A MODERN-DAY SANHEDRIN

IN THE Gospels we read of the Sanhedrin (often translated as Council) – the supreme Jewish “spiritual” tribunal headed by the chief priests and rabbis. 

It wielded tremendous power, even though subjugated to Rome. During the Temple times, the 71 members of the Sanhedrin were seated in a semi-circle within a special chamber in the courtyard of the Temple.

There hasn’t been a genuine Sanhedrin in Israel for nearly 1,600 years; the last one to be proclaimed was in France, by Napoleon, for political gain.

Shortly after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, religious affairs minister Judah Leib Maimon raised the notion of reinstituting the ancient body, to no avail.

In October 2004, a group of 71 rabbis and scholars formed themselves into a new body that gave itself the name of Sanhedrin.  It is intended to be a duplicate of the religious tribunal which convened during the time of the Second Temple. At present it stands in opposition to the democratic government of Israel, and deplores the planned withdrawal from Gaza and N Samaria.

The founders of the new Sanhedrin stress that they have merely fulfilled a mandatory Biblical commandment because of the Jewish presence in the Land.  They maintain that the 12th century Torah scholar, Maimondes, has described the process for restoring the Sanhedrin exactly, in his important works codifying Jewish Law.

Leading rabbis maintain that only a properly ordained Sanhedrin - a body of sages - can authenticate the Messiah when he comes.

Although it may not be considered legitimate by the secular government, the Sanhedrin will have quite an influence due to the backing of many of the religious, and especially the orthodox, communities.

The Sanhedrin meets every month and involves in issues such as the exact location of the original temple, the rebuilding of the Temple, a restored monarchy, and the withdrawal from parts of the Land.

Sanhedrin spokesman, Rabbi Chaim Richman, said it was heartening to see that despite talk of withdrawal from parts of the Land of Israel, and despite Prime Minister Sharon’s declaration that Israel has “given up its dreams,” the Sanhedrin continues to move toward strengthening the nation of Israel.

“As all these things happen all around us,” he said, “the Sanhedrin is researching ways to renew the deepest roots of our faith – to renew Temple service, reunite Jewish legal tradition and inspire the Jewish people to aspire to greatness. Our people have one path before us, and we will continue to march toward our destiny.”

Sanhedrin member Rabbi Yisrael Ariel who is the founder of The Temple Institute, and one of the paratroopers who took part in the 1967 liberation of the Temple Mount, said: “People today ask, ‘Who are we in this generation to even consider building the Temple?’ But in this week’s Torah portion we see that the commandment to build a Temple was given to Jews who had just sinned and committed idolatry in the Sin of the Golden Calf. The fact is that what G-d requires in this world is for regular people to do their best. That is what we are trying to do.”

The 71 Jewish scholars who meet in the Old City of Jerusalem as a Sanhedrin, have discussed the creation of a Jewish monarchy in the State of Israel. “A coronation day is growing closer,” they say. For the past several years a group called The Monarchists has conducted extensive research into the lineage of several families in an effort to discover who has the closest bloodline to the biblical King David – a requirement for any future Jewish king.

In the meantime, the Sanhedrin has issued a declaration on the burning issue of Disengagement.

The declaration was published by The Temple Institute on 8 March 05; and as it helps us understand this burning issue in Israel, I think it is worthwhile to reproduce the declaration for you.

   THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE

                                                                                                        26 Adar 1, 5760

THE SANHEDRIN’s DECLARATION

Concerning the Disengagement

SINCE its meeting on 28th Shvat 5765, the Sanhedrin has deliberated the initiative of the Prime Minister of Israel, the decisions of the government, and legislation enacted by the Knesset regarding the plan known as “The Disengagement,” henceforth referred to in this document as “the uprooting.”

This plan involves the uprooting of Jewish communities in the Gaza strip and northern Samaria, the forced expulsion of Jews from their homes, and the willful transfer of these lands to a foreign power.

Following an intensive study which took place regarding the halachic (authentic Jewish law) questions that arise from the government’s decision, the Sanhedrin hereby brings its conclusions and decisions to the public’s attention.

1) The Prime Minister’s program of uprooting stands in direct contradiction to the Torah of Israel.

2) The decision to implement the uprooting will cause large numbers of Jews to transgress many of the Torah’s commandments. This applies to many varied commandments, including both those that are practiced between man and G-d, as well as those between man and his fellow man, those that apply to the nation as a whole, and those that apply to every individual.

3) The Government of Israel and the Knesset, in their present form and power structure, do not constitute institutions that have any authority according to halacha, and have no power to render decisions that contradict the Torah of Israel.

4) Government ministers who have deemed this plan of uprooting to be wrongful have been removed from their positions, and likewise senior officials of the security establishment who have expressed independent opinions about the matter have been ousted.

5) THEREFORE, the decision of this government – which has also violated its promises to its own electorate  –  is null and void.

6) THUS: No Jew is permitted to cooperate with the program of uprooting, in any way whatsoever.

7) Any Jew – including a soldier or policeman – who supports the uprooting, whether directly or indirectly, whether by voting in its favor, or by giving council, or by supplying vehicles or materials, and obviously, anyone who actively participates in the uprooting... by so doing, transgresses a large number of Torah commandments.

8) The uprooting of the residents of the Gaza Strip and Samaria is a crime, and an injustice to the residents, and places many other communities  –  in fact, all citizens of the State of Israel – in mortal danger.

9) Any Jew who participates in, or cooperates with this plan, whether actively, or even by merely remaining silent, transgresses the commandment “You shall not stand idly by your neighbor’s blood (Lev. 19:17),” and in the future will be judged by G-d for this sin.

10) The leaders and their agents  –  including soldiers and policemen who support the uprooting and participate in it  –  may be brought to bear personal responsibility for all damages caused to those who are hurt, and to their property.

11) By this declaration, the Sanhedrin, as the link of continuity of the Torah received by Moses at Sinai, hereby expresses the stance of Israel’s Torah. For if, Heaven forbid, the present government carries out this, or some other, program of uprooting  –  this action has no validity. The Land of Israel is holy land, and all of its regions belong exclusively to the nation of Israel, forever.  

12) The Sanhedrin, as the representative of the Jewish people throughout history, hereby affirms that the Jewish people  – regardless of this or that government  – does not relinquish, and is not entitled to relinquish, so much as the span of a solitary man’s foot of the Land of Israel according to its Biblical boundaries… for it is G-d’s land.

13) The commandment to “inherit and dwell” (Deut. 12:29) in the Land of Israel is obligatory upon every Israeli government. In this regard Israel is commanded by G-d to conquer the entire expanse of the Land of Israel within its Biblical boundaries, including the Gaza strip.

14) THEREFORE: Even if (Heaven forbid) the residents are forcibly removed from their homes  –  when the government changes, and a government in Israel arises that conducts itself according to the Torah, the armies of Israel will return and re-conquer this strip of land, to reinstate the people of Israel to their rightful place. This applies not only to this area, but to all the expanses of the Land of Israel that were stolen and are presently in foreign hands.

15) We are permeated with faith in the G-d of the Legions of Israel, that the oath which He swore to our forefather Abraham at the “Covenant Between the Halves” will be fulfilled precisely as it is stated, and with G-d’s help, speedily  –  as it is written (Genesis. 15:18):

“On that day the L-rd made a covenant with Avram, saying, to your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates river…”  

- www.templeinstitute.org

  ISRAELI JEWS WON’T GIVE UP WESTERN WALL  

91% of the Jewish public in Israel would be unwilling to give up Israeli control of the Western Wall in exchange for peace, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Dahaf Institute recently.

A representative sample of the Jewish population was polled on whether, in exchange for a final real peace agreement, Israel should …

a. transfer a number of sacred sites to the Palestinians,

b. be prepared for joint control, or

3. keep the sites under sole Israeli hegemony.

None of those polled said they would agree to Palestinian control over the Western Wall, although 6% were willing to see joint control.

With regard to the Temple Mount, 9% of the public were in favour of transferring control to the Palestinians, 36% favoured joint control, 51% wanted Israeli control only.

With regard to the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, 13% were in favor of giving control to the Palestinians, 33% for joint control, and 49% for sole Israeli control.

13% of those questioned said they would agree for the Tomb of Rachel to be in Palestinian hands, 30% would opt for joint control, and 53% wanted to see Israeli control only. - www.haaretzdaily.com

EUROPE 

EU AIMS TO BECOME GLOBAL MILITARY SUPERPOWER

THE European Union has outlined plans to become a military superpower and close the defence technology gap on the US.

The EU would develop unmanned drones, new armoured vehicles and advanced communication systems, the British head of the newly created European Defence Agency said.

EDA chief executive Nick Witney said the 25-nation EU would establish a joint fighter-pilot training program and co-ordinate the testing of military equipment. The initiatives represent the EU’s first step in military research and development.

They are aimed at transforming the EU from being a political power, in charge of policies such as agriculture and trade, to a military one, capable of sending troops around the world to enforce a foreign policy agreed by its member states.

Not all EU members are in favour of the plan. Ireland and Sweden fear their traditional neutrality is being threatened, and in Britain there is concern that the initiative will undermine NATO and its close military relationship with the US.

Moves to turn Europe into a military superpower will also increase concerns in Washington over the EU’s plans to lift a 15-year-old arms embargo on China.  President George W. Bush and congressional leaders from both parties are presenting a united front in opposition to the plan for renewed arms sales.

THE PEACE AND UNITY THE NATIONS NEED

“See, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”                             

(Psalm 133:1)

Oh how good and pleasant it would be if all nations dwelt together in unity!  And one day “the redeemed of the LORD” will – in the day when Y’shua the Messiah returns and reigns in righteousness over all the earth.

“YHWH reigns; the earth is joyful. Many islands are rejoicing ... The mountains have melted like wax at the Presence of YHWH, at the Presence of the Master of the whole earth. The heavens have declared His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory.”   (Psalm 97:1, 5-6)

“The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of YHWH our LORD and of His Anointed – the Messiah; and He will reign for ever and ever.”                                                              

(Revelation 11:15)

So there is a glorious day coming, but until that day, there will be perilous times; nation will rise against nation, and men will be brutal, despisers of good, lovers of money, and treacherous. Evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1-4, 13. Luke 21:10)

My reader, those perilous times have already arrived! 

Of course, we occasionally get a little good news, but it never seems to last long enough to dispel the gloom caused by * rampant plagues and pestilences and the * renegade environment.  And there’s * deteriorating social conditions, * strife, violence, crime, crises, insurgency and * blatant terrorism; there’s * radicalism and widespread rebellion against righteousness; there’s * spiritual apostasy, and the * proliferation of authoritarian vilification legislation (some of which has been justified by conditions existing in a hostile society).

But what about the contamination of land and water - the health-destroying * physical pollution. And oh, the sinking feeling that grips us as we witness the * deepening poverty, and the * shaking economy and * fiscal woes of our debt-laden world. And on top of all this there’s the * apparent inability of leaders to find satisfactory solutions to the host of problems afflicting the commonwealth of nations. 

We need a Saviour - right now! But we don’t find Him in the multitude of international organisations, or in the smorgasbord of philosophical alternatives out there. We find Him in the Word of God.

“I, even I, am YHWH; and apart from Me there is no saviour.”  (Isaiah 43:11)

“Do not be afraid! I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people; for today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, YHWH the LORD.”  (Luke 2:10-11)   

This wonderful Saviour, Yahweh-Y’shua, is now offering freedom to all who trust in Him:

“You will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free ... If then the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”   (John 8:32, 36)

And this same Saviour will soon appear for those who are ...

“awaiting and looking for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Y’shua the Messiah; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness (all wickedness), and purify for Himself a people who are uniquely His own; people zealous to do good works.”                 

 (Titus 2:13-14)

This is good news for believers.

“Beloved ...  we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is. And every one who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE OF MHG#22

#4 of REVIVAL Series

FOUR MAJOR HINDRANCES

link to REVIVAL BOOK ►►

Chapter 3 of Studies in the Book of Daniel

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S GOLD IMAGE,

AND THE FIERY FURNACE

link to DANIEL BOOK ►►