Did the 17th century Jewish historian Raphael Levi ever exist?
And did he actually say what is attributed to him?
To explain: I found a claim on several missionary websites that say a 17th century Jewish historian Raphael Levi "admitted" that Isaiah 53 used to be read in synagogues but was then removed from the reading.
I tried doing a search on this individual and could not find any evidence he existed, let alone say what was claimed he said. (Not to mention, it also doesn't account for the possibility that he was wrong.)
Anonymous2018-09-02T14:55:30Z
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it may have been a local flavor of some obscure sect. i'm not familiar at all with the history you're citing but trends in Judaism have typically changed in varying (sometimes outright Heretical ways) as Rulers and Priests changed. This exposes the primary problem with Church Hierarchies. We're forced to trust that words exclusive to powerful but still flawed men are God's absolute truth.
Isaiah 53 is about Israel. In Isaiah, it says again and again, Israel, my messenger is you. Not a person, but a nation. Xtians try to prove jesus is promised in the Jewish TaNaKh but cannot grasp that Judaism honors reality as God’s kingdom, and jesus is a mangod of mythology. There is only Jew or gentile means there is only reality or mythology. Xtianity is mythology. Judaism only USED mythology as cover to preserve Judaism and used complex literary techniques as cover (like a sealant), and Xtians only see the sealant. It would be like if a rare and beautiful wood is sealed with a clear coating. Judaism is like seeing the beautiful wood. Xtianity is like only admiring the surface lacquer and not recognizing that the wood beneath is the real treasure that is being protected. Judaism is about waking up the religious world, which is many thousands of denominations of Babylonian mythology. Xtianity teaches Armageddon leads to salvation from hell.