Love Is Not Enough

I admit it.  I'm a bit confused. It doesn't make me feel bad or threatened.   Actually, it could be quite exciting.  However, there is much work ahead.  What I am talking about is this phenomena of people from all over the world wanting to be counted as part of the Jewish nation.

Only 60 some years ago in Europe, the most cultured part of the world, it was a crime to be a Jew.  You were not considered human, and you were hunted down and exterminated.  Today however, it is becoming vogue to either be a Jew, or cozy on up to Jewish culture and claim that you are either part of our nation, or even more Jewish than the Jews.

This last week, I did a show on the lost ten tribes of Israel.  We learn from our prophets that in the end of days, the lost ten tribes will be returned to the Jewish Nation.  This is a very exciting thing, however, the road may be bumpy.

There are thousands, perhaps millions of people today who believe that they are part of the lost ten tribes.  Some people claiming Jewish ancestry have been officially recognized such as Beta Israel (Blacks from Ethiopia) and the Bnei Menashe (Asian Indians) as they have kept Jewish tradition and Torah as best they could, conferred with our rabbinical leaders today to make sure they have a kosher conversion back to their roots (if required) and have joined us here in Israel as full fledged Jews. They have intermarried with the rest of the Nation of Israel and are living a total Jewish life here in the Land of Israel.

However, a problem arises  today when there are others who profess to being either from a  lost tribe, or claim to be the real Jews themselves.  This is where a blurring of lines can get very sticky and complicated.  While not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings and while saying this with as much love in my heart for my fellow man as I can, wanting to be a Jew, or even claiming to be a Jew, does NOT make one a Jew.  There are 613 commandments that Jews must obey and there is a specific code of  Jewish law which one must accept and take upon himself to be counted as part of the Jewish nation.  Having a burning desire, or burning love for G-d and His Torah is not enough. 

Case in point: Hu Yang is from Beijing.   He loves everything American; hot dogs, hamburgers and Britney Spears. He watches American Idol when he can cut in on outside internet and he keeps up with all the baseball and football stats and games.  In short, this man is dying to be an American.  He even managed to obtain a job where he is allowed to travel to the States for work.  However, loving and feeling attached to America does NOT make him an American.  It doesn't matter how much he identifies with America or how crazy he is about it.  He is not an American citizen nor will he ever be, unless he applies for citizenship, takes a course on American government, passes a test, and then swears an oath of allegiance in front of a certified legal court judge.  After fulfilling those requirements, Hu Yang can celebrate his new identity and status as an American and live as a full fledged, legal life with his new community.

But what if Hu Yang wanted to live in America legally, but remain a communist, as he believed in his heart that capitalism was evil and that communism was the truthful, fair, humanistic way that all people should live and share the wealth of the planet?  What if he wanted to live in America, enjoy the culture, but turn it one day into a communist country?  Would there be a problem here?  Would it wear down and destroy the American way of life of freedom and values that make it distinct from other nations?  Would America continue to be a beacon of light and offer freedom if it were infiltrated with people who wanted to hold on to their values and beliefs that contradicted the very essence of what America stood for?

This can be a very exciting time in history, to see people from around the world wanting to be Jews, or believing that they are, and really joining the Jewish Nation to be a light.  But it must be done through Jewish law and respect and honor for our ways which we have carried with us for thousands of years since receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. No blurring of borders, no making claims and stealing an identity and then going against Torah and Halacha (the Code of Jewish law). 

A Hu Feng, a John Doe, or a Rodney Jackson can feel like a Jew, dress like a Jew, eat like a Jew, and pray like a Jew, but this does not make him a Jew. One must learn and take an oath before a legal orthodox rabbinical court and take an oath to uphold the 613 commandments and live a full Jewish Torah observant life.  Then, we the Nation of Israel will all see your total commitment and embrace you and welcome you and absorb you in the Land and our communities as we have with all our brothers who have come from different parts of the planet.

Barack Obama's wife’s cousin, 'Rabbi' Capers Funnye.  Are this man and his congregation really part of the Jewish Nation?

Jews in Nigeria?

Wanna-be Japaneese Jews or Lost tribe?

Yes, it is exciting to see this love and attachment for Israel and Torah as we see in these videos above.  I am rooting for all of Mankind to come closer to G-d, live in harmony, and even decide to join the Jewish Nation.   However, there is no requirement that non-Jews become Jews.  It's hard to live a Jewish life. One can join us, but make sure it is kosher and legal.  You are joining a priestly nation which is a tremendous responsibility, and quite simply, love is not enough.

Sarah Palin: A Closet Zionist?

Jake from Alaska sent me a very interesting video of an Alaskan podcast that promotes hiking and tourism in Alaska.  In this podcast (video below) from February 2008, way before Gov. Sarah Palin was touted to be the Republican vice-presidential candidate, the host of the show, Scott Slone interviewed her in her office.

What is interesting in this story is that 2 minutes and 40 seconds in, the camera shows clearly, an Israeli flag near her office window (to the right of the frame).  As well, if one looks closely, it seems she is wearing an Israeli flag pin* on her left lapel (see 2:55 into video).  So, the question is, is Sarah Palin a closet Zionist? Is she a friend of the Jewish people and Israel?    *NOTE: It has been brought to my attention that the pin on her lapel is probably not an Israeli flag. Someone suggested that it may be a Blue Star Mothers of America pin, and it has red stripes, not blue which is hard to see. Here is a link showing the photo of what the pin she is wearing probably is.

Click on video Below.

What is important to note here is, that this video was not made by a Jewish organization, nor is she speaking before a Jewish audience or catering to any Jewish vote.  We know of many politicians wearing an Israeli flag pin or waving an Israeli flag when attending Israel's Independence Day celebrations or speaking in front of a Jewish audience, but this is not the case here.

I haven't done much research on Gov. Palin (yet) but watching this video leaves one, well, it just leaves one feeling good.  If she is a closet Zionist, she should come out and tell us so.  Millions of others just like her, may just follow suit.

* To watch the entire video (that I edited for brevity) click HERE.   7 minutes and 13 seconds into the video, the camera hones in on the pin on her lapel which looks like an Israeli flag.  It is in HD so is much sharper there than in the video above.

The $10,000 'Bark' Mitzvah

He spent $10,000 on a 'Bark'-Mitzvah party for his dog.  Ten thousand dollars!  Watch this video and then I will comment below.

Original news report and video can be seen HERE.

So, we have a very successful, nice looking, clean cut man.  He seems educated and well off.  Very well off if he can spend thousands of dollars just to have a party for his dog to have fun, AND is planning a 21st birthday party for his dog in the future.

What has the world come to?

I would like to say a few words to Elvis's owner, David Best. 

Mr. Best,

I have a bone to pick with you.

1)  If you wanted to honor your dog, you could have donated the ten thousand dollars to a hospital or school or any other worthy organization – IN YOUR DOG'S HONOR. A play room for kids with cancer in a hospital could have been named the 'Elvis' room. It would have made more people happy, and would last much longer than a Torah-defiling dog party. That $10,000 could have been donated to a pound, or animal rescue service, or teaching children proper care of animals, and it would have made your little Elvis a lot happier in the long run.

2) Your video of your dog at the podium reading the Torah was a mockery and highly offensive to many Jews AND non Jews alike. 

3)  If an anti-Semite had put a tallit and yarmulke on a dog and laughed about it, people all over the world would be screaming, "Anti-Semite!".  I bet your zayde (grandfather) donned these garments.  I wonder how he feels with you putting them on a dog.

4) Mr. Best, you defended your actions by claiming that one has to have a dog to really know what it's all about.  I have had dogs all my life.  They are a great addition to a family, and we loved all our dogs very much.   But to spend $10,000 on a bark-mitzvah, when all you have to do is look out your window to see the suffering of humanity, it is not just frivolous, but sickening and immoral.

I believe that you believe that you are a nice man.  But even seemingly nice people perpetrate evil acts.  Using the blessing of wealth that G-d has given you, on a mockery and a debasing of a holy ceremony which is meant for the time of life when a Jewish boy becomes a man and takes on the holy mitzvoth for himself, and then replacing it with a dog, is akin to the selfish acts of one who lived in Sodom & Gemorah so many years ago.  Perhaps you thought it was cute to throw a party called a 'Bark' Mitzvah.  Perhaps the people attending your party thought it was just the hippest thing and giggled when they received and accepted your invitation.  But to those of us who see how much good you could have done, it shows a man with a huge ego, and no feeling for others pain and suffering around him.

And so, you can fire your rabbi.  You can take your dog Elvis, to the Pope.  It all doesn't matter.  Elvis may go to doggy heaven, but you will rue your life where you could have brought such goodness to the world, yet chose to use your blessings for your own ego.

That's the bone I had to pick with you. Excuse me now, I have to go and feed my dog.

Left: My newest dog 'Honey'. Isn't she cute? 

Our last dog lived for 17 years, we got her from the pound.  Our other dog that we had before Honey, we adopted from Gush Katif several years ago when my children found her dying on the beach.  Yes, my family are dog lovers.  However, if we had $10,000 to spend, it would be to build our local school which needs more classrooms for our children.  Spending money to make a mockery of G-d and the Torah is just plain barking up the wrong tree.

Another gem to show the loss of understanding of the meaning of a bar/bat mitzvah.  Enjoy, laugh and weep.