A Final Age Testament (Selections)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

A Final Age Testament (Selections) The Complete Final Age Sefer Torah is online at RabbiAlpern.com. Go there to see the library that is created on the A Mountain. A FINAL AGE TESTAMENT SELECTIONS ( ) COMPILED BY R.E.A. SHONE Copyright 1987-2020 Final Testament Book Two Final Acts Final Revelation Final Kabballah Consider Me A Dream (Coda) RabbiAlpern.com The Complete Final Age Sefer Torah is online at RabbiAlpern.com. Go there to see the library that is created on the A Mountain. As a Professor of Literature and Spirituality I introduce you to Theophilos and pray that you become one in this conversation. All is renewed in the Final, and you get the last word! Before embarking and setting sail we turn to Waldo (Ralph Emerson) who desired we all be sages, poets and mystics. We hear and shall obey. (At the end of Representative Men): The world is young; the former great men call to us affectionately. We too must write Bibles, to unite again the heavens and the earthly world. The secret of genius is to suffer no fiction to exist for us; to realize all that we know; in the high refinement of modern life, in arts, in sciences, in books, in men, to exact good faith, reality, and a purpose; and first, last, midst, and without end, to honor every truth by use. (This is also the 613th Mitzvah of the Torah, to write your own Sefer Torah. Again, see RabbiAlpern.com for this Final Commandment.) ANNOUNCING FINALLY! FINALLY! After 2000 years HURRY! HURRY! Wake Right up! Wake Right up! The Latest Rage: “Give me that brown bag religion” Everyone a Sage In this The One – The Only THE FINAL AGE® And the Lord looked upon the world She had created and She was convulsed with wholly uncontrolled laughter. And She summoned Professor Higgs (who discovered The God Particle, the scalar boson) and suppressing her mirth, She dealth with him firmly and said: Wherefore has thou destroyed the symmetry of the world? Higgs responds: “… Who could have predicted the sunsets and the oceans and the organic ooze formed by all the awful molecules agitated by lighting and heat? And who could have expected evolution and those physicists poking and probling and seeking to find out what I have, in your service, so carefully hidden? And the Lord, hard put to stop her laughter, signed forgiveness and a nice raise for Higgs.” The Very New Testament 3:1 by Leon Lederman Final Age Dedication: Rabbi Melville This Final Age® Testament is and is not (A) Novel. The Five Books2 are filled with extras such as short short stories, concrete poetry, prophecy, letters, Revelations, History, Erotica, Physics, Philosophy, and what not. Like the original, this is more than a book, at one and the same time fiction and nonfiction. The Tradition continues. And the Author? Call Me Rabbi. I am reminded of the Critics description of you, Herman, as a “Big, Bearded, violently excited man trying to shout down the whimpering lonely child in his soul.” True. Why else write? What the critics said of you, my friend, will also be said of Me: “not even a minor master.” Leviathans. Great White and black lettered FAT Bibles that take from, and add to, the Old and the New. Moby Dick, and now this! A Rabbi rewrites the Bible! You say Moby Dick is bungled? Herman, take a look at this Final Age® Bible. Yes there is light in both books but “blubber is blubber tho you may get oil out of it.” The same can be said of the Old Testaments. At times the Prose and as you say, Herman, “the poetry may run as sap from a frozen maple tree.” True. Only God is Perfect, as you know My Friend. A Final Kabballah. “There are some things so serious: you can only joke about them.” -Neils Bohr Kabballahwalky The Final Age® twill be perceived By those Ascending Mountain A With whimsy is the Word rephrased The Fathers are outraged! Beware the Ologies my peers Religions bind and dogmas klatch Beware the Funde Mental Bird and shun The Frumious soul savers snatch. Now take these Verbal Swords in hand No Old. No New. No tongue to snare Rest beneath this Figment Tree Pause A-while in prayer. Before this Final Age® we stand All cherubim with unknown names Now striding back to Promised Land We slice away our shame. Alphabeta. Come! A. B. The A Ascent the verbals, whirl-ing purify so gyre or gamble on the Wor(l)d the veil is drawn aside. AA “and what shall I say I stutter A-A Nothing else do I know how to say” – Catherine of Sienna God, Allah, Christ, New Age, Old Testament, New Testament, The Bible, The Quran (Koran), Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Rabbi, Priest, Minister, Fundamentalism, Revelation, Revelations, Religion, Politics, Psychology, Madonna and Kabalah (Kabballah, Kabbalah, Kaballah, cabala) and more are all redefined in the Final Age (Se A lah). Franz Kafka teaches that religions, like people get lost. The same is true of words and meaning, and politics and psychotherapy. In the Final Age religion is viewed as literature as much as revelation, so we also recognize the prevalence of weak poetry and loose prose. The Meaning of the Original Wor(L)ds are lost, more than any Sacred Truths. The Final Age, and Sealah, begin as fictions, and then become F(A)cts. One last (final) word: Lighten up! The ascent up the mountain leads to the Arête. Character and characters are found on the peak. Fundamentalism and all grave teachings take place at the base. True revelation teaches basics, not secrets, fundamentals, not ism’s. Final Age Testament The Final Age Testament: Introduction to The Five Books Of Laurence – By Rabbi Edwin A Shone The Final Age Testament critically revises but does not replace the Original. The Bible is a vast and diverse library and these Five Books of Laurence may be thought of as the opening of a new wing. I asked Rabban to write his own introduction, which proceeds book one. The fullest version of this bible of course, begins again, in Genesis and finishes in the final fifth book of this Testament. Final Kabballah is a final recasting of all the teachings, and this end is also a beginning for readers who wish to start there. Consider Me A Dream; a film biography of the life of Franz Kafka is both coda and key to the Final Age Testament, an End and a beginning. These Five Books are not a replacement scripture; they are a continuation of the story. In the retelling, this is for latter day saints and sinners. Joseph Smith discovered golden plates here in the hills of Upstate New York. Latter day legend has it that the original biblical oracle, the Urim and Tumim were found with the ancient script that the oracle would translate into the Book of Mormon. They are lost once again so I shall have to put on the Priestly Breastplate and be the Light and Completion of this Final Age Testament. I discovered these Five Books on the hard drive of our Rabbis Apple. They are self-edited. I have made only minor scribal corrections. – You’re Scribe, R I awkwardly introduce myself as R. Redactor. Rabbi. My name is Edwin A. Shone and I am a professor of literature at Sylvan College, a Kafka specialist who came to the Rabbinate rather late in life. I have no desire to ever fill a pulpit and I remain President of the synagogue where Ari Rabbied. I worked together with the Ari for years before his untimely death. We had the usual tensions between rabbis and Presidents of synagogues. I sat through over one thousand of the Rabbis sermons over the years until I was converted. I made the Ari my Mentor and Rebbe and began saving my notes and commentary and even the articles the Rabbi contributed to our Temple bulletin. Rabban published the first two of these five books in one volume in a limited “proem” edition. The critics could not get beyond the “Rabbinic pornography” The Rabbis notes make it clear that he was telling the story of a human messiah. The Book was presented as a Bible, which it is, and that also offended. The book wears black clerical garb to make a point. I have reports that some volumes were burned. Discouraged Ari gave up plans to publish books three four and five and the screenplay. They were edited and ready on his Apple. I am astonished that many readers and critics did not grasp the concept and humor of the Final Testament. One day the Rabbi was throwing box after box into the dumpster, and I offered to help. We were trashing his notes and copies of Final Testament. He smiled and said “and now the trees of the field may rejoice,” and “to the making of ends there are no books.” I was about to correct him when I finally understood. What if he never wanted any of this to be published? I br(o)od on this daily. I worked with Ari on the adaptation of his film to the stage when our students performed Consider Me a Dream. The play has endless possibilities, being a stream of dreams Kafka has in the final moments of his life. If Dr. Scholem is right that Kafka put the K in Kabballah, you may want to start there. Finally, at least for today, I do not think this publication a betrayal.
Recommended publications
  • Can They Change?
    See Pages 3, 4, 5 $1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 10 NO. 15 22 TEVES 5770 ,una ,arp JANUARY 8, 2010 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK POWER TO THE PEOPLE Faux Frumkeit BY LARRY GORDON Stacey Solomon 22 What Does Jimmy Want? SECURITY THREAT Hannah Reich Berman 29 “When it comes to airline the world. Defining Death Down security,” says Yehuda Dafna, Our talk with Yehuda Dafna Rabbi Avi Shafran 30 “America is backwards.” Dafna, a about security at airports and on MindBiz resident of Woodsburgh and a airlines was of course precipitat- Esther Mann, LMSW 31 member of several Five Towns ed by the events of December shuls, is the president and 25, when a lone terrorist, pur- Yitzhak Ahronovitch, a’h founder of ISS Action, Inc., and portedly a functionary of Al Rabbi Yair Hoffman 75 speaks from two decades of Qaeda, attempted to set off extensive experience with air- explosive materials on an airlin- line security. er approaching Detroit’s interna- The ISS offices are located at tional airport. The terrorist JFK Airport, and the company passed through screeners at air- Howard Kopel, the first Orthodox Jew elected to the Nassau County Legislature since its inception in 1996, being sworn in on Monday at the employs more than 150 people ports in both Nigeria and Cradle of Aviation Museum by U.S. Congressman Peter King as Mr. Kopel and provides security consult- began his term as a member of the new Republican majority. ants to scores of airlines around Continued on Page 15 See Page 61 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Shidduchim:Letters Not So Fast to thewith length Editor of courtship, logic Dear Editor, would have us insist that a cou- Where The Time Goes Welcome to the shidduch ple really get to know each other Bat Mitzvah of Ayala scene.
    [Show full text]
  • Reform Judaism: in 1000 Words the Messianic Age and Redemption
    Reform Judaism: In 1000 Words The Messianic Age and Redemption Context What does it mean to speak about redemption, the Messiah or a Messianic Age in the context of Reform Judaism? The early Reformers removed many of the mentions of a personal Messiah and the desire to rebuild the Temple and it’s sacrificial practices, feeling these were not modes we wished to return to in a modern age. In that context, what resonance do these ideas hold for us in our lives? How do we interact with our formative texts when they present visions of a redeemed world to come? In these two articles, Rabbi Sybil Sheridan and Rabbi Daniel Lichman explore these questions in two very different ways. Content – The Messianic Age - Rabbi Sybil Sheridan But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Eternal shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow to it. Many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Eternal, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and God will teach us the ways, and we will walk in God’s paths; for Torah shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Eternal from Jerusalem. God shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide concerning far away strong nations; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.
    [Show full text]
  • NB 377 Transcript
    Naked Bible Podcast Episode 377: Revelation 9 Naked Bible Podcast Transcript Episode 377 Revelation 9 May 22, 2021 Teacher: Dr. Michael S. Heiser (MH) Host: Trey Stricklin (TS) Episode Summary Revelation 9 reveals John’s vision of the fifth and six trumpet judgments. Several interpretive issues are immediately apparent. What is the nature of the angel with the key to the bottomless pit (Rev 9:1)? Is this angel the same or different than that in Rev 9:11 or Abbadon/Apollyon? Who or what is being released from the bottomless pit (Rev 9:3-11)? These questions take the reader into the wider question of whether Revelation’s apocalyptic descriptions should be read in terms of modern analogies. In this episode we discern how the release of evil supernatural beings from the bottomless pit has clear connections to how Second Temple Jewish texts and 2 Peter describe the imprisoned Watchers, the sons of God of Genesis 6:1-4 infamy, and how the odd descriptions of those beings in insect and animal form have clear, abundant antecedents in the Old Testament. Transcript TS: Welcome to the Naked Bible Podcast, Episode 377: Revelation 9. I’m the layman, Trey Stricklin, and he’s the scholar, Dr. Michael Heiser. Hey, Mike! What's going on? MH: Well, I have a pug update. The pugs have now been introduced to the pool properly. TS: With life jackets? MH: With life jackets, of course. And their attitude toward the pool has moved from hysteria to mild hysteria. [laughter] They didn’t like it.
    [Show full text]
  • Muhammad Speaking of the Messiah: Jesus in the Hadīth Tradition
    MUHAMMAD SPEAKING OF THE MESSIAH: JESUS IN THE HADĪTH TRADITION A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Fatih Harpci (May 2013) Examining Committee Members: Prof. Khalid Y. Blankinship, Advisory Chair, Department of Religion Prof. Vasiliki Limberis, Department of Religion Prof. Terry Rey, Department of Religion Prof. Zameer Hasan, External Member, TU Department of Physics © Copyright 2013 by Fatih Harpci All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT Much has been written about Qur’ānic references to Jesus (‘Īsā in Arabic), yet no work has been done on the structure or formal analysis of the numerous references to ‘Īsā in the Hadīth, that is, the collection of writings that report the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. In effect, non-Muslims and Muslim scholars neglect the full range of Prophet Muhammad’s statements about Jesus that are in the Hadīth. The dissertation’s main thesis is that an examination of the Hadīths’ reports of Muhammad’s words about and attitudes toward ‘Īsā will lead to fuller understandings about Jesus-‘Īsā among Muslims and propose to non-Muslims new insights into Christian tradition about Jesus. In the latter process, non-Muslims will be encouraged to re-examine past hostile views concerning Muhammad and his words about Jesus. A minor thesis is that Western readers in particular, whether or not they are Christians, will be aided to understand Islamic beliefs about ‘Īsā, prophethood, and eschatology more fully. In the course of the dissertation, Hadīth studies will be enhanced by a full presentation of Muhammad’s words about and attitudes toward Jesus-‘Īsā.
    [Show full text]
  • 2009 Hamerkaz
    50883_Book_r3:50883_Book_r3 9/16/09 2:21 PM Page 1 F ALL 2 0 0 9 E DITION HAPPY NEW YEAR 5770 HAMERKAZ A PUBLICATION OF THE SEPHARDIC EDUCATIONAL CENTER SECuring Our Jewish Future 50883_Book_r3:50883_Book_r3 9/16/09 2:21 PM Page 2 BOARD MEMBERS Dr. Jose A. Nessim, Founder & President MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD W o r l d E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e Ronald J. Nessim, Chair Sarita Hasson Fields Raymond Mallel Freda Nessim By Ronald J. Nessim Steven Nessim Prof. Eli Nissim There has been significant and exciting changes at the SEC over the past two Dr. Salvador Sarfatti years. Let me update you on some of them. Neil J. Sheff Marcia Israel Weingarten Larry Azose, World Executive Director In the fall of 2007, we hired Larry Azose as our full-time executive director. Larry has a rich Sephardic background, brings organizational skills to the SEC and is S E C J e r u s a l e m C a m p u s 200% committed to our cause. We are fortunate to have him. Rabbi Yosef Benarroch, Educational Director [email protected] Our executive committee which I am proud to chair has been meeting monthly in Israel Shalem, Administrative Director Los Angeles. The executive committee has made great progress in revitalizing the [email protected] SEC and each member has assumed primary responsibility in one or more areas such as finance, Israel programs and our Jewish day school initiative. S E C C h a p t e r s Los Angeles• Argentina• New York• Montreal It is our intent over the coming months to create Advisory Committees consisting World Executive Offices of community leaders in our local chapters.
    [Show full text]
  • Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace August 22, 2015 7 Elul 5775
    Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace August 22, 2015 7 Elul 5775 SHABBAT SHALOM FROM CYBERSPACE SHOFTIM Haftarah: Yeshayahu 51:12-52:12 AUGUST 22, 2015 7 ELUL 5775 DEDICATIONS: In memory of Florence Bibi Safdieh and Rebecca Maslaton Bibi We would like to welcome Rabbi Yitzchak Korn and the other distinguished guests who will be with us this Shabbat Minha & Arbit 7:00 PM -Candle Lighting 7:26 PM Friends – We need assistance and a commitment for Friday evenings Shabbat Class with Rav Aharon 8:00 AM – Latest Shema 8:50AM Shahrit 8:30 AM, Torah 9:45 and Musaf at 10:30 Kiddush this week is sponsored by Albert and Eleanor Yusupov In Honor of the forthcoming marriage of their son Sam To Dana Benzaken Shabbat Morning Children's Program 10:30 - 11:30 with Jennifer Ages 2-5 - in the Playroom/ Girls Ages 6-12 - In the Upstairs Library / Treats, Games, Stories, Prayers and Fun! Children’s program at Bach at 5:30PM – Ladies Class at the Lembergers at 5:30 Class with Rav Yitzchak Korn at 6:15PM Minha 6:45 PM - Seudat Shelishit 7:15 PM Rav Yitzchak Korn is scheduled to give the class Birkat HaMazon 8:10 PM Arbit 8:15 PM – Shabbat Ends at 8:25 SUNDAY MORNING Selihot at 7:15 and Shaharit at 8AM DAILY MINYAN Selihot 6:20 AM Monday, Thursday 6:55, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 7:00AM Mincha and Arbit - Sunday at 7:30PM LOOKING FORWARD: Save The Date - August 30th Sisterhood's End of Summer BBQ! With community blood drive.
    [Show full text]
  • PROMOTIONAL ORIGINAL (Un-Lim & A/B)
    The Official TLG Redemption® CCG Price Guide AUGUST 2018 V1.0 Job $20.00 Stillness $2.50 PROMOTIONAL John $2.50 The Serpent $20.00 Year: N/A Cards: 96 Set: $875.00* Includes Product & Tournament cards Jonathan, son of Joiada $5.00 The Tabernacle $30.00 *Price does not include (’__ Nats) cards Joshua (District) $4.50 The Watchman $5.00 ______________________________________________________________________________________ A Child is Born $4.00 Joshua (Settlers) $7.25 Thorn in the Flesh $4.00 Abram’s Army $26.00 King David $16.50 Walking on Water $4.00 Adonijah $2.50 King Solomon $5.00 Water to Wine $2.00 Angel at Shur $4.00 Laban $5.00 Whirlwind/Everlasting Ground$30.00 Angel Food $2.00 Laban (2018) $15.00 Windows of Narrow Light $2.00 Angel of the Lord (‘16 Nats) $75.00 Lost Soul $2.00 Wings of Calamity $2.00 Angel of the Lord (‘17 Nats) $75.00 Lost Soul 2016 $15.00 Zerubbabel $4.00 Angel of the Lord (‘18 Nats) $75.00 Love $2.00 Authority of Christ $7.75 Majestic Heavens $15.00 ORIGINAL (un-lim & a/b) Mary (Chriatmas) $2.00 Year: ’95/’96 Cards: 170 Set: $65.00 Bartimaeus $2.50 Sealed Box: $40.50 Pack: $.90 Blank (both sides) $2.50 Mary's Prophetic Act $2.50 Sealed Deck: $25.00 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Meditiation $2.00 Blank (w/ Redemption back) $4.00 Aaron's Rod $0.50 Michael (‘17 Nats) $75.00 Boaz’s Sandal $5.00 Abaddon the Destroyer $0.75 Mighty Warrior $2.00 Book of the Covenant $5.00 Abandonment $0.50 New Jerusalem $9.75 Brass Serpent $5.25 Abihu $0.25 Nicanor $4.00 Burial
    [Show full text]
  • 2006 Abstracts
    Works in Progress Group in Modern Jewish Studies Session Many of us in the field of modern Jewish studies have felt the need for an active working group interested in discussing our various projects, papers, and books, particularly as we develop into more mature scholars. Even more, we want to engage other committed scholars and respond to their new projects, concerns, and methodological approaches to the study of modern Jews and Judaism, broadly construed in terms of period and place. To this end, since 2001, we have convened a “Works in Progress Group in Modern Jewish Studies” that meets yearly in connection with the Association for Jewish Studies Annual Conference on the Saturday night preceding the conference. The purpose of this group is to gather interested scholars together and review works in progress authored by members of the group and distributed and read prior to the AJS meeting. 2006 will be the sixth year of a formal meeting within which we have exchanged ideas and shared our work with peers in a casual, constructive environment. This Works in Progress Group is open to all scholars working in any discipline within the field of modern Jewish studies. We are a diverse group of scholars committed to engaging others and their works in order to further our own projects, those of our colleagues, and the critical growth of modern Jewish studies. Papers will be distributed in November. To participate in the Works in Progress Group, please contact: Todd Hasak-Lowy, email: [email protected] or Adam Shear, email: [email protected] Co-Chairs: Todd S.
    [Show full text]
  • DECEMBER 2014 Breathing Life Into Our Jewish Community the VOICE Is a Publication of the Jewish I Was Recently in Venice, Italy and Visited Debates and Disputes
    8 10 30 CUBA COMMEMORATING MIZRAHI JEWRY HOW TO EAT CHANUKAH SUFGANIYOT WITHOUT GUILT Communitywide Workshop Focuses on Building Jewish Relationships, Not Just Jewish Institutions p. 7 19 Federation Around Town p. 9 Federation Announces Allocation to Hillel at Chico p. 13 CVHEN Features “Liberation Remembered: A Conversation” p. 14 UC Graduate Student Union Sponsors BDS Referendum p. 15 New Book Looks at Life and Leisure in Israel p. 17 Federation Board Member Reappointed to Insurance Board p. 23 Sitting Down with National Jewish Book 2014 Annual Report Award Winner, Maggie Anton p. 24 The ‘Golden Age’ of Jewish Genealogy is Celebrated Locally with a Silver Anniversary p. 25 2 | the VOICE | DECEMBER 2014 Breathing Life Into Our Jewish Community the VOICE is a publication of The Jewish I was recently in Venice, Italy and visited debates and disputes. It needs to eat and Federation of the Sacramento Region. the “Nuovo Ghetto,” the quarter where the drink, literally and figuratively, from all that Jewish community lived, from the Middle life has to give and take. It needs synagogues, The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region Ages until Italian unification in 1861 confined schools, and programs for the young and the 2130 21st St., | Sacramento, CA 95818 | every evening behind locked gates. It was old and everybody in between. And it needs Phone: 916-486-0906 | once a teeming place but is now almost a central address, the place that knits its Fax: 916-441-1662 | deserted, with only a handful of Jewish essential elements into a cohesive whole. Email: [email protected] | residents living there— most of them That central address is our Federation.
    [Show full text]
  • 26-30 Exodus
    ____________________________________________________ VANTAGE POINT: EXODUS INTRODUCTION: What is the difference between the Ark of the Testimony and the Ark of the Covenant? o It is referred to as the Ark of the Testimony while they were at Sinai o It is referred to as the Ark of the Covenant when they left Sinai o Joshua when he enters the promised land refers to it as the Ark of the Testimony once again o Testimony speaks of a witness / Covenant speaks of a relational pledge TODAY WE LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TABERNACLE o There were actually two tabernacles constructed o This first tabernacle is referred to as the Tabernacle of Moses or the Tabernacle in the Wilderness o The tabernacle was 45 x 15 ft and surrounded by a courtyard that was 150 x 75 ft with walls 7 ft. tall o The second tabernacle was constructed by King David at Mount Zion to house the ark of the Lord until Solomon built the temple o The word tabernacle means dwelling place o It was to be the dwelling place of God in the middle of the nation o But the tabernacle was more than just a dwelling place o Every part of the tabernacle was part of an intricate visual aid to illustrate God’s relationship with His people o As a result, God was very specific in how they were to build the tabernacle Exodus 25:8–9 (NKJV) 8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Temple Menorah: Where Is It? Dr
    The Temple Menorah: Where Is It? Dr. Steven Fine Professor of Jewish History, Director, Center for Israel Studies, Yeshiva University This article is based upon a piece that appeared in Biblical Archaeology Review 31, no. 4 (2005). The longer academic version appeared as: “’When I went to Rome, there I Saw the Menorah...’: The Jerusalem Temple Implements between 70 C.E. and the Fall of Rome,” in The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and the “Other” in Antiquity Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers, eds. D. R. Edwards and C. T. McCollough (Boston: American Schools Of Oriental Research, 2007), 1: 169-80. What is history and what is myth? What is true and what is legendary? These are questions that arise from time to time and specifically apply to the whereabouts of the Menorah. Reporting on his 1996 meeting with Pope John Paul II, Israel’s Minister of Religious Affairs Shimon Shetreet said, according to the Jerusalem Post, that “he had asked for Vatican cooperation in locating the gold menorah from the Second Temple that was brought to Rome by Titus in 70 C.E.” Shetreet claimed that recent research at the University of Florence indicated the Menorah might be among the hidden treasures in the Vatican’s storerooms. “I don’t say it’s there for sure,” he said, “but I asked the Pope to help in the search as a goodwill gesture in recognition of the improved relations between Catholics and Jews.” Witnesses to this conversation “tell that a tense silence hovered over the room after Shetreet’s request was heard.” I tried to research Shetreet’s reference at the University of Florence, but no one I contacted there had ever heard of it.
    [Show full text]
  • Nicholas M. Railton Gog and Magog: the History of a Symbol
    EQ 75:1 (2003),23-43 Nicholas M. Railton Gog and Magog: the History of a Symbol Dr Nicholas Railton is lecturer in German at the University of Ulster. He has published books on the history of the Evangelical Alliance (The German Evangelical Alliance and the Third Reich, 1998; No North Sea. The Anglo-German Evangelical Network in the Middle of the Nineteenth Century, 2000) and articles on Christian responses to the Third Reich. Key words: Bible; Gog; Magog; symbolism. World politics, like the history of Gog and Magog, are very confused and much disputed. (Winston Churchill, 9 November 1951). Introduction Gog from the land of Magog, one of the great enemies of the people of God to appear at the end of the historical process, has vexed and bewildered exegetes for centuries. The prophet Ezekiel seems to speak of an unrepentant nation and its head and communicates God's impending judgement (Ezekiel 38:1-3, New American Stan- dard Bible) : .. And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and prophesy against him and say, "Thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am against you, 0 Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal.'"' An examination of the historical development of this eschatologi­ cal idea, this Feindbild, will introduce us to the never-ending attempts to decipher these millennial foes inhabiting the areas to the far north of Palestine. This brief survey shows how the desire to interpret the signs of the times and understand the period in which one is living can, and usually has entrenched religious believers in an inflexible, nationalistic and self-righteous mind-set.
    [Show full text]