Mamzers and Mashiach: Illicit Sexual Encounters in the Bible

3/2/2018

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Rabbi Michael Lotker

The Harlot by the Side of the Road: Overview of Our Class Forbidden Tales of the Bible • We will carefully read and discuss some of the most interesting stories of the Bible. • Because of their sexual nature, these are stories that you may not have studied before. • Then, we will address the question of the meaning of the stories, individually and collectively.

Mamzer & Mashiach? The Word “Messiah”

• What’s a Mamzer English “Messiah” is a translation of the Hebrew “Mashiach” [ – In Judaism, an illegitimate child. jhan] • Mashiach means “anointed.” – That is, the offspring of a forbidden • Kings of Israel were anointed by pouring holy relationship such as adultery, incest, etc. oil on their heads. – Not a child fostered out of wedlock • 39 references to “messiah”in Heb. Bible – According to Orthodox Jewish law, a • Not one refers to future redeemer mamzer can only marry another mamzer. • When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek • And what is Mashiach – Messiah? (about 200 BCE), the Hebrew Mashiach became the Greek “Christos” [Χριστός]. – It’s a little more complicated. • The Greek Christos gives rise to the English – And is especially important for Christians. “Christ.”

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Jewish Understanding of Jewish Prophecies Messiah Concerning Messiah

• Fully Human and Only Human • A time of peace on earth • A Political and/or Military Ruler like King David • Peace among people • Not God in any sense • Peace among animals • Not the son of God in any sense beyond the • All the world will come to know the one God idea that we are all children of God • Details unresolved • Not connected with redemption of sin • Mystics see the time as supernatural • Only we can atone for our sins • Rationalists believe that we will do the work • For sins against God, God forgives to make the world perfect • For sins against others, God cannot forgive • Many believe in a Messianic Age rather unless the person offended forgives than an individual Messiah. • Messiah not at the heart of Judaism

My “Has the Messiah Why Don’t Jews Accept Come?” Test Jesus As Messiah?

• Read the LA • No world peace, no Messiah Times cover to • The Second Coming not a Jewish idea cover every day • But the larger issue is whether Jesus is God for a month. • The idea of God taking human form, • If there’s no suffering with us and dying for our sins is story of war, or • Beautiful and inspiring hatred or • But not Jewish! hunger or • This is why I can have great respect for disease, the Christianity but less sympathy for “Jews for Messianic Age Jesus” and “Messianic Jews” may be here!

Why Don’t Jews Accept Jesus As Messiah? Lot and His Daughters

• No world peace, no Messiah • The Second Coming not a Jewish idea • But the larger issue is whether Jesus is God • The idea of God taking human form, suffering with us and dying for our sins is • Beautiful and inspiring • But not Jewish! • This is why I can have great respect for Christianity but less sympathy for “Jews for Jesus” and “Messianic Jews” • This issue is not “Who was Jesus” but “ Who is God.”

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Lot and His Daughters Lot and His Daughters

Lot and His Daughters Judah and Tamar

Judah and Tamar Judah and Tamar

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Judah and Tamar Judah and Tamar

Keep this in mind as we The Book of Ruth read the Book of Ruth

The Book of Ruth The Book of Ruth

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The Book of Ruth The Book of Ruth

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The Book of Ruth The Book of Ruth

David and Bathsheba David and Bathsheba

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David and Bathsheba David and Bathsheba

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David and Bathsheba David and Bathsheba

Opening Verse of the New The Genealogy of the Testament Messiah

The Genealogy of the Trip to Israel Messiah

So what do you think is going on? October 18-27 - 2018 Israel • Why the strange couplings? October 15-18 – Rome Option For more info, see • Why does the NT genealogy www.lotker.com or only mention these women email Rabbi Lotker at • Is there a lesson here? [email protected] • How does this lesson apply to us, today?