From: Natan Zahavi via levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu
Newsgroups: alt.messianic
Subject: Rav Vidash (z"l) and Manninen
Date: 15 Dec 1992 20:52:06 -0600
Organization: Johns Hopkins University
Reply-To: levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu (Robert A. Levene)
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Laura Manninen, quoting Bruce Carlson, writes:

 BC>MT27:42 RABBINIC: R. ELIJAH DE VIDAS: The meaning of He was wounded for
 BC>        our transgressions bruised for our iniquities is, that since
 BC>        Messiah bears our inquities, which produce the effect of His
 BC>        being bruised,it follows that whoso will not admit that the
 BC>        Messiah thus suffers for our iniquities must endure and suffer
 BC>        for them himself.-[Is. 53] (& Rabbi Simeon b. Yochai, Midrash
 BC>        Tanna debe Eliyyahu; and see: Targum Jonathan 53:4-5).   (See
 BC>        also on Matt. 26:28, & 27:35) [Matt. 18:11; John 3: 14-15]

A few weeks back Ms. Manninen quoted Bruce Carlson's citation from the
so-called "Amsterdam Zohar."  It turned out that text was not the Zohar
at all but rather a doctored text produced in the 1700's by a follower
of the false messiah Shabbatai Zevi.  Now she uses Carlson's quote of
Rabbi Eliyahu Vidash, attempting to use his words to support her
Christian messianic missionizing.  Note that she doesn't provide the
context of the quote nor does she provide adequate references so that
one could look it up for one's self.  These are common missionary
tactics.

When one reads the quote in context and understands what Rabbi Vidash
means by his terms, one sees that this quote doesn't support Ms.
Manninen's claims in any way.  In fact, it becomes clear that Ms.
Manninen has a missionary's agenda and doesn't mind using deceit to
promote her goals.

Rabbi Vidash lived in the late 1600's and was a student of the reknowned
Rabbi Moses Cordovero of Sefad.  Both teacher and student rejected all
claims that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah.  Using his words to promote
such a belief goes completely against everything that he held sacred.
Moreover it is clear from Rabbi Vidash's writings that he would be
appalled at Ms. Manninen's use of his words to promote anti-Jewish
missionary activity.

Not surprisingly, Ms. Manninen's quote is also full of errors.  Here is
what Rabbi Vidash really had to say about the Messiah in his text
"Raishit Khokhmah" (Sha-ar HaKdusha, 15:43).  The context is how one
should behave so as to be worthy of holiness -- i.e., that one should
live in poverty and accept suffering.  (The translation from the
original Hebrew and Aramaic is my own.)

       "And this is what is stated in Tana D'vay Eliyahu: for 13 
       years Rabbi Shimon son of Yochai (peace be upon him) was 
       sequestered in a cave.  Wondrous depths of knowledge were 
       revealed to him and he foresaw the future.  Specifically, 
       [he saw] that one who has sinned must suffer over his sins 
       and will not be worthy of perceiving the supernal Light 
       (that is the 'oil' about which King David commented: 'You 
       annointed my head with oil' -- Psalms 23:5) unless he 
       pressures [pounds, pulverizes, refines through pressure] 
       himself.  And more, it is written "mixed with pressed 
       oil."

       "And this is what is written [Isaiah 53:5]: 'and he was 
       wounded because of our transgressions, he was oppressed 
       because of our iniquities.'  What is intended is that just 
       as the Messiah suffers our sins, he is also oppressed.  If 
       so, one who wants [to assure] that the Messiah won't be 
       oppressed because of our sins should suffer and be 
       oppressed himself.  And this is how it was explained in 
       Sefer HaKhasidim, that one pious man suffered torments 
       over his sins and he gave this reason that I explained, 
       (see the source)."

To understand what Rabbi Vidash means by the "Messiah suffers our sins"
and "the Messiah won't be oppressed because of our sins" one must read
the three paragraphs immediately preceding the quoted ones.  In those
paragraphs Rabbi Vidash cites the Zohar on the relevant section of
Isaiah (Zohar, Vayakhel 212a):

       "When the Messiah is told of Israel's tribulations in 
       their exile, (and this refers to the evil ones among them 
       who don't heed their Master's intent), he raises his voice 
       and weeps over these evil ones among them.  This is 
       what is written: 'and he was wounded because of our 
       transgressions, he was oppressed because of our 
       iniquities.'  The souls return and wait where they are."

So the Zohar says that while the Messiah is yet unborn he weeps over
the evil that some among Israel bring them during their exile.  This is
the suffering of the Messiah to which Rabbi Vidash refers, unrelated
in any manner to the "suffering servant" and "he died for our sins"
mythology that Christianity has created around Jesus.  Rabbi Vidash says
absolutely nothing about the Messiah bearing anyone's sins.

Now ask yourself why Ms. Manninen should go to such lengths to change
Rabbi Vidash's intent?

Thank you.

--
Natan Zahavi

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