Anonymous asked Staff ago Shalom..
I recently became very interested in tapes by Rabbi Amnon Yizchak , who i believe is a Yemenite-Israeli who became religous 20 years ago.
Based on what he says.. I am of the belief that there is a g-d.
I mean, there are many secular people ( some just like you) that go to his lectures and they try arguing with him and he proves them wrong in many different ways…..
Many of my friends have gone to his lectures and they are totally different ..they honor their elders/Parents etc.
They stay away from trouble… unlike when they were before become religous..
Am i saying that all the religous people are great?? of course not!! but when you look at the percentages, you will see a difference betweet the “dateeyeem” and the “chilonim”
May I ask you to please go to one of Rabbi Yitzchaks events and challenge his beliefs.. I am searching the truth.. and as of now I am leaning towards believing in g-d and the torah..
am i missing something??
I’ll be waiting for an answer
Take care
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Aaron,
Amnon Yitchak is indeed a returnee to religion, who devotes his time and energy to returning others to religion.
Obviously he has not had a lot of time to devote to learning, as would be expected of a scholar.
The results are in accord: Amnon Yizchak is considered (even in the eyes of scholars) a Charedi standup artist who does not balk at spouting nonsense without checking his ideas out.
As to challenging Amnon Yizchak, we [Daat Emet] have tried to have a discussion with him, but were not able to, for Amnon Yizchak refuses, or more accurately fears being exposed to contradictions and proof which would shake the fundamentals of his beliefs and being seen by the secular public as a false prophet. That is the way of those who return others to religion; they are afraid to be caught short.
In general, it can be said about those who return others to religion in general and about Amnon Yitzchak specifically that they follow the paths of Amalek, who ambush the uneducated: “Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey after you left Egypt–how, undeterred by the fear of G-d he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers [those inexpert in the Holy Writ] in your rear” (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). They are strong against the boors and the uneducated. When experts try to challenge them using the Talmudic text, he slips away without answering.
An example of a debate which left Amnon Yizchak embarrassed, humiliated, and mortified can be found on the Hofesh web site: http://www.hofesh.org.il/religion_merchants/tichrud_events/no_answer.html.
I suggest you listen to the lectures on our site and then go to Amnon Yizchak’s lectures and ask him the questions. You’ll see he has no answers.
Now let me ask you a question. Do you really think that to be an honest person who respects and helps his elders you must return to religion? Do you have to join a religious cult which discriminates against women, gentiles, and the secular? Measure how helpful the secular are versus how helpful the Charedi and religious are.
Take a real-world example and look at it carefully. A yeshiva student contacted me and told me that his wife had become ill and disabled. Who helped the most? Who is best organized to support and assist?
The answer is clear–the charitable organizations of the secular, National Insurance and the Ministry of Labor and Welfare. They provide the money for a car, for household help, etc. The Charedi help in the small things (though they are also important) like encouragement, hospitality, etc., but most of the assistance is from the charitable secular.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet
jsadmin Staff answered 22 years ago
Dear Shai,
I doubt if you carefully read the answer. We gave a link which included a recording of questions asked Amnon Yitzchak. Listen to it carefully and you’ll see how Amnon Yitzchak does not answer the question.
Shai, have you asked all the rabbis? Of course not!!!
It is clear from your reaction that you make up your own illusions and fantasies of faith to give your soul, lost and wandering in the emptiness you found, some meaning.
Sincerely,
Daat Emet