"Anti-missionaries" are traditional Jews who have websites teeming with supposed "proof" against the world's Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach. Due to the deceitful nature of their articles against Christianity and Messianic Judaism, The Refiner's Fire has taken on the responsibility of defending our God, our people, and our belief. Following is a challenge to a Messiah Truth article by Moshe Shulman entitled Lies, Damned Lies, and What the Missionaries Claim the Rabbis say. Due to space and time constraints, we have chosen certain excerpts from the article as an example of the rubbish being touted on Messiah Truth. Also, we have included every typo and spelling error exactly as they appeared in Shulman's article:


Lies, damned Lies, and what the Missionaries claim the Rabbis say


Messiah Truth's Assertion:

NOTE FROM THE REFINER'S FIRE: The following are excerpts from a Messiah Truth article by Moshe Shulman that are designed to discredit the beliefs of Christians and Messianic Jews....

...We find in numerous materials, produced by missionaries, quotes from the Rabbis being falsely used to support their false beliefs. What I will bring here are a few special examples of these sources. These sources are from people who claim to be scholarly and to be writing scholarly works....

...What makes this issue of especial importance is that if the Rabbis do not agree with Christian claims; the Christian arguments do not lose anything. They do not need support from the Rabbis. They already claim the Rabbis are wrong. If someone is not interested in the truth when it regards an issue that has no logical effect on their belief system, then how can we believe what they say when dealing with issues that do? There is a lesson to be learned, not just for these texts, but it should be applied to ALL interpretations they make. If they are lying and being deceptive about what the Rabbis say, which is of little value to them and their beliefs, then we should be even more doubtful of what they say on issues that DO have value.


Messianic Judaism's Response:

The Refiner's Fire cannot vouch for the claims of either traditional Jewish or Messianic "scholars" who supposedly use "false quotes" etc. However, we are "Bible-only" advocates who use the Word of God as proof to back up our claims.

Note how Moshe Shulman reveals his distaste for believers in Messiah by insisting that we are "lying and being deceptive about what the Rabbis say," and then goes on to warn his readers to "be even more doubtful of what they (Messianics) say on issues that DO have value"....

It is amazing and quite hypocritical that this train of thought comes from a traditional Jew like Shulman who is able to believe that God has revealed Himself through a burning bush, and pillars of cloud and fire, and that He sent a major flood to the earth in order to destroy the decadent; that He destroyed Sodom and Gemorrah, turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt, and parted the Red Sea and supernaturally fed millions for forty years – yet he cannot bring himself to acknowledge that YHWH had the power to present Himself in the form of a recognizable human entity in order to teach us about Himself and how to live with each other – and then to offer Himself as a Divine Sin Sacrifice!


Messiah Truth's Assertion:

NOTE FROM THE REFINER'S FIRE: In the following passage, Shulman attempts to discredit the well-respected, long-deceased Jewish author Rachmiel Frydland who isn't around to defend himself....

...In 'What the Rabbis Know about the Messiah by Rachmiel Frydland p. 21-22 we read the following:

"'The Lord they [sic] God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall harken.' ... Most Jewish commentators believe that Joshua and other prophets fulfilled the scriptural reference to the Prophet. However, Rabbi Levi Ben Gershon (RALBAG), of the 14th century, identified the Prophet as Messiah: '"A Prophet from the midst of thee." In fact, the Messiah is such a Prophet as it is stated in the Midrash of the verse, "Behold my Servant shall prosper" (Is. 52.13).... Moses, by the miracles which he wrought, brought a single nation to the worship of God, but the Messiah will draw all peoples to the worship of God.'... "

Acts 3.22-23, among other sources, makes the point that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Moses, in Deuteronomy 18, that there would be a Prophet like Moses. Here we see, that according to this author, ON THE VERY SAME VERSE an important Jewish commentator agrees!! Unfortuinatly [sic], Mr. Frydland does not tell us where he got this quote.

That shouldn’t be a problem. We need only get a copy of the commentary of the RALBAG and look up Deut. 18.15, and see what it says:

"'A Prophet from the midst of you, from your brethren, like me': He means to say that I am from the midst of you and from your brethren. He does not mean that he will be on a greater level than Moses, since the verse says 'there will not arise a prophet anymore in Israel like Moses.' (Deut. 34.10) Because of that it says after that 'I will put my words in his mouth.' (18.18), and it doesn't say that I will be known to him face to face."


Messianic Judaism's Response:

Regarding the second sentence in the paragraph immediately above, The Refiner's Fire has searched the entire Internet and not found the statement that Shulman attributes to RALBAG.

Secondly, Shulman's attack is against well-respected Jewish author Rachmiel Frydland (1919-1985) who was a Holocaust survivor, former Rabbinical student, and Messianic Jewish teacher who sadly isn't here to defend himself. However, there is no evidence ANYWHERE to suggest that Fryland was deliberately quoting RALBAG out of context, or "reading into" something that wasn't there.

Thirdly, RALBAG (Rabbi Levi Ben Gershon, 1288-1344), was a philosopher, astronomer, scientist, biblical commentator, mathematician, and deeply committed Jewish rabbi with a rationalist viewpoint - which made him extremely controversial in his time. His philosophical works were unpopular and, in some cases even shunned by some. That being the case, why would Shulman want to take the word of a "controversial" human philosopher over God's Word which clearly foreshadows Yeshua throughout the Tenach - including in Deuteronomy 18! (See Qualifications of Messiah, So You Don't Believe Yeshua is God Incarnate, and 48 Dead-On Prophecies About Yeshua.)

Shulman's comments about Deuternomy 18:15 are aptly answered, both by Moishe Rosen, founder of Jews for Jesus: A Prophet Like Unto Moses, as well as in Matsati's article at Rightly Dividing the Word of God who says:

It is written, Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, He shall be exalted, and extolled, and be very high (Isaiah 52:13). It means, He shall be more exalted than Abraham of whom it is written, 'I lift up my hand' (Genesis 14:22). He shall be more extolled than Moses of whom it is said, 'As a nursing father beareth the nursing child' (Numbers 11:12). 'And shall be very high'--that is, Messiah shall be higher than the ministering angels. See Midrash Tanhuma, (Israel: KTAV Publishing Company, 1989) pp166-67

I guess whether or not one accepts that Deuteronomy passage predicts the Messiah, we can know about the similarities between Moses and the prophet who was to be like him? Every person of Israel knew while they were standing before Sinai that he/she was unclean before the almighty, so they spoke as one asking Moses to be their intercessor. So whatever God had for them would be told through Moses as he had done during the entire redemption process or deliverance from Egypt.

Then God almighty confirmed the words of Moses that he has spoken about the prophet who would be the speaker of God's word and the intermediary between God and his people just like Moses ;). So it seems that on that great day in Israel it was decided that an intercessor should speak for God to the people, therefore the primary way that the prophet (messiah) was to be "like Moses" was in the role of the intermediary. In the bible days the priests and prophets were the intermediaries who made representation to God on behalf of the people. the priests would bring petitions and offerings and stand in the Holy Place on behalf of the people. and the prophets would bring the nation of Israel back to repentance and a covenant relationship with the Lord. Kings like David and Solomon were also like Moses in that they led and administered the Law to the whole nation.

The word Messiah means "anointed". Prophets priests and kings were all anointed to show their consecration. Moses in a sense fulfilled all three functions at the same time. But there was one way in which the prophet to come the Messiah, would most resemble Moses. The messiah Yeshua resembles the most in that Moses offered himself to die for the sins of the people Shemos 32:30-33 (Exodus 32:30-33).

From what it looks like Moses would offer himself to save Israel from the God's wrath. To take the punishment of the peoples sins on himself by being blotted out of the book. As a priest he could have offered bulls, lambs by the thousands but instead he offered himself. remember that 40 years of Moses' life were spent as a Shepard in those same mountains the deserts of Midian. It looks like he is showing the attitudes and mindset of a good Shepard because the job description of a "good shepherd" calls for that Shepard to give his own life for the sheep. Yeshua explained this as is recorded in the NT book of John 10:10-11.

The good Shepard puts the welfare of the flock above his own and Moses displays this in Exodus. Yeshua is alive forever to make intercession for us. Yeshua is the one who can lead us out of the Egypt of our everyday life. He can break the bondage of sin. On our life's journey to the Promised Land (Heaven) he can guide us and be our provider and will be bread from heaven to feed our souls and restore our spirits. There is one big difference between Yeshua and Moses. Moses led the people to the Promised Land but he wasn't allowed to enter himself and that was because Moses had sinned. Messiah Yeshua on the other hand is the perfect mediator because he was innocent, without sin, and took our deserved punishment upon himself. He is waiting in heaven for all those who put their trust in him.


Messiah Truth's Assertion:

NOTE FROM THE REFINER'S FIRE: This section is a bit confusing, not only in the way it was presented, but also because Shulman has chosen to discredit the beliefs of Christians and Messianic Jews about Psalm 110 by using as an example some "Internet email list" - that we have never seen - which contained a discussion of Psalms 110. Please judge for yourselves whether or not Shulman has presented any tangible evidence...

2. Risto Santala and Psalm 110.

This next selection has a story to it. On an Internet email list there was a discussion of Psalms 110, and some claims were made about what some Rabbis and Rabbinic sources said. The person making this claim quoted from a book by Risto Santala who he claimed to be an authority on the subject. This is the text I have discussed below.

The work from which I am quoting is called "The Messiah in the Old Testament in the Light of the Rabbinical Writings.' To establish his credentials as a legitimate scholar he makes the following claim in the introduction:

NOTE FROM THE REFINER'S FIRE: Rather than to reprint this entire, long, and drawn-out "email" discussion, we invite our readers, if interested, to go directly to Section 2 of the Messiah Truth article Lies Damned Lies and what the Missionaries Claim the Rabbis say and read it for themselves. Search on Risto Santala which will take you right to it.

We would like to draw your attention to Shulman's final comment in this section which is obviously meant to discredit the author he quotes, yet Shulman himself presents us with nothing more than his own, personal opinion with NO tangible evidence as to WHY the author of the piece was wrong. He simply ends this part with the following comment:

I think this is enough to show that this author has no knowledge of what he is writing, nor an interest in the truth of the passages he quotes.


Messianic Judaism's Response:

The last sentence is PURE personal opinion on the part of Shulman! He has presented NO evidence to prove that the author of this SUPPOSED "email discussion" had "no knowledge of what he is writing, nor an interest in the truth of the passages he quotes"....HOW does Shulman know WHAT kind of "interest in the truth" the author had?

Regardless as to HOW one argues it, Psalm 110 - like so many other Tenach passages - refers to Messiah Yeshua, as revealed in the article at Christian Churches of God.

Psalm 110 shows us how the priesthood has changed. Instead of an Aaronic high priest, the high priest is "one after the order of Melchizedek". That is, Yeshua. This fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 110:1-4, where King David writes:

"The Lord says to my Lord (God is speaking to someone King David calls Lord): 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' The Lord will extend your (the one King David says God is speaking to) mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'"


Messiah Truth's Assertion:

3. Dr. David Stern and what Rashi says on Isaiah 7:14.

On page 6 of his work Jewish New Testament Commentary it says:

The most famous medieval Jewish Bible commentator, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki ("Rashi," 1040-1105), who determinedly opposed Christological interpretation of the Tanakh, nevertheless wrote on Isaiah 7:14:

"Behold, the 'almah shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanu'el.' This means that our creator will be with us. And this is the sign: the one who will conceive is a girl (na'arah) who never in her life has had intercourse with any man. Upon this one shall the Holy Spirit have power." (Mikra'ot G'dolot, ad loc.)

What does Rashi in Mikroas Gadolos really say there? Here is my translation of it:

EMMANUEL: That is to say, our Rock will be with us. And this is the sign, that behold she is a young girl and never prophesied in all her days, and in this there will rest a spirit of prophecy on her....

Compare the two phrases in bold type. They are the translations of the same words. Stern’s translation is just wrong.....

....Dr. Stern is not only admitting to never have looked up the primary source, but that either he cannot or refuses to look it up!! This is absolutely phenomenal. Rashi’s commentary on Tenach appears in every Jewish edition of the Tenach. It is VERY easily available. Any scholar doing work on Jewish commentary on the Tenach, who does not look up Rashi, is putting his credentials in question.....


Messianic Judaism's Response:

Sorry, Mr. Shulman, but if one looks at the Hebrew, Emanuel literally means "God with us"! "Rock with us" is not only mistranslated, but it doesn't make one iota of sense....(Please see Matsati's indepth article about Isaiah 7:14 entitled The Genealogy of the Messiah Yeahua.)

According to Shulman, it all boils down to "interpretation" - and of course, Shulman wants the world to believe that HIS is the "correct" interpretation! Shulman boldly says: Here is my translation of it: and Stern’s translation is just wrong. We challenge him to show where and how Emanuel could EVER be translated as "rock"! Twisting and mistranslating does not a scholar make. Having said that, why should anyone take Shulman's word when he not only MISTRANSLATES, but then goes on to cite "some debate on an Internet newsgroup" to prove that Dr. Stern's scholarship is somehow lacking. Shulman didn't personally contact Dr. Stern, but he is willing to take for gospel "some debate" on the Internet that SUPPOSEDLY cites Dr. Stern....

By the way, for an indepth article about "almah", please see The Problem and the Solution Concerning the Virgin Birth.


Messiah Truth's Assertion:

4. Dr. Michael Brown and Jewish dating.

In Volume 1 p.70-73 of his work ‘Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus’ we see a discussion of the famous teaching in the Talmud that the world exists for 6000 years. There Dr. Brown claims that due to an error of the Rabbis calculation of the dates, they had it wrong and the correct dating places the Messianic age in the time of Jesus....

...How can we believe anything someone, who writes such distortions, says about Judaism, Jewish history, Rabbinic writings or anything else? These dates appear in any secular scholarly source, and are not even up to question. I am just astonished at this lack of scholarship.

These are just four examples of serious errors, and I know that many more exist. In addition to this, we find many outright misstatements by missionaries with regards to Rabbinic works. These are based on not wanting to understand the nature of Rabbinic commentary, and just simply wanting a text to confirm their beliefs, even if that is not the case.


Messianic Judaism's Response:

In Shulman's own words: How can we believe anything someone, who writes such distortions, says (sic) about Judaism, Jewish history, Rabbinic writings or anything else?

Perhaps the same can be said about Shulman who is very vocal about the supposed myth of Yeshua, when GOD clearly promised us a "New Covenant" (Jeremiah 31), foreshadowed Yeshua for us throughout the entire Tenach, and then followed through in the B'rit Chadasha (New Testament)! So, who is leading whom astray?

See The Refiner's Fire's challenge to "Daniel 9 Does Not Refer to Messiah" which says, in part:

"A far better starting date is the decree of Cyrus (537 B.C.E) upon which all subsequent grants of approval were based (Isaiah 44:28)." Really? Says who? Isaiah 44:28 states: "I say of Koresh (Cyrus), 'He is my shepherd, he will do everything I want. He will say of Yerushalayim, "You will be rebuilt," and of the temple, "Your foundation will be laid." ' " This verse in NO WAY suggests any "starting dates".

Furthermore, Jews for Judaism's version of the Jewish Bible supposedly reads that Daniel 9:26 says, "And after the sixty-two weeks AN anointed one shall be cut off..."

  • According to David H. Stern's "Complete Jewish Bible", the verse reads as follows: "Then, after the sixty-two weeks Mashiach will be cut off and have nothing...."

  • The Stone Edition of the Jewish Tenach says: Then, after the sixty-two weeks septets, the anointed one will be cut off and will exist no longer...."

  • The King James Version says: And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself....

Jews for Judaism says that "there is no reference to Jesus". Well, there is no reference to Cyrus or Alenxander Yannai, either....

As an additional piece of information, the calculation of 69 1/2 weeks started in 457/458 BC and ended with the crucifixion in 30 AD. It is written in the Talmud that 40 years before the destruction of the temple in 70AD the miracles in the temple ceased. (See Talmudic Evidence for the Messiah at 30 CE.)