Comments on: From Jewish militancy to Judaism

By: Vienna Mike

Vienna Mike — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:56:18 +0000

Untrue. However, many misinterpret the injunction. Look at what Shmuel actually says to the Jews: “Before, Hashem was King. How dare you now demand an earthly king to replace Hashem? Hashem will surely punish you by making him into a tyrant!”

The mitzvah “Appoint yourselves a king” is most perfectly fulfilled by appointing Hashem as King. This was the case under the Shoftim, as you can see throughout the book, including several times when people want to make themselves king and are rebuked by others saying “Hashem is king! We need no other!”

By: chaim

chaim — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:10:57 +0000

And I repeat, I don’t have rabbis. You wear kippa, that is enough. Not because you are a pious man, but because you wear a symbol of Babylonical idolatry. Kahane was a nice guy, with just a problem: he was a rabbi.

By: Danny the Admin

Danny the Admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:10:45 +0000

You’re very right on this. Looking at Prophet Shmuel’s rebuke to the Jews who wanted a king, it’s hard to believe that he was aware of the Deuteronomic injunction to appoint one.

By: Vienna Mike

Vienna Mike — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:17:44 +0000

First of all, a convert is the equal of a born Jew in every aspect except for a few narrowly defined cases. Secondly, I am always amazed at people who gladly use some foreign inventions, like, say, soap, while rejecting others like, say, modern political science. Why should we not incorporate modern political science into our understanding? We have always done so.

Consider the concept of Malchut. The Rambam cannot envision Malchut without a Melekh. Why? Because the only forms of government he knows are Islamic despotism and European feudal monarchy. He is separated from the Venecian Republic by a language barrier, a hostile border and an active battlefront. And Venice is a dictatorship in any case, ruled by the Doge with an iron fist until he is deposed by force or dies of old age. Only thousands of miles away, in the frozen forests of Northwest Russia is there a functioning republic — in 1136 the Veche kicks Knyaz’ Vsevolod Mstislavich out of town and the Novgorod Republic is born.

But what a difference a generation makes! The Ramban lives in Christian Spain. Venice is a friendly state. There is no language barrier to speak of. And, with the formation of the Signoria, it is actually a real republic. And so the Ramban looks at the Book of Shoftim with a new set of eyes and sees what is self-evident to a modern reader — the Shoftim are elected officials of a primitive republican government. Thus the Ramban rules that Malchut can exist without a Melekh.

We do not try to build our houses with the same plumbing they would have used 2,000 years ago. Why the heck do we insist on building a Jewish government using political structures copied from 2,000 years ago? Yes, we need a sanhedrin, an assembly and a chief executive. This does not mean we need to copy them exactly from what obtained in the days of Herod the Builder.

By: No name

No name — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:30:50 +0000

That’s a simplistic understanding. It is not factually accurate to actually say the mishna is a compilation of Ribi Meir’s positions. The statement you refer to has a meaning behind it, but not the simple meaning because it just does not fit the facts of what positions are reported and in the name of whom. It means that “Rebbe” upheld the learning tradition/innovations/styles of R. Akiva and R. Meir and operated within the same framework of limud and under the authority/acceptance that they also had. But it does not mean literally what you say. Because anyone can read the mishnas and see it is not so.

By: Shiloh

Shiloh — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:10:52 +0000

Hey, your not part of us, we don’t want you, like the rest of the fake ones. Can’t you understand it by now. You have your own club.

By: AbuShy

AbuShy — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:28:01 +0000

Mike,

you say, “For this we need our own State.” Yes, I have been following this second state called Judah concept, but as one who follows Torah, where do you find ANYTHING that talks of that?

Sure, its hard to get along with the other side of the aisle. But dividing up the little bit Israel has and making it into a totally indefensible micro-mini state not much larger than the proposed palestinian abomination, I mean, not only is it without scriptural authority, but it is mah-shuginah ad l’gamray.

Now, if you want to talk about that hebrew phrase in a context that IS with scriptural backing and involves working with people like me (10 lost tribes who are knocking on the door, “hey, we’re back! Let us in!”), then we can talk about some real issues that WILL take place.

But another state? Israel needs another arm or a leg first…(:~))

By: AbuShy

AbuShy — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:15:29 +0000

Dear Eric,

hey man, to re-work a famous old response to you leaving,

“Don’t go away mad,” (and please) “just don’t go away!”

By: Shiloh

Shiloh — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:42:32 +0000

Vienna Mike, Erick is part of the Jewish people. So are the Haredim etc. Even in biblical times not all Jews followed the Torah (look at the Prophets take). We may disagree with their behaviour, with their midot, but still they are Jews. I can surely hammer on the settlers too, but we need to work towards a final goal that will include all Jews including the ones we have problems with.

With a blog like this, in itself, as you state won’t change anything. Yes if a critical mass does work towards the goal, then it will happen. The problem is we are leaderless right now. That’s all we need to get to where we need to go. The rabbi’s know it, and are currently delaying it. Take that to the bank. Shavua tov.

By: Danny the Admin

Danny the Admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:35:37 +0000

We can only speak about “our” lawyers with reservations. Recall that Mishnah is predominantly a collection of opinions by R.Meir on the authority of R.Akiva – both of proselyte background. Not surprisingly, it smacks of the Roman legal structure.