A Noahide answers questions

Dear readers of' "Avakesh".

A recent post brought about an email correspondence between myself and Jim Long, a Noahide, a writer and a film producer who is completing a book on a related topic. During the course of our correspondence, he offered to answer several questions, which I think the readers will find interesting and important. JIm can be reached at lightcatcher@earthlink.net


1.You have had an unusual path to the belief in the Torah and Hashem, or at least it might appear to be unusual to those who are not familiar with the Noahide movement. Would you briefly share your history with the readers of this blog?

One of my earliest childhood memories was gazing up at the sky on a lovely summer day and wondering where G-d was and would I ever see him. I was about seven or eight at the time. My first exposure to any kind of religious experience was as a Catholic attending a parochial kindergarten. For some reason, my mother was smitten by ritual trappings she had seen at her sister's Catholic wedding. I remained a devout Catholic until I was twelve or thirteen but rejected it because it was drenched in pagan mysticism. When I discovered the bloody history of the church, the papal abuses, the Inquisition--I walked away from it. In the years that followed, I continued to look for the truth in places like the Church of Christ, the Methodist Church and even a fundamentalist cult. At the core of my search was a question, "What does G-d actually require of us as His creation?"

My professional life, in broadcasting, led me into talk-radio in Dallas, Texas. It was there, in 1994, that I met Vendyl Jones. He was a guest on our midday show. Initially, I had booked him to talk about his archaeological work, but when we began to take questions from listeners, he veered off into his religious beliefs. I was completely fascinated having never heard anything like it before. I didn't realize it at the time but he was teaching Torah. After the interview, Vendyl invited me to his weekend Torah classes. It was during these sessions, studying the weekly parsha, that I began to get answers to questions that I'd had all my life---regarding the nature of the Creator and especially, how we could live according to His teachings.  It was about this same time that I met my wife, Carol, who joined me in these studies.

2.How did your growing involvement with Jewish teachings influenced your work?
 
I discovered how little I really knew about Judaism and that I harbored a lot of misconceptions. However, my studies soon led to fundamental truths embedded in the Torah which are easily found, even in the most awkward English translations. The vital truth is that G-d gave the Torah and its commandments to the Jewish people. These commandments apply to them specifically so that they can function in their G-d given task as a nation of priests to our planet. One of the other things I learned was that, as a Gentile, I was only required to keep Seven Laws given to Noah after the flood. The laws were part of a covenant made with mankind. It's interesting to note that, where this covenant is described in Genesis 9, the word covenant (brith) appears exactly seven times. More to the point, my professional life was impacted in that I began to employ my background in media to promote Torah, the well-being of the Jewish People and the preservation of the State of Israel, their G-d-given home. This has been actualized in my own book and documentary RIDDLE OF THE EXODUS which links specific details from Jewish sources to the archaeological record to demonstrate the reality of the Exodus. Carol and I also have been pleased to publish books by the likes of Paul Eidelberg, Isaac Mozeson, Eugene Narrett and others. 
 
3. What are the most salient differences between the Torah and Christian approach to spirituality and spiritual growth in your opinion and experience?

Whatever claims various denominations might profess, Christianity actually functions on an emotional level. That wouldn't be a bad thing if our emotions were connected to our head.  However, simply because we feel something does not make it the truth. Some Christians almost live a life of the mind---as if thinking good thoughts are enough. Christians who actually Do good things reflect Torah values. I rejected Catholicism and concepts like the "trinity" because we were not to question them, only accept. Judaism permits, even encourages question and debate. All of the mysteries, for example, the so-called Virgin Birth were fostered by the Vatican and infected early Christianity. This latter concept has always been odd to me because if one searches the alleged words of JC, he never makes any references to a miraculous birth. I also rejected Church teachings because it promotes a view that this world is a bad place and we're all better off when we die. That's pure Hellisim, courtesy of the Greeks.  Just read the account in Genesis and you will see G-d continually characterizes His creation as good. Judaism is so profoundly different because it is based in reason and intellect--to use the mind that G-d gave us. It is that intellect that allows one to read the  Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and reject the claims that JC is G-d (G-d forbid) or that he is the Messiah.  The most appealing aspect of Judaism is that it teaches Jews to elevate absolutely every aspect of their life. When one understands this process, any claim that Observant Jews are "caught up in ritual"  is wholly invalid. Christianity is a religion and I mean that in a negative way. Judaism is an all-encompassing existence embodied in the idea that the Jews are not tied together ethnically but are a Holy Nation---even in the legal sense of the word---with their own Constitution (Torah) and their own Land (eretz Israel).  And yet, how wonderful a Nation---the only one ever created by G-d.

4.Many Jewish readers have a difficulty understanding why someone who acknowledges the truth of the Torah elects not to proceed to a full conversion. Would you mind explaining that to our readers?

I haven't given up on the idea of converting. But as your Jewish readers will appreciate, conversion is something that one cannot take lightly. It may sound glib but seven mitzvoth are not as daunting as six-hundred thirteen. I don't think that I'm much different from other potential converts who fear that they might not be good Jews which is why converts to Orthodox Judaism have my deep respect. It's a humbling thing to consider that the welfare of the world rests on shoulders of the Jewish people.

5.There appears to be a growing familiarity and interest in the Torah world view among Gentiles throughout the world and it expresses itself in many different ways, from incorporation of Jewish elements into Christian worship to the Noahide movement  to outright conversion to Judaism. How do you explain it and what do you think the future impact of this phenomenon will be on both Jews and the Gentile world?

The emergence of the modern State of Israel woke a lot of people up. It is a vivid realization of the words of the prophets coming to pass.  Those same prophets also said that would be a hunger for the word of G-d.  Due to the internet and blogs like your own, more people are being exposed to deep Torah concepts  in a way never envisioned. Thanks also to the fact that Jews are responding and making tshuva brings even more attention to Torah. I think it's also obvious that the shallowness of organized religion as well as diminished trust in manmade institutions are driving people to seek Torah. How else can people deal with uncertainty and chaos that we confront daily. In some respects, it will increase love and respect for the Jewish people while on the other hand, for those who continue to ignore the truth, it will increase hatred against the Jewish people. Ultimately, I believe the world will turn to the people of Israel for help because they will finally realize that the Jews have possessed the solution (Torah) to all of mankind's problems.

6.What are the projects that you currently pursue and what might you be doing in the future?

We recently completed a couple of festival showings of our latest documentary THE TREASURES OF THE COPPER SCROLL, we're now prepping that for DVD release. I am putting the finishing touches on a book entitled BLOOD BROTHER: THE  HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S ENEMY. I'm attempting to show that the Western world and Christianity are more than a philosophical representation of Esau's legacy but that there is an ethnic and historical connection between Rome and Esau's descendants. We are also preparing a new book for Noahides written by a rabbi friend in Israel. B'esrat HaShem, I will be spending more of the coming year in eretz Israel researching a new documentary.


7.Is there anything else you would like to say to our readers?
First of all, I genuinely appreciate this opportunity to talk about our work. I would say to your Jewish readership who are still living in the galuth, to make aliyah because your people and your land need you. To those in eretz Israel, Hazak! To your Noahide readers I would say, study and live the life of a Righteous Gentile and to your Christian readers, give up your idols, continue to honestly seek the truth in the Torah and G-d will reveal it to you.

Comments

[Neil Harris]

This exchange was really interesting. Thanks.

[Judas Iscariot]

Wednesday, 06/10/09

I was raised in the Reform Jewish movement. Consequently, I learned very little Torah in the local "Sunday school." (That was the actual name given to the lessons by the Reform "Rabbi.")

The lurking fear of eternal hellfire and damnation was in my mind off and on. When I turned age 40, I consulted an Orthodox rabbi for the 1st time in my life. From that point on, I became more Torah observant and am now planning, with HaShem's help, Aliyah.

Finding out that in Torah, there is no "Devil" was similar to finding out as a little kid that there really is no "Santa Claus." The Evil Inclination in every human being, Gentile or Jew, is created by G-d, not by some allegedly fallen angel who is trying, as if it were possible, to oust G-d from Heaven.

I have asked various Christian friends and acquaintences why G-d (their trinity) allows "Satan"
to do his wicked deeds. To date, none of them-- from Roman Catholic to Foursquare Gospel, has been able to give me a rational response.

In fact, I've caused some Catholic friends to become Noahides. The world is frightening for all people who love G-d today. The more Gentiles who become Noahides, the better off the world will be.

Shalom,
Judas Iscariot