JPost.com: "Rabbi To The Stars" Clinches GOP NominationGil Schefler, March 18, 2012
Shmuley Boteach defeats 2 other candidates, cites Maccabees as inspiration.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach has won the Republican nomination in the upcoming election for New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District.
The prolific author of books such as Kosher Sex and Kosher Jesus, who is also a columnist for The Jerusalem Post, handily defeated two other candidates on Thursday and will square off against an as yet to be selected Democrat in the November 6 vote. (Read the entire article)
Esser Agaroth (2¢):
There is only one reason why you should not vote for Shmuely Boteach.
It doesn't matter what you think about his many idiotic, unsupportable ideas on Torah.
It doesn't matter that he is so full of himself as "rabbi to the stars," like Michael Jackson, who wasn't even Jewish.
It doesn't matter if thinks that there is anything even remotely "kosher" about the Christian false deity, sometimes referred to as the "god on a stick."
It doesn't matter if he would do a good job or not as a member of Congress. Personally, I don't see how he could do any worse than someone else.
The ONLY reason why you should not vote for Shmuely Boteach, for a seat in the U. S. House of Representatives is that like every other American Jew, the U. S. is NOT his home!
The ONLY home of any Jew is the Land of Israel.
No Jew has any business getting involved with the goyshe politics of a strange land in which we are all strangers. Let the goyim worry about their own countries, including the U. S.
I said the same thing about Rabbi Nachum Shifren, the "Surfing Rabbi," whom I DO like, when he was running for a seat in the California State Senate. So, no one can complain of any bias or differential treatment on my part in this regard.Sure, having Shmuely Boteah live around the corner for me, or even in the same country, will be a great challenge, with his charismatic ability to influence the uninformed masses, but it is a challenge which we must all share and meet.
After all, he is a Jew, and belongs at home, here in Israel with the rest of us.
Oh my!! Michael jackson was not jewish!! Kick him to the curb! Silly sill man.
ReplyDeleteAnd why cant jews get involved in the politics of their home country?? There is precedent in our history.
Living in israel makes people see out of such a narrow frame of reference its almost scary.
Ksil
Ksil, Thanks for commenting.
ReplyDeleteYes, of course, Jews have been involved in politics.
What's your point? We had to survive. Then we assimilated.
The U. S. is not the true home of the Jewish People. 2,000 years of living outside of our true home has convinced us otherwise.
Now, that we are able to leave galuth (diaspora), it's time to invest in our own country, not in someone elses.
Thank you for the response. I dont beleive in a homeland for jews. Thats very nice that you do, but i believe jews should live in the world, not secluded in their shtetle.
ReplyDeleteWe had a history with israel, but the modern world is a very different place. I do not belive in a jewish only state.
You do, gezunta hait. Enjoy it. I couldnt disagree with that more....so please dont preach to me that all jews should move to israel, thats very condscending and insulting.
Ksil, Thanks for writing.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that one of the reasons for blogs?? Preaching??
;-)
I mean,...no one's twisting your arm to read this blog, although I appreciate that you do.
Plus, you can always make your own blog, and/or make your opinions heard through your comments.
We're obviously coming from different perspectives, mine being that of halakhically supportable Torah sources.
I'm very much the opposite of a globalist.
I hope you make it out, before it's too late.
When Rav Meir Shapiro (ya...THAT R' Meir Shapiro) was elected as a Sjam Deputy (a Senator in the Polish Parliment)he went to collect a Mazal Tov from his Admo"r the Chortkover Rebbe. The Rebbe cuttingly remarked "When your father used to bring you here as a young Ilui I always thought that you'd grow up to be another Noideh B'Yehuda. As things turned out you grew up to become a Noideh BaGOYIM!!!!"
ReplyDeleteBTW IIRC Agudas Yisroel had more Sjam Deputies in that parliament than they ever had Khavrei HaKneset in ANY K'neset.
In all due respect, esser Agaroth, I think that your article incorrectly portrays the views of kosher/halachic judaism.
ReplyDeleteNumerous Rabbanim over the years were involved in 'goyish' [as you call it] politics...in various capacities, or used their position for influencing the foreign governments favorable towards the Jewish people.
note a few such as Rambam [the caliphs doctor], the Abarbanel, Shmuel hanaggid...Daniel and his 3 comrads...Yosef hatsaddik...Nechemyah...Ester and Mordecai...many times in the Mishnah and Gemara, including with Yehudah Hanasi and his 'friendship' with Antoninus [?]...
Likewise, word has it about the Berditchever and the Baal HaTanya's positions on either Napoleon or the Czar...
Likewise, there is a concept called the 7 mitsvot of bney noach...hmmm...the courts are set up outside of eretz yisrael whose authority stems from Torat Moshe [see hilchot melakhim umilchemotechem].
I also hate the break the news to you, but as much as I love Israel, and am Zionist in my orientation, the current government isn't exactly a 'Torah' government...and in Israel Jews are also in galut, despite being the land...at least until Mashiach comes.
In Yirmiyahu hanavi, HASHEM tells Yirmiyahu to pray for the peace of the land we are dispersed to, build homes there, plant gardens there, and raise families there...
likewise, concerning some of Boteachs understandings, and people he deals/dealt with...If you have never studied 'NT' objectively [to understand, not to denegrate] then it is best to not to comment on it. Objective doesn't mean to believe it, but simply for the sake of understanding the views it espouses. Concerning your attitude towards non-Jews, you need to wake up. Many, many lessons are told in aggadot and other rabbinic 'stories', as well as in the TaNaKh [ie sefer Yonah, for example, aside from Torah admonitions] that show that we are not to speak down to non-Israelite peoples.
In all due respect, esser Agaroth, I think that your article incorrectly portrays the views of kosher/halachic judaism.
ReplyDeleteOh?
Numerous Rabbanim over the years were involved in 'goyish' [as you call it] politics...in various capacities, or used their position for influencing the foreign governments favorable towards the Jewish people.
note a few such as Rambam [the caliphs doctor], the Abarbanel, Shmuel hanaggid...Daniel and his 3 comrads...Yosef hatsaddik...Nechemyah...Ester and Mordecai...many times in the Mishnah and Gemara, including with Yehudah Hanasi and his 'friendship' with Antoninus [?]...
Yeah, and?
Likewise, word has it about the Berditchever and the Baal HaTanya's positions on either Napoleon or the Czar...
What's your point? We are living in a completely different time. Those rabbanim were not only hakhamim in Torah but also in how it related to their reality in galuth. We no longer have to do such things in order to survive. We can come to Eretz Yisra'el, and build upon the Jewish potential here, perform misswoth, and perform misswoth in their proper place, and on a higher level (Even Rabbi Yoel miSatmar said that this is the reality for those Jews living here). I emphasize here Eretz Yisra'el, and not Medinath Yisra'el. There is a difference, as I believe you see as well.
Likewise, there is a concept called the 7 mitsvot of bney noach...hmmm...the courts are set up outside of eretz yisrael whose authority stems from Torat Moshe [see hilchot melakhim umilchemotechem].
Yes, but they are for the goyim, not us. Of course, the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem would the last word, if needed. We may have an obligation to follow such laws in foreign lands (Some authorities hold that this is only in regard to taxes, which is what THAT suggiyah in the Bavli states), and thus (when allowed) to participate, in order to make it better or at least fair for Jews. But, like I said above, this is no longer necessary, except for those who want to stay in galuth, I suppose.
I also hate the break the news to you, but as much as I love Israel, and am Zionist in my orientation, the current government isn't exactly a 'Torah' government...and in Israel Jews are also in galut, despite being the land...at least until Mashiach comes.
The term "Zionism" has been hijacked by the likes of Shimon Peres. All frum Jews see Eretz Tzion as the home of the Jewish People, even Neturei Karta. The only mahloqeth is regarding when, how, and by whom will this be initiated this time around. You allude to this below. Zionism is simple one of many Torah concepts.
In Yirmiyahu hanavi, HASHEM tells Yirmiyahu to pray for the peace of the land we are dispersed to, build homes there, plant gardens there, and raise families there...
1. Random p'suqim do not constitute a halakhic asmakhta.
2. Please remind yourself of the context.
3. To present such a concept, out of context, without any regard for HaZa"L's understanding a is "reform" or even "christian" shitah, not a Jewish one.
likewise, concerning some of Boteachs understandings, and people he deals/dealt with...If you have never studied 'NT' objectively [to understand, not to denegrate] then it is best to not to comment on it.
1. There is no such as the NT. There is only one "testament."
2. I will leave the study of avodah zarah to the hakhamim, and soon in our days, to the Sanhedrin, who are required to study it, so that they know how to rule on it.
Objective doesn't mean to believe it, but simply for the sake of understanding the views it espouses. Concerning your attitude towards non-Jews, you need to wake up.
ReplyDeleteMy attitude toward towards the goyim is just fine. / ב' ישמעאל שונא את יעקב א' עשו שונא את יעקב
Many, many lessons are told in aggadot and other rabbinic 'stories', as well as in the TaNaKh [ie sefer Yonah, for example, aside from Torah admonitions] that show that we are not to speak down to non-Israelite peoples.
אם תאמר לך יש חכמה בגוים תאמין. So, what's your point? You've presented some sources here, which are simply not shayakh.
We do not poseq halakha according to aggadah. Aggadah only supports halakhic understanding.
I also hate the break the news to you, but as much as I love Israel, and am Zionist in my orientation, the current government isn't exactly a 'Torah' government...and in Israel Jews are also in galut, despite being the land...at least until Mashiach comes.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about something, it is not a Torah gov't. You and I are apparently not deluded in this regard like the mamlakhtim.
Regarding the your "wait around for Mashiah to come and do everything" mentality has only existed for about 500 years, clearly a galuth development.
I think that you are the one who needs to review Hil. M'lakhim uMilhamothem.
Make sure you're learning an uncensored version.