Shalom Chaverim,
So much has been happening the last few days, and I have just realized I have been quiet (at least from my blog) for about a week (and that almost never happens). So let me update you all.
First of all, back in 2019 I tried to “get out of politics.” I felt very much like Phio, preferring to spend my time basking in the wisdom of Torah:
(1) There was once a time when, devoting my leisure to philosophy and to the contemplation of the world and the things in it, I reaped the fruit of excellent, and desirable, and blessed intellectual feelings, being always living among the divine oracles and doctrines, on which I fed incessantly and insatiably, to my great delight, never entertaining any low or grovelling thoughts, nor ever wallowing in the pursuit of glory or wealth, or the delights of the body, but I appeared to be raised on high and borne aloft by a certain inspiration of the soul, and to dwell in the regions of the sun and moon, and to associate with the whole heaven, and the whole universal world. (2) At that time, therefore, looking down from above, from the air, and straining the eye of my mind as from a watch-tower, I surveyed the unspeakable contemplation of all the things on the earth, and looked upon myself as happy as having forcibly escaped from all the evil fates that can attack human life.
(Philo, Special Laws III)
It was actually very nice. But then something happened this last spring. Here in Texas, a man named Jeff Younger, had been fighting to keep his ex-wife from castrating their eight year old son in a misguided (and evil) effort to turn him into a girl! Our legislature was in session, and a bill was introduced (HB 68) that would define this as child abuse and make it illegal. Since this is pure evil, and since, as a Rabbi, I was also concerned that since the phrase “genital mutilation” was being thrown around, I wanted to make sure that this bill passed, and that it did not end up also banning male circumcision of children as “genital mutilation” (since that is a term that has been used by those wanting to ban circumcision of male children). So like it or not, I was involved. Unfortunately the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, that was to hear this bill (Stephanie Klick) was also my State Representative for my House District. Klick blocked this bill and would not even give it a hearing! She also blocked HB 3326 which would have banned abortion in Texas, also refusing to give it a hearing.
Well that was it! You don’t murder unborn babies, and you certainly do not castrate little boys! Like Philo, circumstances could not be avoided:
(3) Nevertheless, the most grievous of all evils was lying in wait for me, namely, envy, that hates every thing that is good, and which, suddenly attacking me, did not cease from dragging me after it by force till it had taken me and thrown me into the vast sea of the cares of public politics, in which I was and still am tossed about without being able to keep myself swimming at the top. (4) But though I groan at my fate, I still hold out and resist, retaining in my soul that desire of instruction which has been implanted in it from my earliest youth, and this desire taking pity and compassion on me continually raises me up and alleviates my sorrow. And it is through this fondness for learning that I at times lift up my head, and with the eyes of my soul, which are indeed dim (for the mist of affairs, wholly inconsistent with their proper objects, has overshadowed their acute clear-sightedness), still, as well as I may, I survey all the things around me, being eager to imbibe something of a life which shall be pure and unalloyed by evils. (5) And if at any time unexpectedly there shall arise a brief period of tranquillity, and a short calm and respite from the troubles which arise from state affairs, I then rise aloft and float above the troubled waves, soaring as it were in the air, and being, I may almost say, blown forward by the breezes of knowledge, which often persuades me to flee away, and to pass all my days with her, escaping as it were from my pitiless masters, not men only, but also affairs which pour upon me from all quarters and at all times like a torrent. (6) But even in these circumstances I ought to give thanks to God, that though I am so overwhelmed by this flood, I am not wholly sunk and swallowed up in the depths. But I open the eyes of my soul, which from an utter despair of any good hope had been believed to have been before now wholly darkened, and I am irradiated with the light of wisdom, since I am not given up for the whole of my life to darkness. Behold, therefore, I venture not only to study the sacred commands of Moses, but also with an ardent love of knowledge to investigate each separate one of them, and to endeavour to reveal and to explain to those who wish to understand them, things concerning them which are not known to the multitude.
(Philo, Special Laws III)
Pure evil had forced me to divert at least some attention to politics, whether I liked it or not! Then in late September I met David Lowe, a decorated combat veteran who was starting a grass roots campaign against Klick. Lowe did not have a chance. No one was taking him seriously. After all, Klick was a five term incumbent and committee chair with a huge war chest of money from corporate PACs representing the clinics that perform these procedures on children and the drug manufacturer that make the puberty blockers that are used in these draconian procedures!
I determined to lend my years of experience in political campaigns and my political contacts to the “hopeless” cause of getting Lowe elected and replacing Klick!
In addition to this my Precinct Chair had endorsed Klick, and having previously held that office myself, I felt compelled to run against her.
So in October I called one of my political contacts to solicit help for Lowe, and was offered a temporary job, making phone calls for the Don Huffines gubernatorial campaign. I believed strongly in Huffines platform, and donations had been low, so I took up the offer, which turned out to be a “God send” literally. I took the temporary work making calls starting November 1st. So in November thru February, I was spending a lot of my time making phone calls for Huffines. This helped us pay the bills (I don’t know how we would have gotten thru that dry spell without that work) and it was a good cause. Unfortunately Huffines did not win the nomination, and so that temporary work ended on March 1st.
But something else happened on March 1st! The seemingly impossible happened! David Lowe, who no one took seriously in October, had managed to drag Klick, kicking and screaming, into a run off! Baruch HaShem!
I wish none of these political distractions from the great work of the restoration of Nazarene Judaism had not been necessary. But this was a matter of standing up against pure evil in one of its sickest forms!
So now the Primary is behind us, and the runoff will be May 24th, which will also be the date of my precinct chair election. The temporary job making phone calls for Huffines is over. And while I do still expect to be helping David Lowe run against Stephanie Klick, as well as my own small campaign for Precinct Chair (Precinct chair is a small party office that represents an area about the size of a neighborhood and pays nothing), I expect that I will now have a lot more time to dedicate to the great work of the restoration of Nazarene Judaism! (And even more time after May 24th).
Some of you may also be curious about my health issues in that I have been suffering partial paralysis and pain in my legs. There is little word on that yet. I am seeing a different doctor this week, due to some insurance issues. From my previous doctor visit, I know that there are some possibilities that would not be good news. Among the possible causes of my problems may be MS. I am having good days and bad days. I will keep you updated.
So in the next few weeks you can expect to see a lot more work on some of our ongoing projects:
The Scripture Restoration Project
And of course more video teachings on YouTube!
Obviously keep us in your prayers. We are going to need your financial support now more than ever, as the temporary work making phone calls ended March 1st, and we were already struggling.
The time is short, and there is much work to be done. This is no time to pull back from the great work in front of us!
As you know we have been digging ourselves out of a budget shortfall. As I have said to you many times, I look on this work as a co-operative one with me, and all of you combining our resources together in order to get the job done of helping to teach this great truth to all in the world who will listen. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued support, you are the ones who make it all possible by your contributions and your prayers for our work. I truly appreciate your help in every way.
If you can make a one time donation of $500 or $1,000 dollars to support this work.
Now is time to step up to the plate!
Glad to see you are still standing and running toward the truth of the Gospel. Blessings.