Op-ed: Shamed Preacher Is Anointed "King"

By Jacki Viles
Digital Journal
February 4, 2012

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/319000

Pastor Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

Atlanta - In 2010, Bishop Eddie Long was accused by 4 young men who alleged that the bishop abused his authority, took them on trips and gave out lavish gifts to coerce them into sexual relationships.

In May of this past year, the bishop settled out of court. By December, his wife of 21 years filed for divorce. Bishop Long took a month off to re group and was back at the pulpit in January.

This past Sunday the congregation of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church was on hand for a real treat as the bishop was given ‘new birth’ himself and anointed ‘King’ by a man known as Rabbi Ralph Messer. Ralph Messer is a particularly controversial figure. He claims to be a Messianic Rabbi. Messianic Jews are better known by their common name, ‘Jews for Jesus’. This group is not Jewish faith based. They are Christians. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

But something is definitely wrong with the ‘rabbi’. Whatever Ralph Messer purports to being, his ceremony was a sanctimonious sham. His deliberate misuse of the most holiest religious article in the Jewish faith made my skin crawl. I couldn’t believe my ears as he preached to the congregation that the Torah he was using was over 312 years old and recovered from the concentration camps at Auschwitz! Watch the video. I think he said the scroll was recovered from Auschwitz and Birkenstocks! Where? Rabbi, don't you mean Birkenau?

As I watched him unfurl that Torah and wrap it around Eddie Long, I was in shock! Messer goes on and on about how the Torah was snuck out of the concentration camp! Seriously? This evening, the Anti Defamation League is also commenting on the fake Jewish ceremony.

I am not an Orthodox Jew. These days, at best I can be described as culturally Jewish. But I was raised in the faith. I know that it takes a long time to make a Torah. When a synagogue is lucky enough to get one; there is usually a big celebration. If a Torah is recovered and found to be viable, a synagogue will have a re-dedication ceremony. When a Torah becomes worn and cannot be repaired or re-inked by a qualified scribe, the Torah is buried in a Jewish cemetery.

And finally, someone needs to point out to ‘Rabbi’ Messer that the parchments of the Torah are so fine and delicate that it is never touched by human hands. A real rabbi will use a pointer as not to mar the lettering. Wrapping a man in a Torah? A real man would never show that kind of disrespect.