Page 18 - Attractive Deception - The False Hope of the Hebrew Roots Movement

a Rothschild Fellowship at Hebrew University in 2006. Ms. Tzoref posted an article on the
transgression of Reuben when he lay with Bilhah, his father’s wife. After the article there was an
exchange of comments between her and a young man. Following is an excerpt from that exchange.

Shani Tzoref: Do you think that "Torah" requires us to believe that Reuben had intercourse with
Bilhah?

Alex Schindler: Insofar as it requires us to believe there was a person named Reuben and a person
named Bilhah.

Avoiding the much more meta- question of whether Torah narratives are given to be understood as
historical or literary or something in between, it is rather clear what the narrative intends us to think
the *character* Reuben did. It is no more ambiguous than what Absalom did in the light of day on
the roof of his father's palace with his father's concubines.

Shani Tzoref: The point of my question is that you say yes, Torah requires us to believe that Reuben
slept with Bilhah. And yet, the dominant view in the Talmud seems to be that Reuben did not sleep
with Bilhah. As Orthodox rabbinic Jews, are we not committed to following talmudic interpretations
over literal readings of the Biblical text?

My real point being - I don't think we are obligated to have a particular belief about what really
happened historically. I suppose if I had to choose a stance about what Orthodoxy would mandate,
I guess it would be to say that the Biblical text meant to convey what the rabbis say it meant - and
so I must conclude that Reuben did not sleep with Bilhah, but it was considered in some ways as
though he did. But I don't actually think a belief about the story is mandated.
[Source: http://thetorah.com/did-reuben-lie-with-bilhah/]

This frank exchange of views reveals the elevated regard the Orthodox Jews have for the Talmud.
They place the opinions of the rabbis above the testimony of the Torah (the Scriptures). If there is
an apparent contradiction between what the Torah declares and what the Talmud advises, the Jews
are expected to follow the talmudic interpretation over the plain meaning of the Bible. It is important
to understand this elevated position occupied by the Talmud in Jewish life. By understanding the
veneration of the Talmud, we can discern how the Jewish people have become apostatized, having
departed from the divine intent of the Scriptures.

Now, in the Hebrew Roots Movement, there are “Christian” ministers who are directing the people
of God to give heed to the Talmud, this book of lies. Additionally, there are a multitude of doctrines,
traditions, legal observances, customs, and symbols that derive from the Talmud that are being
embraced by Christians who mistakenly believe they are returning to the Hebrew Roots of the faith
of Christ and His apostles when in fact they are embracing Jewish apostasy. Many of these items will
be addressed individually as this writing progresses.