Yeshua Made A Fence Around The Torah!

Yeshua Made a Fence Around the Torah
By
James Scott Trimm

One of the basic precepts of the Oral Law is the directive to עשו סייג לתורה “make a fence about the Torah” as we read at the opening of tractate Avot in the Mishnah:

Moses received the Torah from Sinai and gave it over to Joshua. Joshua gave it over to the Elders, the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets gave it over to the Men of the Great Assembly. They [the Men of the Great Assembly] would always say these three things: Be cautious in judgment. Establish many pupils. And make a fence about the Torah.
(m.Avot 1:1)  

Later in Avot we read that Rabbi Akiva said “Tradition is a fence to Torah”  (Akiva Avot 3:13)

What does is mean to “make a fence about the Torah”?  Rambam explains it like this:

“Make a hedge about the Torah”, refers to the decrees and enactments of the Sages-these keep a man far from transgression, as the Blessed One said, 'Therefore shall ye keep what I have given you to keep (Lev. 18:30),' which the Talmud (Yebamot 21a) interprets to mean; add protection to what I have already given you as protection."
(Maimonides on Avot 1:1)

A good example of such a fence can be found in the very first Mishnah of the Talmud:

1:1 From what time may they recite the Shema in the evening?
From the hour that the priests enter [their homes] to eat their heave offering.
“until the end of the first watch” the words of Rabbi Eliezer.
But the sages say, “Until midnight.”
Rabban Gamliel says, “Until the rise of dawn.”
M’SH’SH: His [Gamliel’s] sons returned from a banquet hall [after midnight].
They said to him, “We did not [yet] recite the Shema.”
He said to them, “If the dawn has not yet risen, you are obligated to recite [the Shema].
And [this applies] not only [in] this [case]. Rather, [as regards] all [commandments] which sages said [may be performed] ‘Until midnight,” the obligation [to perform them persists] until the rise of dawn.”
[For example,] the offering of the fats and entrails—their obligation [persists] until the rise of dawn [see Lev. 1:9, 3:3-5].
And all [sacrifices] which must be eaten within one day, the obligation [to eat them persists] until the rise of dawn.
If so why did sages say [that these actions may be performed only] until midnight?
In order to protect man from sin.
(m.Berakhot 1:1)

While the Torah requires the evening Shema to be said before the rise of dawn, the sages erected a “fence around the Torah” teaching that it should be said by midnight (Rabbi Eliezer held that it should be said even before the end of the first watch).  The sages set up the fence “in order to protect man from sin”.  If one is attempting to fulfill the commandment to say the evening Shema before midnight, then even if one is late, one is less likely to violate the actual Torah.  Thus the “fence” helps prevent transgression of the actual Torah.

Now in Matthew chapter 5, Yeshua delivers a teaching in which he presents a commandment from the Torah, and then proceeds to make a fence around each commandment.


Making a Fence Around Murder

Yeshua begins by citing the commandment against murder:

You have heard what was said to them of old time,
You shall not murder: (Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17)
and whoever commits murder,
the same will be condemned to the judgment.
(Matthew 5:21 HRV)

Yeshua builds a fence around this Torah command, saying not to even be angry with your brother.

22 But I tell you, that whoever shall be enraged against his brother, he will be
condemned to the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, You are nothing: he
will be condemned to the council of the synagogue. And whoever says to him, You
impious one: he will be condemned to the fire of Gey Hinnom.
23 And if you present your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother
has something against you:
24 Leave your offering there before the altar, and go you first, to atone to your brother,
and then come and give your offering.
25 Come to terms with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way: lest
HaSatan deliver you up to the judge, and the judge deliver you up to the officer, and you
be cast into the jail.
26 Amen, I tell you, you will not go out from there, until you have paid the last penny.
(Matt. 5:22-26)


Making a Fence Around Adultery

Next Yeshua cites the Torah commandment against adultery:

You have heard that it was said to them of old time,
You shall not commit adultery: (Ex 20:13(20:14); Deut. 5:18)
(Matt. 5:27 HRV)

Yeshua then builds a fence around this commandment as well, saying:

28 But I tell you, that whoever sees a woman and covets her, has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.
29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and cast it from you: for it is better
for you that one of your members should perish, than that the whole body should be
cast into Gey Hinnom.
30 And if your right hand offend you, cut it off and cast it from you: for it is better for
you that one of your members should perish, than that your whole body should be cast
into Gey Hinnom.
(Matthew 5:28-30 HRV)

Yeshua makes a fence around this commandment, telling us not to even lust after another man’s wife to commit adultery even in our hearts.  The Talmud places a similar hedge saying “Unchaste imagination is more injurious than sin itself…” (b.Yoma 29a).


Making a Fence Around Divorce

Next Yeshua quotes the Torah concerning divorce:

It was also said concerning him that would put away his wife
that he should write her a bill of divorcement,
and give it to her, and send her away from his house: (Deut. 24:1)
(Matt. 5:31 HRV)

Yeshua makes a fence once again saying:

But I tell you, that whoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of
fornication, commits adultery with her, and whoever takes her that is cast off, commits adultery.
(Matt. 5:32 HRV)

Here Yeshua tells us not only that we must not put away a wife without issuing her a bill of divorcement, but that we should also only do so for the cause of fornication.  (Here Yeshua agrees with the House of Shammai m.Gittin 9:10)


Making a Fence Around Vows

Next Yeshua cites the Torah in regards to keeping ones vows:

Again, you have heard that it was said to them of old time,
You shall not forswear yourself,
but shall pay to YHWH your vow:
(Lev 19:12; Num. 30:3(30:2); Deut. 23:22(23:21))
(Matt, 5:33 HRV)

Yeshua then goes on to make a fence around this commandment as well:

34 But I tell you, you shall not swear by a confirming word--not by heaven, for it is
Elohim's throne,
35 And not by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, and not by Yerushalayim,
for it is the city of the great king.
36 And you shall not swear by your head, in that you have no power to whiten one hair
or turn it black again.
37 But let your words be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these words, is of
evil.
(Matt. 5:24-37 HRV)

So to make sure we do not break our vows, Yeshua says not to even make them in the first place.  This was in fact the practice of the Essenes in those days.  Josephus writes:

…swearing is avoided by them [Essenes],
and they esteem it worse than perjury;
for they say, that he who cannot be believed
without [swearing by] God, is already condemned.
 (Josephus; Wars; 2:8:6)

And  we read in the Dead Sea Scrolls:

A man must not swear
either by Aleph and Lamedh (Elohim)
or by Aleph and Daleth (Adonai)…
 (Damascus Document Col. 15, 1)


Making a Fence Around Liability

Next Yeshua cites the Torah in regards to the laws of liability:

You have heard what was said,
An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. (Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21)
(Matt. 5:38 HRV)

Yeshua also builds a fence around this commandment.  I recently wrote a whole blog about this issue (


So I direct the reader there for more information on this section.


Making a Fence Around Loving our Neighbor

Next Yeshua cites the commandment to love our neighbor, but adding a false conclusion to it:

You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor, (Lev. 19:18)
and hate your enemy,
(Matt. 5:43 HRV)

The additional phrase “and hate your enemies” was drawn from a false Essene interpretation.  The Damascus Document interprets Lev. 19:18 as follows:

As for the passage that says,
"Take no vengeance and bear no grudge
against your kinfolk" (Lev. 19:18)
any covenant member who brings against his fellow
an accusation not sworn to before witnesses
or who makes an accusation in the heat of anger
or who tells it to his elders to bring his fellow into repute,
the same is a vengence-taker and a grudge-bearer….
(Damascus Document 9, 2)

Note that this Qumran interpretation of Lev. 19:18 would limit "neighbor" in Lev. 19:18 to "any covenant member" i.e. a member of the Yachad (Essene community). In fact the Essenes taught:

…bear unremitting hatred towards all men of ill repute…
to leave it to them to pursue wealth and mercenary gain…
truckling to a depot.
(Manual of Discipline 9, 21-26)

But Yeshua makes a fence around “love your neighbor” saying:

44 But I tell you, Love your enemies. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which persecute you and despitefully use you: b
45 In order that you may become the sons of your Father which is in heaven, who makes
His sun to rise on the good and on the evil, and sends rain on the righteous and on the
wicked.
46 For if you love only them which love you, what reward have you: do not even the
transgressors do this?
47 And if you ask after the shalom of your brothers only, what do you exceed: do not
even the Goyim do this?
48 You therefore be wholehearted, like your Father which is in heaven, who is
wholehearted.
(Matt. 5:44-48 HRV)

Yeshua make a fence, telling us not just to love our neighbor, but to love everyone, even those not already in the Torah observant community.  This is like the words of Hillel:

Be disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace,
loving people and drawing them near to the Torah.
(m.Avot 1:12)


Conclusion

Yeshua followed the precept of building a fence around the Torah, to protect the Torah.  In Matthew Chapter 5 Yeshua cites one Torah command after another, and builds a fence around each, designed to keep us far away from actually violating these commandments.  

Yeshua Made a Fence Around the Torah
By
James Scott Trimm  

To findout more about more about James Scott Trimm go to his website.

http://nazarenespace.com

More Later!

How Does the Netzarim (Nazarene / the branch) Faith Differ From Christianity?

This is my Chief Rabbi. He reposted this recently!

How Does the Netzarim Faith Differ from Christianity

by Rabbi Robert O. Miller

“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of Yahweh are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. (Hosea 14:9)”

“For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)”

In 2 Timothy 2:15 the term “rightly dividing” is translated from “ortho tomeo,” literally means "to rightly cut, to cut straight." Messiah YahShua came to straighten out the interpretation of Yahweh’s Word. Messiah YahShua has cut and divided the Word of Yahweh in order to give us true understanding of Life. The Netzarim Faith maintains that the Messiah didn’t come to start a new religion. He came to restore the Faith Yahweh gave to Israel who were to be a Kingdom of Priests ministering to the rest of mankind (Exodus 19:6).

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Naviim (Prophets). I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one yod (smallest letter in the AlephBet) or one taug (accent marks above the letters) will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Rabbis of the Torah and Parushim (Pharisees – separated ones), you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)”
“But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. (Proverbs 4:18,19)”

YahShua did not abolish the Word of Yahweh. Our Messiah came to fulfil Torah by correctly interpreting it. Messiah YahShua came only to abolish the enmity or hatred man had towards Torah because of their sin nature and a wrong interpretation of Torah that opposed Yahweh. Sin had separated mankind from Yahweh. The wrong interpretation of Torah created isolationism instead of evangelism and withheld the goodness of Yahweh’s Word from others. It had always been the Father’s intention for His Torah to be given to the nations through Israel. Israel was to be the Light (Menorah) to the entire world – a Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 9:16).

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! (Messiah) And the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth (Lack of Torah), and deep darkness (spiritual shame) the people; but Yahweh will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light (Isaiah 60:1-3)”
It is through Torah that Messiah YahShua is revealed. In Messiah’s own words He upholds Torah.

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings (Torah), how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46,47)”

Messiah YahShua said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Naviim (Prophets). I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” The Greek word “kataluo” {kat-al-oo-O} interpreted here as “abolish” was a term used to describe an interpretation that was not correct or subversive. But the Greek word “pleroo” {play-o-O} interpreted here as “fulfil” was used to describe a proper interpretation of the Scripture, to render the full meaning. This word coincides with the Hebrew word “basar” {baw-sar'} which means full message or meaning. He is warning us not to think! "I have come to fulfill the Torah, " He says, "but do not even think that by fulfilling it, I am thereby abolishing it."
Woe to the teacher that abolished Torah! Those who are held responsible are accountable to Yahweh who appointed them. "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (James 3:1)"

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one yod (smallest letter in the AlephBet) or one taug (accent marks above the letters) will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Messiah YahShua is saying not even the slightest stroke of a pen or the smallest letter of the AlephBet will be nullified.

“It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Torah. (Luke 16:17)”

“…the Scripture cannot be broken…( John 10:35)”
"Not a letter shall be abolished from the Torah forever" (Exodus Rabbah 6.1). Since we can see Heaven and Earth are still here we know the Torah is still in effect!
“Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. (Ecclesiastes 1:4)”
“May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun (which is in the heavens). All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed. (Psalm 72:17)”
“[David’s] line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, (both in the heavens) the faithful witness in the sky." Selah (think about that!) (Psalm 89:36-37)”
“He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. (Psalm 104:5)”

“This Torah with its statutes and laws is everlasting. We may not add to them or detract from them. Whoever adds to them or detracts from them or misinterprets the Torah is a wicked impostor and a heretic (Mishna Torah).”
“So anyone who does not obey one of the smallest commandments, and teaches other people not to obey it, will have the smallest part in the Kingdom of Heaven. But any one who obeys and teaches the Torah, will have a big part in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The least figure in the Kingdom of Heaven right now is Hellel ben Shahar that has the position of HaSatan (the Prosecutor). He is the accuser of Yahweh and His people (Revelation 12:10).
“Now there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before Yahweh, and HaSatan also came among them. And Yahweh said to HaSatan, "From where do you come?"
So HaSatan answered Yahweh and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 

Then Yahweh said to HaSatan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears Elohim and shuns evil?"
So HaSatan answered Yahweh and said, "Does Job fear Elohim for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" 

And Yahweh said to HaSatan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh. (Job 1:6-12)”

So what our Messiah is saying, that if you deny Torah and teach men that it is done away with, you’re not just insignificant, you are of the devil!

Everything that Messiah YahShua taught from the Torah and He did not teach anything that was not from the Torah. Messiah YahShua taught Torah! Now, we are instructed to bring Torah to the people of all nations. He told us to teach the Gentile nations "to obey everything I have commanded you (My Disciples)" (Matt.28:18). And He commanded His disciples to obey the Torah (Matt 5:17-19 & 23:1-2) If we have a Kingdom we have a King and if we have a King we have a Ruler and if we have a Ruler we have rules and what are those rules-----Torah. Messiah YahShua promises to bless the Torah teachers, “he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
You can teach what you know but you can only reproduce what you are.

“For Messiah is the goal of the Torah for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)”
In John 14:15, He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” What exactly did Messiah YahShua command? Well, the first recorded command he gave appears in Matthew 4:17, “From that time Rebbe YahShua began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The word “repent” or “teshuvah” means to turn away from sin. “…sin is the transgression of the Torah. (1 John 3:4)” To repent means to turn back to Yahweh and His precious Word.

“‘…you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble; you have violated the covenant with Levi (Priesthood),’ says Yahweh Almighty.” (Malachi 2:8) Who has taught people that the teaching given to Moses by Yahweh has been done away with and caused them to stumble at the commandments of Yahweh? When you look at the ministry of the Messiah and His disciples you can see it wasn’t them. So the question can be asked, “Who did subvert the Faith of Yahweh and create a new religion?”

Messiah YahShua warned: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
Rabbi Shaul (Paul) warned: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:29-31)
How can we tell a false prophet or teacher? “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16) What is the “fruit” of these “false teachers”? Here are their fruit: “There are six things Yahweh hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes (arrogance), a lying tongue (teach falsehood & error), hands that shed innocent blood (condemning), a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies (slanderer) and a person who stirs up conflict in the community (of the Faith).” (Proverbs 6:16-19) In other words they “cause many to stumble” at the Word of Yahweh. On the contrary, the Netzarim Faith and its teachers have fruit that cause people to love the commandments expressed in Yahweh’s Word.

Let’s take a look at the difference in the two types of teachers:
“For they being ignorant of Yahweh's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of Yahweh. For Messiah is the goal of the Torah for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Torah, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (Romans 10:3-5)”
It is through Messiah that we are able to strive to live by the instructions & teachings – Torah - of our Creator – Yahweh.

Centuries of Christian Anti-Semitism, Anti-Hebraic, and Anti-Torah replacement theology has resulted in a religion that promotes darkness and rebellion against Yahweh by ignoring, replacing, or discarding His instructions to mankind. The Christian belief that the Torah has been abolished would have been viewed as ridiculous and wicked by King Messiah YahShua and his Talmidim (Disciples). This kind of theology is in direct opposition to the teachings of the man who Christians claim is their Christ. "The rejection of the Law by Christianity, therefore, was a departure from its Christ." (Jewish Encyclopaedia, ed. Isidore Singer New York and London: Funk and Wagnalls, 1903), Vol.V.,p.52)

In order to perpetuate the lie of the death of the Torah, Christian leaders had to reach back into the musty corridors of time and find a theological way of eliminating the bulk of Messiah YahShua’s own teachings. They found this by a slight-of-hand interpretation of the writings of Messiah Sha’ul, in a way that is un-Hebraic and which Rabbi Sha’ul, that they call Paul (midget), would vehemently oppose. The man that originated this school of thought was Marcion the heretic. Marcion’s Anti-Semitic; pro-Paul churches spread throughout the Roman Empire and soon became a major threat to the Messianic faith.

Marcion was born in 85 CE at Sinope on the Black Sea and was raised to be very Anti-Semitic. Marcion taught that the entire Hebrew Bible should be rejected because it belonged to an evil, inferior deity (Yahweh), and not to “the God revealed by Jesus of Nazareth.” He also rejected any of the Messianic writings, which appeared to speak favourably of "Jewish practices" (like keeping Torah). 

Marcion taught the law was something obsolete and of little use to a Christian. The Torah that he began to call the Old Testament and its commandments is opposed to his New Testament founded on grace. Following this school of thought you end up with either a schizophrenic deity, or Marcion’s two gods.

In “Against Marcion,” Tertullian accuses Marcion and his followers of "forbidding what (Yahweh) commands and commanding what He forbids. (IV.1)" Following Marcion, Mainstream Christianity often commands what Yahweh forbids: "Forget the Sabbath. Ignore the holy days and dietary laws. And shave that beard, so you will look like a Christian!" "Marcion sets up unequal gods." Tertullian writes, "The one a judge, fierce and warlike (Yahweh), the other mild and peaceable (God), solely kind and supremely good. (Tertullian, Against Marcion I.6.)"

A spirit of lawlessness has been hanging over the Church for all of its history. Tertullian shows the importance Messiah YahShua attached to keeping Torah when he writes about the rich young ruler who approached Messiah YahShua: "So when he is asked by that certain man, "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to obtain possession of eternal life?” he inquired whether he knew –which means, was keeping, the Creator’s Commandments---.Come now, Marcion, and all you companions in the misery and sharers in the offensiveness of that heretic, what will you be bold enough to say? Did Messiah here rescind those former commands---? (Against Marcion IV.36)”
Who are we supposed to be following? Marcion’s perversion of what Rabbi Sha’ul said or Messiah YahShua’s teachings based on what Yahweh says.

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Sovereign is salvation--as also our beloved brother Rabbi Sha’ul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our King and Savior Messiah YahShua. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amien. (2 Peter 3:14-18)”

I can only imagine the anguish Rabbi Sha’ul would feel to see the Holy Torah, that he loved and honoured so much, be so viciously attacked and declared dead by those like Marcion who twist and take out of context his very words. Tertullian opposes Marcion’s misuse of Rabbi Sha’ul’s writings by pointing out the "Jewishness" of Rabbi Sha’ul's faith, and then asking, "What had (Rabbi Sha’ul) still to do with Jewish custom, if he was the destroyer of Judaism? (Against Marcion V.5)"

Interestingly enough, those taking Rabbi Sha’ul’s words and twisting them are called in the Greek “athesmos” {ath’–es-mos} which means, “one who breaks through the restraints of law and gratifies his lust.” In other words lawless or Anti-Torah.

Tertullian also refers to Romans 7:7, to combat Marcion’s hatred of the Torah: "What shall we say then? That the Torah is sin? Yahweh fordid.” Shame on you, Marcion. Yahweh forbid: the apostle expresses abhorrence of complaint against the Torah---Yet he adds even more: "The Torah is holy, and its commandment is just, and good (Rom. 7:12)." (Against Marcion V.14) As Tertullian points out later, "you cannot make a promoter of the Torah into an opponent of it. (Against Marcion V.17) "

Today, the Neo-Marcionite Christians overlook or choose to ignore the positive things Rabbi Sha’ul said about the Torah. "For in my inner being I delight in Yahweh’s Torah" and "I myself in my mind am a slave to Yahweh’s Torah " (Rom. 7:22,25). He tells Rabbi Ptolemy (Timothy), "We know that the Torah is good if one uses it properly" (I Tim. 1:8). To the Corinthians he writes, "Keeping Yahweh’s Commandments is what counts" (ICor.7:19). "I have committed No offense, either against the Torah of the Jews or against the Temple"(Acts 25:8). "Brethren…I had done nothing against our people, or the customs of our Patriarchs…(Acts 28:17)”

Messiah YahShua did not abolish the Word of Yahweh. Our Messiah came to fulfil Torah by correctly interpreting it. Messiah YahShua came only to abolish the enmity or hatred man had towards Torah because of their sin nature and a wrong interpretation of Torah that opposed Yahweh. Sin had separated mankind from Yahweh. The wrong interpretation of Torah created isolationism instead of evangelism and withheld the goodness of Yahweh’s Word from others. It had always been the Father’s intention for His Torah to be given to the nations through Israel. Israel was to be the Light (Menorah) to the entire world – a Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 9:16).

“Arise, shine; for your light has come! (Messiah) And the glory of Yahweh is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth (Lack of Torah), and deep darkness (spiritual shame) the people; but Yahweh will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light (Isaiah 60:1-3)”
It is through Torah that Messiah YahShua is revealed. In Messiah’s own words He upholds Torah.
“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings (Torah), how will you believe My words?" (John 5:46,47)”

The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“I, Yahweh your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, … showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:5-6)
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of Yahweh your Elohim that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of Yahweh your Elohim and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Revelation 22:14)
“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Torah of Yahweh. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” (Psalms 119:1-2)
The False teachers teach: They pit YahShua against Moses and lie when they say YahShua taught against the Torah. They do this so that they selectively teach that the commandments of Yahweh are done away with. Messiah YahShua said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Naviim (Prophets). I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Keep [Yahweh] decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land Yahweh your Elohim gives you for all time.” (Deuteronomy 4:40)

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the Temple of Elohim of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The Torah will go out from Zion, the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3)
The False teachers teach: We are no longer to keep Torah.
The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)
“…the people of Yahweh … keep [Yahweh’s] commands and remain faithful to YahShua.” (Revelation 14:12)
The False teachers teach: That all is needed for salvation is belief in Christ. However, we know belief is not enough, “the devils also believe, and tremble.” (James 2:19)

They also teach, that nobody is justified by keeping the commandments. There is a story in Matthew about this question: “a man came up to YahShua and asked, “Rabbi, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” YahShua replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:16, 17)

The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.” (Leviticus 19:18)
“YahShua replied: “‘Love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-49)
The False teachers teach: deceptively that YahShua nullified all other commandments by only upholding these two. They say, “Love is enough!” But Yahweh said, “love me and keep my commandments.” (Exodus 20:6) YahShua taught: “If ye keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

The Netzarim Faith teaches:
Moses was told by Yahweh: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:18)
Stephen witnessed that YahShua was the “prophet like unto Moses” who had been prophesied to come. “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘Yahweh your Elohim will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’”

(Acts 7:37) “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.” (John 12:49-50)
The False teachers teach: that one must decide to either follow Moses or the Messiah they are mutually exclusive. Moses is outdated while the Messiah is new and improved!

The Netzarim Faith teaches:
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

(Exodus 20:8-11)
The False teachers teach: twisting Romans 14:5-6, where Rabbi Sha’ul wrote: "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives Yahweh thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives Yahweh thanks."

From this statement, it could appear to some that Rabbi Sha’ul or Paul is saying that whatever day one chooses to rest and worship is irrelevant so long as one is "fully convinced in his own mind" and "observes it to the Lord."
Keep in mind that Rabbi Sha’ul, earlier in this same epistle, had written that "the Torah is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good," that "the doers of the Torah will be justified," and that he found "delight in the Torah of Yahweh" (Romans:7:12; 2:13; 7:22). If he were saying in Romans 14 that Sabbath observance is irrelevant or changed, such an assertion would be completely inconsistent with his other clear statements in this same letter.

The passage in question about days in Romans:14:5-6 is immediately between references to eating meat and vegetarianism in verses 2, 3 and 6. There is no biblical connection between Sabbath observance and vegetarianism, so these verses must be taken out of context to assume Rabbi Sha’ul was referring to the Sabbath.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary explains that "the close contextual association with eating suggests that Paul has in mind a special day set apart for observance as a time for feasting or as a time for fasting" (Everett Harrison, 1976, Vol. 10, p. 146). It is apparent that Rabbi Sha’ul wasn't discussing the Sabbath but, rather, other days during which feasting, fasting or abstaining from certain foods was practiced.

Rabbi Sha’ul was writing to a congregation composed of both Jewish, returning Israelites and gentile believers in Rome (Romans 1:13; 2:17). Eating and fasting practices that were not clearly addressed in the Scriptures had become a point of contention.
The Talmud records that many Jews of that time fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. They also had other traditional fast days (compare Zechariah 7:3-5). Since some of the Jewish Believers in Rome self-righteously criticized others (Romans 2:17-24), perhaps they had become like the Pharisee who boasted, "I fast twice a week" (Luke 18:12), and set themselves up as more righteous than others who were not fasting at these times.
Rabbi Sha’ul was setting the record straight by emphasizing that fasting is a voluntary exercise of worship not limited to particular days. Therefore, one person's fasting on a particular day when another is eating does not make him more righteous.

These are just some of the examples of how the Netzarim Faith differs from Christianity.
“…when Yahshua had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:24-29)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose hope is Yahweh. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:6-8)

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Thanks for reading. Hopefully this will help answer questions for you and others! 
More later....

Did Sha’ul (a.k.a.) Paul the Apostle Really Exist?

by Jason Jordan (Notes) on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 5:28am

It is virtually impossible to insert non-historical people (fictitious characters if-you-will) who set such a weighty influence on the annals of history without it causing fundamental problems. It’s just as hard to write an influential person out of history as it is to insert one. Ask the guys that wrote the Back to the Future movies!...just kidding.

The Nazarenes and its scripturally documented leaders certainly existed. One can see this by looking at the negative space within the ebb and flow of Judaism at the time of the emergence of the Nazarene and the sect’s subsequent growth.  The addition of the twelfth blessing in the Amidah, the prayer against heretics is but one example. This blessing was added at the Council of Yavneh after the destruction of the second Temple and was aimed at Essenes and Nazarenes. I might add that in its latter generalized format the prayer itself is sound as real heretics are a genuine phenomenon.  

Calling into question the existence of Sha’ul is problematic to say the least. Presently there exists some Messianics who disbelieve his ministry atbest and at worst question his existence altogether. This view begins tobankrupt a believer as other books such as Acts attributed to Rabbi Silus(a.k.a. Luke), Sha’ul’s cousin, begin to unravel in addition to all other worksin the Netzarim Ketuvim(a.k.a. The New Testament) that are attributed to Sha’ulhimself. This is because Sha’ul occupies such a prominent presence in otherbooks that he did not write.

Rabbi Sha’ul was seen as a dissident turn-coat Jew by many in hislifetime and beyond. "We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirringup riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarenesect.” (Acts 24:5) Even amongNetzarim who he initially hunted he was for a very long time regarded withsuspicion. “On reaching Jerusalem, hetried to join the talmidim; but they were all afraid of him – they didn’t believehe was a talmid.” (Acts 9:26)

Asfor evidence of him in rabbinic literature, the Jewish Encyclopaedia clearly dealswith him as a very real individual, citing him as a Hellenist with epilepsy based on his thorn in the flesh admittance. This isthe classic mode of attack that general Orthodox Judaism adopts when refutingour movement by citing our own text when criticising us and dismissing it wherewe might cite it as support material.

Wealso have to bear in mind that acknowledging a supposed heretic normally gives unnecessarylife to their cause. This is why it is of little benefit to enter into officialdebate with any religion outside the one a person is committed. By enteringinto dialogue one may find himself in danger of entering into dialogue with theserpent. Therefore historically, Judaism says very little about Nazarenes,knowing that if a sect arises within its body that is of human origin, it willfall without excessive criticism of it on their part. Consider the words of Gamalielthe great elder who lived in Messiah Yahshua’s day. “Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: ‘Men of Israel, consider carefullywhat you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared,claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He waskilled, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. Afterhim, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band ofpeople in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let themgo! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.”(Acts 5:25-38)

In actuality, rabbinic history acknowledges quite a few of the more orthodox Nazarene leaders in a positive light, not so much as their status as Nazarenes, but their orthodoxy and piety is focused upon. Nearly all of those who are mentioned are done so with no related information pertaining to their position or activities within the sect of the Nazarenes. Yochanan Ben Zakkai (a.k.a.) Johnthe Baptists (though his connection to the Immerser is concealed) is mentioned,James the Just (a.k.a. Ya’akov HaTzadik is mentioned in several places within rabbinic literature and Rabbi Akiva is even mentioned as having some neutral contactwith James’ disciples.  

The issues many have with Sha’ul and a great many other things in the NetzarimKetuvim are all compounded by the mess of Christianity that supplanted the original faith through the initial efforts of the Simon the Sorcerer mentioned in Acts, Ignatius,early church father Marcion and or course old favourite Emperor Constantine.

I’mall for keeping Christian theology out of Rabbinic Judaism and I even side withthe Jews on a great many areas of its teachings and halacha, but this mess is going to be cleaned up a whole lot faster if Orthodox Jews stick to attacking the false Greco-Roman identities of our movements leaders rather than attack them as if that is who they really were. For example, an attack of the Christian J-sus is different to an attack on the Jewish Yahshua ben Yosef. Fortunately,there are some Jewish Rabbis that are beginning to do this and I give praise to HaShem those minds that are in accordance with their lips. 

--

This came from a Torah Observant friend in Australasia.  It's real good. 

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House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer of Md., Tuesday, Jan. 4th 2011

According to the Treasury Department’s Bureau of the Public Debt, on Jan. 3, 2011, the public debt stood at: $13.998 trillion. ($13,997,932,781,828.89)

The fact that debt is so high can't be true, because Rep. Steny Hoyer would not lie would he? I don't think the man knows what truth is. He has clearly stated that others before now, Namely President Reagan and Bush cause the deficit. Yet President Obama has caused almost more debt that the last 4 presidents combined.

By the end of FY 2001, eight months after Bill Clinton left office and during George W. Bush’s first year in the White House, the debt stood at $3.319 trillion.

By the end of FY 2009, (Sept. 30, 2009) eight months after George W. Bush left office, during Barack Obama’s first year in office, the debt stood at $7.544 trillion...now its at $13.998 trillion.

O yes we can see that Rep. Steny Hoyer doesn't know what truth is. I wouldn't trust the man to tell the truth about anything.

"(3) they bend their tongues like their bow [for] lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith YHVH(the L
ord). (4) Take you heed every one of his neighbour, and trust you not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. (5) And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity." Jeremiah 9:3-5

Here is the original post!
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/hoyer-blames-reagan-and-bushes-deficits

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Till The Truth Is Drowned Out!

Ever wonder why some people just follow our president blindly.

They believe that he wouldn't do anything to hurt this country.

Well guess what. He's using the standard tactics.

Truth is taught as lies and lies are taught as truth; till the truth is drowned out!

President Barack Obama (Barry Soetoro) was given an opportunity to show what a black man could do for this country to make life better for everyone. The problem is his economics have hurt those who need the help most; poor people. Many of them are black and so he has hurt his own. But then again he isn't black; he's Muslim and Kenyan. So why should an idealist care about anyone. He's out to use American to see if his ideas will work. Forget about the people it hurts or the country he destroys. The ideas didn't work in Eastern Europe or Russia. So why would they work now?!

I was always told the Justice is Blind. Hence a person is defined by one's acts and words. Well neither of them by our President are good. If I was to turn the sound off of my TV then maybe by looks I could support our president!

But I can't live off looks. You can't run a business by how wonderful you look or by a smile that seems to good to be true.

He promised to have the most transparent administration. Yet I have never seen such an opaque one in the history of our country. Isn't it time to stop playing with our blocks and build something good in this country again.

We need to have a man or woman in office that will really care about the people and how to help them.

Truth is suppose to be supreme!

"And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter." Isaiah 59:14

"But thou shalt say unto them, This [is] a nation that obeyeth not the voice of YHVH (the lord) their Elohim (God), nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth." Jeremiah 7:28


More later!

Return to the News of Yesterday...

Here's a story from 2 years ago before Obama won the election. Interesting how it rings true today!

The Black Kennedy: But does anyone know the real Barack Obama?By PETER HITCHENS
Last updated at 20:46 02 February 2008
Comments (0) Add to My Stories America is about to fool itself for the third time in a row. Sentiment and star quality seem likely to trample on common sense and experience, and we will all suffer for it.
Having fallen - twice - for the Southern-fried charm of Bill Clinton and - twice - for the corny, fake patriotism of George W. Bush, the people of the great republic are now overpowered by the beauty and sweetness of Barack Obama, a glimmering TV star with the power to make them feel at ease with themselves, and about whom they know only what he wants them to know.
I make no predictions about the huge political contest that will take place across much of the United States on Tuesday, with 22 states voting in a national dress rehearsal for the real thing in November. Nobody really knows what will happen.
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Road to glory: Barack and Michelle Obama together on his campaign bus
But I think Mr Obama will still be in the fight, with a more than reasonable chance of winning the Democratic nomination and then the presidency.
Not only has he been endorsed by the black talk-show megastar Oprah Winfrey, famous for leaping on to the biggest bandwagon of the day, he has just collected the priceless blessing of the Kennedys, which is worth millions of votes.
The Last Brother, Teddy, has stirred his lardy bulk on Obama's behalf. And, for those who still find Teddy a bit repellent, the same endorsement has come from JFK's daughter Caroline.
This was not just a great bonus for Obama. It was a cruel loss to his sole rival, Hillary Clinton, for her husband once had the Kennedy seal of approval and this action strips it from him and from her.
Bill, once proclaimed by the modish black author Toni Morrison as "the first black president", has now had the medal ripped from his chest by the person who pinned it on. Ms Morrison is backing Obama.
It seems awfully possible that, having acted patiently as the world's first militant feminist doormat for two decades, Hillary will not now get the reward she thought would be hers at last. Bill, who keeps making crassly offensive remarks about Obama, has been told to shut up.
It's true the Republicans might win, but they hate and mistrust each other so much after the Bush disaster that it seems remote.
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Peter Hitchens outside Obama's Chicago home
So who really is this Obama who can reduce knees and brains to jelly, whose books are read with reverence by normally pungent critics, and who, we are told, is the new JFK? I travelled to his home city, Chicago, to see if I could find out.
I recalled how we had all been fooled in the early Clinton years by the twaddle about the "Man from Hope" - a legend in which Bill had grown up among poor, denim-clad folks in a small country town.
Years later, when someone bothered to check, it turned out Bill had barely been in Hope at all but had instead been raised in great comfort in Hot Springs, Al Capone's favourite holiday resort and still full of good-time girls, big Chevrolets and sleaze.
With Obama the problem is a little different, though Capone still comes into it.
He has written his own sunlit, often rather purple account of his life, with just enough revelation to persuade us that we know all we need to know.
The book, Dreams From My Father, is a much-praised bestseller (though I suspect many of those who praised it didn't stick it out to the end).
It contains a confession of drug-taking, carefully limited - marijuana and cocaine but no heroin. It is sometimes moving but often exasperating.
Obama has black skin and was deserted by his father at the age of two. His mother seems to have been a little vague about life.
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Family man: Obama at home with his wife Michelle and their young children Malia and Sasha
Read more...
Kennedy backs Obama as the true heir to JFK
Clinton and Obama left to fight it out after John Edwards drops out of White House race
Hollywood A-list turns out to hear Clinton and Obama hint at running together
But his devoted grandparents, especially his hard-working grandmother, saw to it that young Barry, as he was then known, got a private education. This lifted him way above the miseries of most black Americans.
Under the circumstances, there may be a little too much in the memoirs about how tough it was to be black.
Crucially, the story stops just where things get interesting - when Obama first entered politics in Chicago, that mythical city of gangsterism, corruption and oneparty-state politics. He did this as an Illinois State Senator, representing a largely black and liberal section of Capone's hometown.
Now, Obama has the devil's luck, which among other things means he has a boyish smile that disarms suspicion or hostility at 50 paces.
But he is no child, and no innocent. Despite a childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, Obama knows Chicago well - and from underneath, too.
He threw over a good corporate job in New York to toil in the dismal South Side as a "community organiser", getting up campaigns about asbestos in council flats but also getting to know this place's grimy, snaggled web of power - churches, property developers, professional politicians, fixers and money men.
He also revealed that he was the sort of person who goes into a revolving door behind you and then comes out of it in front of you. And, of course, he is a lawyer who knows the rules all too well.
As one veteran of Chicago politics who very much did not want to be named said to me: "Thank God for Louisiana - their politics are even dirtier than ours."

He clearly remembered Obama's first steps on his political career. This involved merciless cunning.
Somehow, all of Obama's challengers made a mess of their nomination papers. They were all disqualified. Only Obama's papers, miraculously, were perfect. So he won the Democratic nomination, which in this part of the world means he won the seat.
The insider recalled: "I thought he was a very talented young man. He was smart, he was willing, he was principled and he worked hard.
"He went to Springfield [the Illinois state capital] and did not become part of the more tawdry aspects of the culture down there - alcohol and women.
But Obama quickly got another reputation. "He was always in the bathroom for the really tough votes. It was not courageous."
The source explained this simply. Barack Obama knew even then that he could one day live in the White House.
"I think he understood long ago that the future was limitless for him. He made decisions in his very early political life that would enable him to be a candidate who would have very broad appeal."
These not-very-helpful remarks come from a black member of Obama's own party. What about his opponents?
One who remembers him well is Illinois State Senator Bill Brady, a white conservative Republican. The two arrived in Springfield together. In the evenings, they would gather for a friendly card game.
"There was a group of us who used to play poker," said Brady. "He was a conservative player. I said to him, 'If you were half as conservative with the taxpayers' dollars as you are at the poker table, the people of Illinois would be a lot better off.' "We were mostly playing for beers and giggles but he took it as seriously as anybody. I recall him never getting too far down."
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Youth appeal: Barack Obama, then known as Barry, in his 1979 high school year book
Brady also recalled a tendency to have it both ways and to dodge difficult votes that might hurt him later in life: "I saw great ambition in him, no question. He had an agenda."
As for his voting performance, Brady agreed Obama liked sitting on the fence. He is recalled for taking full advantage of an Illinois rule that lets you vote "present" if you don't want to commit yourself.
Brady recalled: "I learned very quickly that the 'present' vote, where the button you press is very appropriately coloured yellow, is the chicken's way out."
But that did not mean Obama lacked convictions. On the contrary, when it suited him he would vote as far Left as he could. "No one was further Left. He would do things that were unrealistic to prove he was Left.
"He was not far Left for political benefit but because he was a true believer.
"But these would be on broad-brush issues - unlike, say, detailed abortion laws - where it was unlikely to be held against him. I have never heard anyone say so little about detailed policies . . . He has moderated his tones, but I don't think he has moderated his beliefs," said Brady.
Both these politicians also mentioned Obama's money problems. These were big.
Money for TV campaigns is the original sin of US politics. No one can get anywhere without it.
And, as recounted in a refreshingly ungushing biography by David Mendell, Obama was seriously short of cash. When he went to the Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles in 2000 he couldn't hire a car to get around because his credit card was maxed out.
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I want you: Obama points at his audience during a rally in Iowa
About that time, his amazing luck seemed to fail him and an attempt to run for the US House of Representatives collapsed, largely for lack of funds.
It was, it turned out, a good thing. Four years later he was free to run for the US Senate, a far better route to the prize he seeks.
When that came around, good fortune swept him to Capitol Hill so sweetly that he hardly had to open his mouth or spend any of the millions of dollars he had finally managed to raise.
It was almost like the film The Omen. Anybody who got in his way just melted away or met a nasty end.
But this time nobody could possibly blame him, though the mysterious figure of his feared spin-doctor David Axelrod lurks in the background here, and some suspect his hand in at least some of Obama's luck.
The first slice of good fortune was that the seat was empty - the incumbent suddenly retired, citing "family issues".
The former Democratic holder of the seat, prominent black politician Carol Moseley Braun, could have had it for the asking - and Obama would not have dared challenge her - but she ruled herself out.
That still left a couple of major Democratic challengers. But Obama unexpectedly won union support and wiped out one of them.
The second, Blair Hull, was a tougher proposition until details of his divorce papers were unsealed, revealing his wife's accusations of abuse, which virtually destroyed him.
Obama won the Democratic nomination.
To win election to the Senate, Obama would have had a major battle against Republican Jack Ryan. But then Ryan's divorce papers were also unsealed, revealing that his wife Jeri - an actress famous for her tight costumes in Star Trek: Voyager - had accused him of pressuring her to have sex in public in kinky clubs.
Ryan denied it, but that was the end of him.
The Republicans pretty much gave up the struggle at this stage, picking a candidate who had no connections with Illinois. Obama couldn't lose.
By this time, he had learned how to raise money, persuading Hyatt hotel magnate Penny Pritzker he was worth backing, a boost that immediately brought in many more wealthy liberals flapping their chequebooks at the charming young man.
But he had also got mixed up with the Syrian-American property magnate and alleged "slumlord" Tony Rezko, who, as I write, languishes a few hundred yards from me in a Chicago jail, having had his bail revoked on serious fraud charges.
The Rezkos had known Obama since 1990 and even held a fundraising party for him at their mansion in the wealthy suburb of Wilmette.
Obama bought a new home, a big Edwardian-era detached house in fashionable Kenwood, soon after he won his Senate seat in 2004.
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Campaign trail: Obama relaxes as he travels between rallies

The former owner apparently wasn't willing to sell the house without a large chunk of land next to it, which Obama seemingly couldn't afford. The house cost $1.65 million and the land $625,000.
Rezko's wife Rita bought the vacant land. Six months later, she sold Obama a slice of it for $104,500 so that he could extend his garden.
By that time, Tony Rezko was already under federal investigation. Worse, letters have since come to light in which Obama lobbied city officials on Rezko's behalf.
The Clintons don't dare make too much of this Obama skeleton because people will remind them of their own odd dealings with property companies and commodity traders.
But one Chicago Democratic professional told me: "I cannot believe Obama got so beholden to that man just to buy a big house."
Obama now says he agrees, describing the transaction as "boneheaded". But it cannot now be undone.
It suggests very bad judgment, as do strong, persistent suggestions that Obama also accepted quite small contributions from extreme Left-wing veterans of the terrorist Weather Underground now living in Chicago.
His list of contributions shows one for $200 from a certain William Ayers. Can this possibly be the same William Ayers, now a Chicago professor, who used to plant bombs in the Seventies and has said: "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough"? His partner, Bernardine Dohrn, once "declared war" on the US government.
It wouldn't be surprising. Those (like me) who know the Left-wing codes notice things about Obama that suggest he is far more radical than he would like us to know.
His famous speech against the Iraq War was timely and brave, but few recall that it contained a dumb Marxoid conspiracy theory passage claiming the war was "an attempt to distract us" from domestic problems.
His memoirs give friendly mentions to figures such as Frantz Fanon and Malcolm X, heroes of the wild Left in the Sixties.
His mother and father met on a Russian-language course at a time when the Russian language was inextricably mixed up with communism.
And his spin-doctor David Axelrod, a fabled master of the black arts, is a New York Left-winger and child of the Left-wing movement.
Then there is the Trinity United Church of Christ, the large and prosperous tabernacle where Obama, raised partly as a Muslim, embraced Christianity.
This is no ordinary church and it is not an ordinary black church either.
Religion in America is still divided by an apartheid more rigid than anything that ever existed in South Africa. But it is a voluntary apartheid, at least in one direction, and on several visits to black American churches I have always found a moving, kind welcome - as I did at Trinity, which lies in Chicago's deep south, at the end of a train line where white passengers are a rarity.
Trinity says it is "unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian". And so it is. A male choir in smart suits sings and sways and on the night I visited, a charismatic preacher, Pastor Otis Moss III, expounded from Exodus with wit and power.
My neighbours in the upholstered pews were younger and less formally dressed than some black congregations, and spent much of the time embracing me, helping me find my place and gripping me by the hand. This is not a haunt of anti-white racialism.
But it is pretty radical.
The parish magazine is full of fierce denunciations of the American government's failure to fight AIDS. A large chunk of the sermon was devoted to urging black Americans not to allow themselves to be relegated to second-class citizenship.
The retiring Senior Pastor, Jeremiah Wright (who brought Obama to Christianity), is famous for preaching in African robes. He is also noted for his Church's "disavowal of the pursuit of middle-classness" which sets it apart from many black churches.
Those who achieved success in the American mainstream, Trinity urged, should avoid the "psychological entrapment of black middle-classness that hypnotises the successful brother or sister into believing that they are better than the rest and teaches them to think in terms of we or they instead of us!"
Obama has been sneered at by black radicals such as the former Black Panther Bobby Rush for not being "black enough".
They whisper that he talks and walks like a white man. By embracing the "unashamedly black" Trinity church and by making much of his Kenyan roots, he fights off this attack and keeps connections in the black part of town.
But his home is far from Trinity, in Chicago's equivalent of Islington, an agreeable quarter of older houses near the university, one of the rare places where the dream of racial integration comes true.
In Starbucks, white businesswomen sit near black customers, an unusual sight in America.
Nearby a mural celebrates the successes of black Americans. No doubt Obama's face will soon join those of Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali.
At the Hyde Park Hair salon, Zariff (who insists he has just one name) enjoys growing celebrity as the man who cuts Obama's hair.
He realised his client was famous only when he started appearing on TV: "I knew from talking to him that he was a bright guy but we never discussed politics. He was always interested in me and what I was doing rather than the other way round."
Zariff reveals that Obama really needs to have his hair cut every week to maintain that stylish look - and that he still makes his own appointments.
Like everyone I meet in the area, Zariff is immensely proud to have this global star just walking around the neighbourhood.
When Obama comes into the shop, people goggle through the windows as if it were an aquarium.
You can see here the raw stardom, plus what is obviously a genuine niceness and a graceful writing and speaking style, that has carried this man so far.
You can also see how good it would make America, black and white, feel about itself if it chose a black man to sit in the White House, so wiping away at least some of the long shame, resentment and fear that slavery - and what followed - have caused here.
But symbolic victories don't make much difference in the real world. America is not electing a national father figure or good neighbour, but the mighty chief executive of a world power.
When Obama first became famous, the perceptive Peggy Noonan (once Ronald Reagan's speechwriter) issued a warning.
She described America's last decade as "the long freakout", during which parties chose presidential candidates because they could win, on appearance rather than reality.
The result was repeated pain. Clinton appalled half the country, George W. Bush enraged the other half.
Obama's "sudden rise and wild popularity", she said, "seem more symptom than solution".
And as one veteran of Chicago black politics said to me wistfully: "He is a smart, talented and handsome person, but I am not sure which of those matters most to the American people."
That is not what he really meant. He knew perfectly well that it was the camera's power to make Obama shimmer and glow that makes him so important.
And yet a better person might look terrible and sound worse.
How long can the great democracies survive in the face of television's ability to make some of us look like gods when we are not?
Those who now laud him will probably be flinging abuse at him within two years of his election, and heaven knows how he will be able to continue to be the good family man he is, or walk round to the Hyde Park Hair salon for a trim and a chat with Zariff.
By becoming President he will instantly cease to be what everyone wants him to be.
But by then, of course, it will be too late.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-511901/The-Black-Kennedy-But-does-know-real-Barack-Obama.html#ixzz0mx8cASlK

Why President Obama and His Marxist Allies are Pushing Socialized Healthcare

I had to follow the links to find the origianl posting.

NewZeal had it first!





Here's where it start!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Why President Obama and His Marxist Allies are Pushing Socialized Healthcare



I have written this post to explain why President Obama is so desperate to pass health care legislation, seemingly regardless of the cost to the Democratic Party.

The reality is that President Obama owes his success and his hold on power more to three Marxist groups than he does to the Democrats.

The three organizations, Communist Party USA, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism and Democratic Socialists of America, all worked with Barack Obama for years and helped get him elected.

Now they want payback.

All three organizations have campaigned hard for "socialized" or "Single Payer" health care.

They want Obama to pass a Bill, any Bill, so that they can then ratchet up the pressure until the government has complete control of the health sector.

Why? because these people figure that if government controls health care, it will lock socially conservative American workers into supporting their Democratic Party allies indefinitely.

Britain after WW2 is their model. While Winston Churchill was the hero of the hour, in 1946 he was dumped in a landslide in favor of Labour Party leader Clement Attlee, on the promise of a massively increased Welfare State and a socialized National Health Service.

Leading Communist Party USA theoretician Norman Markowitz put it this way in a November 2008 article in Political Affairs, entitled Obama's Mandate for Change;

A “single payer” national health system – known as “socialized medicine” in the rest of the developed world – should be an essential part of the change that the core constituencies which elected Obama desperately need.
Britain serves as an important political lesson for strategists. After the Labor Party established the National Health Service after World War II, supposedly conservative workers and low-income people under religious and other influences who tended to support the Conservatives were much more likely to vote for the Labor Party when health care, social welfare, education and pro-working class policies were enacted by labor-supported governments.

For an in depth look at the Marxists behind Obamacare I recommend you visit my blog New Zeal, specifically the posts;

Barack Obama and the Socialist Healthcare Scamsters

Some Christmas Reading for Your Senators, Obama, Young, Conyers and Socialized Healthcare.
For a comprehensive expose of President Obama's Marxist ties I ask you to visit my website KeyWiki, specifically the pages;

Barack Obama and the Communist Party

Barack Obama and the Committees of Correspondence

Barack Obama and Democratic Socialists of America

If you believe the above information is accurate and valuable, please link to the articles on your blog or website.

Please circulate them to your friends colleagues and elected representatives.

From a grateful Kiwi friend of the United States of America.

Trevor Loudon

Christchurch

New Zealand.
posted by Trevor Loudon at 3/19/2010 10:21:00 AM Permanent Link!


Thanks for reading! Yah's Blessings and Shalom!