GER/VENDYL JONES

Category: GER/VENDYL JONES

Noahide Nations Position Statement

Subject : Ger/Vendyl Jones

From the Board of Directors of Noahide Nations:

This position statement is being issued to state Noahide Nations’ official position as to the “Ger Movement” and to address the Ger Movement’s attempt to misrepresent and co-opt the good name of Vendyl Jones.

For the purpose of this position statement, the “Ger Movement” refers to the teachings and writings of, and associated with, Rabbis David Katz and Chaim Clorfene including “The World of the Ger,” Get Soul Strong and David Katz’ blog, Soul Mazal as well as their designated leaders.

Rejection and Renunciation of the Ger Movement

Noahide Nations stands with the Orthodox Rabbinic Community in its rejection and renunciation of the Ger Movement.  Noahide Nations considers the Ger Movement and its teachings a violation of Torah.  The Ger Movement operates outside the laws of the Torah and creates a new religion.  However, Noahides, like the Jews, are prohibited from starting their own religion.

Attached are copies of letters signed by a number of righteous and prominent orthodox Rabbis.  These letters explain in detail the problems and issues with the Ger Movement.  

The open letter dated October 20, 2017 and signed by eight prominent Rabbis  states, in part, “Rabbis Katz and Clorefene have developed a renegade halakhic theory of non-Jewish/Noahide identity that is cleverly marketed as ‘Ger.’ This theory is becoming attractive to non-Jews because it promises them an identity that is claimed to be more legitimate than Bnei Noach or ‘Noahides’ and somehow ‘frees’ non-Jews from idolatry. Among their most strident claims is that all other rabbis teaching the traditional Noahide Path of the Seven Laws are keeping their students ‘in idolatry’ by not accepting ‘Ger’ according to their definition of this term. However, their attractive packaging and self-righteous vitriol cannot cover up the truth: that it is a contrived, maverick re-definition of codified Torah concepts that neither they, nor any rabbinical body in our time for that matter, have any authority, right, or reason to alter.”

In another open letter dated October 19, 2017, Rabbi Moshe Wiener   writes, in part, “It is my halakhic opinion that there are teachings and writings by R’ David Katz and R' Chaim Clorfene on these matters, directed to Non-Jews, that are misrepresentations of both the obligations and nature of the overall Torah-based Noahide Code, as well as misrepresentations of Torah l'Moshe Mi'Sinai (the Torah received by Moses from G-d at Mount Sinai). This especially applies in regard to their misguided advocacy and attempted justification for some Non-Jews to take on religious observance of certain Jewish ritual mitzvot, for example, restrictions on melacha that are commanded for Jews on Shabbat. I therefore strongly repudiate their creation and advocacy of the so-called ‘Ger’ movement, by which they have seriously misled a number of well-meaning Non-Jews.”

Finally, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz  who wrote a note of approbation for the “The World of the Ger” has since come out against the Ger Movement.  In a statement dated October 17, 2017, Rabbi Yoel Schwartz wrote, “All that R. David Katz is doing using my name is incorrect, and in my opinion, what he is doing is against halacha.”  

Rabbi Yoel Schwartz’ note of approbation is further addressed in the October 20, 2017 open letter, stating, “Accordingly, it was deeply painful, though a relief, to learn from Rabbi Yoel Schwartz himself that the note of approbation that Katz has obtained from him for ‘The World of the Ger’ was deviously contrived: The aged ultra-orthodox rabbi, a non-English speaker, issue Katz a short, general standard note of approbation, such as he regularly gives to new books, without knowing all the detail of the work.  He did so from a place of trust, in the hope of motivating and strengthening the hand of rabbis reaching out to build Noahide observance.  When he was made aware of the full picture of Katz’s ideas and motives, how his trust was abused, and how his original note was later lengthened and blown up to be categorical support for all of R. Katz’s ideology, it brought deep angst to the senior rabbi.”

To be clear, Noahide Nations does not endorse any teachings by Rabbis David Katz and Chaim Clorfene including “The World of the Ger,” Get Soul Strong and David Katz’ blog, Soul Mazal.  The Ger Movement is halachally incorrect and in direct conflict with the true Torah given to the Jews at Mt. Sinai.

For more information on the truth of the “Ger” go HERE.

Righteous Noahide Vendyl Jones

In an attempt to advance the Ger Movement’s credibility, it is attempting to co-opt the name and good reputation of Vendyl Jones, a righteous Noahide who is regarded by many Noahides and Rabbis as the father of the modern-day Noahide movement.

Vendyl Jones, through immense self-sacrifice, dedicated decades of his life to re-discovering the Noahide as he exists within Orthodox Judaism, discovering where the non-Jew fits within G-d’s Torah.  During that time, Vendyl Jones gained the respect of many in the Orthodox community and is seen as a seminal figure in the modern-day Noahide movement.  In fact, in 2008, Noahide Nations awarded Vendyl Jones the first, and thus far, the only Noahide Nations Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with Noahides.  

Vendyl Jones’ influence had substantial impact on the formation of Noahide Nations.  Prior to the Noahide Nations formation in 2005, its founder, Ray Pettersen and his wife were close friends with Vendyl Jones and attended many teachings and conferences put on by the Vendyl Jones Research Institute.  During those teachings and conferences neither Vendyl Jones, nor any of the Rabbis or Noahides who were teaching used the term “Ger” in the fashion being used today by the Ger Movement.

In fact, Vendyl Jones lectured at The Noahide Nations World Conferences in 2008 and 2011.  Not once during the video recorded teachings does Vendyl Jones use the term “Ger”.  Moreover, not once during the five hours of his recorded sessions for the Noahide Nations Academy of Shem does Vendyl Jones use the term “Ger”.

As discussed above, the Orthodox community has come out strongly against the Ger Movement.  Because Vendyl Jones is seen as an integral part of the Noahide Movement, the more the Ger Movement is able to use Vendyl Jones’ name unchecked, the more risk there is of creating distrust and division between righteous Noahides and the Orthodox Jewish community.

  It is the position of Noahide Nations that Vendyl Jones would not have supported the Ger Movement.  Rather, Vendyl Jones would have stood with the Orthodox Jewish community in its renunciation of the Ger Movement.

[1] These Rabbis include, Rabbi Moshe Weiner, overseeing Rabbi for Ask Noah International and author of “Sheva Mitvot HaShem” v. I-III, “The Divine Code” and “Seven Gates of Righteous Knowledge”; Rabbi Chaim Richman, International Director of the Temple Institute; Rabbi Avraham Sutton, a teacher of Torah, kabbalah, Talmud, chassidut and more for over 30 years who has translated, edited and/or authored over 20 major Torah works in English; Rabbi Avraham Chaim Bloomenstiel, “Moreh Horaah & Rosh Chabura Choshen Mishpat,” Yeshiva Keter HaTorah and author of the “Pirchei Shoshanim Noahide Laws Project”; Rabbi Michael Shelomo Bar-Ron, founder and head of Beth Midrash Ohel Moshe, Beit Shemesh, Isreal and author of “Guide for the Noahide,” “Oral Torah from Sinai” and “Song of the Creator”; Rabbi Chaim Coffman, for many years, he has worked with Noahides and those in the process of conversion to Judaism, teaching and guiding them under the auspices of HaRav HaGoen Moshe Shternburch; Rabbi Moshe Perets, the Executive Director of The Noahide Academy of Jerusalem; and Rabbi Moshe Shulman – Executuve Director of Judaism’s Answer.

[2] Overseeing Rabbi for Ask Noah International and author of “Sheva Mitvot HaShem” v. I-III, “The Divine Code” and “Seven Gates of Righteous Knowledge”.

[3] Rabbi Yoel Shwartz is a noted Torah scholar and prolific writer. He has published over 200 books. He is a product of the great Yeshivot Poneviz and Mir and merited to study with the famous Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Mir, Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitch zt"l.