REVIEWS AND COMMENTS
Mr. Greenstein I am reading your book for the second time now, I always read all my books twice with in a few years of buying them. I am a Jew by choice , I was at one time a baptist preacher until I started studying Torah. Needless to say I lost all my church friends but I have never been more happier in my life,Baruch HaShem!! I just wanted to let you know that your book is GREAT!!! I am useing it to get quick Scripture out to teach people (xtians) at the local coffee shop and it is working :) Some of these people are leaving the church because they have been shown truth. I also have a question for you, I have always been interested in writting down my life story in a book or pamphlet or something people can read to let them know where I started and where I am today in Judaism. I started off as a bank robber heroin addict and did five yrs in prison, my life was out of control. When I got "saved" as a xtian I was sought after by area churches and t.v. stations to give my testimony, life was good. But when I started studying Torah the pastor booted me out so I then went to the messianics for a few years and couldn't stand them either so I did what God wanted me to do. I also did my family tree and found many Jews in it to my surprise, I love teaching xtians about the Torah and about the real Rabbi Yehousha and not the man made created jesus...I don't believe he was Messiah or son of god but a Rabbi... I have a nice story to share to people but don't know how to, it was easy as a xtian because people sought me out but why can't I do the same as a Jew? Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks for your time.
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
I just did a search on your name and the title of your book. Like the other comments on your website, I wanted to tell you that your book changed our lives and we are eternally grateful. Yesterday, we spoke at an Etz Chaim luncheon in Baltimore at Rabbi Porter's request. Below is a copy of our speech, which is a very condensed version of our journey where I mention the impact of your book.
I have told many people about your book and often shared the copy we have.
Thank you so much for writing We're Not Going to Burn in Hell!
Shalom, Devorah Allen
Your book was given to me by my sister-in-law. I have poured over it, marked it up, and really appreciate all your work in arranging subjects in an 'easy to read' fashion. Many of us, long time christians, then short time messianic, and now Torah believing observant followers, have seen the need to come out of pagan idolatry. But, I want you to know that it isn't easy. We thought we knew it all, and had a 'handle on the TRUTH'. However, we have had to open our eyes(God did this), and let the Scriptures show us the way back to the 'ancient paths'.
We are so thankful for God's patience and guiding hand to lead us back, and we do appreciate people like you who have written the errors and discrepancies down. We definitely need your firm and confrontational information. You have no idea how often we have to read, reread, and then re-reread once again to get the mind and emotions to come along side the truths you point out. It's a complete paradym shift for us.
Again, thank you.
Shalom,
Carol
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
Thank you for signing your book “We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell”. And adding the short note. That was a nice and truly unexpected surprise. I have enjoyed reading it more than you could know. I have had my suspicions about Paul for many years but anytime I brought up some of his nonsense it really caused some hard feelings. I have told some people that Christianity should be called Paulianity and Christians don’t want to hear that. Mind you I was reared a catholic, went to a catholic school and thought something was amiss even when I was young.
Your book answered many questions and verified my suspicions that Paul had no business being in the bible. I thought it very wrong that a killer would fall off a horse, see a light and then become the light for a new religion. What I wasn’t aware of that you pointed out, was the intentional mistranslation of the Jewish Bible. As far as I’m concerned that is just plain evil. It is even more evil to mistranslate your Torah and then persecute the Jews because they don’t accept the lies. Another very neat thing about your book is that it ends all discussion about the various Christian religions, they all become moot, not much to talk about. I do wonder what a Gentile is to do though, I think the Jewish religion is true but I am not a Jew. My ancestors were not led out of Egypt by Moses; most likely mine were throwing stones at yours so we don’t exactly have much in common culturally.
I have gone to some Jewish websites and a Jew has 613 plus the Ten Commandments to follow but they say that a gentile only has seven. Is that correct? Your book is exceptional and very enlightening and it should help the Jewish person combat the silly evangelists. I wonder though, if you have considered writing a book for the gentiles. I can’t be the only gentile that sees the Christian bible as a bunch of nonsense. Gentiles could sure use a dose of truth and reality too. We aren’t going to get it from the pope or from the statues and crosses that are prayed to. Again, I want to thank you for writing the book it was like a breath of fresh air in a room full of people with halitosis.
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
I just wanted to write you a quick note and tell you that I am thoroughly enjoying your book. I am a former Christian that was "groomed" for ministry, but that all was put to an abrupt end when I started to ask questions like the ones you pose in your book. No one in the hierarchy of the church could answer questions such as "Why do we go to church on Sunday, instead of keeping the Sabbath"?, or "Why did an all knowing G-d have to have a "plan B" to save us from the fiery pits of hell?" These were just a couple of the countless questions that I never got answered intelligently.
About four years ago I started studying and teaching my "Bible" study class about the Hebrew roots of Christianity. Well, I am sure you can fill in the rest for yourself at this point. I started out to learn about the Hebrew roots of Christianity, but what I really learned was about all the pagan influences, and Biblical contradictions of the so called "New Testament". The more I learned the harder it was for me to teach and send out the videos that were made of my classes, to people out of our local area that could not be in attendance. I finally had to come to a decision; the title of the series of lessons that I wrote, and was teaching was called "Truth At Any Cost", and my decision would cost a lot. I had to tell my wife and son first, then my classes, that in my studying, I found more than just keeping kosher, and keeping Sabbath, etc. but also that the Nazarene was not the Messiah. This turned our world upside down. In the beginning this cost me relationships with family (parents included), friends, and associates, but after about two years some family ties are being reestablished.
I then learned about the No chides, gave up my "Bible" Study class, and started my deprogramming. The more my wife, son and I would study, the more convinced we became that we were on the right path. After much effort we convinced a local Rabbi that we were not crazy, nor trying to proselytize him or anyone to Christianity, and now he teaches what remains of my former Metro Atlanta Bible study class (The ones that did not feel that I had lost my mind, and stayed around us). We attend beginner"s class at an Atlanta, GA Shul, we are learning to be observant, do out best to keep kosher (which is not easy since we live in Conyers, GA, but we try), and learning Hebrew. We know as No chides the 613 mitzvos are not mandated upon us, but we are preparing to convert so we try and do all that we know to do.
Your book was given to me by a new friend that was a former missionary, and son of a Baptist preacher, that tells practically the same story as I do. However, he and his family have already completed their conversion to Judaism. He told me that I would get a lot of "mileage" from your book and I can say I found that to be true.
I am actually reading it for a second time, and I have recommended it to our Torah Study Class (a group of former Christians). When I am asked by long time friends or family, why we would consider conversion/ denouncing Christianity, I have to answer "Education". So thank you for your part in my being educated pertaining to G-d"s law, ways, and plans, and thus making my relationship with Hashem more alive than ever.
I recommend your book every chance I get, even to people I don't know personally. Your book is a great work. I'm a convert, son of a fundamental Baptist minister, and former lay Christian teacher. I found your book while I was searching for truth and studying Judaism. Your book is right on.
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
While searching for something else, I happened to come across your website, and read some of your material. I read your reason for writing the book, and the first chapter. Being a Christian, I couldn't help but be enticed into seeing what you had to say.
First of all, let me say that there is a perceptible aura of honesty and sincerity that flows from your words. Also, I couldn't help but see your genuine attitude of inquiry and investigation that showed itself in your examination of the "Christian Bible." Sir, I am humbled by the things you wrote, as well as your commitment to declare the substance of your findings. Please believe me, in this, I'm impressed with you as a man. How many of us Christians could take instruction from your example. We are too prone to credulity and easy-believism. It's obvious that you are not of that stamp.
I haven't written you to wrangle or challenge your convictions, (surely you get enough of that) but to simply let you know that I felt, from the words you said, that you are no mere religionist, but a true man who loves and strives to honor his God. For that quality alone, Mr. Greenstein, you have my love and respect.
May the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob be your Shield and exceeding great Reward.
Submitted in respect,
Randy Hershey
I have used this wonderful and scholarly work of Mr. Greenstein's extensively in my efforts to teach through my webpage the devastating affects of following the misguided teachings of Christianity. "We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell - A Jewish Response to Christianity," is a MUST HAVE book and I highly recommend it to every Jewish person and family as the proper companion manual to the Tanach for study.
Shalom b'Shem, Shmuel Ben Shalom
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
My mother just bought me your book We Are Not Going to Burn in Hell. I thought the book was absolutely amazing, and could not put it down. I am a Jew at a Christian school, so I've had to endure much of the theological debate that you write about. I'm also a debater for my school, and love engaging in any type of debate, so naturally your book greatly appealed to me. I've often made some of the points in debates that you do in your book such as the lack of logic behind vicarious atonement and the contradictions in Christianity regarding loving thy enemy. Your book greatly added to my understanding of arguments against Christianity by not only providing Bible verses which support the Jewish views versus Christianity, but by also pointing out many arguments I would never have thought of. For example, I never even thought of the fact that Jesus really is not of David's lineage given that he is not really the son of Joseph. I also had not considered that if the Jews had killed Jesus, they would have stoned him, not crucified him. I just wanted to let you know how great I think your book is, and I also had a question. Obviously, a Christian would probably take this book and site numerous examples of misinterpretations and taking lines out of context. I was wondering what many of your critics say about your ideas, and how you respond to their arguments. I guess being a debater I'm also wanting to learn different sides of arguments and responses to each. Again, I loved the book, and look forward to your response.
I found your website interesting. I was searching for liturgical ideas for commemorating yom haShoah in our faith community. We would shyly call ourselves 'christian' except that the word has accrued much negativity. We are much more New Thought, which recognizes the work of Spirit in all people of faith, but we honor the teachings of the prophets and of Jesus. (Paul sometimes goes far afield in his interpretive writings).
About 10% of our congregation is Jewish, and no attempt is made to convert them. Why? Because why should a Jew be converted to someting else? It doesn't make sense. What makes sense is that we become more like the One in whose image we are made (which doesn't have an ethnic identity).
Thank you for your good work.
Pastor Grant Lynn Ford The Sunshine Cathedral
I really enjoyed your page. I also know what it is like to be told you are going to burn in Hell because you do not share another person's religious beliefs. I believe it is an abomination to use Hell as a means by which to terrify others into conversion. I am 17 years old and I have been trying to understand God my whole life. I wanted you to know that your page has been a source of comfort to me and I am glad I found it. I hope many other people are positively influenced by your page and I wish you luck in touching the lives of Jews and Gentiles alike.
Thank you for your time,
Dear Mr. Greenstein:
I wrote to you some months back asking for copies of your book for the Jewish inmates at Charlotte Correctional Institution in Florida. You were very gracious to send me a copy and I have used your book. I have made copies of the pages so the men can study the book in their cell.
Kairos is a christian group of men who have a contract with the State of Florida to evangelize within Florida's penal system. Their purpose is to have a total christian population within the institutions. One of our Jewish inmates attended Kairos because of the extras offered and told me he had attended. He studies your book on a daily basis.
Your book has also been extremely meaningful to the rest of the Jewish men as the christian inmates put a lot of pressure on them. It has given inmates more insight into Torah and confidence in being a Jew.
Shalom my friend and again thank you.
Dear S.J. Greenstein,
I have the book you wrote, "We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell". As soon as I saw it advertised through conversation on a message board, my husband and I decided to get two copies of it. We both knew we each wanted a personal copy of the book. I have placed your link of this site on my new Message Board as we will continue to spread G-d's Word. http://pub5.ezboard.com/brockofisrael.html
FROM THE ROCK OF ISRAEL WEBSITE (http://pub5.ezboard.com/brockofisrael.html):
Have you been to S.J. Greenstein's homepage?
If you haven't read his book, "We Are Not Going To Burn In Hell", you have missed out. You will be truly blessed and refreshed! This book is like my second bible. There is no second guessing when you read what G-d has to say on the matter from the importance of G-d's Law, Jesus-Man or Diety, An Everlasting Covenant, One G-d verses the Trinity, just to name a few of the topics thoroughly discussed.
S.J. I have received and read your book - thanks so much for autographing it for me.
In my journey out of Christianity and into Judaism, I read Torah and Prophets, Listened, I cannot count the times, to Rabbi Tovia Singer's lectures, read Beth Moshe's Judaism's Truth Answers the Missionaries, and now your wonderful work.
How ironic that shortly before I came across your web page, I prayed HaShem that He please raise up more Jewish people to present the truths of Judaism to the people, then I saw your page. I have already begun recommending the book to those who send me mail wanting to know why I have embraced Judaism. Your book is a splendid tool for helping me answer questions.
JDL BOOK REVIEW:
This is a reference book that every Jewish home should have. It should be sent with each Jewish kid when he or she goes away to college. Why? Because it is a definitive source to counter every argument Christian missionaries may make to sway a Jew to their theology. (And the biggest hotbed of missionizing is at every college campus.) All through the book, S.J. Greenstein shows the consistency of the Jewish Scriptures and the inconsistency of the Christian Bible (and Jesus's teachings) to G-d's laws. Greenstein maintains a website devoted to his book and one should visit the site to check out the book's table of contents, to read what inspired him to write the book, and to order copies.
I have read through most of Mr. Greenstein's work "We Will Not Burn In Hell - A Jewish Response to Christianity" and I have checked through a number of the sources in the original Hebrew. Although Mr. Greenstein is not schooled in the Hebrew reading of the Biblical text and it's classical commentaries I and other Orthodox rabbis have provided him with much of that imput when necessary. The beauty of this work is in the fact that it has been presented through the English reading alone and yet provides for much information that realigns and corrects false perceptions and claims often made by Bible toting and quoting "scholars". This is a must read for those of us confronted by Christian interpretations of the Bible especially in that it provides a detailed response for fellow Jews who are often motivated to understand their own Bible soley because of questions of Christian missionaries.
Rabbi David Silverman
Atlanta Scholars Kollel
Shalom Mr. Greenstein-
I'M 40 YRS. OLD AND WAS RAISED AS A "CHRISTIAN". MY SISTER RECENTLY BECAME A JEW BY CHOICE. EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED OUT AS A "BAD" THING, HER CHOICE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MY FAITH. I WAS RAISED AS A LUTHERAN THEN CHANGED TO CHARISMATIC FAITH WHEN I WAS ABOUT 30. NO MATTER WHO I ASKED AS FAR AS A QUESTION I HAD REGARDING SCRIPTURE I COULD NEVER GET AN ANSWER THAT SATISFIED ME. IF NO ONE COULD COME UP WITH AN ANSWER YOU'D GET THE STANDARD ANSWERS, "YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE BY FAITH OR SOME THINGS WE'LL NEVER KNOW AND YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL YOU GET TO HEAVEN AND ASK JESUS. WHEN MY SISTER BECAME A JEW I FELT I AT LEAST HAD SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP ME WITH MY QUESTIONS. SOMEONE WHO WOULD AT LEAST LISTEN AND NOT BERATE ME FOR EVEN THINKING OF THEM. A LOT OF THE THINGS SHE SAID MADE A LOT OF SENSE EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF IT WENT TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT WE HAD BOTH BEEN TAUGHT. HER BECOMING JEWISH HAS NOT GONE WELL WITH ANY OF THE FAMILY EXCEPT MY MOM WHO WAS VERY RECEPTIVE (SHE PASSED AWAY IN OCTOBER) AND MY DAD ABOUT AS ANTI-SEMETIC AS YOU CAN GET. SHE DID NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR "LEADING ME ASTRAY" AND CAUSING ANY MORE PROBLEMS WITH THEM. SHE TOLD ME IF I WANTED TO READ AND STUDY JUDAISM ON MY OWN SHE WOULD RECEMMEND SOME BOOKS. THE FIRST BOOK SHE GAVE ME TO READ WAS YOUR BOOK. WHEN I FIRST BEGAN READING IT I WAS A LITTLE OFFENDED. I AGREED WITH A LOT OF JUDAISM BUT I STILL HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE "JESUS" ISSUE. MY SALVATION WAS AT STAKE. I KEPT AN OPEN MIND AND CONTINUED READING. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU WHAT YOUR BOOK DID FOR ME! I FOR ONE AM AMAZED WITH MYSELF THAT I COULD HAVE BELIEVED WHAT I'D BELIEVED FOR 40 YRS. IT IS SO CLEAR TO ME NOW AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WRITING YOUR BOOK! I HAVE SINCE GONE ON TO READ MANY OTHER BOOKS SUCH AS "YOU TAKE JESUS, I'LL TAKE GOD". I AM NOW ATTENDING SHUL AND GOING THRU CONVERSION CLASSES. I EVEN HAVE A BUMPER STICKER I PROUDLY DISPLAY ON MY CAR. IT SAYS, "CHOSE TO BE CHOSEN, CHOOSE JUDAISM". MY HUSBAND IS IN SHOCK BUT HAS NOT FORBIDDEN ME TO DO THIS. MY CHILDREN, TWIN BOYS 18 YEARS OLD ALSO HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM AT FIRST. WE ARE NOT PREJUDICED PEOPLE. WE ARE "WHITE" AND HAVE RAISED AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD SINCE BIRTH AND NEVER PROMOTED RACIAL FEELINGS IN OUR HOME. SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR THEM ATTACK ME WITH SUCH VENEMOUS, ANTI-SEMETIC WORDS. AFTER SOME TIME THEY EACH CAME TO ME AND EXPLAINED THEIR FEELINGS. NATURALLY THEY FELT VERY CONFUSED. HOW COULD I RAISE THEM ONE WAY ALL THEIR LIFE AND THEN SUDDENLY TELL THEM IT WAS NOT THE TRUTH. IT'S BEEN A SLOW PROCESS BUT THEY AT LEAST RESPECT MY DECISION. THEY'VE BOTH RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE OUR TALKS. WELL I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN MORE THAN A COMMENT BUT JUST COULDN'T STOP BY SAYING, "YOUR BOOK WAS REALLY GREAT". AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE THIS BOOK. I PRAY THAT G-D WILL OPEN MY HUSBANDS AND MY CHILDRENS HEART TO AT LEAST LISTEN TO WHY I'VE CHOSEN THIS WONDERFUL WAY OF LIFE!
SHALOM
I have just finished your book. It is absolutely right on target as far as I am concerned. I was involved in a Messianic congregation and still had so many questions that could not be answered to where I was comfortable with them. The main stay of their argument was "Paul was misinterpreted". But, I argued, if this "testament" is the inspired "Word of G-d", why are there so many contradictions and misinterpretations? I got the pat answer that it had been translated into so many languages. Well, doesn't G-d know all the languages? I still couldn't get settled with this explanation. Nobody has to ask these questions where Torah is concerned, do they???
So, I'd like to thank you for answering the questions I have had. Most importantly, you did it with the real Word of G-d. I have recommended your book highly to many friends who were in the same position as I. Hope you don't mind how much I have quoted it! These are trying times for us, what with all the "evangelizing" going on. I am now in complete agreement, the Christian bible is not inspired by G-d, and it is not for us. We will continue to patiently wait for OUR Messiah.
Todah Rabah!
S.J Greenstein,
I purchased your book a few weeks ago and I have almost completed reading it. It really has changed my life. Just a brief history...I was born to a jewish mother and was removed from her care and placed for adoption when I was 9 months old. I was adopted by 2 "Christian" parents. One Baptist and the other Presbyterian. I was always raised in fear of death. The day I would be judged for all the bad things I have done. I was "programmed" to say that I believed in Jesus Christ that he died for my sins so that I won't go to hell and suffer and burn. I was frightened all my life of death because I knew in my heart(once I got older and could think for myself) that I did not understand or believe in Jesus the way I should. I read the Bible. I finally purchased a "Kids Application Bible" so that I could understand it. (my parents said I must be possessed by the devil because I could not understand the Bible) For many years I really wondered and almost believed I was possessed.. I even had a meeting with many different religions (mostly Christian) to help me understand a few basic things I could not accept. What ended up happening was the Bahai and the Baptist got into a fist fight. I have 3 wonderful children ranging in ages from 9 to 16. I know they need religious education...but I don't want them to receive the same kind of "fire and brimstone" stuff I had. I wish I could believe that Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins....however.....I don't. I will not say that I believe something that I don't. Living in the "Bible belt" there are churches everywhere trying to "save me." They don't discuss for very long...but get upset that I have been witnessed to and deny the gospel. Your book makes sense. I have been searching for truth for years. When I read the old Testament it holds us accountable for our actions. The new testament forgives them through faith. The thing I couldn't understand is if God is like a father...and he is fair and loving...why would he punish us to an eternal life of pain and torture just for not believing in someone I have never seen or spoken to. I am a parent and I hold my children responsible for the things they do. I try to teach their heart right from wrong but in the long run they make the decision based on their own personal decision. However, I would never punish my kids for not believing in something that doesn't make sense. They know in advance of their choices...I lay down my rules and they understand what they are. Especially a punishment so severe as eternal suffering. If the "only way" is through Jesus...then where is he? With all the TV programs on the religious stations ..to me it sounds like a bunch of hippocrates. How can you know what to believe? It reminds me when my first child was born. Everyone...mother, mother-in-law, father, doctor, nurses, even neighbors and friends all told me how to take care of my child. So many decisions...natural, epidural...cloth diapers, disposable...breast fed, bottle fed...pacifier, no pacifier....spank, no spankings...private school, public school....on and on....and when it was all said and done...I listened to my heart...what made sense to me. I listened to everyone and then I did what I thought was best. Well, I am sorry to ramble on and on...I just wanted you to know what a blessing your book has been to me. I have been very troubled with religion. I would like some advise as to where to go from here. I have several Jewish friends that have been teaching me some things...but I am looking for ways to learn more. I love to read if you can suggest books that might help me. I also am looking for a conversion class. I had originally signed up for one at Temple Kehillat Chaim. But everything is always on Tuesday nights. My son has Boy Scouts and it is a terrific thing for him so I don't miss it. Well, I am sorry this is so long. It always takes me a while to get out what I am meaning to say. Thank you for your book and I hope you are able to write back.
Dear Mr Greenstein: I, too, wish you and your family a happy New Year. I love your book. I have reread it several times.
By the way if anyone out there in cyberspace wants to read a book that defends Judaism better than Aquinas or Augustine defended Christianity, it would be worth your while to buy a copy of S.J. Greenstein's "WE ARE NOT GOING TO BURN IN HELL"
This book is easy to read and logical. Point by point it defends the Jewish position by quoting the Almighty Himself. Thanks Mr. Greenstein for this book it was about time someone defended Jewish theology. Sincerely, Billie
I love your book-GREAT JOB,I am very IMPRESSED, a Job very well done. Thank you for your much needed book!
L'Chaim,
Dear Mr.Greenstein,
I'm pleased to see that more and more Jews are rediscovering the locus of the power in our tradition--the knowledge that G-d is One. With this, Moshe Rabbenu lifted us out of the shackles of Egypt, the terrors of the most terrible demon, Osiris. Do you think we were not told in Egypt how difficult it is to get safely through to the Afterworld? A people as old as the Jewish people must not be made anxious by these images. Since Abraham set out from his father's house, we have seen the nations tremble, and pray, and even grieve as women grieved over Tammuz, and feel real emotion, even beautiful, complex human emotions--over idols. Like every nation that worshipped them, we have seen all of these gods come and go. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Greenstein. May you continue to study, and bring to light that the nations still worship idols. Do we expect them to see that they are worshipping idols? On the day they have put them away.
I'm writing to you because I too have found it necessary at times, to reason with the Christians. They have frightened me, and made me doubt in my heart that G-d is good. A devouring fire, a jealous G-d, they told me--a wicked Master, even, a celestial Caligula Caesar, who asks for faith, even if that faith seems arbitrary, or even absurd.
I believe that the multitudes of them are motivated by a fear, for which they suffer, put most succinctly by Pascal: "If Jesus is not G-d, and all of my Christian prayers are in vain--so what, so my prayers were in vain? But if Jesus is G-d, then I will scream, and writhe, and receive no balm, l-olam va-ed!" Imagining G-d to be a cruel G-d, they feel that if they even try to reason against such a conception of G-d, they can only gather His wrath. But Pascal: What if G-d is Moloch (G-d forbid)? What if Moloch will only devour Christians and gamblers? What if in worshipping Jesus, you infuriate Y-VH, our G-d, who says: I, behold, I bring the Flood?
Well, even great thinkers don't always work well under pressure.
In case you should waver in your feelings about your work, Mr. Greenstein, I will give you a few of the reasons why I think your work is a good thing.
First, I believe it is very important to undo these fears in our chests--only then can we honor the mitzvah, to love the LORD our G-d with all our soul. That means, without reservation, without fear of another god punishing us for it--with the first, and the last, the complete impulse of our heart.
Secondly, it is our children who are afraid. Their parents do not always understand this fear. They are ashamed of it, don't wish to discuss it--they say, goyische kop... But time has passed, the shtetl is gone. These children are raised without Torah, without Talmud, without Yiddishkeit. From the time they are small, their friends, their teachers, their heroes, are Christians. The older generation scoffs, while it passes on only the most meager tokens of Judaism to the children. Jews of my father's generation, and my grandfather's, for as much as they suffered in Europe, do not know how hard it is to withstand the storm alone. They do not have enough respect for the Christians--they think that they are merely stupid, to believe such nonsense. They do not understand that it is not sechel, but teaching that weans one from idol-worship--and they do not know enough to teach their children. Our most intelligent, and sensitive girls and boys will act stupidly if they are made to panic--and who would not panic in the imagination of a punishment without end? So, with work like yours, maybe our children can choose for themselves, and not be coerced by terror to worship Ba'al.
Thirdly, who is that man on a cross? It is a tragedy that Jews worship a Jew upon a crucifix! Go into church, and there will be two Jews--and one of them is being tortured in effigy before your face. How many Jews say to this: "Well, let them alone, let them believe what they believe..." How far have things gone, if that does not seem a wicked belief unto Jacob? Imagine if we Jews started putting a tortured Christian on display, right behind the bimah, before the holy of holies! Imagine if white folks worshipped as their god, the one black that they believe will get into Heaven--and they bowed down to a lynching tree, and had the gall to call it a holy object, even the Tree of Life!
I could go on, Mr. Greenstein, but I don't want to belabor the point, and waste your time. I suppose that I'm writing some of these things because I detected a dim note of apology in your writing--apology for taking this nareshkeit seriously. But I think you have done a good thing. Of course, we want to be civilized, and not swerve people from their faith--we don't want to be chauvinists and say, we're right, you're wrong. There are many wonderful things in Christianity--and yet, both in this world and the next, it has condemned us for two thousand years for a crime we did not commit: G-d's murder!
A few things I say to Jews that are afraid of the Christian Hell:
Do you wonder that there is fear in the world? But what is fear but the destructive principle? As for holy books: If Satan wrote a book, he would call it the word of G-d. Therefore, call instead on the G-d of Truth, whose ways surpass any book--go toward the voice that calls from the Tree of Life, which the Rabbis say has the girth of a journey that takes five hundred generations--for the voice that offers the Christians paradise, that is the voice of Nachash. In any case, you must not worship new gods--and Jesus is a new god; you must not follow those who perform miracles. For it says in Sefer Devarim: "ALL THIS WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, THAT YOU SHALL OBSERVE TO DO--THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT. IF THERE ARISE IN THE MIDST OF THEE A PROPHET, OR A DREAMER OF DREAMS, AND HE GIVE THEE A SIGN OR A WONDER, AND THE SIGN OR THE WONDER COME TO PASS, WHEREOF HE SPOKE UNTO THEE, SAYING: 'LET US GO AFTER OTHER GODS, WHICH THOU HAST NOT KNOWN, AND LET US SERVE THEM'; THOU SHALT NOT HEARKEN UNTO THE WORDS OF THAT PROPHET, OR UNTO THAT DREAMER OF DREAMS--FOR YHVH-ELOHECHEM PUTTETH YOU TO A TEST, TO KNOW WHETHER YOU LOVE THE LORD YOUR G-D, WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL."
Do they know that Jesus is G-d, or do they merely have faith?
If they are honest--and before the Creator of the Universe one has no choice but to be honest--they will say: I do not know. Therefore, they must be truthful, and say, I do not wish a soul to suffer in Hell, yet I must pray to Thee alone----whatever be Thy Name----G-d of Truth.
Why did the Rabbis open the very first volume of Talmud with a discussion of the Shema'? So that it could be forgotten in one generation? I don't think I hear the word Jesus in the Shema', not even the word Immanuel--what happened to the frontlets over our eyes?
Thank you again,
I can only say "OUTSTANDING". I am really enjoying your book.
You can look forward to others from San Diego ordering it. I don't know how many, but I know one gentleman is sending for one today, and another lady wants to get one.
Personally, I find that it should be recommended reading for every Christian.
I am amazed at how similar we see things on many issues, considering we are arriving there from different sides of the fence. That is very significant to me and really helps me to realize I am not crazy. Or, we are both crazy. ha!ha!
As I read more, I'll address certain passages. I am almost through, and then I will go through much more slowly.
Your study is as mine have been. So many of the verses spoke the same things to you. I truly feel G-D has blessed me with your book.
I guess the most obvious thing for me is that everyone talks about the "new covenant", as addressed in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Ezekiel 36:27; I have always wondered how this could be now, seeing as G-D tells us that with HIS Spirit within us we will walk in HIS statues and be careful to observe HIS ordinances. HE will put HIS Torah within us and write it on our hearts; I am the only one I know that wants to walk in HIS statutes and wants to observe HIS ordinances. I pray for HIM to write HIS Torah on my heart and write it in my inward parts. Everyone else talks about being "under grace" and not having to do these things. I say, this is the lifestyle of the people of G-D, and if the new covenant in now, where are all the people who want to live this way? Grace is G-D's Torah. So much for that.
Once again, I say thank you. I appreciate all your work. It has helped me, and will continue to help me. It helps me just to know you are "out there".
I hope to find a Rabbi that will study with me.
May HE bless you and keep you.....I'll write more after I read more. I'll be anxious to see what the people I know do with this information.
Shalom,
I LOVE your website & your aggressive approach to missionizing! I even reviewed it for my column in our synagogue newsletter. I recently received an uninvited e-mail from a preacher through my website (check it out: http://www.yonahs.com/aviel) telling me to, well, y'know, do the Xtian thing - I gave him a good talking to & recommended he visit your page...I hope he likes it!
b'shalom, chaver!
I plan to recommend your book to everyone I think would benefit from it. This book is for people serious about the things of G-D. It is very helpful to those questioning and praying through the Scriptures. It is beneficial for everyone who wishes to "know what they know". So many take "other people's knowledge" and claim it for their own. This is an eternal issue, and each one of us will stand before the Holy One, blessed be HE, we better be able to say we searched the Scriptures in order to arrive at whatever we believe. There are a couple more people I would like to suggest it to. We will see after I talk with them awhile.
In the February issue of the Jerusalem Report there are some interesting articles for someone like me. The title is "Wanted: New Jews", a fresh debate erupts over how far Judaism should go to win converts...... (I thought "very interesting"). There was a particular congregation mentioned located in Encino, CA. along with another article written by the Rabbi. I e-mailed him regarding his story titled "Open the Doors".
Shalom,
Dear Mr. Greenstein,
I want to tell you *thanks* and give you a great big cyberspace hug for writing your book, which I intend to purchase (I am sending a check and hope that is ok. It won't bounce I promise!!)
I am converting to Judaism and I am so relieved to know that I am not the only one who can see the ludicrousy in the "New Testament" let alone how the christians changed the order of the Tanakh and packaged the result as the "Old Testament." I thoroughly believe in keeping all of G-d's laws as originally given to Moses. Using the computer on Shabbos will be a no no once a rabbi begins my religious training, but right now I just couldn't wait to tell you G-D BLESS YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK. As someone who has experienced the mental abuse which christians inflict on non-christians, you sir, have done an immeasurable service to Jews and Righteous Gentiles alike. I can't wait to read your book in full.
Shalom
SJ, I briefly skimmed through your book,all I can say is wow!!!! I look forward to meeting you & actively distributing your book.
B'Ahavat Yisrael,
Congratulations on writing such a book.
At the age of 15 I attempted (an a very small scale) to do the same thing. I wish your book had been available then - luckily I am comfortable enough not to need it now, but I am sure there are many many young people who will gain much from reading it.
Yours sincerely
I happened upon your sight by accident, but it happens to be that I had been looking for your book. My Rabbi/Teacher had told me about it and that it was a great book. He said he had it in his house somewhere and that he'd bring it in to school so I could read it.
I think the book is important for any jewish kid to read now-a-days because many jews have non-jewish friends and often fall into the "hey I want a christmas tree" situation. Then they feel like their religion isn't as good as Christianity. But the upside of kids now-a days is they're not stupid. If you can give them a book and rationalize with them, then they will realize that the other religion isn't better, and is actually empty and full of holes.
That's just my opinion, though. :)
Thanks to the internet, more people can now have access to the type of information available in your book. May I suggest that you get in touch with the Jewish Community Center of Dallas about speaking here and promoting your book during their Jewish book fair. I believe it occurs sometime in the spring. As you probably know, this part of the country is a hotbed of activity for the missionaries in their attempt to convert Jews. I'm 47 years old and I worked with a young man of 23 who attended a "messianic temple" and wasn't even aware it was really a church! Unfortunately we may have ourselves to blame for this situation. When me moved to Dallas from Fort Worth about six months ago I was made to feel like an outcast when I visited the JCC for some information. I wasn't surprised by the welcome since I received the same apathetic if not hostile treatment when I explored the possiblity of joining a shul in this area about six years ago. The christians in this area are much better at hospitality. And that's a shame because a young Jewish person will naturally gravitate to where he feels welcome. By the time he realizes that something is "not kosher", he may feel too involved in the "church" to give it up. Of course there's little you or I can do about the poor socialization skills of the Jewish community in any one part of the world but at least a young person should be armed with the knowledge that Jesus may be fine for the gentiles but he's irrelevent and unnecessary for Jews.
On another note...while some Christians believe that God made a new covenant with them and therefore He abrograted the original covenant, leaving the Jews out in the cold, at least for the time being; others claim the new covenant in Jerimiah applies to Christians without replacing the original covenant. Their concept is that this new covenant allows them to be "spiritual Jews" and share in the promise.
We read with great interest the sample copy of your book. We would like to submite to you the address of others you may find like-minded in many areas of your stated beliefs. We hope you will consider contacting them. We feel you will be blessed in doing so.
Shalom.
Dear Sir,
I have, of course, visited your web site.
It is a real grief in my heart that so many of God's chosen people have suffered the bigotry and persecution directed at them (and yes, you) by "Christians". I believe the entire Bible from cover to cover and myself am a Christian by faith in Jesus. Naturally, you and I would disagree on many things.
I stand on the warning delivered by the Apostle Paul to "Christian" bigots in Romans Ch. 9, 10, and 11...and love to throw it back in the faces of those who PROFESS Christ but are living a lie.
You and I could agree on almost one thing, certainly...Hebrew Scripture is the Word of God and is the Revelation of the Most High God.
You will probably take exception to this, but, it is with joy that I now consider myself a spiritual ancestor of Abraham.
Could go on but won't...just want to thank you for your sincerity
Shalom to you, my friend
I agree with you concerning, we will not burn in hell. As a child, I heard Christians saying, the wicked will burn in hell. Somehow, I had a sense they were not telling me the truth. Now, I know why, they were saying it. It is strange, running across your web sight because I have been watching talk shows with Ku Klux Klan and other fools. It bothers me when they think they are reciting scripture and describing God. I don't believe in debating scripture because their are many so called Christian groups who jerk scripture out of context and, I believe the signs of the times indicate the time for debating is over. Nevertheless, I think their is a difference in the religion of man, as opposed to faith in God. The Christian Bible, in no way, says anyone is going to burn in hell. Like many misinturpretations, burn in hell is wishfull thinking of various Christian religions who do not encourage their flock to study the Bible. I am a Christian and, I am often told I am going to burn in hell. Maybe, I am studying the wrong Bible.
I pray, some miracle will change the hearts of many people in the coming years because the human race is destroying itself.
Peace be with you
I got up this morning turned on my computer to see if there was any mail and there you were. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am.
I just finished going through your web site and I am so amazed and I have to tell you, you are part of those G-D has been sending across my path since I began praying for HIM to send out HIS light and HIS truth and to let them lead me to HIS holy hill and HIS dwelling place.
All the verses of Scripture you listed, both from the Tenach and the Christian Bible are the same exact verses that have spoken consistently to me. I have always seen that the children of Israel AND those who lived among them, sojourned with them, were to follow G-D's Torah. "As you do, so shall they do"....I had great difficulty with the Christian interpretation of Yeshua's words because he showed me through them (his words) that I was to follow Torah. In fact, I have heard Christian's say he followed Torah perfectly that was what set him apart. If this is so, where was Torah abolished. I was very happy when I found the Messianic Movement because I thought this was my answer. Yeshua had showed me by his example that I truly was to follow Torah as the lifestyle of a "redeemed" person, a "grafted in" person to use Paul's words.
I am a teacher in the women's ministry and this is what I teach. I truly thought maybe I was crazy and not understanding properly. In the congregation where I have been attending, I have seen that where there is much Jewish emphasis, music, dance, Torah service, still the Movement, still in its adolescent stages, is still too connected to Christianity. They aren't strong enough to stand alone and not brave enough to fall. There are many Jewish people who honestly love their Jewishness. I feel so heart sick for my people (the Italians), I am not Jewish that I know of, and the Gentile Christians who have been so mistaught, and have not wanted the truth bad enough to reject all the lies. I have had conversations with Christians in this regard and they get very angry with me and usually walk off.
Yeshua...this is my difficulty...he is the "Light of revelation to the Gentiles", at least this one. I was raised Catholic so I knew that Jesus. I never knew he was Jewish until I was 40 years old. I always thought he was a good Italian catholic boy. I was shocked to find out he was an orthodox Jew, and kept all the mitzvot.
A Jewish friend asked me once, (you know the parable of the Prodigal Son), if the Prodigal is the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who is the older brother who was always there? I ask you now, out of curiosity.
In Deut. 18:15-19 Moshe talks about one that will be raised up, can this be Yeshua? I can't discount him because of how my life turned around. I don't accept the Christian interpretation of him, and, I can't turn him off as I would have to do in the Jewish realm. It is very hard for me. I have never wanted to be Christian. I have always read the Tenach, and the Gospels, in light of the Tenach. The foremost commandments Yeshua talks about are out of Torah; Deut. 6 The Shema, V'Ahavta; and Lev. 19:18. I think we (as Gentiles) took Paul's teachings as well as all the rest of them, and messed them up so badly because we couldn't understand them properly, we were so anti-Jewish, anti-Torah, that anything that would have helped the forefathers to understand correctly they totally disregarded. With closed eyes, closed heart, they passed on a tradition so in error that satan is alive and well all right, he is in the Church.
I had fear come into my heart, around my 50th birthday two years ago. I had been spending time in the prophets and I kept seeing verses jump out at me regarding misleading G-d's people, teaching against HIS Torah. I had marked in the margins of my Bible through the years "so also the Church".....the Christian pastors always talk about "the rapture" and how the Church will be taken out before the tribulation...I asked my Rabbi (Pastor), do you ever consider that instead of the church being taken out before the tribulation, that instead it is not heard of any more because G-D wiped it out in HIS wrath and judgment because of all the damage done to HIS people by it? He (my Rabbi) said, "I guess that is a possibility". I asked him if that was the case, if there was ANY possibility that that could be true, didn't he want to re-evaluate his thinking and affiliations? The discussion ended there. He is a good man, he loves G-D, he loves being Jewish, but he couldn't budge. I told him I was seeing things more graphically as my spiritual journey goes on. I saw these things in the beginning; the first verse G-D gave to me was Jer. 6:16. To ask for the ancient path and to walk in it. HE has consistently spoken to me out of TORAH, and I have tried to judge all I hear in the light of what HE has spoken to me, and reject the rest.
You can see why I was so excited to see Kim, et. al. on the Forum page. I saw you too, but I didn't know if you were some crazy on the other side of the fence. There seem to be so many. I guess that is my concern also, I don't want to isolate, think I am right and everyone else is wrong. Very dangerous. To see others in the same place I am, or have been in, caused my heart to overflow. To see your message and read your web page and all the links, all the same verses....I am overjoyed again!! Thank you.
Yes, I will be ordering a book. If it is what I think it is, I will be ordering more to give away. I need to read it, pray about it, and save my shekels.
You truly are one of the answers to my prayers.
May we all desire to love G-D with all our heart, all our soul and all our might, HIS version.
Shalom to you,
Hello:
Right on! I'm a christian with the Bible Students. We have worked closely with the Jewish people to combat missionary acitivity. We do not believe in the trinity or a burning hell. We have a long (100) year history as documented chrisian zionists. Have you ever heard of a video called 'ISRAEL: APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY'? THousands in Israel, Russia, the US have. It is being considered for showing in Israeli schools to schoolchildren. You should see it, if you havent.
Email KWR Peace for more information or for a video. This is Ken Rawson. You will be pleasantly suprised.
Again: our message is don't convert, cherish the Torah and your Jewish heritage.
Bye, friend.
Greetings-
It was quite refreshing to see your web page's message with FLAME flicker and all.
God is love! (i have not read your book-just skimmed chap 1) I have long appreciated the passages where the LORD states (re: offering living sacrifices to baal) "the thought never entered my mind." If the LORD had FIREY HELL in his back pocket- he would not have made this remark.
As you have stated: <
I FALL IN THE 2 PERCENT SUPER DUPER SMALL MINORITY.
THE GOD I WORSHIP IS THE GOD OF THE JEWS. (NOT SOME TRIUNE THING)
THE GOD I WORSHIP PROMISED LAND TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DECENDANTS FOREVER.
THE GOD I SERVE IS ONE GOD- NEVER SLEEPS- AND HAS REGATHERED HIS CHILDREN
ISRAEL TO THE LAND (AGAIN) TO INHABIT FOREVER.
I FOLLOW THE COMMAND OF ISA 40:1-5
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her
warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she
hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the
way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall
be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the
rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall
see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
(KJV-sorry)
I SEE A TIME WHEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE UNSTOPPED.
I JUST WANTED TO DROP YOU A NOTE.
I AM SICKENED BY THE BLASPHEMY THAT CHRISTIANTY HAS BROUGHT TO THE NAME
OF OUR LORD. BUT-NOBODY WILL BE SNOWED IN THE END- HE WILL MAKE HIS NAME
KNOW- IT WILL BE VINDICATED- AND THE GENTILES SHALL COME TO THY LIGHT.
"THEY" WILL BE CONVERTED. IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOCKER- DONT YA
THINK?
BUT- REALLY, MANY CHRISTIANS OUT THERE ARE DECEIVED. MISGUIDED. WHILE
THEIR ENERGIES ARE MISDIRECTED- I HAVE HAVE ALWAYS APPRECIATED INTEGRITY.
SOMETHING INTERESTING TO EXAMINE IS NOTING THAT THOSE WHO FEAR THAT YOU
MAY BE GOING TO HELL--POLORIZE. EITHER THEY FRANTICLY TRY TO SAVE PEOPLE
(DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP A VERY DIRE SITUATION) OR THEY DONT DO
ANYTHING. INTERESTING.
I PERSONALLY DO NOT FAULT THE NEW TESTIMENT WRITINGS AS YOU HAVE
DISCRIBED. I SEE A MUCH GREATER RESPONSIBILITY BEING PUT ON THE
RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS THAT HAVE FORMED FALSE DOCTRINES, CREEDS AND
TRADITIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS- WHAT THEY PREACH DOES NOT FIT ANY OF THE SCRIPTURES!!
I APPOLOGIZE FOR ANY MAJOR TYPOS- IT'S LATE AND I HAVE TO GO.
I RECOMMEND A VIDEO "ISRAEL, APPOINTMENT WITH DESTINY"
HIGHLY ACCLAIMED BY THE BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES
THE JEWISH PRESS
THE JERUSALEM POST AND OTHER JEWISH NEWSPAPERS.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEO.
OR JUST SEND A NOTE BACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONVERSE.
SINCERELY,
Shalom!
Child of YHVH,
Y'shua was asked once, "Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment?"
Y'shua said, "Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai Echad, and you are
to love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength....the second is this: You are to love your
neighbor as yourself...there is no other mitzvah greater than these."
Or, "Don't think that I've come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I
have not come to abolish, but to complete."
Complete? What does that mean? Go on after that passage you will see how
much more strict he was about Torah, he was trying to make it clear what
Torah really is (i.e. You have heard that it was said, 'Don't commit
murder.' And I tell you that if you are even angry with your brother you
are a murderer...."You have heard that it was said, 'Don't commit
adultery.' And I tell you that if you even look at a woman with lust in
your heart you are already guilty of adultery.")
Y'shua rebuked the P'rushim and the cohen because they were lenient on
Torah---not observant. Was that a new thing? Had the cohen always been
good just up to Y'shua's time?
No---All of the prophets from Moshe to Yochanan repeated the same
things.
Churchianity is not from Mashiach. I know they have greatly upset you,
and in earlier times confused you. But Mashiach knows you, even from
your youth. You are not going to hell, because you are dearly loved for
his sake. Shalom, have a good week, and go here------
There are those that would disagree with me, but, over my life time and especially over the last twelve years, I have found
that people who are insecure in their belief, on any subject, do not allow
others to think differently from them. I agree to disagree with a lot of
people. The truth is, at least for me, I know that I don't know. And I
know that no one else knows either. All we can do is humble ourselves,
cling to G-D and HIS word as it is revealed in the Torah. We don't know
who has changed what. That is why I feel comfortable with the Hebrew
Scriptures, or Jewish Bible, because you can trace it back for some record
of accuracy. The Christian Bible on the other hand, you can't do that. I
try to weigh everything against the Torah. That is why I was so pleased to
read your website and knew I wanted to have the book. I fully expect that
the rest of my life will be studying Scripture, praying for HaShem to send
out HIS light and truth to lead me to HIS holy hill and dwelling places. I
have withdrawn from all my areas of service within my congregation so that
I can devote full time to this journey. I will use your book, with all
your wonderful references.
Some of the people I have shared this book with have said to me, "well, if
he's Jewish, and has read both the "old" and "new" testaments, how could he
come to the conclusion that Yeshua is not the Messiah? I answered them,
"great question". I respect the love and energy and desire you had to know
the truth, because I have that same desire. I have studied diligently
also. Sadly, most do not. That is how Jewish and Christian traditions
take the place of Scripture. What you ended up with is between you and
G-D, just like what I end of with is between me and G-D. All I know is
that I want HIS version and not man's. The only way I know to do that is
to study HIS holy word to us, and cling to that. If I err, I will err on
the side of Torah. I don't want to argue with anyone either. I just want
to be apart from "isims" for a season and to seek my G-D, read HIS holy
word, and seek HIS face. HE blessed me with a "distant friend" in you and
has blessed me greatly with your study.
I do not sense any hate in you, in fact, I see quite the opposite. I wish
followers of Yeshua could be like this. This is the problem with
"religion" without relationship. We get buried in the dogma and forget
that the spiritual principals change you from within to without. The fact
that there are so many angry, hateful so called Christians, shows me that
relationship is missing. I can see the same thing in some of the Hasids in
the Orthodox community. So angry...HaShem's words to us are to love our
neighbor as ourselves...a hard concept without G-D's hand upon us. Truly
a lifetime work.
I am blessed by the part in your book dedication regarding Andy and Ginny.
May the LORD bless them because they were faithful to do all that was
necessary. It is not our job to "convert" people to anything. We can do
our homework, and share it..what others choose to do with it is between
them and, in this case, G-D. They are still doing what is necessary, they
love you because you are you. I can see that you all are very
instrumental, in a spiritual sense, to each other, and, to me....the
wonderful "connecting thread". In this case, the desire to love G-D with
all our hearts and souls, and might. And to know HIS version of HIS truth.
I agree also that many would come up with the same concepts if they allowed
themselves. I believe that so strongly that I feel that it why Christians
are discouraged or rather not encouraged to dig to deeply into the Hebrew
Scriptures. It is always told to "do so in light of the new testament".
Well, I never did it that way. That never made any sense to me. If Yeshua
is the "answer", what was the question? You find "the question" in "the
beginning". (If that makes any sense) Yes, I look forward to the day when
we know longer "teach each other, because we will all know the LORD. Right
now all I want to do is sift, sift, sift. I want to sift through all the
traditions, and find the essence of truth.
My heart just grieves that you were told the things you were told as a
child. So very insensitive. So very fleshly, not in the spirit of G-D in
the least.
I am sure you weren't alone when you wrote this book. G-D says in Jeremiah
29:13
"And you will seek ME and find ME, when you search for ME with all your
heart." "I will be found by you,........
At the age of 40....I love the LORD's lovely sense of humor. HE allows us
our 40 years in the wilderness, then HE begins to draw us to HIMSELF. HE
is sooo awesome.
Shalom, my friend...be well, you and your family....
Dear Sir,
Keep up the good work.
As an ex-Christian and unaffiliated philo-Judaic gentile, I support your
work.
Dear Sir,
It was interesting reading your website. As a former Christian who has
had to work out pretty much the same things, I agree wholeheartedly with
practically every point you've raised.
However, there is one point I have to clarify about the sample of
Chapter one of your book. The decision made by James and the other
disciples comes out to being an attempt to declare what we now call the
NOACHIDE principles, which ARE something decided by Rabbinical
authority.
Admittedly, it doesn't look like the full seven principles. But at
least a few are covered, and I would believe the others are implied.
The basic trouble with Paul is that HE never made that clear.
In fact, reading his letters in the Christian "New" testament, you'd
never get an idea of what the other disciples had decided.
Paul tended to waffle.
Another problem with him was that he seemed to have failed to understand
that he was chosen to SUFFER for Jesus' name. This is noted at the time
he is "converted. Whenever he mentions that choosing, he always leaves
that bit out.
Yes, he did indeed adapt to his different audiences, being all things to
all men. Yet in the end, that's what actually did him in. While
speaking to Jews, he was emphasizing he was Jewish. But then, the crowd
turned nasty on him. He then suddenly stresses to intervening
authorities that he is a Roman citizen.
While defending himself when being tried by the ruler of the Jews,
Agrippa, if I remember correctly (I don't have a "new" testament with me
just at the moment) the ruler says that had he NOT appealed to the
Emperor as a Roman citizen, he would have gone free.
D'oh!!!!!!
In effect, through what happened to him, any sensible Christian would
see the USELESSNESS of being all things to all men. Unfortunately, most
of them miss that point.
Perhaps there's something else they missed. Before he started calling
himself Paul, his name was SAUL. And he admitted a couple of times in
his epistles that he was a BENJAMANITE.
Remember the LAST Saul, also a Benjaminite? ANOTHER wanker who got it
wrong. As your own notes pointed out.
Seems these Sauls of the Benjamin tribe had a habit of making some big
booboos.
We all know where KING Saul's mistake with the Amalek King NEARLY got
the Jews hundreds of years later in the time of Megillot Esther.
Thankfully, that situation was ONLY saved by a descendant of Saul's
saving the day and reversing the mistake.
Unfortunately, there is no Esther in the Christian side of things to
rectify Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, son of the tribe of Benjamin,'s mistake.
I started a path I now know as T'Shuva back in 1986...and I found I was
having more difficulty with Paul's writings than anything else. Jesus,
though, was clearly coming across as an Observant Jew and was quite
understandable. And the more I examined the things Jesus himself and
James were saying, the more that observance was noticeable.
In the end, I did something even you suggested...I read the entire book
in one week-long hit, getting the overview.
>From there, a path divergent from my original religious background took
off. To the point that I went over to Israel three times around 1990 to
1992. And the funniest part is, I related to the Western Wall more than
I did to the Christian holy sites. I also related to Jews better.
I ran across some orthodox Jews in Jerusalem from Heritage House. We'd
have some great chats, discussions and debates. And the points they
raised were quite good, and I had to recognize the validity of such
points.
There's an interesting point Jesus raised, in Matthew.
"The Pharisees sit in Moses Seat...do as they say". It is one of the
things Christians ignore the most. But it meant as far as HE was
concerned, the Pharisees (the Rabbinical authorities) were the ONLY ones
HE sanctioned to decide matters. I don't know if "sanctioned" is the
correct word. But this should have meant that the rabbinical decisions
to date actually hold MORE value for gentile believers of HaShem than
the decisions of "Popes", Archbishops of Canterbury, or any cult leader.
NONE of THEM were sanctioned by him.
Another point worth raising here is that most Christians still don't
really know who DID kill Jesus, even though ALL the clues are there for
them, especially in any "new" testament "proof" texts they use to try to
prove their version of Isaiah 53. The groups MOST involved with Jesus'
death were the SADDUCEE Priesthood running the Temple of the time, the
Sadducee High Priest, and the HERODIAN ruler of the time. These two
groups actually being the most PRO-ROMAN and GREEK-THINKING. Not one
bit of real Torah understanding in either group. And let's not forget
Pontius Pilate's KANGAROO court. One would have to be pretty naive not
to notice he was conducting a SHOW trial. And Roman Policy...while a
HERODIAN was a damn good puppet, any member of the Davidic family was an
unknown quantity. The Parthian empire was not that far from Judea. And
the Romans didn't want anyone OTHER than a Herodian in charge with the
Parthians that close.
Whatever...something about Christianity as we currently know it doesn't
gell. And it was enough for me to have a greater respect for Judaism.
It takes awhile for people like myself to work our way out of the miasma
of ILLOGIC that Christianity is. Though Maimonides did state that the
teachings of the Galilean and Mohammed was at least a STARTING point to
eventually get Gentiles to work their way to a true understanding of
Monotheism. The thing is, both are ONLY transition stages from paganism
to TRUE monotheism.
This is another point I try to get across to my former
co-religionists...something in Mark 12:29. Something every Jew would
find familiar.
Jesus himself shafted the entire trinity theory with one statement in
Mark 12:29:
"Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is ONE."
Shema Yisroel.
So where'd these dumb christians get the idea of THREE-IN-ONE???????
Certainly NOT from the Jew they claim they follow.
Keep up the good work.
But the issue for those Christians that use Peter's dream
to justify eating forbidden animals is twofold; a light
side and a dark side. The dark side is the universal
Christian principle of de-judaizing their religion as
begun with the murder of the brother of Jesus and the
shift in power from Jerusalem to the mostly Gentile
headquarters in Rome. The light side is that Gentiles
are not under the yoke of Torah, and are free from its
convenantal restrictions that are our heritage, not
theirs. Therefore, while we both know that the REAL reason
Gentiles can eat trief is because it is not trief for them,
the dream of Peter is a physical representation of precisely
that. Not that Peter himself could eat trief, but that
those gentiles with whom he would be talking could eat
trief and -- the REAL menaing of the message -- Peter,
as an halakhic Jew -- could visit Gentile households even
though he was forbidden by G-d's covenant to partake of
their food. The message was that Gentiles are not unclean,
even though we see their food that way. It is unfortunate
that meals are now, as then, the most common form of
communal interaction. Thus Peter visiting a Gentile
home was doubly hard. Not only had he been informed by
this vision that Gentiles were not unclean, but he had
to conduct his business within the bounds of halakha and
be very careful as to not offend his potential hosts by
his dietary restrictions -- not unlike modern orthodox
Jews today.
Now Christians appear to know this instinctively, that the
yoke of Torah is not their burden. But where they get tripped
up is not Peter's dream, but Paul's philosophical discourse
on what Paul termed "the law of sin and death." Modern
Christian theologians get tripped up on this frequently.
In their ignorance of Jewish theology, a deficit that some
mistakenly attribute to Paul, they equate this formula with
the yoke of Torah. Therefore, if Torah is the law of sin and
death which has been dispensed with, Christians are free to
do as they please. The error in this line of thinking is
that the underlying assumption is that Christians are all
following Torah from the motivation of their hearts. This
is, unfortunately, never the case. By rejecting Torah,
they mock their own Holy text. It is unfortunate that
there are still some vocal groups who abide by this error
which is easily avoided by scholarly as well as fundamental
Christians.
Bottom line, your contention is on solid theological
grounds and the majority of sane non-judeophobic
Christians have documented their agreement with such
an interpretation of their Holy text in their various creeds.
I'm going to have to obtain a copy of your book as you
seemed to have inferred this from studying Daniel and that
is probably what the apostles had in mind when they
penned these things (or their redactors). Quite an
amazing discovery by such means!
On a side note, I think it is a very valuable exercise
to study the interaction between Peter and Paul as regarding
Gentiles' place in Jewish thought and theology. I know a
few religious Jewish groups that are making the same mistake
that was resolved by these two about two-thousand years ago.
In our quickness to disregard the history of our "enemies,"
we have disregarded our own valuable legacy which could
assist us now in the modern pluralistic world. (I use
the word "enemies" facetiously.)
Mr. Greenstein:
Over the past 6 years I have slowly been aquiring Judaism, one mitvah
at a time. One time I got into an argument with a baptist that jews
were going to burn in hell. I knew this was flat out wrong. In the great
yeshivot, kollels and Torah academies, Rabbis spend many hours poring
over the Torah and Talmud, trying to find the right answer. In the end
the halachic decisions that are rendered are with a higher authority in
mind. With this process how can it be construed that Jews will go to hell.
I once read a piece in some obsure Jewish magazine that basically
stated that Christianity is a hellenistic thought process that this
dichotomous (heaven vs hell) and linear. Judiasm is more subtle
where interpretations exist at several levels.
Lastly, what convinced me that Judiasm is the correct path
lies in the fact that about this time every year there exists Easter
and Pesach. In exactly 50 days, Pentacost follows Easter, and Shavout
follows Pesach. The NT biblical redactors built Christianity right on top
of the Judaic holidays.
Lastly you should check out the website written on the origins of the
New Testament.
WHY THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY HAVE BEEN CENSORED?
found on http://www.dada.it/donnini/gesing.htm
I will be purchasing your book soon.
Hi there
I am currently studying at university in South Africa.
There are only a handful (about 20) of Jews out of about 6000
students.
About a year ago I was confronted with a fanatic Christian who said
with out fear or remorse that Jews are going to hell and that they
are an imaginary entity that claimed to have received G-ds laws.
I was outraged as a result and all I could do was kick him out of my
room.... I knew perfectly well that he was talking utter nonsense,
but I did not have the knowledge to challenge him on those
allegations.
Like yourself I am not generalizing that all Christians think this
way... most of them do not agree (or totally agree) with him.
When I saw your web site that was advertised by The Jewish Defense
League it was as if the truth was revealed to me at long last.
I have read your first chapter via your web site...
My question to you is, is it possible to contact you if I come across
a comment made by these fanatical Christians which I cannot answer
and ask for your opinion.
I write this in hopes that we cease this senseless division between our two
creeds, and realize that our God never wished us to suffer with our hate.
Peace:
If you will check the geneology in Matt 1 and in Luke, you will find
that the Matthew account does not give Josua Cristo the right to ascend
the throne of David. In Mat. it states the line goes through Jeconiah,
who was dis-inerited by God.
In Luke the line goes through Nathan, Not solomon as had been promised
to David through God.
Just thought you might want tolook at that.
A former Christian Darrell Condor wrote a book regarding this and many
other things that pointed to the conclusion that Christianity is nthing
but Mithraism--Baalism--Babylonism. What a colosol fraud has been heaped
upon the world.
I write this in hopes that we cease this senseless division between our two
creeds, and realize that our God never wished us to suffer with our hate.
Peace:
I'm not only looking for tapes, since I have to translate the material into
German. Do you have any drafts, concept papers or written / printed material
that you use in the courses?
The book is more than useful for sure, that I can say even after having read only a few chapters. But for the majority of
people here to understand it, a German translation will be necessary. I'm not
sure if there's a market, and we have to get copyright clearance from the
German Bible version we would want to use for quoting (there are some
protestant, catholic and jewish versions available in German, and a christian
"ecumenical Bible" for both protestant/lutheran and catholic Churches). I
could try to do the translation, but I cannot evaluate the market. I'll ask
around a little....
I'm still glued to the pages, I take the book with me everywhere. You did a great job in juxtaposing the passages from both Tanakh and "New
Testament" - Things become so obviuos then...
Shabbat Shalom
Excellent work!
I have read the works; The Real Messiah? by Aryeh Kaplan, You take Jesus, I'll take G-d.
by Samuel
Levine, Judaism and Christianity. by Trude Weiss-Rosmarin, Jesus, the Evidence. by Ian
Wilson, and of
course The Passover Plot. by Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield.
I totally support your methodology and findings.
May Amlak/HaShem ease your way along your treacherous journey.
B"H
Aleichem Shalom
Selam. Egzi'abher yistillign
MISSIONARY BAPTISMS THIS WEEK
Alex Ortovsky of the Yad L'Achim organization provided for Arutz-7 some
additional details today of the anti-missionary demonstration held on
Friday in Jaffa: "This past week, the missionaries held a three-day
convention, after which they held a public, outdoor, festive celebration in
which they baptized 36 Jews. It was terrible - the [converts] came with
their children and babies - even the police who were with us were crying at
the sight of it. The missionaries have managed to baptize almost 200 Jews
in the Tel Aviv area this year. We, Yad L'Achim, manage to offset only a
small amount of the damage - we save only about 2-3 families a week. The
Knesset must pass a law, not only against using the mails for missionary
literature, but against missionary activities altogether. Anyone who would
like to help us in our efforts should please call 051-249786."
Hi. Just wanted to check in with you. I've gotten a good amount of
reaction from your book. Several people have said they purchased it and
love it. Have you been in touch with sma61@aol.com or cloudie33@aol.com?
They're starting an anti-missionary group on America Online. Wishing you
continued success. . .
You are not only correct in your scholarly assertions
concerning Peter's dream and its meaning, but you will
find a large number of Christians who agree with you.
Almost every scholarly or fundamental Christian I know
believes as you do, that the Bible is not inconsistent
with itself on clear behavioral commands. And many of
them follow "biblical" kashrus; not eating "forbidden"
animals, but also not observing shechitah, which they
do not know. And so my Moslem friends in their adherence
to Halal standards and their ready acceptance of kosher
foods as automatically qualifying as Halal.
I finished your book today; it took me quite a while (6 weeks)
but it was worth it. I want to offer my congtaulations to you for your
motivation and your tenacity in completing this fine work. It is
obvious that you were greatly affected by the "burning in hell" comment
made to you as a young person; your "mission" to prove this statement,
and this belief system, wrong has provided a reference work that is, and
will be, beneficial to any Jew who has been approached by missionaries
or who is just plain curious about their religious heritage. There are
some inconsistancies I noted in the Jewish Bible regarding sins of
fathers being suffered by their children and the everlasting nature of
the covenant with Israel, that I will have to do some further research
on; but, on the whole, I am grateful to you for having written your
book.
Hello,
My name is Scott Williams. I am a christian. I agree that you are not
going to burn in hell. Many so called christians in the past have made
assumptions and sinned against your people and our Father. I believe
that christians need to see themselves as the spiritual offspring of
Abraham. The only difference in my estimation between our two faiths is
disagreement over the timing and personage of the Mesiah. God is One. We
are both children of the Father. The Jewish people are God's Chosen
ones. I hope that someday we Christians will repent of our sins against
God's Chosen people. Christians need to be simply thankful that we are
given a chance to come to know the Father. We are only wild grapevines
grafted into the vineyard. I hope that I have not offended you by
anything I have said. I saw your website and wanted to write you.
Thank you for your time.
Hello, sir. I've just finished wandering through your interesting site,
and I wish to concur with the statement made in the banner. I must say
that I consider myself a Christian, but that I don't believe in this fabled
"hell" abomanation. Neither of our conceptions of God allow for such an
insanity, and it has been perpetuated by people either blinded by
misleading tradition, ignorant of both Testaments, or simply those wishing
to control people through fear. I realize that the concept of miserable
damnation isn't even in the Torah, which comprises most of the Old
Testament. I also realize that the Torah (correct me if I'm wrong) speaks
about a place called Shoel, very much like Hades, where EVERYONE goes, no
matter how they've lived there lives. It seems to me that a God seriously
concerned about his poeples' happiness and salvation would have said
something about this imaginary hell place. I would also like to add that
when the New Testament speaks of hell, it is always in realation to the
temporal BODY, and not the soul, and the everlasting fires last forever,
not the punishment they bring. Besides, torment without end isn't
punishment, just torture. Punishment PURIFIES, it does not simply endure.
This defies all notions of a Just God. Christians have been morally wrong
for centuries, and simply do not wish to let it go. I know you do not
believe my Lord is the Messiah, still I suggest you look up some of the
liberal Christian sites, and you will see they've freed themselves of this
heresy as well.
Hello, sir. I've just finished wandering through your interesting site,
and I wish to concur with the statement made in the banner. I must say
that I consider myself a Christian, but that I don't believe in this fabled
"hell" abomanation. Neither of our conceptions of God allow for such an
insanity, and it has been perpetuated by people either blinded by
misleading tradition, ignorant of both Testaments, or simply those wishing
to control people through fear. I realize that the concept of miserable
damnation isn't even in the Torah, which comprises most of the Old
Testament. I also realize that the Torah (correct me if I'm wrong) speaks
about a place called Shoel, very much like Hades, where EVERYONE goes, no
matter how they've lived there lives. It seems to me that a God seriously
concerned about his poeples' happiness and salvation would have said
something about this imaginary hell place. I would also like to add that
when the New Testament speaks of hell, it is always in realation to the
temporal BODY, and not the soul, and the everlasting fires last forever,
not the punishment they bring. Besides, torment without end isn't
punishment, just torture. Punishment PURIFIES, it does not simply endure.
This defies all notions of a Just God. Christians have been morally wrong
for centuries, and simply do not wish to let it go. I know you do not
believe my Lord is the Messiah, still I suggest you look up some of the
liberal Christian sites, and you will see they've freed themselves of this
heresy as well.
The book has arrived safe and sound here. I already started reading and I'm
fascinated - you did a great job. Many things get clearer to me, and the
method of quoting you use is ingenious and really instructive - I learn a
lot!
I had an opportunity to visit your Web Site.
Dear Mr. Greenstein: I ordered your book, and I am sure I will thoroughly
enjoy it, especially with the plague of fundamental Christian groups
spreading throughout the world, and now even in Israel! I wish I could do
something to counteract this deceitful movement. I wrote a small article
to Letters to the Editor of the Jewish Bulletin in the San Francisco Bay
area where I live to warn families of these missionary groups who are
targeting the most vulnerable of the population such as college students,
Russian immigrants, senior citizens at the twilight of their lives. I do
not know what else can be done, maybe you could advise because these
missionaries are succeeding in their campaign through deceipt and violation
of the Jewish scriptures. Best wishes and keep up the good work, Mery
Clausen. Here is an article that appeared in the Arutz Sheva News service
today, December 8th: