by YahChannah Wolf
(published with permission from www.qumran.com)
Jackson Snyder Bible 1400 Sermons
What? Can such an idea be supported from Tanakh (TN’K)? Does Torah tell
the non-Israelite not to study Torah?
What is the status of a non-Jew when he accepts the Almighty Creator,
the Elohiym of Israel as his Elohiym? What is/was the status of the ‘stranger’ when
he attaches himself to YHWH, to Torah, to the Torah
faithful Children of Israel?
I received the following disturbing communication from a friend
and brother and will share his fears and the response to him in the hope this
may assist others in the same situation:
Can you please help me know
the correct, G-d’s, or Tanach’s
view on the following questions:
1. Are non-Jews or Gentiles,
according to the Scriptures, Prohibited from studying any of Tanach books, Torah, or any Torah related study articles?
2. If such a prohibition is
correct then, what about those non-Jews or Gentiles who unknowingly have
studied Torah and related study material - What should they do to undo their
guilt or guilty feelings?
Following is the reason for
my above questions:
Just over four months ago I started afresh, a deliberate, very slow and, thorough
study of Torah and Tehillim; and during that time,
with a sincere contemplation, I started to study a book called, JEWISH
CONVERSION ITS MEANING AND LAWS BY RABBI YOEL
SCHWARTZ. When I reached 12th chapter of
this book under the subheading, ‘Studying Torah’; I
was truly shocked to read that, “A non-Jew who studies Torah (or observes the
Sabbath) commits an offence”.
Now,
because of my true, deep, and respectful Fear of my Heavenly Father; soon after
reading this, I very strongly felt that I may have really committed a terrible
Sin against my Heavenly Father and G-d, “YHWH”
(because not only that by this time I was well into the last book of Torah but
I have been reading the Bible quite regularly for decades).
However, the pressing matter
is, that, Immediately after reading this, I stopped the study of Torah, Tanach, and all Torah related material, such as, ‘Torah on
Line’, and ‘QB Sabbathmessage’
and so forth. Obviously, at present, I
find myself in a terribly desperate situation not knowing what to do.
No doubt there are many
diverse views on Tanach related matters and beliefs.
However, it is very difficult, in fact impossible, for me to
totally ignore such a powerful statement on matters related to the
Almighty G-d, and His Word.
I desperately seek your
views, indeed, based entirely on G-d’s Word, Tanach!
Please reply very soon!
Shalom!
________________________________________
The response to this gentleman is as
follows below. Much could be added to this reply and
your additions will be welcomed. If you wish to comment email YahChannah.
Dear Friend and Brother,
What harm we may do
sometimes with careless words. Before I give any scripture from TN’K, I would like to say that you are not constrained from
Torah study, if fact just the opposite. We are to study, to obey, and to make
Torah a part of us. We are to look to His Torah continuously.
When Avraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees,
there were no ‘Jews’, there were no ‘Rabbis’, there was only a man who listened
to the Almighty when He spoke and a man who obeyed. When Moshe led the people put of Mitzrayim, there came out with him a ‘mixed multitude’.
When he came down from the mountain and began to share the ‘LAW’ with the
people, he did not send away the ‘mixed multitude’ so they might not hear.
Moshe’s wife Zipporah was a Midianite. When Yoseph lived
in, born to him from a, wife were Efrayim and Mannasheh who were given tribes within the nation of
Israel. Though half Mitzrayim
they were given equal status with the sons of Israel.
Shemot 12:38 And a mixed multitude
went up also with them, flocks, herds, and very many cattle.
The ‘stranger’ who dwelled among those who were by blood Israel were to be treated no differently, in fact they were to
learn and obey the Law (Torah)
Shemot 12:48-49. And when a stranger shall dwell with
you, and will keep the Pesach to YHWH, let all his
males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be
as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat
thereof. One law shall be to him that is
homeborn and to the stranger that dwells among you.
Bereshith 17:12-14
And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man
child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money
of any stranger, which is not of your seed.
He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought
with your money, must be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh
for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child, whose flesh of his foreskin
is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken
my covenant.
Shemot 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found
in your houses: for whosoever eats that which is leavened, even that soul shall
be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born
in the land.
You cannot be cut off if you were not a part of the
congregation.
Vayikra 24:22 You shall have one
manner of law (Torah) for the stranger, the same as for one of your own
country: for I am YHWH, your Elohiym.
BaMidBar 9:14 And if a stranger
shall dwell among you, and will keep the Pesach unto YHWH
according to the ordinance of the Pesach, and according to the manner thereof.
The stranger shall do the same as the one born in the land: you shall have one
ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
Over and over we read that whether it be one home-born or a stranger, the
rules are the same. How do we know the rules, either we study Torah or another
reads it to us and helps us to understand but Torah is required, not forbidden.
Devariym 31:11-12 When all Israel is come to appear before YHWH, your Elohiym in the place,
which He shall choose, you shall read this law (Torah) before all Israel in
their hearing. Gather the people
together, men, and women, and children, and your stranger that is within your
gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear YHWH your Elohiym, and observe to
do all the words of this law (Torah).
We cannot follow the following admonition if we do not study
Torah.
Yehoshua 1:8 This book of the law
shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate in (Torah) day and
night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in (Torah):
for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.
Melakim Bet 17:36-39 But YHWH,
Who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim
(Israel and the mixed multitudes) with great power and a stretched out arm, Him
shall you fear, and Him shall you worship, and to Him shall you do
sacrifice. And
the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which He
wrote for you, you shall observe to do for evermore; and you shall not fear
other mighty ones (including rabbis who would turn you from Torah).
Tehillim 37:29-31 The righteous
shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The mouth of the righteous
speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of judgment. The law (Torah) of his Elohiym
is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
How do we learn wisdom, justice and the law other than the study
of Torah? Sadly
the following can refer to many ‘Rabbis’ today. They are not necessarily Torah
observant themselves and often seek to lead away those who would be Torah
obedient.
YermeYahu 2:8 The priests did not say,
Where is YHWH? They that handle the law (Torah) did not
knew Me. Pastors also transgressed against Me and the
prophets prophesied by Ba’al, and walked after things
that do not profit.
Where may we get knowledge and wisdom?
Hoshea 4:6 My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge: because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you
that you shall be no priest (rabbi?) to Me because you have forgotten the law
(Torah) of your Elohiym, I will also forget your
children.
We should be able to trust the priests (rabbis) as the
messengers of YHWH but if they have not followed the
way of YHWH all they can do is lead others astray.
Malaki 2:7-8 For the priest’s lips
should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law (Torah) at his mouth: for
he is the messenger of YHWH of armies. But you are departed
out of the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law (Torah); you have
corrupted the covenant of Levi, says YHWH of armies.
A warning to Israel, a warning to all men.
Devariym 12:32 What ever I command, observe it, do it: you shall
not add to it, nor diminish from it.
Who knows whom and where YHWH’s people
are today other than YHWH? Can I say you are not His? Can you say I am
not His? Of course not so should any be forbidding
Torah to another, especially when we see so many directives for even the stranger
to obey Torah?
When you commit yourself to Torah, to the Almighty Father of
all, you are as much (and sometimes more if the Israelite is not obedient) a
child of YHWH as one born ‘Jewish’.
YermeYahu 32:37-40
Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven
them in My anger, and in My fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them
again to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be
My people, and I will be their Elohiym: And I will
give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good
of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting
covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them but do them good; but I
will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me.
Hechezkiel 36:24-28 For I will take
you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring
you into your own land. Then I will
sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness,
and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
I also will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you a heart of flesh. And
I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you
shall keep My judgments and do them. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers;
and you shall be My people, and I will be your Elohiym.
YesheYahu 56:8-11 YHWH Elohiym Who gathers the outcasts of Israel says, Yet will I
gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered
unto Him. All you beasts of the field,
come to devour, yes, all you beasts in the forest.
Why?
His watchmen
are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark;
sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have
enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their
own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
We must be cautious of whom we listen to, lest we be devoured.
Hoshea 1:10 The number of the children
of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or
numbered. It shall come to pass, that in the place
where it was said to them, You are not My people, there it shall be said to
them, You are the sons of the living Elohiym.
Finally I wish to point out one more thing:
ZecharYah 8:23 Thus says YHWH of hosts;
In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all languages of the
nations shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew. They will say, “We will go with you: for we
have heard that Elohiym is with you”.
When a man, a rabbi, a pastor, a teacher, a friend, whoever
tries to turn you from learning what YHWH says you
must learn from the law (Torah) perhaps Elohiym is
NOT with him.
I hope what I have shared here will help you. I pray your mind will be eased. We do not need to turn from Torah; we need to
turn to Torah,
In His love and shalom,
YahChannah of Qumran Bet
Please do not allow anyone to rob from you that which YHWH has given. Why anyone would tell anyone that they are not to study TN’K I can
only imagine. Yahudah is to be a light unto the
nations but this cannot occur if the light of Torah is either concealed or
extinguished.
Ps 119:105 Your
word (Torah) is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
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