Is calling G d a man idolatry and tikun olam on the economy

[dvkuth]

It is bad enough that Xians worship a man. But they worship a man that doesn’t even know the day or the hour of judgment day (Matthew 24:36).

Also, in John 17:11 Jesus prays for believers "that they may be one as we are one". Not only did this not occur, but the opposite happened. Thousands of Xian denominations, wars, persecutions, etc.

Their god is not omniscient and not omnipotent; and is no god. So, missionaries please don’t associate yourselves with Judaism.

[joselinema]

Yehshua is the only way to God,,,Whoever believe in who he sent will live forever...

[melbourneopera]

@joselinema

Live in his way of life would be, not he himself.

[Beanzer80]

What about the Messiah, talked about in Isaiah 53? or Psalms 22? or Daniel chapter 9? and talked about in Zechariah? and Malachi all talking about Y'shua? (and many other prophesies concerning Y'shua)

Do you believe that Y'shua is the Messiah?

Have you looked into this claim? I encourage you to look into this deeply and make up your mind about it if you haven't.

[SilverRedIndigo]

Is calling G d a man idolatry?

No.

But calling a man God is.

[dud3man6969]

To stay off topic for a second. I heard somewhere that 1 trillion dollars in one dollar bills would sink an aircraft carrier. WOW.

[HoustonTeaParty]

Interesting comments. But Christians maintain firmly God the Father, whom is best called HaShem, does not and never will have a body.

There is also what Daniel Dreamt of. Daniel 7:9-28 Which deals with the "everlasting kingdom." What is the Orthodox take on this? To rule forever does not seem to be possible by a man.

[Chief122]

This was a great delivery Ronen, thankyou again

[keliata]

Also, I don't think it's idolatry to refer to Hashem in masculine terms as "he" and "father" but of course Hashem as male and female attributes.

That is not the same as saying He is a man or woman or ever had a physical form.

[keliata]

Music--I'm a former Catholic. Marian devotion is, in my opinion, idolatry. So if worshipping a dead Jewish woman is idolatry so is worshipping a dead Jewish man, Jesus.

I doubt the Jews in the exile would have bowed down to Moshes. All they seemed to do prior to that was complain and doubt at every turn. Given the hardships of the exile, I think they would have also complained and doubted him, even though he was an eved Hashem (sp).

[Musicofthissphere]

I'm Christian and I understand why some people would see Marian worship is idolatry. I hope this goes to show that just because a person is say Catholic, it doesnt mean that all Catholics need to bow down to things that defy logic or common sense. Ronen, are you going to shave again? I disagree with you though about Moses. The Jews of the Exodus would have bowed down to him in deference, not as a God head, but as an enactor of God's will

[s76yu]

So now I will ask you, Because Isaiah's name in Hebrew means "The Lord Saves"...does this mean that Isaiah himself is G-d?

My first name is Abner and it is Hebrew. It means "Father of Light". Does that mean I am G-d?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. Man is not above you, he is equal to you...only Hashem is above all.

[melbourneopera]

@s76yu

Right, just as John 10:29 said "My father......is greater than all"

[s76yu]

Isaiah 9:5 in a JPS edition

For a Child has been born to us, A son has been given us. And Authority has settled on his shoulders. He has been Named "The mighty G-d is planning Grace", "Eternal Father, A peaceable ruler"

If you read this passage correctly...notice it is in the past tense...Has Been. Secondly the names given above do not mean this man or person is G-d. It is an english rendering of a Hebrew Name for a person. Like Isaiah...his Hebrew name Yesha'yahu means "The Lord Saves".

[s76yu]

If Isaiah 9 is stating that Hashem will be a man on the earth then Isaiah is a false prophet.

There is a reason he was deemed a prophet. Your bible is telling you this is what Isaiah 9 is supposed to say...yet it is contradicting something from a much more holier book from the Torah. I just bring the question...maybe your version of Isaiah 9 is rendered incorrectly.

[s76yu]

Bemidbar or Numbers Ch 23:19. Here it clearly says in the Torah that Hashem is not a man and he is not a Son of Man and he does not lie.

Why would Hashem hundreds of years later during the Roman period contradict his own words?

Christian doctrine is largely false by it's own account...it's either that or Hashem himself is made to be a liar because of Jesus.

I seriously doubt Hashem would make a statement containing those exact words if it wasn't meant for all time.

[keliata]

I agree with you entirely. Every word of the Torah is truth, and on matters of critical importance--the oneness of G-d and G-d not being a man that he should be worshipped isn't ambiguous at all.

Echad is an absolute one, not a compound one and G-d is not a man is straight forward. That's why Moshe is described as "the man Moshes" so that people didn't start worshipping him.

Moshe obeyed G-d but was not G-d.

[777jordan]

I disagree that "echad" refers to absolute unity. It has the same meaning as does the English word, "one". The Hebrew bible is saying that God is the sole object of worship, not that he is an absolute unity.

[s76yu]

In most translations I've seen from Jews it reads in english more like, A son WAS born to us and a Son WAS given to us and The Eternal Father and Wonderful Councellor will call him Sar-Shalom (Prince of Peace). It is clear the son being born is not Hashem....but a person of high statue to Hashem and will fully do his will...without being Hashem himself.

[goodfeet7]

@s76yu Well there're rabbis who believe that the mighty father, the son and the councellor is about G-d they say these 3 are one. This is not a christian idea it's fully Jewish..the Zohar refers to this issue. We tend to go around it because the christian might hijack it.

.. I don't understand why we have to carry on denying the truth...it's the same child who is born also the mighty father How this is possible???? Well that the reason why He's G-d...

[12343590]

Rabbi, open up Isaiah 9:7, and please explain to me why God can not become a man

[12343590]

OOps, pardon me, it's Isaiah 9:6, not 9:7

[s76yu]

Isaiah 9:6 is based soley on Translation. All of the christian versions say the verse as if there will be a son to be born and he will be Hashem. Even though my opinion does not matter, I largely dis-agree with that translation...this is one of the biggest schisms between Christians and Jews. Christians seem to not realize we read the Text in it's Native tongue or Language...largely not english translated versions. I would suggest a Stone edition Tanakh for a more correct english version.

[12343590]

what does the original tanakh says, then?

[s76yu]

I have explained to you why Hashem is not a man and never was a man. Numbers 23:19.

You think that just because in this verse Hashem is saying I am not a man nor do I lie like one, I am not a son of man that I change my mind like a man for nothing?

His word is holy and resonates beyond time and what we know as reality. So after this statement from Hashem stating he is not a man, why would he become one named Jesus hundreds of years later and Contradict his own words?

[TaherNejat]

HI Ronen. Hope you're doing fine. I agree with you 100% that we cannot call G-d a man, but its not the same to say G-d is a man, and saying that G-d used a human body to manfest Himself to us.

[soyuz27]

I hope also for more practical engagement of real holy people with economy. Beatiful words and smile! тоже смешню : )

Always be optimist.

[codej0]

Great response, Ronen Levi!  Thanks for taking the time to field these questions and address these topics.

Also, I share your concerns about the economic policies.

[RebShai]

Yesher Koach!

[s76yu]

That question can easily be answered as the "Sons of G-D" or Angels...this is a possibility as much so as Jesus is. Our Image being Hashem and his heavenly host.

[ironcross66106]

Brother Ronen

I have a question, and I wanted to hear your take on it.

What do you think God meant in Genesis, when His word say's: Let us make man in our image.

Who was God speaking with?

Blessings

Ron

[codej0]

(with our image & likeness) - Man is thus a microcosm of all the forces of creation. A major part of the Kabbalah deals with explaining exactly how this is so (see Nefesh HaChaim 1:1). Moreover, of all creation, only man resembles G-d in having free will (Maimonides, Yad, Teshuvah 5:1). Others explain 'image' and 'likeness' here to refer to a sort of conceptual archetype, model or blueprint that G-d had previously made for man (Rashi). This 'model' is seen as the primeval man (Adam Kadmon).

[ronennachman770]

Hey brother Ron - according to Midrash, Hashem was taking counsel, as it were, with his supernal court. I guess angels wold be the most common translation.

There is also a midrash that when Hashem wanted to create the world in general, he sought counsel with the souls of the righteous.

In this way, when the endured all their suffering, they couldn't really complain because they themselves agreed to the creation of the world.

[ironcross66106]

Brother Ronen

Thank you for your answer.

I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to answer these questions.

Blessings to you, and Shalom

Ron