge IMHO~) <br/>Lastly the VB doctrine was then canonized in 697 CE ~~[I am thinking that is WAY after the boys following Yeshua had written their rendition? what is your take:???<br/>So what really is going on?::<br/><br/>Until we come to the realization that G-d is within us the essence of YHVH is within everything.<br/> Not that G-d is everything...but that YHVH is within everything then the children will follow after the religions of man or a knockoff of the original as is the Hellenistic version taught today for the most park in xian or wanna-b-jewish J4J style mess-ianic congregations.<br/>Please be serious,... Yeshua was if anything a Jewish Sage and he I assume did not run after every flimflam artist in town for his instruction:<> He most likely did as all notable sages do,... they spend a lifetime in Torah study so they know the fake very well:<br/>wanna-b Rabbi. K' of Florida and his polygamy game: <br/><br/>Sad indeed that we the children do not pant after that which is lost the Intimacy with the divine instead following Romes dogma and misconstructed ideology::<br/>Sadly after decades of study When the 'story' Historically and linguistically is placed back into original concepts~~~ it is replacement theology and at the very least anti-Judaic/antisemitic.<br/><br/>The Marriage at Har'Sinai was witnessed by 600,000 souls who all heard the audible voice of HaShem with-in the lightening and storming clouds~ All those souls who have all carried the tradition forward ( Do you really know who you are?)<br/> <span>If you are Sephardi (north-Africa(black-slaves</span> <span>were Hebrew)-Spain-Slovenia)...</span>or if Ashkenazim (Polish-German-Russian Jewish/Israelite linage),..then you are to seek that marriage not another and become one with the Divine Become a divine spark and then go out and repair teh world that is our mission and purpose Tikkun Olam..<br/><br/> Do Not follow that which is not of HaShem: Shalom Aleichem.....<br/>If I can be of service for the Master Let us know..our door is always open: Remember it is all about Intimacy..it is when you feel the pulse of one to another then you will have found the vestibule of heaven then you will know how to bring heaven down to earth~~<br/><br/><a href="http://shekinahlife.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mashiach-and-redemption" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://shekinahlife.ning.c</span><span>om/profiles/blogs/mashiach</span>-and-redemption</a> <br/>
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Isn't this the whole meaning of life in this world: To choose between bondage to the material world and believing that your life comes from those many forces,----Or to choose true life and to believe that all your needs and all your concerns come only from the one Source of all life.<br/>
the Rebbe'<br/>
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</div> Fleecing the flock~[I YHVH do not take a bribe...Deverim-10:v17]tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-07-02:967043:Topic:733062010-07-02T02:31:45.174ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<br></br><br></br>Too many time I get into a discussion where those who are somewhat skilled in leading the flock to Give and give some more Conflicts with my personal convictions as well as Rabbinic and the Hasidim concepts of giving ...etc.<br></br><br></br><br></br><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Someone wrote this:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Pastoring free reduces the value of what we do in the eyes of the people" I might also note, this fellow prided himself for forty years of getting the Job…</span>
<br/><br/>Too many time I get into a discussion where those who are somewhat skilled in leading the flock to Give and give some more Conflicts with my personal convictions as well as Rabbinic and the Hasidim concepts of giving ...etc.<br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Someone wrote this:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Pastoring free reduces the value of what we do in the eyes of the people" I might also note, this fellow prided himself for forty years of getting the Job done saving souls that need not any saving as G-d has a no child left behind policy..and leading the people to give to move the hand of G-d<br/><br/>Deuteronomy 10:v17 States I YHVH do not take a bribe...<br/></span><i><br/></i><div style="text-align: right;"><i>My Comment below///let me know if it is off base></i><br/></div>
<hr/>Say What?....By spending forty years honing your skills bringing in the bucks..if that is what it is about...Then someone needs to re-read their TaNaKh with a little more clarity. Torah teaching is handed from one generation to the next through competent Rabbis all adding value to their generation to the present and in my Historical studies..I never see that kind of intellect being used as you use (pastoring-free reduces_???); Young man, please go and find competent historical cultural and linguistic council before you continue the charade any further.<br/>
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Unless a man comes to grips of dealing with his own inherent issues the Yetzer Harah (the evil inclination within) he will never become the Man of the second Adam...Self-nullification and becoming one with the divine principles are a must,... that is why a lifetime of Torah study grows deep roots of Chabad = <u>Wisdom</u>,....<u>Knowledge</u> and finally full <u>Understanding</u> of every facet of the Masters Torah Life within.<br/>
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A servant is known by the heart of giving, from one to another, as the Master guides you with His resources...nothing more,... nothing less:<br/>
A true servant is known by the fact <u>He Needs Nothing from you</u> Only that you find the Vestibule of heaven within...and un-lock the purpose for which you were sent to do Tikkun Olam (to repair the world) for the Master's [YHVH] glorification.<br/>
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Shalom Aleichem Part 2 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-13:967043:Topic:723552010-05-13T03:17:32.621ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<div style="width: 456px;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9489%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" height="344" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="456" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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<p class="description">Part 2 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?<br></br> <br></br> A lecture by Conservative Rabbi Prof. David Novak, who is Professor of the Study of Religion and Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto and Member of University College, the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.<br></br>
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Prof. Novak is primarily engaged in the study of the philosophical aspects of the Jewish legal tradition, including…</p>
<div style="width: 456px;"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9489%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" bgcolor="#000000" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="456" height="344"></embed>
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<p class="description">Part 2 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?<br/> <br/>
A lecture by Conservative Rabbi Prof. David Novak, who is Professor of the Study of Religion and Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto and Member of University College, the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.<br/>
<br/>
Prof. Novak is primarily engaged in the study of the philosophical aspects of the Jewish legal tradition, including research and writing in the area we call today political theory.<br/>
<br />
<br/>
Novak is the author of thirteen books, most recently, The Jewish Social Contract: An Essay in Political Theology (Princeton University Press, 2005), Talking with Christians: Musings of a Jewish Theologian (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005) and Covenantal Rights: A Study in Jewish Political Theory (Princeton University Press, 2000), which won the award of the American Academy of Religion for “Best Book in Constructive Religious Thought in 2000.” He has edited four books, and is the author of over 200 articles in scholarly and intellectual journals.<br/>
<br/>
Novak is a founder, vice-president, and coordinator of the Jewish Law Panel of the Union for Traditional Judaism, and a founder and faculty member of the Institute of Traditional Judaism in Teaneck, New Jersey. He received his A.B. from the University of Chicago in 1961, his M.H.L. (Master of Hebrew Literature) in 1964, his Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University in 1971 and his rabbinical diploma in 1966 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.<br/>
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From 1997 to 2002 he was also Director of the Jewish Studies Programme. He is a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research and the Academy for Jewish Philosophy, and a member of the Board of Consulting Scholars of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. In 1992-93 he was a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. In 1995 he was Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religion and Business Ethics at Drew University. In the fall of 2004 he was the Charles E. Test, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Princeton University. In the spring of 2006 he was Visiting Professor of Religion at Princeton University.</p> Part 1 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-13:967043:Topic:723542010-05-13T03:16:01.593ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<div style="width: 556px;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9487%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" height="394" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="556" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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<p class="description">Part 1 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?<br></br> <br></br> A lecture by Conservative Rabbi Prof. David Novak, who is Professor of the Study of Religion and Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto and Member of University College, the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.<br></br>
<br></br>
Prof. Novak is primarily engaged in the study of the philosophical aspects of the Jewish legal tradition, including…</p>
<div style="width: 556px;"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9487%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" bgcolor="#000000" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="556" height="394"></embed>
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<p class="description">Part 1 of 2 - Are Christians Oved Avodah Zarah?<br/> <br/>
A lecture by Conservative Rabbi Prof. David Novak, who is Professor of the Study of Religion and Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto and Member of University College, the Joint Centre for Bioethics, University of Toronto.<br/>
<br/>
Prof. Novak is primarily engaged in the study of the philosophical aspects of the Jewish legal tradition, including research and writing in the area we call today political theory.<br/>
<br />
<br/>
Novak is the author of thirteen books, most recently, The Jewish Social Contract: An Essay in Political Theology (Princeton University Press, 2005), Talking with Christians: Musings of a Jewish Theologian (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005) and Covenantal Rights: A Study in Jewish Political Theory (Princeton University Press, 2000), which won the award of the American Academy of Religion for “Best Book in Constructive Religious Thought in 2000.” He has edited four books, and is the author of over 200 articles in scholarly and intellectual journals.<br/>
<br/>
Novak is a founder, vice-president, and coordinator of the Jewish Law Panel of the Union for Traditional Judaism, and a founder and faculty member of the Institute of Traditional Judaism in Teaneck, New Jersey. He received his A.B. from the University of Chicago in 1961, his M.H.L. (Master of Hebrew Literature) in 1964, his Ph.D. in philosophy from Georgetown University in 1971 and his rabbinical diploma in 1966 from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.<br/>
<br/>
From 1997 to 2002 he was also Director of the Jewish Studies Programme. He is a Fellow of the American Academy for Jewish Research and the Academy for Jewish Philosophy, and a member of the Board of Consulting Scholars of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University. In 1992-93 he was a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. In 1995 he was Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religion and Business Ethics at Drew University. In the fall of 2004 he was the Charles E. Test, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Princeton University. In the spring of 2006 he was Visiting Professor of Religion at Princeton University.</p> 2 of 2 - Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianitytag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-13:967043:Topic:723532010-05-13T02:56:54.146ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<div style="width: 456px;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9602%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" height="344" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="456" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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<p class="description">2 of 2 - Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianity<br></br> <br></br> <a href="http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html">http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html</a><br></br>
<br></br>
Professor Lawee teaches in Humanities and Religious Studies. In the 2005-2006 year he will be teaching HUMA 2850 9.0 "The Jewish Experience: Symbiosis and Rejection" and HUMA 4811 3.0 "Golden Age? The Jews in Muslim and Christian Spain" as…</p>
<div style="width: 456px;"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9602%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" bgcolor="#000000" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="456" height="344"></embed>
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<p class="description">2 of 2 - Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianity<br/> <br/>
<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html">http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html</a><br/>
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Professor Lawee teaches in Humanities and Religious Studies. In the 2005-2006 year he will be teaching HUMA 2850 9.0 "The Jewish Experience: Symbiosis and Rejection" and HUMA 4811 3.0 "Golden Age? The Jews in Muslim and Christian Spain" as well as HUMA 6210 3.0 "Faith and Politics in the Middle Ages."<br/>
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Professor Lawee is a Contributor to the website (eventually to be a Hyper-Textbook) "Medieval Spains: Antiquity to the New World," an initiative sponsored by Stanford University's Humanities Laboratory.<br/>
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Eric Lawee's primary research interests lie in the area of medieval and early modern Judaism and Jewish history, with an emphasis on intellectual history. His broader scholarly enthusiasms include the medieval Latin West, Muslim Spain, and political thought -- ancient and medieval especially. Much of his research has focussed on Isaac Abarbanel (1437-1508), a courtier in three major European centres (Portugal, Spain, Italy) who stands out as one of Judaism's leading scholars at the turn of the sixteenth century. Among Professor Lawee's<br/>
studies of Abarbanel are an article that appeared in Viator (see below) which was co-recipient of the 1997 Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize of the Medieval Academcy of America (for a first article in the field of medieval studies judged to be of outstanding quality). His book "Isaac Abarbanel's Stance Toward Tradition: Defense, Dissent, and Dialogue" won a Canadian Jewish Book Award for 2001 in the area of Biblical and Rabbinic Scholarship and it was a Finalist for a National Jewish Book Award (USA) for 2001 in the area of Scholarship.<br/>
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"As a scholar and teacher I seek to explore the mystery of the human soul. My main 'data' are the lives, thoughts, and actions of people who lived in the Middle Ages -- mostly Jews but Christians and Muslims as well. I look back not to a flattened past but to one that is typically strange, at times attractive and at times repellent. My main research and teaching foci are medieval and early modern Judaism, the complexities and diversity of which I find fascinating. My interest in this subject is not merely antiquarian. Understanding religious thought<br/>
and practices of the past enables us better to clarify the important alternatives that confront the human soul in the present. Clarification of these alternatives is, as I understand it, the ultimate goal of scholarship and liberal education."</p> 1 of 2 -(Audio) Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianitytag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-13:967043:Topic:723522010-05-13T02:54:51.193ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
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<p class="description">1 of 2 - Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianity<br></br> <br></br> <a href="http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html">http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html</a><br></br>
<br></br>
Professor Lawee teaches in Humanities and Religious Studies. In the 2005-2006 year he will be teaching HUMA 2850 9.0 "The Jewish Experience: Symbiosis and Rejection" and HUMA 4811 3.0 "Golden Age? The Jews in Muslim and Christian Spain" as…</p>
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<p class="description">1 of 2 - Positive Jewish Attitudes Toward Christianity<br/> <br/>
<a href="http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html">http://www.yorku.ca/human/faculty/lawee.html</a><br/>
<br/>
Professor Lawee teaches in Humanities and Religious Studies. In the 2005-2006 year he will be teaching HUMA 2850 9.0 "The Jewish Experience: Symbiosis and Rejection" and HUMA 4811 3.0 "Golden Age? The Jews in Muslim and Christian Spain" as well as HUMA 6210 3.0 "Faith and Politics in the Middle Ages."<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Professor Lawee is a Contributor to the website (eventually to be a Hyper-Textbook) "Medieval Spains: Antiquity to the New World," an initiative sponsored by Stanford University's Humanities Laboratory.<br/>
<br/>
Eric Lawee's primary research interests lie in the area of medieval and early modern Judaism and Jewish history, with an emphasis on intellectual history. His broader scholarly enthusiasms include the medieval Latin West, Muslim Spain, and political thought -- ancient and medieval especially. Much of his research has focussed on Isaac Abarbanel (1437-1508), a courtier in three major European centres (Portugal, Spain, Italy) who stands out as one of Judaism's leading scholars at the turn of the sixteenth century. Among Professor Lawee's<br/>
studies of Abarbanel are an article that appeared in Viator (see below) which was co-recipient of the 1997 Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize of the Medieval Academcy of America (for a first article in the field of medieval studies judged to be of outstanding quality). His book "Isaac Abarbanel's Stance Toward Tradition: Defense, Dissent, and Dialogue" won a Canadian Jewish Book Award for 2001 in the area of Biblical and Rabbinic Scholarship and it was a Finalist for a National Jewish Book Award (USA) for 2001 in the area of Scholarship.<br/>
<br/>
"As a scholar and teacher I seek to explore the mystery of the human soul. My main 'data' are the lives, thoughts, and actions of people who lived in the Middle Ages -- mostly Jews but Christians and Muslims as well. I look back not to a flattened past but to one that is typically strange, at times attractive and at times repellent. My main research and teaching foci are medieval and early modern Judaism, the complexities and diversity of which I find fascinating. My interest in this subject is not merely antiquarian. Understanding religious thought<br/>
and practices of the past enables us better to clarify the important alternatives that confront the human soul in the present. Clarification of these alternatives is, as I understand it, the ultimate goal of scholarship and liberal education."<hr>jlh/sm</p> Understanding the Nazarite offering in Acts 21tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-13:967043:Topic:723512010-05-13T02:43:07.148ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
Jews4Judaism — April 2010 — Rabbi Yisroel C. Blumenthal discusses the SUPPOSED division between the Jerusalem council and Paul on the issue of sacrifices.<div style="width: 556px;"><embed allowscriptaccess="never" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9745%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" height="391" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" scale="noscale" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="556" wmode="opaque"></embed>
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<br></br> <u><b>NOTE:</b></u>: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PAUL WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS SACRIFICE HAD HE NOT BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY HIS ARREST! IF PAUL ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT YESHUA'S MARTYRDOM WAS AN ETERNAL SACRIFICE FOR ALL MANKIND'S SINS, THEN HE'D HAVE PUT YESHUA TO OPEN SHAME…
Jews4Judaism — April 2010 — Rabbi Yisroel C. Blumenthal discusses the SUPPOSED division between the Jerusalem council and Paul on the issue of sacrifices.<div style="width: 556px;"><embed wmode="opaque" src="http://static.ning.com/socialnetworkmain/widgets/video/flvplayer/flvplayer.swf?v=201005071351" flashvars="config=http%3A%2F%2Fyeshuaquest.ning.com%2Fvideo%2Fvideo%2FshowPlayerConfig%3Fid%3D2079870%253AVideo%253A9745%26ck%3D%252376B41C-%2523000000%26x%3D0STWAxPleFPXSpi8eLA08K4MS2V598fd&video_smoothing=on&autoplay=on&hideVisit=1&hideRelated=1&hideWatermark=1" bgcolor="#000000" scale="noscale" allowscriptaccess="never" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="556" height="391"></embed>
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<br/> <u><b>NOTE:</b></u>: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PAUL WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS SACRIFICE HAD HE NOT BEEN PREVENTED FROM DOING SO BY HIS ARREST! IF PAUL ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT YESHUA'S MARTYRDOM WAS AN ETERNAL SACRIFICE FOR ALL MANKIND'S SINS, THEN HE'D HAVE PUT YESHUA TO OPEN SHAME BY OFFERING A SACRIFICE IN THE TEMPLE. SOLUTION? PAUL DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT YESHUA'S MARTYRDOM WAS A GOLDEN TICKET TO THE HEAVENLY CHOCOLATE FACTORY.<p></p>
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<br/>
jlh/sm<br/> VIRGIN BIRTH 2.0tag:shekinahlife.ning.com,2010-05-07:967043:Topic:722512010-05-07T23:08:27.994ZJames and Terry Hamiltonhttp://shekinahlife.ning.com/profile/shekinah
<h1>THE VIRGIN BIRTH 2.0</h1>
<blockquote><p><span class="style2">One of my many detractors has stated that my views make no sense and that I offer no proof to support my position. Have I not said over a thousand times that I can't post this information in mere soundbites!? So, here's the whole ball of wax in one huge post. I know that no one will take the time to read this through, but ... I'm posting this largely just to harmonize Matthew and Luke and set forth a timeline and explanitory…</span></p>
</blockquote>
<h1>THE VIRGIN BIRTH 2.0</h1>
<blockquote><p><span class="style2">One of my many detractors has stated that my views make no sense and that I offer no proof to support my position. Have I not said over a thousand times that I can't post this information in mere soundbites!? So, here's the whole ball of wax in one huge post. I know that no one will take the time to read this through, but ... I'm posting this largely just to harmonize Matthew and Luke and set forth a timeline and explanitory notes.</span><br/> <br/> <b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 100%;">THE VIRGIN BIRTH 2.0</span></b><br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 0);"><em>"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused (married) to Joseph...." (Mat 1:18a).<br/>
<br/>
"And in the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin (Grk. parthenos; Heb. al'mah - a young woman; newly wed) espoused (Heb. kiddushin - betrothed) to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's (newly wed's) name [was] Mary." (Luke 1:26-27).</em></span> <br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTE</u>: In short, Joseph and Mary had already had sexual intercourse (<i>bi'ah</i>). Joseph had given Mary an object of value or money (<i>kessef</i>) and/or had presented a "written declaration of marital intent" (<i>shetar</i>). <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Maurice Lamm <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Way-Love-Marriage/dp/0824603532" target="_blank">writes</a> (P. 146), "After the man has addressed the marriage formula [contained in the <i>shetar</i>] to the woman before two witnesses, the couple reitres to a private place with the intent of effecting the betrothal [<i>kiddushin</i>] through intercourse."<br/>
<br/>
That completed the <i>kiddushin</i> (betrothal) phase of the two-stage marriage process. Joseph and Mary were legally married at this point and had Joseph changed his mind, for whatever reason, then he would've had to give Mary a bill of divorce (<i>get</i>). <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
It was at this point that Mary's marriage contract (<i>ketubah</i>) would have been drafted and the couple would have remained separated from each other, while Joseph built or put the final touches on their home. Eventually, the <i>ketubah</i> (marital contract), which served as the woman's "token" or "sign" of marriage and outlined her property and alimony rights (etc) if widowed or divorced, would be read in public, at some point during the period of separation leading up to the <i>kichah</i> (taking). <br/>
<br/>
The <i>kichah</i> (taking) would have been timed to avoid conflicting with Mary's menses and the seven days following it, so that Mary could immerse herself in the local <i>mikveh</i> (ritual bath).<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
In Yeshua's parable of the Ten Virgins (Newly Wed's), we see the already "newly wed" women waiting for the <i>kichah</i> (taking), when the bridegroom comes in a formal procession of his friends (<i>chaverim</i>) to whisk his wife away to the home that he has prepared for her. (Cf. "... I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" John 14:3; "... his bride has made herself ready" Rev. 19:7). <br/>
<br/>
This <i>kichah</i> (taking), would culminate with the already legally married couple's <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together), thus effecting the unification (<i>yichud</i>); thereby ending the nuptial phase (<i>nissuin</i>) that completed the two-stage marriage process. In ancient times, the custom was for the <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together) to take place in the fields, but by Yeshua's day and age, that custom had been deemed immodest by the sages. <u>END NOTE</u>.<br/>
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<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 0);"><em>"And the angel came in unto her, and said, 'Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women.' And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, 'Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, you have conceived (sullempse) in thy womb, and [shall] bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Yeshua.'" (Luke 1:28-31).<br/>
<br/>
"... before they [Joseph and Mary] came together (sunelthein), she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 1:18b).</em></span><br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTE</u>: The word for "came together" is <i>sunelthein</i> and alludes to the <i>kichah</i> (taking) and the subsequent <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together), in the couple's home, thus effecting the unification (<i>yichud</i>); thereby ending the nuptial phase (<i>nissuin</i>) that completed the two-stage marriage process. The word for "came together" (<i>sunelthein</i>) doesn't preclude that Joseph and Mary engaged in sexual intercourse (<i>bi'ah</i>) as part of the betrothal (<i>kiddushin</i>) phase of the two-stage marriage process.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
What about Mary being found with child of the Holy Ghost? According to Judaism, everyone has three parents:<br/>
<br/>
<u>QUOTE</u>:<br/>
There are three partners in man ... his father supplies the semen of the white substance out of which are formed the child's bones, sinews, nails, brain and the white in his eye. His mother supplies the seed of the red substance (mazra'at odem) out of which is formed his skin, flesh, hair and black of his eye. G-d gives him the soul and breath, beauty of features, eyesight, hearing, speech, understanding, and discernment. When his time comes to depart this world, G-d takes his share and leaves the shares of his mother and father with them - Niddah 31a; cf. She'iltot, Yitro, 56; Leviticus Rabbah 14.5 (on Psalms 27:10). <u>END QUOTE</u>. <u>END NOTE</u>.<br/>
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<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 0);"><em>"[The angel states] 'He shall be great (Grk. megas; Heb. rav or gadol), and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.' Then said Mary unto the angel, 'How shall this be, seeing a man I know not?'" (Luke 1:32-34).</em></span><br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTE</u> : I submit that the words in Luke 1:34b, "seeing a man I know not," are an interpolation of the Gentile Church. <br/>
<br/>
Luke 1:34b is not referenced or quoted in the writings of Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, Papias (Bishop of Hierapolis), Justin Martyr the Samaritan, Irenaeus (Bbishop of Lugdunum), Theophilus of Antioch, Athenagoras of Athens, Clement of Alexandria or even Tertullian! You'd think that at least one of these ante-Nicene Fathers would have quoted Luke 1:34b as a proof text for Mary having been an untouched virgin, right?<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Yes, Tatian the Assyian's Diatessaron, which seeks to harmonize the Four Gospels, does contain Luke 1:34b; however, there are many problems associated with the Diatessaron not the least of which is the late date for the extant manuscripts.<br/>
<br/>
In Luke 1:31, the angel states, "you have conceived" (<i>sullempse</i>), and this perfect-past tense agrees with the statement that "Elisabeth, she hath ALSO CONCEIVED a son" in Luke 1:36. So, in Luke 1:34, Mary isn't saying, "How shall this be (that I shall be pregnant)?" Mary has been told that she has already conceived (<i>sullempse</i>)! Mary is simply asking, "How shall this be (that my son shall sit upon the Throne of Daivd)?" <u>END NOTE</u>.<br/>
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<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 0);"><em>"And the angel answered and said unto her, 'The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.'" (Luke 1:35).</em></span><br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTE</u> : The Holy Spirit has already taken part in the conception of Yeshua. Now the angel is answering Mary's question about "How shall this be (that my son shall sit upon the Throne of David)?" The angel tells Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and overshadow her ... just as it comes upon Elizabeth (Luke 1:41). In short, both John and Yeshua were imbued with the <i>Ruach Ha-Qodesh</i> from the womb (Luke 1:15; 1:35) in order to fulfill their assigned roles - one coming in the Spirit and Power of Elijah and the other coming in the Spirit and Power of the Anointed King. <u>END NOTE</u>.<br/>
<span class="style4"><br/>
"'And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.' And Mary said, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.' And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:36-38). <br/>
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<br/>
"Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily." (Matt. 1:19).</span><br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTEL</u>: Once Joseph was informed of this situation he was concerned that the gossips and/or the non-Torah observant and/or the ultra-Conservative disciples of Shammai, might take issue with him having acquired his bride via sexual intercourse (<i>bi'ah</i>) and thereby having impregnanted her, during the betrothal (<i>kiddushin</i>) phase of the two-stage marriage process.<br/>
<br/>
Maurice Lamm <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Way-Love-Marriage/dp/0824603532" target="_blank">writes</a> (p. 146), "The Sages considered this to be gross, virtually an act of prostitution [fornication], and in the third century Rav decreed flogging for those who chose this manner of betrothal [<i>kiddushin</i>]. Nonetheless, if the marriage was performed in this way it was legally valid. Only <i>kessef</i> (money) is performed today."<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
This is why we hear Yeshua's opponents among the Judean disciples of Shammai saying, "We be not born of fornication [prostitution]; we have one Father, [even] God." This could have simply been their Judean bias against the Galilean custom of acquiring a wife via sexual intercourse (<i>bi'ah</i>), during the betrothal (<i>kiddushin</i>) phase of the two-stage marriage process. In other words, these Judean disciples of Shammai were throwing this accusation in Yeshua's face.<br/>
<br/>
So, given this unforeseen problem of having to speed up the <i>kichah</i> (taking) before Mary started showing that she was with child, which would be fodder for the gossips, the non-observant and the ultra-conservative Jews, Joseph thought about just putting Mary away privately and thereby avoid any hassle or embarassment during the <i>kichah</i> (taking) and the <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together), which was to complete the nuptial phase (<i>nissuin</i>) of the two-stage marriage process. <u>END NOTE</u>.<br/>
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<br/>
<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><em><span class="style5">"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take (kichah) unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Yeshua: for he shall save his people from their sins.' Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Behold, a virgin (Grk. parthenos; Heb. al'mah - a young woman; newly wed) shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us' (cf. Luke 1:15; 1:35). Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took (kichah) unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Yeshua." (Matt. 1:20-24).<br/>
<br/>
"And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judea; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth." (Luke 1:39-40)</span>.</em></span><br/>
<br/>
<u>NOTE</u> : So, Joseph completed the <i>kichah</i> (taking), but didn't complete the <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together). Further, in order to avoid giving the gossips (et al) any juicey tidbits ... Mary went into the Judean hill country to visit Elizabeth for about three months (Luke 1:56). Problem solved! Crisis averted! <br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Why would Joseph not have completed the <i>she'khivah</i> (sleeping together)? Why would he abstained from sexual contact with Mary during her pregnancy? Probably because he didn't want her to use a "<i>mokh</i>" and/or he didn't want to risk <a href="http://medical.merriam-webster.com/medical/superfetation" target="_blank">superfetation</a>.<br/>
<br/>
According to Jewish Law, there are three kinds of woman who must use a device called a "<i>mokh</i>" for the absorption of the spermatic liquid:<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<u>QUOTE</u>:<br/>
"R. Bebai recited before R. Nahman: Three [categories of] women must use a mokh in marital intercourse; a minor, a pregnant woman, and a nursing mother. The minor, because [otherwise] she might become pregnant and die. A pregnant woman, because [otherwise] she might cause her foetus to become a sandal [i.e., a flat fish-shaped abortion due to <a href="http://medical.merriam-webster.com/medical/superfetation" target="_blank">superfetation</a>]. A nursing woman, because [otherwise] she might have to wean her child prematurely, and he would die...." (<a href="http://www.come-and-hear.com/yebamoth/yebamoth_12.html" target="_blank">Y'vamot 12b</a>). <u>END QUOTE</u>.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
The use of a "<i>mokh</i>" (i.e., a tuft of wool or cotton padding) is rather problematic, because the halakhic rulings state that the "<i>mokh</i>" must effectively block the Cervix in order to prevent the sperm from entering the Uterus, while not preventing the man's phallus from having unimpeded contact with the woman's vaginal wall, in order that the two might literally become "one flesh" (Gen 2:24).<br/>
<br/>
Also, the man's seed must be sown in the woman, rather than in the "<i>mokh</i>," which means that the ejaculate must come into contact with the vaginal wall before being absorbed by the "<i>mokh</i>." The "<i>mokh</i>" is simply meant to block the Cervix by absorbing any semen that tries to make its way into the Uterus. See the problems involved here?<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
Given that, the Essene solution to the problematic use of the "<i>mokh</i>" was to focus on the higher ethics involved. Josephus states of certain Essenes that, "They do not approach those with child, showing that they marry not for self-indulgence, but for the procreation of children" (War 2.160-61).<br/>
<br/>
No, I'm not saying that Joseph was a card-carrying Essene, because he was most likely a Tzadiq (Righteous One) of the plebeian Chasidic-Separatists for whom there existed a balance between the "ethical" and the "practical." <br/>
<br/>
In other words, the Chasidic-Separatists understood the necessity of procreation as well as the legitimacy of sexual pleasure, but they weren't above enduring a hardship in order to "fulfill" the letter of the Law nor did they shy away from shouldering an ethical burden in order to "fulfill" the spirit of the Law, especially if doing so meant that they could avoid being a stumbling block to others.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
The fact that Joseph took Mary as his bride prior to learning the specifics of her ketubah (marriage contract), if we follow the Shem Tov text of the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew, and the fact that he refrained from having sexual intercourse with her throughout her pregnancy attests to this being a love-match and shows that Joseph <b>was not</b> motivated by lust or greed. He went beyond the letter of the Law, as would any Chasid (Pious One), yet conducted himself according to the traditions and customs of the plebeian Galilean sages. How could he do otherwise? After all, he was known to be a Tzadiq (Righteous One).<br/>
<br/>
Again, I don't expect Christians to accept this explanation, because it goes against 1,800 years of Church dogma and paints a picture of Yeshua's family that is simply too Jewish for most non-Jews to stomach. IMO, it puts to rest many questions that people have about the so-called "Virgin Birth." Again, this is only a "working model". I make no claim to having a monopoly on universal truth. I leave those claims for the Church to make. <u>END NOTE</u>.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Written by a seeker of HaShem<br/></p>
</blockquote>