B"H

A brief word about circumcision.

Circumcision was given through Abraham, long before Moses and the Torah. Torah was given to Moses on Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. Circumcision was to be, and still is, an outward sign in the flesh, that these were the people of the covenant. It is considered to be a "sign" of the covenant. Of course, merely being circumcised in the flesh is not the fullness of GOD's plan.

In several places the Torah speaks of a "circumcision of the heart." See Deut chapters 10 & 30 also Jer 4. Most Christians are unaware of such teachings. They see Judaism as only legal and rigid. "This you shall do and this you shall not do." "Don't eat these foods, don't dress like this, etc. & etc." Whereas Judaism sees Torah as a "fence," which provides safe boundaries for conduct, Christians think that the only purpose of the Law was to make one feel guilty for disobeying GOD in the first place. This writer wants to suggest that the "circumcised heart" is the Torah's near equivalent of the new birth.

Blessings,

Shlomo

B"H

I plan on sharing a teaching each week from the current Torah portion, but I thought I had better give some background information first, since most of my readers here know very little about this subject.

(The material I came up for this topic is rather long so I have broken it into several installments. Some readers may wish to skip, or pass over  these posts entirely. )

Let me start by giving a brief description of the term Torah. Taken
literally the word torah means instruction. In general Christian
usage it has been equated solely with the concept of law. The
different and divergent conceptions of Torah between Judaism
and Christianity lies at the heart of the distinction between the
two religions.

Within a Jewish mind set Torah means instruction and teaching.
It also is a term used to refer to the Five Books of Moses -
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. ( Those
names are Christian designations which come to us from the Latin.
The Jewish names are all generally not translated into English, but
rather left in the Hebrew - Beresheet, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar
and Devarim.)

Translated that would be:

Genesis = Beginnings
Beresheet = In the beginning of creation

Exodus = The going out (from Egypt)
Shemot = Names

Leviticus = Priesthood
Vayikra = And He called

Numbers = Counting (taking a census)
Bamidbar = In the wilderness

Deuteronomy = Second Law
Devarim = Words

You might ask, "Why are these designations so different?"
If, indeed you did ask such a question, this would be the answer.
The Christian titles were taken from the context of the Books,
but the Jewish titles were taken from the first word or phrase of
the Books. Thus, for example, if you read the text you see it says
in Exodus 1:1 "And these are the names of ..." and also in Deut 1:1
"And these are the words ..."
I don't mean to indicate that either system is better or worse than
the other, they are simply different.

Again, within Judaism, Torah because it means instruction, is also
used to refer to the actual scroll of parchment upon which the words
are written. In this context one might hear mention being made of a
Torah procession. The scroll is then being carried around the
Synagogue.

Torah is seen within Judaism, as a gift from GOD, which outlines the
details of how to live as a people in covenant relationship with GOD
and one another. Contained within the Torah is another term, which
is also often misunderstood. This is the word mitzvah, or mitzvot in
the plural. A mitzvah is a commandment. These are the specific
things that GOD said should be done, or should not be done. This
is where the legal aspect of Torah comes from.

In distinction from Judaism, Christianity holds a view of Torah which
is rooted in an idea called the Doctrine of Merits. This idea teaches
that one is accepted or rejected by GOD based on a sort of
"baseball" analogy. That is, if your good deeds outnumber your bad
deeds then God will accept you, and if not, then you will be rejected.
Christians maintain that no one measures up to GOD's standards
of righteousness and therefore Jesus came to Earth. He came to
accomplish two tasks.

1) To keep the Law perfectly and set for us an example.
2) To give himself, in place of those who sinned, as a sacrifice
to satisfy the anger of GOD.

This construct is not bad in and of itself, except that Christians insist
on teaching that "under the Old Testament" or "under the Law," one
was accepted by GOD by keeping the commandments. Now that
Jesus has come, all one needs to do is believe in Him and the
commandments of the Torah are no longer necessary. Even worse
than this though, is the idea any aspect of keeping the Law (Torah)
indicates a lack of faith in GOD through Jesus. This debate is usually
referred to in terms of Law vs Grace. (More, much more, on this
coming soon.)

So, with Christians, Torah = Law, and this is viewed in negative terms.
Jews, on the other hand, regard Torah as a love gift from GOD. You
can easily see how this sets the two religions into very opposite camps.

B"H

If I were a psychologist I’m sure I’d know more about the underlying motives behind jokes and what makes us laugh. I heard once that one thing we laugh at is our own insecurities. I don’t know why this is, but it certainly seems to ring true in my mind.

Just a short while ago I saw a post on Brother Ed Gilbreath’s blog about a site entitled, Stuff White People Like. Ed muses that he hesitated to blog about this topic because, “while I found it funny, I wasn’t sure whether I was laughing with my white brothers and sisters or at them.” In the treacherous field of modern race relations this distinction can make all the difference between helping and hurting those we are reaching out to. I’d like to bring this topic to the table here and mention a few other sites besides the one that Ed referenced. Perhaps some of you have seen these sites and have already formed your opinions about them. Others may be viewing them for the first time. I hope that you will feel free to express your thoughts and reactions and help to advance the conversation on race one step further.

Damali Ayo’s – Rent-a-Negro.com

What can you give a person
who has everything?
Give them a new black friend....

We make the perfect gift easy!
Start Renting Today!

Univ. of N. Colorado’s – Fightin’Whities

        See also this Wikipedia article.

The title of this post, A Lot of Truth is Told in a Joke, comes from my collection of sayings from my mother.

Blessings,

Shlomo

B"H

B"H

I have been silent for far too long. I have been reading and writing comments on many other blog sites for several months now, but nothing here. I told a few friends that I intended to ramp up the current conversation on race relations and add my voice and opinions nearly two weeks ago. Due to several more pressing family commitments I put off that impulse, but now the time has come for me to speak up.

Starting this week I will be basically using the following format:

Monday – Race Relations Blog

Tuesday – Q&A follow-up to Monday’s post

Wednesday – Open (subject matter yet to be determined)

Thursday – Book and Article Recommendations

Friday – Listing and commentary from the week’s Torah Portion

Recognizing Barack Obama as a Role Model in Current Race Relations

Every week and sometimes every day or so, a new issue arises which shows the dire need for more and more of us to enter the waters of current race relations. When Barack Obama first emerged as a U. S. Senator from the obscurity of the Illinois State Senate there was talk at various levels of his potential run for higher office, sooner or later.

I don't do political endorsements. Those who know me understand that I have little faith or confidence in secular political endeavors. On the other hand, I firmly believe that GOD's people can, and should, be fully engaged in seeking to make this world a better place. This is only logical, in my view, from a position of being good stewards of GOD's creation. Within Jewish theology the term for this is tikkun haOlam, restoring or healing the world. GOD has purposed that His people would be partners with Him in the process of building and establishing His kingdom here on earth. This doesn’t negate the promise that Jesus will one day return to rule this earth Himself, but rather it stands in continuity with the concept that GOD will consummate His original purpose in Creation through the Redemption of those who were previously lost. We were created for fellowship and partnership with GOD and through the prospect of the new birth we can now function as co-workers with Him in His mission in the world.  

After this long disclaimer, I don’t do political endorsements, I want to start my comments by saying that I am proud of Barack Obama. I recognize that he is a politician, but I am most impressed with him as a spokesman in this current conversation on race relations. I am impressed with his eloquence and even keeled demeanor, as well as his sharp mind and straight talk on difficult topics. Several other writers and bloggers have lamented that Senator Obama’s recent speeches may be ‘lost on politics.’ I certainly hope they are wrong. I understand that some people may think that his recent speech in Philadelphia, “Towards a More Perfect Union,” was entirely politically motivated. They may be correct, but I think that speech has the potential to be remembered in American literature, long after this current election season is over, and ranked with some of the finest and most important oral works of our history. Barack Obama speaks to us not only in terms of awakening our hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow, but he calls us to strive to do better than we have done and to actively participate in being “the ones we have been waiting for.”[i]

B"H

A few words of a personal nature.

Recently I happened on a most exciting blog. As many of my friends here know, I do a lot of research on the web. I may start out from a search engine or a side note in someone's blog and then follow a seemingly random trail off into the great unknown of cyberspace. I read a lot of articles and books and sometimes I even try to make contact with various authors. I have been successful more than once at this.

Since I'm not shy, neither here in cyberspace or IRL, I find it easy to meet people and strike up new friendships. Sometimes however, I may seem standoffish or aloof because I don't want to launch a new relationship on purpose. Why? Simple, because any good relationship requires time and attention. If I want a friend, then I have to be a friend. At my present stage of life I know that I only have so much time and energy to give. As much fun as it is, to meet new people and start up new relationships, I feel that it isn't fair to do so in a casual or lax manner. (I hope this doesn't stumble anyone, but I can certainly understand the mindset of the person who plays at romance, as though it were some type of a game. There have been a few movies made along these lines recently and I think it is quite troubling.)

I have been described by some of my friends as very excitable. I remember one specific occasion when this was said and I was deeply hurt. I really respected this friend and valued his opinion, but I didn't take his assessment of my exhuberance at a local parade as any sort of a compliment. I have thought back on that remark many times and concluded that it is most probably accurate. Even so, I don't think it makes me a bad person, but I wouldn't want to label anyone else that way casually. So as not to needlessly embarrass myself, sometimes I am purposefully restrained, emotionally. I hold back my full emotions and check my responses so as not to "let myself go." In reality I love to talk and share my thoughts. I also have learned to listen, but I still have a ways to go before I become a master at it. My wife, who is often my best and harshest critic, says that all too often, I'm not really listening at all, but rather just silently waiting for the other person to stop talking so I can take a turn. I hate this part of my behavior, but I know I have made progress over the years and therefore I'm hopeful that I will continue to get better (at listening and caring) and not remain as a self-centered individual.

I truly do find other people and their ideas and thoughts interesting, but I also feel that I have something to share too. It's hard when a conversation only goes in one direction, or when one party isn't sensitive to the needs of his or her audience. All too often I have been guilty of "holding forth," and not allowing any other opinions to be voiced besides my own. Grrr. Could it really be true that I am so much in love with the sound of my own voice? I hate to admit such things, but at times I have been forced, or perhaps better would be allowed, to see myself as others see me. This is like getting a view into one of the other panes in Johari's window.

An empty Johari window.

A Johari window is a psychological tool created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham in 1955.

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In the world, but not of the world.

At the start of this post I mentioned a new blog spot that I recently found. I am fascinated by stories of believers and their ministries. As I have shared before, one of my greatest hobbies is studying contemporary church history. I lived through the modern revival known as the Jesus Movement and I love to hear and share stories from that era.

Due to the free association nature of how I often study, I can't remember how I found the blog site of Zack and Elizabeth Exley. I think it was by way of a comment or a link on someone else's site, but at this point, I have no idea who that might have been. In any event, I want to share a few things I've learned about this couple over the past month and encourage everybody to check out the Revolution in Jesusland.

"Right after the 2004 elections, a cynical map made the rounds of lefty inboxes everywhere that separated “Jesusland” from the “United States of Canada” (in later versions, “The United States of Liberty and Education” and other self-righteous riffs). Part of the reason we started this project to gather counterstereotypical stories of leaders in the “Heartland” was to help undo that cynicism toward the American people not only among progressives, but also the whole political-media elite, both left and right. Nowhere is that needed more than when it comes to perceptions of Christians, who just happen to make up something like 90% of the population.

Here on Revolution in Jesusland, we’ll step back and try to flesh out the larger context of this movement that is producing so many exceptional leaders, and do it in terms that any outsider can understand—by simply asking the Christian revolutionaries that we meet to explain themselves to those outside their culture. "

 

Zack Exley is a name that I never heard of, until about a month ago. As it turns out he is quite well known is some circles for his work with www.moveon.org . He describes himself as a left wing progressive. Since September it seems, he and his wife Elizabeth has embarked on an extensive road trip to explore the core of radical Christian subculture in America. For someone who is new, and somewhat unfamiliar with the world of modern Evangelicalism, Zack is an extremely fast learner. I have no idea how long he and Elizabeth plan to sustain their life on the road, but they have covered a vast amount of territory already in just four months. A good place to start reading, for those who are curious as to what all the buzz is with these two, is here in their blog from November 19, 2007.

There's far too much to tell about the Exleys and this sojourn they're presently on, even in this much too lengthy post. I will surely be sharing more on this topic regularly.

Blessings,

Shlomo

B"H

Last night we lit all eight candles on the hanukkiah (Hanukkah menorah or candelabra). This afternoon, at sundown, the Feast of Dedication will end. As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the main themes of Hanukkah is dedication, or consecration. The explicit context for this lies in the fight against hellenization (assimilation into the Greek culture of that day) and the purification of the Temple. Not only was the Temple reclaimed and rededicated for the service of the LORD, but this victory also symbolized the right of Jews to live as Jews then and now.

The particulars of Jewish identity, as manifested in a lifestyle and culture, separate and distinct from the other nations around it, were intended to make Israel a light to the world. In contrast to the notion that Israel was special, being the chosen people, the Bible teaches that Israel's calling was more a matter of stewardship than privilege. Abraham our father was called to leave his home in Ur and GOD promised to bless and multiply his seed throughout all the earth. GOD's blessing on Abraham and his descendants was intended to be a sign for all to see, that in like manner as Abraham was blessed, so would GOD do for any individual, or nation, that also trusted in Him as Abraham did. Simply stated, Abraham was blessed so that he would be a blessing.

Israel's call to be a light to the nations, and thus a blessing, would be of no avail if Israel was like her neighbors. The objection to hellenization was not that there was anything wrong with being a Greek, but rather that GOD had called Israel to be distinct according to His purpose. GOD loves all of His creation alike, but He has made us unique according as it has pleased Him. He made some to be one nation and some from another. Neither one is better or more highly loved, but GOD has set us in our various stations in accord with His plan and purposes. Just as men and women are distinct in stature and physiology, yet GOD loves both alike and neither one is superior to the other, so also is it with Israel and the nations, or Jews and Gentiles. There are separate callings for each, but neither is instrinsically better.

In it's primary application, the lesson of Hanukkah teaches the Jewish people that just as GOD enabled Judah and his band of warriors to gain the victory over Antiochus IV and thus thwart the forces of hellenization then, so even now will GOD enable the Jewish Witness to survive despite all odds. Taken in a larger more universal context, one might infer that GOD will sustain the integrity of all people groups and cultures according to His purpose of displaying His glory through all of His creation.

We celebrate the victory

of the few over the many,

of the weak over the strong,

of light over darkness,

of right over wrong.

© Hallmark  CCH 890-9

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There are three Holy Days on the Jewish calendar that are celebrated for eight days; Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Tabernacles and Hanukkah. In the 11th chapter of Ecclesiates the text says:

1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Eccl 11: 1 - 2

Figuratively speaking, seven is considered to be the number of completion. In six days GOD made the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day He rested from all of His labors. Eight, which in a weekly cycle is the same as the day of beginning, is therefore like starting over again. Seven represents fullness or completion and eight is the season of new beginnings. 

• Passover tells the story of redemption from bondage to Pharoah and the chance to start over again as a covenant community unto the LORD in the wilderness.
• Tabernacles speaks of GOD's daily provision of manna and clothes and sandals that lasted the entire time of wandering, until the entrance into the Promised Land.
• Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication, represents a chance to renew our commitments both to GOD and His people.

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Blessings,

Shlomo

B"H

In my previous post I mentioned the dreidel game which is played during Hanukkah. This Jewish version of spin the top has a double meaning via the Hebrew letters written on each of its four sides. I thought of a potential problem which might lead to confusion when I first wrote this post, but, in the midst of writing on the fly, I forgot about it.

The missing element here is the fact that not only are there two separate and different meanings for the Hebrew letters, but there are two diferent languages, (Hebrew and Yiddish,) being used as well. The words; nisht gants halb and shtel ayn are Yiddish, whereas; nes gadol haya and sham are Hebrew. I realized this immediately when I read Shanny's comment about how similiar German and Hebrew are.

נ

ג

ה

ש

B"H

So much to say and yet, so little time.

First things first.

   H A P P Y    H A N U K K A H !!!  

 

Last night was the beginning of Hanukkah, The Feast of Dedication, also known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is a great holiday because it is not only a lot of fun, but it is also saturated with deep spiritual meaning. Everybody loves to play the dreidel game and eat lots of candy - win or lose. This may seem like just a Hebrew version of spin the top, but the letters on the dreidel have a double meaning:

The miracle being referred to is the mighty deliverance from the oppression of Antiochus IV. Although there is much to tell about the valor of Judah, his brothers and the other mighty warriors who fought with him, the main theme was the resistance against assimilation and the battle to remain true to their calling from GOD as a separate people, holy unto the LORD.

This same struggle goes on even today for Jews the world over. Universal claims are heralded and in the name of solidarity and unity, sameness or amalgamation becomes the social standard. Those who insist on being different are ostracized and marginalized. This is true not only in secular terms, but also within the Body of Believers. Whether one speaks of the Jewish believer in the midst or anyone who holds to a separate code of conduct, such resistance to the established social standard usually results in mistrust and often expulsion from the group.

I once heard a teaching by the late Martin Chernoff (an early pioneer in the modern Messianic Jewish Movement) on the topic of establishing Messianic Jewish Synagogues. In response to the hypothetical question, "Why belong to a Messianic Jewish Synagogue?" Rabbi Chernoff asserted, "To fight against the pull of the Anglo-Saxon culture." In order for a Jewish believer to remain true to his/her calling, there needs to exist a safe place where living a Jewish lifestyle is not considered a wayward action.

The Body of Believers today needs to learn how to receive and accept Jewish believers in Jesus who:

• keep kosher,
• observe the Biblical Holy Days,
• practice circumcision on their male children,
• and worship using the Jewish liturgy.

These particulars and more have often served as a stumbling block to fellowship and true partnership with non-Jewish brethren. (By obvious extension, the same could be said about Afro-American, Asian, Native American believers and etc. Those who don't fit the standard mold of modern evangelical praxis are often considered as fallen from grace and somehow therefore not fully regarded as equals in the Body.) I have argued several times here in this blog, as well as in the comments of many other sites, that what we need is a renewed vision of integration. It's not enough that we move towards multiculturalism or some expression of pluralism, but rather we need to clearly and purposefully embrace one another, including all our differences. GOD's call to unity should not lead us to uniformity. Oneness does not mean sameness.

Holiness, the command to be separated unto the LORD, is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood concepts for today's believer. This is not only sad, but tragic. The Scripture Itself states that " ..without holiness, no one shall see the LORD." Heb 12:14. I have mentioned before that a lot of confusion arises from the mistake of interchanging the terms holy and righteous. In Hebrew, these are clearly two distinct words, kadosh = holy and tzadak = righteous. Holiness or sanctification means to be separate or distinct. We first of all recognize that GOD is holy in that He is separate and distinct from all that He has created. He is the Creator, all else is a part of His creation. He is separate and apart from that which He has made, even man which He fashioned in His image and likeness. GOD has commanded us, as His witnesses in this world, to be separate and apart (holy) just as He is apart. Lev 11:44, Lev 19:2, 1 Pet 1:13-16.

Righteousness is given to us by GOD. We are unable, by means of our own actions, to produce righteousness, but GOD has imparted His righteousness to us as a gracious act on His part. We are justified, or made right with GOD, by faith, but the commandment to be holy is fulfilled by obedience. Some things are allowed and some things are forbidden. This is expressly concerning carnal issues for Israel and all Jewish believers. What am I saying here? GOD placed certain boundaries for natural Israel which set them apart from the other nations around them. They were directly commanded to not be like their neighbors (Lev 18:1-5), past or present. The Torah (Instruction code) given by GOD through Moses, was purposed to guide Israel in how to live as a covenant community and thereby to provoke the nations around them to jealousy. Deut 4:5-9

See, I have taught you statutes and judgements just as the LORD my GOD commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it. So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our GOD whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgements as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today? Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen, and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

All the various commandments that GOD gave to Israel of old pertaining to holiness are still in effect (See Matt 5: 17 - 19). Keeping these laws and decrees does NOT make one righteous. Holiness, as defined by the lifestyle prescribed in the Torah, is the essence of what it means to be a Jew. This is part of the natural selection by incidence of birth, but it also transcends it. "For they are not all Israel that are of Israel." Rom 9:6 . GOD's original purpose for Israel to be a light to the nations still remains. Just because we see the obvious faults and failure of the Jewish nation doesn't mean that GOD has changed His mind or altered His purpose for them.

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One additional word in closing. In case someone might infer from what I have written here that the Torah, or the laws given by Moses, should be applied by all believers, let me clearly say NO. This very topic and the related idea that salvation implied that the non-Jews needed to become Jewish and keep the Torah was addressed by the early Church and recorded, in brief, in Acts 15. There is only one pathway to a right relationship with GOD and that is through a heart determined to turn from evil and seek after the LORD and trust that the substitutionary atonement of the Messiah is sufficient to impart righteousness to any individual, Jew or Gentile.

Just as the distinctions between male and female have not been done away with by the new birth, such is also the case regarding Jew and Gentile.

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Blessings, for love and peace, in the mighty name of Jesus the Messiah,

Shlomo

PS: Hanukkah is a lot of fun besides the various deep teaching matter. If you have a chance to celebrate it I highly recommend it.

B"H