Avraham Gileadi
Encyclopedia
Avraham Gileadi is a religious historian and former university professor. A Latter-day Saint Hebrew
scholar and literary analyst, Gileadi specializes in the Book of Isaiah
. He is also one of the September Six
, who were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1993. He has since been rebaptized into the church in full fellowship.
during World War II
. In the course of the war, his father served in the Dutch resistance whose local chapter helped a New Zealand pilot escape to England. After the war, many emigrated from war-torn Europe to new lands of opportunity. Although his father prospered, idealism led him to emigrate to New Zealand
.
In New Zealand, Avraham Gileadi went through a period of introspection, reevaluating his priorities and internalizing spiritual principles by returning to his Jewish roots. After becoming religiously active and involved, he yet "sensed a lack of spiritual fulfillment." Israel's history in the Old Testament became the focus of his attention. He recognized what he believed to be "a partial fulfillment of prophecy in the modern State of Israel," which led to his desire to participate in it.
In 1968, Gileadi left New Zealand to settle in Israel
, where he lived five years. Life in Israel soon involved him deeply in the Old Testament and its religious ties to Judaism
. He states that "Judaism attracted me because of the unique manner in which the Jews view the Law and the Prophets. Among the Jews, I felt a depth of understanding that, as a Gentile, I had not hitherto known." In Israel, he settled in Jezreel. His studies in Israel also took him to an orthodox religious kibbutz
, at which time he was formally received into the Jewish faith and became an Israeli citizen. The climax of his life as an orthodox Jew came when he studied at Yeshivat Hatfutzot, a rabbinic school in Jerusalem. While visiting a library in Israel, the librarian handed him a copy of the Book of Mormon
and suggested he read it. Gileadi took the book to be polite and studied it out of curiosity, which led to his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized a member of the LDS Church in the Pool of Siloam
, where Jesus
healed a blind man by having him wash his eyes in the pool (John 9:5-7).
Gileadi received academic degrees from Brigham Young University
: a B.A.
in University Studies (1975), a M.A.
in Ancient Scripture (1977), and a Ph.D.
in Ancient Studies (1981). During his doctoral studies, Gileadi had Hugh Nibley
as his chair, and taught Hebrew and several Religion courses and an Honors Philosophy class at the university. He also sought out and studied with Professor R. K. Harrison, a renowned Old Testament scholar of Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
, Canada, who was noted for his conservative theological position. Being fluent in Hebrew, he worked with the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scroll
of Isaiah and Septuagint Version, to provide a translation of the Book of Isaiah into intelligible English that remained true to the Hebrew. He used lexical tools constantly in order to catch every nuance of meaning in the original language. He finished this new translation of Isaiah during his Ph.D. program.
In September 1993, however, Gileadi was disciplined by the LDS Church along with five others (the group known as the September Six
) for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. Gileadi himself was terminated from BYU and excommunicated from the Church. According to Margaret Toscano, whose husband was among the September Six and who would also later be excommunicated, Gileadi's "books interpreting Mormon scripture challenged the exclusive right of leaders to define doctrine." Unlike his counterparts in the group, however, Gileadi came back to the Church and was rebaptized in 1996.
and the writings of Isaiah today. Since his career shakedown, he has written The Literary Message of Isaiah and Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven. As of October 2011, he resides in Orem, Utah
, USA.
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
scholar and literary analyst, Gileadi specializes in the Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
. He is also one of the September Six
September Six
The September Six were six members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped by the LDS Church in September 1993 for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. The term "September Six" was coined by The Salt Lake Tribune and the term was...
, who were excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1993. He has since been rebaptized into the church in full fellowship.
Early life and education
Gileadi was born in 1940 in the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In the course of the war, his father served in the Dutch resistance whose local chapter helped a New Zealand pilot escape to England. After the war, many emigrated from war-torn Europe to new lands of opportunity. Although his father prospered, idealism led him to emigrate to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
In New Zealand, Avraham Gileadi went through a period of introspection, reevaluating his priorities and internalizing spiritual principles by returning to his Jewish roots. After becoming religiously active and involved, he yet "sensed a lack of spiritual fulfillment." Israel's history in the Old Testament became the focus of his attention. He recognized what he believed to be "a partial fulfillment of prophecy in the modern State of Israel," which led to his desire to participate in it.
In 1968, Gileadi left New Zealand to settle in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where he lived five years. Life in Israel soon involved him deeply in the Old Testament and its religious ties to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. He states that "Judaism attracted me because of the unique manner in which the Jews view the Law and the Prophets. Among the Jews, I felt a depth of understanding that, as a Gentile, I had not hitherto known." In Israel, he settled in Jezreel. His studies in Israel also took him to an orthodox religious kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
, at which time he was formally received into the Jewish faith and became an Israeli citizen. The climax of his life as an orthodox Jew came when he studied at Yeshivat Hatfutzot, a rabbinic school in Jerusalem. While visiting a library in Israel, the librarian handed him a copy of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
and suggested he read it. Gileadi took the book to be polite and studied it out of curiosity, which led to his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized a member of the LDS Church in the Pool of Siloam
Siloam
Siloam is an ancient Greek name derived from the more ancient Hebrew Shiloah. The Arabic, Silwan, was derived form the Greek, Siloam. It is an ancient site in Jerusalem, south of the Old City.-Antiquity:...
, where Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
healed a blind man by having him wash his eyes in the pool (John 9:5-7).
Gileadi received academic degrees from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
: a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in University Studies (1975), a M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Ancient Scripture (1977), and a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Ancient Studies (1981). During his doctoral studies, Gileadi had Hugh Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
as his chair, and taught Hebrew and several Religion courses and an Honors Philosophy class at the university. He also sought out and studied with Professor R. K. Harrison, a renowned Old Testament scholar of Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, Canada, who was noted for his conservative theological position. Being fluent in Hebrew, he worked with the Hebrew Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scroll
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
of Isaiah and Septuagint Version, to provide a translation of the Book of Isaiah into intelligible English that remained true to the Hebrew. He used lexical tools constantly in order to catch every nuance of meaning in the original language. He finished this new translation of Isaiah during his Ph.D. program.
University career and church discipline
Gileadi was hired by BYU to produce footnotes clarifying translation problems in the Old Testament for the Latter-day Saint edition of the Bible, and he revised the Hebrew translation of the Book of Mormon for the Church's Translation Division.In September 1993, however, Gileadi was disciplined by the LDS Church along with five others (the group known as the September Six
September Six
The September Six were six members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped by the LDS Church in September 1993 for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. The term "September Six" was coined by The Salt Lake Tribune and the term was...
) for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. Gileadi himself was terminated from BYU and excommunicated from the Church. According to Margaret Toscano, whose husband was among the September Six and who would also later be excommunicated, Gileadi's "books interpreting Mormon scripture challenged the exclusive right of leaders to define doctrine." Unlike his counterparts in the group, however, Gileadi came back to the Church and was rebaptized in 1996.
Post-termination career
Gileadi continues to research MormonismMormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
and the writings of Isaiah today. Since his career shakedown, he has written The Literary Message of Isaiah and Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven. As of October 2011, he resides in Orem, Utah
Orem, Utah
Orem is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States, in the north-central part of the state. It is adjacent to Provo, Lindon, and Vineyard and is about south of Salt Lake City. Orem is one of the principal cities of the Provo-Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Utah and...
, USA.
Works
- The Apocalyptic Book of Isaiah (Provo: UT: Hebraeus Press, 1982), ISBN 0-910511-00-4
- The Book of Isaiah: A New Translation with Interpretive Keys from the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988), ISBN 0-87579-076-3
- The Last Days: Types and Shadows from the Bible and the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1991), ISBN 0-87579-287-1; reprinted in a new edition with foreword by Hugh NibleyHugh NibleyHugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
(Orem, UT: Book of Mormon Research Foundation, 1998) - The Literary Message of Isaiah (New York: Hebraeus Press, 1994), ISBN 0-9626643-1-6
- Analytical Commentary of Isaiah (Escondido, CA: Hebraeus Press, 2001)—30 hour verse-by-verse commentary of the Book of Isaiah
- Isaiah Decoded: Ascending the Ladder to Heaven (Escondido, CA: Hebraeus Press, 2002), ISBN 0-910511-07-1.
- Studies in the Book of Mormon (2005) ISBN 0-910511-10-1.