Laws of Kings, Laws 11:10-12
(Capach Edition)
[10] “…Can there be a greater stumbling block
than this (Christianity)? That all the prophets spoke that the Messiah
will redeem Israel and save them, and gather their dispersed and strengthen
their Mitzvot, and this (one, i.e., Jesus) caused the Jews to be destroyed by
the sword, and scattered their remnants and humbled them, and exchanged the
Torah, and caused the majority of the world to err to serve a god other than
the Lord.”
[11] “Nevertheless, the thoughts of the Creator
of the world are not within the power of man to reach them, ‘for our ways are
not His ways, nor are our thoughts His thoughts.’ And all these matters of
Jesus of Nazareth and that of the Ishmaelite who arose after him are only to
straighten the way of the king Messiah and to fix the entire world, to serve
God as one, as it is stated (Zephaniah 3:9), ‘For then I will turn to the
peoples (into) clear speech, to all call in the name of God and serve Him
unanimously’.”
[12] “How (will this come about)? The entire
world has already become filled with the mention of the Messiah, with words of
Torah and words of mitzvot and these matters have spread to the furthermost
isles, to many nations of uncircumcised hearts, and they discuss these matters
and the mitzvot of the Torah. Some say: ‘These mitzvoth are true, but were
already nullified in the present age and are not applicable for all time.’
Others say: ‘Hidden matters are in them (mitzvot) and they are not to be taken
literally, and the messiah has already come and revealed their hidden
(meanings).’ And when the true Messiah stands, and he is successful and is
raised and exalted, immediately they all will retract and will know that
fallacy they inherited from their fathers, and that their prophets and fathers
caused them to err.”
Maimonides is quite clear:
“Can there be a greater stumbling block than
Christianity?”
“Jesus caused the Jews to be destroyed by the sword…and exchanged the
Torah, and caused the majority of the world to err to serve a god other than
the Lord.”
“And when the true Messiah stands, and he is
successful and is raised and exalted, immediately they all will retract and
will know that fallacy they inherited from their fathers.”
Our greatest Rabbi is not interested in interfaith
dialogue, and as we said last week, Rabbis Joseph Soloveitchik and Moshe
Feinstein zt”l prohibited such dialogue. This does not express animosity
towards any other peoples, since as Jews, these Rabbis recognized God’s will
that other people exists. These Rabbis fully understood and agreed that God
desires every living soul to enjoy truth. But since interfaith dialogue would
convey some recognition of a false religion, thereby misleading both Jew and
Gentile, this harm must be averted.
As Maimonides
teaches, God and the Torah’s concern are for truth, and to be honest about the
falsehoods of other religions. We are to educate others on these flaws, not
seek their approval. When Jews on the whole can raise themselves above the
infantile need for approval; when they study our Fundamentals and become
convinced by force of reason of the absolute truth of Judaism, no more
apologies will be heard for disagreeing with what is false, with other religions.
Conversely, our display of Torah study and our teachings will expose the other
nations to truth, for which they will state, “fallacy they inherited from their
fathers” and “truly this is a
wise and discerning nation.”
If you are
Jewish, study our Fundamentals (reprinted in this issue) so you might
accurately represent Judaism for yourself, your family and children, and for
other peoples. If you are a Gentile, find an orthodox Jew or Rabbi who will
stand up for Torah Fundamentals, and teach you the truth, and the flaws with
other religions as Maimonides taught.
The Torah is for everyone; as Jews, we are simply
its guardians and teachers.