Posted on 02/24/2005 8:27:45 PM PST by Zapp
Schmuley Boteach seems, on the surface, to be a pleasant, erudite Rabbi popular with the TV crowd because he presents himself well on TV interviews, is popular with the Hollyweird crowd, and voices some views that sync with pop culture, howbeit with a conservative religious wrapping.
Recently 'Schmuley', as he is called by his acquaintances, was a guest on Michael Medved's talkshow, and once again affirmed to this observer that he [Rabbi Boteach] only seeks harmony between Christians and Jews on his own terms: which includes the emasculation of basic Christian tenets. The christian New Testament is a collection of "fables". Those who believe them are, at the least, ignorant and gullible, believing "Cheap forgeries," and "absurd" accounts.
For those who heard the exchange [one week ago] you could not miss the heat and animus between Medved Boteach. Having had some unity on issues previous, this time they seemed at loggerheads, as Boteach essentially accused Medved of being the lapdog to conservative christians. Medved gave a good account of himself, I must say, which surprised me, since he tends to prefer pop relevance to principle.
In a way, I'm sort of glad that the Boteach [who appeared on Greta Van Susteren's program tonight, re: his client Michael Jackson] was finally provoked 'out of the closet' by events since and including "The Passion of The Christ". Heretofore he was billed as a pop Rabbi/Rebbe/Guru of the rich, relevant to hip culture, touting sexual freedom and godliness in a traditional yiddish garb. When he melted down in Fox News in interviews about "The Passion" it became clear that his commitment to principle [his own] would overrule his TV persona. Christians who actually BELIEVE the New Testament are anathema: extremists who cling to a flawed, lying, editorialized book of fairy tales. The book that is Life to millions of followers is, according to the hip Rebbe, an invention of "anti-Semitic Falsifiers" [that means Liars].
I am glad to say Medved did not give up much ground, and seemed utterly dismayed at Boteach's attacks on his character, because Medved frequently defends America's pro-Christian populace [that's a stretch...] and history.
Better to understand and face up NOW to the forces that seek to silence permanently the voice of christians in America's public square.
Z
Oy! That Rabbi Schmuley really is something else. What - is yet to be determined...
Michael Medved ping. Anyone want on or off the Medved ping list, please send me an e-mail.
As for Medved, he can give as good as he takes. I have listened to his program (on a local Christian radio station no less) and he sometimes gets HAMMERED by his callers but he always takes the heat with grace and he calmly decapitates his accusers with reason and unreturned politeness.
Medved is a keeper for the Conservative cause. Boteach is merely a self-interested schmuck.
Heard the last part of it by chance. First time hearing Schmuley; he sounded obstinate, mean and brutal to me. Sounded like a typical liberal losing an argument. Must be getting his core illuminated lately.
Thanks for the ping!
These sorts of disagreements are hard to call. We have to accept that, when the time comes, God will call His own home. Having faith in Christ, I trust that includes me, too. But because all is in God's hands, I would never wager on the ultimate fate of any soul.
As I understand it, to be Semitic (or a Semite) is to have a particular geographic ancestry. It doesn't correlate that you are Jewish. Not all Jews are Semitic, for example. And by the same token, neither are all Semites Jewish.
Can you give us some examples of Michael preferring pop relevance to principle?
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