A word about "Torah terrorists" and their abusive behavior...

I HAVE TO SAY I'M GLAD CHRISTMAS IS OVER because I'm tired of seeing all the viciousness aimed at Christians by certain supposed Torah observant types who clearly view themselves as being the only perfect people on the planet.

 They verbally rip to shreds those who are not yet on the same plane as they are, and attempt to give everyone a "biblical concussion" (peppered with plenty of personal opinion!) while never hesitating to lord their self-perceived superiority over those they perceive as "inferior" in Bible knowledge. 

 Most of their posts reflect nothing but pride, arrogance and haughtiness as they spend their time telling everyone else what to do ... clearly never realizing that, by their ungodly behavior, they are proving to the world that they aren't actually bothering to "walk the walk" themselves! 

Did you know that ADONAI HATES negative behavior? Take a look at some of the passages revealing that fact:

Proverbs 6: 16 There are six things ADONAI hates, seven which he detests: 17 a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet swift in running to do evil, 19 a false witness who lies with every breath, and him who sows strife among brothers. (CJB)

Titus 1:7:  7 For an overseer, as someone entrusted with God’s affairs, must be blameless — he must not be self-willed or quick-tempered, he must not drink excessively, get into fights or be greedy for dishonest gain. 8 On the contrary, he must be hospitable, devoted to good, sober-mindedness, uprightness, holiness and self-control. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy Message that agrees with the doctrine; so that by his sound teaching he will be able to exhort and encourage, and also to refute those who speak against it. (CJB)

James 4:1-2: 1. Let there not be many teachers among you, my Brothers; knowing that as such we will receive a more severe judgment.  2. For we all offend in many things. Whoever does not offend in discourse is a perfect man who can also keep his whole body in servitude. (AENT)

James 6: 6. Now the tongue is a fire, and the world of sin is like a forest. And this tongue, which is one among our members, corrupts our whole body; and it inflames the series of our generations that roll on like a wheel; and it is itself on fire.  7. For all natures of beasts and birds and reptiles of the sea or land are dominated by the nature of man.  8. But the tongue has no one been able to tame: it is an evil thing, unruly and full of deadly poison.  9. For with it, we bless Master YHWH and Father; and with it we curse men who were made in the image of Elohim:  10. and from the same mouth issues forth curses and blessings. (AENT)

Luke 20: 45. And while all of the people were listening, he said to his disciples,  46. Beware of the scribes who desire to walk in long robes and love a greeting in the public square and the chief seats in the assembly and the chief places at banquets.  47. Those who devour the houses of widows with the pretense of prolonging their prayers, they will receive a greater judgment. (AENT)

Proverbs 20:3: Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor; for any fool can explode in anger. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:4 Haughty looks, a proud heart -what the wicked plow is sin.(CJB)

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (CJB)

There are many more scriptures such as the above”; but you get the gist. If you know people like this personally (or here on Facebook), gently remind them that their behavior is not only anti-Torah, but also goes against everything Yeshua taught.

If they refuse your gentle nudge, or become belligerent, just let them be. Disassociate yourself and shake the dust from your sandals. Turn them over to ADONAI and keep them in your prayers. They’re not your problem and they’re not worth your time and energy.

Israel has a RIGHT to defend herself, and “the world” needs to back off!

"The world" has been trying to kill off "the Jews" since time immemorial, and they ALWAYS "bounced back" (because YHWH is with them!); and they have bent over backwards to appease everyone in all sorts of ways. Modern day Israel doesn't go out to pick on people or start wars - yet, way too often, they are provoked into unwanted combat by bullies who want them dead.

In my humble opinion, it's way PAST time they stood up to the terrorists who keep trying to wipe them out! It's time for them to STOP giving away their Land and their Temple Mount, etc., to appease those who didn't have a right to squat on THEIR GOD-GIVEN LAND, Israel, in the first place. You can’t negotiate with those who hate you enough to want you DEAD!

SO, IF YOU ARE AMONG THOSE IGNORANT, MOUTHY, BRAINLESS SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL'S ENEMIES, THINK ABOUT THIS:

If someone came to your house time and time again to harass, terrorize, rape the women and/or kill your family and neighbors - would YOU stand by and do nothing? Would YOU sit there and whine and cry or hide like some simpering coward and let everyone else tell you to just back away and appease the swines who keeps attacking you? Or would you FINALLY grow a backbone and start fighting back, with every last ounce of strength you could muster - even if it meant your own death?

As sad as it is, EVERY war has "collateral damage" with innocent bystanders being killed. But that's just the way it goes. War is HELL!

I guarantee you, if it were MY family or neighborhood being attacked by Hamas or Isis or any other human dung who exist only to KILL, I would fight like HELL to put the hurt on them in every way available to me - and I wouldn't let ANYBODY tell me to sit down , shut up, and deal with it.

As much as I hate to see innocents getting hurt and killed, "the world" needs to understand Israel is not defending itself against a government; it's defending itself against the world’s barbaric extremists who exist only to hate the Jews and wipe them out!

Reader question about Galatians 3:10

 READER QUESTION:

I have a question on Gal. 3:10. My grandson insists that this verse means that if we keep His commandments we are under a curse. And how do I explain the comment, "for those that are servants of Torah are still under a curse.” Please help!

OUR RESPONSE:

Those are great questions, and the problem is that Paul was very hard to understand. Even Peter said that he would be (2 Peter 3:15-18).

First, let's take a look at who Paul was writing to ... The congregations in Galatia (Galatians 1:2). Why was he writing to them? Because they had already fallen away from faith in the Messiah and had been confused and challenged by men who did not believe in the Messiah (1:6-7). What did Paul say about these teachers?

He said they " are men who agitated you and desired to pervert the Good News of Mashiyach" (1:7), and that these men "preach outside from what was preached to you, let them be cursed. ... Whichever man preaches to you outside of what you have received, let him be accursed" (1:8-9).

Now, read Galatians 3 with this in mind - but first, understand that Torah says: "A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice" (Deuteronomy 27:26).

In Galatians 3, Paul was teaching (again) that righteousness does not come through "works"; rather, that righteousness is through faith, and faith is demonstrated by works (Galatians 3:2-6). Then, referring to Deuteronomy 27:26, Paul said in 3:10 "For those who are servants of Torah are still under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not act 35 on all that is written in this book of Torah.”

Paul went on through the rest of Galatians 3 to explain that he was talking about those very men whom he mentioned back in Galatians 1:7, that those men were cursed because they taught Torah, but they DID NOT LIVE BY TORAH.

Read the way Paul puts it in Romans 2: "13. For not the hearers of Torah are righteous before Elohim; but the doers of Torah are being made righteous. 14. For if Gentiles who have not Torah will, by their nature, do the things of Torah; they, while without Torah, become a Torah to themselves.

15. Additionally, they show the work of Torah as it is inscribed on their hearts; and their conscience bears testimony to them, their own reflections rebuking or vindicating one another" (Romans 2:13-15). But about the Torah-teachers he says:

"17. But if you who are called a Jew, and rely yourself on Torah and glory in Elohim, 18. (And further that you think) that you know His good pleasure and discern obligations because you are instructed in Torah; 19. And (that Elohim) has confidence in yourself, that you are a guide to the blind, and a light to them who are in darkness, 20. And an instructor of those lacking knowledge, and a preceptor to the young; and you have the appearance of knowledge and of verity in Torah (then what do you all say to the following):

21. You therefore, who teach others, teach you not yourself? And you who teach that men must not steal, do you steal? 22. And you who say, “Men must not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? And you who condemn idols, do you plunder the sanctuary? 23. And you who glory in Torah, don’t you, by acting contrary to Torah, insult Elohim himself? (Romans 2:17-23).

SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT: When Paul wrote in Galatians 3:10 that those who are servants of Torah [that is, they demand serving Torah, not living by Torah] are still under a curse because they, themselves don't live by Torah through as servants to YHWH - which is exactly as Torah teaches (refer back to Deuteronomy 27:26).

A reader’s thoughts about the Middle East, the Parallels and Reliving the 1930s

READER COMMENT:

I’m writing to throw out some thoughts for your readers to ponder, because I’ve been wondering if anyone else had noticed these things, too.

For instance, over the last several years, I've been fascinated by the Middle East. Since becoming a believer in YHWH, I've realized that the events in the Middle East (ancient AND modern) have repercussions on the rest of the planet (Genesis 10:1-4, Genesis 10:8-12, Genesis 10:25, Genesis 11:1-32, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 16:12, Genesis 19:24-26, Genesis 36, Genesis 46, and Joshua 10:13-14). 

People do mock me over this. Regardless of where we live, we must realize YHWH is in control and that events in the Middle East are still forecast to happen in the not too distant future (Yeshayahu 17, Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38 and 39, Joel 3:12 and Revelation 16:12).

I’ve also been wondering if anyone else has noticed the pararallels between the Islamic world and the actions of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan? I see many parallels. The actions of Hamas and Hezbollah as well the rhetoric of Iran's Revolutionary Guard mirror that of Hitler and the Third Reich. Islamic suicide bombers mirror the tactics of Imperial Japan's kamikaze pilots crashing their planes into Allied warships. I hope many more out there come to YHWH while there is still time. The Prophetic Clock is ticking. YHWH isn't messing around.

Lastly, does it seem to you as if we re repeating the events of the 1930s?  Every day, I see reports on the Israel-Hamas war while surfing the web. Rampant Anti-Semitism spreads like a virus (like other perversions such as homosexuality and drug-use). May I please obtain some insight into this? I know that we are living in the End Times and that the days are likened to the days of Noah and Lot. I know we must do our best to be Set Apart, especially right now and do our best to focus on YHWH and His Word and stay away from darkness, deception, falsehoods, lies and ignorance.

OUR RESPONSE:

These are some very deep and appropriate thoughts to ponder, and I agree with everything you wrote.  I would love to hear from our other readers, to get their perspective on this!

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THOSE TO FEEL ENTITLED TO CONSTANTLY JUDGE OTHERS

Matthew 7: 1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For the way you judge others is how you will be judged — the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.

3 Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye but not notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when you have the log in your own eye?

5 You hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother’s eye! (CJB)

IN OTHER WORDS, “you” should not judge by your own judgment, but by YAHWEH’s righteous judgment. (Deuteronomy 1:17; Psalm 37:30, 31. ) Yeshua teaches that justice (judgment) is one of the more important matters of Torah, Matthew 23:23, but if you judge by your own standards then YHWH will use your own standards to judge you. Also, see Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21.

BOTTOM LINE: No one is perfect - and that includes those who love to sit in judgment of others! If a person has repented and apologized for their past mistakes, then you do NOT have the right to constantly remind and harass them about it. Instead, you need to do a self-examination, make a list of your OWN mistakes, figure out what YOU have perpetrated against God, and then start doing some repenting and apologizing of your own. YAHWEH is the final Judge of all of us; not you!

REMINDER: HANNUKAH STARTS NEXT WEEK!

Hannukah, the Festival of Lights, this year starts at sunset on December 8, and ends at sunset on December 16. While it is not one of YAHWEH's Appointed Times, it is - like His commanded Mo'edim - extremely significant AND all about HIM!

Hannukah serves as a remembrance of the victory of a small band of Jews over the occupying army of Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes. Antiochus, who came to power in 175 B.C.E. forbade the Jews to practice their religion, and desecrated their Temple...But YAHWEH showed them all who was boss!

By the way, Yeshua our Messiah - the "Light of the World" - was conceived during this "Festival of Lights"; and, as we can see in John 10:22-38, he participated in the feast of Dedication! (You can count exactly nine months from Hanukkah to Sukkot!)

For more, please see our article!

Can you pass the “Israel Test?”

This very short video from PragerU contains some amazing insights into Israel's history! It is truly worth a few minutes of your time...

If you don't have time to watch it, here's a transcription:

How do you respond to people who excel you in invention, creativity, and wealth? Do you envy them? Do you feel their success somehow diminishes you? Or do you admire what they've achieved and try to emulate it? These questions sum up what I call "The Israel Test."

In the 1880s, European Jews settled in mandate Palestine and wrought an agricultural miracle in that desolate territory, then sparsely populated by a few score thousand Jews and a couple hundred thousand Arabs. The Jewish settlers drained malarial swamps, leached salt from the soils, terraced the barren hills, and planted millions of trees. They massively expanded the capacity of the land and enabled it to support a substantial Arab population.

In the two decades between 1921 and 1943, Jews quadrupled the number of enterprises, multiplied the number of jobs by a factor of 10, and increased the level of capital investment a hundredfold. Far from displacing Arabs, they provided the capital for a major expansion of Arab farms and enabled a sevenfold rise in Arab population by 1948, to a level of 1.35 million, the largest in the long history of Palestine. In other words, the Arabs came to what would be soon be the State of Israel because of the Jews.

By comparison, Trans-Jordan, now known as Jordan, with the same geological endowment and four times the land but no Jews was able to sustain a population density only one tenth of the population density of Palestine.

Crucial to Israel's accomplishments were world leading technological advances in the recovery of water through desalinization, drip irrigation, and sewage recycling.
Over the past fifty years, Israel has increased its population tenfold, its agricultural production sixteen fold and its industrial production fifty-fold while actually reducing net water consumption by ten percent since 1948. This huge expansion of effective water resources enabled the land to support not only more Jews, but also millions more Arabs.

Today the state of Israel with its astonishing achievements in computer science and other high tech fields distils both the genius of the Jews and the misdirected anger of the failed states that surround her. The great divide in the Middle East is not between Arab and Jew but between admiration of achievement, along with a desire to replicate it, and envy accompanied by violent resentment.

People who admire success, who pass the Israel Test, tend to be wealthy and peaceful. People who resent achievement, who fail the Israel Test, tend to become poor and violent.

So, again…

How do you respond to people who excel you in invention, creativity, and wealth?  Do you envy them? Do you feel their success somehow diminishes you?  Or do you admire what they've achieved and try to emulate it? The Israel Test is the central divide in the world today. How you answer it as an individual and ultimately how we answer it as a nation is a test of our own will to triumph over enemies who hate us, as they hate Israel, for what is best within us.

LET’S DISCUSS THE DANGERS OF GOSSIP…

Did you know that you, as the “hearer” of the gossip, may be held just as liable in God’s eyes, as the one(s) who are doing the gossiping?

As you know, the Internet reeks with gossip, people’s personal opinions, outright lies and conspiracy theories. In Hebrew, the term is called “Lashon hara” ("evil tongue") which refers to speech about a person or persons that is negative or harmful to them, even though it is true.

It is speech that damages the person(s) that are talked about either emotionally or financially, or lowers them in the estimation of others - sometimes even to the point of completely damaging their reputation.

Lashon hara is considered to be a very serious sin in the Jewish tradition. The communicator of lashon hara violates the Torah prohibition of lo telech rachil b'ameicha, translating to "thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people" (Leviticus 19:16 KJV). (Source: Wikipedia)

According to MyJewishLearning.com, the laws of lashon hara are often said to derive from two principal sources in the Torah. One is a verse in Leviticus 19:16, which prohibits talebearing, and the other is Exodus 23:1, which prohibits bearing false rumors. The verse from Leviticus refers to rechilut, or simple gossip — merely repeating information about other people, even if it’s true and even if it’s not negative.

The same verse also bars standing idly by the blood of your neighbor — essentially, failing to save someone from death. That these two prohibitions are contained in the same verse is understood to signify the seriousness with which Jewish tradition regards lashon hara!

Jewish law considers the broad category of lashon hara to be a significant sin, as it harms social cohesion and is difficult to atone for. Once such speech has been let loose in the world, it is virtually impossible to undo its damage.

Jewish law also regards both the speaker and the hearer of lashon hara as liable. (Please think long and hard about this as this is a VERY serious thing!)

There are various other commandments that one might be guilty of violating in the course of speaking lashon hara. These include the prohibition known as lifnei iver — literally, placing a stumbling block before the blind, more commonly understood as causing others to sin.

Someone who speaks lashon hara and causes the listener to transgress may also be guilty of lifnei iver. Some authorities also consider lashon hara to violate the Torah’s commandment to “remember what God did to Miriam” (Deuteronomy 24:9). This commandment is understood as referring to God striking Miriam with leprosy for having spoken ill of her brother Moses. Speaking ill of others may be a violation of this commandment as well.

Truth be told, most - if not all - of us have been guilty of either spreading, or listening to, gossip of various kinds. This is one of the many reasons Yeshua commanded us to “Take every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (AENT)

Ephesians 5:4 Neither obscenities nor words of foolishness, or of division, or of falsehood, which are not useful; but instead of these, thanksgiving. (AENT)

James 1:26 And if anyone thinks that he worships Elohim and does not subdue his tongue, but his heart deceives him; his worship is desolate. (AENT)

Titus 1:16 And they profess that they know Elohim, but in their works they deny him; and they are odious and disobedient and to every good work reprobates. (AENT)

Matthew 12:34 "Generation of vipers! How are you able to speak good things, you who are evil? For the mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart. 35. A good man brings forth good from his good treasures, and the evil man brings evil from his evil treasure. 36. I say to you for every vain word that the sons of men speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. 37. For by your words you will be made righteous, and by your words you will be condemned." (AENT, See also Deut. 32:21)

There is no scripture commanding us to slander others with vicious gossip. We are to "rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith" (Leviticus 19:17, Titus 1:13, 1 Timothy 5:20); we are to "warn a divisive person once, then a second time, and after that, have nothing more to do with him" (Titus 3:10); we are to "beware of" and "stand distant from" those who refuse to follow YHWH's commands (Romans 16:17-18) and we are to do the following:

2 Timothy 2:15 Do all you can to present yourself to Elohim as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. (CJB)

We are to turn godless people over to God; not become their judge and jury. Certainly, we can approach them with HIS Truth; but if they refuse, let them go and leave them alone. HE will deal with them in HIS timing! (See Matthew 12:36, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Romans 2:16, etc.) PRAY for them in hopes they will some day see YHWH's Truth; don't malign them; that's not your job!

Isaiah 55:6 Seek ADONAI while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to ADONAI, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive.(CJB)

People who deliberately commit gossip and run others down are NOT on God's Path; they are hypocrites, espousing God out of one side of their mouths while spewing evil out of the other. They simply get some kind of perverted joy out of putting others down!

Scripture tells us that we are in the world, but not "of it" and unfortunately, we must learn to deal with it - not like the heathens do, but according to YHWH's Torah. God's people are to be holy/set apart, "taking every thought captive".

Deliberately spreading vicious rumors about someone (whether or not there's any truth to them is irrelevant), is NOT pleasing to YHWH...in part, because we are to be His ambassadors, constantly trying to reach others for Him.

Are we really supposed to pluck out our eyeball if it offends us?

The answer is:

NO, of course not! We should never mangle or disfigure our bodies in any way, as that serves to help destroy “the Image of ELOHIM” (Genesis 1:27) It’s simply a metaphor meaning to “remove sinful visions from your mind as if you had no eyes and could not see!”

Let’s examine that particular passage and then apply some science and common sense:

Matthew 5: 29 If your right eye makes you sin, gouge it out and throw it away! Better that you should lose one part of you than have your whole body thrown into Gei-Hinnom. 30 And if your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away! Better that you should lose one part of you than have your whole body thrown into Gei-Hinnom. (CJB)

The Bible, as you know, contains many metaphors. (A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide (or obscure) clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas.

For instance, the old adage, first used by Shakespeare, “All the world is a stage,” is obviously not true. We humans are not all actors, playing roles. He used points of comparison between the world and a stage to convey an understanding about the mechanics of the world and the behavior of the people within it.

So, the same holds true for the passage about plucking out your eye, or cutting off your hand, etc. Our organs and limbs are only doing what God created them to do. Eyes and hands don’t sin, per se. It’s the resulting THOUGHTS IN YOUR BRAIN that are the problem (which is why Yeshua said we are to take every thought captive (2 Cor 10:3-5).

It’s the brain that controls WHAT our bodies do. The brain is where our thoughts originate; it interprets what we see, smell, touch, and feel. If our eyes see something (i.e., we happen upon a porn site while perusing the ‘net), we will automatically react because of the thoughts the sight invokes.

(By the way, we react according to “where we are spiritually.” Those who know what constitutes sin, will immediately remove the offending sight from our eyes. Those who are “weak” and have little respect for, or fear of God, will “want more” of whatever their eyes are seeing…)

So, consider the following explanation:

A February 2003 article in Nature Reviews on the human brain by Jacqueline Wood and Jordan Grafman called, "Human Prefrontal Cortex: Processing and Representational Perspectives" explains that our Prefrontal Cortex supports functions involving the integration of information about emotion, memory, and environmental stimuli, and the dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex supports the regulation of behavior and control of responses to environmental stimuli."

Without going into a long explanation about the various parts of the brain and their functions, the above-mentioned parts of our brain “integrate inputs from many sources and implement more abstract behaviors.”

In other words, the prefrontal cortex handles your behavior! It is where you make decisions to take action on a thought.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, the bottom line is: “The eye” is NOT the problem. “Seeing” something is NOT the problem. The problem comes into play when what you see reaches the brain – and you allow the resulting thoughts to lead you astray! (It's all instantaneous.)

Therefore, it is imperative to always keep your thoughts in check, especially when it comes to things you know are considered evil in YAHWEH’s Eyes…

A FEW QUESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO INSIST ON SUPPORTING "PALESTINE"

(By Yashiko Sagamori, National Unity Coalition for Israel.)

If you are so sure that "Palestine, the country, goes back through most of recorded history", I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine:

When was it founded and by whom?

What were its borders?

What was its capital?

What were its major cities?

What constituted the basis of its economy?

What was its form of government?

Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat?

Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves no room for interpretation?

What was the language of the country of Palestine?

What was the prevalent religion of the country of Palestine?

What was the name of its currency? Choose any date in history and tell what was the approximate exchange rate of the Palestinian monetary unit against the US dollar, German mark, GB pound, Japanese yen, or Chinese yuan on that date.

And, finally, since there is no such country today, what caused its demise and when did it occur?

You are lamenting the "low sinking" of "once proud" nation. Please tell me, when exactly was that "nation" proud and what was it so proud of?

And here is the least sarcastic question of all: If the people you mistakenly call "Palestinians" are anything but generic Arabs collected from all over -- or thrown out of -- the Arab world, if they really have a genuine ethnic identity that gives them right for self-determination, why did they never try to become independent until Arabs suffered their devastating defeat in the Six Day War?

I hope you avoid the temptation to trace the modern day "Palestinians" to the Biblical Philistines: substituting etymology (the science that deals with the origin of words) for history won't work here. The truth should be obvious to everyone who wants to know it. Arab countries have never abandoned the dream of destroying Israel; they still cherish it today.

Having time and again failed to achieve their evil goal with military means, they decided to fight Israel by proxy. For that purpose, they created a terrorist organization, cynically called it "Palestinian people" and installed it in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria. How else can you explain the refusal by Jordan and Egypt to unconditionally accept back the "West Bank" and Gaza, respectively?

The fact is, Arabs populating Gaza, Judea, and Samaria have much less claim to nationhood than that Indian tribe that successfully emerged in Connecticut with the purpose of starting a tax-exempt casino: at least that tribe had a constructive goal that motivated them. The so called "Palestinians" have only one motivation: the destruction of Israel, and in my book that is not sufficient to consider them a "nation" -- or anything else except what they really are: a terrorist organization that will one day be dismantled.

In fact, there is only one way to achieve peace in the Middle East. Arab countries must acknowledge and accept their defeat in their war against Israel and, as the losing side should, pay Israel reparations for the more than 50 years of devastation they have visited on it. The most appropriate form of such reparations would be the removal of their terrorist organization from the land of Israel and accepting Israel's ancient sovereignty over Gaza, Judea, and Samaria.That will mark the end of the Palestinian people.

What are you saying again was its beginning?

MORE FACTS ABOUT "PALESTINE"

BY Australian columnist, Steven Shamrak:

The Palestine Mandate. July 24, 1922.

In July 1922, the League of Nations entrusted the Great Britain with The Palestine Mandate. Recognizing "the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine," Great Britain was called upon to facilitate the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine - Eretz Israel (Land of Israel).

General Assembly resolution 181, of Nov. 29, 1947: It calls for the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem to be controlled by a "special international regime" to protect its holy places. The Zionist movement seeking to establish a Jewish state accepted the partition, the Arabs rejected it. The resolution was not carried out: After Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948, war broke out pitting the embryonic state against surrounding 7 Arab states. Israel gained more land than it would have had under the partition resolution. Neither Israel nor Jordan, which controlled the divided parts of Jerusalem after the war, accepted control of the holy city by an international body.

Security Council resolution 242, Nov. 22, 1967: It calls for "withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied" in the 1967 Six Day War and for "respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." The resolution was not carried out because the Arab side did not recognize Israel, and Israel refused to withdraw.

The Refiner’s Fire’s response to the Harvard students who blame Israel for the war started by HAMAS

LET THIS SINK IN:

The Book of Revelation tells us that many believers in Messiah will be beheaded (not shot or stabbed or hanged, but beheaded):

Revelation 20:4. And I saw thrones, and (persons) sat on them, and judgment was given to them, and to the souls that were BEHEADED for the testimony of Yeshua and for the Word of Elohim: and these are they who had not worshipped the beast of prey nor its image; neither had they received the mark upon their forehead or on their hand; and they lived and reigned with their Mashiyach those thousand years. (AENT)

QUESTION: WHO are the ONLY people on the planet who still perform beheadings? It’s not a hard question. Even such “brainiacs” as you Harvard students should be able to answer that one…

But if you can’t, let me clarify for you: It’s the Muslim terrorists occupying Gaza – which Israel gave to them for the sake of peace! They and their ilk have been provoking “the Jews” for centuries; and have proven, over and over again that they don’t just want them out of Israel (so that they – the Muslims – can take over); rather, they want them dead, wiped off the face of the earth!

If you’re sitting there chuckling under your breath over that little tidbit, think about this: While YOU hate the Jewish people, YAHWEH-ELOHIM has made it clear since the beginning, that He LOVES them! In the passage below, He is making a “forever” covenant with our first Forefather, Abraham:

Genesis 12: 3 "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (CJB)

Deuteronomy 7:6-8: For you are a people set apart as holy for ADONAI your God. ADONAI your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his own unique treasure. 7 ADONAI didn't set his heart on you or choose you because you numbered more than any other people - on the contrary, you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 Rather, it was because ADONAI loved you, and because he wanted to keep the oath which he had sworn to your ancestors, that ADONAI brought you out with a strong hand and redeemed you from a life of slavery under the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt. (CJB)

YES, “the Jews” (a blanket term used for all 12 Tribes) have disappointed Him. Haven’t YOU?) But, here is a modern-day example that He has continued to KEEP His promises to THEM: He used what Hitler did to the Jews during the Holocaust, to bring about Isaiah’s prophecy that Israel would become a nation again, and that it would happen in one day (see Isaiah 66:7-8).  It happened on May 14, 1948 - when "the world" briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them, and they were able to declare independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2,900 years!

That same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally born in a single day! (See our article, Israel, Bible and Prophecy.)

Oh! And let’s not forget: Messiah Yeshua (whom you call “Jesus”) was born into the Tribe of Judah! If it hadn’t been for those “Jews” you hate so much, you wouldn’t have the ONLY Mediator ever, who shed his blood to give YOU a chance to get into “heaven” because NOBODY gets to “heaven” (John 14:6) unless they “believe in” Messiah Yeshua and live according to YAHWEH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness… (Yes, Yeshua is a JEW!)

RETURNING TO THE POINT:

No matter what “the world” does to the Jewish people, God has ALWAYS kept His promises to bless and protect them. THAT alone should tell you something!

He GAVE the Land is Israel to “the Jews”; and they have been bending over backwards to accommodate the demands of surrounding Islamic countries whose founding father was Ishmael that “…wild donkey of a man, whose hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him...” (Inform yourself about these two half-brothers.)

Genesis 15: 18 That day ADONAI made a covenant with Avram: "I have given this land to your descendants - from the Vadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River - 19 the territory of the Keni, the K'nizi, the Kadmoni, 20 the Hitti, the P'rizi, the Refa'im, 21 the Emori, the Kena'ani, the Girgashi and the Y'vusi." (CJB)

Deuteronomy 34: 4 "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your offspring'"… (CJB)

Leviticus 25: 23 "The land is not to be sold in perpetuity, because the land belongs to me -you are only foreigners and temporary residents with me." (CJB)

Ezekiel 43:7 He said, "Human being, this is the place for my throne, the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Isra'el forever. (CJB)

The passages above reveal how YAHWEH feels about HIS Land; and that His Land belongs to “the Jews!” YAHWEH even outlined the borders of Israel for Moshe (Moses) in Numbers 34:1-15!

And since GOD ALMIGHTY said these things, it proves that Israel is quite simply the most important piece of Real Estate in the entire Universe - and for all those who would seek to divide it or give it to someone else or even "internationalize" it, be advised He still wants it, and YOU are NOT getting it! Nor will He allow you to wipe out HIS people!

Unfortunately, NOTHING will change until Yeshua returns to teach humanity personally for a thousand years! Zecheriah 12:2-3 tells us that all the nations of the Earth will take up arms against Israel, and YHWH's chosen people will be surrounded. But He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep, (Psalm 121:4) and HE will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)

The final battle in the Age of Man will be for control of Jerusalem, a place no one wanted until YHWH chose it as His own. (2 Chronicles 6:5-6). Since then, the forces opposed to Him have ceaselessly tried to take it from Him, for in the spiritual realm control of Jerusalem signifies victory over ELOHIM.

But this is what He said – and what HE says stands FOREVER:

Ezekiel 37: 21 Then say to them that Adonai Elohim says: 'I will take the people of Isra'el from among the nations where they have gone and gather them from every side and bring them back to their own land. (CJB)

So, YOU - Harvard loudmouths and all others who hate “the Jews” - are free to do so; but know this: GOD LOVES them! They are His people – and anyone who hates His people does NOT belong to Him – no matter how much they “believe in God” or warm the pews in their churches or Mosques or wherever they worship their various “gods”…

More than 300 Bible prophecies have come true, and continue to unfold before our very eyes! People around the world have been trying to kill off “the Jews” since time immemorial – and yet God has continued to bless them.

Israel belongs to HIS people - blanketly referred to as “Jews”; but which include ALL 12 tribes mentioned in the Torah … and anyone who goes up against them will LOSE in the end. The Bible says so! Here are some forgotten facts about the Israel-Arab conflict.

It will behoove you to remember that, for centuries everybody (especially the spawn of Ishmael) has hated “the Jews” and in many ways, fought over this tiny nation called Israel, to claim it as "their" holy place. Truth is, as has been revealed again and again, NO ONE will get to exterminate His people, nor seize their Land for themselves!

JUST REMEMBER: The Bible prophecies have been, and continue to unfold before our very eyes – and Israel ALWAYS wins in the end. If you hate Israel, then you hate its God as well … and you WILL have a lot of explaining to do on Judgment Day!

Believers–Israel is at war. Pray and stay strong!

BELIEVERS – STAY STRONG! Wars and Rumors of wars (Matthew 24) … Believers who know the Bible KNOW that all these things MUST happen before Yeshua returns!

Matthew 24: 6. For you are bound to hear of revolutions and rumor of wars. Watch out and do not be disturbed, for it is necessary that all these things happen, but it is not yet the end. 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in different places. 8. But all these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then they will deliver to afflictions and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

10. Then many will stumble and will hate one another and will betray one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12. And because of the growth of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But whoever has patience until the end, he will have life. 14. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come, 15. And when you see the sign of uncleanness and desolation, that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, which will stand in the Set Apart place.* He that reads, let him understand. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11

The Bible tells us that, in the end times, the world will turn against the Jews and Israel with a vengeance:

• Matthew 24:9 - "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
  
  
• Isaiah 60:15 - "Whereas you have been [Is 1:7-9; 6:11-13; Jer 30:17] forsaken and [Is 66:5] hated With no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting [Is 4:2; 65:18] pride, A joy from generation to generation.
  
  
• Joel 3:2 - 'I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.'
  
  
• Ezekiel 36:8-10 - "'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.

For centuries everybody has been fighting over this tiny country called Israel to claim it as "their" holy place. It seems that the whole world has always "had it in" for Jews in one way or another, and some (i.e. Hitler) have even tried to annihilate them completely. The bottom line is, this issue dates back to the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and will not be resolved until Yeshua returns....

THESE THINGS WERE PROPHESIED LONG AGO!  Those who have read AND studied the ENTIRE Bible will understand. Those who have never have, will be lost and confused and terrified…

Daniel 11: 31 Armed forces will come at his order and profane the sanctuary and fortress. They will abolish the daily burnt offering and set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 Those who act wickedly against the covenant he will corrupt with his blandishments, but the people who know their God will stand firm and prevail.

33 Those among the people who have discernment will cause the rest of the people to understand what is happening; nevertheless, for a while they will fall victim to sword, fire, exile and pillage. 34 When they stumble, they will receive a little help, although many who join them will be insincere. 35 Even some of those with discernment will stumble, so that some of them will be refined, purified and cleansed for an end yet to come at the designated time. (CJB)

Daniel 12: 1 “When that time comes, Mikha’el (the Archangel Michael), the great prince who champions your people, will stand up; and there will be a time of distress unparalleled between the time they became a nation and that moment. At that time, your people will be delivered, everyone whose name is found written in the book. 2 Many of those sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting shame and abhorrence. 3 But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven’s dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. (CJB)

FOLKS, THIS IS WHY MY MANTRA FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS HAS BEEN: Get yourself “right” with God now, before it’s too late! Don’t be caught being “lukewarm” when Yeshua returns:

Revelation 3: 15. I know your works, that you are neither hot, nor cold; I would desire that you would be either cold or hot. 16. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you from my mouth. 17. Because you say, I am rich and affluent, and have all I need; and you don’t know that you are helpless and miserable and needy and blind and naked! 18. I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may become rich; and white robes, to be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be seen; and put eye-salve on your eyes, that you may see.

19. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. Be faithful emulators therefore, and repent. 20. Behold, I have been standing at the door, and I will knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. 21. And to him that is victorious, to him will I give to sit with me on my throne, even as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22. He that has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (AENT)

"WILL I BE SENT TO HELL IF I DON'T SLEEP IN A TENT FOR A WEEK?"

As unbelievable as it is, some years ago, a woman on Facebook was telling everyone they would go to hell if they didn't spend a week in a tent! 

First of all, NO human being has a right to tell anyone they are "going to hell" if they don't celebrate one of the High Holy Days a certain way.  (Deciding where each of us will spend eternity YHWH's job!)  None of us have Moshe or Yeshua here to tell us exactly "how" to do them.  We can only keep them to the best of our knowledge and ability (hopefully with like-minded friends, relatives and/or a group or congregation).

You can read my indepth response to the above at this article on my website.

In the meantime, let's just concentrate on observing the festival of Sukkot without the stress of "doing it right." Unless we were present in the desert with Moshe who received his instructions directly from YHWH Himself, we cannot truly know whether or not we are "doing it right." The main thing is to "do it!"

Sukkot is not a feast where we are supposed to be made to feel "uncomfortable" or "put out" in any way. It is to be a time of REJOICING! Take a look:

Deuteronomy 16: 13 "You are to keep the festival of Sukkot for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing-floor and winepress. 14 Rejoice at your festival - you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the L'vi'im, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you. 15 Seven days you are to keep the festival for ADONAI your God in the place ADONAI your God will choose, because ADONAI your God will bless you in all your crops and in all your work, so you are to be full of joy!

How do you celebrate Sukkot?

If you can't have a Sukkot gathering in someone's field or having a party in someone's backyard sukkah, then simply pitch a tent and enjoy fellowship!  If you can't build a "temporary dwelling" outside for whatever reason, then simply decorate a spot in the safety of your own home where you can sit, read Scripture, and take at least one meal each day, and just "be" with YHWH.) The trick is to just DO it to get the "feel" of the Leviticus 23:43 experience.

It's a joyous time to participate in, and reflect on, the rich history of God's people and just "be" with YHWH for a week.  Remember that the first and last days of Sukkot are the High Holy Days where no work is to be done. 

Chag sameach! (Happy holiday!)

Proof that Paul was Torah observant

Many insist that Apostle Paul taught against Torah – which, of course, is untrue, as revealed in all of Paul’s teachings, when viewed via the “Hebrew” instead of the “Greek” mindset. As a matter of fact, Paul was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death!

How do we know that little fact about Paul?

The answer can be found in Acts 21:20-24; and Acts 24:27 – which reveal that Procurator Felix was replaced ~60 CE, and the events of Acts 21 two years earlier. Assuming the death of Yeshua in ~30 CE, then the events in Act 21 were in the ~29th year after Yeshua's death.

Check it out for yourself:

Acts 21: 20. And when they heard (it) they glorified Elohim. And they said to him: “Our brother, You see how many myriads[1] there are in Judaea who have believed: and these are all zealous for Torah! [2] 21. And it has been told them, of you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to depart from Moshe, by telling them not to circumcise their children, and not to observe the rites of Torah. [3]

22. Now, because they have heard that you have arrived here, 23. do what we tell you. We have four men, who have vowed to purify themselves. 24. Take them, and go and purify yourself with them, and pay the expenses along with them, as they will shave their heads; that every one may know, that what is said against you is false, and that you fulfill and observe Torah. (AENT)

Acts 24: 27. And when two years were fulfilled to him, another governor, whose name was Porcius Festus, came into his place. And Felix, that he might do the Jews a favor, left Paul a prisoner. (AENT)

So, there’s your answer, folks!

Here are some footnotes pertaining to the passages:

[1] Greek murias (myriads) refers to a minimum of 10,000 souls.

[2] Most translations read “zealous for the law”; it is a self-evident truth that myriads of Netzarim followers of Y’shua were also zealous for Torah! The work of the Ruach haKodesh (Set-Apart Spirit) is to write Torah (instructions in righteousness) upon the hearts of YHWH’s people, both Jew and Elohim Fearers.

[3] Attacks against Rav Shaul (Paul) by factions of rabbinical zealots were manifold. Shaul taught that faith and intent of the heart determines whether a person is ready to be circumcised and walk in Torah. At no time did Shaul teach against either circumcision or Torah; however, he opposed the “traditions of the Pharisees” who demanded blind observance to their religious traditions. Shaul required that Gentile converts be taught about covenant and have clear understanding of what they were doing, in relationship to YHWH and His Mashiyach.

To be expected to know and observe complex halakha (collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah; literal meaning: “the way”) at early stages of belief is unacceptable. Both the Pharisees and Netzarim taught that a person must study to develop their understanding and establish the intent in their heart before circumcision, rather than blindly follow the wishes of others.

Only a small group of zealots demanded immediate circumcision, which is something Rav Shaul clearly opposes. It is very evident that Awraham received instruction before his circumcision, and he is the father of Faith for both Jews and Gentiles alike.

WHY DO WE NEED YOM KIPPUR FOR ATONEMENT, SINCE YESHUA DIED TO REMOVE OUR SINS?

Yeshua died to remove our "past sins" - not so that we could continue sinning.  Problem is, we humans do have a tendency to commit inadvertent sin, sometimes, and that's where Yom Kippur comes in.  Any sins we commit today, no matter how inadvertently, are not covered by Yeshua's death, as he died to remove our PAST sins. 

Here's proof:

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people. (CJB)

Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim.

7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)

NOTE: Huge contrast between Aramaic and Greek. The Greek reads: "once having been enlightened..." This "enlightening" seems logical until we look at Aramaic: "But they who have once descended to immersion..." The difference is acute, since baptism is clearly a subject being introduced just two verses earlier. The reason for the Greek redaction to "enlightenment" may well have been due to early Gnostic influence that stressed Mashiyach's knowledge over his actual power and incarnation of Deity. See also Hebrews 10:32.

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

The above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly.

An important message from Bill Bullock, “The Rabbi’s Son”

I am sharing below some shocking truths and words of wisdom from Texas Attorney, Bill Bullock ("The Rabbi's Son"), on Torah portion - Parashah 48: Shof'tim (Hebrew for "Judges") ; Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9 – which features the  "Last Will and Testament" of Moshe (Moses)- the words he spoke the day he departed from the Israelites as they were making their Exodus through the desert, headed towards the Promised Land.

In the following teaching, Mr. Bullock reveals how the doctrines and ideas of men via their carnal mindsets, have skewed YHWH's Divine Instructions (handed to the Israelites via Moshe who spoke with YHWH “face-to-face”), turning them into critical errors into which both Christianity and Judaism have wandered:

Are the Words of the Holy One 'Commandments' – or Prophetic Empowerments?

The words which Moshe will speak in this second speech are usually described in English as “commandments” and “ordinances” and “laws”. But those terms do not describe them accurately at all.

Alas, the translation of the Holy One’s declaration at Sinai into English and other Western language as ‘commandments’, ‘ordinances’ and ‘laws’ lies at the root of the most critical errors into which both Christianity and Judaism have wandered.

By and large organized Christianity has erred in rejecting Torah’s “commandments, ordinances, and laws” as “unspiritual” – indeed considered to border on being demonic.
Most of Christianity has thus over the centuries devolved into a King-less, Constitution-less, Kingdom-less, Love-less, Law-less blob of prudish, angry religious people who try to process glorious spiritual mysteries through the filter of fleshly, carnal minds, who spread hate-filled opinions instead of truth, who expose people to dull, repetitive sermons instead of flowing in vibrant words of life, who pass off cute marquee one-liners as revelation, and who promote models of church growth and bean-counting instead of any real, substantive message that could lead to freedom, destiny, and purpose.

Organized Christianity today thus has virtually nothing of value to offer either the world or its own adherents, and both groups are rejecting it in droves.

Many modern forms of organized Judaism on the other hand have committed the exact opposite error, focusing almost all their attention on the letter of Torah’s instructions, drawing all the wrong lessons from the Holocaust and therefore instilling in upcoming generations the paranoia that everyone who is not Jewish is anti-Semitic, dangerous, and inferior.

Indeed since the Holocaust the mantra of organized Judaism seems to have unofficially changed from Sh’ma Yisrael! to ‘Never Again’! As a result mind-numbing sets of extra-Biblical rules designed to keep people away have been promoted in the guise of ‘building a fence around the Torah’.

There is indeed now a fence around the Torah in many forms of Judaism – and that fence is so high, is laced with so much razor wire, and is strewn with so many IEDs that the beauty of Torah – if not of the Holy One Himself -- has become hidden behind the carnage.
Father Avraham would weep. Moshe would be appalled. David would hang his harp in the willows. Sh’lomo would scratch his head in bewilderment. Eliyahu would rend his mantle in twain and start thrashing.

Fragments of the Messianic Judaism are alas falling into the same traps as organized Christianity and Judaism. Labels such as ‘Sacred Namers’, ‘Two-Housers’, ‘Lunar Sabbatarians’, and ‘Sabbatical Year Followers’ have become modern ‘Shibboleths’.

Swords are drawn and waving, ready to strike off the ear, cut out the tongue, or lop of the head, of anyone and everyone who fails to adopt the specific phraseology the ears of those bearing one’s chosen label itch to hear.

Brethren, these things should not be so. What in Heaven’s Name are we doing? How can we continue to misrepresent the Holy One’s character so horribly?
The Sinaitic covenant is not “law” - at least in any sense that term is used today. Nor are the mitzvot, mishpatim, and chukim “commandments” or “ordinances”.

They are Divine Energy.

They are a sweet fountain of life, health and peace.

They are substantive words of Divine empowerment and activation.

They are loving instructions, given in the context of an abiding covenant relationship, prophetically and creatively reshaping the soul and spirit of the recipient, transforming her from a redeemed slave into the Betrothed Bride-to-be of the Holy One.

Are mushrooms considered “clean”?

EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE SOMEONE WRITES TO OUR WEBSITE TO ASK ABOUT MUSHROOMS ARE CONSIDERED "CLEAN" FOOD.

Great question and the simple answer is "Yes"- because YHWH gave no prohibition on fungi.
While Scripture is very clear on many issues, it isn't replete with every little detail concerning all aspects of life, and so sometimes we're left to figure things out on our own ... using our knowledge of Scripture and some common sense.

For instance, the scriptures of Genesis regarding food are very general, not intended to be a complete, thorough, and solid reference of do's and don'ts. There are no other mitzvah (instructions/rules) presented in the Bible narrowing down what green plants can be consumed and which can't. In that, we have to use our own brains. So, while YHWH doesn't prohibit the eating of any plants, some plants will hurt or kill us - and therefore, we must choose wisely!

In the story of Elisha's miracle in 2 Kings 4: 39-42, the words of verse 39 translated as "wild squash" (Sterns) or "gourds" (NIV), in Hebrew is "paquot sade" or "fungi of the field". So it seems we have a story in the Bible which gives credence that fungi, which includes mushrooms, are not expressly forbidden.

According to this logic, mushrooms are edible. (As a matter of fact, Chabad.org, insists that mushrooms are kosher.) Some have even argued that manna was a sort of fungi.  As a matter of fact, Talmud Bavli, in Shabbat 30b, gives the following opinion about the miraculous fruitfulness of the land of Israel in the Messianic age:

"Come, and I shall show you their equal in this world," [Rabbi Gamaliel] replied. He went forth and showed him morels and truffles.

Another Jewish view of them is that they were not included in the curse of the ground that applied to plants, since they are not vegetation. (Source:  The Avnei Nezer - Avraham Borenstein, the first Sochatchover Rebbe, who claimed such in Orach Chayim 111. His claim is that they do not officially come from the ground like plants so they legally were never cursed.)

Additionally, many are highly medicinal, from immuno-modulators to cancer-fighting properties, and some (lion's mane and psilocybin types) exhibit distinct neuroplasticity (the ability for the brain to make new neural connections), and thus are being used for patients with Alzheimer's and similar dementia-like issues.

As further evidence in our “mushroom debate,” we must discuss the yeast cell, which are fungi, and they are critical to making chametz.  Yeast cells are not prohibited by YHWH either! We'd be in big trouble if fungi were prohibited as we breathe yeast cells constantly. In most cases, what yeast we consume is already dead (in both bread and wine), but we do ingest live yeast cells just by breathing. These are promptly killed by our immune systems.

Regardless, for those who consider themselves to be mushroom foragers, it would be wise to make sure you only consume culinary mushrooms from reputable sources, or educate yourself extensively before trying anything you find in the wild, as some will give gastrointestinal distress that would be unpleasant, and a few others can actually shut down vital organs, and so must be avoided at all costs…

Having said all the above, the eating of mushrooms is basically a decision each individual must make on their own.

(NOTE:  My gratitude to author, scholar and Amazon Associate, Jeremy Chance Springfield for his learned input to this article! Please check out his website!)

WAS TORAH REALLY ABOLISHED AT THE CROSS?

Check this out and decide for yourself.

To begin with, let’s take a look at Romans 3:31 in several different Bible versions:

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah. (ISR)

Romans 3: 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid*: yea, we establish the law. (KJV)

Romans 3: 31 Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm Torah. (CJB)

Can you really SEE and understand what that passage says? Paul is adamant in that passage about YHWH’s Divine Instructions remaining forever! That is reiterated in Romans 7:12, which says, “So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good.”

Let’s check out what James wrote:

James 2: 21 Wasn’t Avraham avinu declared righteous because of actions when he offered up his son Yitz’chak on the altar? 22 You see that his faith worked with his actions; by the actions the faith was made complete; 23 and the passage of the Tanakh was fulfilled which says, “Avraham had faith in God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness.” He was even called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is declared righteous because of actions and not because of faith alone. (CJB)

Faith without action (or works) is DEAD! (See James 2:14-26.) That is because the lack of works/action reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith.

Back to Paul:

Romans 15: 4. For everything written of old was written for our instruction; that we, by patience and by the consolation of the Scriptures, might possess hope. (CJB)

This is one of the clearest pro-Torah statements in all of Romans! Paul believes that "everything written of old" is for the instruction of the Gentiles, this clearly indicates Paul's intent.

So, again – do you believe Torah was abolished at the cross?

IS THE COVID VACCINE THE “MARK OF THE BEAST?”

SIGH!  Once again we are seeing the rise of religious zealots who are trying to push their unbiblical ideas down the world’s collective throats.  One of these ideas is that those who take vaccines (i.e. COVID), are “taking the mark of the beast.”

Please bear with me as I attempt to allow Scripture to debunk that silly conspiracy theory via the BIBLE – the instruction manual for human beings, handed down by God Himself. 

To begin with, let’s check out the following scriptures and ask ourselves if the COVID vaccine (and/or any other man-made concoction or device) could possibly refer to the “mark” outlined in the Bible:

• Revelation 14:9. And another, a third Messenger followed them, saying with a loud voice: If any man will worship the beast of prey and its image, and will receive its mark upon his forehead or on his hand, 10. he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of Elohim, which is poured undiluted into the cup of his indignation and will be tormented with fire and sulfur, before the Set Apart Messengers, and before the throne. 11. And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever; and there is no rest, by day or by night, to those that worship the beast of prey and its image. 12. Here is the patience of the Set Apart believers who keep the commandments of Elohim, and the faith of Y’shua. (AENT)

• Revelation 13: 15. And it was given him to put life into the image of the beast of prey; and to cause that all they who would not worship the image of the beast of prey, should be slain: 16. and to cause that all, great and small, rich and poor, bond and free, should receive a mark on their right hands, or upon their foreheads; 17. so that no one might be able to buy or to sell, except those who had the mark of the name of the beast of prey, or the number of his name. 18. Here is wisdom: let him that has intelligence compute the number of the beast of prey; for it is the number of a man: and its number is six hundred and sixty and six. (AENT)

A few points to consider and questions to ask concerning the scriptures above:

1. What does the COVID vaccine have to do with the ability to “buy or sell?”

2. Does the COVID vaccine contain “the name of the beast or the number of his name?”

3. Vaccines are normally given into the muscles of the upper arm, or perhaps the buttocks.  Nobody gets them in their forehead or on their hands…

Now, check this out:

Revelation 20:4. And I saw thrones, and (persons) sat on them, and judgment was given to them, and to the souls that were beheaded for the testimony of Y'shua and for the Word of Elohim: and these are they who had not worshipped the beast of prey nor its image; neither had they received the mark upon their forehead or on their hand; and they lived and reigned with their Mashiyach those thousand years. (AENT)

Question:

Conspiracy theories aside, how could the taking of a vaccine designed to help prevent illness of death during a deadly pandemic, be considered “mark of the beast?”  I took the vaccine and didn’t get COVID; I’ve never worshiped “the beast of prey” or ANY “image”; nor have I received any “marks” on my hands or forehead that could be construed as evil!  Furthermore, I haven’t been sent by God to the pits of hell for taking the vaccine … matter of fact, He has kept on blessing me in myriad ways…

So, using Bible-only hermeneutics, let’s get real and try to figure out what that “Mark of the Beast” could be.  To do so, we have to understand that YHWH also has a “mark” –  often mentioned as “signs” or “seals.”  Here are just a few examples:

• Genesis 4: 15 ADONAI answered him, "Therefore, whoever kills Kayin will receive vengeance sevenfold," and ADONAI put a sign on Kayin, so that no one who found him would kill him. (CJB)

• Ezekiel 9: 4 ADONAI said to him, "Go throughout the city, through all Yerushalayim, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and crying over all the disgusting practices that are being committed in it." (CJB)

• Ezekiel 9: 6 Kill old men, young men, girls, little children, women - slaughter them all! But don't go near anyone with the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." They began with the leaders in front of the house. (CJB)

• John 6: 27. Do not labor for food that perishes, rather for food that endures to life that is everlasting, that which the Son of man will give to you, for this man Elohim the Father has sealed. (AENT)

• 2 Corinthians 1: 21. Now it is Elohim who establishes us, with you, in the Mashiyach, and has anointed us, 22. And has sealed us, and has given the earnest of his Spirit in our hearts. 23. Moreover, I call Elohim for a witness on my soul that it was in order to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. (AENT)

• Ephesians 1: 13. In whom you also have heard the Word of Truth which is the Good News of your life, and have believed in him; and have been sealed with the Ruach haKodesh who was promised; (AENT)

• Ephesians 4: 30. And do not grieve the Ruach haKodesh of Elohim, whereby you are sealed for the day of redemption. (AENT)

• 2 Timothy 2: 19. But the firm foundation of Elohim stands and it has this seal; Master YHWH knows them who are His: and, Let everyone who invokes the name of our Master (Y'shua) stand aloof from iniquity. (AENT)

From the above scriptures we can see that God uses "marks", signs and "seals" to separate the Godly from the ungodly. If you've read the Bible in its entirety, you know that the "godly" are not only those who believe in Yeshua HaMashiyach (whom Christians call Jesus Christ), but also those who follow the teachings and instructions contained in Torah (first five Books of the Bible) - without which man would not know who YAHWEH is, nor who His Son is; nor how to behave towards God and each other!  (Proverbs 4:2 "I give you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah"; Proverbs 28:9 “If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.”)

Moving on…

In Exodus 13:9 we see YAHWEH speaking to Moshe (Moses):  "Moreover, it (the festival of Passover) will serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, so that YHWH's Torah may be on your lips; because with a strong hand YHWH brought you out of Egypt." (CJB)

Compare the above with this:

Revelation 13: 15. And it was given him to put life into the image of the beast of prey; and to cause that all they who would not worship the image of the beast of prey, should be slain: 16. and to cause that all, great and small, rich and poor, bond and free, should receive a mark on their right hands, or upon their foreheads; 17. so that no one might be able to buy or to sell, except those who had the mark of the name of the beast of prey, or the number of his name. (AENT)

SEE THE DIFFERENCE? 

The "mark of YAHWEH" is our obedience to His Divine Instructions. The Mark of the Beast is what YAHWEH is ALLOWING Satan and the Antichrist to do in the end times, to kick off the process of separating the sheep from the goats!   In Revelation we find that the beast is “borrowing” that SAME “hand and forehead” concept to put his own "mark" on the gullible  - those he can draw away from YAHWEH! 

Now take a look at this powerful verse:

Deuteronomy 6: 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (CJB)

Sound confusing?  Does God really expect us to tie and/or bind anything on those parts of our bodies?

No!

Logically, we can surmise that “binding” things on your forehead means to “remember” them (something the brain is designed to do); and that “tying them as symbols on our hands” means, we are not only to remember and DO His commandments, but also to implement, do them, put them into operation.  And how do we implement something?  With our hands!

Our brains send signals to all parts of the body.  Our hands cannot grasp, and our feet cannot move unless they receive a signal from the brain. The part where we make decisions to take action on a thought and which handles our behavior is called the prefrontal cortex.  The thought comes into the frontal lobe (forehead) and then goes through the unique process of order and duration in the different parts of the brain, which sends the signal for action to the various parts of the body.

Returning to Deuteronomy 6:6-8 above, we see that God commanded us to keep his word both in our hearts and brains/minds (prefrontal cortex) to keep us holy/from sinning. When we sin, how do we typically commit those sins? With our hands! A thief does not steal with his ear. An angry man does not strike another with his hair. A man does not kill another with his nose. It’s usually our HANDS that do “good” or “bad” according to what they received from the prefrontal cortex…

In the majority of cases, we commit our sins with our hands. Keeping God's word "on our hands" would mean that we proceed through life NOT allowing them to commit a sin. (There’s a more indepth explanation in my article about the “forehead and hands” mentioned in the Bible.)

The Bible-prophesied end times are inevitable, and MANY bad things are on the horizon.  It’s a battle between “good and evil” (YHWH vs. haSatan) and it is imperative for us to recognize the signs, and NOT make up what those “signs” or marks mean!

So, here is the bottom line:  We don’t know for sure what the mark of the beast is.  However, if it’s a man-made invention of some kind, beware – especially if it is to be placed on your hand and/or forehead and is required for buying or selling. 

I hope you can see now that it’s all about GOD and the spiritual behind-the-scenes battle for our souls; NOT man-made things, thoughts or personal opinions.

Be careful to NOT fall for lies or outlandish ideas!  Yeshua himself gave us a warning:

Matthew 24: 4. Y'shua answered and said to them, Beware, let no man deceive you. 5. For many will come in my name and will say that "I am the Mashiyach." And many they will deceive. 6. For you are bound to hear of revolutions and rumor of wars. Watch out and do not be disturbed, for it is necessary that all these things happen, but it is not yet the end. 7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in different places.

8. But all these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then they will deliver to afflictions and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10. Then many will stumble and will hate one another and will betray one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12. And because of the growth of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But whoever has patience until the end, he will have life. 14. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.... (AENT)

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OSTRACIZED FOR YOUR FAITH?

 

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OSTRACIZED FOR YOUR FAITH?

I have – many times.  For instance, I have a half-brother in Germany with whom I had lost contact in 2006, because his wife hated Israel, the Jews, and my Messianic lifestyle. 

I called my brother in 2020 to offer my condolences when I heard she had died, and one of the first things he said to me was, “Do you still adhere to that weird religion?” His response - when I told him that I am still now, and always will be Messianic - was a few seconds of silence followed by a sarcastic snort…

Needless to say, the rest of the conversation was very chilly, and I haven’t heard from him since.

People simply don’t get that Torah observance is not a “religion” – rather the lifestyle God commanded for His set-apart people … a beautiful lifestyle that is amply outlined in the Torah (first five Books); yet ignored, discounted, and even shunned by those who choose to adhere to only the last fourth of the Bible called “The Gospels” which they insist relieves them from any responsibilities to actually LIVE the holy lifestyle that YHWH Himself decreed in the beginning of the Bible… 

People simply don’t get that both the “natural” and the “grafted-in” children are provided every opportunity to CHOOSE to obey His Divine Instructions (i.e., keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath Rest, and the seven yearly festivals). 

 They don’t get that we eat “clean meats” and keep His festivals, not only because He commanded them to be kept; but because they each have historical and prophetic significance, AND they ALL foreshadow Yeshua!  They don’t get that YAHWEH’S weekly and yearly Sabbaths provide us with a deep, ongoing personal relationship, and perpetual connection to Him and His Divine Messiah. They simply don’t get it…

That is why we are constantly ostracized and bombarded with comments such as, “That old stuff doesn’t pertain to us, it’s only meant for the Jews!”; “You have put yourself back under the law, making grace unavailable to you!”; and, “You are guilty of trying to earn your salvation through works!”

Oh, if only people would READ and STUDY Scripture to see what is actually written…

Yeshua himself said the following, which reveals that he knew that belief in YHWH/Yeshua/Torah would cause division:

Luke 12: 51. Do you think that I have come to place tranquility on earth.  I say to you, No, rather division  52. from now on:  For there will be five in a certain house that will be divided three against two, and two against three.  53. For a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter, and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. [See Micah 7:6]  (AENT)

“Yeshua the Mashiyach (Messiah) is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” What does this mean?

Hebrews 13:8 tells us “Yeshua the Mashiyach (Messiah) is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

What does this mean, exactly?

Rav Shaul (Paul) knows Yeshua as the Word of YHWH who is Messiah, as the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all things were created by the Word of YHWH from the beginning of time.

It was Mashiyach who spoke with Noah and Abraham and gave the Torah to Moshe … which is why it is very wicked for anyone to speak evil of Torah, and suggest that Israel could not keep the Torah which was given them; when YHWH Himself said the following:

Deuteronomy 30: 10 “However, all this will happen only if you pay attention to what Adonai your God says, so that you obey his mitzvot (words/ commandments) and regulations which are written in this book of the Torah, if you turn to Adonai your God with all your heart and all your being. 

11 For this mitzvah which I am giving you today is not too hard for you, it is not beyond your reach. 12 It isn’t in the sky, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will go up into the sky for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ 13 Likewise, it isn’t beyond the sea, so that you need to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea for us, bring it to us and make us hear it, so that we can obey it?’ 14 On the contrary, the word is very close to you — in your mouth, even in your heart; therefore, you can do it!

15 “Look! I am presenting you today with, on the one hand, life and good; and on the other, death and evil — 16 in that I am ordering you today to love Adonai your God, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations and rulings ; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers…

… 19 “I call on heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have presented you with life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore, choose life, so that you will live, you and your descendants, 20 loving Adonai your God, paying attention to what he says and clinging to him — for that is the purpose of your life! On this depends the length of time you will live in the land Adonai swore he would give to your ancestors Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov” (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob). (CJB)

A BITTER-SWEET MESSAGE FOR AMERICA

For those who didn’t know this, I am a German-born, naturalized American citizen. I’ve loved America since I first moved here in the Sixties, at the tender age of 10; and I even served 22 years in the US Army as a journalist/public affairs specialist, because I wanted to serve this great country.

But, as much as a I hate to say this, I’m not in love with America as I used to be – for myriad reasons – and I find myself constantly asking the question: WHY? Why should He bless America?

Why should He bless a country that keeps getting further and further away from Him?

Why should he bless a country that allowed an atheist to bully the government into making prayer illegal in schools and government buildings – a nation that was FOUNDED “under God”?

Why should He bless a country that embraced the ideals of “sex, drugs and rock and roll” and “if you’re not with the one you love, love the one you’re with” … a movement that started right after the “birth control pill” hit the market and permitted promiscuity and relieved women of the fear of unwanted pregnancies?

Why should He bless a country where most believe (and keep fighting for) a “woman’s right” to murder her unborn baby?

Why should God BLESS a nation whose government is forcing the idea that it’s normal for same-gender people to marry … a country that declared a special MONTH to CELEBRATE something God calls an abomination?”

Why should God BLESS a nation that keeps catering to every “fringe element” including those pushing the sick notion of “gender fluidity”; while allowing the "gender confused” to dictate that all public restrooms should be made “gender neutral”?

Why should He bless a country that has turned racism, violence, decadence and hatred into an art form?

I could go on and on, but here’s my bottom line:

I want to know WHY God should bother BLESS ING a country over-flowing with hypocritical Scripture twisters who are ready, willing and able to “forgive” whoremongering adulterers, liars, bullies and cheaters; while at the same time, chastising and harassing those who wish to follow His Divine Instructions in Righteousness? (I’m referring to Torah – the first five Books of Moses that contain ALL of YAHWEH’s original Divine Instructions, which He instructed ALL to follow.)

WHY should He bless a country that refuses to even keep the commanded Seventh Day Sabbath holy – which is a SIGN between YAHWEH and His people! (Genesis 2:1; Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:11-12)?   A country that, instead of demanding morality and calling for repentance, condones and endlessly seeks forgive DELIBERATE sin? A country that INSISTS everything God ever considered BAD is now GOOD; and everything “good” is now “bad”?

People, I fear for America. Every great nation has fallen BECAUSE of their decadence – and I fear we are quickly approaching our demise as well. YAHWEH is surely NOT happy with us anymore.

So, WHY should He bless America?

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who change darkness into light and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter! 21 Woe to those seeing themselves as wise, esteeming themselves as clever.

22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, men whose power goes to mixing strong drinks, 23 who acquit the guilty for bribes but deny justice to the righteous! 24 Therefore, as fire licks up the stubble, and the chaff is consumed in the flame; so their root will rot, and their flowers scatter like dust; because they have rejected the Torah of Adonai-Tzva’ot, they have despised the word of the Holy One of Isra’el. (CJB).

1 John 2: 15. Love not the world nor anything in it; for whoever loves the world has not the love of the Father in him. 16. For all that is in the world is the lust of the body and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the world, which are not from the Father but from the world[*] itself. 17. And the world is passing away, (both) it and the lust thereof; but he that does the pleasure of Elohim abides for ever. (AENT).

*NOTE: “The world” refers to pagan, Torahless, humanistic, evolutionary, relativistic, materialistic, sensual, unrighteous lifestyles that haSatan used to seduce mankind away from YHWH. This certainly does not refer to the earth which YHWH made according to His good pleasure.

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB).

Another false meme leading people astray....

 

I hate to say it, but whoever created this meme is leading people astray. How I wish people would actually READ and STUDY the Bible, and stop playing these stupid “blame games!”  

The bottom line is, our SIN is what killed Yeshua, who HAD to die in order to become our Final SIN Sacrifice/Offering! If he hadn’t died, we would still be forced to kill innocent animals to atone for our sins.  Humanity, as a whole, is to blame for his death.  He died for ALL of us, because that is one of the major reasons he was sent...

Reading Scripture in context is key – and the truth is, that the JEWS kicked it off (Matthew 26), by going to their High Priest Caiaphas to discuss how to dispose of this man they felt was a danger to their faith. (Remember, it was a sin for the Jews to commit murder (Exodus 20:13,6th Commandment); and so they were trying to find someone else to do it.

But let's get real:  For those who feel the need to blame someone, blame the Roman PAGANS who actually nailed him to the cross; NOT “Christians,” as there really weren’t any “Christians” back then. The original followers of Yeshua of Nazareth were called Netzarim (or "Natsarim" - however people wish to spell it).

Let’s investigate this issue a little further by starting out with what Paul wrote:

I Thessalonians 2: 14 For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God’s congregations in Y’hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua — you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who 15 both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind 16 by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible! But God’s fury will catch up with them in the end. (CJB)

(The passage above was obviously one that helped to fan the flames of anti-Semitism, as most of Paul’s writings were - and still are - taken out of context!)

So, let’s look at what actually happed before Yeshua was crucified:

Matthew 26: 1 When Yeshua had finished speaking, he said to his talmidim, 2 “As you know, Pesach is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be nailed to the execution-stake.” 3 Then the head cohanim and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of Kayafa the cohen hagadol. 4 They made plans to arrest Yeshua surreptitiously and have him put to death; 5 but they said, “Not during the festival, or the people will riot.”

Matthew 26: 14 Then one of the Twelve, the one called Y’hudah from K’riot, went to the head cohanim 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I turn Yeshua over to you?” They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to Y’hudah.[a] 16 From then on he looked for a good opportunity to betray him.

Again - note, the people involved were Jews, not "Christians." If the Jews hadn't kicked it off, then the pagans wouldn't have bothered to kill Yeshua, as they had no reason to. Read on:

Matthew 26: 47 While Yeshua was still speaking, Y’hudah (one of the Twelve!) came, and with him a large crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the head cohanim and elders of the people. 48 The betrayer had arranged to give them a signal: “The man I kiss is the one you want — grab him!” 49 He went straight up to Yeshua, said, “Shalom, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Yeshua said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they moved forward, laid hold of Yeshua and arrested him.

51 At that, one of the men with Yeshua reached for his sword, drew it out and struck at the servant of the cohen hagadol, cutting off his ear. 52 Yeshua said to him, “Put your sword back where it belongs, for everyone who uses the sword will die by the sword. 53 Don’t you know that I can ask my Father, and he will instantly provide more than a dozen armies of angels to help me? 54 But if I did that, how could the passages in the Tanakh be fulfilled that say it has to happen this way?”

55 Then Yeshua addressed the crowd: “So you came out to take me with swords and clubs, the way you would the leader of a rebellion? Every day I sat in the Temple court, teaching; and you didn’t seize me then. 56 But all this has happened so that what the prophets wrote may be fulfilled.” Then the talmidim all deserted him and ran away.

(QUESTION: We’re not told, but one has to wonder WHO the “crowd” consisted of … surely not just the Jews, but also Netzarim (the original followers of Yeshua’s teachings) and, of course, pagans…)

Continuing with Matthew 26:

57 Those who had seized Yeshua led him off to Kayafa the cohen hagadol, where the Torah-teachers and elders were assembled. 58 Kefa followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the cohen hagadol; then he went inside and sat down with the guards to see what the outcome would be.

59 The head cohanim and the whole Sanhedrin looked for some false evidence against Yeshua, so that they might put him to death. 60 But they didn’t find any, even though many liars came forward to give testimony. At last, however, two people came forward and said, 61 “This man said, ‘I can tear down God’s Temple and build it again in three days.’”

62 The cohen hagadol stood up and said, “Have you nothing to say to the accusation these men are making?” 63 Yeshua remained silent. The cohen hagadol said to him, “I put you under oath! By the living God, tell us if you are the Mashiach, the Son of God!” 64 Yeshua said to him, “The words are your own. But I tell you that one day you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of HaG’vurah and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 At this, the cohen hagadol tore his robes. “Blasphemy!” he said. “Why do we still need witnesses? You heard him blaspheme! 66 What is your verdict?” “Guilty,” they answered. “He deserves death!” 67 Then they spit in his face and pounded him with their fists; and those who were beating him 68 said, “Now, you ‘Messiah,’ ‘prophesy’ to us: who hit you that time?”

Again, while "the Jews" didn't actually kill Yeshua, it was "the Jews" who kicked off the series of events that caused his death! So, what gives anyone the right to produce a meme such as the one above, placing all the blame on "Christians" and finishing it off with the arrogant comment, "Let that sink in!"?

He willingly martyred himself on behalf of all YHWH's people.  He HAD to die in order to become our Final SIN Sacrifice/Offering!  If this hadn't happened, we would all be hosed.  So, instead of wasting time trying to lay the blame on someone, REJOICE that it happened!

I copied the following from Got Questions which provides an overview of this whole issue:

"When the Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested at Passover, they first brought Him before Annas (John 18:13). After he had questioned Jesus, Annas sent Jesus to his son-in-law Caiaphas, who as the high priest would be the one to rule on Jesus’ fate. When Jesus stood before Caiaphas and the entire Sanhedrin, many false witnesses were brought forward, but nothing was found to warrant a death sentence (Matthew 26:59–60).

"Finally, Caiaphas stood up and addressed Jesus directly, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God” (verse 63). Jesus replied just as directly, “You have said so. . . . But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (verse 64).

"Caiaphas had what he was looking for; he tore his robe and cried, “Blasphemy!” (verse 65). The result of the sham trial was that Jesus was pronounced “worthy of death” and beaten and mocked (verses 66–67). However, since the Jews could not legally execute prisoners, Caiaphas sent Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.

"Jesus endured another series of trials that night under Roman jurisdiction. Caiaphas and the other religious leaders stirred up the crowd against Jesus. When Pilate attempted to release Jesus by giving them a choice between Him and the convicted felon Barabbas, “the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed” (Matthew 27:20). Pilate acquiesced, and Jesus was sentenced to die, beaten, led outside the city, and crucified (verses 26–35).

"It’s what Caiaphas wanted all along. It’s important to note that these things did not happen at the whim of Caiaphas, the priests, or Pilate, for it was all part of God’s plan to save the world through the death of His Son. As Jesus had said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18)...."

BOTTOM LINE: Three days later, Messiah Yeshua rose again from the grave, fulfilling prophecy, defeating death, and emboldening His followers to share the good news of salvation throughout the known world. Caiaphas continued to persecute the Netzarim, being present at the trial of Peter and John (Acts 4:1–22), but his opposition did absolutely nothing to stop the spread of the gospel.

In view of the above, it becomes very clear that there are many misleading memes and articles on the Internet that can lead people astray!  I doubt YHWH is very happy with those who keep focusing on, and bringing others' attention to, all the WRONG things...