29 August 2016

Is the Separation of Jews and Non-Jews a Torah Concept?

26 Menachem Av 5776

With regard to some statements I made in a previous blog post
"Know that mixing with gentiles either through going to them or bringing them to us, diminishes our light and darkens the world. And know, too, that anyone who facilitates their entry and presence in Eretz HaKodesh has a share in the sin of any idolatry that they commit and any Jew that they deceive. It would be better for such a person that he had never been born."
I received the following comment... 
"I would really appreciate knowing the sources you base these statements on. We are to be a 'light unto the nations' (Isaiah 49:6) yet you say that this would diminish our light. You object to non-Jews living in Israel, yet halacha specifically permits this, and it is called ger toshav. I am very confused, since you claim to be a torah observant Jew, yet you say these things which directly contradict torah concepts."
...which I would like to respond to here:

First of all, let's please establish that this reference does not refer to Am Yisrael, but to the Prophet Yeshayahu himself...
"And He [God] said, 'It is too light for you [the prophet] to be My servant, to establish the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the besieged of Israel, but I will make you a light of nations, so that My salvation shall be until the end of the earth.'"
Rashi: "And He said, “It is too light for you to be, etc.”: In My eyes, it is too small a gift that you should have this alone, that you be My servant to establish Jacob and to bring back to Me the besieged of Israel, and behold I add more to you, “And I will make you a light for the nations,” to prophesy concerning the downfall of Babylon, which will be a joy for the whole world." 
I think the problem here stems from a basic misunderstanding. There is no "mitzvah" to be "a light to the nations". At least it does not exist on any list of the 613 mitzvot that I have seen. And it certainly is not implying that Israel should follow the Xian model and send 'missionaries' throughout the world teaching Torah to non-Jews. It refers to Israel, living by Torah law in its own land. When this is the circumstance, then Israel simply IS a light for the nations - an example of how a people who lives in accordance with the Divine instructions can develop a perfectly functioning society and attain the pinacle of peace, harmony, health and prosperity for all its citizens. When that is our reality, the nations will seek to know and understand their own set of obligations to the Creator of the World, their own Sheva Mitzvot, so that they may prosper as well. 

The Torah makes it clear that we were to drive out the nations before us because they would compete with us for ownership of our land; they would want to intermingle and intermarry with us; they would be a bad influence on us and we would in time come to imitate their bad ways and thereby incur Hashem's anger and judgment, resulting in eventual exile from the land as a consequence. 

So, you tell me, given that, how does it NOT detract from our ability to be a light to the nations? It should be obvious to any honest person how churches, mosques, b'hai temples, masonic temples, etc and their associated false religions and idolatrous ideas not only defile our land, but limit the spiritual heights to which we can attain while they and all their impurity are present among us. 

I refer you to this previous post which links to four other previous blog posts which quote many sources that Rabbi Kahane referenced in the chapter on the Non-Jew in Eretz Yisrael in his book Or Hara'ayon. Better if you get the book and read the entire thing, but at least some of the quotes there can give you an idea. 

The chapter ends with the following:

"In summary, Eretz Yisrael was given to the Jewish People as a separate, isolated center, to set us apart from the nations and their alien culture. For that reason, any non-Jew wishing to live in Eretz Yisrael must accept conditions that sanctify the name of Heaven and give him unequal status in the Land, since through their acceptance he proclaims that the Land is not his and that he has no share in it. These conditions are: tribute, servitude, denying idolatry and accepting all the seven Noahide laws. Besides this, he is forbidden to live on the border, in Jerusalem, or within a Jewish city, and we are forbidden to sell him houses or to sell or lease to him fields. All this is intended to ensure that he remain apart from us and live his new life under the yoke of heaven within his own framework, that of the seven Noahide laws...."

In no way was such a concession ever conceived by Chazal to allow idolaters or even a majority of righteous non-Jews to establish residency in Eretz Yisrael, rendering Am Yisrael a minority on its own soil. The doors do not stand wide open to receive anyone who comes, not even in the case of those desiring to make the ultimate commitment by converting. 

Those who are out there beating the bushes for non-Jews and attempting out of some misconceived 'kindness' to the non-Jew to give away Israel's heritage - Torah, Shabbat, mitzvot, land - are making a very grave error for which they will have to give an account to the Almighty. 

Before one passes judgment on what is or is not a Torah concept, it's best to know what the Torah concepts are beforehand. If the commenter can bring sources which refute what is written here, I'd be interested in seeing them.

10 comments:

  1. Devash - Thank you, Thank you for setting things straight. You point out the facts which should have been the obligation of the Rabbis in Eretz Yisrael. That is why those who are in alliance with Esav are the Erev Rav. Those who keep quiet might be living in fear of the authorities if they speak out. This is something that is obvious to Jews who are from homes where there is real emunah in H'.

    This propaganda started full blast in the 90's and faster still in the new century (21st century) when the Erev Rav have taken complete control working with or for Esav. The old saying, if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth. Your posts are so vital for the Jewish world that it's a shame it is not printed in all Jewish publications.

    A yasher koach to you. Also, want to say that HaRav Meir Kahane was surely Moshiach Ben Yosef of his generation. nili

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  2. First of all, I thank you sincerely for your response which was a beautiful example of 'yagdil torah v'yaadir' since rather than answer in anger, you gave me a chance to learn torah from you. There are points on which I still disagree with you, but I don't want to be contentious or argumentative. We do agree that non-Jews who observe the seven Noahide laws are welcome in Israel as ger toshav. I know of many Christians (though the prefer to be called Bnei Efraim and no longer believe n Jesus) who would happily do so.

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    1. Why should I be angry? Just because I am rooted in gevurah and come from the side of din does not make me an angry person.

      Mr. Berkowitz, please do some further investigation into this subject. I have been researching and following this trend since 1999 and have been writing more specifically about Tommy Waller and HaYovel since the beginning of their "ministry". I even gave a public lecture on the subject early on. I have made packets of information available about them to the RCA and the OU.

      On this subject also, you could not be more wrong. I invite you to read the most recent blog posts devoted to this subject and see if you can learn anything from them.

      Who Are the Lost Tribes and Are They Returning? - Part 1: Introduction

      Who Are the Lost Tribes and Are They Returning? - Part 2: The Awakening

      Anyone who calls himself an "Ephraimite" believes he is entitled to a share in this land and is an equal to every Jew. Hence, they do not qualify according to the accepted and traditional halachah as gerei toshav. Furthermore, they lie when they say they have given up "Jesus", because they worship oto ha'ish as "Yeshua" and even refer to him as "HaShem", God forbid!! In addition to that, they still hold the belief that all the surviving Jews will ultimately bow to him and proclaim him as "King". And their very favorable acceptance by "Orthodox" Jews and their great success in the Shomron has led them to believe and to report to their followers and supporters that the Jews are on the verge of coming over to the Xian side, God forbid! Eizeh chillul Hashem!!!!

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    2. Mr. Berkowitz, please see further this timely blog post from Esav Exposed...

      AN EPHRAIMITES ACCOUNT OF MISSIONIZING A JEW ON THE FLIGHT TO ISRAEL

      I'd be interested in your thoughts.

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  3. You didn't get the point of dvash. Read Sefer Dvarim, there you have s lot of explanations. There is no Bnei Efraim, whatever. Its all gaavah. No one can follow the 7 mitzvot and call himself like that. It's so obvious. Hashem never named nochrim like that. It's fantasy, it's ego..... but not avodat hashem. Remember there is no Ger toshav in our days!

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  4. Loved your comments, Inon. Yasher Koach.

    Boruch

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  5. Just read in the book Minchat Yehudah, chapter 88 from Rabbi Yehudah Fetaya zatzal, he speaks about Yechezkel chapter 37, where is written how Techiyas Hameisim was performed by the Navi. There is a discussion who were these souls that came back and what was their quality. Finally it emerges accd to the Zohar, Gemara and Rashi etc, that these were souls naked from mitzvot, without a trace of a good deed and unworthy to enter Gehinom, that desecrated the Beis HaMikdash and on and on.... AND they were the Bnei Ephraim. Isn't it moiredik, that these treife missionizing goyim choose this name for themselves? Everything is revealed if you know to look!!!

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