The Strange Chapter Of Dr. Jewkyll And Mr. Hymn - Day 1

Continued from The Strange Chapter Of Dr. Jewkyll And Mr. Hymn

Day 1

Dear Diary, this morning I read Isaiah Chapter 53 as planned to see
if I would start to develop tendencies towards Christian beliefs as
Christians claim that it is the best evidence for the truth of
Christianity. But after I read it and then looked at the surrounding
chapters of Isaiah it was clear to me that the nation of Israel was
being described and not Jesus. I next looked at the rest of Isaiah
and couldn't find any support for the Christian interpretation that
Isaiah 53 describes the vicarious atonement of Jesus. Finally,
skimming through the rest of the Tanakh I can see that this type of
human sacrifice is expressly prohibited and condemned as a Pagan
ritual so I really don't understand how the Christians can view
Chapter 53 as they do. I've decided that tomorrow I will confine
myself to reading Chapter 53 alone so I've removed Isaiah from my
Tanakh and put the rest of the Tanakh in my safety deposit box. That
way I can focus on Chapter 53 just in case I missed something during
the first look through. No unusual behaviour noted. I had been
beating my computer chess program regularly at level 13 and was ready
to move up a level but tonight I could only manage a draw. Probably
just because I'm tired due to the experiment. I'll go to bed earlier
tonight.

Flipping channels, I accidently saw Donald Trump tonight, PT Von
Clownstick! What a buffoon. I removed Faux News from my list of
channels long ago and thought that was the only place you could still
see Clownstick. Anyway, I could only stand a few seconds of him.



Dr. Henry Jewkyll

The Israeli/Arab Conflict - The Peel Commission - 1937

1. Introduction of the Issue

 

Israel Before The British Mandate 
The question than, is if there has never been a country approximating Israel that was a Muslim/Arab country, and the original usage of the word for a geographical area "Palestine" by the British explicitly provided for a Jewish State, than why are Arabs in Israel now and since the British Mandate referred to as "Palestinians" as if they are the original citizens of a country called "Palestine"? 


The Israeli/Arab Conflict - The McMahon–Hussein Correspondence - 1916
"1. By allying with the British and helping to defeat the Ottomans, the Arabs did earn a national Arab State in the Middle East. 
2. The British promise/agreement to the Arabs for an Arab State preceded any such agreement with the Jews for a Jewish State in Israel.  
3. The British were clear that not all of the Middle East would be an Arab State and never formally communicated to the Arabs that Palestine would be part of an Arab State. 
4. While there never has been an Arab and or Muslim State approximating the area of Israel and under the Ottomans there was no "Palestine" entity or governing area approximating Israel, the British did use the name "Palestine" to refer to the area." 

The Israeli/Arab Conflict - The Balfour Declaration - 1917 
"Violent Arab rejection of The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was the start of the Israeli/Arab conflict which has continued to the present time. We will also see in subsequent posts here that the position of the two sides regarding Jewish and Arab states in Israel has not changed since 1917:

Jewish position - Has always been in favor of and offered Two-State solution.

Arab position - Has always opposed and rejected offer of Two-State solution."

2. Discussion

 

The Peel Commission - 1937 

 

"The Peel Commission, formally known as the Palestine Royal Commission, was a British Royal Commission of Inquiry, headed by Lord Peel, appointed in 1936 to investigate the causes of unrest in The League of Nations Mandate for Palestine administered by Britain following the six-month-long Arab general strike in Mandatory Palestine.
On July 7, 1937, the commission published a report that, for the first time, stated that the Mandate had become unworkable and recommended partition.^[1] British cabinet endorsed the Partition plan in principle, but requested more information.<sup>[2]"

The Partition was per the following map with the Jewish side bordered in red:</sup>

"A Treaty system based on the Iraqi-Syrian precedent, proposed: Permanent mandates for the Jerusalem area and "corridor" stretching to the Mediterranean coast at Jaffa—and the land under its authority (and accordingly, the transfer of both Arab and Jewish populations) be apportioned between an Arab and Jewish state. The Jewish side was to receive a territorially smaller portion in the mid-west and north, from Mount Carmel to south of Be'er Tuvia, as well as the Jezreel Valley and the Galilee, while the Arab state linked with Trans-Jordan was to receive territory in the south and mid-east which included Judea, Samaria, and the sizable Negev desert.^[18]"

Key related points -

1) Motivation - Britain decided that the current Mandate was not sustainable because Britain could not keep the peace. Primarily because of Arab violence and protest.


2) Expectation - Britain's expectation was unclear because The Peel Commission Plan was a defensive plan with Britain feeling forced to do what it did not want to do and was not ready to do.


3) Limitation - The Arab portion would not be an independent State but would become a part of Jordan. The Jewish State would have to pay a tax to help support the Arab side in order to relieve Britain of the burden. There would be a significant transfer of Arabs to the Arab portion and no specific plan to improve irrigation for the Arab side.


4) Development - The Jewish side was deliberately given a higher ratio of land in recognition that Jews provided more tax revenue per capita which would reduce/eliminate Britain's related financial support obligation. Britain recognized that Jewish immigration had significantly improved living conditions in Israel for everyone.

Jewish reaction -  

To the previous McMahon–Hussein Correspondence of 1916 promising the Arabs that most of Palestine would be an Arab state = None. 

To the Balfour Declaration of 1917 = Acceptance. Hope was turned into possibility and preparations were started for a Jewish State. The emphasis was on the creation of a Jewish State with little thought as to the extent of the Jewish State and whether there would also be a Palestinian state in Israel. 

To The Peel Commission of 1937 = Acceptance of the Plan in general but rejection of the specific borders as too small. Created committee to negotiate specific borders.



Arab reaction -

To the previous McMahon–Hussein Correspondence of 1916 promising the Arabs that most of Palestine would be an Arab state = Acceptance.

To the Balfour Declaration of 1917 = Rejection. The Arabs were clear that not only would they reject the creation of any Jewish state in Israel but they would be violently opposed. 

To The Peel Commission of 1937 = Rejection. The primary specific complaint was that it would give the Jews the best land. The Arabs rejected the granting of any land to the Jews under any form of administration and demanded an end to Jewish immigration. 

3. Conclusion

 

Even though the Peel Plan was the first specific partition plan it became the basis for all subsequent partition plans. The Plan favored the Jewish side because of British financial reasons and the thinking that the Jewish need for a State was much greater than the Arab need. From an Arab standpoint the Plan was unfavorable because they would receive the less developed land (even though the Jews were responsible for most of the development), they would receive proportionately less land based on relative populations (even though this would benefit both sides from a budget standpoint), most transfers would be of Arabs and they would not have an independent State but become a part of Jordan. 

Violent Arab rejection of The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was the start of the Israeli/Arab conflict which has continued to the present time and was the primary Arab reaction to The Peel Commission. We will also see in subsequent posts here that the position of the two sides regarding Jewish and Arab states in Israel has not changed since 1917:

Jewish position - Has always been in favor of and offered Two-State solution.

Arab position - Has always opposed and rejected offer of Two-State solution.  

In hindsight, the greatest tragedy regarding the failure of a Two-State solution was not that the Arabs still don't have a related State but that 6,000,000 Jews were murdered by a Country with the same main religion as Britain in a Continent with the same religion because there was no Jewish State at the time. 

Critics of Israel will try to demonize Israel by posturing and only looking at The Jews/Zionists/Israel's supposed eternal goal of wanting it all. But we need to distinguish between wanting and accepting. It's normal to want more than you are willing to accept but in negotiations what is most important is what you are willing to accept. And that is the difference between Israel and the Arabs and has always been the difference. Regardless of what both sides supposedly want, Israel has always been willing to accept a two-State solution and the Arabs have not.


 

The Strange Chapter Of Dr. Jewkyll And Mr. Hymn

My name is Dr. Henry Jewkyll. I’m a tenured professor of psychiatry at a University. “Tenured” means that basically I’m retired except that I still receive a monthly paycheck. I’ve always been fascinated by the effect that ancient religious writings have on the behavior of many people. There seems to be an intrinsic human desire to believe that the older a writing is the more credibility it has. I can easily understand how a person could come to believe that an ancient religious writing is the absolute truth if they have been raised in a culture which has always taught them to believe that. But what if a person is exposed to an ancient religious writing which is different than the culture they were brought up in? Which is stronger? The religion of one’s upbringing or later, exclusive exposure to a different religion’s ancient writings?

I’ve decided to conduct an experiment to determine which is stronger and because I’ve had a lot of free time since I became tenured I will be the subject of the experiment. My own upbringing is Reform Judaism where the Bible is seen as mainly figurative and designed to teach moral and ethical lessons. I will be gradually exposing myself to ancient Christian religious writings. Every morning I will select a specific Christian writing to read later. I will then temporarily self-hypnotize myself into believing that I had no religious upbringing and currently have no religious views of any kind. After hypnosis I will read the selected Christian writing and at the end of the day I will note in a diary any changes in my behavior.

The Christians claim that Isaiah Chapter 53 is the best evidence of the truth of Christianity so that will be the first writing I select for reading.

The Israeli/Arab Conflict - The Balfour Declaration - 1917

 

1. Introduction of the Issue

 

Israel Before The British Mandate 
The question than, is if there has never been a country approximating Israel that was a Muslim/Arab country, and the original usage of the word for a geographical area "Palestine" by the British explicitly provided for a Jewish State, than why are Arabs in Israel now and since the British Mandate referred to as "Palestinians" as if they are the original citizens of a country called "Palestine"? 


The Israeli/Arab Conflict - The McMahon–Hussein Correspondence - 1916
"1. By allying with the British and helping to defeat the Ottomans, the Arabs did earn a national Arab State in the Middle East. 
2. The British promise/agreement to the Arabs for an Arab State preceded any such agreement with the Jews for a Jewish State in Israel.  
3. The British were clear that not all of the Middle East would be an Arab State and never formally communicated to the Arabs that Palestine would be part of an Arab State. 
4. While there never has been an Arab and or Muslim State approximating the area of Israel and under the Ottomans there was no "Palestine" entity or governing area approximating Israel, the British did use the name "Palestine" to refer to the area." 

2. Discussion

 

The Balfour Declaration of 1917:

"The Balfour Declaration was a letter dated 2 November 1917 from the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. It read:

His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.^[1][2]"

Key related points -

1) Motivation - Britain hoped that Jews in the United States and Russia would help move their governments towards support of Britain's Middle East objectives. Also, Jews were well represented in the British government at the time.

2) Expectation - Britain's expectation was that the creation of a Jewish homeland would cause mass Jewish immigration to Israel. 

3) Limitation - Britain deliberately used wording of "in Palestine" instead of "of Palestine" in order to make clear that the Jewish homeland would only be located within Palestine and not consist of all of Palestine. 

4) Development - Jewish interest in Israel created significant investment from European Jews which greatly increased the agricultural output of Israel benefiting all inhabitants and reducing the investment required by Britain in Israel.  

Jewish reaction -  

To the previous McMahon–Hussein Correspondence of 1916 promising the Arabs that most of Palestine would be an Arab state = None. 

To the Balfour Declaration of 1917 = Acceptance. Hope was turned into possibility and preparations were started for a Jewish State. The emphasis was on the creation of a Jewish State with little thought as to the extent of the Jewish State and whether there would also be a Palestinian state in Israel. 

Arab reaction -

To the previous McMahon–Hussein Correspondence of 1916 promising the Arabs that most of Palestine would be an Arab state = Acceptance.

To the Balfour Declaration of 1917 = Rejection. The Arabs were clear that not only would they reject the creation of any Jewish state in Israel but they would be violently opposed. 

3. Conclusion

 

Violent Arab rejection of The Balfour Declaration of 1917 was the start of the Israeli/Arab conflict which has continued to the present time. We will also see in subsequent posts here that the position of the two sides regarding Jewish and Arab states in Israel has not changed since 1917:

Jewish position - Has always been in favor of and offered Two-State solution.

Arab position - Has always opposed and rejected offer of Two-State solution.  
 
 

 

The Case Of The Unidentified Servant - Part 3

 

From The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes

 

Holmes: Now, here's where our first hand knowledge of Hebrew will
come in handy Watson. 53:5, the Christian translation says "He
was wounded for our sins." But the original Hebrew word
translated as wounded is "lamoh" which is the PLURAL form of
wounded, i.e. THEY were wounded. Also the word the Christians
translated as "for" should be "from". The proper translation is
"they were wounded BECAUSE of our sins". And the last
sentence of 53:5 is translated by the Christians as "And by his
bruises we ARE healed." But the original Hebrew is written in the
past tense, "And by his bruises we WERE healed". Finally, 53:9
"And his grave". The word for grave in the original Hebrew is
written in the plural, "And THEIR graves." Looking at
the Chapters after 53 virtually every bad thing that happens to the
suffering servant of Chapter 53 is explicitly stated as happening
to Israel and similarly every good thing that happens to the
servant is explicitly stated as happening to Israel.

So, in summary Watson, Israel is explicitly identified as G-d's
servant, fourteen times. Isaiah explains that once Israel repents
from its sins it will become a righteous example for the Nations
which are still sinful and mistreating Israel. There are words used
in Chapter 53 indicating that a plurality of people are being
referred to. And, virtually every thing that is described as
happening to the suffering servant in Chapter 53 is explicitly
stated as happening to Israel elsewhere in the writings of Isaiah.
Now, based on these facts, who do you suppose the suffering
servant of Isaiah, Chapter 53 is Watson?

Watson: Uhm, Israel?

Holmes: Precisely!

Watson: Good show Holmes you've' solved the case. Should I inform Lord
Disraeli?

Holmes: I think not Watson, he died six years ago. Call Rabbi
Signorenson instead. Here's his number.

Watson: What the deuce for Holmes? (dials number).

Holmes: Why, so we can convert to Judaism of course. Now that we know
who the suffering servant really is we don't have much choice, do
we? Besides, your chess game could use the improvement that
will surely come from being part of the chosen people.

Watson: Holmes, Rabbi Signorenson says that before we can convert we
have to be circumcised. He says that he can make an
appointment for us tonight at the hospital.

Holmes: Make it for tomorrow night Watson. Right now I feel as though
something nutritious at Simpsons would be appropriate. Say a
jumbo shrimp appetizer and then the house specialty, a whole
roasted pig basted all day in Miller High Lite beer. Washed down
by an extremely tall glass of milk. If we're going to have to start
keeping kosher I want to go out on a real bender.

Watson: My memory escapes me Holmes. How exactly do we get to
Simpsons from here?

Holmes: By carriage Watson, by carriage.

 

 

The Case Of The Unidentified Servant - Part 2

 

From The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes

 

6:8 "Then I heard the voice of my Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who
will go for us?" And I said, "HERE AM I: SEND ME." And He said,
"Go, say to that people:"

 
Holmes: So Isaiah has been selected to give a message to Israel, Watson.

6:13 "But while a tenth part yet remains in it, IT SHALL REPENT. It
shall be ravaged like the terebinth and the oak, of which STUMPS
are left even when they are felled: ITS STUMP SHALL BE A
HOLY SEED."

Holmes: So Israel will be decimated but a few will survive
and repent and serve some holy purpose.

20:3 "…Just as My servant Isaiah"

Holmes: Looks like you were right about Isaiah, Watson.

41:8 "But you, Israel, My servant,"

Holmes: Okay, that's one Watson. Let's keep track of how many times Israel is called "servant".

41:9 "…To whom I said: You are My servant;

Holmes: Two.

42:1 "This is My servant, whom I uphold,
My chosen one, in whom I delight.
I have put My spirit upon him,
He shall teach the true way to the nations.
He shall not cry out or shout aloud,"

Holmes: Three

42:6 "I the LORD, in My grace have summoned you,
And I have grasped you by the hand.
I created you, and appointed you
A COVENANT PEOPLE, A LIGHT OF NATIONS-
Opening eyes deprived of light,"

Holmes: It's clear that the servant described in 42:1 is Israel.

42:19 "Who is so blind as My servant, So deaf as the messenger I send?
Who is so blind as the chosen one, So blind as the servant of the LORD"

Holmes: Four and five.

42:21 "The LORD desires His (servant's) vindication,
That he may magnify and glorify (His) Teaching."

Holmes: This Isaiah chap seems to be saying Watson that a FORMERLY
sinful Israel will BECOME righteous and serve as a good example
for the nations.

43:10 "…My servant, whom I have chosen."

Holmes: Six

44:1 "But hear, now, O Jacob My servant,
Israel whom I have chosen!"

Holmes: Seven

44:2 "…Fear not, My servant Jacob,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen,"

Holmes: Eight

44:21 "Remember these things, O Jacob
For you, O Israel, are My servant:"

Holmes: Nine

44:21 "…I fashioned you, you are My servant-
O Israel, never forget Me."

Holmes: Ten

44:26 "But confirm the word of My servant
And fulfill the prediction of My messengers."

Holmes: Eleven

45:4 "For the sake of My servant Jacob,
Israel My chosen one,"

Holmes: Twelve

48:16 "…And now the Lord God has sent me, endowed with His spirit"

Holmes: It would seem Watson that Isaiah is the messenger or servant to
Israel.

48:21 "Say: "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!"

Holmes: Thirteen.

49: …The LORD appointed me before I was born,
… And He said to me, "You are My servant, Israel in whom I glory"
… AND NOW THE LORD HAS RESOLVED-
HE WHO FORMED ME IN THE WOMB TO BE HIS
SERVANT-
TO BRING BACK JACOB TO HIMSELF,
THAT ISRAEL MAY BE RESTORED TO HIM.
AND I HAVE BEEN HONORED IN THE SIGHT OF THE
LORD,
MY GOD HAS BEEN MY STRENGTH.
FOR HE HAS SAID:
"IT IS TOO LITTLE THAT YOU SHOULD BE MY SERVANT
IN THAT I RAISE UP THE TRIBES OF JACOB
AND RESTORE THE SURVIVORS OF ISRAEL:
I WILL ALSO MAKE YOU A LIGHT OF NATIONS,
THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH THE ENDS OF THE
EARTH."

Holmes: Ahaah. So Isaiah is the servant to Israel and Israel is the servant to
the nations.

50:4 "The Lord GOD gave me a skilled tongue,
To know how to speak timely words to the weary."

Holmes: Isaiah

50:10 "Who among you reveres the LORD
And heeds the voice of His servant?

Holmes: Isaiah

52:13 "Indeed, My servant shall prosper,"

Holmes: Fourteen

 

The Case Of The Unidentified Servant - Part 1

 

From The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes

Ah, I remember it well, my most difficult case. It was three o-clock in the
morning and Mrs. Hudson was still puttering about in the kitchen while I,
was busy playing Mumbleepeg, with the cat. Pfft-tingg, MEOW!!! Oops,
sorry cat. Two out of three? When the phone rang.

Holmes: Hello…yes I am…I see.

My laundry was ready.

Later that morning I received an urgent message from Scotland Yard as
follows:

"My dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Her Majesty wishes to know as soon as
possible who exactly is the "suffering servant" described by the Hebrew
prophet, Isaiah, in Chapter 53 of the writings bearing the same name. The
Bishop of Bristles tells her it's Jesus, the Cantor of Canterbury tells her it's
the Jews and her personal servant tells her it's him. She still remembers the
fine job you did for her during "The Affair Of The Missing Watch" when
you deduced that if you keep looking and looking for something and you
just can't seem to find it anywhere, it probably means that it's lost.
Anyway, she insisted that you be given this assignment. God/Jews/Personal
Servant? Save The Queen!

Sincerely, Lord Benjamin Disraeli, Her Majesty's Minister of Religion (Mrs.)"

I immediately called up my associate and trusted friend, Dr. Watson.

Holmes: Come here immediately Watson, the game is afoot.

Watson: Should I bring my revolver?

Holmes: I think not Watson. This case involves Jews. Leave your revolver at home. Bring bagels.

Watson arrives toting a large bag with an assortment of bagels. As they
start to munch on their bagels Holmes fills in Watson on the case.

Holmes: In order to properly understand what the Hebrew prophet Isaiah
was saying, we must first learn to understand the language that
he wrote in, Hebrew. That is the key to this case. I have made
arrangements with my good friend, Dr. Sigmund Freud, of
Vienna, to not only teach us Hebrew through correspondence but
also, through Freud's psychological training, to help us to
understand the meaning of what Isaiah wrote within the context
of the other sixty-six chapters. We should be receiving our first
correspondence lesson from Dr. Freud by the end of the week.

Watson: Brilliant Holmes. Do you foresee any problems?

Holmes: Just one Watson. Your breath, it's ghastly! Didn't anyone ever
tell you that garlic bagels were only meant to be eaten when
dining alone?

Watson: Sorry Holmes.

Holmes: (Grabs bag of bagels from Watson) Perhaps I can find a more
suitable choice. (Digs through bag and finds onion bagel) No
(tosses bagel across the room. Continues search and finds
jalapeno bagel) Egads! (Jalapeno bagel meets same fate as
onion bagel. Gets to bottom of bag and sees poppyseed bagel)
Hullo. (takes out bagel and stuffs it into Watson's mouth).

Watson: (muffled) thpfnkyfu.

Holmes: You're welcome.

Later that week they receive their first correspondence lesson from Freud:

"My dear Sherlock Holmes. Greetings. Our lesson for today is the Hebrew
word "Shalom" which means "hello". Repeat after me, "Shalom".

Sincerely, Dr. Sigmund Freud"

Holmes: Hmm. This may take a bit longer than I had originally anticipated
Watson. (They stare at each other for a few seconds, then at the
letter, then at each other and say simultaneously, "Shalom".

(Seven years later.)

Holmes: Alright Watson, I believe that we are now sufficiently proficient
In Hebrew so as to begin our analysis of the text. I have made
arrangements to borrow this ancient manuscript of Isaiah from
The British National Museum which is written in the original
Hebrew. That way we won't have to worry about any biases that
an interpreter may have had. Now, Watson, where should we
start?

Watson: At the beginning?

Holmes: Exactly. And what is the first Chapter?

Watson: Chapter one?

Holmes: Precisely! (Holmes takes a magnifying glass to the beginning of
"Isaiah").

Watson: Holmes, I have an idea.

Holmes: What is it Watson?

Watson: Well, seeing as we are looking for the identity of the servant in
Chapter 53 and the name of the writing is "Isaiah". Could the name
"Isaiah" possibly be a clue in some way as to the identity of the
servant?

Holmes: Could be Watson. Could be. Hypothesis number 1, Isaiah is in
some capacity the servant described in Chapter 53. Good work
Watson.

Watson: (blushing) Thanks Holmes.

Holmes: Now, let us proceed with our search of the actual text.