Reprinted 17th Century 'Chizzuk Amunah'
Refutes Anti-Jewish New Testament Views
"Chizzuk A in unah — Faith
Strengthened" is the compilation
of the Hebrew theological treatises
by Isaac- ben Abraham that was
published in 5393 (1632) and is now
available in a translation by Moses
Mocatta (1768-1857). Reissued by
Ktav Publishing House, the new
edition has an explanatory intro-
duction by Trude Weiss-Rasmorain.
The translator's "Address to His
Coreligionists" that precedes the
text describes the author as an
Israelite who was a native of
Lithuania and emphasizes that the
theological theses are intended for
the Hebrew community. Mocatta
pointed out that "in De Rossi's
'Dizionario Istorico' the author is
designated as the most powerful
opponent and refutant of the doc-
trines and dogmas of Christianity
that had ever appeared among the
Jews."
It is a book of polemics, taking
up many arguments against
Jews and Judaism by Christians,
and the refutations are forceful.
In her introductory essay Dr.
Rosmarin describes the book as
being "In the best style of vig-
orous and fearless polemics."
She describes this work by
Isaac of Troki as "a Karaite
book and, thus, not encumbered
with the difficulties of talmudic,
midrashic and rabbinic quota-
lions and interpretations that
abound in the polemical works
of Rabbanite authors. Isaac of
Troki drew exclusively on the
Old Testament, meeting his con-
troversialists on their own bib-
lical ground."
The author drew upon scriptural
texts to disprove Christian claims.
But, he did not limit himself to
the traditional Jewish views and
to the Bible texts in the Torah. He
devoted much space to analyses
of the New Testament writings to
prove that: "It is notorious that
in no part of the New Testament
do we find that Jesus intended to
pass as the author of a new law;
but, on the contrary, that he ad-
mitted the perpetual duration of
the Mosaic Law . Besides, it is
ascertained that the New Testa-
ment was composed many years
after Jesus. It is averred even by
Jerome, in his Latin version of the
New Testament, that Mark and
Luke wrote merely from hearsay.
Jerome seems to have thereby in-
directly acknowledged the Apoc-
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ryphal character of those compo-
sitions, and admitted the true ori-
gin of the incongruities and con-
tradictions which occur in various
parts of these books ..."
Each of the New Testament
books is reviewed by the author
who draws upon them to reach
the conclusion: "The Christians
have nevertheless ventured to
make changes of a most glaring
nature. The removal of the sab-
bath to the first day of the week
is not authorized by Jesus or any
of his disciples. The eating of
blood, and the flesh of strangled
beasts, etc., is a palpable in-
fringement of the dictates of the
apostles .. ."
There is firmness in the position
taken in this work of more than
three centuries ago, especially in
the author's declaration:
"The wide scope to cruelty which
has been given by the assumption
of the right of avenging the death
of Jesus on the Jews has been
sadly demonstrated in the conduct
of the worst of men, who have
heaped upon the inoffensive false
accusations and acts of violence.
As to, the Christians' omission of
acts enjoined by Jesus, we will
point out—
"First, The non-adoption by
Christians of the precept to sell
their property, and distribute
among the poor the money thus
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"Thus we have fairly established
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realized: Matthew 19:16, a n d faith."
Luke 18:22. No Christian, ac-
cording to our knowledge, ever
acquiesces in this mode of doing
charity.
"Secondly, The Christians do not
practise the following admonition,
contained in Luke 6:35, 'Love ye
your enemies, and do good, and
lend, and hope for nothing again;'
and Matthew 5:44, 'Love your
enemies, bless them that curse
you, do good to them that hate
you, and pray for them who
despitefully r use you and persecute
V
you."
"Thirdly, The Christians have,
withous authority, abolished the
law, repeated in the New Testa-
ment, that they should abstain
from eating blood and the flesh of
the strangled, as we have shewn
in the preceding chapter, by citing
Acts 15:29, and'21:25.
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"If Christians thus evade well-
defined doctrines of the New Testa-
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