“And when the people saw that Moses delayed….” (Ex 32:1). Why are they called sometimes “the people” and sometimes “the sons of Israel”? It has been noticed that when Torah mentions only “the people”, it implies a participation of the “Erev Rav” (the “Mixed multitude”) as it’s written: “The sons of Israel traveled… and the Read More
Category: Erev Rav
The Erev Rav Part 1: Introduction
“The Erev Rav delay the redemption much more than all the nations of the world” – Raaya Mehemna – Sefer Ha Zohar The Torah only mentions the erev rav briefly. Today erev rav is a term that gets thrown around in some circles with numerous assumptions and pre conceived ideals. In reality, do we really Read More
The Erev Rav Part 2: Moshe and the Mixed Multitude
The erev rav (mixed multitude) mentioned previously, in Shemot 12:37-38, was the group of non-Jews who joined Israel when they left Egypt. According to our sages, Moshe consented to take them along without first consulting with HaShem. He did this for the sake of trying to bring them under the wings of HaShem (conversion). The Read More
The Erev Rav Part 3: Israel and the Erev Rav
The erev rav have been at the center of much of Israel’s problems. The issues began at Mt. Sinai with the golden calf, continued on to the time of Yeshua and exist to this very day. Rabbi Yehuda said: “Deceivers, get away from the deceivers, so that you will not befriend yourself with their acts, Read More
The Erev Rav Part 4: Characteristics and Traits
“[They come] from their root, and are actually connected to them, for the Erev Rav is also from the sod of Da’at; the gematria of Erev Rav is ‘Da’at’ . . . as the Rav (Arizal) has written in Sha’ar HaPossukim and Likutim, Parashas Shemos. The good amongst them, a small minority, are from the Read More
The Erev Rav Part 5: The Erev Rav and the New Testament
Considering the traits outlined by our sages, let’s examine some encounters Rebbe Yeshua and his followers had with various externally “religious people” that could potentially be the erev rav. In Matthew 23:3-31 there are a number of statements made by Rebbe Yeshua that should stand out to the reader. Matt. 23:3 “So whatever they tell Read More
The Erev Rav Part 6: Connecting the Dots
“The entire 974 generations (as brought down in Chagiga 13b, as mentioned above) which are the ‘Erev Rav’ which are the souls from the world of chaos (TOHU), Gd transplants them every generation, and they are the brazenfaced of the generation. Our sages said that in the period of ‘Mashiach’s footsteps’ impudence will become great…and Read More