Theft
Source : Moshiach.com
Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky
Definition of theft; criteria for theft; kidnap; land conquest; rape; seduction; usury; overpricing; permissible profit margins; returning stolen objects; punishment; physical abuse; coveting another’s possessions; usurping land; withholding wages
1. Of all the categories of the Seven Universal Commandments, the prohibition against theft may be the hardest to obey. Human history and psychology are in clear agreement with the Talmudic statement, that “Man’s soul has a craving and longing for incest and robbery.”[1] But committing theft, unlike incest, is often a simple matter in which the opportunity presents itself almost constantly. Moreover, the commandment against theft includes aspects that, without thorough study, might elude a person and be thought of as acceptable behavior. Therefore, a frequent review of the laws of theft is important.
2. Theft in the Seven Universal Commandments is one general category with many parts and is virtually identical to Torah Law, which has sixteen commandments dealing with the subject of taking what does not belong to oneself. This means that God’s will concerning theft is virtually identical whether the person involved is an Israelite or a Noahide. The only difference involves the return of a stolen object worth less than a pruta[2] (the smallest coin denomination in the times of the Talmud). If such an object is stolen from a Jew, it need not be returned, for the Israelite is willing to forgive the theft of so small an object and forego its return; but the Noahide does not forego an object worth less than a pruta, and such a stolen object must therefore be returned to him.[3]
3. The commandment prohibiting theft holds men and women equally liable in every aspect and detail.[4]
4. One is liable for punishment whether he brazenly robs in public or sneaks into a house on a moonless night.[5]
5. One is liable whether he steals money or any object or kidnaps a person. And he is liable no matter from whom he steals.
6. A Noahide who steals a beautiful woman from the enemy during time of war is liable for punishment. It is presumed that he kidnapped her and that she is a married woman.[6]
7. The Children of Noah are forbidden to engage in wars of land conquest, but if such a war does occur, and in the process a land is conquered, what the Noahide acquires of this new land belongs to him ex post facto.
8. Later authorities rule that a man who rapes or seduces a woman who is not forbidden to him is liable for punishment because he is stealing from the woman’s worth for his own personal use.[7] This judgment applies only to a man who seduces a woman, not to a woman who seduces a man. A woman is considered unable to truly seduce or rape a man, as a man must have an erection to have intercourse and therefore his involvement in the act is one of acceptance and volition.
9. The early Sages were in disagreement as to whether the Children of Noah were warned concerning usury and overpricing before the giving of the Torah.[8] In either case, these commandments are both in effect today because they were given to Moses at Mount Sinai, not because God commanded Noah to follow them. (A general principle of the Seven Universal Commandments is that they are binding only because they were given on Mount Sinai.) The great sage Nachmanides (Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, also known as Ramban), states that overcharging is clearly one of the tenets of the commandment prohibiting theft.[9] This means that a transaction whereby one is greatly overcharged is considered an illegal transaction and may be voided. Usury, the act of lending money at unfair interest rates, is in the same category and is forbidden and considered an illegal transaction.
10. In the category of overcharging is the admonition against using false weights and measures. This applies to any storeowner or salesperson, whether he is selling fish or precious stones, or measuring land for sale, as it is written, “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measuring land, in weight, or in measuring liquids” (Lev. 19:35). And inasmuch as the act of false weighing and measuring is forbidden, it is similarly forbidden to have such false weights or measuring devices in one’s possession, as it is written, “You shall not have in your bag diverse weights, a great and a small” (Deut. 25:13).
11. The idea here is that since one’s sustenance comes from the hand of God, a man should earn it through honesty, not chicanery. In Talmudic times, the fair amount of profit gained was thought to be one?sixth,[10] but since profit margins are considered somewhat relative and subjective, the fair amount remains to be determined by the norms set in each generation.
12. A Noahide is not obligated to return an object that he stole. But since he stole it, he is held accountable for the prescribed punishment in a court of law. This is according to Rashi’s opinion, which holds that when a single act warrants two punishments, the stricter punishment is enforced and the lesser one is foregone. Other authorities argue that this principle applies only to the Jew and the laws of the Torah, and that when a Noahide has stolen, he is obligated to return the stolen article to its rightful owner, despite the fact that he has incurred the death penalty.[11]
13. One may well ask why the thief, who is going to be executed anyway, should bother to return the stolen object. He could just as well leave it to his spouse or child or a friend and therefore have some indirect benefit. The explanation goes right to the heart of the intent of God’s Law, which is just and merciful at the same time. Every punishment meted out through the justice of the Noahide courts serves as an atonement, sparing the transgressor punishment in the Eternal World. This, of course, assumes that the convicted criminal repents for his transgression and returns to God before he is executed. Because of the justice of the courts, therefore, a man can transgress and still receive a share of the World to Come as a righteous person.
14. What happens then, if a man commits a crime and is not punished by the courts? Suppose there are two men, one who killed negligently but without premeditation and another who killed with malice aforethought. There were no witnesses to either crime. God will bring the two men together through Divine Providence. For instance, on a crowded street, the one who killed unintentionally might be driving a car, while the killer is crossing the street as a pedestrian. Not paying attention to what he is doing, the driver runs through a stop sign, killing the pedestrian. So what has God wrought? The murderer is killed, and the manslaughterer is now held as a manslaughterer.[12]
15. A Noahide who strikes another Noahide transgresses the commandment against theft and is liable for punishment by the courts, for the damage he caused brought a physical and psychological loss to the person struck.[13] A Noahide who strikes an Israelite also violates the commandment of kedushat Yisrael, violating the sanctity of the Jew.[14]
16. A person is forbidden to desire the property and physical dwelling place of another as expressed by the scriptural verse, “And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house nor his field, nor his manservant nor his maidservant nor his ox nor his ass nor anything that is his” (Deut. 5:18).[15]
17. Since the Children of Noah are commanded to withhold themselves from committing theft, they are similarly commanded concerning deterrents to that transgression, namely desire.[16] Coveting the belongings of another is in precisely the same category as desiring them, except it takes it a step further, involving action. Whereas desire remains something of the heart, covetousness presupposes that the person does something to fulfill his desire, such as plead with the owner to sell him his house or field.[17]
18. When mankind is judged each year on Rosh Hashanah (the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei), God apportions each person’s income and sustenance and all forms of material acquisitions for the coming year. Nothing a person will do can add to what he has been allotted, and no one can take away what has been given to him, as King Solomon wrote, “The blessing of the Lord is that which makes rich, and painful labor adds nothing to it” (Prov. 10:22). So, to desire what belongs to another, and all the more so to covet it, is an act that betrays a lack of faith in God, for it is said, “Who is happy? One who is satisfied with his portion.”[18]
19. One is forbidden to enter another’s property stealthily and take back one’s own object, for thereby he is acting in the manner of a thief. Instead, one should confront the other and say, “This belongs to me, I am taking it.”[19]
20. One is forbidden to add to one’s own property by surreptitiously moving the landmarks into the neighbor’s property, as it is written, “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark” (Deut. 19:14).
21. This act of usurping one’s land through moving a landmark involves the idea of unfair competition. For example, if a person has a business in an area that will only support one business of that type, and someone moves in across the street and opens the same kind of business, this is said to be removing one’s neighor’s landmark.[20] Or today, the prevalent act of duplicating audio or video cassettes without permission, even for one’s private use, is an act of moving your neighbor’s landmark, for one who does this denies his neighbor the right to make a living.
22. It is forbidden to withhold the salary of a worker. If one hires a worker, it is incumbent on the employer to pay the worker his wages at the conclusion of the day’s work, unless a different arrangement had been agreed upon ahead of time.[21] And it is similarly forbidden to refuse to repay a loan of money when one has the means to repay, or to refuse to return a borrowed object.[22] All these are enjoined by the verse, “You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him” (Lev. 19:13).
23. An employer who works in a field or in a restaurant is permitted to eat the fruits of the field or of the restaurant’s food as he works if it is in connection with his work. For instance, if a person harvests grapes, he is permitted to snack on the grapes as he works. Similarly, if he is a cook, he is permitted to snack on the food he prepares. But, if he merely irrigates the land on which grapes grow, his snacking on grapes is considered theft. Similarly, if he is a dishwasher in a restaurant, his snacking on the restaurant’s food is considered theft. Even in permissible cases, the employee may snack only as he works. If he loads up a basket and takes the food home to feed himself or his family, it is theft.[23]
24. If a person steals anything of worth (more than a pruta) and then another steals it from him, both transgress the commandment prohibiting theft.
The Flaws of Christianity and Religions
Source: Mesora.org
Rabbi Moshe Ben-Chaim
——————————————————————————–
Should we allow our lives to be guided by what is popular? Are we to simply follow the crowd, without questioning our beliefs? As all religions oppose each other, all religions cannot be God’s word.
Our souls are at stake, and our limited time here in Earth demands that we take stock in what our actions and beliefs must be. Are we living life properly, what our Creator asks, what is truly best for ourselves? We must realize the false notions we harbor, be we Jew or Gentile. It is imperative that we all question these popular notions and not blindly coast through life, losing what could be an inspiring and enlightening existence. What a tragic loss of God’s gift of life to each of us, if we do not engage our intelligence, given to man and no other creature. God desires that we use this intelligence in the most important of all areas, our religion: our belief in God and His plan for mankind.
I fear some Gentile and Jewish readers may become inflamed with feelings of religious persecution when reading this article. This is not my intent. Had only the books of Christianity remained with no adherents, this article would be equally needed. The purpose of this analysis is to elucidate the basic flaws of Christianity and other similar religions, (subsumed collectively herein as “Christianity”) in order to benefit both Gentile and Jew, who find baseless appeal in its false notions. I hope through the analysis presented, you recognize my sincere intent: to dispel false notions, not to mock a group of people. No gain is realized when one attacks an individual. Christianity predates all Christians alive today. Therefore, the critique presented is one of an ideology, not of individual adherents. My wish is to increase your understanding of God’s words, His desire is for our good, and to display what is contrary to the Torah system so we may know its fallacy, and avoid its pitfalls.
The role of the Jew has always been to educate the world on God’s Torah. Remaining silent at the fear of ridicule cannot enter the equation. For through such silence, greater harm is inflicted: the Torah authorities conceal God’s true Torah ideal from mankind. The Jew was selected by God as a “chosen people”. However, many misconstrue “chosen” in a haughty light: as if the Jew is somehow better from birth than Gentile. If this were the case, God would have created “Jews” and “Gentiles”, but he did not. He created man and woman. Judaism did not enter the world’s stage until the year 2448, that’s 3317 years ago. What was God’s plan before 2448? Why was no Torah given yet? It was God’s pan that man would observe the universe, realizing a Creator, and pondering His marvels. However, from the very start, man began to commit idolatry. Adam’s grandson Enosh worshipped the stars. After many generations, more and more idolatrous practices arose. It soon became necessary that a Code exist, extricating man from his infantile fantasies, redirecting him to correct, and monotheistic ideals. Abraham was a rare individual, capable if realizing his own idolatrous practice as false, eventually recognizing the Creator, and then endeavoring to teach all of mankind. Due to his correct philosophy, God desired to create a nation from Abraham, one that would possess true knowledge, and teach all of mankind.
God desires the Jew to benefit every other culture and religion, guiding them with rational arguments away from false and harmful notions, towards what truth and reason dictate is reality. It would be against God’s will for any Jew to remain silent, allowing another human being to remain prey to idolatrous practices and beliefs. If someone is open to hearing ideas, we must educate them. It is then up to them to discern truth from falsehood, and select what their own minds dictate is reality. We are only commanded to teach, they must choose to practice what their minds desire.
I. Essential Flaws in Other Religions
Christianity claims God Spoke with Jesus
It is essential that you become fully aware of the historically proven event at Mount Sinai where God demonstrated His existence and selected the Jews to adhere to His Torah. This event was witnessed by approximately 2.5 million people, a proof not duplicated in any other culture or religion, and recorded in Deuteronomy 4:9-15. It is impossible that history contain the account at Sinai where the Jews heard an intelligent voice emanating from the fiery mount Sinai, seeing no physical source, and that such a story be accepted by the world through the present – were it false. Had Sinai never occurred, it would not be accepted back then, nor would it survive through time. Had Moses lied, and attempted to convince individuals they saw such a miracle, which they did not see, they would view Moses as a fraud. Imagine someone telling you that you were at an event that you did not attend, that there were 2.5 million others there, and that specific miracles occurred. You would view the person as bizarre, and he would have absolutely no success at convincing you or others that you witnessed that which you did not. The unanimous acceptance today of this event as history – not only accepted by Jews – confirms its truth. Concocted stories of a peoples’ history, witnessed by millions, are not unanimously accepted. Sinai occurred. God selected the Jews and no others, and He gave a law never to be altered. God selected the Jews through an awesome event to serve for the precise purpose of a proof. Judaism is not based on belief. No science is.
Not only does reason deny acceptance of all other religions, but God’s very words attest to the fact that Judaism will be the one eternal and exclusive religion:
Deuteronomy, 4:33,34: “Has any people heard the voice of God speaking from amidst fire as you have heard, and lived? Or has God miraculously come to select one nation from others with miracles, signs and wonders, and with war, and a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great awesome deeds, as all that Hashem your God did for you in Egypt in front of your eyes?”
Here, Moses reminds the Jewish people here of their selection. God selected the Jews from all other nations. This was never performed for any other nation. Many religions do not accept God’s selection of the Jewish nation, denying God’s very words. They concoct stories of supposed miracles or prophecies, which Jesus and others experienced. But any individual can suggest God spoke to them, or that they performed miracles. There is no way to disprove such lies. But be mindful, nor is there any way to prove these stories. All other religions are based on individual testimony, as this is something others cannot disprove. It is a safe position. Not Judaism. Judaism is based on historic events witnessed by millions.
Christianity Claims God became Physical
The notion of God becoming physical is impossibility. He, Who created all of physical existences, is the One Being not subject to those laws. God governs all physical matter. To suggest God can become physical and be subject to His own physical laws means that He does not control the universe. A clear contradiction and impossibility.
Christianity Claims Jesus Died for Other Peoples’ Sins
Deuteronomy, 24:16; “There will not be killed fathers for sons (sins, nor) are sons killed for father’s (sins). Each man in his own sin will be killed.”
This verse teaches that the theory of the death of Jesus on behalf of others’ sins is contrary to God’s own words. God’s system is just, only the one who sins pays the price, not another. God teaches us intellectually sound ideas that are reasonable and conform to justice.
Christianity Endorses a “Blind Faith” System
Belief can be used for any idea or religion. Belief seeks no support from reality. Christianity teaches what is not real. Contrary to Christianity’s own goals, they teach that defectors, finding other religions more emotionally appealing, is proper. Christianity’s tenet of “blind faith” would require them to allow Christians to follow another religion and deny Jesus, if they followed faith. How can they argue? They are not based on reason, so a system of faith other than Christianity cannot be argued as wrong. An incoherent and contradictory position. If however Christianity attempts to lodge reason to justify Christianity as the supreme religion, they thereby deny their principle of blind faith, as they have demonstrated an attempt to justify their religion via reason, and not faith.
Christianity Denies our Use of God-given Intelligence
In the most important of all areas – our belief in God’s word – Christianity asks us to abandon reason. Sinai was orchestrated by God to achieve a proof of God’s existence and His desired system for man. No other religion can make such a historically proven claim. God intended man to use his reason and arrive at the correct life. Christianity asks man to violate God’s intent and abandon reason, living by faith.
Not Observing God’s 7 Noachide Laws is a Sin Against God
Christianity’s laws oppose God’s will that all gentiles follow the 7 Noachide laws outlined in the Torah.
Religion of Love
A Rabbi once noted, the claim by Christianity to be a religion of love is an attempt to deny an underlying religion of hate. Jesus in effect murdered God, as Jesus’ existence replaced God’s existence. Calling their religion one of love attempted to deny Christianity’s true, hateful and aggressive ideology displayed by the Crusades, Christianity’s creed of eternal damnation for those who deny Jesus.
II. Christianity’s Primitive Nature and Mass Appeal
Deification of Man
Christianity appeals to many through false ideas. We already mentioned one; a guilt free existence because Jesus died for one’s sins. Accordingly, man’s sins can be absolved, and man takes no responsibility for his corrupt actions. This is quite enticing, although baseless and false. Another primary idea is the satisfaction of the emotional need for approval from man, i.e., the man Jesus is the central focus.
Man is attached to his parents, projecting on them a supreme, authoritative status. A child seeks approval, and finds parental disappointment most devastating. Many individuals never grow out of this emotion and find this satisfaction even in adult life, by idolizing human figures and creating heroes. Christianity satisfies this need through its portrayal of Jesus as superhuman, a clear display of deifying man, not God. Conversely, Judaism teaches that man is simply flesh and blood, with no powers. God remains as the central focus of Judaism. Numerous laws prohibit man from seeking man’s approval and the projection of superhuman qualities onto man. In contrast to Christianity’s saints, Judaism’s prophets shun the spotlight, as seen from Elisha who himself did not approach Naaman with God’s instructions for healing, but Elisha sent his servant to give those instructions to cure Naaman’s leprosy. Elisha wished God alone to maintain responsibility for the government of man and nature. Additionally, Judaism prohibits idolatry, warlocks, enchanters, and witches, to name a few. Each law is an example of Judaism’s goal to extricate man from believing any power exists, aside from God. As Ibn Ezra and Maimonides state, all these practices are false. God created all matter and all laws governing them – He alone Who created these laws, controls them. Man, a creation, cannot over-power God. Man is the created, not the Creator.
Denial of the Sexual Drive – Holy People – Virgin Birth
As a permutation of the previous corruption, Christianity places nuns and priests on pedestals. Part of their aura is their deprivation of sex. Christianity seeks to create saints by praising those who abstain from areas in which man feels shame or guilt. Conversely, Judaism does not deny man’s powerful urges, but asks man to channel those urges to the proper partner, and only at the appropriate times and circumstances. Judaism does not wish man to be steeped in desires, nor to deny his desires. Judaism directs man to the proper balance of satisfaction and abstention. Man is taught to guide his desires, not to follow them blindly. This practice redirects man’s energies towards the higher goals of pursuing wisdom and justice. Man finds true satisfaction only when he engages his true self – his intelligence. Current accounts of priests sodomizing children demonstrate Judaism’s accurate view on the need for sexual satisfaction, and the repercussions of those who deny real desires. Judaism teaches reality, Christianity teaches lies, in the most fundamental area. It may very well be that the “virgin birth” story was written to deny the sexual in connection with Jesus, from his “conception”.
The contradiction of nuns and priests is that on the one hand, they claim their life’s work to be God’s will , i.e., their existence is a good. On the other hand, their abstinence does not allow new children to enter the world, who themselves could become nuns and priests. If they feel human existence is a good when one is a nun or priest, their very abstinence prevents other nuns and priests from being born and continuing their work.
Christianity Teaches Fantasy in the Most Fundamental Area – Eating of Jesus’ Body
Matthew 26:26-28 “26. Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28. for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Christianity’s practice of eating a wafer symbolizing Jesus’ body, traces itself back to primitive, cultural rites. In one rite, members of a cult would drink the blood of animals, believing it to permeate them with that animal’s characteristics. When we study a man-made religion, we will undoubtedly discover evidence of man’s base, instinctual drives. Man-made religion is in truth a projection of man’s instinctual desires that are repressed – their system will reflect man’s instinctual nature. Again, Christianity succeeds at deviating completely from God’s will. Unlike Judaism, this practice of eating the body of Jesus has no correlation to anything true, thereby reinforcing fallacy. It further embellishes the need for attachment to the physical, yet represses natural, human desires and need.
Jesus’ Resurrection
Belief in immortality and fortunetellers are fabricated solutions to man’s two basic fears; 1)death, and 2)security about his own Earthly fate. With the resurrection of Jesus – his “second coming” – Christianity gives false hope not only in Jesus’ immortality, but in his followers’ as well, as they too will share in the ultimate, eternal kingdom. Resurrection also attempts to validate Christianity; The second coming alludes to Christianity’s unspoken doubt of Jesus’ validity, as his first coming was not successful.
III. Christianity Denies God’s Words
False Prophets
The Torah teaches that we are not to follow a prophet who goes against God’s word:
Deuteronomy, 18:19, 20. “And it will be the man who does not listen to My words, but who speaks in My name, I will inquire from him. However, a prophet who sinfully speaks a matter in My name which I did not command to speak and he speaks in the name of other God’s, you must kill that prophet.”
Jesus spoke against God’s laws in God’s name, attempting to change what God said. God’s Torah teaches that this crime is so great it deserves death.
Incomparability to Judaism
A further, false proof of Christianity’s claim of the supreme religion is the following: We might ask why God did not perform such an undeniably true event as Sinai, on behalf of Christianity. If God wishes something to have recognition as truth, Sinai teaches that He has the ability to create an undeniably true event, witnessed by millions. Why are all religions – including Christianity – bereft of such events? It is clear that God does not endorse Christianity or any religion. God endorsed Judaism alone, and He promised in the Torah that such a event will never be reproduced:
Deuteronomy, 5:19: “These matters (the Ten Commandments) God spoke to your entire assembly from amidst flames, cloud, and thick darkness, a great voice not to be repeated, and He wrote them on two tables of stone and gave them to me.”
God clearly states that such a revelation at Sinai, a selection of a people, and specifically a giving of a law, will never be repeated. Again, the giving of a law by God will never be repeated. These are God’s words and Christianity denies them with their fabrication that God endorsed a new system of Christianity. Christianity’s ideology is based on lies told to its followers, duping them into the belief that God has a new plan, even though God stated such a revelation will never be repeated. Christianity lies to its followers.
Christianity Violates God’s Command not to Alter God’s Torah
Deuteronomy, 4:2: “Do not add on to the matter which I command you, and do not detract from it, to observe the commandments of Hashem your God, which I command you.”
God teaches us not to alter the Torah, yet Christianity does so in so many areas – again denying God’s words. Christianity suggests that God “changed His mind”. This is absurd, that a Perfect Being knowledgeable of all past and future history would create a complete and perfect Torah system at one point, which includes a law not to alter it in any way, and then contradict His own words as Christianity suggests.
IV. A Corrupt Philosophy and Plagiarism
Christianity Portrays Jesus Reasoning to be Unjust:
Matthew 26:6-13: 6. “Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7. a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head, as he sat at table. 8. But when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9. For this ointment might have been sold for a large sum, and given to the poor.” 10. But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12. In pouring this ointment on my body she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Jesus is on record as preferring kindness to himself, in place of the poor. His reasoning is that he will not always be around. Therefore one must prefer to share oil with Jesus than using the monetary value of that oil to support the needy.
Christianity Mimics the Torah to Earn Credibility
Compare to the Torah’s words to Christianity’s plagiarism:
The Torah says in Exodus, 4:19:
“God said to Moses in Midyan, go, return to Egypt, for there have died all the men that sought your life.”
The New Testament says in Matthew 2:20:
“Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”
The Torah says in Exodus 1:16:
“And (the king of Egypt) said, “when the Hebrew women give birth, and look upon the stone, if it is a son, kill him, and if it is a daughter, let it live.”
The New Testament says in Matthew 2:16:
“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under,…”
In both statements above Christianity attempts to equate Jesus to Moses by distorting the truth and provoking the emotion of pity. Christianity continuously portrays Jesus as the victim to foster identification and more adherents. Just like Pharaoh threatened Moses, the story constructed in the New Testament makes Jesus the victim of King Herod. Coincidentally, the events at the time of Jesus’ birth were conveniently fabricated to mimic a similar threat, which had taken place during the time of Moses’ birth. The reader of the New Testament feels pity and compassion for Jesus in the name of plagiarism. The goal of the New Testament is to equate the statures of Jesus and Moses, which is absolutely impossible. In so many statements contained the New Testament, if read carefully, one will find authentic, Torah accounts plagiarized with slight changes, replacing true Torah personalities with Jesus.
Plagiarism is also seen clearly in the first quote; just as Moses was threatened and then afterwards informed to return as all those seeking his life are dead, the New Testament again attempts to plagiarize a known story of Moses and transpose it onto Jesus. For the very goal of engendering pity as a tool for identification with Jesus, Christianity adopted the symbol of the Cross. The Cross’ unanimous acceptance as a central icon of their religion displays how correct the developers of Christianity were that pity is a sure-fire lure to attract adherents.
A most obvious plagiarism describes the sale of Jesus by one of the 12 disciples for 30 pieces of silver. It is almost identical to the sale of Joseph by one of his 12 brothers for 20 pieces of silver in the Torah. Compare:
Genesis 37:25:
“And there passed by Midianite men, traders, and they drew him and lifted him (Joseph) out of the pit and they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver and they brought Joseph to Egypt.”
Matthew 26:14-15:
“14. Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15. and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.”
Christianity uses another statement from the Torah and distorts it in order to evoke empathy and identification with Jesus who is again being portrayed as the “victim.” Yet, the goal of Christianity is to raise Jesus to a leadership role. The downtrodden Jesus becomes a great leader as Joseph, whom his brothers sold would eventually become a great leader. Christianity found many ways to distort the Divine Word of God in order to gain mass acceptance and many followers.
In summary, Christianity lies to its people, it contradicts God’s own words, it is a religion where reason is replaced by belief, and deceit is the means of attracting to-be proselytes. Do not feel compelled to adhere to Christianity due to its popularity, or its leaders’ reputations. Many people are drawn in by the impressive structures of churches, ancient paintings depicting Jesus, the Church’s long history, and the sense of piety associated with nun’s and priests’ garb. Do not be impressed, for previous idolaters also made great structures, wore ornate clothing, and were widespread, yet, we comprehend their false ideas – based on reason alone. Reason teaches, that which is false, cannot become true because we adorn and decorate it. King Solomon taught, “A gold ring in the snout of a pig, (so too is) a beautiful woman with a deviant personality.” (Proverbs 11:22) Radak’s last statement on Zephania, 1:8 teaches that God punished certain Jews who dressed in clothing more impressive than their brother Jews, only to project a false piety. God frowns upon external dress, as this has no bearing on one’s perfection, destroying social harmony in its wake. So too, we are not to be impressed by Christianity’s adornment of their clergy, nor of their beautiful structures or moving, choric hymns. What is false cannot be made true no matter how much they adorn themselves, no matter how effective they are at mimicking Judaism and no matter how much pity they evoke for their fabricated man-god.
God’s Torah, and reality, requires one to use his mind, seeking proof for one’s actions. Torah is built on rationale, containing proofs so man may function in accordance with intelligence, leading a life, which is pleasing and reasonable. Man, being so impressed with the sensibility of the tenets of Judaism, is encouraged to derive much benefit not only in actions that are good for oneself and society, but as one engages one’s mind, one discovers new insights which offer the most satisfying life. Intelligence is the one faculty God gave man and no other being. God desires that mankind enjoy life, and use intelligence alone to study reality and perceive wisdom, which affords a person the greatest existence.
Intelligent inquiry is the sole tool enabling our appreciation of all sciences, and of Judaism. God created sciences and Judaism to reflect His wisdom. Through our minds, we see beauty in the Torah system, we find solid proofs and reasons for God’s laws and ideals, we become enamored with the depth and structures of Torah laws, and we continually grow towards God’s goal for man – a being appreciative of, and attached to what is real and true.
God’s perfect Torah system applies to both Gentile an Jew. There is no other God-given system. There is no other good for mankind.
Sexual Relations
Source: Moshiach.com
Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky
Forbidden relationships; what is permissible and forbidden in relationships; consummation of marriage; divorce; seduction; homosexuality; lesbianism; prostitution; bestiality; castration
1. It is written, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall cling to his wife and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). According to the Holy Spirit this verse comes to instruct mankind concerning forbidden relationships.[1] Rashi comments that the phrase, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother,” forbids the man to have sexual relations with the wife of his father (not his mother) even after the death of his father, when she is no longer considered a married woman. Obviously, this also includes his natural mother. The phrase, “cling to his wife,” comes to teach us that he shall have relations with his own wife and not another man’s wife. “To his wife” comes to teach us that he shall have relations with the opposite sex, not with a male. “And they shall be of one flesh” comes to exclude any animal, for an animal is not of one flesh with a man.[2]
2. A Noahide is forbidden to have relationships with certain relatives and others to whom he or she is not related. These are:
Mother (even if his birth had been the result of her having been seduced or raped)
Father
Daughter
Father’s sister
Mother’s sister[3]
3. Under the Seven Universal Laws, one is permitted to have relations with individuals related through marriage after the death of the relative. According to some opinions, this even includes a man’s father’s wife (not his mother) after his father dies. Those falling in this category are:
Father’s wife (not one’s mother)
Brother’s wife
Wife’s sister
Daughter?in?law
Stepdaughter
4. It is the opinion of some authorities that the father’s wife is forbidden even after the death of the father, and the prohibition is thought to include women that the father merely had relations with, even if they were seduced or raped by the father.[4] Other authorities permit relations with the father’s wife after his death, but forbid relations with either the father’s or the mother’s maternal sister.
5. It is argued in the name of Rabbi Akiva that all relationships that warrant the death penalty in a Jewish court of law also will receive the death penalty in a Noahide court of law. This includes a relationship that exists through marriage (with a mother?in?law or daughter?in?law). The reason is that since one’s father’s wife is forbidden, this is extended to include others related through marriage (a mother?in?law being related through marriage). Such relationships are punishable by the courts.[5] Other authorities say that only the father’s wife is in this forbidden category, and they exclude other relatives through marriage.[6]
6. Forbidden relationships, other than with relatives, are:
A man with another man’s wife
A male with a male
A person (male or female) with an animal[7]
7. A man is forbidden to have relations with another man’s wife, whether she is the wife of another Noahide or the Jewish wife of a Jew.[8] Although a Jewish man is forbidden to marry a Noahide woman and from the perspective of the Jewish man there is no marriage, nevertheless, the bond of marriage exists for her and she is forbidden to other men. Under the Seven Universal Commandments, a woman is considered to be a man’s wife when the couple has sexual relations with the intent that it constitute marriage.[9]
8. A man is not punished by the courts for having relations with a married woman unless he has sexual intercourse with her in the normal manner (vaginal penetration), inasmuch as this is considered to be the way for a man to be with a woman.[10] But with other forbidden relationships, a man is liable for punishment for sodomy or any other sexual act; it does not have to be the normal way of intercourse.[11]
9. A man is liable for punishment even if there was only slight penetration during the act of intercourse.[12] However, some are of the opinion that one is not liable for only slight penetration.[13]
10. A man is not punished by the courts for having relations with a married woman until she has consummated her marriage with her husband. But if she is engaged and not yet married, even if she is standing under the wedding canopy, and there has been no consummation of the marriage, he is not liable for punishment by the courts. By this law, we are referring to a Noahide man with a Noahide woman. Regarding a Noahide man and an Israelite woman, whether she has consummated the marriage or is engaged and has not yet consummated the marriage or married but has not consummated the marriage, he is liable for capital punishment.[14]
11. In times of slavery, if a Noahide man designated a specific female slave for his male slave and then had relations with her, he was killed because of it. She was considered another man’s wife. However, the master was not condemned until it had become public knowledge that those particular slaves had been given to each other. And when did she become permissible again? When she separated from him and uncovered her head in the marketplace (that is, demonstrated publicly that she was available to any man).[15]
12. The concept of divorce with regard to Noahides is a matter of dispute. One opinion holds that there is no divorce possible.[16] Another opinion states that no writ of divorce is necessary, rather that divorce is dependent solely on the volition of either spouse, even if one of them is against the divorce. They separate due to the desire of either one and the thing is done.[17] Others contend that the woman may divorce her husband, but that the husband may not divorce his wife.[18]
13. One who caresses a forbidden member of the opposite sex, or hugs or kisses in a manner of lust, or has close personal contact for the sake of pleasure, transgresses the commandment prohibiting forbidden relationships, but is not punished by the courts. In all cases where the courts are not empowered to act, punishment is meted out by God.[19]
14. It is forbidden to signal with the hands or the feet or to wink at any person who is in the category of a forbidden relationship. One should not be frivolous or light?headed with anyone in this category, nor should a man deliberately smell the perfume or gaze at the beauty of a woman who is forbidden.[20]
15. A man is guilty of transgressing the commandment forbidding illicit sexual relations by having relations with a male whether the male is an adult or a child, whether the male is consenting, coerced or forced, in public or in the privacy of one’s own domicile.[21]
(Note: In the Holy Scriptures, of all the illicit sexual relationships mentioned, only homosexuality is described as an “abomination to God.” Even bestiality is not so described. From a spiritual perspective, homosexuality is devastating, destroying both the body and the soul of those who engage in it. No homosexual was ever born into this world through a homosexual relationship. And although it is true that a person may have congenital tendencies towards homosexuality, it is like the child with the trait of tearing out its hair or banging its head against the wall. If the tendency is destructive, the goal is to seek correction. When a person is ill, the goal is to help him get well.
Ultimately, homosexuals themselves will complain against those who misled them by condoning their practices and encouraging them, including the politicians who pander to them as a constituency. In the end they will see that this deviation brings one to excessive, abnormal weakness and to horrible diseases as we are beginning to discover.[22] In the context of history, every society that encouraged or condoned homosexuality was short?lived, terminated even at the height of its glory. Most notable of these, of course, was ancient Greece, which ruled the world and then was summarily voided in its prime. Ironically, it was the tiny Jewish nation led by the priestly Maccabees that broke the back of the mighty Greek Empire. It is no wonder then that Jewish religionists are so outraged at this society’s permissive attitude towards homosexuality, which is the essence of Western society’s corrupting Hellenistic legacy.)
16. Though it violates the spirit of the Seven Universal Commandments, lesbianism is not explicitly stated as one of the forbidden relationships. Lesbianism is, however, deemed an immoral and unnatural relationship that destroys the order of the world. Prostitution is in the same general category; that is, while not strictly forbidden, it is outside the realm of morality and therefore violates the spirit of the Seven Universal Laws.
17. Relations with an animal are forbidden at any stage of the animal’s maturity, even the day of its birth. A Noahide who has sexual relations with an animal is liable for punishment, but the animal is not killed. In the case of a Jew copulating with an animal, both the person and the animal are killed.
18. The Children of Noah are considered related only through the mother. Those on the father’s side are not considered relatives.[23] This means that a man’s half?sister (of the same father but a different mother) is not considered related to him and is permissible to him.[24]
19. There is an argument in the Talmud as to whether a Noahide is permitted to have a relationship with his daughter inasmuch as she is not considered his relative.[25] The conclusion is that, despite the fact that his daughter is not considered to be his relative, she is nonetheless forbidden because she is in the same category as his mother (a parent?child relationship), and his mother is forbidden.[26]
20. In a homosexual or bestial act, one is liable even if there is only partial penetration.[27]
21. It is forbidden under the Seven Universal Commandments to castrate any male, whether man or animal or fowl. This aspect of the law correlates to both the Laws of Forbidden Relations and the Laws of the Limb of a Living Animal. In one opinion, castration of oneself is a transgression, but it is questionable whether it is a transgression to fulfill someone’s request to castrate him or even to agree to castrate an animal of his,[28] despite its clearly being an act of maiming one of God’s creatures.[29] Nevertheless, even with so bizarre and irreversible an act as castration, repentance and forgiveness are possible through God’s great mercy, as it is written, “For thus has said the Lord concerning the eunuchs that keep My Sabbaths and choose that which pleases Me, and take hold of My covenant. I will give to them within My house and within My walls a place and a name better than sons and daughters; and an everlasting name will I give them that will not be cut off” (Isa. 56:4?5).
