The Torah: Never Changing but Always Refreshing. (RAMBAM 13 Principals of Faith – Principal Nine, Lesson Eight Excerpt; Page 269)

The Spiritual identity of the Torah appears, at first glance, to present us with two contradictory themes. On the one hand, we are taught that the Torah is static: “This Torah of Moshe will never be revoked and no other Torah will ever be given by G-d.”

But there is also a principal that, spiritually speaking, the Torah is given anew every day. Consequently, when we make the blessing on the giving of the Torah we use the present tense, “Blessed are You, O G-d, who gives the Torah,” to stress that Sinai is an ongoing process. Therefore, Torah demands that we always grow in our personal spirituality, so as to keep apace with the constantly expanding spiritual revelations that are occurring. These two elements to the Torah provide us with two different thrusts in our observance of the commandments. But nevertheless, “it must be new in your eyes everyday” (Rashi to Devarim 26:16), our observance should not be dry and static, but inspired and charged with the knowledge that the Torah was just given today anew. (Based on Sichas Shabbos Parshas Shemini 5747, par. 44)

This teaching from the RAMBAM 13 Principals of faith regarding the eternal relevance of the Torah gives us a very deep understanding of the Torah in our lives today. Many who have read the Torah whether secular Jew or Christian, may see it as irrelevant for us today in our modern 21st century society. However this is not true at all because God intended the Torah to be just at relevant to the children of Israel at Sinai as it is to us today. We are blessed to have the Blessed and Holy Torah in our possession, both written on our hearts as believers in our Master Yeshua and within our Bibles in our homes.

Anciently, access to the Torah for the general public was during public readings at the Synagogues because they were written on scrolls, just like how we have also today in our Synagogues across the world. For us today to have the Torah in our homes, whether the Chumash in an Orthodox Jewish home or the King James Bible in a Christian home, we are very blessed to be in the period of time when God said: (Havakuk/Habakkuk 2:14) “For the earth will be as full of the knowledge of HaShem’s glory as waters covering the sea.” Rashi said (Rashi to Devarim 26:16) “it must be new in your eyes everyday”, Torah means instruction/teaching and God embedded within it instructions for all of us on how to live our everyday lives. Every day we face different situations, some good and some bad, but no matter what the case is, we can be assured that there is an instruction within the Torah regarding the matter and even if we have read the same verse 10,000 times, on the 10,001 time it will have a completely new and profound meaning for us and shine a new light on a former darkened area of life.

We need to pray daily for God to open our eyes to the instructions within His Torah because just as Rabbi Shaul said (2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living.” At the time of Paul, the only Scriptures available were the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings (Psalms, Proverbs, ect.). If at the time of Paul, the Torah was still relevant and the same as given to Moshe at Sinai then it confirms that it is good for us today as believers in our Master Yeshua because as we have learned from the lesson excerpt above, there will never be another Torah given and the one we have will never be changed.

In the above teaching it was said “Torah demands that we always grow in our personal spirituality, so as to keep apace with the constantly expanding spiritual revelations that are occurring.” Every day we grow a little more in faith and deepen our personal relationship with God, remember these are not mindless and vain acts of religion to satisfy an empty void in our lives, but rather it is a relationship with our Heavenly and Eternal Father who hears our every word and is more than willing to answer His children’s prayers and guide them through this corrupted world we live in today. As it is said, constant expanding spiritual revelations are always occurring and we cannot become deaf to the voice of God speaking to our hearts revealing the Holy Torah written on it, we need to study Torah, we need to eat and drink Torah. We need to live Torah because our Messiah and Master Yeshua is the living embodiment of the Torah and the Torah is just as alive as our Messiah is today, living eternally and returning soon to establish the Kingdom of the God of Israel on earth, proclaiming this very same Torah to the four corners of the earth from Jerusalem.

Once again, we need to pray every day for God to open our hearts, minds, eyes and ears to His Torah, for us, the Torah needs to be new and fresh in our hearts every day, with new insights and deeper revelations of our Messiah Yeshua and how we are to live Godly lives in His footsteps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoUnyeYhwXQ

(Pirkei Avot 3 Mishnah 17) “Rabbi Akiva said: Mockery and levity accustom a man to immorality. The transmitted Oral Torah is a protective fence around the Torah; tithes are a protective fence around wealth; vows are a protective fence around abstinence; and a protective fence for wisdom is silence.”

All fences, whether physical or spiritual, all serve a purpose which is to guard and protect something precious contained inside. Fences are built around most homes and businesses to keep out thieves and even wild animals when it gets dark. However, the fences here in this Mishnah serve a much deeper purpose in our lives as believers, to protect us from spiritual darkness and corruption.

The Oral Torah has sustained the Jewish people for thousands of years, directing the path of their lives in regards to how the Torah is lived out, otherwise known as Halacha. Within the Messianic Jewish world, there is much debate in regards to our relationship to the Oral Torah, and in the words of our Holy Rabbi Maran Yeshua, not mine we see a direct endorsement of the Oral Torah and the Halacha of the Rabbis.

(Mattityahu/Matthew 23:1-3) “Then Yeshua addressed the crowds and His talmidim: “The Torah-teachers (Rabbis) and the P’rushim,” He said, “sit on the seat of Moshe. So whatever they tell you, take care to do it. But don’t do what they do, because they talk but do not act!”

The purpose of the Oral Torah is not to tie heavy burdens on our shoulders or add to the Torah, but rather it is a correct way to carry out the Mitzvot or commandments of the Torah based upon the revelation at Sinai to Moshe by HaShem. One factor to remember however is that Maran Yeshua is the highest rabbinical authority in our lives and all Halacha by all the great rabbis of Israel must be in harmony with the Halacha of Maran Yeshua and His appointed talmidim in the Good News of Redemption.

There are countless occasions where people claim to be led by the “spirit” in regards to how the Torah or Bible is to be lived out but is it always the spirit of truth? The Torah can be misused and people can even be repulsed by and turned away from the Torah because of a misuse of the Torah based upon a moment of spiritual suspense or ecstasy. This is why a fence is necessary so that we can always be led by the Ruach HaKodesh, the spirit of truth. This fence is not a burden but a force of divine protection to keep us from deviating to the right or left away from our path of truth into spiritual deception. As for the writings in the Good News of Redemption otherwise known as “the new testament”, there is a necessity also for a fence and standard Halacha so that we as Jewish and non-Jewish believers can all be united in faith, resulting in a hastening of the coming of Mashiach soon in our days. The Messianic movement desperately needs a set standard Halacha and which will serve as a protective divine fence that will protect us from spiritual darkness. A last word regarding Oral Torah; this is not a forceful statement demanding all believers must follow Oral Torah because it is a decision each believer must make with serious contemplation and prayer. The purpose of this study is to open our minds to a deeper understanding of the Holy Scriptures in their original context the way they have been understood for thousands of years, especially during the times of our Rabbi Maran Yeshua.

The thought of tithing as a protective fence for wealth is new to a lot of believers because the Pirkei Avot is not studied at most congregations. However we can see in the Tanach in the book of Malachi a biblical source for this teaching.

(Malachi 3:10) “Bring all the tithes into the storage house, and let it be the sustenance in My Temple. Test me, if you will, with this, says HaShem, Master of Legions, [see] if I do not open up for you the windows of the heavens and pour out upon you blessing without end.”

Not only is the tithe a protective fence for our wealth, but the tithe itself will activate the blessings from heaven which will pour out upon us and overflow, as it is written.

(Psalm/Tehillim 23:5) “My cup overflows”

Traditionally during the Havdallah service after Shabbat, wine is poured into a cup until it overflows, which is symbolic for an upcoming week of overflowing blessings. How much more so should we expect blessings with this test from HaShem, the only test He has given us within the entire Bible, this is a true test of Emuna to which God we serve, God or money.

Millions of people put their trust into mutual funds and investments both high and low risk and the is nothing wrong with it because it is a type of storehouse for grain which was used anciently, but the key thing to remember is the true protector of our investments and savings are not the economy and smart business men, but rather it is HaShem, and the divine fence of protection which He will set around our wealth, which will both protect and abundantly increase it in miraculous ways that will leave others in shock and awe because it will defy all logic taught in our institutions of higher economic education. Set up a divine fence today and tithe put your faith in HaShem and your cup will overflow without end.

A very interesting fact within the Hebrew text in regards to wealth and tithing is that they come from the same root word which is עשר (Osher – Wealth); (Aser – Tithe). To those unfamiliar with Torah Hebrew this is new and important information because it shows the direct link between tithing and wealth and how one, the מעשר (Maaser – tithe of one tenth) is a divine fence for the other, עשר (Osher – Wealth).

Another point to state is that both the tithe in Malachi 3:10 and in the Hebrew text above are Temple related. Today we do not currently have a Holy Temple; however by the will of HaShem we will have a בֵּית־הַמִּקְדָּש Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) tomorrow in Jerusalem. King David in his day did not have a Holy Temple either but he longed for its construction in his days, and his cup still overflowed with blessings, we too must long for the Holy Temple just as King David did as well as the coming of the Mashiach so that along with our tithes into the body of Mashiach (our Messianic congregations) which is also a Temple, we will be abundantly blessed and our cups will over-flow.

These are just a few examples of the divine fences that are there to protect us, and not burden us in our everyday lives. Yeshua himself used and set up divine fences within the writings of the Good News of Redemption, some of which most readers follow strictly without even knowing, this however will be covered in future studies. For now, to those reading who truly believe in HaShem and His Word, set up a divine fence today and tithe so that HaShem will open the windows of Heaven and pour out endless blessings upon your life, with a protective fence around it where thieves cannot steal and rust will not rot it away, both here on earth and in Heaven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P1Q0VEZsOk

People talk about "believing in Jesus…" Let me ask you something, you who profess to believe in the Rav (Master), Yeshua ben Yosef, MiNetzeret… 

Yeshua says, ‘THINK NOT that I have come to destroy the Torah and the Prophets. I HAVE NOT come to destroy but to bring them to their fullness. (Cf. Yeshayahu / Isaiah 42:21) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass, not the smallest part of the Torah will by any means disappear from the Torah before everything is accomplished. Whoever therefore relaxes one of the LEAST of these commandments and teaches men so will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great.’ (Mattityahu / Matthew 5:17-19)

This saying of the Rav is CENTRAL to the correct understanding of his words and the words of his shlichim (ones sent, a.k.a. apostles). And let’s face it, this saying is not what the large majority of "Christianity" teaches.

So tell me, you who profess to believe in the Master, do you really believe him, or not? Truly, we answer this question with our actions. If we reject the Commandment of God (a.k.a. the Word of God, a.k.a. Moses) for the traditions of men, then we join those who the Master called HYPOCRITES. (Cf. Mark 7)

As Ya’akov HaTzadik (or "James the Just") says, ‘be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (Yaacov / James 1:22-25)’

He’s speaking the truth… HaShem’s righteousness is righteous forever, and His Torah is truth. (Tehillim / Psalms 119:142) If you really do believe, then act like it.

But you who profess to believe, whose teaching have you devoted yourself to? The teaching of the Rav, Yeshua, and his shlichim (Yochanan / John 14:21, Maasei Hashlichim / Acts 2:42), or the teaching of those who refuse to align themselves with the faith that was once delivered to the tzadikim / saints? (Yehudah / Jude 1:3)

The choice is yours. I hope you choose well. As the Rav says, ‘Narrow is the Way, which leads leads to life, and few there be that find it.’ (Mattityahu / Matthew 7:14) And not everyone who calls him "Mori / Teacher" will enter the kingdom of heaven… (Mattityahu / Matthew 7:21-23)

Who will enter?

As Shaul (a.k.a. Paul), who so many slander, says concerning himself, ‘this I confess to you, that according to the Way (HaDerech), which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Torah and written in the Prophets…’ (Maasei Hashlichim / Acts 24:14)

Happy are they that are upright in the Way, who walk in the law of HaShem. (Tehillim / Psalms 119:1)

‘The Torah of HaShem is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of HaShem is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of HaShem are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of HaShem is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of HaShem is clean, enduring forever; the rules of HaShem are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.’ (Tehillim / Psalms 19:17-11)

Wake up, you sleepers. Walk in the light, as Yochannan says. (Yochanan alef / 1 John 1:7) The commandment is a lamp, and the Torah is light! (Mishlei / Proverbs 6:23)

Written by Immanuel ben Nachum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j1qvKJ7MKE

The Shaliach (Emmisary) Shimon Kefa (Peter) and the Shaliach Shaul (Paul) are recognized as pivotal men in the establishing of Yeshua’s following. Interestingly, both men claimed at separate times that the Messiah Yeshua had not come to establish a new world religion, but rather had come to fulfill everything written in the prophetic writings of the Hebrew Scriptures, or "Tanach" (see Ma’asei Talmidim / Acts 3:12-26 and 24:14).

Maran Yeshua Himself verified that He had not come to establish a new religion but instead helped His disciples to see that all of the Tanach had spoken about Him (Luke 24:27). The Passover lamb, the binding of Isaac, Israel’s initial rejection of Yosef / Joseph and Moshe, the sacrificial system, the Son of Man of Daniel 7, the Suffering Servant of Yeshiyahu / Isaiah 53, the seed of Abraham through whom all nations would be blessed, and countless other words from the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings all foretold the mission and life of Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel and the Light to the Gentiles.

He came not as the founder of a new religion, but as the fulfillment of biblical Judaism.

This isn’t a new religion or doctrine, but teachings that has been taught from the time of Yeshua that has been done away with during the 3rd and 4th century, beginning with Constantine and his desire to separate the non-Jewish believers from the Jewish believers. When that began, Christianity – the official Religion (created by Constantine) stop looking at the bible from a Jewish perspective and so a lot of things being taught in churches that is just not true and biblical, this site we will be teaching you how to reconnect your faith and understanding of the bible from a Hebrew/Jewish perspective. My prayer is that everyone who visits this site will at least come away with a renewed passion on how to look at their faith and with a greater understanding of its roots. I ask for everyone to become a student of God’s word.

"Listen to Me, O pursuers of righteousness, O seekers of Hashem: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and at the hollow of the pit from which you were dug; look to Abraham your forefather and to Sarah who bore you, for when he was yet one alone did I summon him and bless him and make him many" Isaiah 51:1-2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K7hPAcFJQ8

Rabbeinu (our Rabbi) Maran Yeshua calls each of us individually to a life of discipleship to him (the Mashiach teach us to walk the Torah of HaShem). But what is a disciple? What does it mean to be a disciple?

Disciples in Judaism: Our image of a disciple of Maran Yeshua maybe of a bearded man in a robe, wearing sandals. Or it may be simply an image of one of the Twelve that followed Maran Yeshua. We tend to think of discipleship as the Besorat tova HaGeulah (Tidings of Redemption) describes them, perhaps something Yeshua HaMashiach introduced when he chose his 12 disciples. This is wrong. Long before the days of the Master, discipleship was already a well-established institution within Jewish culture. All the great sages, the rabbis, the sages among the Pharisees and the teachers of the Torah had disciples. The Hebrew word for disciple is talmid. Talmid means student. The plural is talmidim: students. We translate talmidim as disciples. A talmid was a student of one of the sages. A talmid’s job was to learn everything that his Master had to teach.

The talmidim of First Century Judaism learned everything from their teacher, and they learned to be just like their teacher. They learned the stories that the teacher told. They learned the lessons that their teacher taught. They learned to eat the foods that their teacher ate, the way their teacher ate them. They learned to keep the Sabbath the way their teacher kept Sabbath and to give charity the way their teacher gave charity. They learned to pray the way their teacher prayed and to fast the way their teacher fasted. They learned how to keep God’s commands the way their teacher kept them. The talmidim followed their teacher everywhere he went, and the teacher taught his talmidim everything he could. Then, after a talmid was fully trained, he would become a teacher and teach talmidim of his own. A talmid’s job was to become like his or her teacher. So it written for us in the Besorat HaGeulah, “Every talmid fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Uri / Luke 6:40).

So when the talmid is fully trained, he becomes the teacher, and raises up talmidim of his own, who in turn, when fully trained become teachers and raise up talmidim of their own.  Are you Mashiach’s Talmid?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjVVvanKcTs

Ask someone coming out of Synagogue on a Shabbat, “Do you believe in God?” and the worshipper is shocked. “What type of question is that? Of course I do!” Then ask him, “Do you consider yourself religious?” and you’ll hear “Certainly. That’s why I’m here!” This is normal. These conversations make sense. We now look forward to the full revelation of Mashiach, therefore we can say “We want Mashiach now? But some will tell you, but now I’m not ready. I don’t want to be judged the way I am (I need to do teshuva, but I am not ready). I need more notice. When Mashiach comes, what’s he going to find? How do we know who he will be? Am I ready to meet him? Do I really need to know more about him?

Does Judaism need Mashiach? We do need Mashiach, it is included in the Rambam’s 13 principles of faith: "I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Mashiach and even though he may tarry, nevertheless, I yearn every day for his coming."

To believe in the Mashiach is to believe in God, the Torah and all the commandments. It is one of the footstools of Judaism and one of the main roots of all faith. Mashiach is the crown of what God desired of His people, a relationship with roots. If Mashiach comes today, would he find that our longing of his coming is growing cold. Are we suffering from a loss of connection to our ancestors. Is our faith, our belief very cold. But we can ask: whose fault is that? Who is he coming for? All Jewish people, some? the Gentiles? to who or for whom?

Truth be told, we are bringing Mashiach closer and closer every day with your physical performances of the Mitzvot (commandments). Doing good deeds (all that HaShem asks of us to do via the holy scriptures), praying and learning torah, teaching others concerning his revelation, reading of who he is from the Hebrew Scriptures, etc… Are you willing to say, I’m ready, Do I want Mashiach Now, and risk it all for the sake of his coming? Do you really want to know him?

Know this, Mashiach’s full revelation eminent!

We want Mashiach Now. But we must ask: In what merit does the Mashiach comes? Would our long cry bring Mashiach Now?

Every Shabbat has its own special Kedusha (holiness), revealed by its very own Parasha (thus every week we must strive to live out the weekly Parasha!). It is no coincidence that we read a specific Parasha on a specific Shabbat. It’s all in the plan of HaKodesh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, Blessed be He).  Thus, the special spirit that exemplifies this coming Shabbat is alluded to in Parashat Bereshit (Genesis). " ‘And the Spirit of Hashem hovers upon the surface of the waters (Bereshit 1:2)’ — this [refers to] the spirit of Mashiach… (Bereshit Rabba 2:4)."

"Rabbi Eliezer says, In Tishrei the world was created… and in Tishrei we are destined to be redeemed. Rabbi Yehoshua says, In Nisan the world was created… and in Nisan we are destined to be redeemed (Rosh HaShana 10b-11a)." Note that according to both opinions, redemption will occur in the same month as creation, for as we have learned, creation contained within it the seeds of Mashiach.  (As we have been saying all along, the first coming of Mashiach was demonstrated by all the spring Festivals)

Thus, the special Spirit (the Spirit of Mashiach) that exemplifies this coming Shabbat is alluded to in Parshat Bereshit. " ‘And the Spirit of Hashem hovers upon the surface of the waters (Bereshit 1:2)’ — this [refers to] the spirit of Mashiach… (Bereshit Rabba 2:4)."  ‘…hovers upon the surface of the waters’ — In the merit of Teshuva, which is compared to water, as it says, ‘Pour out your heart like water. (Eichah / Lamentations 2:19)’ "
Of course, one can always do Teshuva. But the time is ripe now. If ever we needed redemption, the time is now. The coming year holds many surprises in store for our nation. How can we afford not to do Teshuva?  Pour out your heart like water…! 

וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דָּקָרוּ

And it is written: Zecharya 12:10 I will pour on the house of David, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; וְהִבִּיטוּ אֵלַי אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דָּקָרוּ and they will look to me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and will grieve bitterly for him, as one grieves for his firstborn.

Learn why the Mashiach is the pierced one from the Tanach, and learn who the Mashiach is. Do not be affraid, Mashiach will be revealed to you today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPTwGF6ufwA

What מרן רבינו ישוע מלך המשיח / Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua HaMashiach and HaShlichim / the Emissaries began in Jerusalem was not the church, it was not Christianity.  It was a realization that Melech HaMashiach (King Messiah) and Yemot HaMashiach (days of Messiah) had Arrived! 

After the fall of Jerusalem and after the Jewish Emissaries had died they were replaced mostly by non-Jews leaders and because of their shallow roots in the Torah were influenced by the increasing anti-Semitism of the times to cut of themselves from Israel and its people.  Soon the grafted in branch (non-Jews) were breaking away to form the Jewish believers to form a new institution called "ekklesia / church". (The word ekklesia was a political term, not a religious term).

The Jewish believers were known as "the Way" and because they were fully Torah observant they were ostracized by the non-Jews, this happened in places like: Especially of Rome, Alexandria, Carthage, and Antioch. The Council of Nicea and the many that followed took aim at destroying the doctrines of the Jewish Emissaries and creating or perverting them into a new religion called "Christianity". From then on "the Way" or Messianic Jews were persecuted and were known as the Pasagii or Pasagini by the Church of Rome.

The early Jewish followers of ישוע המשיח / Yeshua HaMashiach saw the perfect fulfillment of what Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) and the Prophets had foretold. The New Covenant had been promised, the Messiah would be the mediator of this Covenant… and our Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth fit the description. It never occurred to them that they were not Jews anymore; indeed, they had come into the fullness of the Promised Covenant. They were "Messianic Jews" in the true sense of the word! This community of Messianic Jews continued to fit into the framework of Judaism at that time, with many Cohanim (Priests), Perushim (Pharisees), etc., becoming believers in our Rabbi Yeshua HaPerush. This was a Jewish revival movement that would survive beyond the destruction of the Temple and influence significantly the reconstruction of Judaism by the Pharisaic movement in the years to come. History records the vitality of this movement in various parts of the world until well into the fourth and fifth centuries and beyond.

Starting in the late 1960’s and continuing until today, there has been a dramatic move of God’s Spirit. As God was moving to restore His people physically back to the land of Israel, so too He was moving spiritually in the hearts of many Jewish people. Thousands upon thousands have been coming to believe in our Rabbi, Maran Yeshua HaMashiach and even forming their own congregations where they can worship the God of Israel through the merit of our Rabbi in the fulfillment of their Jewish identity. These "Messianic Congregations" are characterized by a number of distinctive elements: worship on the Shabbat and other Jewish biblical holidays, joyful Messianic prayers and songs, and other customs that are consistent with the Scripture. What a wonderful way this has been for Jewish believers in Melech HaMashiach to express their faith and heritage! We should also note that many non-Jews have found special fulfillment in Messianic Jewish congregations as well, since they are grafted into "the rich root of the olive tree" of this Jewish, biblical, faith. (Romim / Romans 11:17 ff.) Together, Jews and non-Jews are returning to their roots of faith through our Rabbi Yeshua the Messiah.

Many of our Jewish people have simply given up on any belief in a Messiah. Some have accepted many other substitutes in Eastern mysticism, New Age groups, Christian cults, etc. But יהודים משיחים Messianic Jews say that there is indeed a Messiah promised to Israel and that we can recognize Him. It is through the Tanach (Hebrew Scriptures) that we have read the description of Messiah. It’s simply a matter of studying the Scriptures to see what they actually say. If our Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth does not fit the description, then we should not follow Him. But if He does? Read the Tanach for yourself and decide!

PS: It is time for Messianic Judaism to come back to Judaism and let go Christianity. It is time for Messianic Judaism to stop looking for instructions of the Bible from the Christian pastors, but go back to our Rabbis, to our Jewish wisdom. Christianity has not future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPiMhZNvsR8

Karaites are a new topic of study for me. Some friends seem to use “Karaite” and “biblical” as interchangeable adjectives; they’re not.

I’d appreciate any notes about helpful resources as I try to study this issue in depth. Here are some of my heart’s objections that I would like to examine:

1. Karaite Korner suggests that their main doctrine is that the application of every scripture is a matter of private interpretation.

This reminds me of how each person “did what was right in his own eyes” whenever the community had no righteous judge. It was a bad situation. What would have been the purpose of Moses–and later those he delegated–settling and explaining disputes if we could all just make everything up as we went along? The private interpretation idea is not biblical; Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

2. Kariate Korner explicitly states that Karaites are not believers in Yeshua as messiah or son of God.

We are warned in 2 Peter 2 that “false teachers among you will bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.” If a doctrine denies the messiah, it’s not biblical; thus, Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

3. Karaites are anti-Rabbinic tradition.

This is what makes Karaites so attractive to my friends, I think. The idea is that they are also anti-rabbinic tradition, rejecting the Babylonian Talmud and whatever else, so because Karaites also do that, they align themselves with the Karaites against the rabbis of, I guess, modern Orthodox Judaism.

First, many denominations are anti-rabbinic. For example, Catholicism is equally uninterested in rabbinic authority. Shall we then align ourselves with Catholic doctrine or call ourselves Catholics because both they and we agree in one point? Of course not; that’s absurd. Being against rabbinic tradition does not make an entire theology biblical; Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

Second, Karaites, from what I was finding in scholarly articles in the wee hours of the morn, reject the Babylonian Talmud but draw heavily on Islamic tradition and interpretive methods, so instead of Babylon you get Baghdad. Coming from a city other than Babylon does not make the teaching biblical; Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

Third, Yeshua is a rabbi! If Karaites are anti-rabbinic tradition, how can a disciple of Yeshua the Messiah, our master, our rabbi, possibly call himself a Karaite? This makes Karaites anti-biblical in rejecting the whole premise of Yeshua’ great commission: going to the nations to make disciples.

It also makes them anti-biblical in rejecting the Tanach examples of such relationships in the prophets and sons of prophets. What did Elisha have to learn from Elijah if Karaite doctrine is true? Elisha should have gone his own direction and done his own thing rather than live under the authority of Elijah if Karaite doctrine is true; but it’s not because Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

4. The Karaite Calendar debacle… I recently watched Michael Rood’s – Creator’s Calendar” DVD. It is long. There is no evidence given in the DVD for adopting the calendar he publishes. Rood tells his testimony, talks about meeting Nehemiah Gordon, and then ends by relating his encounter with Freemasons, which he offers as evidence of divine confirmation that he is correct in his mysterious calculations that he never bothers to explain.

I’m not saying he’s right or wrong. He didn’t present anything that would allow a person to make an informed judgment in that DVD (perhaps it is elsewhere?), but I am certainly not going to follow the Rood-Gordon calendar just because they stick the adjective “biblical” in front of the word “calendar.” That’s not enough for me; I’m sorry.

And the premise of these two men studying the definition of “aviv” and then prescribing to the community of faith what should be done is anti-Karaite, anyway. There is no room for teachers studying traditional and historical documents to promote their views as binding on the Karaite community. To be consistent, the Kariate would have to find his or her own definition of “aviv” barley and work up his or her own calendar. It’s not a community-based theology, which makes it, as far as I can tell, far from biblical.

Karaite does not equal “biblical.”

Written by: Move from this Mountain

Short history: Karaites and Rabbinic Jews Great Controversies in Jewish History. There’s no feud like a family feud, and in 8th century Babylonia, a dynastic struggle between brothers gave birth to the heretical Karaite movement. Denying the historical understandings of the Torah, the Karaites held tremendous influence over many people. Though now they have disappeared into near oblivion, the Jewish scholarship that developed to combat them remains the consummate sign of philosophical victory. These sects came to be known as Karaites (literally, People of the Scripture), and they were distinguished from the Rabbanites or Rabbinical Judaism. Learn more about it here. The Karaite Deception

Sitting in the Seat of Moses.

(Mattityahu/Matthew 23:1-3) “Then Yeshua addressed the crowds and His talmidim: “The Torah-teachers and the P’rushim,” He said, “sit on the seat of Moshe. So whatever they tell you, take care to do it. But don’t do what they do, because they talk but do not act!”

Within the Messianic Jewish movement, there is a debate over the observance of Rabbinic Law; over whether or not they should be observed or even acknowledged as educational resource in understanding Torah from a traditional Jewish perspective and even understanding the ancient teachings of our Rabbi Maran Yeshua.

The words of Yeshua in the portion of scripture above clearly show us His position on Rabbinic Law or Halacha. If He were in anyway against it then He would have clearly stated to rebel against them and reject their teachings, however, as an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, He not only upheld and enforced the Torah from Sinai, He clearly commanded His talmidim to take care to do as the Torah teachers (Rabbi’s) say.

To gain a better understanding of this issue from an orthodox Jewish perspective, we can look into the lessons within the pages of RAMBAM’s 13 Principles of Faith.

RAMBAM’s 13 Principles of Faith – Ninth Principle – Lesson Six.
The Last Word: Observance of Rabbinic Law.
(Based on Sicha of second day of Shavuos 5715, note 157)

“According to Rambam, Rabbinic law is, in effect, no different from Biblical law. The Torah itself instructs us to follow every detail that the Sages have instructed us, so we must be careful in observing a Rabbinic command as a Biblical Law. The only practical difference between these two types of law concerns a person’s obligation to reprimand his fellow for failing to observe the law. When a person witnesses an infringement of Biblical mitzvah, he should always attempt to correct the matter; whereas in the case of a Rabbinic transgression, a person has to consider first whether his words will be effective or not (see Beitzah 30a; Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch 156:7, 608:4-5). But when it comes to our own personal observance we should perceive both Biblical and Rabbinic commands as nothing less than the will of G-d.”

In the excerpt above from the Rambam 13 Principles of Faith, gain a perspective of Rabbinic and Biblical observance from a traditional orthodox Jewish perspective. According to the traditional Orthodox Jewish perspective, if one brother were to see another brother transgress a Biblical command, then the brother has an obligation to correct the matter. However, in a matter of a transgression of a Rabbinic command then the brother should consider whether his words will be effective or not regarding the matter.

So based of the teachings of our Rabbi Maran Yeshua and the traditional Jewish Perspective of Rabbinic Halacha, we have a truth that we must face; Maran Yeshua did command us to take care to do as the Torah-Teachers (Rabbi’s) say, so they are in fact valid for us to live by as believers. However, because within the body of Messiah we all at different levels of faith and observances of Torah, we should not tie up the heavy burden upon our brothers shoulders (especially weaker new believers) if we are not willing to do the same ourselves as Maran Yeshua said:

(Mattityahu/Matthew 23:3) “But don’t do what they do, because they talk but do not act! They tie heavy loads onto people’s shoulders but won’t lift a finger to help carry them.”

Maran Yeshua also gave us other guidelines regarding Rabbinic Halacha, in regards to traditions and commandments as we will see in the following verses.

(Mark 7:8-9) “You depart from God’s command and hold onto human tradition. Indeed,” he said to them, “you have made a fine art of departing from God’s command in order to keep your tradition!”

(Mark 7:13) “Thus, with your tradition which you handed down to you, you nullify the Word of God! And do other things like this.”

Based on this teaching from our Rabbi Maran Yeshua, we gain a deeper insight on our relationship to Rabbinic Halacha. No matter what we choose to follow in regards to rabbinic halacha, whether in the Mishna, Talmud, or even the Zohar, we must never let anything said by a Rabbi which would cause us to depart from the Word of God have any authority over us. An example of this is seen within the kabbalistic traditional teachings, where some Rabbi’s believe in re-incarnation (Gilgul Neshamot), which is clearly unbiblical and as believers in the resurrection (mechaye hametim) we should reject, just as the majority of traditional Orthodox Judaism also would.

From the days of Moshe and the giving of the Torah, there have been leaders among the children of Israel who have authority from heaven to give a ruling or judgement regarding a matter as we see in the book of Devarim/Deuteronomy.

(Devarim/Deuteronomy 17:8-11) “If a matter of judgement is hidden from you, between blood and blood, between verdict and verdict, between plague and plague, matters of dispute in your cities – you shall rise up and ascend to the place that HASHEM, your God, shall choose. You shall come to the Kohanim, the Levites, and to the judge who will be in those days; you shall inquire and they will tell you the word of judgement. You shall do accordingly to the word that they will tell you, from that place that HASHEM will choose, and you shall be careful to do according to everything that they will teach you. According to the teaching that they will teach you and according to the judgement that they will say to you, shall you do; you shall not deviate from the word that they will tell you, right or left.”

These words in the Torah almost match exactly the command given to us by our Rabbi Maran Yeshua, where we are told to do everything according to the teachings and judgements of the Torah teachers who are composed of Kohanim, Levites, and the judges in the days which eventually were the Torah-teachers and the P’rushim in the days of Maran Yeshua. We see a time-line of this progression in Pirkei Avot and in the Good News.

(Pirkei Avot 1:1) “Moses received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua; Joshua to the Elders; the Elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly. They [the Men of the Great Assembly] said three things: Be deliberate in judgement; develop many disciples; and make a fence for the Torah.”

(Acts 7:38) “This is the man who was in the assembly in the wilderness, accompanied by the angel that had spoken to him at Mount Sinai and by our fathers, the man who was given living words to pass on to us.”

Here we see the authorities in Israel who are in the “seat of Moses” as Yeshua taught to His followers.

Over the course of time, people and societies change and so must the judges whom God places in authority over His people, as we see here in a teaching from an Orthodox Rabbi:

(R’ Chaim Shmulevitz) “God does not cast His people into anarchy; He provides them with the leaders who are suited to the needs of the time and place.”

Within the Messianic Jewish movement as of today, there is a division over various matters, which at the end of the day are just opinion and we must stick to the basics of the faith which are; Maran Yeshua died and rose again to eternal life, we are to love God with all our hearts, minds and resources and we are to love our neighbours as ourselves, Everything else is commentary. So, with that said, there needs to be a shift in priorities in regards to our ministry works as a body. Doctrines, opinions, and everything related is at the end of the day just our own inventions and traditions being held on to, what matters is the commands of God which are in the Bible so there is no need for argument because our Rabbi clearly stated everything. The focus now needs to be on the matters important to God, the distressed, the widows, orphans, the poor and the lost sheep of Israel, they all need the real help and is where our energy needs to be instead of dividing over doctrines. Imagine how many suicides, abortions, divorces, affairs, abuses, could all have been avoided over the past 25 years if more the energy and recourses spent on enforcing doctrines was used for the distressed souls out there? We all, especially the leaders need to get our priorities straight because the King is coming very soon and we will have to face Him when He asks whether or not we cared for His sheep.

In conclusion, based on the teachings of Maran Yeshua, Rabbinic Halacha does have a part in our lives as believers, however it is up to each believer and the Ruach HaKodesh to determine what role it will play in their lives. To reject it, would be to reject Maran Yeshua’s words, and once we start rejecting one thing, we will be most likely to reject another. Maran Yeshua himself was an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi and His teachings were Rabbinic in nature, we would gain a much deeper relationship to Him and especially HaShem if we gained an appreciation for the great sages and rabbi’s of Israel who are in the seat of Moses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0799LSSAkQ

There is a saying in English which we call the KISS method.  Keep It Simple Stupid.  It means that when we are trying to explain something we should keep it at a very basic level so that everyone can understand.

I believe that this must also apply to the situation of doctrines and beliefs.  The harder we make it for people to understand Messianic Judaism the more difficult it becomes for people to accept it.

I would like to start with a disclaimer as I always do.  The purpose of these articles is to foster discussion and exchange ideas.  I am one voice within Messianic Judaism and my goal is not to offend others, but to offer my opinion.

In Part One I would like to examine the core beliefs. 

What are the fundamental beliefs that we need to have in order to grow as a movement and to have legitimacy within the broader movement of Judaism?  These are my suggestions as to the “basics”; however they are not necessarily listed in order of importance.

The Oneness of Hashem

One of the most basic tenants of Judaism is the belief in one G-d.  “Hear O Israel, Adon-i, our G-d, Adon-i is one. (Duet. 6:4)  I believe we, as Messianic Jews, also share in this belief.  It is important for us to state our belief in the One True G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Yeshua is the Messiah

We believe that Yeshua is the Messiah and this belief is absolutely critical if we are to call ourselves “Messianic” Jews.  While the belief in a coming Messiah is certainly a Jewish one.  I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. How long it takes, I will await His coming every day. (Rambam, principles of faith)  Only, we believe that Messiah has already come and is coming again.

Yeshua’s Death as Atonement for Sin

Messianic Jews should believe that Yeshua, our Messiah, died to atone for all of humanity’s sin.

Yeshua Rose from Death to Life

Perhaps more importantly than Yeshua’s death is the fact that he rose again.  Saul (Paul) makes the argument clear in I Corinthians 15 when he states: 12 But if it is preached that Yeshua has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Yeshua has been raised. 14 And if Yeshua has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Yeshua from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Yeshua has not been raised either. 17 And if Yeshua has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Yeshua are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Yeshua, we are of all people most to be pitied. (Verses 12-19)

All Scripture is from Hashem

Messianic Jewish believers in Messiah Yeshua should not only obey the Torah, but also the Good News of Yeshua.  For Yeshua he said: 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:17-20)

Therefore, if Yeshua kept Torah, we must also keep Torah.  We must also obey all of Yeshua’s commandments as outlined in the Good News.  Yeshua also said in John 14:5: "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

These listed above would appear to me to be the basic principals needed within Messianic Judaism.  Let me know what you think?  Have we covered the basics?  Has something been missed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esOkZ4cMuBs

In this article I will explore the role of leaders in the Messianic Jewish movement.  This will include the qualities which a Messianic leader should possess, the need for proper training, the understanding of Hebrew and a vision for the future.

I want to start out by saying that this article is written in love and not to attack anyone currently involved in leadership. We have many dedicated and Godly leaders within the movement.  However, there is a vacuum when it comes to leadership within the movement.  It is the gaps that exist and the resources required to help leaders become better equipped to serve and to grow the movement within the larger Jewish community.

The first issue that I would like to address is that of having proper Yeshivas for training Messianic leaders. If Messianic Judaism is to continue to grow as a viable, credible movement, there need to be rabbis who are trained to teach, lead and reach people. There currently exist a few places for Messianic training.

My opinion is that these Yeshivas do not go far enough.  In terms of training we need more.  The following is a suggestion of some of the main points to consider.

It is absolutely critical that any Messianic Rabbi or leader know the Hebrew language.  How can we establish credibility not only within our movement, but to Jews around us, if we cannot speak the holy language (Lashon Hakodesh) which is Hebrew?  Hebrew is the language of the soul; it is the language of the Torah and the language of the Jews.  If our leaders cannot speak the language how can we be taking seriously as a Jewish movement?

I also believe that any Messianic Yeshiva should be a place with a comprehensive curriculum.  The starting point has to be Yeshua and an understanding of the Good News within a Jewish context.  However, I believe that there must be a comprehensive study of Torah and other rabbinical literature such as the Talmud.

Now, I can hear many leaders saying why study the Talmud?  The answer, I believe, is two-fold.  First, we study Talmud because we are Jews and Jews study Talmud.  However, the greater reason is that much of our customs and traditions come from the Talmud.  The lighting of Shabbat Candles is not commanded in Torah, but in Talmud.

I think it is important to note here, as I have said before, we are a Jewish movement and not a Christian one.  Any leader who wants to run their synagogue more like a church should not call themselves a Messianic Jew.

I think it is important to have Jewish Rabbis and not just Messianic leaders.  I understand that the movement is small and that we need leaders to stand in the gap.  My hope is that one day our Jewish movement will be headed by Jewish Rabbis.

It is important for a Messianic Rabbi or leader to have a heart for Israel and the Jewish people.  Again, many may say that this is a given among leaders, but not always.  How many leaders truly support Israel?  How many speak up when Israel is under attack?  How many encourage members of their congregations to travel to Israel or make Aliyah?

Now does that mean we cannot speak against Israel?  Absolutely not!  We must condemn the secularization of Israel which allows abortions and Gay Pride parades.  Just the same as we would condemn those practices in our own countries.

One of the most discouraging things I find among Messianic leaders is their lack of support for the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).  I have heard many say that the next Temple is that of the Anti-Messiah and that it is a place of desecration.  My question to that is how can something be desecrated unless it was holy in the first place?

The fact is that the Temple must be rebuilt and sanctified in order to become desecrated.  It is the same as saying you will take a piece of pork and desecrate it by adding oyster sauce.  Now if you took a piece of kosher beef and added oyster sauce that beef is no longer kosher, but unfit for eating.  Even Yeshua had a zeal for his Father’s house. “Yeshua entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers (Matt. 21:12-13) (See also Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46).  If Yeshua had a zeal for temple – should we not follow in our Rabbi’s footsteps?

I want to encourage those Messianic leaders to learn Hebrew, study in a Yeshiva, and stand up for Israel and its causes.  We are Jews first and Messianic second.  We must never turn the movement into a Christian one.  Christianity has no place in Judaism and vice versa, that does not mean we cannot love them, but we must not become like them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2fYZgfenoU

There was a game show many years ago called “To Tell the Truth”. It was a show that had one real person and three other imposters pretending to be the same person. The panel would ask questions and then try and determine the true one from the imposters.

That is the argument made by Jews and anti-missionaries who try to dissuade Jews from believing in Yeshua. The argument goes that since Yeshua “Jesus” started a new religion any Jew who believes in Yeshua is no longer a Jew. So, it is time to tell the truth.

Firstly, I think it is important to note that most Jews have Yeshua confused with the Jesus of Christianity. The following paper will illustrate the difference between Yeshua the Jew and Jesus the Christian.

1. Jesus abolished the Torah of Moses and its commandments.
2. Yeshua, our Jewish Rabbi kept the Torah.

Maran Yeshua said: “17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(Matt. 5:17-20)

Firstly, Yeshua did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. I know what most Christians are saying: by fulfilling the Law “Jesus” abolished it. I am married, and when I stood before Hashem and man I made vows to my wife. Now, if I am to fulfill those vows does that mean that I am no longer obligated to love and honour my wife, Heaven forbid!! In the same way, Yeshua, by fulfilling the Law is keeping the Law to its utmost.

Secondly, Yeshua tells us that the Law will not pass away until Heaven and Earth pass away. The last time I checked Heaven and Earth were still here, so there goes that argument.

Thirdly, Yeshua says anyone who sets aside even one of these commandments or teaches others to do the same will be least in the kingdom. The Christian will say that “Jesus” is speaking only of his commandments, or those in the “New Testament” (here after called the Good News). The Good News had not been codified yet and so it cannot just apply to those commandants. Also, Yeshua begins by talking about not abolishing Torah or the Prophets. This sentence is a continuation of that argument, ergo; anyone who teaches someone to break Torah will be least in the Kingdom of heaven.

Finally, Yeshua states that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees we will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. I know of many Christians who love to bash the Pharisees. The term Pharisee has been used derisively to denote a self-righteous and sanctimonious person. I think most people miss the point. The Pharisees were righteous people. The word Pharisee comes from Hebrew פְּרוּשִׁים pĕrûšîm which means holy ones. Yeshua, I believe, was emphasizing that unless our sense of holiness is even greater than the Pharisees we will not enter the kingdom.

1. Jesus allows his followers to worship him on Sunday.
2. Yeshua, our Jewish Rabbi kept the Sabbath.

First of all God commanded us to keep the Sabbath. See Ex. 20:8-11 and Deut. 5:12-15 It says of Yeshua that he worshiped in the Synagogue on the Sabbath as was his custom. They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Yeshua went into the synagogue and began to teach (Mark 1:21-similar verses: Mark 6:2; Luke 4:31; 6:6). He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read (Luke 4:16).

Many Christians will argue that the Sabbath was abolished by Yeshua’s death. Sunday was instituted, in part, because of his resurrection on “Sunday”. If this is true let us examine what the disciples did after Yeshua rose.

The women who had come with Yeshua from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment (Luke 23:55-56).

On the Sabbath they [Paul and believers] entered the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak" (Acts 13:14-15).

As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath (Acts 13:42).

"Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.[2] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day" (Acts 15:19–21).

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2).

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:4).

Then never let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or about observance of annual festivals, New Moons or Sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what was coming: the reality is the body of Messiah (Col 2:16-17).

There must still be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God’s people, since to enter the place of rest is to rest after your work, as God did after his (Heb 4:9-10).

I think it is clear from the many references above that Yeshua’s disciples kept the Sabbath holy.

1. Jesus allows his followers to eat pork and other non-kosher food.
2. Yeshua, our Jewish Rabbi kept all the kosher and Jewish dietary laws.

The two passages which Christians love to misquote are in Acts 10 and Mark 7; let us take a moment to look at these passages from our Jewish Rabbi’s perspective.

Mark 7 (From the Besorah Tovah)

And there assembled together unto him the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem. 2 And when they had seen some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews eat not without often washing their hands, holding the tradition of the ancients. 4 And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots and of brazen vessels and of beds. 5 And the Pharisees and scribes asked him: Why do not your disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but they eat bread with common hands? 6 But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.

I want to focus on two main points. First, the passage has nothing to do with food, but instead with the ritual washing of hands. Notice that on this point the Pharisees are not accusing Yeshua, but that some of his disciples do not wash their hands.

Secondly, Christians seems to link verses 15 and 19b. They argue that it doesn’t matter what you eat and that “Jesus” declared all foods clean. Let me address the second point since that is the one relating to food.

I believe Yeshua addresses the “not what goes in, but comes out from verses 20-23. 20 "It is what comes out of a person," he went on, "that makes him unclean. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come forth wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness… 23 All these wicked things come from within, and they make a person unclean."

Notice, Yeshua did not mention food here in these verses. As to the second part where he declares all food clean; we must look at that in the historical context. First, look at all the parties involved: Yeshua, his disciples, and the Pharisees. What does these three have in common? They were all Jewish! So, therefore, their understanding of food would have been in the Jewish concept of the dietary laws found in Torah.

Put another way, in North American culture, we do not eat dogs and cats. However, in some cultures they do eat those animals. We in this culture do not consider dogs and cats as food. I would make the same argument for the passage in Mark. The Jews in their culture would have not considered non-kosher animals to be foods. Thus, when Yeshua declares all foods clean he is stating that all kosher food is clean even if you don’t do the ritual hand washing.

Acts 10 (From the Besorah Tovah)

13 And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter. Kill and eat. 14 But Peter said: Far be it from me. For I never ate anything that is common and unclean. 15 And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God has cleansed, do not call common. 16 And this was done thrice. And presently the vessel was taken up into heaven…. 34 And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons. 35 But in every nation, he that fears him and works justice is acceptable to him.

This passage, especially verse 15 and 16 are used by Christians to proclaim all non-kosher food as clean. However, I believe one has to look at the historical context to understand the meaning behind the passage.

Peter, a Jew, kept so kosher that when God tells him to eat he says “No, sir! Absolutely not! I have never eaten food that was unclean or treif." (verse 14)

I believe that the answer to the vision can be found in verses 28 and 34-35. When Peter explains the vision he does not talk about food, but about people. For those Christians who would still say this is about food let me make this point. We have already seen Peter’s response as to never eating unclean food. As a Jew, his food would come from the dietary laws in Leviticus. If God were proclaiming a new dietary law, don’t you think Peter would have mentioned it in his explanation of the visions?

However, he does not because after all it would have been a revolutionary experience for Peter, the Jew, to change his dietary habits. I believe, the three visions are in reference to the three non-Jews who were about to become part of the group.

Therefore, this passage does not refer to food at all, but to the acceptance of non-Jews into the Jewish community.

1. Jesus celebrates the pagan holidays of Christmas and Easter.
2. Yeshua celebrated the Biblical holidays as outlined in the Torah.

Firstly, nowhere in the Good News did Yeshua ever command his disciples to celebrate his birth. The fact is that the only two instances of birthdays are mentioned in the Bible; both represented pagan situations and were related to the killing of people.

The first mention of a birthday is in Genesis when Joseph was in Egypt and he interpreted the meaning of a dream. The dream included, among other things, the hanging of the chief baker on Pharaoh’s birthday (see Gen 40:20-22). In the Good News, the other mention concerns the beheading of John the Baptist when Herod was celebrating his own birthday. During the party, Herod promised Herodias’ daughter any gift she wanted, because he was so pleased by her dancing. At her mother’s urging, she asked for John’s head and she received it on a platter (see Matt. 14:6-10).

This is not to say that birthdays cannot be celebrated, but simply that Yeshua never commanded that we celebrate his birth. The fact is though that both Christmas and Easter are pagan holidays having to do with fertility rights. These pagan holidays were introduced by Constantine when he “converted” to Christianity.

There is a passage in Jeremiah 10 which warns Jews not to celebrate pagan holidays.

Hear what the L-RD says to you, people of Israel. 2 This is what the L-RD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them. 3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. 4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. ” (Jeremiah 10:1-4)

I will explain why Christmas and Easter are pagan view the website for more details. Yeshua, our Rabbi kept the biblical feast days of Passover, Sukkoth, etc. It appears clear that Yeshua and his disciples did eat the Passover supper. Two things make this apparent.

First, he promised the disciples that he would “keep the Passover” (Mt. 26:18), which is the equivalent of “eat the Passover” (Mk. 14:14). He appointed the place for that event and gave instructions for the preparation (Mk. 14:12ff). The Synoptic texts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) then harmoniously flow toward the evening of that very day, and depict Yeshua as “eating” with the disciples (Mt. 26:21; Mk. 14:18).

Additionally, the law of Moses was still binding at this time, and Yeshua was very careful to do all that the law commanded (Mt. 5:17-18; Jn. 8:29). Since the Passover was a part of the law’s requirement, Yeshua obviously partook of that feast. The testimony of the Synoptics is clear and decisive that Yeshua and his disciples observed the Passover.

There is so much more that could be said. I personally believe that Yeshua was the Messiah and that he died to atone for our sins and was resurrected. I do NOT however, believe in the Jesus of Christianity. I reject Jesus and I would urge all Jews to do likewise. I reject Jews for Jesus and other such ministries which proclaim that Yeshua and Jesus are one and the same.

As they say at the end of the game show “Will the real Messiah please stand up?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XotNrDtY3Jw

Messianic Judaism – The Need for Halacha (Jewish Law)

This is the next in a series of articles about the growth of Messianic Judaism within the broader Jewish movement.  This time I will focus on the need for Messianic Halacha.

Wikipedia defines Halacha as follows: Halakha (Hebrew: הלכה ‎) — also transliterated  Halacha— is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvoth ) and later Talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.

Judaism has many sources of Jewish law the Torah, Talmud, The Shulchan Aruch, etc. And these are just a few of the sources.  So as Messianic Jews, who are part of Judaism, we need to define our own sense of Halacha.

Now as Messianic Jews who believe in Rabbi Yeshua we would obviously follow Torah, just as Yeshua himself did.  We would also include the Besorah HaTovah (Good News), which includes the writings of the Emissaries.  However, what do we do with the rest of Jewish Law?  Do we simply discard it or is there a way to include it within Messianic Judaism?

I believe that if we are to be taken seriously by the Jewish community at large we need to address these questions.  I always like to preface that I am only one Jewish voice.  The purpose of these articles has always been to have an open, honest and respectful debate within the Messianic Jewish community.

First and foremost I believe that Yeshua must be the example we follow.  As my Rabbi I want to follow his teachings.  This is no different than any other Jew who follows the teachings of their Rabbi.  We also need to follow Torah since Yeshua himself said that he did not come to abolish Torah, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5:17).  In fulfilling the Torah Yeshua came to explain the true meaning of Torah and what it means to lead a real Torah observant life.

What about other sources of Jewish Law such as the Talmud, should we as followers of Yeshua read it?  I will give you a very Rabbinic Answer, Yes and No!!

I believe we must view everything through the eyes of our Rabbi Yeshua.  We know that he himself was Jewish and therefore, he followed Torah faithfully, but did he follow any other sources of Jewish Law?  I believe the answer is yes.

In Mark Chapter 7, for example, the Pharisees accuse some of Yeshua’s disciples of not doing the practice of Netilat Yadayim (the washing of their hands).  Notice, that they do not accuse Yeshua of this, simply some of his disciples.  I believe Yeshua did wash his hands because there is no reference to say that he did not.  Netilat Yadayim is simply a Jewish tradition and not a Torah commandment of Hashem.

There seem to be those of us within the Messianic Jewish community which forbid reading Talmud, Zohar, etc because we argue that those sources are not biblical.  I would humbly disagree.  I think everything including rabbinic literature has its place within Messianic Judaism.

For example, the kosher laws are mentioned in Vayikra Chapter 11 and repeated again in Devarim Chapter 14.  However, the process of how to slaughter the animal in a kosher manner is found in the Talmud.  So, I think it is wrong to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  We must simply remember to view everything through our ultimate authority our Rabbi Yeshua.

Also, the Messianic Jewish community practices many traditions which are not found in the Torah.  These include, but are not limited to: lighting Shabbat candles, chanting the Torah and lighting the Chanukah candles.  None of these practices are mentioned in the Torah, but we still do them.  So, it seems a little hypocritical to me to be telling people not to follow rabbinic traditions when we follow many of them ourselves.

We are not the Jewish Church!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IL60YQKxtU

This article is an attempt to express my thoughts on a “definition” of Messianic Judaism. As with many things, this “definition” requires that I explain what I believe Messianic Judaism is not before I tell you a little bit about what I think Messianic Judaism is.

It is necessary that I say a word here about the “Messianic Jewish Definition” that was approved by the UMJC at the 2002 National Conference. I am glad to see that the Union is headed in the right direction in many areas, not the least of which is our desire to bring some focus to the boundaries of Messianic Judaism. I do not agree with some of the language used in the definition, mostly in regard to the place of Gentiles within Messianic Judaism, but I also know that it is a work in progress. It is intended to give the Union some forward movement in this long-neglected area, and the more we talk these things through, the more solid we will become in our understanding of ourselves.

Now, on to my own thoughts on Messianic Judaism.

A Short History

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries a movement called Hebrew Christianity started growing. It was a movement of Jewish Christians who wanted to learn about their “Hebrew Roots,” and it was used primarily as a springboard to show other Jews the truth about Yeshua. This movement was an outgrowth of the long history of Jewish followers of Yeshua dating all the way back to the first century.

As a result of the Jesus Movement of the 1960’s, the number of Jews who became believers in Messiah greatly increased. Many of those Jewish believers were from traditional families, and many had become bar/bat mitzvahs. They saw that their belief in Yeshua did not require them to give up their Jewishness, but that it gave them just that much more reason to be Jewish. Thus Messianic Judaism was born out of Hebrew Christianity, bringing to the forefront a greater focus on Jewish life and community. This change was not a change of nomenclature; it was not a semantic gesture intent on deceiving the Jewish community. It was a legitimate change of focus—the beginning of a new movement that was founded on a desire for a truly Messianic expression of Judaism. There were many Hebrew Christians who did not appreciate this new movement, and many of their leaders spoke out harshly against it. However, the movement was solidly founded and it began to grow.

Fringe detriments

Due to the fact that Messianic Judaism was born out of both Christianity and Judaism, it seems to draw people from a variety of religious backgrounds and theological dogmas. While this draw is one of the reasons that Messianic Judaism has grown so much in such a short amount of time, to someone looking in from the outside it can, at times, seem to be schizophrenic in its diversity.

The relative newness of the movement also has something to do with this draw. It seems to me that people who are on the fringe of other religions are drawn to almost any new belief system, mostly with the hope that it will uphold their own dogmatic views and pet theological theories. This is especially true of those on the fringe of Protestant Christianity, which has a well-known propensity for spawning diverse dogmatic theologies. It is not uncommon to follow a person’s life from one fringe Christian group to the next, as they get pulled here and there by the waves of doctrine, looking for a group that matches their personal dogmatic views.

In Messianic Jewish circles, however, this semi-schizophrenic diversity is not so clearly relegated to fringe groups as it is in Christianity. It is seen both in what I consider to be “normative” Messianic Judaism and in what I will call “pseudo-Messianic” circles. For instance, in normative Messianic Judaism there are a wide variety of beliefs on the observance of the Torah, from those who hold to the Christian mentality of “I’m free from the Law”, to those who attempt to look like Hasidim—complete with peyot and a streimel but lacking true yiddishkeit—and everything in between. There are also a wide variety of opinions on “the gifts of the Spirit,” with some Messianic congregations looking more like charismatic churches than Jewish synagogues. With this diversity in belief and practice being so common in normative circles, it is no wonder that pseudo-Messianics are blending in so well and having such a large impact on the movement.

And that impact is no small matter. It is very common to speak with someone who calls himself “Messianic” only to find out that he is more interested in promoting his own pet theories on the “End Times”, or teaching you the “correct” way to say God’s name, or talking about how all Gentiles are really Jews, than he is in studying the Torah or learning more about Yeshua or Judaism. It is almost as if these people are attempting to convert the Messianic movement into their own religion based on their personal dogmas, which is usually some “Messianized” form of fringe Christian dogmatics. Sadly, some of these people have actually been somewhat successful in this endeavor, as we will see below.

As the examples above indicate, this diversity is mostly founded on the propensity in some Messianic and pseudo-Messianic circles toward Christian theologies and practices.

Now, before you start to think that I am bashing Christianity or saying that all Christian beliefs are wrong and that Christians are going to hell, let me explain my position in a nutshell. Messianic Judaism is a form of Judaism, not a form of Christianity, and, as such, it must approach life and theology with a Jewish mindset. Though I am not a Christian, and though I do not agree with a lot of Christian theology, I am not anti-Christian. I am just very pro-Messianic.

Pseudo-Messianics

So, these Pseudo-Messianic groups are having a huge impact on the way people see Messianic Judaism; however, they are not valid forms of it. Three of the most common pseudo-Messianic groups are “Jews for Jesus”, the “Ephraimites”, and the “Sacred Name” group.

Jews for Jesus

Jews for Jesus is a Hebrew Christian organization. It can be easily classified as an organization because there are no Jews for Jesus synagogues and because the goals of the group are expressed in “missions” work, not in community-building. It can be classified as Hebrew Christian because it has the outward patina of a Jewish group (including a few Jewish symbols and a dash of Jewish culture), but, the leadership of J-for-J very clearly separates it from Judaism, taking Christian holidays as their official holidays and sending the Jews that they lead to an understanding of Messiah into the Church to become Christians. I do appreciate the fact that the individuals who work with J-for-J are believers in Messiah. However, because of the group’s community-less, Christian approach to teaching people about Messiah I am neither associated with it, nor do I consider it to be Messianic. The organization’s actions give other Messianic believers a bad name in the Jewish community, and it is not willing to see that its radical approach to teaching Jewish people about Messiah is much more apt to push them away than to draw them. The question that invariably comes to my mind is, “How many Jewish people did you push away from Messiah in order to get one to profess faith?”

Ephraimites

A movement known as “Ephraimite,” “Restoration of Israel,” “Two-Covenant Israel,” or “Two House” has grown quickly in the last few years. Most of those who are part of this group are Gentiles who believe that they are descendants of the 10 “Lost Tribes” of Israel. I will not go into the specifics here of why they are not Messianic, but I suggest that you take a look at the position paper developed by the UMJC and the MJAA that details the specifics of this movement and why their theology is Scripturally unsound. Again, this group purports itself to be Messianic, even, in many cases, proclaiming that it is “Torah Observant.” However, the fact of the matter is that their theological foundation is not a genuine love for Israel, but a twisted form of Replacement Theology that is more insidious than the regular strain.

Sacred Name

The Sacred Name group’s main claim to fame is the fact that they use the tetragrammaton in everyday conversation, saying that it is proper to do so because “we know the way to say it now.” They also commonly change the spelling and pronunciation of Yeshua’s name to include the first part of the tetragrammaton. Many of these people also teach that you cannot “be saved” unless you pronounce the name of God in this way (based on an improper translation of Romans 10:9 and other passages). Many times these people are also Ephraimite, but there are forms of the sacred name belief to be found in Christianity, too. This is a serious theological issue that places this group very clearly outside of the realm of authentic Messianic Jewish expression, and even outside of the range of Christian expression.

I have very big problems with these three groups, not the least of which is the fact that they are all working within their own unique forms of Replacement Theology. I do not consider them to be normative, and, in my view, they are not representative of the Messianic community.

Definition? So, now that we have talked about some things that Messianic Judaism is not, here is a short description of what I believe Messianic Judaism is.

Messianic Judaism is, first of all, Messianic, founding all of its beliefs and practices on the fact that Yeshua of Natzeret is the Moshiach and the Son of God.

Messianic Judaism is a form of Judaism, not a form of Christianity.

Messianic Judaism is not only for Jews. It is also for Gentiles who choose to join themselves to the God of Israel. The hopeful end of this inclusion is the ability for all Gentiles to see that they have been given citizenship in the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2) and to understand the responsibilities that come with that citizenship.

Messianic Judaism is not defined by other forms of Judaism, but it should define itself based on halacha formed in a Jewish context—on halacha founded on the Torah she’biktav, the Torat HaShlichim, the Torah shebal peh, and Jewish tradition.

Messianic Judaism will be necessarily different from the other branches of Judaism, most notably because of our belief in Messiah, because of our acceptance of Gentiles without the necessity for conversion or Noachide teachings, and because of the other differences that are inherent in a Yeshua-founded, Torah-oriented lifestyle.

Messianic Judaism will develop its own minchagim that teach the centrality of Torah observance in life while still providing some amount of flexibility within that observance. This flexibility is, in my mind, somewhat akin to the flexibility found in Conservative Judaism.

As with everything else on this site (http://fourquestions.us/), the thoughts above are based on my own understanding of the movement and on my own interpretation of the Scriptures. We are not currently, as a movement, very close to the place that I hope to see us reach in my lifetime, and getting to that place will be a rough road. It will require making some hard choices and probably upsetting some people, especially people in the Christian community who will not understand our vision and our heart. It will definitely require a change in paradigm for many Messianic believers and a forced expulsion of cultic and fringe groups. It will require more maturity and the ability to not worry so much about what others think of us.

These goals are high, but I do not think that they too high for us to reach. I pray that we will all be unafraid to be transparent and flexible as we work to see Messianic Judaism become the movement that Hashem wants it to be.

Written by Joshua Talent of http://fourquestions.us/

The Jewish people for thousands of years have looked forward to the coming of their Mashiach, the hope of Israel. The Torah describes King Messiah: I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. Devarim 18:18-19 

Was the Mashiach (Messiah) to come to destroy the lifestyle of Torah? Was he to come and abolish it from the lives of His people?  Free them from the “Law.” Was he to abolish the Torah? No, He was to teach Torah, to speak it with authority as if we were in Mt. Horeb even today! He is to be the second Moshe!

Mashiach is to speak the words of our Father in heaven, he is to be in total and 100% agreement with the words of the Torah from HaShem. This means Torah faithful!

Suffice it to say that the role of the Mashiach was / is not only to come and live a perfect righteous Jewish lifestyle, but to teach others to do the same. One of the greatest expectations of the Jewish people was that the Mashiach was to teach Torah from Mt. Zion during the Messianic Kingdom, this is what he would do when He comes back in the office of Mashiach Ben David (King Messiah) In His first coming Maran Yeshua fulfilled the office of Mashiach Ben Yosef / Suffering Servant (See Yeshayahu / Isaiah 53).

Rabbeinu Maran Yeshua the Mashiach made this clear to His Talmidim (students), the Torah and Prophets speak of him (Mattityahu / Mathew 5:18). "Therefore if the Mashiach from the Hebrew Scriptures does not measure up with all these requirements that we have set from the Scriptures, then for sure that person is not the Mashiach, but an impostor, the Anti-Messiah.

Therefore “The goal or aim of the Torah is the Mashiach.” Waiting / seeking for / longing for / reading concerning Him in the Hebrew Scriptures, anticipating His coming, is not simply a virtue but a religious obligation, a must! The Rambam thus rules that whoever does not believe in — and whoever does not await the coming of Mashiach, in effect denies the whole Torah, all the prophets beginning with Moshe.

Mashiach is the goal of Torah, not Judaism by itself. Do you want Mashiach now? Get active! Tell some one concerning the hope of Israel – Melech HaMashiach!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldfen4cwnRg