PaRDeS

[sheep wrecked]

(07-07-2010 03:52 AM)Mary Wrote:  Some members of the small church group I go to are increasing their references to Midrash, a problem for me in itself, but a further problem in that the way they talk about it is confusing (to me anyway) in terms of what I understand Midrash to be. For example they say "X verse is a midrash on Y verse" . That just blurs my understanding , and from what I've been reading about midrash here and elsewhere, I think their understanding is blurred too - and I think this just leads them to accept anything that calls itself or lends itself to "Midrash".

This morning I found this article by Jacob Prasch, and thought it might be interesting to critique it and invite discussion on it - should make for a lively discussion

http://moriel.org/MorielArchive/index.ph...cob-prasch

I personally think that Christians who get "high" on midrash are actually just throwing around their gnosticsm to impress and/or to feel more spiritual. It seems that we have fully reached the age of mysticism and accept it as the norm for Christianity.

I took a quick peak at the article and got instantly ticked off. He is using a Biblical definition for midrash -which means story and changing it to be acceptable within kabbalah's definition for midrash. That is deceptive. Here is what "midrash" means as used today within Judaism:

Quote:A. "Midrash" means "exposition." The Midrash (or Medrash) is probably the most referred-to collection of explanatory works on Tanach, next to Rashi. The Midrash, or Midrashim, fills in the gaps behind the oft-times sketchy, skeletal narrative of the Torah, Neviim and Ketuvim. It adds meat to its bones, telling us things we otherwise would never know, mainly the dialogues between the Torah's figures and details of their lives. As such, the Midrash is a vital, true part of the Oral Torah.

B. Here's a great definition of "Midrash" by the late great Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, author of The Living Torah: "...a generic term, usually denoting the non-legalistic teachings of the rabbis of the Talmudic era. In the centuries following the final redaction of the Talmud (around 505 CE), much of this material was gathered into collections known as Midrashim." So, "the Midrash" is like "the dictionary"--there are many dictionaries, each compiled by a different party at a different time.

C. The Midrash consists of a large number of individually written books on various sections of Tanach, or on the entire Tanach. A prominent example of a Midrash is the Midrash Rabbah, which adds critical details to the five books of the Chumash. There is also the Midrash Tanchuma on the Chumash (written by Rabbi Tanchuma, a Talmudic sage), the Yalkut Shim'oni, the Midrash Agadah... and Avot D'Rabbi Natan, Mechilta, Midrash Hagadol, Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer, Sifra, Sifri and many more. Each elaborates on all or part of the Written Torah. None, however, should be taken lightly: unfortunately, the misconception exists that midrashim are mere tales or legends. They are not, and the assumption that one can write their own book of Biblical fiction on the assumption that the authors of the Midrash did the same is the most tragic result thereof.

http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/190,2...drash.html

As far as Prasch goes, he is a Messianic who believes that unless one has a "Hebraic mind set" one cannot understand the Scriptures. He "fronts" as a Christian who teaches against Judaism, the Talmud and kabbalah and then incorporates all of it in his teachings. Christians are none the wiser - it's called bait and switch. Most Hebrew Roots teachers [even the ones who claim they don't teach Talmud and kabbalah] incorporate these concepts in what they offer as well. It is a corrupt system and Prasch and his like have marketed it quite nicely as the truth.

See Vic's article on Prasch here, for a good "profile" on him [put your seatbelt on ]:

http://www.seekgod.ca/jpupdate.htm


More articles:

http://www.seekgod.ca/hunt.htm

http://www.seekgod.ca/jacobjfj.htm


You can also do a search on her website for other associations of Prasch's.