Efrat rabbi retracts praise for 'Rabbi Jesus' over Orthodox ire

to discuss this subject openly. It is probably the most contentious subject a Jew can discuss. How many of us know that Judaism was completely changed at the time of Christ? No Levites, replaced w/ Rabbi's. No animal sacrifices, replaced w/ prayer. And we complain of others who would change Jews when we did this ourselves over 2,000 years ago? And, I also wonder to myself, when did we lose our faith in the Gd of Israel and of Zion? How do we separate Gd from Zion or from the Jews? Good thing Gd keeps His promises when we are in such error.

that there is an error in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the book of Matthew. The original is "And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." With the proper correction it should read " And Jacob begot Joseph, the Father of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ." As the scripture is clear that Joseph her husband was not Jesus father it makes total sense when you know this. Shalom.

Seems we lump Catholic sins and Protestants all in one lump. America's founders were protestants NOT catholics. America's founders rejected Rome and her 'religion' and established a nation w/o a national church and w/o a national 'religious' state as was all of Europe( Catholic) who brutalized the Jews. One of the reasons they left Europe was for religious freedoms, remember? Please don't throw Protestants into the catholic camp. The two are not the same. America's founders left Europe to be free of both the "Church' and the State. ( a king)

And I have read the bible more than once, all of it.( King James ) And I still maintain, The Jews are right, one Gd. "Thou shalt have no other Gd before me". Even Jesus said it was most important. Gd is smarter than all of us and knows the heart and it's ways better than any of us. I believe even people who aren't familiar w/ either the Gd of Israel or w/ Jesus, know instinctively right from wrong. Among Christians there are 22,000 plus sects. Which of these is correct? We know Gd chose the Jews. Maybe you should inquire of Gd why? To those who believe in Jesus, I have no problem whatsoever. To those who would 'convert' me, I have a problem.( as they would w/ me if I were rude enough to try and 'convert' them) I believe each soul is responsible unto itself and Gd is the creator of us all. The message of "You'll burn in hell" isn't my idea of Gd or of Jesus. And the 'crusades' and 'Inquisition' are as anti christ as anything I can imagine, don't you agree?

I saw a lecture from Rabbi Sheiffman of New York who also called Jesus a prophet and teacher. Most Jews have been taught that Jesus wasn't important or relative. When they actually read his words, they will find most all of them come from the law and the Old testament. He used the saying "not one rock will be left upon the other" when referring to what WOULD ( and DID) happen to Solomon's temple.) Didn't he also say, "Many will come in my name"? We Jews could learn from this Master Rabbi who caused more debate than any other subject pertaining to Jews. To dismiss him summarily, is also to dismiss some of our own history and most of our "Protestant' friends, the Evangelicals. As Judaism changed drastically from it's origins, it would seem Jesus reminded Jews of the Law and the intent of the law. And before you throw stones at me, think and read for yourself first don't take the word of those who haven't examined his own words.

First christians were jews and believed that only jews could be members of the new sect. But as christianity spread, a new idea was raised by St Paul: gentiles can be christians simply through faith. In the First Jerusalem Council (1st century AD) an intermediate solution was found: gentiles may become christians if they respect the 7 Noah Laws (a very jewish solution indeed). In any case, these are only words, concepts, the real goal of any religion is to achieve a personal relationship with God. The rest is much less important.

Those who are willing, will see! some, too late. continue to continue, that is love thy G-D, love thy neighbor, pray without ceasing, as you walk through, and do not dwell, in the valley. remember this, Leave all the circumstances to HIM, He is in control, and HE knows the beginning from the end, and as you have read, you know the end as well. grace and peace to you all.

Your words are simply nonsense which reflect sub-adult Jewish education, if you are even a Jew. Your comments demonstrate a perversed understanding of Judaism and have no bearing on Judaism's survival. All of the world's main religions evolved from Judaism and bore the mark of radical change based on small private and influential people- and very little holyness. Part of a masterplan to keep Jewry untainted from idolatry and ongoing reforming. If you can admit to a low JewIQ, you have a chance of getting up in your life and seeing truth.

we all got the snake inside us which is got poison to kill or healing,the truth to show yourself or the lie to hide everything,the good to do right or the evil to do wrong,our thoughts got the opposites and jesus used it to heal,the truth and the good but he was refused by his own and after two thousands years of spiritual suffering our generation got the chance to reveal jesus in zion as all the prophecies said,do not let it go away so we can start the real life when ourselves and our thoughts are one for ever,not more doubles and nothing to hide,our inside voice and what we say it is gonna be the same,i tell you jews without spirituality this is the truth for all of you who never think nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 and just repeat the same deja vu about jesus,breake your cassete and think!!!! read jesus and you will find who jesus was,the righteous,the humble,the rabbi of rabbi,the only true jewish mashiaj!!

What kind of a Messiah was Jesus ? he did not free the Jews from the Roman yoke, the number 1 task of the Jewish Messiah was to free the Jews from their oppressors,since he claimed that God is his father,he could not be a descendant to the house of David,his intelect was not on the level of Hilel,Rabban Yochanan ben Zakay,he did not contribute to the Mishna (The written Law)his preambles are very childish,but the language of his stories is Talmudic,rather, he was a revolutinary,preaching love and brotherhood,in the spirit of the prophets of Israel,the late David Pluser an Orthodox Jew,an expert on Christianity,said,Jesus should be recognized as a prophet, like the other prophets of Israel,the problem is ,that Jesus become the symbol and the cause of Jewish sufferings,the very people who were singing himns to Jesus,for 2 thosand years were persecuting and killing the people of Jesus, Jesus was a full pledged Jew,would Torquemada and queen Isabel of spain allow him to stay in spain?.

Faith ... NOT fear will save Israel ! As Abraham had faith... Moses had faith...Noah had faith... Joshua had faith... David had faith Jesus had the GREATEST faith...believing ABBA Father would raise HIM from the DEAD ! ...To heal every sickness & disease ! ...To fulfill over 300 TORAH-Old Testement prophesies - the odds of any man doing it.. would be one in over a trillion ! ... to open eyes of men born blind ! IF you believe NOT my Word made flesh- MY SON JESUS believe HIS Miracles, saith the LORD GOD. Yeshua Hamessiah IS ALIVE & WELL today... seated at ABBA FATHER'S right hand... Praise God we have our Messiah... Saviour ! the ONLY Messiah that HAS come to earth & WILL come again soon ! Unbelief IS the GREATEST SIN ! It can keep you locked in sin prisons of darkness .. ignorance. pride, disobedience & disrespect of God's Holy Word ! Have faith..stand against the wiles of satan who wants to keep you in chains of unbelief, deception, lies & fear ! With MUCH LOVE

This talkback has become a megaphone for the beliefs of fervent, ideological christians. Perhaps it's time for an honest, rarely-expressed view from Jewish tradition. Ancient Jewish sources ("toldot yeshu") portray Jesus (Yeshu ben Pandera) as far from a 'prince of peace'. In this version, he was an angry, vindictive and destructive. It follows that he deliberately tried to destroy the Temple and with it all Jerusalem in his 'money-changers' protest event. This makes him a akin to a suicide bomber. Christianity can be seen as a dramatic test of faith of Jews for God. In this light, christianity, in ALL its forms, is idolatry, and therefore worshiping Jeusu is considered the gravest possible violation of G-d's laws.

One might consider Jesus to have been the first Reform Jew, someone dedicated to loosening up hide-bound tradition in an increasingly stagnating Judaism largely managed by the "Righteous Ones" (Tzaddekies/ Sadduccees). The Pharisaic scholars had their own legalistic counterpoints. Jesus, being a country boy, thought both were too formal and over the top. But he was also moral and ethical, even if he was a bit mischevious (money changers in the Temple, anyone?)...

Suppose some guy comes from a kibbutz one day, decides to see the world, runs into some mystic on the river who uses it as an informal mikvah, and the two agree that Likud, Labor, and Shas are all unethical fools who don't really know the ways of Torah. They thus set out to make a "revolution in Judaism", to forge a cult or sect that is the people's family, replacing the original families everyone had. He goes back to the kibbutz, only to have everyone think he's nuts, but some members of his family join him. He marches into Jerusalem one Passover and finds all sorts of what he considers unethical trading in the Old City. He noisily disturbs the peace on Shabbat in Mea Shearim and does other stuff that hareidi Jews don't like. So someone finds a way to jail him on trumped-up charges. (Well, it's not a perfect analogy, because our culture has changed a bit since Roman times, so there's no crucifixion, but that's how the Jesus of the New Testament comes across to me...as a rebel.)

the tanach is written about him,neviim wrote about him,he is the word,he is the righteous and he is the rock of salvation,all the prophecies are written about zion where the lord lives for ever.

if jesus was god it would be shalom,justice for all,truth,humanity and love but he is not and the world is the opposite.

We choose to live either in Fear or Faith. Fear of being rejected by our communities- religious groups- families- friends OR living by FAITH in God's Word- God's Son-Jesus- Yeshua HaMessiah. It is written, without faith it is impossible to please God. Abraham by faith was willing to offer up Isaac on the altar, Noah by faith built the ark when the earth had seen no rain, Moses by faith lead Israelites into the wilderness, Daniel by faith slept soundly in the lions den, Joseph by faith..David by faith.. Joshua by faith.. BUT the GREATEST FAITH was JESUS believing God to raise HIM on the third day, to believe God for the power to heal every sickness & disease- to raise people from the dead, to prophesy with complete accuracy & precision, fed 5,000 men on a little boys lunch, kept perfect timing even died on time- at Passover- as the Pesach Lamb of God.. the probility of anyone doing all these MIRACLES is estimated at a trillion to one ! UNBELIEF IS the GREATEST SIN !

They ARE ONE. Abba sent His Holy Spirit to pregnate Mary to give birth to the Pure, Holy Messiah -Jesus. Jesus is the Y chromosome of Father God- DNA & blood of God- God in the flesh- the Pesach Lamb of God born to take away the sins of the world, our redeemer to bring us sinners back to Abba God. We cannot be made righteous by keeping the Laws-Torah for laws just identify sin. We cannot be made righteous going to church- doing senseless, mindless rituals... we can ONLY be made righteous by believing & acting on God's Word- Son- Yeshua- the ONLY Messiah we will ever get or need ! Jesus did the hard work for us on the cross- it is written, cursed is he who hangs on a tree-HE hung for OUR sins- HE had none. God HIMSELF died for people HE loved-disobedient- stubborn- sinners. That IS the ONE TRUE GOD- God of ISRAEL Whether your limited, carnel-intellectual mind can connect the dots or NOT! TRUTH IS Truth ! God's thoughts & ways are far greater than man's. Shalom !

Jesus had to suffer-die before He entered into HIS glory-Messiah. If you do not know this basic fact, I feel sorry for you- You should READ the WHOLE Bible for yourself. Abba Father commands the TRUTH be told to especially HIS chosen people- who should know better ! If you don't obey God- continue living the curse BUT don't condemn those who follow & obey God's Word. Abba Father & Yeshua-Jesus ARE ONE. God doesn't care if you believe HIM or not..HE will not change HIS Word-Son-Truth to suit you. If you don't know this YOU really are living in darkness- satan's deception & lie. You will NEVER know TRUTH unless someone who has been taught truth by ELOHIM tells you. I AM commanded by Elohim to go speak to HIS chosen people.... Blessed is HE who comes in the name of the LORD. Baruck haba beshem Adonai ! This was not written just to fill up space in God's Holy Bible- READ it ! I AM sent me, HIS messenger IT IS written DO MY Prophets NO HARM... REPENT

Who do sinful people think they are to pass judgement on God? If God wanted to come to earth as a grassshopper HE could. Nothing is impossible with God. It is high time for a good dose of HUMBLE REPENTANCE for these ? so-called rabbis's. No wonder God gets so mad at them... their stubborn disobedient callosed sinful self-righteous hearts ! Shame on them. Jesus who never hurt anyone, never said anything bad about anyone, who healed the same people who cried CRUCIFY HIM, SHAME on YOU ALL. The sinless, blameless, spotless Lamb of God pure & innocent.. You are just jealous & envious of HIM. Jesus has millions of millions of followers all over this world.. HE IS ALIVE & WELL seated at ABBA's right hand in HEAVEN & there is nothing anyone- no devil can do to change that fact. To deny the SON IS to deny the Father God.. After 2000 years you still live in darkness & prevent others from entering the kingdom of God by your blindness.. BROOD of VIPERS John the Baptist says to yo

You don't need to be Einstein to know Jesus has changed the world for the better. Jesus IS the Messiah of Israel & ALL the world. Whether you choose to believe GOD or not... God will not change to suit ignorance to HIS Holy Word- Jesus is Abba 's Word made flesh. For sinners to sit & pass judgement on God's Only Begotten SON-Yeshua-Jesus a pure, holy Torah observant Jew of ALL Jews IS pure PRIDE, self-righteous arrogance & ignorance = SIN. Abba Father HATES these sins. REPENT As Abraham believed God, Moses believed God, Noah believed God, We too MUST believe God by FAITH Yeshua HaMessiah IS as Abba Father-Elohim said, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON- LISTEN to HIM". It IS written. You MUST be BORN AGAIN to know complete TRUTH, without Abba's Spirit of Truth we are ignorant. Abba will send HIS Holy Spirit to live in you once you believe & receive Yeshua-Jesus as your Messiah- LORD & Saviour. Yeshua-Jesus IS the only Messiah Israel will ever have... or need, it is written

According to Geza Vermes, see his book The Changing Faces of Jesus. Jesus was never meant himself to be the biological son of god. His words, are mostly wrongly translated into Latin, Greek and other European languages. Jesus Disciples failed him & conveyed him to the world as the man who never himself. This was reflected badly on the way Mohammed mentioned Jesus in the Koran, as a holy revelation; according to the New Testament. Josephus mentioned in his The Wars of the Jews that he saw Jesus and described him as a good nice person and not as Rabbi and not as a Rabbi ! Christianity has nothing to do with the real Jesus & not with the Jewish faith as a Rabbi !

It would appear that the US has lost its will for God and looks like the new Samaria.

Debbie, first let me say I love you but please let me offer one observation. A lesser known rabbi maybe once commented saying something like not only is anger bad for us but it causes us to loose focus on Hashem, G-d forbid, that point made, Debbie your reaction regarding retractions is what many may feel inside but as another rabbi may have once said that we can?t assume the baby belongs to Lucy when Ethel claims it?s her baby too. David Plane, how are you sir? I am doing fine today and wanted to make my comments and remarks to several who have made comments here. I respect that you defend the teacher but do you believe that had the teacher been around when the empire of Rome hijacked his teachings and turn them against the Jewish People he?d call them his followers? I think about this question a lot myself. I hope he would not call those who destroyed the very biological seed of Abraham/Ibrahim his followers.

People are being too hard on Rabbi Riskin. There is nothing wrong with portraying Jesus as a teacher in the context of other teachers and preachers of his time. Where I differ is in Rabbi Riskin's glowing portrayal of Jesus. There are clear indications of Jesus' Pharisaic education, but he differs from rabbinic views. Where do we find the concept of "turning the other cheek?" What about the statements that one who gives publicly announced charity will receive no reward (or assertions that one should pray alone in one's room). Jesus ignores community life and focuses on man's relationship with God alone. What about Jesus' statement that it is easier to for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to get into heaven? When his positions are attacked Jesus constantly responds with sarcasm. What bothers me most is the story of how, when during a sermon, he is told his mother is waiting outside, he rudely sends her home. What kind of model rabbi treats his mother that way?

Let's presume that Rabbi Riskin believes that based upon his years of studying that Jesus was a Rabbi. Whether or not we support Rabbi Riskin's thoughts on the subject, this does not justify any condemnation of him, or any punitive actions against him. I believe a Rabbi, especially after years of religious studies, has every right to his or her interpretation on this subject. Unless there is law in Israel that prohibit's a Rabbi's freedom of speech or opinion, then what is the big deal?

Pathetic. Another instance illustrating the sad fact that most people care nothing about history except when it is used as myth to buttress contemporary ideologies. Rabbi Riskin's only error was a) to assume that his audience cares about historical fact and b) to thus fall into the lethal embrace of sensationalist seeking media. Stick to academia, Rabbi R. where you are paid to tell the truth.

Why is it that one of the most important sayings of Jesus is ignored? "Not my will but thine be done?" Didn't Jesus also say he's speak to all in the grave? Let him do his job and he doesn't need another 'preacher." He did that exceptionally well all by himself. One correction, wasn't the prophecy of Jesus "Gd among you" when he was alive? Jews are right, there is only one Gd and it aint Jesus even w/ by along shot. That is the whole argument in a nutshell. One Gd, one Jesus and the two are not the same. Even Jesus said that,"Our Father who art in heaven." So much confusion made worse by so many who aren't informed. Please don't preach it isn't welcomed or appreciated. This is a very persoanl, very private matter between each of us and our own Gd. Jews wouldn't also welcome any others who would convert them away from their Gd. it is the first sin recorded in the ten Commandments. "Thou shalt have no other Gd before me." THINK!!!! thank you, Shalom.

Jesus a prophet. He was speaking of Jesus own words re: Solomon's temple and having not one stone left upon another. If Jesus did not exist, how can we also claim that Moses lived when we also have no proof? Faith is subjective. While the Catholics began the Crusades and inquisition, America's protestants are still fiercely loyal to the State of Israel. The Lord works in mysterious ways. If you read the words of Jesus, he does claim all of the Jewish laws, and virtues of the sages and of the importance of the law. Don't misunderstand, he had some wonderful things to say. He also never called himself Gd. Poor Jesus so misunderstood.

Most Jews, from secular to traditional have long possessed a "Jesus problem" It is obsessive and unhealthy. I think some of it derives from the success of Xnity as a world religion and the fact it claims to supplant Judaism. If Jesus does not possess any theological relevance or hocus pocus super power, then there is nothing to fear. Yet it is as though he still is with us. Such is superstition. I too was brought up with this irrational antipathy to Jesus. As an undergraduate, I decided to take a critical study of the New Testament taught by a lapsed Methodist professor and former minister. I learned about the various influences upon Xnity including the Jewish one. In the end through my N.T. study, I stopped worrying about Jesus, even admiring him to some extent (whether he ever existed or not). Today, I have come to see the Hebrew Bible and New Testament as not having any theological value. I am at peace.

Yeshua Hamessiah IS the ONLY TRUE RABBI. Yeshua IS Abba Father in the flesh ! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD ! Yeshua IS the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. Yeshua IS the only begotten SON of Abba Father- God-Elohim-Yahweh-Jehovah-the GREAT I AM. Only God could do the Mighty Miracles Yeshua did & HE IS the living God, the Rock many are stumbling over today in Jerusalem, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection & Life, Prince of Peace, Light of the World, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Ancient of Days, the ONLY HOPE for Israel & this world. For Yeshua IS I AM O Israel, though thou be as the sands of the seashore ONLY a remnant will be saved.. WHY? Because they believed NOT in their Messiah. Noah, Joseph, Joshua, Moses believed by faith.. so if you too believe by faith Yeshua IS whom Abba said, This Is My Beloved Son, Listen to HIM. You WILL BE SAVED ! Deny the Son IS to deny Father, reject SON- reject Abba

Please Rabbi don't retract, stand firm in your believe. It is about time that we get rid of those Haredi faschists. G-d is not stupied. Yes the vatican and the church has a lot of praying to do, praying for forgiveness. Why is it that christianity and muslems alike hate the jewish people? Because they are the only remnant and reminder of the true source of both religions.

Methinks JMK will only accept scholarship that meets his or her prejudiced position. There is plenty of scholarship that states Jesus was in fact a historical person. One thing is certain. Prior to Israel's fall and the temples destruction in 70 AD followers of Jesus stated he said the Temple would have not one stone left on top of another, and that fact remains today. BTW, when is your Messiah going to come? One other thing, a Messianic Jew is still a Jew, they are not converted, they just accept that Jesus is whom He claimed to be. It is gentiles that convert to become part of the Israel of God and become spiritual children of Abraham. www.livingfortruth.wordpress.com

I am a Roman Catholic. I am unfamiliar with the definition of rabbi, whether of today or of Jesus' time. All Roman Catholics believe. however, that Jesus was born a Jew, that he lived his life as a Jew, and that he died as a Jew.The Efrat rabbi who called Jesus a rabbi is not far off the mark. On an unrelated topic, St. Paul did not invent Christianity. Jesus the Jew did.

The idea of jesus was invented by the Romans, there's nothing Jewish about christianity. Do not forget that it was the Romans who destroyed our temple and our way of life and banished us from our homeland. Do not respect any of their pagan garbage, including jesus.

uh....what he said is from a Jewish Rabbis perspective and if he is honest to HIS faith...I see no problem...

All that He has teached He done !! About Faith,Love,Peace,Respect,Holyness, you should read before speak about Him is you read is a defiance to see that if you say is true ? Shalom :-)) ELOHIM BLESS YOU ISRAEL !!! Forever...

I applaud Rabbi Riskin for his beautiful sentiments. We have entered the internet millanium and we must live together or God forbid perish by the sword. We cannot lie or half lie anymore about historial fact Jesus was one of the most popular Rabbis of his time. He did represent to many Truth, Justce and Love. He still does. So lets start loving and caring one another! jack

Referring to Jesus as "Rabbi" is simply from a historical point of view inappropriate. Jewish teachers were not referred to as "rabbis" during the time that Jesus lived and taught, just like Hillel and Shammai are never referred to as "Rabbis" in Tannaitic literature. However I do commend Rabbi Riskin for wanting to talk about Jesus. Jesus is a fascinating personality and what he taught was pure Pharasaic Judaism. We must make a distinction between Jesus, the teacher of Jews, and Jesus, as interpreted by Paul. Jesus would be horrified by Paul's understanding of him. True, we Jews do not accept the messianic claims about Jesus and certainly abhor the notion that Jesus was any kind of divinity. Nonetheless, he makes an interesting study. I commend Rabbi Riskin for his courage in this regard. Rabbi Ephraim Rubinger

How are Rabbis so ignorant of the falsity of Christianity? The traditional history of Christianity is tendentious christological propaganda. Rabbi Riskin takes one college course and suddenly he is a believer albeit in the non fantastic version. Rabbi Riskin is just an example of a Rabbinical ecumenical tragedy. The Rabbi has not read or studied the critical scholarship, very sad.

Everybody is allowed his opinion! What is really despicable is the fact that Rabbi Riskin retracted under pressure, which is shameful indeed! This is how extremists haredi win and the orthodoxy lose! We are in a very bad state, indeed.

Would any critic of any other rabbi's thoughts and words base their critique on developments 300 years hence? Or on the deviations of a self-styled "apostle" who numerous times contradicts and abuses the spirit of the rabbi? The violent reaction to Christianity is understandable but that it reaches the decibel level of drowning out any dialog with the gospel is lamentable and counter-productive.

Why was he not a rabbi? He was called my master (rabbi) by his (all Jews)followers. He was a master of the Law, the only (the Torah) in Israel, a theocracy at that time. I could even recognize Jesus as the Messiah (I don't think he was and even he said he wasn't) and... Nothing would change. He didn't invent a new religion. He was born, raised, lived and died as a Jew. Even if I was to call him the Messiah I wouldn't go to the Church, but to the synagoge(where he preached) and follow the Torah.

Despite the differences, it was through the messages of Jesus, that the World recognized that there existed a Jewish People and that the Jews had something to say. Without Christianity, we Jews would have been nothing. Samaritans perhaps. How many people even know Samaritans still exist? Ofcourse, Jesus was a Rabbi. How silly! And guess what! If the day ever comes that you can't find a Gideon's Bible in a hotel room, get ready for Hitler II. Hitler was not a practicing Catholic.

He makes interesting comments on Rabbi Jesus, and notes that Jesus's teachings are rooted in Talmudic teachings. Its Jesus's followers who did terrible things in his name, but the historical figure of Jesus cannot take direct blame for that. Surely Judaism is strong enough to allow some discussion on Rabbi Jesus.

"Retractions" are great for when you get caught. Classic case of an Erev Rav rabbi, loving money and kavod.