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2011.12.16, 0903  Yәru•shâ•laꞋ yim Universal Time

Free Will

:TonyaM
El Paso, Texas, U.S.A.
Inquiry: Shalom Pâqid Yirmәyâhu, ha-Tzadiq,

Thank you for your response on the last blog. I was with you until you mentioned Tim Tebow's name. My team, Chicago Bears lost last week to them (an embarrassing loss.)


As a Gator alumnus, I'm admittedly subjective. What can ya do? Still, it's a tragedy that Tim, like so many Xns, has allowed himself to be so woefully ignorant of 1st–4th century C.E. history. If he'd read Parkes' history text perhaps he could steer people toward the Ël•oh•imꞋ  of Yi•sә•râ•eilꞋ  instead of causing others to stray with him.

Rainbow Rule


What is the true meaning of Proverbs 3:5,6 because this scripture has been a foundation for me before making decisions in the past? I've always taken this passage literally and wanted Hashems direction. Should Hashem be involved in all the decisions we make/consider? I know Hashem has given us free will but how should I approach making decisions now? Outside of liturgy, does a Netzarim talk to Hashem naturally from the heart? Throughout my day I enjoy talking to Hashem like the father on "Fiddler on the Roof", will I need to change my approach?


These are excellent questions that everyone should be asking (and probably wonder, but are afraid to ask).

First, we don't accept the Xn OT for discussion. You need to obtain an עברית-English Ta•na"khꞋ . At present, we recommend The Artscroll Stone Edition (Artscroll Publishers). This requirement is listed in our Khav•rutꞋ â Syllabus.

Xy vs Tor•âhꞋ  are mutually exclusive. Neither is a subset of the other. Neither is any foundation of the other.

Your foundation has been in Xy. To follow Tor•âhꞋ  requires that you abandon your old foundation, which is idolatrous and misojudaic, and build a new foundation. Your new foundation can only be built on תורה, which is עברית. One can relate to תורה only in עברית.

The desire of your heart to relate to the Creator brings you to the truth of תורה. But your prayers have always been Xn. And what does תורה say about Xn prayers? See Mi•shәl•eiꞋ  ShәlomꞋ oh 28.9. The answer to this conundrum, unsurprisingly, is given in תורה.

To give you an idea, in the pericope you cited, the first word, בטח, means "Secure!" not "trust." You can never learn תורה in any language other than עברית. In any language other than the original you will always be misled. There is only one way to secure yourself in י--ה, and that is to secure yourself in the solid bedrock foundation, which is His Word: תורה. How do you דעהו (know Him)? Only one Way: His Word: תורה – and it's עברית.

You asked, "Should Hashem be involved in all the decisions we make/consider?" In how many ways does the pericope you cited specify? Your approach to making decisions must become an understanding that the direction of your life must be constrained within הלכה, which is determined by the בית דין, an understanding that depends on learning to relate to a significant עברית vocabulary.

Another of your questions reveals a Xn orientation alien to תורה: "Outside of liturgy, does a Netzarim talk to Hashem naturally from the heart?" A Nәtzâr•imꞋ  should never be "outside of [Tei•mân•iꞋ  תורה] liturgy. The aim of every genuine (and knowledgeable) Jew is to live and pray within (Tei•mân•iꞋ ) תורה liturgy! Praying within this context must become your "natural from the heart" תפילות. Otherwise, one runs afoul of Mi•shәl•eiꞋ  ShәlomꞋ oh 28.9! Only after you have developed this foundation can spontaneous תפילות become an extension of it, בטח (securely, safely) within הלכה and thereby maintaining הבדלה from khol (and, therefore, from Mi•shәl•eiꞋ  ShәlomꞋ oh 28.9).

Yes, you need to totally replace your orientation from the foundation up. "Fiddler on the Roof" is a movie with great music about the pathetic hopelessness of following a "tradition" with no clue why. As the answers to your questions demonstrate, you have much to learn in order to understand the answers. You must build a different foundation. Learn עברית so you can follow תורהnot Hollywood!

Please note also that I've written 2-3 articles on "Free Will." They are in our new Archives Center. (Just browser search (Ctrl-F) that page for "Free Will.")

(Pâ•qidꞋ  YirmәyâhꞋ u, Ra•a•nanꞋ â(h), Yi•sә•râ•eilꞋ ) Israel

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