The Israelites receiving the Torah from the Mount called Sinai
“The Reason for Hatred of the Jew”
This week's Parshah, Yithro, reveals the core of Jew hatred which is so widespread and rampant in the world. If the UN is any indication, then there is hardly a nation in the world that is pro-Israel – which is the Homeland of the Jews. Those selective few nations who may still vote for Israel, like the USA, do so because it suits their self-interest militarily and for their Oil interests in theMiddle East.
But, why this international dislike of Jews? Parashat Yithro tells us.
Firstly though, we should analyze this general "dislike" of Jews in the world. The word hatred would of course be shunned and denied by the majority of these interests who are so anti-Jewish. We find exactly the same reactions amongst Christians and - for purposes of our discussion here – even amongst most 10-Tribers who are turning back to Torah observance today. In fact, all of 'Christian' Messianism can be fitted in either one of these two categories: for or against Israel and Judaism. But, pro-Israel and pro-Jewish Messianics and 10-Tribers generally share the same dislike of the anti-Jews in that they reject the Rabbis and their teachings – but they don’t like the term hatred being applied.
For that matter, there are very "few" Jew-haters, just Jew-dislikers. These negative feelings generally reflect their clear conflicting spirit against Rabbinism or the idea of identifying with Judah by conversion. These protestors call it "man-made, unscriptural", etc. and vehemently reject it. But, "they don’t hate Jews", they will claim.
Call it dislike of, or rejection of, disapproval of, correction of … anything, as long as you don’t use the term hatred for their animosity against, for their abhorrence of, and their detesting, loathing, revulsion and disgust for that Judaism which Rabbinic leadership promotes.
Now please note that 'hatred' and the six opposing reactions in the last sentence are all synonyms – exactly the same thing! But, they will insist that it is not hatred. So, let us then settle for "their animosity against, their revulsion, detesting, loathing, abhorrence and disgust for Jewish spiritual leadership and its declared faith, orthodox Judaism." They may dispute these terms also as radical and justify it with their true intentions, but even a short debate on the topic will clearly reveal those very feelings in the statements that they will come up with if forced into a corner of choice or rejection.
Parashat Yithro tells us about the origin for these opposing feelings.
This Parshah brings together two divergent elements. On the one hand it features the Greatest Event in the Bible, i.e. the entering into Covenant with the 12-Tribed Nation of Israel at Mt. Sinai – referred to also as "The Marriage of G-d with His Elect", i.e. the giving of the Commandments. On the other hand, this salient portion of Scripture and Jewish heritage is named after a Gentile admirer of the G-d of Israel, Yithro, father-in-law of Moses. We thus have here a metaphor for the ultimate Redemption when "Gentile" 10-Israel will be reconciled to the G-d of Israel, His Torah and to Judah, the appointed Guardians of Torah (Genesis 49:10 in the Jewish Tanach, Romans 3:2 in the Gentile 'New Testament').
Yithro was the first righteous convert to Judaism (for that was the religion of the 12-Tribed nation of Israel). He advised Moses on how to arrange assistance through creating a hierarchy of Torah administrators (Judges). This Parshah contains the Ten Commandments and is named 'Yithro' for the opening words of the Parshah is “Vayishma Yithro” (Yithro heard). 'Shema' also means 'to understand.' Yithro didn’t just hear about the wonders of the G-d of Israel, he also understood and acted.
Amalek heard the same things as Yithro but was so obsessed with his hatred for the Israelites and was filled with such horrible prejudices that his true sense of reality was distorted. The nation of Amalek became enraged and rebelled against G-d.
The Talmud (Tractate Shabbos 69) cites the source of anti-Semitism using a play on words: The Torah - the source of the Jewish system of laws, values and moral standards - was received at Mount Sinai. The Hebrew pronunciation of "Sinai" is almost identical to the Hebrew word for "hatred" - sinah. "Why was the Torah given on a mountain called Sinai?" asks the Talmud.
"Because the great sinah - the tremendous hatred aimed at the Jew - emanates from Sinai." We have here another example of that strange analogy in the Hebrew language, where using an alternative letter for the same pronunciation sound, totally overturns the meaning to the extreme opposite. In this way, Sinai (with an initial letter 'Samech"), depicting the Love and Sanctification of the Torah, turns to the opposite, 'hatred', by use of the letter 'Sin'). Similarly the word "Shuah', salvage, beautiful, with a final 'Ayin', becomes holocaust, desolation, destruction ('Shoah') by using a final 'Aleph'
This hatred for the Jew and for Torah Judaism stems from mankind's inherent craving for licentiousness or personal freedom. The restrictive Jewish Faith hinders this carnal freedom. At Sinai, Jewish Torah observance became the target for the hatred of those who strive to liberate self and mankind from the shackles of conscience and morality. There are those who embrace the principles of the Jewish faith because of it being "A Light unto the Nations"; but there are also those who want the world to be a place of their own spiritual preferences. They object to rigidity of the Rabbinic interpretation of the Torah.
Now these anti-Rabbinic objectors will claim that they in fact pursue a more accurate way of keeping Torah according to the "Written Word" and not the "man-made laws of the Rabbis". But, here too we find a perfect inconsistency going back in time as far as the 'Original Sin' of the 10-Tribers for which they were rejected by G-d and cut off from His Covenant, driven into exile amongst the pagan nations, This was an identical rebellion, against Judah's interpretation of Torah. These ancient "haters" of Judah never rejected Torah, they claimed. They simply insisted on their own interpretations in preference to Judah's 'austere' interpretations.
It cannot be co-incidence that this Parshah links the 'Jewish' Commandments of G-d to a Gentile of fame who looked, saw and responded positively. He converted to Judaism and became part of G-d's Elect. Rather than join the rebelling masses, he decided to subject himself and in fact took the lead to assist Moses in implementing Torah interpretation to the nation.
Returning 10-Tribers who still oppose 'Rabbinism', should ask themselves to what extent they have freed themselves from this hatred and if they are not still bound by its original symptoms which have been so prevalent amongst the nations since this majestic Event at Sinai.
To understand more about the Return of the 10 Tribes of Israel to their Homeland in Israel, Jordan, and Syria, Contact “Kol Ha Tor”, the Voice of the Turtledove.
Here is a Reception from the Rabbanim of the House of Judah formed to welcome the returning Lost Tribes of Israel. For inquiries about Kol Ha Tor Ministries for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria, that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel.