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| Pâ•qidꞋ Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu |
2004.10.03 – Wikipedia lists the entry: “Nazarene Judaism of Clint Van Nest””
It's interesting that we are one of the very few, if not the only, entity whose views are perverted and misrepresented by opponents who pretend to know who we are and what we believe better than we do. We may be the only people in the world not allowed the basic human right of speaking for ourselves, expressing our own views.
Contrary to Wikipedia’s misrepresentations about the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ (Netzarim), we are neither "Messianic Judaism" nor "Nazarene Judaism" nor is it proper to give my name as Clint Van Nest. The State of Israel, the United States government and Orthodox rabbis have recognized me
as Yirmeyahu (Ben-Avraham Avinu) Ben-David. By any objective standard, so should Wikipedia… if Wikipedia were edited by objective editors, which it clearly isn't.
The phrase "Messianic Judaism" generally insinuates Christians. It isn't widely used, for example, to describe Khabad, and we are no more Christian, and no less Orthodox as recognized by Orthodox rabbis, than Khabad. By the definition of "Messianic Judaism" Wikipedia gives below, we are NOT in that category. Wikipedia should publish what we are – and no one knows that better than we do, nor can anyone speak what we believe and stand for instead of us – instead of what our opponents wrongly misconceive us to be because of 2,000 years of wrong information, persecution and hatred.
Describing the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ as "Nazarene Judaism" is patently false. The term "Nazarene" is a bastardization (a Hellenization) of the Hebrew term Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ, and that bastardization implies the parallel and associated Hellenist Christianization and gentilization by 2nd-4th century apostates; a misrepresentation of the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ. To connect "Nazarene" with Judaism is an anachronistic oxymoron. We occasionally put ‘Nazarene’ in quotation marks or parentheses solely because if we don’t advise people that we’re the original from which the term ‘Nazarene’ was bastardized they will imagine that we’re a cult who could be promoting anything from a modern-day “Yehoshua” – by which "Messianics" still mean Jesus – to a space alien in a spaceship akin to “Heaven’s Gate.” ‘Nazarene’ is a shorthand that gets people in the ballpark where a lengthy explanation is impractical, but it isn’t strictly correct.
Wikipedia – ”The title *Nazarene Judaism*, or *Netzarim* has been adopted by a subset of Messianic Judaism, based mostly in Israel, defining themselves as Jewish, and who say that
Jesus(whom they call Ribi Yehoshua) is the Messiah, but not God, or part of a Trinity. The movement states that the historical personality behindJesuswas Yehoshua (Pandera).”
The Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ are NOT any subset of “Messianic Judaism,” which isn’t Judaism at all. Neither do we "define ourselves" as Jewish. That is yet another perversion of the facts. Orthodox rabbis, Orthodox Judaism AND the State of Israel together have defined us as Jews. Nor do we say that "Jesus" is anything other than an idol (and therefore not to be uttered according to Ex. 23.13). Oxford historian James Parkes and other historians have made it crystal clear that the Christian "Jesus" as perceived by late second century and subsequent Hellenist Christian Roman gentiles is the polar opposite of the historical Jew of the first century C.E., RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa. We most certainly do NOT state "that the historical personality behind Jesus was Yehoshua (Πανθηρα.)." Exactly the opposite!!!
The Encyclopedia Judaica (“Jesus,” 10.14-16) confirms that Πανθηρα. has no connection whatsoever with, and didn’t even live in the same century as, RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa. The only reports to the contrary come from gentiles and miso-Judaic Christian charges used to persecute Jews, not from Jews or Jewish tradition. Epiphanius, a 4th century C.E. Hellenist Roman Catholic Bishop Egyptian Christian writer, reports that Πανθηρα. was another name of Jacob, the grandfather of Jesus. In two accounts of an unidentified “Jacob” who was a pupil of some Jesus, the father of this Jesus is called “Πανθηρα..” While chronologically these “Jacobs” lived in the second century C.E., some axe-grinders attempt to pass them off, anachronistically, as the father of Jesus “ha-Nō•tzᵊr•iꞋ". This is based on Origen, a late 2nd-3rd century Egyptian Arab Roman Catholic writer (and inadmissible witness by Ta•lᵊmudꞋ standards), that Κέλσος – a 2nd-century C.E. Hellenist gentile Roman philosopher (and inadmissible witness by Ta•lᵊmudꞋ standards) writing against Christianity – whom Origen could never have met, or “heard from a Jew,” that MirꞋyâm had been divorced by her husband who suspected her of adultery or that Jesus was born as the result of a secret affair with a Roman soldier named Πανθηρα.
Jews have never based Jewish tradition, including interpreting Ta•lᵊmudꞋ, on hearsay, much less on gentile hearsay, much less on Christian (idolators) gentile hearsay.
Third century Âmor•âꞋ connects Πανθηρα. to the name Bën-Stada, a first century Jew hung in Lydda on the eve of PësꞋakh. “This reading has been taken to refer to Jesus, but there is no basis in [Tan•âꞋ] literature for this identification.” “An opinion, mentioned by Rabbenu Jacob b. Meir Tam… identifies a Bën-Stada with a Jesus whose father was Pappos Bën-Yᵊhud•âhꞋ. This suggestion, based on the allusion to Πανθηρα. (alleged to be the real father of Jesus), and strengthened by the mention of a PësꞋakh execution and of a mother named MirꞋyâm, is nevertheless unacceptable. R. Tam himself points out that Pappos Bën-Yᵊhud•âhꞋ lived a century after Jesus.”
“It has also been suggested that Bën-Stada was the Egyptian [Jewish] prophet who, during the administration of the Roman procurator Felix [B.C.E. 138-78], persuaded ‘large crowds to follow him to the Mount of Olives,’ where at his command, ‘Jerusalem’s walls would fall down and he would provide an entrance to the city.’ The only real link between the two, however, is the mention of Egypt. Ιώσηπος (Josephus) claimed that the prophet disappeared, whereas Bën-Stada was executed in Lydda, possibly in the second century C.E… It would appear, therefore, that too little is know of Bën-Stada to permit a definite identification.”
The Ency. Jud. correctly points out that the reference in Ta•lᵊmudꞋ to “YeshꞋ"u the Nō•tzᵊr•iꞋ” (i.e. Jesus the ‘Nazarene’), who was hung on the eve of PësꞋakh, refers to the pupil of Yᵊho•shuꞋa Bën-Pᵊrakhyâh who lived in the second half of the 2nd century C.E. – more than a century after the death of RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa!!! In the Middle Ages, Jehiel of Paris, a famous 13th century Jewish Talmudist, defended Ta•lᵊmudꞋ against French charges that Jesus, the pupil of Joshua b. Perahyah, referred to Jesus the ‘Nazarene.’ The French Church rejected his arguments and burned the copies of Ta•lᵊmudꞋ in France in 1242 C.E. Today, Ultra-Orthodox rabbis with an axe to grind reject legitimate Jewish tradition to advocate the contra-Judaic – Gospel – argument of miso-Judaic 13th century gentile French Christians!!!
The first thing one must keep in mind about Ta•lᵊmudꞋ is that, just as the Διαθηκη Καινη (NT) is the product of 4th century C.E. pro-Christian redactions by Hellenist Roman gentile Christians, the Ta•lᵊmudꞋ is the product of 3rd through 6th century redactions by rabbinic Jews reacting to miso-Judaic Christian Hellenist Roman gentile polemics. Speaking of àåÉðÀ÷ÀìåÉñ (2nd century Tan•âꞋ who translated úÌåÉøÈä into Aramaic), for example, his reference to YeshꞋ"u “ha-Nō•tzᵊr•iꞋ" as an infidel Israelite “can only be understood in the context of an era in which such a warning was already important, namely the 4th century C.E.” In other words, the insertion of “ha-Nō•tzᵊr•iꞋ” is a 4th century C.E. redaction into àåÉðÀ÷ÀìåÉñ’ story, specifying “ha-Nō•tzᵊr•iꞋ” where, originally, àåÉðÀ÷ÀìåÉñ had referred to some other Yᵊho•shuꞋa; in all likelihood, Jesus Bën-Stada.
These are all of the references in Ta•lᵊmudꞋ that provide descriptions of “Jesus.” (There are a couple of other references that mention the name, but only in passing to talk about “five disciples,” namely “Matthew, Nakai, Nazar, Boneh, and Thodah,” all of whom were put to death.)
Wikipedia – ”The Netzarim movement was founded by former Baptist minister Clint Van Nest who published about their ancient manifestation in 1972. He and his wife renounced Christianity and all its works to follow a Jewish way of life and he re-named himself Yiremeyahu ben David in 1983. He moved to Israel in 1985 upon conversion to Orthodox Judaism and established what he described as a Ger Tzedek manifestation of the Netzarim movement with himself as Judge (Paqid).”
Pâ•qidꞋ means "clerk," NOT judge! The brother of RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa became the first Pâ•qidꞋ and was succeeded by 14 other Pᵊqid•imꞋ (listed and named by Eusebius) until the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ were forcibly ousted by the gentile Hellenist Roman occupiers – the birth of the Church – following the Bar-KōkhꞋvâ Rebellion in 135 C.E.
To state that I renamed myself Yi•rᵊmᵊyâhꞋu Bën-Dâ•widꞋ in 1983 without noting that I've been recognized as such by the State of Israel, top-level Orthodox rabbis and in the Orthodox beit ha-kᵊnësꞋët (synagogue) is an unfair and misrepresentative slander that I simply "call myself" that. Thus, by Wikipedia’s omission its editors deliberately leave readers with the false impression they wish to create.
Nor did I establish the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ movement, nor is it a "Geir TzëdꞋëq" manifestation; and I certainly have NOT described it as such! Wikipedia has misrepresented not only what we are but even what I write!
RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa established the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ movement. The first Pâ•qidꞋ was his brother, Ya•a•qovꞋ ha-Tza•diqꞋ Bën-Dâ•widꞋ. It remains, as it has always been, a Jewish movement that admits geir•imꞋ as non-Jews.
Wikipedia – ”The movement finds itself at odds with both Judaism and Christianity.”
We are at intractable and irreversible odds with Christianity and Christian doctrine, which we define as idolatry (as contrasted with individual Christians, who can renounce idolatry and follow úÌåÉøÈä). But we are only at odds with some Jews and rabbis who have relied upon slanderous rumors and entertain misconceptions about who we are and what we stand for, and those misconceptions inevitably defy the facts. We get along fine with Jews and rabbis who deal with us personally and have the intellect to understand what we're doing. I and my family are in good standing in most of our Orthodox community and in the Orthodox Yemenite synagogue here in Ra’anana, Israel, where we attend regularly.
”Judaism almost universally rejects the concept that the coming of the Jewish Messiah was realized with the birth of Jesus, while Christianity overwhelmingly regards Jesus as being God (see Trinity and Christology). And while the movement's combination of Jewish ritual with the belief that Jesus is the Messiah”
This is a blatant lie about the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ. We DON'T believe that "Jesus" is anything other than an idol!!!
Furthermore, like the rest of mainstream Judaism, we, too, "[reject] the concept that the coming of the Jewish Messiah was realized with the birth of Jesus." RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa, yes; lᵊ‑ha•vᵊdilꞋ, Jesus is a Hellenist redux of Ζεύς! Nor do we combine Jewish ritual with any belief in "Jesus." That is 180°, diametrically and polar, opposite of what we believe and stand for.
Wikipedia – ”…is characteristic of Messianic Judaism, most Messianic Jewish groups share Christian theology, and insist that
Jesuswas God incarnate, part of the Trinity. The movement's view ofJesusaccords most closely with those of Unification Church and Islam, which support the idea ofJesus' non-Trinitarian humanity along with his claim to Messiahship, yet the affinity remains on the theological level and there are no relationships between these faiths and the Netzarim movement. Instead, Van Nest insists that regardless of its belief thatJesusis the Messiah, the movement is accepted by Orthodox Judaism as a legitimate Orthodox Jewish group.”
This is blatantly untrue! I say the opposite of what others have misrepresented me to say in this entry. The Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ view of Jesus is that IT (not "he") is a syncretized idol redux of Ζεύς by post 135 C.E. Roman pagans – the earliest Christians and Church. That is neither similar to the Unification Church, Islam NOR ANY OTHER MODERN GROUP!!! Further, as noted above, my name, as recognized by the State of Israel, the Jewish community here in Ra’anana, Israel, the U.S. government and every other person not grinding an anti-Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ axe, is Yirmeyahu Ben-David. For the umpteenth time, the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ DON'T believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is an idol! Nor is our acceptance by Orthodox Judaism merely my insistence; it is a documented fact. Insinuating otherwise is a slanderous misrepresentation Further, a letter from the (then) Chief Rabbi of Israel, conveying his blessing and wishes for my success, is included in my book, "Who Are the Netzarim? (WAN)" Further Orthodox documentation can be accessed in our website, the only Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ website: www.netzarim.co.il
No one in modern times had ever even heard of the term "Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ" – since ca. 333 C.E. – until I recovered the term and was the first to publish the term in 1972!!! Others who claim this term, unless they are recognized by our Beit Din, are plagiarist poseurs.
Wikipedia – ”The movement uses the complete and original Hebrew Tanakh and Mishnah. While it rejects the New Testament, it has created several Hebrew works it describes as "reconstructed" , including…”
This misrepresents the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ as well. We accept only Ta•na"khꞋ as Scripture. We accept Ta•lᵊmudꞋ as supplemental historical information on the development of Ha•lâkh•âhꞋ. Furthermore, Wikipedia has no justification for putting the term reconstruction in quotes without sound, scholarly criticism (and there has been none), particularly when none of the editors have any clue what’s in The Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ Reconstruction of Hebrew Ma•ti•tᵊyâhꞋu (NHM). Wikipedia misrepresents the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ by insinuating that the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ place these works on the same level with the Ta•na"khꞋ. The Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ don't.
Wikipedia – ”Matityahu, based on the Gospel of Matthew (viewed as the only trustworthy guide to the life of
Jesus), …”
Hebrew Ma•titᵊyâhꞋu is NOT based on the Christian – and Greek (Hellenized) – "Gospel of Matthew!!! The liberties Wikipedia editors have taken in misrepresenting us are astonishing! Wikipedia editors clearly know NOTHING about NHM and propagate deliberate slanderous and insidious rumors at best! They've clearly never read it and are entirely clueless about it. Yet, they don’t hesitate to write about it as if they were an authority – all while refusing to even identify themselves!!! NHM that, Eusebius recorded, was the only account of the life of RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa accepted by the original Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ. Furthermore, Hebrew Ma•titᵊyâhꞋu was set down before "Jesus" had ever been syncretized by the original, post-135 C.E., gentile Hellenist Roman Christians. In fact, the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ stipulated Hebrew Ma•titᵊyâhꞋu as the only acceptable record of the life of RibꞋi Yᵊho•shuꞋa specifically to counter the post-135 C.E. apostate Roman re-writes (redactions) that supported their "Jesus" syncretization. The "Gospel of Matthew," in fact, is the perversion of Hebrew Ma•titᵊyâhꞋu. For the editors of Wikiepedia to state that the original is based on the perversion is contra-historical, it misleads Wikipedia readers, and most certainly misrepresents and defames what the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ state, stand for, believe and have written for the record.
Wikipedia –
- ”Ma•a•vârꞋ, based on the Book of Acts, and”
- [The Unveiling], (the unveiling) based on the Apocalypse of John (whom they call Yokhanan "Ben-Rogez" Bar-Zavdi•eil).”
”The movement does not consider any of these works as "gospel" but rather take a scholastic approach to critically analyse any relevant early Christian writings.”
”The Netzarim movement does not set up its own rabbis, but rather operates under the existing Orthodox Jewish rabbinical system and its rabbis, using the Yemenite Baladi liturgy. As in standard rabbinical Judaism, the movement considers love (fraternity, charity, mercy, forgiveness, self-sacrifice) as the current "blood" of atonement and believe that the temple exists through the congregation. The movement says its primary mission is to counter Christian missionaries through proselytizing which they also see as the best way to counter anti-Judaism. One can become a member of the Netzarim movement only by obtaining recognition from the Netzarim beit din in Raanana, Israel. Recognition is afforded only to Torah-observant Jews and or to non-Jewish geir toshav disciples learning to become Torah-observant.”
This appears to be more of a misunderstanding than a deliberate misleading like the ones above, since this is closer to our actual position. However, this is such an oversimplification that it cannot contain the concept of ki•purꞋ (expiation, popularly "atonement"). Oversimplification doesn't serve Wikipedia readers well (but is characteristic of this entry in Wikipedia). If readers desire to know the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ positions, they should ask the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ (www.netzarim.co.il only). It doesn't get simpler, or more straightforward, than that!
Further, Wikipedia’s statement that the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ "believe that the temple exists through the congregation" is misleading since – the Wikipedia editors well know and hoped – the reader would likely assume Wikipedia means that we believe the temple exists through the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ congregation. That is misrepresentation. It is the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ position that the Third Beit ha-Mi•qᵊdâshꞋ (not a Hellenized "Temple") of Yᵊkhë•zᵊq•eilꞋ (Hellenized to Ezekiel) comprises the congregation of centuries of úÌåÉøÈä-observers, who are known today as Orthodox Jews. These include, but certainly aren't limited to, the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ.
Wikipedia is a forum of non-scholars who dress their axe-grinding opinions in the guise of a pseudo-encyclopedia while refusing to even identify themselves to avoid prosecution for libel. Wikipedia is entirely unreliable and irrelevant source for information concerning the Nᵊtzâr•imꞋ.
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