orthodox jews

Ben-Gvir Leads Prayers on Temple Mount

“In an unprecedented move, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led a group of Jewish worshippers in prayer atop the Temple Mount on Sunday as he marked the Tisha B’Av fast day — the first time that a government minister has overtly worshipped at the flashpoint site in violation of the status quo.”

Times of Israel

There is no more divisive Israeli public figure than Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, he routinely uses inflammatory and racist rhetoric against Arabs in general and Palestinians in particular.  

Ben-Gvir is an Orthodox Jew whose vehement racism and genocidal policies toward Palestinians are camouflaged by religious zealotry.

Israel and Jordan have an agreement allowing Jewish visitors on the Temple Mount but prohibiting them from praying there.  

The Temple Mount in Jerusalem known as the “Noble Sanctuary” by Arabs in the biggest flashpoint in the Middle East, prior provocations by Orthodox Jews in this sacred site have ignited intifadas.

Ostensibly, prayer is a means of communicating with the Almighty, but evangelicals in America and Orthodox Jews in Israel have weaponized prayer. Evangelicals in America publicly pray that God will punish gays and lesbians, and Orthodox Jews in Israel pray that Jehovah will rid Arabs from the Holy Land.

Ben-Gvir did not pray atop the Temple Mount for the peace of Jerusalem, on the contrary he was hoping that his defiant action would incite violence and give Israel an excuse to crush the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.

Ben-Givr is not an aberration, most of Netanyahu’s governing coalition are far-right radicals just like him. It is time for America to stop supporting this racist apartheid regime.

Evangelicals Only Love Jews Who Convert to Christianity

Normal folks have an aversion to bloodshed, the killing and wounding of people, on a large scale during a war or a natural disaster.

But evangelicals, who make a fetish of the blood of Jesus, have a spiritual orgasm whenever blood is shed in the middle east or in a natural disaster, because they view earthquakes and hurricanes and any conflict involving Israel as a sign of the End Times.

Evangelicals like to blather about how much they love Israel, and they admonish us to heed the Biblical injunction to support God’s chosen people.

Evangelicals know very little about the modern state of Israel; it’s not the God-fearing state of the Old Testament but a secular apartheid regime where right-wing Orthodox Jews have an outsized influence in the government. Remind anyone of evangelicals’ disproportionate influence in American politics?

Evangelicals may claim to love Jews but many of them believe that Rothschild bankers control the U.S economy, that Jewish entertainment moguls control the media and the press, and that the Jewish lobby controls Congress.

Evangelicals believe in an eschatological theology that views Jews not as human beings but as chess pieces for a massive, apocalyptic battle, in which the conversion of Jews to Christianity will usher Jesus’ triumphant return to Earth.

Evangelicals don’t value Jews unless they convert to Christianity. American Jews and Jews in Israel shouldn’t be fooled by evangelicals proclamation of adoration for Israel. Evangelicals’ agenda is antithetical to the best interests of the Jewish people.

When the Coronavirus Pandemic Ends There Will be Less Tolerance for Evangelicals Who Endanger Public Health and Democracy

The coronavirus pandemic is a major test for the nations and religions of the world. This virulent disease tests the legitimacy of our faith: whether we act rationality in accordance with common sense and the advice of physicians, scientists and lawmakers and practice social distancing or we endanger the lives of our neighbors by congregating in our places of worship.

Most places of worship have abided by the laws instituted by governors and the advice of physicians not to congregate in crowds larger than ten people. However, there have been scofflaws, notably fundamentalist religious organizations, whether they be evangelical Christians, Orthodox Jews or conservative Muslims.

These selfish religious fanatics believe that their parochial beliefs supersede the laws of man, even those put in place to protect society in a pandemic. Proving once again that religion is the greatest threat to democracy, science and the rule of law.

Most churches, synagogues and mosques have opted to put the health and wellbeing of their communities over their desire to worship God together by streamlining their worship services without the congregation in attendance. I’m not especially religious, but I say “Amen!”,

Other churches hold drive-in services, which do not violate social distancing rules. Typically, the church has a raised platform for speakers, with attendees remaining in their parked cars to listen to the music and preaching through an FM transmitter.

It seems like a perfect compromise for conducting a religious service in the time of a pandemic, but in most of these drive-in services the attendees honk their cars in lieu of shouting “Amen” and thereby disturbing the peace of nearby residents. Proving once again that many people of faith have little respect or consideration for people who don’t share their beliefs.

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the conflict between the rational requirements of health and science and the oftentimes irrational requirements of religion. When this pandemic ends there will be a realignment of social customs (no more handshakes?) and a reassessment of the role religion plays in society. There will be less tolerance for evangelicals who are an existential threat to democracy and public health. And to that I say: Amen!