Year: 2017

The Chozeh of Lublin once admonished his disciple, Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz for his cleverness. The Torah says “Tamim Te’hyeh im Hashem Elokecha”, one should walk simply with Hashem. Why, then, do you act with such craftiness?

“To the contrary”, answered Rabbi Naftali. “This verse is the very reason I do so. One requires a great deal of wisdom in order to ‘walk simply with God’!”

We wrote yesterday:

That Jews had this symbol in synagogues demonstrates once more the truth of what I said here:

By the way, this is another thing anti-Zionists get wrong. Even if/when Jews are not a national entity, avoiding confrontation, too, has limits, and each situation must be judged anew. They never judge anything religious anew, sadly.

In a past book review, I wrote:

The characters keep turning to Rabbi Nachman of blessed memory in what seems mighty akin to prayer. When things go awry some of them “prayed to God and Rabbi Nachman”. When things went well they “thanked both”. Personal Divine providence seems orchestrated a little too strongly by that same human being. Song lyrics are quoted which illustrate this same perspective.

I don’t think I have a problem with Breslov, but if it’s getting distorted into idolatry, I certainly do.

…

If you have read the original version of this post before, please continue reading.

Critical Update: The original post continued by misquoting the lyrics of an anonymous Breslover song (not quoted in the above book) as though they espoused Avoda Zara, God forbid. In fact, I misheard the lyrics to say this: איש האלוקים, אתה בורא עולם שירד אלינו בסוף כל הדורות… נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן… when the real words are מתנת בורא עולם… which destroys the whole point of the post.

I wholeheartedly apologize to any relevant parties offended by this slander (‘Motzi shem ra’).

(Although I don’t yet know who they are.)

Without detracting from my remorse, please allow me to relate the background:

This post’s original form entailed several other individuals listening to the song themselves. All listeners are fluent, long-time speakers of Hebrew, with fine hearing. After a generous reader wrote in noting the true lyrics, my volunteers and myself listened once again to the recording, only this time to recognize the discomfiting truth.

• Hyehudi.org has accepted a certain procedural change in an attempt to head off any recurrence.
• I must now speak and/or correspond with my helpers to correct the false impression.
• Lastly, after removing the post for investigation, I deem it best the original hyperlink remain as is to counteract any unknown damage.

The Magen David star is not a Jewish symbol; it is a symbol of the Davidian monarchy, which just so happens to be Jewish. In Kesav Ivri, the letter “Dalet” looks like the Greek Delta or triangle. and so, the Magen David consists of one “Dalet” superimposed on another, from the name “David” (no need for the joining letter “Vav” in the middle).

Jews don’t worship physical shapes, such as the Cursedian “X” or Mohammedan crescent!

So, why was the Magen David displayed in synagogues?

To remind ourselves of our own supremacy, even while suppressed in exile.

Today, we need to remember democracy is entirely illegitimate (on a national level). But a Davidic king or vassal is not the ultimate Jewish aspiration either; anarchy is. Anti-authoritarianism (or “libertarianism”) could also be described as “Responsibilitarianism”. Personal responsibility (including uncoerced groupings of individuals) to what end? Serving God.

That Jews had this symbol in synagogues illustrates once more the truth of an earlier article:

… This is another thing anti-Zionists get wrong. Even if/when Jews are not a national entity, avoiding confrontation, too, has limits, and each situation must be judged anew. They never judge anything religious anew, sadly.