Shalom Dr. Belk:
On our site entitled "Holy Days," we at JewishPath have listed all the days that we as Jews are commanded to remember by Hashem in the Torah. We have also listed the days we are commanded to remember by our rabbium in the Tenach. While many Jews have set aside 27 Nissan as an observance of Yom Hashoah, many Jews remember the tragedy of the Holocaust during the three weeks leading up to the Ninth of Av which is traditionally regarded as the day / period in which all bad things happened / happen to Jewish people, G-d forbid. There are many periods of Jewish tragedy throughout our history. Unfortunately there was more than one Jewish Holocaust. Each of these tragedies are remembered during the three weeks. It is difficult for us to list Yom Hashoah among the Holy Days. It is not a Holy Day. It cannot be observed like other Holy Day festivities. However, that does not diminish the need to remember. JewishPath does have a place of remembrance on our site: http://www.jewishpath.org/survivorsthought.html We have also linked to other Holocaust sites. Rabbi Berl Wein of Aish Ha Torah { http://www.aish.edu/ } has a very powerful audio tape discussing the Holocaust and the three weeks. You can obtain this tape by calling 1-800-499-wein or you may request this tape from The Torah Tape Libary at Ahavas Yisroel {303 220-7200} which lends audio tapes through the mail. Membership is required. http://www.southeastshul.org/index.asp E-Mail Rabbi Yaakov Meyer. Wishing you the best, Akiva
Shalom Raqe'l, Thank you for your quick response. While I
did get the webpage, I haven't been able due to time to find
the Hebrew lessons.
Subject: More... Hebrew Translation / Mutation
Of The Hebrew Language
Shalom Greg, You have much to learn. Stay on the Path... There are twenty-two Hebrew letters plus four final letters. It would be wise of you to visit our RESPONSE TO MISSIONARIES PAGE. Read the article by Dr. Belk entitled "Engrafted." Best Regards,
Please notice Greg J.'s third note to us... Subject: Hebrew Translation / Mutation Of The Hebrew Language
Subject: Discussions On Conversion To Judaism: What Is A Non
Jew To Do?
Our G-d be praised! I thank Him He has patience
with my ignorance!
Thank you for taking the time to express your feelings to Dr. Belk and his staff at JewishPath. Loretta, JewishPath is a Jewish "SIGHT". You know this. Dr. Belk has expressed this on the introduction page of "Response to Missionaries." His articles are intended for Jewish readership even though anyone can read or learn from JewishPath. How could you be so presumptuous, so forward as to write us, a Jewish web site, about your Christian Messianic beliefs?? Whatever were you thinking? We can understand that you
have feelings of distress and sorrow. Yet, what do you expect
as a Christian / Messianic visiting a Jewish "SIGHT"?
You should feel lost! You should feel out of place! You are not
in your element. Feelings of being lost in a forest at night
are common for Christian / Messianics who visit our >SIGHT<
because our teachings expose the truth in a very uncomfortable
way. It is difficult once exposed to the truth to hold on to
one's mistaken beliefs. Yet it may be more difficult to let go
because Judaism is not a religion that seeks converts. You cannot
go down the street to the first Jewish Synagogue that you come
to, enter, walk to the front of the congregation, make a profession
of faith in Judaism and Most non Jews are not seeking
to disconnect from their comfortable religious upbringing, so
instead they produce fabricated doctrines much like your comment,
"I know and understand the covenant of Jesus as the covenant
that encompasses and enfolds us gentiles into God's community
with His family, Loretta ,you may believe such a covenant exists... You are entitled to believe whatever you choose... however... As stated in many articles on JewishPath, NO SUCH COVENANT EXISTS FROM A JEWISH TORAH PERSPECTIVE! PERIOD! We at JewishPath will not support or concede to what we consider false doctrine!! G-d did NOT send Jesus as a savior to the Jewish people, the Gentile people or anyone else. The Torah does NOT even consider the possibility of G-d becoming a human and dying for the sins of the world! However, G-d did make a provision in the Torah for all non Jewish people with the Seven Noaich Commands before the Torah was given at Har Sinai. That provision has not changed in over 4,000 years. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JESUS OR THE NEW TESTAMENT! Dr. Belk has written about this and the article is only available to members of JewishPath. Loretta, you want to hold on to your misguided beliefs and at the same time embrace Judaism. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! For years, hundreds of years, Christians / Messianics have been purporting the doctrine that the New Testament is established upon the Old Testament. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you first carefully study the lessons in Response to Missionaries on JewishPath this will become very clear. Loretta, this problem exists because Christians / Messianics interpret our Torah, our writings and our prophets differently than we, the Jewish people, do. Christians / Messianics put a very different spin on our Scriptures than G-d intended! If you continue to read articles from JewishPath your eyes will begin to see the true story as it unfolds. If you want to learn more about the Seven Noaich Commands pay your membership dues of $36.00 and we will send you the article. Please see the membership page if that is of interest to you. 4/10/01 Now the The SEVEN Noach Commands may be downloaded for non commercial use for private study only for FREE!
Best regards, Rachel Gold
Thank you for your response. I'll be going to the membership page shortly to sign up. I humbly beg your forgivennes if I gave the impression I was trying to convert anyone. Such behavior is quite contrary to my nature. You wrote: " We at JewishPath will not support or concede to what we consider false doctrine!! " Praise G-d! I am very glad to hear this! I am seeking to know and join with the One true G-d of my ancestors. My fathers' great grandmother was Jewish. None of the spiritual wisdom or inheritance was passed on except for a burning desire to learn. My parents gave me no lessons on G-d's existence - I suspect their parents neglected to teach them, also. How can one teach what one does not know? Do I dishonor my parents by seeking a glimpse of the inheritance that was set aside for some reason? In reading Rabbi Belk's Parasha for this week, and praying over the words Hashem has given him to guide us to His will, Rabbi Belk's words ring absolutely true. If I am in error with the path that Hashem has led me down, please correct my ignorance. Please, be compassionate with my lack of understanding. I know you wish to focus on the Jewish brethren, but does that preclude patience and compassion on lost brethren, three generations removed? One cannot learn if there are no teachers, and the only teachers I have found worth listening to are Jewish Rabbis. I apologize if you find my answers offensive. I only seek to learn. Loretta
Most people who want to convert to Judaism have no idea what they are asking for so I asked her a few questions that you should also consider. Are you married? If you are married is your spouse Jewish? If your spouse is NOT Jewish does your spouse also desire to convert to Judaism? Have you discussed this with your spouse? Do you have children? If so, have you discussed it with them? Do you have living parents or relatives? If so, have you discussed it with them?
Only certain animals, birds and fish are kosher. These creatures must give their lives by a prescribed method that sanctifies G-d's name and the Torah. Then they must be rabbinically inspected, passed and sealed by a Moshgiach, sometimes two. Then they are shipped to their place of purchase where another Moshgiach inspects their hechsher and accepts or rejects the product based upon a variety of kashrus laws. In Colorado of all the fast food places, take outs, delivery and restaurants only two are certified kosher for the members of our communities to eat at. PERIOD!
Returning to the lady who stopped by the Yeshiva... after we discussed these questions her comment was, "I had no idea." And honestly, that is the way it is with most people. We understand, many people have Jewish ancestors and limited understanding of Judaism who are mixed up in about every religion imaginable.
P.S. Rabbi is a Hebrew word. The plural is rabbium NOT rabbis, fyi.
Subject: What Is A Non Jew To Do? Thank you! I appreciate your kind words and consideration. I wll review some of the writings on the JewishPath homepage andget back to you. I have no children but my husband is Baptist (non-practicing). The rest of my family are non-practicing Catholics. Thank you for your words of encouragement. Sincerely Loretta Isaac, my five-year old son, and I recently
have moved to Birch Bay, near the Canadian border. The van I
was driving now requires another transmission, and, as, we are
out of the near boundaries of cities, we hitch-hike everywhere.
We are sharing this farmhouse-type home with a gentile, who builds
and programs computers. He set me up with a computer, and installed
the on- line access. I am "computer illiterate", but,
somehow, found your web-site, which Butch showed me how to save
under "favourites", en- abling me to access your web-site
immediately. This web-site is like the experience of sitting
under a water-fall, the cascading, crystal-line waters refreshes
the soul, it is aesthetically pleasing, as well as spiritually
nurturing. I am e-mailing you to request permission to print,
for my personal devotional and study use, your inspired articles
and lessons. I would be happy to exchange a colour print of a
collage about the "eliyahu message" written in Mal'aki.
I also
Dr. Belk says, "Thank you for the blessing and the kind words regarding JewishPath articles." We grant you permission to use our articles for your own private study providing you are careful not to destroy or discard articles with Hashem's holy name in them and providing you observe our copyright instructions. Please refer to our page "About JewishPath" Copyright. Being a single mother with the duty of raising a five year old son is an enormous responsibility. It sounds as if you are alone in this world without the assistance of your parents or Yitzchok's father's parents for whatever reason. This is very difficult especially being without transportation and requiring the assistance of a non Jew for basic shelter. I pray that Hashem should bless this non Jew for his kindness. Yet it poses many problems that we should discuss later. You must be some distance from any Jewish community. Some Jewish communities have educational assistance for Jewish children to attend a Hebrew school. Also members of the community occasionally assist poor Jews living within their community. Without knowing certain details it is difficult for Dr. Belk to respond. If you would like to discuss these issues please provide us with more detailed information. A Jewish single mother living outside the Jewish community is vulnerable to many problems, G-d forbid! Do you have a rabbi? Have you discussed these issues with your rabbi? Dr Belk wishes to express his thanks regarding your kind offer of a color print of a collage about the "eliyahu message" written in Mal'aki. He would welcome it. Please discuss this with us before sending. We pray that Hashem should meet your every need! We look forward to hearing from you. Your name has been placed on our immediate response list. Best regards, Rachel Gold
I am trying to find something on the internet that will tell him what the Jewish people believe, so far I cannot. Please advise me via e-mail. All his friends (especially me) will be very grateful for your input/help. Sincerely,
It was kind of you to express your concerns for your friend. More people should do this! Many people question their purpose for living as your friend does. This is an age old issue. People of all ages, races, religions, financial positions, physical and mental conditions ask this same type of questions everyday. This type of question has been asked so often by so many that it should have a good answer.. There are many answers to this conflict as you have already discovered but an answer that satisfies a person's struggle can be very difficult. Please tell your friend, "Life is very precious! Repeat, Life is very precious!! Reinforce, Life is very precious!!!" I cannot find the words to express how wonderful it feels to visit the west side shul here in Denver, Zera Avraham, in mid morning... or to visit the Kollel where men study night and day. At Zera Avraham men mostly beyond 80 years of age gather to learn Torah. Many of these men are in poor health. Yet just about everyday they find an incredible reason to live another day. Year after year I have observed as these men have departed this life. One of my closest friends is still a regular participant of this class, thank G-d! Learning Torah in a group, or on the internet or by oneself is an excellent reason to continue living until the last available breath. The example these older men share with the younger people of our community is so valuable. They reinforce powerful values in our community. They argue the Torah with love. When members of our community see this it places fiber in their faith. It puts a sparkle in their eye. It touches their hearts. We need more people of all ages who will commit to studying Torah for individual good and community good! A few days after receiving your e mail at JewishPath my mother passed away. She was almost 83, may she rest in peace. We spoke often about Torah during her last few years both while she was in and out of the hospital. She was a real dedicated soldier. She clung to life. She continued until her very last breath because life was so very precious to her. Mary, some discard life and others cling to it. It can be so difficult to comprehend! One must consider the negative impact of constant complaints or questions about living especially to the younger generation. A relative whom I love dearly, now 86, thank G-d, use to call often with comments like, 'I wish G-d would take me home.' 'I don't want to live anymore.' 'What kind of life do I have?' After hearing these negative feelings for years I finally said, "Stop it! Life is precious! Even if you are very sick... G-d forbid, Life is still very precious!" I explained to my dear relative that his comments gave little hope to his sons, to his grandchildren and to the younger generation. They need something to look forward to! I explained how older men in our community met everyday except for Shabbos to study / argue Torah. He picked up the theme. He changed his attitude! Several months ago he called with a funny story! He related, "Two gangsters where walking down the street with their arms around each other after their gang had been wiped out. One gangster said to the other as they paused, 'John, it's good to be above the ground.'" Now when my dear relative calls he often reminds me, "Akiva, it's good to be above the ground." A friend who retired at 65 years of age as a master electrician began studying to be a locksmith before his retirement. He started his own mobile locksmith company. He didn't need the money. He was very independent but likeable. He wanted something useful to do after retirement. He was well into his 70's when we met in '84. His life was difficult. His pack was heavy! His wife, who treated him extremely cruelly during her healthy years became ill. She had to be placed in a health care facility with Alzheimers. She was there for almost fifteen years before her passing, may she rest in peace. He visited her frequently. He sought and paid for the best care. During this time the gentleman had two bypass operations about ten years apart. He was 74 at the time of his second bypass. A few weeks after his surgery he was back to his business. I have a dear aunt who is 93 years of age, may G-d bless her! She has been in a care facility for over twenty years with Alzheimers. During this time she has experienced many operations for other serious illnesses. This is difficult on her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. It is difficult on her only remaining brother, his wife and another surviving brother-in-law. It is painful! Beyond the fact that life is precious who could understand this? Now on the other side. There is a little boy who lies at death's door, G-d forbid. He is not expected to live. His father was arrested for severely beating him, G-d forbid. How can one explain this? Several years ago a dear friends of our community suffered the loss of their beautiful teenage daughter to kidnapping, sexual assault and murder, G-d forbid. How can one explain this? Recently the papers carried the story of a young woman who was attractive, intelligent, very popular. She took her life, G-d forbid. My son and daughter-in law are graduates of Columbine High School. Her sister was there on the day of terror! She heard the guns fire. She heard and felt the bullets whiz by. Several family friends died that horrible day, G-d forbid. Why? In our society, within the Jewish community there are those who survived the death camps. Some point to the number on their arm and say "This is why I believe in G-d" while others point to the number on their arm and say "This is why I don't believe in G-d." Mary, being useful like the locksmith makes life precious. Being involved with other people like here on JewishPath makes life precious. Studying Torah like the older men at Zera Avraham makes life precious. Responsibilities like the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren take upon themselves for their feeble and sick loved one can make life very precious. Friends like yourself make life precious. Mary, one can point to their illness, to their age or to anything and use it to believe they should live or one can point to their illness to their age, etc. and use it to believe that they should die, G-d forbid! Each of us can encourage our friends to connect with G-d, with Torah, with positive thoughts and with usefulness. It sounds as if your friend needs to find something good, something positive to connect with. Wishing you and your friend
the best,
Subject: Very nice site you have. See mine please. Amd link if you so choose. Rabbi Moshe Y In Christmatics, 17 is the 7th prime number
whose triangle sum is 153. = This gives added weight to the book
"Theomatics"
by Jerry Lucas and Del = Washburn in which
the Greek gematria of both "Fishes" and "The Net"
= cumulate at 153 x 8, or 1224. codetruth@earthlink.net Waldo
see = www.thecoolpages.com/religion/suite1946347 or = "http://www.thecoolpages.com/religion/suite1946347">www.thecoolpag=
Subject: Distractions I enjoyed the first drash. The second however I found rather strange. The numbers and counting were distracting and detracted from a full discussion of how hardening one's heart is disastrous. Yasha Koach and Shabbat Shalom,
You are correct. Dr. Belk is aware of this unique difficulty. Sometimes we struggle with cluttering the message. However, it is important for us to be very basic. We feel like our more advanced students will understand. It is both important to clearly establish the foundation for the Gematria connections as well as the message resulting from them. Thank you for your comments. Best regards, Subject: Gematria Letters & Colors Nissim.
Subject: Gematria Letters & Colors Hi, thank you for replying to my email, here is a list of the Alef- Beit with their colours: I hope my calculations of the Gematria are correct, in addition to that the days of the week are also associated with colours: I thank you for your time and hope that this information makes any sense at all. In regard to your question I am 34 years old, all the best, Nissim.
Thank you for forwarding the Gematria information to us. Dr. Belk did review your information, however he cannot comment further on this matter because Gematria study is reserved for men who are at least 40 years of age. Do you have a rabbi/ community Rav? If so, he suggests that you speak with your rabbi regarding this matter. You are talented but for Dr. Belk to discuss this further he would need the approval of your community's Orthodox Rav. Regards, Rachel Gold
Shalom Mr. DW., It was a deep honor to receive your E - Mail in behalf of your wife. Dr. Belk commends your wife's desire to learn! Mr. DW it is difficult to reply to your request in a manner that such a quest for education may deserve but since you asked... Hebrew Gematria {Jewish Mysticism} is a discipline that normally is reserved for Jewish men who are beyond the age of forty. We at JewishPath ascribe to this teaching "with limits." Anyone is welcome to visit our posted Gematria "SIGHT" on JewishPath. Anyone is welcome to become a member. However within our religion we have certain limits, boundaries and restrictions that JewishPath is not prepared to violate. The purpose for the Gematria Kit is to provide members of JewishPath a method of understanding our articles better. The Gematria Kit is a laminated sheet of paper with An Aleph Bais Chart Hebrew
/ English The Gematria Kit is intended ONLY as an aid to better understand the Gematrias discussed by Dr. Belk. Learning Gematria requires a foundation of Torah and Hebrew. It is also a very special Gift from Hashem that must NOT be used improperly. In the world today we commonly find Christians / Messianics misusing Gematria as well as Torah Codes. Our January Readers' Response carries examples of this problem, Subject: Mutation Of Torah {Jewish} Gematria One example of a Gematria discipline is that Gematria can only support Torah values. It cannot be used to challenge the Torah or to offer any form of corruption of Torah precepts such as Christians / Messianics mistakenly attempt. Torah Gematria does not support Jesus as the Messiah and neither do Bible Codes; but we frequently find well-meaning, zealous people who think they have made a major discovery when in fact all they have done is corrupt the very purpose of Gematria. At JewishPath we confront these types of problems often. Please see the article "666" as an example. While we appreciate your wife's desire to learn as we do so many of our readers in JewishPath, it is necessary for us to essentially travel the same path. Each week we study the same Torah Parsha. Each week we observe Shabbos. There are many stepping stones that come before one begins learning Gematria. There are no shortcuts! We know nothing about you or your wife, your background, etc. All serious schools of learning have admittance requirements where one must display a certain degree of proficiency to be accepted into their program. Best regards, Rachel Gold
Subject: Non Jewish Web of deception Regarding Objections to Islam
Judaism and Islam are not evangelical religions as compared to Christian / Messianics who are. Jews and Muslims do not go door to door, stand on the street corners, and hold conferences around the world for the purpose of evangelizing the world etc! Muslims do not imitate Judaism as Christian / Messianics do. They do not where Tzitzis or Tallisim with the intention of converting Jews to Islam. Christian / Messianics do! Islam is are not pretentious as Christian / Messianics are. They do not search Jews out in super markets, department stores, parks, libraries, bus stops, airports etc and befriend us with the intention of witnessing to us about their beliefs! They do not set up their Mosque as a Jewish synagogue with an Aron Kodesh, a bimah, etc. with the purpose of converting Jews to Islam. Neither Judaism or Islam supports the view that Jesus was G-d in the human form. Neither Judaism or Islam supports the view that Jesus was the Moshiach. Muslims believe that Muhammad was a very great prophet. They do not believe Muhammad was G-d or that Muhammad was the Moshiach. If you want to know more about Islam visit a Mosque or an Islamic Web Site. We at JewishPath will not be drawn into your web of deception. As a result you will NOT find articles about Islam on our "SIGHT"! Do NOT be mistaken, JewishPath is a Jewish Web "SIGHT". Our intention is NOT TO EDUCATE followers of other religions about Judaism. Our intention is to reach out to our brothers / sisters interested in learning Torah who were misled and confused by other religions. Rachel Gold
Unfortunately I do not speak Hebrew nor do
I know anyone who does. I know the anglicised names of the books
of the Tanakh (Bereishith, Shemoth, etc) but I do not know their
Hebrew alphabet equivalents or the gematria values for them.
Can
Thank you for e - mailing us with your need. This is an area that requires special assistance that we do not offer at JewishPath. Peter, to answer several questions may be fine but Gematria is a subject for Jewish men beyond the age of forty! Do you meet this qualification? If so, we can suggest people skilled in this area. They charge for their services. Regards,
Subject: Answers To Non Members Questions i can read hebrew, but can't understand it.
i must say that although i know of Rashi and his notoriety, i'm
not very familiar with his works and though i do have lots of
Judaica and of course the Tanach, i don't have a chumash. i'll
get one though i hope soon. until then, you'll have to fill me
up on this whole angel and destruction of the world thing.
Your questions have been placed on Dr. Belk's request list. The list is long. Members have priority. Dr. Belk is a working teacher. Neither he nor any member of his staff receive a salary from JewishPath. This is a work of love to the world. Please be patient. Regards, Rachel Gold Subject: Hebrew Alphabet {Aleph / Bais}
in CD or Tapes I would like to know if there's a CD or tapes
in hebrew pronunciation, and the correct way to sau the hebrew
letters. David
Dr. Belk has a self study course entitled "Very Basic HEBREW ONE A" It comes with a work book and cassette tapes. It is designed for the beginner. The cost is $49.99 {NON REFUNDABLE} plus $5.00 shipping and handling within the U.S.A. {$7.50 outside of the U.S.A.}. Send Your Check or Money Order to Dr. Akiva Belk P.O. Box 25 Morrison Colorado 80456-0025. Dr. Belk normally ships immediately. Regards, Rachel Gold Shalom, Isaac, my five-year old son, and I recently
have moved to Birch Bay, near the Canadian border. The van I
was driving now requires another transmission, and, as, we are
out of the near boundaries of cities, we hitch-hike everywhere.
We are sharing this farmhouse-type home with a gentile, who builds
and programs computers. He set me up with a computer, and installed
the on- line access. I am "computer illiterate", but,
somehow, found your web-site, which Butch showed me how to save
under "favourites", en- abling me to access your web-site
immediately. This web-site is like the experience of sitting
under a water-fall, the cascading, crystal-line waters refreshes
the soul, it is aesthetically pleasing, as well
January 19, 2000 Dr. Belk says, "Thank you for the blessing and the kind words regarding JewishPath articles." We grant you permission to use our articles for your own private study providing you are careful not to destroy or discard articles with Hashem's holy name in them and providing you observe our copyright instructions. Please refer to our page "About JewishPath" Copyright. Being a single mother with the duty of raising a five year old son is an enormous responsibility. It sounds as if you are alone in this world without the assistance of your parents or Yitzchok's father's parents for whatever reason. This is very difficult especially being without transportation and requiring the assistance of a non Jew for basic shelter. I pray that Hashem should bless this non Jew for his kindness. Yet it poses many problems that we should discuss later. You must be some distance from any Jewish community. Some Jewish communities have educational assistance for Jewish children to attend a Hebrew school. Also members of the community occasionally assist poor Jews living within their community. Without knowing certain details it is difficult for Dr. Belk to respond. If you would like to discuss these issues please provide us with more detailed information. A Jewish single mother living outside the Jewish community is vulnerable to many problems, G-d forbid! Do you have a rabbi? Have you discussed these issues with your rabbi? Dr Belk wishes to express his thanks regarding your kind offer of a color print of a collage about the "eliyahu message" written in Mal'aki. He would welcome it. Please discuss this with us before sending. We pray that Hashem should meet your every need! We look forward to hearing from you. Your name has been placed on our immediate response list. Best regards, Rachel Gold Weekly Studies JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's Introduction Courses. We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality {7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!
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