https://www.eaec.org/sermons/2007/RLJ-1106.pdf
MAY TRAVELS AND FUTURE PLANS
by Dr. James D. Tabor
Rather than my regular article I wanted to fill you in on various travels and activities I have been engaged in of late. I thought most of them would be of interest to CAP readers. 1991 has been a year flooded with activities related to our common interests. too much to keep up with.
During May, literally the day after my final grades were turned in for the Spring semester, I embarked on three weeks of travel, crisscrossing the country.
The first leg of my travels took me to Connecticut, Boston, and New York City. On May 6th I gave a lecture to a group of students and faculty in the Department of Religious Studies at Connecticut College on the topic, "B'nai Noach Past and Present: the Return of the Godfearers." This is probably one of the first times our movement was dealt with in such an academic setting at a top quality place like Connecticut College. In Boston I visited friends, went to book stores, and walked around Harvard for a shot of academic inspiration. I was in New York for just one day. I first went to the United Nations to visit my friend David Horowitz, correspondent, and friend and supporter of B'nai Noach. Many of you read his column weekly in the Jewish Press. David is 88 years old and truly a saint before HaShem. He has been at the UN since its founding, always speaking out for Israel. That evening, in the Horowitz home, I met with a fascinating group of Jewish leaders from the Torah community--all interested in talking about B'nai Noach. Among those present were Dr. Louis Feldman of Yeshiva University; Rabbi Saul Zucker of the Frisch School in Teaneck. NJ.; Dr. Saul Berman, also of Yeshiva University; Rabbi Berl Haskelevich and Mordechai Staiman, of Lubavitch; Aryeh Gallin, the head of the Root and Branch Association which publishes the Noachide Guide; and Rabbi Mordechai Fisch, of Sheved Achim. It was truly a wonderful meeting, with lots of good conversation and sharing until late hours. Dr. Berman is the author of the article on the Noachide Laws in the Encyclopedia Judaica. Dr.Feldman is perhaps the world's authority on the ancient "God-fearers," who were associated with synagogues in the Roman period. Rabbi Haskelevich broadcasts on radio to the Soviet Union, reaching literally thousands of Gentiles with the Noahide message. I could say much more about each of these men--and our gracious host, David Horowitz, but space does not permit. It was truly a wonderful meeting. I was also able to speak with Aaron Lichtenstein and Isaac Mozeson on the phone while in New York.
Next, I flew to Portland and then to Los Angeles. I met with Dr. Ernest Martin of the Academy of Scriptural Knowledge. We have in mind a project that I know will absolutely thrill most of you to hear about. We call it "The Original Bible." It will be a completely new and scrupulously accurate version of the Holy Scriptures, with full historical and textual notes. Even the books of the Bible will be placed in their proper order. Dr. Martin and others interested in the project have asked me to become Chief Editor. I have agreed, with great enthusiasm. This will be a Bible like no others, a dream come true for millions who are really thirsting for the plain words of Scriptures, "what he Bible really says," free from 3500 years of translation and interpretive errors. Obviously, this project is going to take several years. But plans are immediately beginning. See the next issue of Biblical Archneology Review for a full page ad announcing the project. I am very excited about this, for me it is a life-long dream. I will keep you informed on the plans, some of which might involve our own people and their participation. In Los Angeles I met with others interested in this project.
Finally, I went to Texas. I gave two lectures at Reunion Institute, near the campus of Rice University. Reunion is a wonderful organization that sponsors lectures and projects related to Biblical studies. I spoke first on Jewish attitudes toward the rebuilding of the Temple; then on the recent developments regarding the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among others things passed out copies of MMT, the unpublished Scroll, so important to understanding the identity of the Qumran community. We had fine and enthusiastic groups both talks. Some of Our Bnai Noach people Rabbi Howard Trusch leaches the group in Houston led Howard Shelton. I also met with Vendyl Jones, Howard, Shelton, Dr.Carlton Hazelwood, and DellGriffin. We formed a little delegation and visited with Rabbi Joseph Radinsky at the United Orthodox Synagogue in Houston. We asked him about the Bnai Noach group beginning meetings this fall at the Synagogue, as well as his willingness to teach the group, assisted by student, Rabbi Trusch. He agreed both requests! On June 14th I spoke at the evening Shabbat service of Temple Israel, Charlotte, North Carolina, on B'nai Noah. There was a large crowd with great interest.
I leave for a month in Israel on July4th. Jack Saunders and David Davis will fly with me and stay for two weeks. We will have meetings with the Torah community in New York the day or two before we leave the country. These are being set up by Aryeh Gallin and Rabbi Zucker. They promise to be most fruitful. Our movement is causing a great deal of stir in the New York area. I am in touch with literally dozens of rabbis and Torah scholars who view our work most positively and want to know more and do more.
In Israel we will mostly meet with interested parties. We are scheduled to give a public lecture, in Jerusalem, on the B'nai Noach movement on July 7th. Surely this is a first. I have a number of meetings with academics arranged as well. On Tisha B'Av we plan to go up to the Temple Mount and read the special reading for that day--Isaiah 55:6-56:8. Look it up! We feel this scripture is being fulfilled in our day. Pray for our safety.
No comments:
Post a Comment