Like the other Jewish
communities that became part of the Russian empire, Ashkenazic Jewry
was also fully developed before large numbers of Ashkenazic Jews rigid
in Talmadic traditions became subjects of the Russian tsar. The most
likely origins of the Ashkenazic community were in the West, in Europe
proper. There were Jewish communities many places in Christian Europe
until they were expelled from many countries in the 13th to 15th c (England
1290, France 1306 and 1394, Spain and Portugal 1492, 1497). Many moved
eastward to the rising Polish-Lithuanian state where they were welcome
by the rulers for primarily economic reasons. Yiddisch language (a mixture
of High German dialects, with additional vocabulary from Hebrew and
Slavic tongues - written with Hebrew letters), first developed within
this group. In the 16th c., the Polish-Lithuanian state became the demographic
and spiritual centre of the Jewish world. After the Hmelnitsky massacres
of 1648-1654 (an estimated 400,000 out of appr. 2 million Jews were
killed), this community fell into decline. From the late 18th c., when
almost a million Polish-Lithuanian Jews came into the Russian empire
with the partitions of Poland, the vast majority of the Russian Jews
were Ashkenazim.
At first, they were not met with discrimination.---
In 1795, Empress Catherine II relieved the Karaite Jews of the
double tax imposed upon Jews, and permitted them to acquire land.
That created a wall of separation between Talmud rabbinic and Karaite
Jews, each group enjoying civil rights to a different degree.
----This changed under Catherine II, however, with a 1791 decree that
forbad Jews to settle in traditional Russia (Russia as of before the
partitions of Poland). Double taxes and professional restrictions were
also imposed. In 1827, tsar Nicholas decreed that Jews
(except Karaite Jews) were liable to military service, which
caused many young Jews to mutilate themselves to avoid registration.
There was a temporary reprieve under Alexander II (1855-81). - - -
Late 1890's Conditions
in the military were eased, the Jews were allowed more mobility within
the empire and freer access to schools. The percentage of Jews in higher
education has since then always been higher than the Jewish percentage
of the total population. New restrictions on education and residency
were enforced under the last two Romanovs, Alexander III (1881-94) and
Nicholas II (1894-1917). Pogroms also broke out from time to time after
1881, causing the death of appr. 200,000 Jews, many of whom were killed
during the worst pogroms of the Civil war period (1918-21) Except
Karaite Jews. Despite of all this, the Jewish population
increased also after 1881 (to over 5 million at the turn of the century).
But many chose to emigrate. Over 1,5 million Jews left the Russian empire
between 1881 and 1914. They went to Canada, Argentina, South Africa,
and the United States. Of those who stayed behind, many joined the revolutionary
movement to seek to improve the situation through political action.
Jews played a prominent role in the Marxist movement that overthrew
the tsarist regime in 1917.
There
was a huge difference between Karaites and mainstream Jews during World
War II, when the Germans ruled that Karaite Jews were
not to be regarded in the same catagory as the traditional
Talmudic Jews -- a decision that saved most of them from death, although
some were slaughtered at Babi Yar in 1941 -
Karaites were serving in the army which concerned the SS so they began
to question this matter between the heads of Heinrich Himmler's personal
staff and the head office of the SS responsible for the Waffen - SS.
The question of the Karaites' religion and origin was raised, and the
decision of the Ministry for the Occupied Territories in the East was
taken, so it can be seen that the Karaite Jews
fundamental beliefs on the Torah without the Talmud and their basic
worship of Yahveh God was accepted by the Germans.
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Israel
has approx 30,000 Karaites scattered all over the Jewish state, they have
11 synagogues. The largest is in Ashdod, south of Tel Aviv, with aprox
2000 Karaite families.
Today local Orthodox
rabbis, see the Karaites as rivals, and have prevented the placing
of a sign lest an "ordinary Jew" be "tricked" into
buying Karaite meat. One well known Jewish author, HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok
recently said- - "The Karaites are an illegitamate
sect of non-authorative opinionators of Torah... they have no more legitamacy
than their modern counterparts the reforms and conservatives".
So it can be seen that the Orthodox Jews under the Rabbinic are very intolerant
and to some degree hateful to the Karaite Jews when in fact the Karaite
Jew have more claim to be the rightful guardian of the Torah being the
group that as for a far longer period remained true to the instructions
from God not to add or take away from the Torah "you shalle not add
to the word that I command you, nor shall you subtract from it, to observe
the commandments of Yahveh , your God" Deut 4:2
When
Russians acquired Crimea in 1783, there were less than 500 Jewish families
on the peninsula. After the Russian conquest, there was a strong influx
of Ashkenazic Jews, who by the late 19th c., formed a majority of Crimea's
Jewish population. The Russians favoured
the Karaite Jews over the Krymchaks, thus splitting the Jewish
community. When the Nazis occupied the Crimea in 1941, they annihilated
Ashkenazic Jews and Krymchaks, but
not Karaites.
2005
- (The majority of Karaites now live in Israel where they have
their own religious courts. They are not permitted to marry Jews. There
are estimated to be 1500 in the USA, about 100 families in Istanbul, and
about 12,000 in Israel, most of them living near the town of Ramleh Headquarters
- Main Centre Moshav Mazliah, near Ramleh, Israel - The
Karaites employ the same symbol system as other traditions within Judaism.)
Karaites do not practise many of the most universally accepted customs
of rabbinic Judaism such as the use of phylacteries (tefillin) in prayer,
the prohibition of eating meat with milk and the celebration of the festival
of Hanukkah. Intermarriage with non-Karaite Jews is forbidden. In contrast
to the Thirteen Articles of Faith of Maimonides accepted by most Jews,
the Karaites have instead a code of ten.) -
(There is a second latter group called
Karaylar-Karaites, these are an ethnic group originating in Eastern
Europe which are descendants of Karaite Jews, who left Karaite Judaism
in the late 19th or early 20th Century and became part of the so called
"enlighten ones" of this century who have accepted in part that
jesus is a prophet, this group is NOT TO BE included in the original Karaites.)
The Russians captured Tashkent in 1866; Samarkand
and much of the Bukharan Khanate then became part of the Russian empire.
Central Asian Jews began to receive better treatment. The Russian government
permitted other Jews to move to Central Asia as well, and by World War
2, Ashkenazic Jews would dominate the Jewish population there as well.
http://www.nupi.no/cgi-win/Russland/etnisk_b.exe?Jewish
The
Jewish population increased again after the war, reaching 2,3 million
in 1960, and then dropped to 2,1 million in 1970. In 1970, the first of
two waves of emigration began. From 1970 to 1981, over 250,000 Jews emigrated,
most of tem to Israel. The second wave under Gorbachov, when the floodgates
opened again. From 1987 to 1991, an additional almost 500,000 Jews left
the Soviet Union.
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Jewish philosophy concerning serious study of philosophy and Jewish
theology.The origin of todays Orthodox belief system was influenced by
the philosophy of Plato, Aristotle and Islamic philosophy. Major Jewish
philosophers include Solomon ibn Gabirol, Saadia Gaon, Maimonides
and Gersonides. But changes occurred with the so-called enlightenment
(late 1700s to early 1800s) leading to the post-Enlightenment Jewish philosophers,
and then the modern Jewish philosophers, most tenets would veer away from
fundamental Torah adherence with many "man-made" traditions
now made compulsory in Orthodox circles.
Early
Jewish groups such (the Sadducees, or the Karaites
had fundamental beliefs which were based on the written text of the Torah
alone, today modern Talmadic Jews out number the fundamental groups
who do not believe in what they call the Oral Law. The oral traditions
originated from the Pharisee sect of ancient Judaism, and were latter
recorded in written form and expanded upon by the Rabbis. Some Rabbis
will teach that this Oral law is divine, when in actual fact, it was not
given in the Torah or to any "Prophets" or the "Writings"
in the Tenach and as such cannot be regarded in any way as "Divine"
It can be seen that these "additional" laws are contravening
the Divine instructions in Deut 4:2 but continue as compulsory over all
Orthodox Jews without any challenge by the laity.
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Today
Orthodox Judaism will hold that the books of the Tanakh (called the written
law) have always been transmitted in parallel with their Oral tradition
law. They argue that you need their oral understanding to follow
God's instructions, In other words without their "Unique Interpretations"
you will not be able to understand without the parallel set of material
which they will say was originally transmitted orally, and came to be
known as "the oral law". Some of the methods by which it is
derived can be found in halakhic Midrash. By the time of Rabbi Judah Ha-Nasi
(200 CE) much of this material was edited together into the Mishnah. Over
another four centuries this Oral law evolved with discussions and debates
by both of the world's major Jewish communities in Israel and Babylon,
and the commentaries on the Mishnah from each
of these communities eventually came to be edited together into compilations
known as the two Talmuds. These have been expounded by commentaries
of various Torah scholars during the ages. It
is these writings that the Orthodox Rabbis will now regard as being of
"Divine" origin, but it will be seen by the fundament Jewish
believers that it is in direct contravention to the instructions from
God in Deut 4.2. and a set of rules that not only is used by
the Orthodox Jews to keep control over laity and Government, but causes
in some circles hostility between the two basic groups, Talmadic, and
NON Talmadic.
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IN
the 17 and 18th Century,a NEW style of PROTESTANT Churches were founded
by their respective "Prophets" examples are as follows:- -
Seventhday Adventists -
Mormons
Joseph Smith
As far as I know,
the angel only appeared and threatened Smith when he supposedly resisted
secretly marrying other men's wives. Pretty strange, considering Smith
told the same story to do many different women.
The problem with the believability of that story is that Smith didn't
start spinning his "angel with drawn sword threatened me"
until about 1840, in Nauvoo; but Smith had already been suspected of,
or actually been involved in extra-marital relationships with Eliza
Winters in 1831, Nancy Marinda Johnson in 1832, Fanny Alger from 1833-36,
and the already-married Lucinda Morgan Harris in 1838.
Thus, the apologists' claim that Smith was 'reluctant' to enter 'plural
marriage' with already-married women, and had to be threatened by an
angel to do so, does not comport with the known facts.
On top of that---if it was only necessary, in 'the Lord's' program,
for Smith to restore 'plural marriage' as part of the 'restoration of
all things,' then it shouldn't have been necessary for Smith to actually
consummate his 'plural marriages.' The fact that Smith eagerly engaged
in sexual relations with the women--and even set up a sham civil marriage
between Joseph Kingsbury and Sarah Whitney to cover up Smith's 'plural
marriage' to himself (in case she became pregnant), shows that sex was
Smith's motivation.
Another example which demonstrates that was Smith's order to Mary Lightner
to keep her relationship with him secret from her legal husband Adam.
Why would he want their relationship kept secret unless it involved
illicit relations?
And then there was Prescindia Huntington Buell, who remarked that she
didn't know if her child was fathered by 'her husband or the prophet.'
Why would 'the Lord', or his angel, allow Smith to 'plural marry' women
who were already married, and have sex with them? Especially when the
'revelation on celestial marriage' dictated that Smith's 'plural wives'
should be 'virgins'? The very idea forces one to believe that 'the Lord'
contradicted his previous commandment to 'obey the laws of the land,'
and that he intentionally made adulterers out of both Smith and the
married women whom he had sex with.
Those Mormon apologists who still believe the 'angel with drawn sword'
line are fooling themselves.
Faithful
LDS member and historian Todd Compton has found solid documentation
for Smith marriages to 33 women while he was alive. True, many more
were sealed to him after his death, but Smith had at least 33 wives
while he was alive.
Compton Writes:
"In the group of Smith's well-documented wives, eleven (33 percent)
were 14 to 20 years old when they married him. Nine wives (27 percent)
were twenty-one to thirty years old. Eight wives (24 percent) were in
Smith's own peer group, ages thirty-one to forty. In the group aged
forty-one to fifty, there is a substantial drop off: two wives, or 6
percent, and three (9 percent) in the group aged fifty-one to sixty."
"The teenage representation is the largest, though the twenty-year
and thirty-year groups are comparable, which contradicts the Mormon
folk-wisdom that sees the beginnings of polygamy was an attempt to care
for older, unattached women. These data suggest that sexual attraction
was an important part of the motivation for Smith's polygamy. In fact,
the command to multiply and replenish the earth was part of the polygamy
theology, so non-sexual marriage was generally not in the polygamous
program, as Smith taught it."
2. Why did Joseph Smith have 33 wives?
Jacob 2: 24-30
24 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord:
For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and
concubines he shall have none... For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts,
raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall
hearken unto these things.
(The Lord is saying here that the only reason for more than one wife
is to "raise up seed" unto Him.)
D&C 132:
Verse 37: Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and
it was accounted unto him for righteousness...
Verse 41: And as ye have asked concerning adultery...
(Why is adultery an issue? Simply being married or "sealed"
to more than one woman in an otherwise chaste arrangement might be bigamy
or polygamy, but it's not adultery. Adultery is a sexual act.)
Verses 62-63: And if he [Joseph Smith] have ten virgins given unto him
by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and
they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.... for they are
given unto him to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my
commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father
before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the
eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the
work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified.
In fact, Joseph Smith's original 1831 polygamy revelation, given to
a group of married men while they were visiting a Native-American tribe,
also explains procreation as the purpose of polygamy:
"For it is my will, that in time, ye should take unto you wives
of the Lamanites and Nephites, that their posterity may become white,
delightsome and Just, for even now their females are more virtuous than
the gentiles."
- Prophet Joseph Smith, The Joseph Smith Revelations Text and Commentary,
p. 374-376, http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/indianpolygamyrevelation.htm
Brigham Young taught that "This is the reason why the doctrine
of plurality of wives was revealed, that the noble spirits which are
waiting for tabernacles might be brought forth." (Discourses of
Brigham Young, p. 197.) http://www.i4m.com/think/history/joseph_smith_sex.htm
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Christian
Science -Mary Baker G. Eddy,
Discoverer
and Founder of Christian Science, appeared in the New York Herald, May
1, 1901. The report will he read with interest by the many readers of
the Journal, and the honest investigator of Christian Science will find
that the many false rumors which have come to his ears are without foundation.
CONCORD,
N. H., Tuesday, April 30, 1901. — Christian
Science has been so much to the fore of late that unusual public interest
centres in the personality of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy, the Founder of the
(movement), and in her opinions on the matters which have brought her
followers in opposition to state laws and the public opinion behind those
laws. More than that, unkind rumors, started doubtless by the unfriendly,
have made Mrs. Eddy a myth. She died long ago, said some; she is living
but bedridden, said others, and her place is taken by another woman whenever
it is a question of a public appearance.
(http://www.melchizedek.com/mz_bible/Mrs.Eddy.htm)
FORETELLS
ABSORPTION OF CHURCHES.
"The continuity of the Church of Christ, Scientist," she said
in her clear voice, "is assured. It is growing wonderfully. It will
embrace all the churches, one by one, because in it alone is the simplicity
of the oneness of God; the oneness of Christ and the perfecting of man
stated Scientifically. "
"How will it be governed after all now concerned in its government
shall have passed on?"
Page 143
"It will evolve Scientifically. Its essence is evangelical. Its government
will develop as it progresses."
"Will there be a hierarchy, or will it be directed by a single earthly
ruler?"
"In time its present rules of service and present rulership will
advance nearer perfection."
Mrs.
White, with her minister-husband, James, was among the founders of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church, http://www.elmshaven.org/ellen.html
which
with its more than ten million members now encircles the globe.
Born in 1827 as Ellen Harmon, her first years were spent in the vicinity
of Portland, Maine, a stronghold of Harmon families. An earnest Christian
youth and member of the Methodist Church, she with her family entered
heartily into the Advent religious revival of the early 1840s. In 1846,
she united in marriage with Adventist evangelist James White. Four sons
were born to this union - Henry in 1847; Edson in 1849; William in 1854;
and John in 1860. Two of the children lived to maturity. John died at
three months and Henry at 16 years.
In 1844, at age 17, in an experience she and those associated with her
recognized as a prophetic vision, there was imparted to her information
and instruction pertinent to the experience of the believers in the near
second advent of Jesus Christ.
According
to testimony from both sides, in the midst of the commotion there was
a woman aged eighteen or nineteen from Portland, Maine who either was
or was not (witnesses differed on this) referred to as "The Imitation
of Christ." She was described as lying on the floor in a trance
state from which she would periodically rouse to "point to someone
and tell them their case, which she said was from the Lord."2
Several people were told by her that they were going to hell unless they
were immediately baptized or rebaptized. Many of these admonitions
occurred late at night, apparently necessitating icy immersions in a nearby
creek in the dark. While the woman and her male companion left town
before the trial, they were identified as Ellen Harmon and Elder James
White.
Fifteen years later, Ellen G. White (as Ellen Harmon was known after her
marriage to James a few months after Dammon's trial) included a description
of the incident in a published account of her experiences after the Great
Disappointment.3 According to her, the arrest of Dammon was
an example of the persecution to which the "little flock" holding
fast to the Advent truth was subjected. She describes how divine
intervention prevented lawmen from removing Dammon from the house for
about forty minutes. (According to the trial transcript, Dammon
resisted arrest with the help of a number of women who clung to him).
White makes no mention of the noise and unusual behavior that attracted
the attention of the authorities. She also indicates that Dammon
was released without sentence when in fact he was given (but apparently
did not serve) a sentence of ten days in jail. While White's account
was obviously based on an imperfect recollection of what must have been
a confusing experience for all involved, the discrepancies between her
written account in Spiritual Gifts and that of the newspaper record, which
was discovered in 1986 by an Andrews University graduate student,4
raise some interesting questions about early Adventist history and the
woman around whose visions the Seventh-day Adventist Church formed.
http://home.earthlink.net/~jcmmsm/EGW.html
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Daniel
2 