So, Does This Bother You?
From the Gospel of Matthew:
[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
[19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
[20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
[21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
[22] Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
[23] Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
[24] Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
[25] And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
And now from the Besuras Hageulah According to Mattisyahu:
The huledet (birth) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was as follows. When Moshiach's Em, Miryam, had been given in erusin to Yosef [ben Dovid], but before they came together, she was found with child through the Ruach Hakodesh. 19 Her shidduch, Yosef [ben Dovid], being a tzaddik and not wanting to humiliate her publicly, planned to deal with the get (divorce) in a private arrangement. 20 Now just when Yosef [ben Dovid] had thought through to this tachlis (purpose) hinei! A malach Hashem appeared to him in a chalom, and said, Yosef ben Dovid, do not shrink from taking Miryam in nisuim (marriage) as your [basherte (destined mate) aishes chayil (virtuous woman)] kallah (bride), because what has been conceived in her is through the Ruach Hakodesh. 21 And she shall bear BEN (Son) and you will call SHMO (his name, Zech 6:12) YEHOSHUA (Zech 6:11-12) because he will bring his people yeshuah (rescue, salvation, deliverance) from their peyshaim (rebellions). 22 Now all this occurred so that which was spoken by Hashem through the Navi might be fulfilled, 23 HINEI, HAALMAH HARAH VYOLEDET BEN VKARAT SHMO IMMANU-EL (Behold, the Virgin will be with child and will bear Son and will call his name Immanu-El--Isa 7:14; cf page vii), which translated means G-d is with us. 24 Then Yosef [ben Dovid], rising up from sleep, did as the malach Hashem commanded him and he took his kallah. 25 And Yosef [ben Dovid] did not know her until she bore BEN and Yosef [Ben Dovid] called him by name of Yehoshua [Ben Dovid][See Baba Bathra 8:6].
If you check out that site, they have substituted "Rebbe Melech Hamoshiach" for "Jesus Christ" for the entire New Testament. They are entirely serious. You can buy this translation through Amazon here.
Now, we all understand that this is not the Orthodox Jewish position and that this translation reflects the views of Jews for Jesus and other Messianic groups.
That said, is there anything about this that bothers you? Are you bothered by the idea that the original chabad meshichist concepts are being used in this way? Or do you think it is a natural progression? Do you think these people are all just crazy and irrelevant?
How much of a difference, really, do you think there is between these Christian Messianic groups and extreme chabad-centered groups like this one? What about the rest of Crown Heights and chabad? Are they a completely different religion or just points on the spectrum?
What do you say about the fact that the crazy elokistim in the last link (Geula-Novelties) have sources to back themselves up? Are the sources made up? Are they mistranslations like the Brit Hadasha Bible quoted above? Are they misinterpretations?