israel

What Are You Smoking?

What Are You Smoking?

Question of the Week: I read an article by a professor in Israel who suggests that the revelation at Mt Sinai was actually a drug-induced hallucination. I thought it was a ridiculous proposition, but it did get me thinking. How do we know that it was indeed G-d who spoke to Moses and not some mind-altering mushroom? Answer: I read that article too. I am not sure what that professor was smoking when he wrote it. There are ways to test whether a revelation is truly divine or just the product o
g-d israel
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Isaiah 53 and the “Suffering Servant.”

Isaiah 53 and the “Suffering Servant.”

Missionaries misleadingly assert that the entire chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah refers to Jesus as the “Suffering Servant” of God who dies for the sins of the world. Someone could easily be fooled to believe this argument if Isaiah is read out of context and without a proper translation. At this point, take out a Tanach and turn to Isaiah 52 and read straight through 53, then proceed further: If you read the text correctly, Isaiah is clearly telling us how the nations of the world will react
isaiah 53 israel
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Chapter 15 - THE LAW: A CURSE OR A BLESSING?

Chapter 15 - THE LAW: A CURSE OR A BLESSING?

Continued from Chapter 14 (Deuteronomy 27:26) Deuteronomy 27:26 states: “Cursed be he who does not establish the words of this law to do them.” Paul, seeking to deprecate the Torah in an effort to enhance his new belief system alleges that any person who violates a biblical commandment is eternally cursed. He concludes that since it is inevitable that one will break a commandment one is actually cursed by the Torah, the Law of God. He writes: “For as many as depend upon works of law are under
atonement process gentiles
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Chapter 22a - WHY JESUS IS NOT THE SUFFERING SERVANT

Chapter 22a - WHY JESUS IS NOT THE SUFFERING SERVANT

Continued from Chapter 21 (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) THE TEXT: ISAIAH 52:13-53:12 1. Behold, My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 1. According as many were appalled at you ̶ ̶ so marred was his appearance unlike that of a man, and his form unlike that of the sons of men. 1. So shall he startle many nations, kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them shall they see, and that which they had not heard shall
isaiah 52:13 isaiah 53:12
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Chapter 22e - Isaiah 53:1

Chapter 22e - Isaiah 53:1

Continued from Chapter 22d 53:1: “Who would have believed our report [literally, “what we have heard”]?” As we enter chapter 53, a change of speakers occurs. In Isaiah 52:13-15 God is the speaker, now in verses 1-8 it is as if it were the representative spokesman for the Gentile nations who is speaking. The spokesman declares: “Who would have believed our report?” The Gentile nations, as expressed through their spokesman, can scarcely believe what they have to say let alone expect others to b
gentile nations god
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Rabbinic Commentators after Rashi on Isaiah 53

Rabbinic Commentators after Rashi on Isaiah 53

In this article I want to cover the views of the commentators from the time of Rashi on Isaiah 53. There have been literally dozens of commentaries written since his time, but very few are considered authoritative. For that reason I would like to explain how we should evaluate the works and how serious they are taken[1] . Is there something about the Jewish Messiah? With regard to authority there are two issues that need to be considered: First Issue First is the type of work we are looking a
commentary isaiah 53
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Identifying the Teachers of the Law – Excerpt from Council of My Nation

Identifying the Teachers of the Law – Excerpt from Council of My Nation

This brings us to the final function that Eternal Israel performs in relation to the Law, namely the identification of her leaders. The teachers of the Law serve as a crucial component in Israel’s relationship with the Law. These leaders are the arbitrators of the Law, and their judgment enables the nation to apply the Law to living situations. These leaders guide Eternal Israel in dispensing her duty in the realm of preservation of the Law. It is these leaders who set forth the Rabbinic enactme
eternal israel israel
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz