The Devilish Deception of the Hebrew Roots Movement

August 7th, 2024

Awake Goy

The Hebrew Roots movement (a.k.a. Sacred Name movement) is founded on the mystical philosophy of the Jewish Kabbalah. Practitioners of the Kabbalah use the names of God as magical incantations to cast “spells” and invoke the power of devils to serve them.

Michael Hoffman explains that “[l]ike the Talmud, the Kabbalah supersedes, nullifies and ultimately replaces the Bible.” Lawrence Fine, Professor of Jewish Studies and prominent scholar of medieval Judaism and Jewish mysticism, reveals that the Kabbalah contains the “true” meaning of the Old Testament. The “simple” meaning of the biblical language recedes into the background as the symbolic meaning contained in the Kabbalah supersedes the Bible and takes control. There is a code to the true meaning in the bible that can only be unlocked through the Kabbalah.

[T]he reader must become accustomed to regarding biblical language in a kabbalistically symbolic way. The Kabbalists taught that the Torah is not only the speech or word of God, but is also the many names of God or expression of God’s being. It is a vast body of symbols, which refers to the various aspects of divine life, the sefirot, and their complex interaction. The simple meaning of biblical language recedes into the background as symbolic discourse assumes control. The true meaning of Scripture becomes manifest only when it is read with the proper (sefirotic) code. Thus the Torah must not be read on the simple or obvious level of meaning; it must be read with the knowledge of a kabbalist who possesses the hermeneutical keys with which to unlock its inner truths.

Lawrence Fine, Chapter on Kabbalistic Texts, From: Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts (“The First Complete Modern Guide to the Great Books of the Jewish Tradition: What They Are and How to Read Them”), at p. 337 (2006) (bold emphasis added, italics in original).

The Kabbalah at Zohar III, 152a states: “Thus the tales related to the Torah are simply her outer garments, and woe to the person who regards that outer garb as the Torah itself! For such a person will be deprived of a portion in the world to come.” Id. That passage in the Kabbalah puts a curse on anyone who tries to read the bible for what it actually says, instead of with the mystical gloss put on it by the Kabbalah.

The Kabbalah is Judaic mystical practices that were adopted by the Jews from Babylon. Mystic and founder of the pantheistic Theosophical Society, H.P. Blavatsky, described the Kabbalah as: “The hidden wisdom of the Hebrew Rabbis of the middle ages derived from the older secret doctrines concerning divine things and cosmogony, which were combined into a theology after the time of the captivity of the Jews in Babylon. All the works that fall under the esoteric category are termed Kabalistic.”

The Jewish Encyclopedia acknowledges the Babylonian (a/k/a Chaldean) origins of the Kabbalah (a/k/a Cabala). In addition, the Jewish Encyclopedia explains that Gnosticism flowed from the Jews to the ersatz “Christians.” That is yet more authority that Gnosticism flowed from Babylon via the Jewish Gnostics to lay the foundation for the Roman Catholic theology. The esoteric Gnosticism imbued in the Catholic theology was based upon the Jewish Kabbalah.

The Pythagorean idea of the creative powers of numbers and letters, upon which the “Sefer Yez.irah” is founded, and which was known in tannaitic times . . . is here proved to be an old cabalistic conception. In fact, the belief in the magic power of the letters of the Tetragrammaton and other names of the Deity . . . seems to have originated in Chaldea . . . Whatever, then, the theurgic Cabala was, which, under the name of “Sefer (or “Hilkot” Yez.irah,”) induced Babylonian rabbis of the fourth century to “create a calf by magic.”

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But especially does Gnosticism testify to the antiquity of the Cabala. Of Chaldean origin, as suggested by Kessler . . . and definitively shown by Anz . . . Gnosticism was Jewish in character long before it became Christian.

Magic and occult mysticism runs throughout the Kabbalah. Judith Weill, a professor of Jewish mysticism stated that magic is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, but the Jews are reticent to acknowledge it and don’t even refer to it as magic. Gershom Scholem (1897-1982), Professor of Kabbalah at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, admitted that the Kabbalah contains a great deal of black magic and sorcery, which he explained involves invoking the powers of devils to disrupt the natural order of things. Professor Scholem also stated that there are devils who are in submission to the Talmud; in the Kabbalah these devils are called shedim Yehuda’im. MICHAEL A. HOFFMAN, JUDAISM’S STRANGE GODS, at p. 91, (2000).

The Jewish Chronicle revealed that occult practices such as making amulets, charms, and talismans are taught in Jerusalem at the rabbinic seminary Yeshivat Hamekubalim. Michael Hoffman, Judaism Discovered, at 780 (2008) (quoting Helen Jacaobus, Eye Jinx, Jewish Chronicle, May 7, 1999). That is why Jesus said to the Jews: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John 8:44. The bible states clearly that the magic arts are an abomination to the Lord.

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12 AV)

The Kabbalah, like the Talmud, graphically blasphemes Jesus. For example, in Zohar III, 282a, the Kabbalah refers to Jesus as a dog who resides among filth and vermin.

Many have probably heard people claiming to be “Christians” call God “Yahweh.” Many are a little surprised, having never before heard that name for God. The persons using the word take great pride in displaying their understanding of the “true” name of God. The speaker and listener usually don’t know that Yahweh is NOT the proper name for God. In reality, Yahweh is the name for a heathen weather god.

Jehovah is the proper English translation of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (YHVH). The minions of Satan in the Hebrew Roots (a.k.a. Sacred Name) movement have hoodwinked their followers into using the name Yahweh in place of Jehovah. They ignorantly think that Yahweh is the correct pronunciation of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (YHVH), rather than Jehovah. They are wrong. Yahweh is a satanic trap set for the unlearned and gullible. It subverts people into worshiping a devil, Yahweh, in place of God Almighty, Jehovah. God’s name is Jehovah; Yahweh is a heathen tribal god.

The rising popularity of the Hebrew Roots movement has spearheaded the recent upsurge in substituting Jehovah with Yahweh. The Hebrew Roots movement is a Zionist theology followed by Gentiles that emphasizes recovering Jewish legalism while claiming faith in Jesus. It is sometimes also called the Sacred Name movement. While those in the Hebrew Roots movement claim faith in Jesus, they have a different Jesus from the Biblical Jesus.

It is essential for English speakers reading an English Bible to understand the name of God in English correctly because when you read Exodus 6:2-3, you will realize that God was speaking to Moses. God was telling Moses his name in an audible voice. It is, therefore, important to accurately understand the truth of what God said. If God said his name is “Jehovah,” which is how it is translated into English, then his name should be Jehovah in English.

E.W. Bullinger explains, “Jehovah means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33.” (all capital letters in original) Nick Sayers explains: “In other words, God had appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but not as ‘the Eternal, Immutable One.’ but as ‘God Almighty.’ But when God appeared to Moses, He made Himself known as Who He is, His very essence, i.e. Eternal.” Jesus is identified as Jehovah. The very name of Jesus means “Jehovah is salvation.” Jesus stated: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. In that verse, we see that Jesus is thus revealing that he is Jehovah (i.e., the eternal God, who was, and is, and is to come). Is Yahweh, the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty? No! Yahweh is a Midianite weather god.

The Hebrew Roots has a particular animus toward Jesus Christ. The Hebrew Roots movement changes Christ’s name in English (Jesus) to the Hebrew name Yeshua and many other variants (Yahoosha, Yahusha, Yahshua, YaHVaHShooa, or Yeshu). The Hebrew Roots movement is not merely changing Jesus’ name from the English Jesus to the Hebrew Yeshua. The Hebrew Roots movement uses the subtlety of calling Jesus by a Hebrew name to change the doctrines of the gospel.

Rabbi Mordecai Griffin founded Lapid Judaism, which is part of the Hebrew Roots movement. Rabbi Griffin reveals that changing the English Jesus into the Hebrew Yeshua is to change who the Messiah is. Changing Christ’s name in English from the English Jesus to the Hebrew Yeshua is a trick by the subtle serpent (see Genesis 3:1) to substitute a false Jesus (called Yeshua) for the true Jesus of the gospel, just as Paul warned would happen in 2 Corinthians 11:4. Rabbi Griffin let the cat out of the bag and disclosed that Yeshua of the Hebrew Roots movement is NOT Jesus. He states that Jesus means nothing.

When we say that we beleive in Yeshua as the Messiah is THAT the same thing as saying that we believe in “Jesus”?? Yeshua means “salvation”. Yehoshua (the longer form of the Messiah’s Name) means “HaShem Saves.” The name Jesus literally means nothing. It has no meaning what-so-ever.

Rabbi Griffin reveals that calling the Messiah (Christ) Yeshua is for the purpose of bringing Christians back under the yoke of the Jewish law. Rabbi Griffin states:

Lapid Judaism exists to restore the original faith of Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel. Our mission and vision is to restore Yeshua-centered Judaism to the world. To accomplish this mission, we intend to bring complete and lasting transformation by making true disciples, strengthen families, building communities and proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah expressed in an authentically Jewish Torah observant lifestyle.

When Rabbi Griffin uses the word Torah he is including also the traditions of the Jews memorialized in the Talmud.

Lapid Judaism is referred to as an “Orthodox” Jewish movement because it adheres to Jewish practice and observance within the guidelines of Talmudic law and its codifiers.

Lapid Judaism is a way to corrupt the gospel of grace and change it into subjugation under Orthodox Hassidic (a.k.a., Chassidic) Judaism.

Lapid Judaism, as a movement, is defined as Yeshua-Centered Judaism. It is a return, restoration and revival of the original faith of Moshiach and His Talmidim (disciples). Lapid is a tradition with its roots in the Orthodox tradition and its soul linked to the Chassidic movement.

Hassidic Judaism is Phariseeism. Indeed, Rabbi Griffin reveals that the Yeshua of Lapid Judaism is a Pharisee.

Jesus the Pharisee? Was Jesus (actually It’s Yeshua) from the Pharisees? Yeshua the Messiah was a Pharisee. He taught as a Pharisee, lived as a Pharisee, affirmed the religious practice of the Pharisees, and supported both the Written and Oral Torah as a Pharisee.

What more proof does one need to understand that Yeshua of the Hebrew Roots movement is NOT the Jesus of the Bible? Changing Jesus’ name to Yeshua is a change in who Jesus is. Yeshua of the Hebrew Roots movement is a devilish Pharisee. Jesus Christ of the gospel states his unequivocal opinion about the Pharisees that they are vipers and children of hell. See Matthew 23:13-33.

For more information about this issue read the book, YAHWEH Is NOT the LORD JEHOVAH.