TaNaKh and Animal Sacrifice

Shalom:

[This blog posting was written for most Christians .]

A question was asked of me the other night.  It went as follows: "If animal sacrifice is not necessary, they killed many animals needlessly.  Unless the bible is just baloney like they believe over there.  Just saying."

Proper English and grammar aside for now, let's consider this and reason together.  TaNaKh (prounounced "Tah-Nahkh" and meaning Torah, Prophets and Writings in Hebrew) is the "Old Testament" in Christian bibles.  Torah contains most, if not all, of the law for Jews.  In fact, the word "Torah" itself means "Law" in Hebrew.  Torah contains about 613 laws by which Jews should live their lives.  This includes the laws dealing with sacrifices.

HaShem says in Lev 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life. [12] Therefore I said unto the children of Israel: No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourn among you eat blood. [13] And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that taketh in hunting any beast or fowl that may be eaten, he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. [14] For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is all one with the life thereof; therefore I said unto the children of Israel: Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of al flesh is the blood; whosoever eateth it shall be cutoff. "

You will also find "... the blood upon the altar... " mentioned many times in the TaNaKh.  A short listing is:

• Ex 29:20
• Lev 3:2
• Lev 4:30
• Lev 5:9
• Lev 8:19
• Lev 8:24
• Lev 9:9
• Lev 17:6
• Dt 12:27
• II Chr 29:22
• etc, etc.

So then, some will ask, "Why are the Jews NOT sacrificing animals today?  Answer, "... the blood is given to you upon the altar..." meaning, the altar in the temple of Solomon or the 2nd Temple, not just any pile of stones that someone might want to set up.  Worshiping somewhere other than the temple in Jerusalem was also forbidden but with the destruction of the Temple in about 69 CE, the Jews had to build other places to worship HaShem.  Some think that this was the beginning of the Synagogue that we have today.  Anyway, until that altar is restored to the Jews, sacrifices have been put on hold.

Now, I am not sure where "over there" is except maybe at some Reform Judaism synagogues or at some concervative Christian churches.  Most Liberal Christians don't really seem to care who believes what so long as the are properly "churched."  Some Reform Jews, most Conservative Jews and/or all Orthodox Jews attending their own particular synagogues actually believe that TaNaKh is the written word of G-d, not just campfire tales that were eventually written down.  (Nor do most conservatives and/or Orthodox believe in the JEPD theory that teaches basically the same thing but in a different context.)

Shalom,
Ya'akov

A US Navy Pilot - Maybe

Greetings:

The following is purported to be from a US Navy pilot.  Most of those who read my blog know that I am a Jew, American by birth, Southern by the grace of G-d, patriotic and fairly conservative.  However, the following email (following this blog), while it sounds good to most right-wing Southerners of the SBC Baptist persuasion, leaves a lot to be desired.  Some points to be considered are:

• He flies at night when the enemy cannot see him.
• He fires "smart" missiles designed by others - all he has to do is point and aim from a VERY safe distance.
• He does nothing to prevent civilians from being hurt - he is told to hit a target and he obeys his orders.
• If he ever did meet one of these guys up close and in person he probably would wet his pants.
• The initial rant about "All American Boy" could be said about thousands (millions?) of other USA men.  They do, or did, the same things in their youth.

So, really now, who is the hero and who is the coward?  Someone who fights for his country using unconventional methods (the bit about hiding behind women and children aside for now) or the guy who flies miles overhead, unseen in the dark, firing "smart" bombs against an enemy who cannot fire back because they have no weapons that will reach that high?  My bet is that the real heroes are those ground troops, Army, Marine and Navy Seals, who fight up close and personal every day, facing probable death or maiming on every patrol.  They are the ones who get "up close and personal"with the enemy.  Not some Air Ranger dropping bombs on an unarmed enemy.

Here is the email that I received.  And remember, I am a conservative Jew who loves his country and his G-d but fails to blindly accept government propaganda.  (Note: Added emphasis and bold print are mine to show the parts that are really weird.)

===========================
 I  Am Coming!


Dear Terrorists,

I am a Navy Aviator. I was born and raised in a small town in New England . I come from a family of five. I was raised in a middle class home and taught my values by my mother and father.
My dad worked a series of jobs in finance and my mom took care of us kids. We were not an overly religious family but attended church most Sundays. It was a nice small Episcopal Church.  I have a brother andsister and I am the youngest in my family.  I was the first in many generations to attend college.

I have flown Naval aircraft for 16 years.  For me the flying was never a lifelong  dream or a "calling," it just happened.    I needed a job and I liked the challenge.  I continue to do it today because I feel it is important to give back to a nation which has given so much to me. I do it because, although I will never be rich, my family will be comfortable.

I do it because many of my friends have left for the airlines and someone has to do it.  My government has spent millions to train me to fly the small multi-milliondollar aircraft. I make about 70,000 dollars a year and after 20 years will be offered a pension.

I like baseball but think the players make too much money.  I am in awe of firemen and policemen and what they do each day for my community, and like teachers, they just don't get paid enough.
I respect my elders and always use sir or ma'am when addressing a stranger.  I'm not sure about kids these days but I think that's normal for every generation.

I tell you all this because when I come for you, I want you to know me. I won't be hiding behind a woman or a child.  I won't be disguised or pretending to be something I am not.  I will be in a U.S. issue flight suit. I will be wearing standard US issue flight gear, and I will be flying a navy aircraft clearly marked as a US warplane.  I wish we could meet up close in a small room where I could wrap my hands around your throat and slowly squeeze the life out of you, but unfortunately, you're hiding in a hole in the ground, so we will have to do this a different way.

I want you to know also that I am very good at what I do.  I can put a 2,000 lb weapon through a window from 10,000 feet up.  I generally only fly at night, so you may want to start sleeping during the day. I am not eager to die for my country but I am willing to sacrifice my life to protect it from animals like you.

I will do everything in my power to ensure no civilians are hurt as I take aim at you.

My countrymen are a forgiving bunch.  Many are already forgetting what you did on Sept 11th.  But I will not forget!!

I am coming.   I hope you know me a little bit better, see you soon...sleep tight.

Signed
A  U.S. Navy Pilot
Our Soldiers are one
of our greatest assets!
God Bless

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Shalom,
Ya'akov