When Jews Went Astray: The Tragedy of Heresy

by Ram ben Ze’ev

When Jews Went Astray: The Tragedy of Heresy

There is a persistent misconception, even among some Jews today, that a certain theological system born in the Roman era — one that co-opted Jewish language and symbols — somehow evolved as a valid continuation of Jewish faith. This is false.

While it is historically accurate that the earliest proponents of this heretical path were Jews, this fact only intensifies the tragedy. For over two millennia, this distortion has cloaked itself in the external trappings of Torah, while advancing a belief system that, by halakhic definition, is unequivocally a form of עבודה זרה (avodah zarah – idolatry).

The Torah is clear. In דברים (Devarim – Deuteronomy) 6:4 we proclaim:שמע ישראל ה אלקינו ה אחדShema Yisrael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad – “Hear O Israel, the L-RD is our G-D, the L-RD is One.”There is no room in Judaism for partnership with G-D, no allowance for intermediaries, and certainly no theological loophole through which a man—however charismatic—is declared divine.

A Heresy Born from Within

Yes, those who initiated this deviation were Jews. But so were Korach and the ערב רב (Erev Rav – mixed multitude). Their lineage does not redeem them. On the contrary, their proximity to truth magnifies the severity of their betrayal. These individuals, living within reach of נבואה (nevuah – prophecy) and under the shadow of בית המקדש (Beit HaMikdash – the Holy Temple), chose to corrupt the teachings of תורה (Torah), elevate a man above his station, and lead others away from the eternal covenant.

Their abandonment of the truth was deliberate. As with all forms of heresy, it began with reinterpretation, compromise, and theological half-truths — but it led, inevitably, to spiritual exile. They severed themselves from the wellspring of kedushah (קדושה – holiness) and gave birth to a belief system that stands in direct opposition to everything Torah demands.

Rome’s Role in the Distortion

While some speculate that Roman emperors created this system, that is imprecise. What is historically accurate is that Rome, particularly under Constantine, saw the political utility of formalising and weaponising this offshoot. What had begun as a confused and fractured sect was soon elevated to the status of state religion. Councils were convened, creeds invented, and political power fused with spiritual distortion.

The result was a total severance from Judaism. The festivals were Romanised, the mitzvot discarded, and the prophets of ישראל (Yisrael) recast as mythological demigods. But perhaps most offensive of all was the arrogant claim that the man they elevated—flesh and blood—had the authority to override the eternal commandments of G-D. They taught that he could declare טמא (tamei – impure) things טהור (tahor – pure), giving licence to consume חזיר (chazir – pig), שרצים (sheratsim – crawling creatures), and תועבות (toevot – abominations) that the Torah explicitly forbids.

This was not confusion. It was rebellion. They twisted verses, uprooted mitzvot, and claimed their leader could abrogate that which was given at סיני (Sinai). In doing so, they did not merely err — they instituted a system that raised a man above Torah, and therefore, G-D Himself. This is not just falsehood. It is avodah zarah in its most grotesque form.

The Ongoing Danger of Imitation

Today, this system continues to masquerade in borrowed language, quoting תנ״ך (Tanakh – Hebrew Bible) and professing admiration for ישראל (Yisrael). But quoting Jewish text while denying its commandments is not righteousness — it is theft. Admiring Jewish ethics while rejecting the unity and indivisibility of G-D does not legitimise the theology — it exposes the deceit.

From a halakhic perspective, any path that attributes divinity to flesh and blood, or claims that the Torah has been replaced, nullified, or fulfilled through the actions of a man, is not only forbidden — it is spiritually toxic. The sages teach that the greatest danger is not from enemies that oppose from without, but from those who subvert from within — who build bridges into forbidden territory and preach unity with idolatry.

Let it be stated without compromise: there is no bridge between אמת (emet – truth) and עבודה זרה. There is no coexistence between Torah and systems that violate its essence.

A Call to Vigilance

To every Jew: be vigilant. Be discerning. Do not be swayed by familiarity of phrase or appearances of warmth. This path is not Judaism. It is not a branch. It is not a fulfilment. It is a heretical deviation that sought to override Torah, replace truth, and redefine holiness in human terms.

The Torah does not permit us to honour such distortions out of misplaced respect or sentiment. It calls for clarity and strength. Let us remain anchored in the eternal covenant, unwavering in our fidelity to אחדות השם (achdut Hashem – the Oneness of G-D), and resolute in rejecting all forms of foreign worship — especially those that dare to wear a Jewish face.

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Bill White (Ram ben Ze'ev) is CEO of WireNews Limited, Mayside Partners Limited, MEADHANAN Agency, Kestrel Assets Limited, SpudsToGo Limited and Executive Director of Hebrew Synagogue