HIDDEN JUDAIC/MORMON INSIGHTS


LDS Gospel Doctrine 2008 Supplements by Daniel Rona

Weekly E-mail Reminder

HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #20
OLD TESTAMENT Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder 


<< ALL THE CITY . . . "DOTH KNOW THAT THOU ART A VIRTUOUS WOMAN >>

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(1.)  Few Women Revered in Jewish Thought:
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Ruth is one of them.  A woman convert to Judaism is given or "takes upon herself" a "New Name," usually that of Ruth or another of the righteous women of the Bible.  "The sages regarded Ruth as the prototype of the righteous convert.  They taught that Elimelech and his sons were punished for going to Moab during the famine in Judah. They should have remained to share the hardships of their own people . . . Ruth on the other hand left her home not to seek an easier life, but to devote herself to the God of Israel, and to share the fortunes of Naomi and her people, whatever they were destined to be." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

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(2.)  Righteous Gentiles:
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"The concept of the righteous gentile (hasidei ummot ha-olam -- the pious ones of the nations of the world) is first found in the Midrash.  The Tosef­ta teaches that they are as eligible to a place in the hereafter as any member of the House of Israel.  "Ac­cording to Maimonides righteous gentiles were those who observed the Noa­chide laws and were motivated by belief in the divine origin and authenticity of Moses' prophecy, and not merely by the reasonableness of the laws, in which case they were considered simply wise men but not hasidei ummot ha-olam.  Since World War II the concept of the righteous gentile has been used to refer to those non-Jews who helped
Jews escape the persecutions of Nazism."   (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)  At Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, there is an avenue of plant­ed trees.  Each one is dedicated to a "Righteous Gentile."  There is one planted in memory of a Dutch Latter-day Saint who helped Jews escape in Nazi occupied Europe.  However, the Latter-day Saint is a member of the House of Israel, not a gentile! (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)

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(3.)  Mormons and Gentiles:
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One of the Israeli travel agents once commented to a prospective traveler to the USA, "You've got to visit Salt Lake City, that's the only place a Jew can walk down the street and feel like a gentile!" Of course, this needs correction.  Latter-day Saints know they are a
part of the House of Israel, in large part from the tribe of Joseph.

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(4.)  Latter-day Messiahs:
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"According to the Talmud, the Messiah will be a descendant of the House of David and will be preceded by a secondary Messiah, from the House of Joseph."  (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) There is a Jewish tradition that the Messiah's return will reflect either the date or event of the destruction of the First and Second Temples.  Joseph Smith's mission was to restore temple worship.  Eventually, the "Lord will suddenly come to his Temple (Malachi 3:1).

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(5.)  Sins Fastened In a Sure Place:
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Isaiah portrays the same principle when he describes the "glory" fastened in a "sure place."  It is a glory that we can bring our troubles (sins) to the Lord, at his house, and leave with greater
blessings than we ever imagined.  (Isaiah 22:21-25)  In Jerusalem, there have been thousands  of nails pounded into the old Western (Wailing) Wall, a remnant of the last known Jewish Temple.  They remind us of a practice the Jews had until about a hundred years ago.  They would "nail their sins in a sure place" and then get on with life.  A glorious thought!

Daniel Rona, born in Israel and living in Jerusalem has authored Old & New Testament and Book of Mormon Supplement Study Materials to be used in conjunction with the weekly LDS Gospel Doctrine Lesson study.

NOTE -- Five versions of this supplemental study material are available FREE on-line:
(1) This short WEEKLY REMINDER (also available by automatic weekly email)
(2) A printable SUMMARY HANDOUT
(3) A "PDF" version SUMMARY HANDOUT
(4) A Pocket PC & Palm Pilot SUMMARY
(5) The COMPLETE SUPPLEMENTAL MANUAL LESSONS.
All are available FREE at
www.HolyLandsRevealed.com
, just click "LDS SUPPLEMENTS" -- You may copy and print the information from any of the website versions to distribute to your class members and friends.

Holy Lands Revealed tours provides all inclusive travel experiences revealing a bridge from the Holy Lands to the Promised Lands. Daniel Rona opens your understanding to the LDS/Jewish insights in the Holy Lands of the Book of Mormon, New Testament Turkey, Israel, Egypt and the Nile.

Reach for the spirit as you follow the Savior's Footprints . . . by exploring the newly uncovered sites and by providing humanitarian service to modern day Nephites, Lamanites and other Children of Israel! You are entitled to FREE touring and location insights by calling 1-800-272-RONA (7662) or visiting HolyLandsRevealed.com. Request your FREE "Holy Lands Revealed" touring packet and a Book of Mormon fireside cassette.


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