Benei Anusim is the Hebrew term for people whose ancestors were forcibly converted to Catholicism over five centuries ago, during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Historians have often referred to them by the derogatory term "Marranos." “There is a real awakening taking place among the Anousim, many of whom feel a strong and enduring connection to their Jewish heritage.

In the late 14th and 15th century, at the time of mass expulsions of Jews from Spain and Portugal, the Bnai Anousim remained behind, where they continued to preserve their Jewish identity and to practice the Jewish faith covertly. Ancient Faith Marranos come home / Gabi Newman New phenomenon sweeps Portugal: Descendants of Marranos rediscover their Jewish roots and the Jewish faith. One Porto community undergoes mass conversion Full story As a result, this unique phenomenon is still evident even today, even though the Inquisition invested enormous efforts over the centuries to eradicate it.

The Benei Anusim are re-discovering their identity as Jews. They are the awakening giant and are finally “bridging” to our Jewish heritage. They are the products who have survived of over 500 years of Inquisition “tortures, cruelty, and forced conversions”.

Benei Anusim are the result of many centuries, now awakening to our true identity and heritage, according to the prophet Obadiah (v20). We hope to functions as a “bridge” to bring this message of hope and survival of our people. We know what it is to feel the “hatred, prejudice and cruelty” of those who will proclaim that we are “not Jewish”. Jewish is the blood covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This cannot be erased or altered because of people’s opinions. Jewish is in our blood because of inheritance and we ourselves cannot alter this, only awaken to its truth. The cruelty and unkindness shown to our awakening people by those who would “judge and measure our Jewishness” is the same spirit of those religious ones who killed the prophets when they did not like the message they brought from God. It is the same “religious spirit of fear” of those who killed our ancestors because they were “different”. Anusim are being awakened by Hashem at his pleasure and timing. They are being restored to their Hebrew Roots / Jewish Roots.

It is a great mitzva (deed) to help them to return to the Jewish people. To let go of their old master, and re-join the God of Israel.

The following videos do not represent fully what our vision is, but they have certain aspects that we agree, mainly that Jews should stay Jews.

My Italian Jewish surname (last name)… could it be Jewish? Researching Italian Surnames for Possible Jewish Roots

Have you wondered if you have Jewish ancestors? Does your family history include stories of Jewish heritage or Jewish traditions? Some experts state that as much as 50% of the populations of Calabria and Sicily (the most Southern regions of Italy) were Jewish before the Inquisition. During the Inquisition, some of these families moved north in Italy and then east into Greece and Islamic countries to pursue their religion without fear of death. Some were already inter-married with Catholic families and were blending into that society and not openly practicing the Jewish religion so they didn’t need to move. Some were converted to Christianity as adults to stay in their towns and keep their lives.

There is a Jewish congregation in Salonika (Greece) dating to the Inquisition, so that now most of them aren’t even aware of their Italian roots! Rabbi Barbara (see below) has traced her family as it traveled around the Mediterranean and eventually settled in Calabria.

Some of these traveling families returned to Italy after the Inquisition, some didn’t. Knowing that among the emigrants to the US, the Italians were the most likely to return to their homeland, I suspect the same applies to these people.

Here’s an alphabetical list of Jewish surnames (last names) who had lived in Italy.

A lot of them don’t sound to be Italian but they’ve maintained their original foreign writing even if established in Italy: Also a few of them are also used by Christian families and hence it’s impossible to know which is their religion just by their name.

Italy has a very important role in Jewish history and genealogy: it is located centrally on the Mediterranean sea and serves as an important crossroad and an intersection between North and South, East and West, Sephardic and Ashkenazi culture. If your ancestors came from Europe, there are many possibilities that a branch of your family went throuh Italy. In Italy there is not a central collection of records for genealogical purposes, but there are numerous places in which administrative, civil, religious, and military records are stored.

Here you’ll find information and resources on the places where most Jews lived: Ancona, Livorno, Roma, Venezia, Sicily and others.

A

Aadith, Abadì, Abeles, Abenaim, Abeniacar, Abib, Abigdor, Aboaf, Abramson, Abravanel, Abulaffi, Abulaffia, Acco, Acher, Adagnia, Aderca, Ades, Adler, Aelion, Aghib, Ahrens, Ajar, Alatri, Alba, Albahari, Albaum, Albert, Albina, Albini, Alcalai, Alfaquain, Algranati, Alhaique, Allalouf, Allan Civita, Alrnagià, Almansi, Almansi Macchioro, Almeda, Alphandery, Alpron, Alt, Altarass, Altaress, Altberger, Alter, Alticheh, Amar, Ameriglio, Amati, Ambonetti, Ambron, Amì, Amman, Amy, Anau, Ancona, Andrè, Angel, Angeli, Angelini, Anguillara, Anticoli, Ara, Arbib, Archivolti, Arditti, Arditi, Ariani, Arias, Ariccia, Ariete, Arieti, Arnstein, Artom, Aruch, Ascarelli, Ascer, Aschenazi, Ascher, Ascoli, Ascoli Marchetti, Assajcas, Asseo, Astein, Asti, Astrologo, Attal, Attias, Aub, Avigdor, Auerbach, Awerbach, Azankot, Azavei, Azavey, Azria, Azriel, Azzaria.

B

Badalassi Orvieto, Baer, Bachi, Backschmiedt, Bagdalli, Bahorjudà, Baiona, Bak, Balachovsky, Ball, Ballanti, Balog, Banon, Banti, Baquis, Baracchi, Barchi, Barmè Mazloun, Baroccio, Barroccio, Baruch, Barzilai, Barzillon, Basevi, Basilea, Basola, Bassan, Behor, Bassani, Bassano, Bassi, Batò, Battino, Bauer, Beck, Bedarida, Bedussa, Beer, Behar, Beilinson, Belaise, Belforte, Belgrado, Belimbau, Belleli, Bellom, Belmonte, Bemporad, Benadì, Benaim, Benamozegh, Benarayo, Benedetti, Beniacar, Beniamin, Benigno, Benoliel, Bensillun, Bensussan, Benusiglio, Benveniste, Benvenisti, Benzimrà, Benzouan, Berahà, Berer, Bergmann, Bergholz, Bermann, Bernardoni, Berni, Bernheimer, Bernsteir, Bertel, Beruchel, Besso, Betrich, Betti, Bettinelli, Bettmann, Biach, Bianchini, Bienenfeld, Bigiavi, Bigio, Biks, Bingen, Bischof (vescovo!), Bises, Bisi Mantovani, Bisogni, Bisson, Bivak, Blanes, Blaskopf, Blau, Blitz, Bloch, Blotzek, Blum, Blumberg, Blumenthal, Boaz, Bobek, Boccara, Boffi, Boghen, Boehm, Bolaffi, Bolaffio, Bollag, Bolle, Bologna, Bolosca, Baustein, Bonaventura, Bondì, Bonfiglioli, Bonomie, Bonucci, Boralevi, Borgetti, Borghi, Borlenghi, Borseti, Bows, Bracci, Brandenburg, Brandes, Brandi, Braeuer, Braun, Brauner, Braunschweig, Braunstein, Bravermann, Brecher, Breiner, Breinin, Bresner, Brill, Brisi, Brociner, Brok, Brod, Brodanka, Brunner, Buchbinder, Buchsbaum, Bueno, Bunzel.

C

Cabibbe, Cademann, Cadorini, Caffaz, Cagli, Caimi, Caimmi, Caivano, Calabi, Calabresi, Calderoni, Calef, Caleff, Calfoa, Calimani, Calò, Calvo, Camaioli, Camerini, Camerino, Camhi, Camis, Camis de Fonseca, Cammeo, Campagnano, Campos, Canarutto, Cannaruto, Cantoni, Capato, Capua, Carasso, Carrara, Carcsson, Cardoso, Carijo, Carlì, Carmi, Carmona, Caro, Carpanetti, Carpi, Carsen, Caruba, Casanova, Cases, Cases Pellegrini, Cascinelli, Cassin, Cassuto, Castelbolognesi, Castelletti, Castelli, Castelfranchi, Castelfranco, Castelnuovo Tedesco, Castiglioni, Castro, Cattelani, Cava, Cave Bondì, Cavaglieri, Cavaglione, Cavalieri, Caviglia, Cendraissousa, Cervetti, Cesana, Cevidalli, Clerido, Clava, Clerle, Cludnevitz, Chajes, Chapira, Chimichì, Ciaroff, Cingoli, Citone, Citone in Alvarenga, Citoni, Cividalli, Civita, Coen, Coen Cantarini, Coen Gialli, Coenca, Cogoi, Cohen, Coifmann, Colasanti, Colia, Colombo, Colonna, Colorni, Confino, Conforte, Conforti, Confort, Conigliani, Consarelli, Consigli, Consiglio, Consolo, Contini, Corcos, Cori, Corinaldi, Coscas Majon, Costa, Costantini, Cotton, Covo, Cramer, Cratz, Crema, Cremisi, Creo, Croccolo, Curiat, Curiel, Cusin, Cutti, Cuzzeri, Cuzzi, Czachi, Czatzkis, Czimmer.

D

Dadone, Da Fano, D’Agata, Daldon, Dalla Torre, D’Ancona, Daniel, Danitti, Dann, Da Zara, De Abravanel, De Alvarez, De Angelis, Deangelis, De Benedetti, De Castro, De Cori, De Farro, De Frigessy, De Funel, De Leon, Della Riccia, Dell’Ariccia, Della Rocca, Della Seta, Della Torre, Della Volta, Dello Strologo, Del Mar, Del Monte, Del Sole, De Luisa, Del Valle, Del Valle de Paz, Del Vecchio, Demajo, De Medina, De Montel, De Nola, Depace, Depangher, De Paz, De Rossi, De Semo, De Sousa, Dessau, Deutsch, Diamant, Diaz, Di Capua, Di Castro, Di Cave, Dickmann, Di Cori, Diena, Dienstfertig, Di Gioacchino, Di Laudadio, Dina, Di Nepi, Dinkelspiel, Di Nola, Di Porto, Di Segni, D’ltalia, Di Tivoli, Ditz, Di Veroli, Dolfo, Donati, Donner, Doerfles, Dorn, Dowek, Dragoner, Dresner, Dreyfus, Drucker, Dubinsky, Durante, Duranti, D’Urbino.

E

Eckert, Edward, Eibenschuetz, Effendi, Efrati, Ehrenfeld, Ehrenfreund, Ehrenteil, Ehrlich, Eisenstaedter, Elfer, Elia, Elias, Eliazon, Eliezer, Elseo, Eltbogen, Emdin, Eminente, Engel, Enriquez, Eppinger, Epstein, Erber, Ergas, Errera, Esdra, Esquenasi, Essinger, Ettlinger, Evangelisti.

F

Falcini Servi, Falco, Faldini, Faldino, Falk, Fano, Faraggi, Farber, Farchi, Fargion, Farinelli, Farkas, Fasano, Fassel, Fasulo, Fatucci, Fein, Feiner, Feistmann, Felberbaum, Felici, Fellner, Fernandes, Ferrarese, Ferro, Ferusciany, Fiandra, Fiano, Fieder, Fifer, Fink, Finkelstein, Finker, Finzi, Fiorentino, Fimberg, Fischbein, Fischer, Fischl, Fischmann, Fiz, Flack, Flaschel, Fleisher, Fleischner, Foà, Fodor, Foligno, Fonseca, Fontanella, Forlì, Formiggini, Fornari, Forti, Franchetti, Franco, Frank, Frankental, Frankl, Franzes, Frascati, Frassinetti, Freiberger, Freisinger, Frenkel, Fresco, Freund, Fried, Friedenthal, Friedlaender, Friedmann, Fries, Frizzi, Frischmann, Fruchter, Fuà, Fubini, Fuchs, Funaro, Fuerst.

G

Gabbai, Gabriel, Gaensler Frankenstein, Gaggio, Gori, Galinidi, Galletti, Galli, Gallichi, Gallico, Galligo, Gandus, Gani, Garda, Garsen, Garza, Gasperini, Gattegno, Gattinara, Gazes, Geddes, Geller, Gemelli, Genazzani, Gentili, Gentilli, Gentilomo, Gerold, Gerstel, Gerstenfeld, Gesess, Gerschanovitz, Ghersfeld, Ghiron, Ghissin, Giaconi, Giavol, Ginzburg, Giovanelli, Giroux, Giuili, Giuli, Glanz, Glass, Glattstein, Glicenstein, Glueck, Godell, Goetz, Goetzel, Goldbacher, Goldberg, Goldberger, Goldenberg, Goldfinger, Goldfrucht, Goldmann, Goldring, Goldschmiedt, Goldstein, Goldstaub, Golembiovski, Gomel, Gondelmann, Goudstikker, Graf, Granichstaedten, Grassetti, Grassini, Graziani, Greco, Greco-Siglina, Grego, Greiger, Gronich, Gruen, Gruenbaum, Gruenberg, Gruenland, Gruener, Gruenfeld, Gruenwald, Gruss, Guagnacchi, Guetta, Gugenheim, Guggenheim, Guglielmi, Gurewitsch, Guttierez, Guttmann.

H

Haardt, Haas, Haber, Hackl, Hagmann, Hahn, Haim, Haimovici, Haimovitsch, Hajek, Hajon, Hakin, Haliffi, Hamburger, Harmer, Hanania, Hanau, Handler, Hanemann Toff, Hanen, Harrari, Hasdà, Hassan, Hassid, Hasson, Haussmann, Hasan, Heilbrunn, Heimann, Heinhorn, Heischmann, Heitler, Helfer, Heller, Hensel, Hepner, Herbatschek, Herbert, Herlitzka, Hersch, Herschmann, Herzer, Hirschfeld, Hirsch, Herzog (duca), Hochwald, Hodara, Holberg, Hollaender, Hollinger, Honig, Hoenisberg, Horitzky Orsini, Horn, Horniker, Horovici, Horvat, Huesca, Hupperi.

I

Ichainer, Illes, Isciaki, Ismalun, Israel, Israeli, Issel, Issmann, Italia.

J

Jacchia, Jacobson, Jacur, Jaffe, Jahni, Janowitz, Janni, Jarach, Jarè, Jenda, Jenina, Jenna, Jenni, Jesi, Jesurum, Jessulam, Job, Joffe, Johanan, Jolles, Jones, Jona, Jos, Joseph, Josz, Joung, Jules, Just.

K

Kabiglio, Kach, Kagnaff, Kahn, Kajon, Kalk, Kalmus, Kaminka, Kaptan, Kasman, Kastner, Katz, Kauffrnann, Kaula, Keller, Kern, Kessler, Kirsch, Kirschen, Kitt, Klauber, Klein, Kleinzeller, Klippel, Klugmann, Koch, Kohn, Kohner, Kolb, Koltzinsky, Koenigsberger, Konti, Konrad, Koerber, Korn, Kornell, Kornfeld, Koschiltzki, Kostoris, Krassner, Kraus, Krauterkraft, Krebs, Kreh, Kreilsheim, Kremer, Kron, Kries, Krikunetz, Kron, Kropf, Kruskah, Krzentowski, Kuehn.

L

Lacis, Lackenbacher, Lacomba, Laden, Lager, Laide, Lakin, Lamberg, Lampronti, Landesmann Laudi, Landau, Langbank, Lanternari, Lanzana, Lapajowker, Lappert, Lascar, Lassejower, Laz, Latis, Lattes, Latzer, Lavagno, Leblis, Lehrecht, Lecerf, Lechner, Lenner, Lee, Leipziger, Lekner, Lenghi, Lennox, Leone, Leoni, Leonino, Leonzini, Leperer, Lerner, Lessmann, Levi, Levi Bianchini, Levibran, Levi-Cases Momigliano, Levi de Veali, Levi Minzi, Levi Montalcini, Levin, Levis Levitsch, Lewish, Levy, Lewy, Lichetnstadt, Lichtenstein, Lieblein, Liehmann, Limentani, Lindemer, Linder, Lipschuetz, Liscia, Liuzzi, Livoli, Lob, Locascio-Goldschmiedt, Lodeserto, Loeb, Loeffler, Loevy, Loewy, Loisada, Lolli, Lombroso, Lopes, Lopez, Lopez-Rabello, Lorant, Loria, Loschitz, Loethe, Loevinson, Loew, Loewental, Loewenthal, Loewinson, Loewy, Luft, Luftschuetz, Luisada, Lumbroso, Luria, Lusena, Lust, Lustig, Lutomirsky, Luttinger, Luzzatti, Luzzatto.

M

Macchioro, Macerata, Maendl, Maestri, Maestro, Magrini, Mahlberg, Maimann, Maino, Maionica, Maissa, Majò, Malvano, Manara, Manasse, Mandel, Mandelberg, Mandler, Mandula, Mangold, Mann, Mannheimer, Marach, Marcaria, Marcheria, Marcus, Margulies, Mariani, Marino, Marini, Mariotti, Maroni, Marradi, Marsiglio, Massa, Massarani, Massarek, Massiah, Matalon, Mattatia, Mattersdorfer, Mautner, Mayer, Mazzola, Mazoleni, Medina, Medvedieff, Medoro, Meinster, Melgrano, Melli, Menasci, Mendel, Mendes, Menz, Merkl, Mesha, Mestre, Michelis, Michelstaedter, Mieli, Migliau, Milano, Milla, Millul, Minerbi, Mingardi, Mires, Misan, Misan-Saia, Misano, Misul, Misrahi, Modena, Modiano, Modigliani, Modigliano, Modona, Moeller, Moisé, Molco, Molnar, Momigliani, Momigliano, Mondolfi, Mondolfo, Mondovì, Monferini, Monreale, Monselise, Monselles, Montag, Montagnana, Montalcini, Montalcino, Montalti, Montebarozzi, Montecorboli, Montefiore, Montefiori, Montel, Montiglia, Morais, Moravia, Mordo, Mordoh, Morel, Morelli, Morello, Moreno, Moreschi, Moresco, Moretti, Morgenstern, Mori, Moroni, Morpurgo, Mortara, Mortera, Morway, Moscato, Moscé, Moskowitz, Moully, Mrad Esses, Mosseri, Muggia, Mugnai, Muehlstein, Muia, Muelberg, Mueller, Musacchi, Musatti, Mussafia, Mustacchi.

N

Naar, Nacamù, Nacamulli, Nacmias, Nacson, Nador, Najschitz, Nahmias, Nahon, Nahum, Naim, Namen, Namer, Nathan, Navara, Navarra, Navarro, Negrini, Neiger Nepi, Neppi, Neri, Neppi Modona, Neris, Netter, Neumann, Nibal Raimondi, Nigris, Nissim, Nizza, Nordlinger, Norlenghi, Norsa, Norzi, Nossal, Nunes, Nunes Franco, Nunes Vais, Nuernberg, Nussbaum.

O

Oberdorfer, Oblath, Ocvirk, O’Hara, Ohlsen, Olivieri, Olivetti, Olper, Olschki, Oppenheim, Oreffice, Orefice, Orefici, Ortona, Orvieto, Oser, Osimo, Osmo, Osta, Oesterreicher, Ottolenghi, Ottolenghi Boccara, Ottolenghi di Vallepiana, Ovazza.

P

Pace, Pacifici, Padoa, Padova, Padovani, Padovano, Paggi, Panerai, Panzieri, Paoli, Paper, Pardo, Pardo – Roques, Parente, Parenzo, Passigli, Pattin, Pavia, Pavoncello, Pegna, Perez, Perlmutter, Permutti, Perpetui, Perugia, Pesaro, Pesaro Maurogonato, Pescarolo, Philipson, Piattelli, Piazza, Picard, Picciacci, Picciaccio, Pick, Pieboni, Piesen, Pignero, Piha, Pincherle, Pinto, Piperno, Pines, Pirani, Pirola, Pisa, Pisanty, Pisetzky, Pisinger, Pitigliani, Pitteri, Plankenstein, Plaskis, Platzek, Plaschier, Poggetto, Poggibonsi, Poggiolini, Polacco, Poliakoff, Politi, Politzer, Pollak, Pomeranz, Pontecorboli, Pontecorvo, Pontremoli, Popper, Porges, Porta, Portaleon, Portaleone, Portnoff, Porto, Post, Pozinak, Prato, Pregel, Pressburger, Priester, Procaccia, Prohatzka, Provenzal, Pugliese, Puritz, Puttermann, Putti.

Q

Quercioli.

R

Rabà, Rabbeno, Rabelio, Rabinovici, Racah, Radau, Raffael, Raffaelli, Rahamin, Ram, Randegger, Rappaport, Rath, Ravà, Ravà Longhi, Ravenna, Ravicz, Reah, Recanati, Reder, Redzinsky, Reeson, Reggio, Reghini, Reich, Reichenback, Reichmann, Reinach, Reiner, Reinert, Reinhardt, Reinisch, Reis, Reiser, Reis, Reissner, Remondini, Renier, Resignani, Restani, Reuben, Revan, Revere, Revici, Riboni, Richetti, Richtmann, Riedler, Rieger, Rieti, Rietti, Rignano, Riftin, Rimini, Rocca, Roccas, Rodriguez, Roganti, Rogers, Roumann, Romanelli, Romani, Romanin, Romanin Jacur, Romano, Romoli, Roques, Rosel, Rosen, Rosenberg, Rosenfeld, Rosenholz, Rosenstein, Rosenthal, Rosenzweig, Rosselli, Rossi, Rotbart, Roth, Rouff, Rouzel, Rovighi, Rubert, Rubinstein, Rudoi, Russi.

S

Sabatello, Sabbadini, Sacerdote, Sacerdoti, Sacerdotti, Sacerdotti di Carobbio, Sachs, Sacuto, Sadok, Sadun, Saadun, Saffaro, Sagà, Saiegli, Salem, Salmon, Salmona, Salmoni, Salom, Salonicchio, Saltiel, Salto, Salus, Samaia, Sambulovich, Samuele, Sancò, Sanguinetti, Sanguski, Santillana, Saporta, Saralvo, Sarasson, Saraval, Saravalle, Sarfatti, Sariette, Sarsowski, Sasson, Savani, Saxel, Scazzocchio, Scandiani, Scaramella, Scarpa, Schjowitz, Schalmon, Schamasch, Schapira, Schaerf, Schick, Schiffer, Schiller, Schischa, Schlesinger, Schloss, Schmitz, Schmoltz, Schmukler, Schnur, Schoen, Schoenfeld, Schoenhaut, Schoenheit, Schoenstein, Schor, Schostal, Schotte, Schreiber, Schreider, Schultz, Schunnach, Schuessler, Schuetz, Schwarz, Schwarzkopf, Schweiger, Schwob, Sciaky, Scitrug, Sciunnach, Sdraffa, Sed, Sefardi, Segal, Segrè, Seidel, Seidmann, Seif, Semak, Semania, Semo, Senigaglia, Senigallia, Sepilli, Serena, Sereni, Sereno, Sergi, Sermoneta, Serravalle, Serrera, Servadio, Servi, Sessa, Sessi, Sestieri, Sforni, Sermann, Siccoli Bondì, Siebzehner, Sierra, Silbermann, Silva, Sivera, Sinai, Singer, Sitri, Slvaja, Smolensky, Smolesco, Soarez, Soliani, Soavi, Somenzi, Sommer, Sommermann, Sonne, Sonnenberger, Sonnino, Sorani, Sorbi, Soria, Sornaga, Sorraga, Soschino, Spagnoletto, Spagnolo, Specos, Spiegel, Spierer, Spitilli, Spitz, Spitzer, Spizzichino, Sprinzeles, Sraffa, Stein, Steindler, Steiner, Steinhardt, Stern, Steinhaus, Sternberg, Sternfeld, Sternschuss, Stettner, Stipanowitsch, Stock, Straaten, Stransky, Strossberg, Stucovitz, Stuetzel, Suarez, Subak, Subert, Sullam, Sulmona, Sun, Supino, Susani, Susin, Suess, Suessland, Sviadoschitz, Szabados, Szamatolsky, Szeynberg, Szirmay.

T

Tabet, Tagger, Tagiuri, Tagliacozzo, Tailor, Tajar, Tannenbaum, Taenzer, Taubert, Taussig, Tazartes, Tedeschi, Tedesco, Teglio, Teichner, Temin, Terni, Terracina, Terracini, Tesoro, Teubal, Tewich, Thuretzky, Tiano, Tivoli, Toaff, Todeschini, Todesc, Todros, Toledano, Tolentino, Tolosa, Torres, Toscano, Toschi, Tramer, Treulich, Treves, Treves de’ Bonfili, Trevi, Trevis, Trieste, Trietsch, Trionfo, Turba, Tuerk, Turra.

U

Udine, Ullmann, Umano, Ungar, Urbini, Urbino, Urovitz, Usigli, Usiglio, Uziel, Uzielli.

V

Valabrega, Valch, Valensin, Valenti, Valentin, Valenzin, Valobra, Valmarano, Valmarin, Varadi, Varios, Varsano, Velicogna, Venezia, Veneziani, Veneziano, Ventura, Vercelli, Veroli, Verona, Verreano, Vigdorcik, Vigevani, Vigevano, Vilcher, Visser, Vita, Vitta, Vitale, Vitalevi, Vitali, Viterbi, Viterbo, Vitta Zelmann, Vivante, Vivanti, Vovante, Vogel, Vogelmann, Vogler, Voghera, Volli, Volterra, Vretermann, Vucenovich.

W

Wachsmann, Walch, Wallfisch, Waschitz, Wassermam, Wax, Wehli, Weichsel, Weiger, Weil, Weiller, Weil-Schott, Weinstein, Weisberg, Weischel, Weishut, Weiss, Weiss Dodi, Weisser, Weissmann, Weizmann, Weleminsky, Welisch, Werblowsky, Wernikoff, Wilhelm, Windspach, Winternitz, Wohl, Wolf, Wolfler, Wolff, Wolfsohn, Wollemborg, Wollner, Wolner, Wortmann.

Z

Zabban, Zaccaria, Zaccuti, Zacun, Zacutti, Zagdun, Zalai, Zalman-Finzi, Zamatto, Zamorani, Zanotti, Zarfati, Zargani, Zarzovsky, Zebolun, Zeller, Zelman, Zemanek, Zevi, Zibell, Zibren, Ziffer, Zipper, Zitrin, Zmigrod, Zoller, Zuccari, Zuckermann, Zurk, Zweig, Zwillinger.

Question: "What does the Bible say about homosexuality? Is homosexuality a sin?

Homosexuality is the manifestation of sexual desire toward a member of one’s own sex or the erotic activity with a member of the same sex.

The Bible condemns homosexuality as an immoral and unnatural sin. Leviticus 18:22 identifies homosexual sex as an abomination, a detestable sin. Romans 1:26-27 declares homosexual desires and actions to be shameful, unnatural, lustful, and indecent. First Corinthians 6:9 states that homosexuals are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Bible consistently teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When people continue in sin and unbelief, God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. 1 Corinthians 6:9 proclaims that homosexual “offenders” will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God does not create a person with homosexual desires. The Bible tells us that people become homosexuals because of sin (Romans 1:24-27) and ultimately because of their own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as some people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person’s choosing to sin by giving in to sinful desires. If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger/rage, does that make it right for him to give into those desires? Of course not! The same is true with homosexuality.

However, the Bible does not describe homosexuality as a “greater” sin than any other. All sin is offensive to God. Homosexuality is just one of the many things listed in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that will keep a person from the kingdom of God. According to the Bible, God’s forgiveness is just as available to a homosexual as it is to an adulterer, idol worshipper, murderer, thief, etc. God also promises the strength for victory over sin, including homosexuality, to all those who will believe in our Rabbi Yeshua for their salvation (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13).

There is healing out there. The God of Israel is able and willing to bring healing to anyone of homosexual orientation who wishes to change.

http://healinghomosexuality.com/- http://www.gaytostraight.org/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2ycSiO-sVY

Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua got up and followed him, as did his talmidim. {9:20} Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the tzitziyot of his garment; {9:21} for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”

When we study the Good News of Redemption accounts of Mattityahu, Mark, and Luke, we find some very interesting verses concerning the fringes. In Hebrew, we say tzitziyot. Specifically, these verses are Mattityahu 9:20; 14:36a, Mark 6:56; and Luke 8:44. Without a shadow of a doubt, they demonstrate that Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua definitely was a Torah-observant Jewish man who kept the Torah commandment to wear tzitziyot in the four corners of his garment as instructed in the Torah in Bemidbar 15:37-41.

But what is the purpose of wearing tzitziyot? The purpose is to help remember the mitzvot of HaShem and to perform them. HaShem has given many object lessons to His children so that they (also we) would remember and keep His instructions and another one concerns the wrapping of tefillin. The reason for this mitzva is for shamar v’zachar (remembering, keeping, and observing) His instructions for our lives, that is, the Torah. 

The Greek word phylakterion has been transliterated into English as the word "phylactery" and literally means a protecting charm or amulet. (remember that Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua spoke Aramaic every day, thus He never thought of them as such) Through this unfortunate transliteration, the important spiritual meaning contained in the commandment and even in the word itself is lost. In Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua’s time, phylacteries were not regarded as amulets or “lucky charms”. The Hebrew word is tefillin which is the plural of the word tefillah.  The meaning of tefillah is diametrically opposed to amulet or lucky charm. Tefillah means prayer. The word phylactery does not even appear in the Tanach.

Tefillin consist of the two small leather boxes or batim, boxes that house small slips of parchment. The parchment slips are inscribed with the Scripture passages in Shemot 13:1-10, 11-16, Devarim 6:4-9, and Devarim 11:13-21. All components of tefillin are made from kosher materials. The central theme of wearing tefillin is the act of binding. The tefillin bind you not only physically but also spiritually. We, with our western mindset and culture, conjure up all kinds of negative “feelings” when we hear the word bind. Somehow we associate it with bondage. Yet when we read the Scripture references above in connection with tefillin they are associated with remembering, keeping, and observing HaShem’s instructions. Who would dare to consider that to be bondage? No one is 100% sure how the tefillin were worn in Yeshua’s day except to say that the same two parts that are worn today were in existence 2000 years ago. The two components of tefillin are called shel yad, which is worn on the arm and fingers and shel rosh worn on the head.

Archeological discoveries have confirmed this as fact. Today, just as in Yeshua’s day, the tefillin are strapped on the forehead and the arm. The shel yad, consists of one compartment containing a parchment on which all four Torah passages or parshiyot are written; the shel rosh is divided into four compartments each of which contains a parchment with one of the four Torah passages written on it. When you gaze upon them, as you would also upon the mezuzah and the tzitziyot, you are quickened to remember the words of the Torah for your life. The tefillin also serve as a memorial – a remembrance of the exodus from Mitzrayim. The remembrance also of the mitzvot of HaShem. The tefillin are a sign of where we have been, that is, Miztrayim or bondage and where we are going, that is, Malchut HaShem or the Kingdom of Heaven. The tefillin are especially a sign of our recognition of HaShem even by their very construction. The Hebrew letters shin, dalet, and yod are evident through the wrapping of the straps around the fingers and across the palm of the hand and the knots in the straps.

The letter shin is also engraved upon the outside of the batim. The three Hebrew letter shin, dalet, and yod spell the word Shaddai which means HaShem provides, the one who is all-sufficient and sustains His people with spiritual nourishment. The literal meaning of Shaddai is the “many breasted one” implying a feminine side of HaShem that nourishes His children as a nursing mother breastfeeds her baby. The theme of binding is carried out by reciting the verses of Hoshea 2:21-22 while winding the strap around the fingers. “And I will betroth you to me forever. Yes I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in compassion. And I will betroth you to me in faithfulness and you will know HaShem”. These verses consummate the binding in a betrothal between man and HaShem. This is a marriage ceremony of sorts each time the tefillin is worn.

2000 years ago, the wearing of tefillin was and is viewed as a fulfillment of the Torah mitzvah or commandment. Although the word tefillin is not found in the Tanach, the Talmud has interpreted the instruction literally and so the words of HaShem are literally bound around our arm (close to our heart) and are literally frontlets between our eyes (close to our minds).  In all probability, tzitziyot and tefillin were part of ordinary dress of the Israelites in Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua’s day and even earlier.  The custom of wrapping tefillin during weekday morning prayers as is practiced today, is a relatively modern custom (BUT IS AMAZING). 2000 years ago, they were worn most likely all day only being removed for work or when entering a place that was deemed ritually unclean. Archeological evidence of tefillin fragments dating back to the 1st century was unearthed in the Judean Desert in caves near the Dead Sea. The most dramatic find was a shel rosh approximately 2000 years old with 3 of the 4 original parchment slips still folded and securely ties in their original compartments. Announcement of this discovery was published by Israeli archeologist Yigael Yadin in "Tefillin from Qumran". 1969. The size of the shel rosh, or frontlet was so small and inconspicuous that it hardly would have been noticed. The bayit or box found at Qumran is rectangular and approximately ½” by ¾”. It was very inconspicuous to say the least. Is this what Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua was criticizing when we read the account in Mattityahu?

In Mattityahu 23:5, we read that Yeshua criticized those men who enlarged their batim or boxes and widened the straps that were securing them. Note that he never condemned them or criticized them for simply wearing tefillin. On the other hand, he was indeed criticizing them for enlarging their tefillin to appear to be a level above the rest spiritually yet were acting hypocritically. In all probability, Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua himself was wearing tefillin as he most certainly was wearing tzitziyot in the four corners of his outer garment, the tallit. These were not customs or traditions but rather acts of obedience to HaShem’s commandments in the Torah. There is no evidence to think that Yeshua condemned the wearing of tefillin. On the other hand, he supported the Halacha that interpreted the Scriptures literally concerning the fact that they are indeed to be “a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes”.

Please view video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ8859Y6VDE

חבל משיח  “Chevlei Mashiach” means the “Birthpangs of the Messiah.” Messianic Judaism (All Judaism is by theory Messianic) teaches that the arrival of Mashiach is accompanied by birth pangs. This is also sometimes referred to as the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.”

Jewish writings often refer to the birthpangs of Mashiach – Chevlei Mashiach. These birthpangs are the corporate suffering of the Jewish people and of the Messiah who sits at the right hand of the Father and cries with us until the time of the final redemption comes. Only our Father in heaven knows the time and hour of Mashiach’s coming. We are now at the conclusion of the Galut (exile). We have been through the labors of beirurim – (sifting) and refining with all their attendant trials. Moreover, we have been through some of the "birthpangs of Mashiach," those awesome events that have taken place in our generation (Israel as Nation, Jerusalem as its capital, Sanhedrin established, the war in Iraq, etc). It is now clear and obvious that we are standing at the threshold of the Redemption. Like Yosef and His brothers, Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua HaMashiach has been kept hidden from His brethren until the appointed time. Our holy Rabbi has been made king in a Gentile world that has changed his name, identity and appearance. Yet like Yosef, all this will have been for the purpose of a great redemption. But now the day has come when he must remove, as Yosef did, his Gentile clothes and reveal Himself to those who, for a long time, have not recognized him. For two thousand years, He has watched his Jewish brothers suffer, dispersed among the nations without a leader or king. Their suffering has been his own. Surely, in this last generation the birthpangs of Messiah and His people have been the greatest. Yet in the darkest of hours there is hope, for just as birth is preceded  and accompanied by birthpangs, the Sages tell us that there are likewise ‘pangs of Mashiach’ in the generation in which the Son of David will appear. And just as birthpangs hamper a birth, the greatest outcry in that generation will come when the obstacles are most numerous. 

The account of Yosef and his brothers has much to teach us regarding the relationship between Maran Yeshua and the Jewish people. It also speaks of that great event when, as Rav Shaul (Paul says), "All Israel will be saved." (Romim / Romans 11:26) See also: All Israel have a share in the World to Come, as it is stated: "And your people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever. [They are] the branch of My planting, the work of My hands in which to take pride."

"Then Yosef could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Have everyone leave my presence!’ So there was no-one with Yosef when he made himself known to his brothers." When Maran Yeshua HaMashiach returns to reveal himself to his brothers and fight their enemies with them, the Scripture tells us that he too will be alone: “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no-one was with me… For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of redemption was come. I looked, but there was no-one to help, I was appalled that no-one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.” (Yeshayahu / Isaiah 63:3-6) What a terrible day that will be, when the Messiah will have to stand and fight for his people and land–alone. After the Holocaust, nations swore that they would not let it happen again. Yet this very day, the nations of the world are conspiring against Israel and supporting her enemies. How close we are to that "day of vengeance". Not only that, but the Besorah HaTova HaGeula says that when the "time of the Gentiles" is over, then He will reaveal himself to all Israel. (Uri / Luke 21:24) We are close! 

Today we recognize that non-Jews have gentilized our holy Rabbi Yeshua so much, giving him non-Hebrew names and clothing him with garments of false doctrine that have made him unrecognizable to his brethren. Often throughout history, the Jewish people have cried out for the Messiah, but the time had not yet come fully (thousand of Jewish people believe today). Like Yosef, Maran Yeshua himself will remove his non-Hebrew attire and tell them who He is.

Yosef did not say to his brothers, "I am Zaphenath-Paneah;" he said, "I am Yosef!" This will take place very soon!   Restoration is soon to come to Israel. Israel will finally fulfill her destiny as the “Or LaGoyim” "light to the nations." Great weeping will arise out of deep joy and healing. The birthpangs of the Messiah will then be over, and what is soon to come will be as "life from the dead!" A Nation will be reborn and Yeshua, Mashiach Ben David will be revealed.

The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt on Mount Zion and Temple Worship will be reestablished, the word of HaShem will come out of Zion, from the mouth of our holy Messiah. May it happen soon in our days!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B37Mp6mhs3A

The Science of Homosexuality: “Well I was born this way – God created me this way – God made me a homosexual”

Due to the Fall of Mankind and sin entering the world it opened the door for physical degenerations, mutations, and physical and medical anomalies in the human genome as well as chemical imbalances and deficiencies in the brain. However, it’s not God’s fault, it’s ours. By our own free will to choose to sin, we made way for sin and corruption to enter and infest the world and thus we are living with the aftermath and repercussions. We are the ones who sinned and transgressed God’s commands and mandates and got ourselves into this mess. We are the one who opened Pandora’s Box and let the cat out of the bag. God was the one who was trying to protect us from all of this. So, because we live in an imperfect and sinful world some people are born with defects, cleft pallets and such, some are even born hermaphrodite, but surgery can take care of both of those conditions.

Spiritually, because of the Fall we are predisposed to sin, but we have the free will whether to give into it or not. It is now scientifically proven by certain genetic markers that some people are born predisposed to alcoholism, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and yes, even homosexuality, violence and murder. So does this mean we let people self destruct with alcohol and drugs? Does that mean we allow people to be come like the HBO serial killer Dexter because he can help but kill and besides, he only kills bad guys, people that “deserve” to die!? Heck no! If substance abuse and murder is a sin and we will do whatever we can to save people from it, why not homosexuality? I clearly point out in my article “Homosexuality in the Buff” that homosexuality in God’s eyes is a divinely prohibited and an abominable sin. So in short God didn’t make you this way but allowed degeneration and sin to progress. We made the bed and we have to lie in it. But one day Moshiach will come and correct and restore all things and make things as they were before the Fall.

If substance abuse and murder is a sin and we will do whatever we can to save people from it, why not homosexuality? Because it is a, “lifestyle choice?” Or because someone claims they were born that way? Look, doing drugs is a lifestyle choice as well as an addiction but we try and help people who are addicted; that is if they want help. Before a sin becomes an addiction it begins as a choice (Yaacov – James 1:15). Granted, a choice perhaps due to influence whether cultural or genetically, but a controllable personal choice nonetheless. Corrupted genetics may have something to do with ones sexual preferences but does that excuse one from giving into, adopting, advocating, engaging in and living such a lifestyle? I think not. A test was done where a heroine addict’s brain was scanned as well as a guy who at the time was looking at pornography and the brain scans side by side were virtually identical. This shows that sex and even sexual preferences can become addictions.

Just as there is rehab for drug and alcohol abusers there is help for those caught in pornography and homosexuality. Do we force them to get help? No, you can lead a camel to water but you can not make him drink. Just as you cannot force a serial killer to get help, or a substance abuser to enter rehab, you cannot force a homosexual to get the help they need. If the person does not see the need for help and is forced to get help for themselves, no matter what the program might be for recovery, it will not work. Just as sin is a choice of ones free will, so is recovery.

Look, we all have our vices, for some it’s lying, stealing, anger, heterosexual pornography and alcoholism; and for some it just happens to be homosexuality. Yes, I know for those who have and are fighting homosexual tendencies, for those who are getting out of that lifestyle and wanting to walk by the Torah, it is not easy and a challenge to say the least. It is not to different from the path of a recovering drug addict or alcoholic. It’s all about the moment to moment, the day to day battle. And just because you struggle from time to time or even on a daily basis it does not mean it is an impossible fight or one that you are alone in.

If one is struggling with homosexuality and desires to be free from it, I suggest getting in contact with Exodus International: “The largest information and referral ministry in the world addressing homosexual issues.”

By Rabbi Yehudah ben Shomeyr

More: Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2972eZ_dAJ0

“לםרבה המשרה ולשלום אין-קץ / Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever.” Yeshayahu / Isaiah 9:7.

Dr. Karl Coke said: The Hebrew alphabet has two forms for the letter “Mem.” One is open מ (Mem) and is used at the beginning or middle of a word and the other ם (end Mem) is used when the letter appears at the end of the word. The Mem is the first letter in the Hebrew word Mashiach (Messiah). It is also the first letter in the Hebrew word Moshe. The Torah is mostly open for all to study. However, according to Jewish tradition difficult portions of the Torah will be explained only by the Mashiach. This is what has led some Jewish people to conclude that the open form of the Mem is used to describe Torah portions which are open and the final or closed form of the Mem to describe those too difficult to understand. Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua HaMashiach, will make HaShem’s Word understood. He said that the Torah, Prophets and Writings speak clearly about Him. In Yochanan / John 5:39 He says, "These are the Scriptures that testify about me (the Mashiach)."

The Mem, the letter of "water" (mayim) symbolizes the fountain of the Divine Wisdom of Torah. The letter Mem is the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. The letter Mem is equivalent to forty (40). Also the closed, final Mem represents the era of Mashiach as explained in Jewish Tradition.

The Messianic prophecy found in Yeshayahu 9:6 (7) shows in a amazing way how the final Mem is used to describe Melech HaMashiach, and how is to be His appearance to this world. As we have pointed out the closed Mem is always used at the end of the word. The exception to this rule is found in Yeshayahu 9:6 (7) at the middle of the first word, the word is לםרבה / L’Marbe (of the increase.) This indicates (according to the modern rabbis) an increase in the Mashiach’s government. Normally (as any Hebrew student would have learned), the final Mem would be at the end of a word, the regular Mem would be found in any other place of the word, but in this case, the final Mem defies the rules of Hebrew grammar.

In the Zohar, a Mystical Jewish writing says, “The closed Mem refers to the fact that the Messiah would be born from a ‘closed womb’.”

In a prayer composed by Reb Nosson a traditional Breslov prayer called "Likutei Tefillot", for a birthing woman he says: "Open the gates of birth for her, and in Your great mercy, open the “closed Mem” of her womb…"

Through this we can learn two things. One, it is Biblical to believe that Mashiach would be born from a closed womb, meaning via a virgin birth (in our oppinion). Two that the kingdom of Mashiach will be M’Olam, meaning it will be forever, yes it will increase, but the peace that He will bring will be an everlasting. See also Micah 5:1 for Mashiach’s birth place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMe03ZrYwG0

A recently discovered pagan shrine dedicated to Rome’s legendary founder Romulus and his brother Remus is being linked by some experts to the first celebration of Christmas held on the date that still marks the festivity today.

Last month Italian archaeologists unveiled an underground grotto, which they believe ancient Romans worshipped as the place where a wolf nursed the legendary twins.

Now, a top Italian scholar thinks a church built on the site of the shrine was where Christmas was first marked on Dec. 25 — making it a symbolic place in efforts to link pagan practices and Christian celebrations.

“This is very probably the church where the first Christmas was celebrated,” Andrea Carandini, a professor of archaeology at Rome’s La Sapienza University, told reporters Friday. “Now we know why.”

He said the site of the “Lupercale” shrine was chosen by the 4th century Emperor Constantine to build the Basilica of St. Anastasia — the first church to rise not on the ancient city’s outskirts, but on the Palatine Hill, the palatial center of power and religion in imperial Rome.

The church is little known today, but at the time it was one of the most important basilicas for Christians in Rome, Carandini said. Placing the church just a few steps from an important pagan shrine was part of Constantine’s strategy of promoting Christianity while linking it to the practices of the more ancient religion.

“The church was built to christianize these pagan places of worship,” Carandini said. “It was normal to put a church near these places to try to ‘save’ them.”

Angelo Bottini, a scholar who did not take part in the research and Rome’s archaeological superintendent, said Carandini’s hypothesis was “evocative and coherent” and “helps us understand the mechanisms of the passage from paganism to Christianity.”

Constantine ended the frequent waves of anti-Christian persecutions in the Roman empire by making Christianity a lawful religion in 313, and he played a key role in unifying the beliefs and practices of the early followers of Jesus.

In one defining moment, he presided over the Council of Nicaea in 325, which among other things homogenized the dates of important Christian festivals. The council opted to mark Christmas, at that point celebrated at different dates throughout Christianity, on Dec. 25 to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating the birth of the sun god, Carandini said.

Sometime after the council, St. Anastasia was built on the Palatine, possibly as early as 326, Carandini said.

While it was already believed among scholars that the first Christmas service was held at St. Anastasia church, it was not known that the grotto of Romulus and Remus was possibly so close.

The “Lupercale” shrine was named after the “lupa” — Latin for she-wolf — who according to legend saved Romulus and Remus, the twin sons of the god of war Mars abandoned in a basket and left adrift on the River Tiber.

So far archaeologists have only been able to see the structure buried 16 meters (52 feet) underground by inserting probes and cameras that have revealed a vaulted ceiling decorated with colored marble and a white imperial eagle.

Though some experts have expressed doubts on the identification of the “Lupercale,” most archaeologists believe the shrine fits the descriptions found in ancient texts, and plans are being drawn up to excavate the structure further.

Bottini and Carandini both said future digs would also be able to prove the link between the shrine and the church if structures belonging to the “Lupercale” were found directly below the basilica.

Taken from: http://abcnews.go.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j1dnLS8fuM

Do we not have our own holidays, our own traditions? Do we need to (if even in a secular fashion) pay tribute to a holiday that was traditionally marked by pogroms and other displays of Anti-Semitism, and just plain rooted in paganism?

Should we engage in the frenzy of excess that many engage in during December, and then suffer the feelings of guilt, not to mention the consequences of financial irresponsibilty, that come in January?

I have nothing against other people`s belief system who choose to practice their religion as long as they dont force it on me. That said, I see the concept of a Jewish Christmas as non-sensical as a Jewish Easter. Christmas originated as a pagan holiday, and continues to be so to this day.

I may not be the best person Biblically speaking, but that said, I do know that a key belief in Judaism is the belief in one God and that He commanded us not to imitate the ways of the heathens. We do not celebrate various Hindu holidays, so to celebrate the holidays of our persecutors is not only foolish, either; Hinduism, like Christianity, claims to worship one god in three forms (other pagan thing).

I do not care what other religions do, as long as it is not forced on me; I am not their judge, their monitor, nor do I want to be. I am not the supreme authority over other Jews either. However, if we wish to survive as a people, we need to keep our traditions, our seperateness, and by adopting the holidays of Christians, we imperil our future and disrespect the sufferings of our ancestors.

The Origin Of Christmas

Christmas is a holiday shared and celebrated by many religions. It is a day that has an effect on the entire world. To many people, it is a favorite time of the year involving gift giving, parties and feasting. Christmas is a holiday that unifies almost all of professing Christendom. The spirit of Christmas causes people to decorate their homes and churches, cut down trees and bring them into their homes, decking them with silver and gold. In the light of that tree, families make merry and give gifts one to another.

When the sun goes down on December 24th, and darkness covers the land, families and churches prepare for participation in customs such as burning the yule log, singing around the decorated tree, kissing under the mistletoe and holly, and attending a late night service or midnight mass.

What is the meaning of Christmas? Where did the customs and traditions originate? You, as a Bible believer, would want to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, discerning good from evil. The truth is that all of the customs of Christmas pre-date the birth of Maran Yeshua, and a study of this would reveal that
Christmas in our day is a collection of traditions and practices taken from many cultures and nations. The date of December 25th comes from Rome and was a celebration of the Italic god, Saturn, and the rebirth of the sun god. This was done long before the birth of Yeshua.

It was noted by the pre-Christian Romans and other pagans, that daylight began to increase after December 22nd, when they assumed that the sun god died. These ancients believed that the sun god rose from the dead three days later as the new-born and venerable sun. Thus, they figured that to be the reason for increasing daylight. This was a cause for much wild excitement and celebration. Gift giving and merriment filled the temples of ancient Rome, as sacred priests of Saturn, called dendrophori, carried wreaths of evergreen boughs in procession.

In Germany, the evergreen tree was used in worship and celebration of the yule god, also in observance of the resurrected sun god. The evergreen tree was a symbol of the essence of life and was regarded as a phallic symbol in fertility worship.

Witches and other pagans regarded the red holly as a symbol of the menstrual blood of the queen of heaven, also known as Diana. The holly wood was used by witches to make wands. The white berries of mistletoe were believed by pagans to represent droplets of the semen of the sun god. Both holly and mistletoe were hung in doorways of temples and homes to invoke powers of fertility in those who stood beneath and kissed, causing the spirits of the god and goddess to enter them. These customs transcended the borders of Rome and Germany to the far reaches of the known world.

The question now arises: How did all of these customs find their way into contemporary Christianity, ranging from Catholicism to Protestantism to fundamentalist churches? The word "Christmas"itself reveals who married paganism to Christianity. The word "Christmas" is a combination of the words "Christ" and "Mass. The word "Mass" means death and was coined originally by the Roman Catholic Church, and belongs exclusively to the church of Rome.

The ritual of the Mass involves the death of Christ (the Messiah as they use the Greek), and the distribution of the "Host", a word taken from the Latin word "hostiall" meaning victim! In short, Christmas is strictly a Roman Catholic word.

A simple study of the tactics of the Romish Church reveals that in every case, the church absorbed the customs, traditions and general paganism of every tribe, culture and nation in their efforts to increase the number of people under their control. In short, the Romish church told all of these pagan cultures, "Bring your gods, goddesses, rituals and rites, and we will assign Christian sounding titles and names to them. When Martin Luther started the reformation on October 31st, 1517, and other reformers followed his lead, all of them took with them the paganism that was so firmly imbedded in Rome. These reformers left Christmas intact.

In England, as the authorized Bible became available to the common people by the decree of King James the II in 1611, people began to discover the pagan roots of Christmas, which are clearly revealed in Scripture. The Puritans in England, and later in Massachusetts Colony, outlawed this holiday as witchcraft. Near the end of the nineteenth century, when other Bible versions began to appear, there was a revival of the celebration of Christmas. We are now seeing ever-increasing celebrating of Christmas or Yule, its true name. In both witchcraft circles and contemporary Christian churches, the same things are going on.

As the Bible clearly states in Jeremiah 10:2-4, "Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen; and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven. For the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain. For one cutteth a tree out of the forest. The work of the hands of the workman with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not."

So, what is wrong with Christmas?

• To say that Jewish Messiah was born on December 25th is a lie! The true date is sometime around shavuot according to the Scriptures.
• Trees, wreaths, holly, mistletoe and the like are strictly forbidden as pagan and heathen! To say that these are Christian or that they can be made Christian is a lie!

Think about it! Can we worship and honor God by involving ourselves with customs and traditions, which God Himself forbade as idolatry? Can we convince God to somehow "Christianize" these customs and the whole pretense and lie of Christmas, so we can enjoy ourselves? Can we obey through disobedience?

So what is right about Christmas? 1. Nothing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqQI9EXzows

If I believe in Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua as the Messiah, won’t I lose my Jewishness? 

No you won’t! HaShem made you Jewish and no one can ever change that, regardless of what people say. You are still a descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Besides, the real question is, "Is Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua the Jewish Messiah?" If he really is the long waited King Messiah, then believing in him is the most Jewish thing that you can do. If HaShem sent Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua M’Nazareth (from Nazareth), and commands us to believe in him as Mashiach, then faith in Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua HaMashiach is the Jewish thing to do, no matter what the majority may say. Truth is determined by God – not by a any one’s vote.

We need to remember that Messianic Judaism is Jewish. Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua ben Yosef was a descendant of King David. He was raised in a Jewish home (in Israel) and went to synagogue every Shabbat. He perfectly kept the entire Torah. Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua Melech HaMashiach is the most Jewish of Jews. Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua taught that he fulfilled, not set aside, the Torah (see Mattityahu / Matthew 5:17-19).

All His early Torah disciples lived very Jewish lives in Israel. The Messianic movement was entirely Jewish at its inception (Taken away by goyim). Our Scriptures are all written by Jewish people, from Bereshit to HaHitgalut (Revelation). The Jewish Bible provides the foundation of our faith and the Besorah HaTovah (Good News of Messiah) was written ALL by Jews to be perfectly understood by studied Jews. The early Messianic Jewish movement was an authentic Jewish movement that existed for 700 years, not different today than the Chabad, or Breslov of today.

If you know in your heart that Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua is the promised Mashiach of Israel, then accept him as your Mashiach, ask for forgiveness from all your sin to God, and invite HaShem into your heart and life and tell Him that you want to serve Him for the rest of your life! If you are still not sure what to think, then ask the God of Abraham, Yitzhak and Ya’acov. Ask God to show you the truth and to show you if Maran Rabbeinu Yeshua is the true Mashiach. If you truly seek an answer in the Scriptures, God will truly give you one in the holy wri.

Mashiach and Teshuvah

Maimonides (Rambam) describes Yom Kippur as "the time of teshuvah (repentance) for all; for individuals as well as the community." The ultimate expression of this motif will come in the era of the Redemption when, as the Jewish tradition teaches, Mashiach will motivate even the righteous to turn to God in teshuvah, why as the Hebrew Scriptures point out, "that there is no one righteous, not even one" of course this excludes Mashiach Himself (who kept the whole Torah). At the same time teshuvah that will serve as the catalyst for the Redemption; as Maimonides writes: "Israel will be redeemed only through teshuvah. The Torah has promised that ultimately, towards the end of her exile, Israel will return [to God], and immediately will be redeemed." And this is why Zecharya 12:10 speaks that once we recognize who Mashiach is (the pierced One), then the full redemption process will take place!  

Mashiaj ben Yosef, y Mashiaj ben David – (Esperando al Mashiaj por 2000 años). Mashiaj ahora!

משיח בן יוסף / משיח בן דוד

Si le preguntamos a un judío ortodoxo ¿Por qué no acepta a Yeshúa como el Mesías? Tenemos una respuesta directa: no es el Mesías porque no cumplió la expectación mesiánica, no trajo el Reino Mesiánico de Paz y Prosperidad que anunciaron los profetas.

Los rabinos que han guiado a la Comunidad judía han desechado las características bíblicas del Mesías y han preferido adaptarse a una visión humanista, no obstante han orientado al pueblo a mantenerse unidos conservando estrictamente las costumbres y las prácticas de la antigüedad. Los rabinos han tratado de dar una respuesta a las necesidades cambiantes de la comunidad a través de la historia preservando al mismo tiempo la tradición, lo cual puede verse justificable en una perspectiva completamente humana, más no en la perspectiva bíblica que implica la actividad del Eterno en la historia del pueblo judío.

Teyvie el lechero de la película “ Violinista sobre el Tejado” resume esta doble enseñanza  ante lo incomprensible hay una sola palabra: ¡TRADICION!.

Los judíos mesiánicos no desechamos la tradición, al contrario la amamos y sabemos que es el medio por el cual HaShem ha actuado sobrenaturalmente para preservar al pueblo judío. Pero en este punto lo que criticamos del rabinismo, en todas sus variantes y denominaciones, es la separación entre el concepto del Mesías revelado en la Tanak y el establecido por la tradición, especialmente a partir de la primera venida del Mesías cuando los líderes de las academias rechazaron el testimonio de cientos de miles de hombres y mujeres del pueblo judío que presenciaron los milagros y maravillas que les hicieron reconocer a Yeshúa de Nazaret como el Mesías esperado. Decenas de miles de estos judíos de todos los estratos y condiciones de la población judía dieron sus vidas por proclamar al Resucitado como el Mesías de Israel.

Las leyendas y las fábulas forman parte de la tradición y así como el folklore se convierte en historias populares, también ha influido en el pensamiento rabínico y en los mismos comentaristas del Talmud y la literatura rabínica. El Mesías de la tradición es un héroe militar montado sobre un corcel blanco, el gran vengador. Debido a esa conformación de la enseñanza rabínica, la  tradición bíblica de un Mesías sufriente es extraña a la mayoría de los judíos contemporáneos.

Pero este concepto está claramente mostrado en la Escritura en el capítulo 53 del profeta Isaías, un Mesías que no solamente asumía el sufrimiento de Israel sino que también lleva sus pecados y enfermedades, y además es un hombre que después de muerto “vivirá por largos días”

Pero para sorpresa de algunos el mismo Talmud y variados  comentarios rabínicos de la antigüedad reconocen que Isaías 53 se refiere al Mesías. Algunos sectores ortodoxos de la actualidad están esgrimiendo Isaías 53 para sostener la supuesta mesianidad del Rabino newyorkino Menahem Schneerson fallecido en 1.994.

Algunos protestarán diciendo, “se trata de comentaristas aislados”. Pero hay evidencias de la discusión de este concepto entre los “sabios”  muchos de quienes creyeron y enseñaron que Isaías 53 es un pasaje mesiánico. Los rabinos modernos rechazan esta enseñanza del Talmud, como es el caso de David Berger y Michael  Wyschograd en su obra “Jews and Jewish Christianity” (Judíos y Judaísmo Cristiano) publicado en New York en 1978 por Ktav Publishing, de donde extraemos el siguiente texto (de la página 49):

“El hecho de que algunos rabinos talmúdicos tomaran el capítulo (Isaías 53) mesiánicamente (aunque no en el sentido cristiano) es de interés para los historiadores, pero no significa que los judíos están, de ningún modo, obligados a adoptar tal interpretación. Pero en la Edad Media, virtualmente, todas las autoridades judías la rechazaron, no solamente por oposición al Cristianismo, sino porque no hay base para ello en el texto”.

Este comentario podía levantar numerosas preguntas, pues si no hay base bíblica para creer que Isaías 53 se refiere al Mesías ¿Por qué los escritores del Talmud lo aceptaron y creyeron tal cosa?

¿Por qué hemos tomado a los escritores talmúdicos en tan alta estima si no aceptamos seriamente sus escritos? ¿ Y si es cierto que de esos escritos algunos son válidos y otros no, quién es la autoridad que determina cuáles son correctos y cuáles no? ¿Por qué hemos de asignar más valor a las autoridades judías de la Edad Media, quienes estaban luchando ferozmente contra la asimilación frente a Católicos y Musulmanes que a los escritores talmúdicos del Israel de los  primeros siglos de esta Era? 

¿Sobre un pollino, en una nube… o en ambos?

En el pensamiento rabínico estaba claro el concepto de un Mesías sufriente y humilde de acuerdo a las Sagradas Escrituras, lo cual llevó al planteamiento de un segundo Mesías mejor conocida como “Teoría de los dos Mesías” lo cual nos remonta a los tiempos de Daniel, Capítulo 9 donde se habla de que se “quitará la vida al Mesías”. Sobre este tema el Dr. Rafael Patai, un famoso antropólogo y profesor de hebreo de la Universidad Hebrea, en su libro “Messiah Texts”  (publicado en 1979,  Avon Books en New York) formula la siguiente pregunta: ¿Cómo se concilia este concepto de un Mesías que pierde la vida y un Mesías redentor que viene a establecer un reino milenial de paz y prosperidad? El dilema fue resuelto dividiendo el Mesías en dos Mesías: Mesías ben Yosef y Mesías ben David.

Esta tradición sostiene que el Mesías hijo de Yosef está destinado a sufrir y morir mientras que el Mesías ben David fue escogido para reinar. Algunos rabinos afirman que Mesías ben Yosef  moriría en la batalla final contra Gog y Magog. Su muerte prepararía el camino para el reinado del otro Mesías.

Podemos leer  un Midrash que dice así: “En el tiempo por venir, el ungido para la Guerra se levantará de Yosef, y el Mesías que se levanta de Yehudah será más fuerte que él…”

Pero hay otras leyendas rabínicas que invierten los roles de los dos Mesías, donde el Mesías ben David es quien cae y Mesías ben Yosef es quien reina. La leyenda toma lugar en un lugar del Paraíso llamado “la Quinta Casa”. Eliyahu agarra la cabeza del Mesías, la  pone en su regazo y dice: “Soporta el sufrimiento y la sentencia de su Maestro quien le hace sufrir por causa del pecado de Israel.”

La historia concluye citando Isaías 53:5 “Más él fue herido por nuestras rebeliones…”

Hay muy pocos comentarios sobre este pasaje en la literatura rabínica. La teoría o doctrina sobre este Mesías dual reconcilia la aparente contradicción entre el Mesías que viene humildemente sobre un pollino hijo de asna de Zacarías 9:9 y el Mesías que aparece gloriosamente en las nubes de Daniel 7:13, y no obstante estar tan claro en la literatura rabínica es ignorado por muchos rabinos de la actualidad. La explicación a la conducta de estos maestros del judaísmo contemporáneo que reniegan del Talmud es su TRADICION DE RECHAZO A YESHUA COMO MESIAS.   Cuando se refieren a los pasajes citados por Rafael Patai del Talmud y de los midrashim como especulaciones y tradiciones de “algunos” rabinos o dictadas por “algunos” rabinos.

Los sabios rabinos de la antigüedad no tenían ninguna dificultad en aceptar el concepto de dos distintos individuos cumpliendo el rol del Mesías, pues, para ellos esto no viola las Sagradas Escrituras. Es más, hay otras Escrituras Hebreas que nos han sido “puestas como Nomos (Torá) sobre mejores promesas” (Heb. 8:6)  en griego no dice simplemente “establecido sobre mejores promesas”: HaBrit HaJadashá (El Pacto Renovado o Nuevo Pacto o Evangelio) donde se da una explicación que concilia tanto la verdad bíblica como la idea rabínica sobre un Mesías sufriente que precede a un Mesías Rey. Este Mesías es Yeshúa de Natzeret quien vino como un siervo sufriente y vendrá como el monarca del Reino eterno de David.

Si el escéptico persiste en su pregunta: si Yeshúa fue el Mesías, ¿por qué no hay paz en la tierra? Le podemos responder que la historia de Yeshúa no finalizó en un madero hace dos mil años, Yeshúa habló sobre su retorno citando al profeta Daniel para describir ese tiempo: “Desfalleciendo  los hombres por el temor y expectación de las cosas que sobrevendrán en la tierra; porque las potencias de los cielos serán conmovidas. Y entonces verán al Ben Adam (Hijo de Hombre) que vendrá en una nube con poder y gran gloria”  (Lucas 21:26-27-versión Reina Valera 60 de Holman Bible Publishers).

En el Pirke Mashíaj entre los siglos VII al X de esta Era, los rabinos citan el mismo pasaje de la Escritura para referirse al Mesías ben David:

Y ahora hablemos en alabanza del Rey Mesías quien vendrá con las nubes del cielo y dos Serafim, a su diestra y a su izquierda, como está escrito: “He aquí, en las nubes del cielo viene uno como Ben Adam (Hijo de Hombre)”

Es el retorno de Yeshúa quien es el Mesías ben David, el Príncipe de Paz.

Los rabinos siempre han enseñado quién no es el Mesías, nunca quién es el Mesías, generalmente tratando de descalificar a Yeshúa como el Mesías. Independientemente de cualquier enseñanza humana provenga de cristianos o de judíos, Di-s no se equivoca, más que rechazar a Yeshúa porque no llene nuestras expectativas sobre el Mesías, debemos aceptar lo que las Sagradas Escrituras dicen acerca del ungido de YHVH como aquel que sufriría por nuestras rebeliones.

En el Talmud Sanhedrín 98ª está la siguiente leyenda: De acuerdo a la leyenda Rabí Joshua ben Leví se encontró a Elías y le preguntó ¿cuándo vendrá el Mesías? Elías le dijo, vamos donde el Mesías y hagámosle la pregunta personalmente. El Mesías estaba sentado entre los pobres leprosos ¿Cuándo vas a venir Maestro? El Mesías les respondió “Hoy”. Quien hizo la pregunta dijo a Elías “El me habló falsamente, diciéndome que lo haría hoy y no lo ha hecho, Elías respondió: “Esto es lo que El te dijo: Hoy si puedes escuchar su voz”

EL MESIAS YA VINO, TU PUEDES ESCUCHAR SU VOZ O LA VOZ DE LOS RABINOS QUE PERDIERON EL CAMINO.

Sinagoga Judía Mesiánica Bet El Shadai
Sinagoga Judío Mesiánica Torá Observante
Rabino Judío Mesiánico Eliezer Bograd
Web: http://www.betelshadai.org 

(Estudio crítico de los “Textos del Mesías” por Rafael Patai y de “Judíos y Judíos Cristianos por David Berger y Michael Wischograd) Investigación de Eliezer Bograd 1996

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

Recuerde que el cristianismo es falso y Yeshúa fue y es judío.

Los Judíos (Yehudim) quienes originalmente eran hebreos, entonces se llamaba a todo Israel a que adoraran al UNO (ejad en Hebreo) Dios de Abraham, de Isaac, y de Jacob.

Nuestro Rabino y Mesías Yeshúa dijo, “Yo soy el camino, la Verdad, y la Vida, nadie viene al Padre sino por mí”. – Yojanán (Juan) 14:06

Nuestro Rabino y Mesías Yeshúa dijo que ÉL es el camino, él no dijo ustedes deténganse aquí porque él sabía los Mandamientos.

Éstos son sólo dos de los 613 mandamientos de Shemot (Éxodo) 20:4-5 dice: “No te hagas ningún ídolo, ni nada que guarde semejanza con lo que hay arriba en el cielo, ni con lo que hay abajo en la tierra, ni con lo que hay en las aguas debajo de la tierra. No te inclines delante de ellos ni los adores. Yo, el Señor tu Dios, soy un Dios celoso. Cuando los padres son malvados y me odian, yo castigo a sus hijos hasta la tercera y cuarta generación”

Sólo hay un camino, y ese camino es a la manera del Eterno; seguir a HaShem, aprender su Torá.

Esto es exactamente lo que nuestro Rabino y Mesías Yeshúa hizo, y ese es el ejemplo que dio para que lo sigamos.

¿Es o será fácil? No. Pero cuando tu vida se centra en HaShem y lo pones en primer lugar en tu vida, esto será más fácil. Cuando sustituimos a HaShem con nuestros propios deseos es cuando las cosas se ponen difíciles.

Permanece en la Palabra y la lectura del TaNaK (Escrituras Hebreas) y de los escritos de los Emisarios (apóstoles), y mantente en oración con HaShem a diario y pidele que te muestre el camino.

Traducido por: Víctor Marcano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPyQbpj88Ew

Jewish prayer is an aid to developing a meritorious attitude and a commendable way of feeling. Therefore, Jews actively seek reasons to praise God’s creation. There are Jewish prayers to be said when witnessing a falling star, when hearing the clap of thunder in the clouds, when seeing a rainbow, when noticing the first bud of spring on the branch of a tree, when placing a mezuzah (a decorative box containing portions of the most important Jewish prayer, the Shema) on a doorpost, when sitting in the sukkah at Sukkot, and even when seeing a very tall or extremely short person.

Jewish prayers are usually recited in Hebrew. Yet, they can be recited in any vernacular or local language, whether it is English, Aramaic, French, Spanish, Arabic, or Russian. Jews believe that God understands no matter what language a person employs in prayer. Even silence is sometimes said to be an appropriate Jewish prayer language.

The most important of all Jewish prayers is a prayer called the Shema. Strangely enough, the Shema is a prayer that speaks to the Jewish people, and not to God. Its verses instruct the Israelites what they have to do. Here is a part of the Shema prayer:

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יהוה אֶחָד

Hear, O Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is One. Blessed be God’s Name and glorious kingdom forever and ever. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all you have. And these words, which I [God] teach you this day, shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder before your eyes. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.

In just this one paragraph of the Shema prayer, it is possible to understand why Jews designed the tefillin (phylacteries) to place as symbols on the head (above the eyes) and on the arm; and why most Jews place a mezuzah on the doorpost of their houses to remind them of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfrW7x0yy0I

Question: This is my first time observing Sukkot. I would appreciate it if you could explain it to me as easily as possible.

“When a person sits in his Sukkah the Shechinah (God’s Divine Presence) spreads its wings (metaphor) over it, we dwell together with Him.”

One of the important experiences of Sukkot is that of leaving the protection of our permanent dwellings and basking in the shade and protection of God’s presence.

During the holiday, Jewish people recite the ushpizin prayer which symbolises the welcoming of seven "exalted guests" into the sukkah. These ushpizin, or guests, represent the seven shepherds of Israel. Each night of Sukkot, we invite sacred ancestors to enter our sukkah. On the first night, the night of chesed or love, we invite Abraham and Sarah. On the second night, the night of gevurah or strength, we invite Isaac and Rebekah. On the third night, the night of tiferet or beauty, we invite Jacob and Leah. On the fourth night, the night of netzach or eternity, we invite Moses and Tziporah. On the fifth night, the night of hod or glory, we invite Aaron and Miriam. On the sixth night, the night of yesod or foundation, we invite Joseph and Tamar. And on the seventh night, the night of malkhut or dignity, we invite David and Rachel. Another common tradition is to invite Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, and David, along with the seven female prophets listed in the Talmud: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Huldah, and Esther. There are also Talmudic reports of Elijah visiting the sukkot of the sages, I believe that even King Messiah visits us unknowingly some times.

Each of the ushpizin has a unique lesson which teaches the parallels of the spiritual focus of the day on which they visit.

Each of the seven Ushpizin exemplified the idea of Sukkot during their lifetimes. For instance Avraham left the security of his home and the house of his father and went off on a journey protected by God’s promise. Yitzchak had to leave his home and dwell amongst the Philistines because of famine. Yaakov had to leave his home and live with Lavan, etc.

The seven also correspond to attributes of God which we aspire to (as we mentioned). For instance, Avraham represents Chessed (Loving Kindness), Yitzchak Gevurah (Strength), etc. These seven attributes also refer to much deeper concepts which are oft discussed in Chassidic texts as well as the Kabbalah, called the Sefirot. These are aspects of the way in which God interacts with his Creation.

There is a custom attributed to the Arizal to invite seven poor people to eat in the Sukkah corresponding to the seven Ushpizin. You then have seven exalted guests from above, with seven earthly guests and God’s Divine Presence hovering over it all.

Some Sephardic Jews have the custom of setting aside a chair in the Sukkah for the guest of the day. The chair is decorated and an announcement is made each day that this is the chair of the Ushpizin.

My children wait each year with such excitement for the night when the boys will come and dance in our Sukkah. I strongly suggest it for communities everywhere.

Would you make it to the sukkah near you? Visit us be our Ushpizin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbwE8KLLGjs