בס”ד

Parashat Shoftim (Judges) Deuteronomy 16:8-21:9

Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12

This article will be short and to the point. It is a violation for a follower of Messiah Yeshua to engage in any way in astrology; this includes horoscopes. It is certainly a sign of the times that in Orthodox Judaism today there is an embracing of a type of “Jewish astrology” that gives credence to the month one is born in and the type of person this person will be. Superstitions and the like have no place among those who assert that they believe in the Scriptures.

In this week’s Torah reading one encounters Moses instructing the people,

“Pure you shall be with HaShem your G-d. For these nations, which you are inheriting them, to astrologers and diviners they listened; but HaShem your G-d has not given you thus.” Deuteronomy 18:13-14

It is most clear that to place any credence on those things which are in any way related to astrology, fortune telling, or the like, is a gross violation of HaShem’s word. It is very sad that here in Israel in many shopping malls there are those who have set up tables and sit there offering to read tarot cards so that one can “know” his or her future. This is tolerated by city leaders, but when a good friend of mine places a table on the promenade in our city with free materials concerning Yeshua; he is forced to leave by the city officials. By the way, there are numerous individuals who set of tables to sell things there which are allowed, it is only my friend who is simply sitting there with books and the like on the table waiting for someone to inquire about the material, who is ordered to leave.

The reason given for him having to leave is that he gives free copies of the New Covenant in Hebrew to those who want one. Yet the astrologers and the diviners are free to continue in their violation of Torah Law.

Make no mistake, all over the world there is hatred for the name Yeshua and for what He stands. I am reminded of how last month in Chicago the mayor stated publically that Chick-Fil-A restaurants did not share the same values as the city of Chicago because of the owner of Chick-Fil-A stated on a Christian radio program that he did not support same sex marriage. As a result, the city of Chicago, along with other cities, stated they would oppose Chick-Fil-A’s right to locate their restaurants in these cities. This is another example of how free speech and the right to hold opinions are only afforded by liberal to those who agree with them, while they vigorously oppose believers the same rights.

This is the same type of “freedom and democracy” that Muslims want; the right to gain power utilizing free speech and democracy, and then to crush with violence any who oppose their oppressive views once it becomes clear what Islamists truly want to establish.

Shabbat Shalom