Volume 48 | Number 2
JEWISH VOICE TODAY MAGAZINE
What ValuE ARE THE
Feasts Christians? TO
March/April 2014 | Adar/Nisan/Iyar 5774 | ryya/!syn/rda
Does Your Heart Beat for the Hurting? Zimbabwe
Medical Outreaches
Buhera: July 25 - August 4, 2014* Location TBA: August 21 - September 1, 2014*
Two cities. Two clinics. One people. The Lemba of Zimbabwe are descendants from the priestly line of Aaron, having retained their Jewish customs and faith for thousands of years absent of any outside Jewish influence. DNA testing overwhelmingly proves their claim of Jewish ancestry, showing a higher genetic marker than the general Jewish population. They have responded with great enthusiasm to the news that their Messiah has come. In our first outreach in 2012, more than 80% of those we cared for in the clinic came to faith in Yeshua. In 2014 we will conduct two Medical Outreaches for the Lemba. These trips are a tent camping adventure that brings the power of health and hope to the people of the Lemba communities. Make the difference with us on one or both of these unforgettable outreaches to Zimbabwe.
Ukraine
Festival Outreach
Ukraine: September 19 - 29, 2014* Of course, it’s not only those in poverty who need Yeshua. That’s why we bring His Good News to large city centers around the globe each year through our Hear O’ Israel! Festivals of Jewish Music & Dance. Known to draw crowds of thousands, our Festivals bring a spectacular evening rich with professional dramatic, musical, and dance performances depicting the nation of Israel’s history. A stirring message is given by Rabbi Jonathan Bernis presenting Yeshua as the Messiah longed for by the Jewish People and given for the sin of us all. There is much to this event and volunteers are the foundation that makes it successful. A vital role is waiting for you in the Ukraine!
Come Join Us!
For more information or to register: www.jewishvoice.org/outreach, email outreach@jvmi.org, or call 800-299-YESHUA. 2 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
*Dates subject to change.
SHALOM M]L[ Dear Partners and Friends,
Many Christians still consider God’s Moadim, His “Appointed Times” or “Festivals” part of the Old Testament ordinances that have been done away with in light of the New Testament. They consider any observance of them legalism and contrary to the grace that has now been given us through Jesus, the Messiah. However, this is not at all the case.
In this issue of Jewish Voice Today, it is our desire to reveal the true significance of these Festivals of the Lord as the shared heritage that they truly are. In fact, each of these celebrations was, as Paul tells us, “a shadow of the things that were to come” (Colossians 2:17). They were road signs filled with revelation that point us to the Messiah Yeshua. The six (or seven depending on how you divide them) biblical Festivals found in Leviticus 23 in addition to Shabbat (Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot) hold rich meaning and revelation for all Believers—Jew and non-Jew alike. Jesus and His disciples kept these Festivals, and they are often the backdrop for understanding teaching and events found in the New Testament. For example, the Passover is the context for understanding Yeshua as “the Lamb of God” in the book of John while Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is the backdrop for the book of Hebrews. This year, Passover begins at sundown on April 14. This watershed event in biblical history and all mankind commemorates the supernatural deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt. The Passover story and Seder meal reveal, in amazing detail, the future deliverance of all mankind out of the bondage of spiritual Egypt (the sinful world) that Jesus would bring to us centuries later. The connections and symbolism are profound. I encourage you to either participate in or conduct a Passover Seder meal yourself this year. It will greatly enhance your understanding and appreciation of the Last Supper and Messiah’s atonement for us. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy all of the articles in this issue, focused on what we can do to honor the Appointed Times of the Lord. On behalf of our entire team here at JVMI, I cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers and financial support. You are important to us! Your co-laborer in the harvest,
Jonathan Bernis, President & CEO Jewish Voice Ministries International Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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CONTENTS
5
Up Front Messiah: Our Passover Lamb
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This precious 6-year-old boy stole our hearts in Addis Ababa, and he will probably steal yours as well. By Judi Clarke
8
16
Perspective What Can Christians Learn from the Jewish Holidays?
The Jewish holy days are a model of appreciation for the Jewish roots of New Testament faith. By Rabbi Barney Kasdan
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Director of Publications Mary Ellen Breitwiser
MINISTRY UPDATE Meet Tariku
Deepen your understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us in the Passover. By Jonathan Bernis
Executive Editor Jonathan Bernis
Perspective Keeping Shabat Offers Restoration for Your Soul
Discover the soothing sanctuary of rest that is found in observing Shabbat. By Bonnie Saul Wilkes
18
Perspective How Can Christians Honor the Feasts?
The biblical feasts represent God’s salvation for all people and the prophetic fulfillment of Yeshua’s first and second coming.
Perspective How to Observe the Feasts Without Scaring Your Neighbor Yeshua celebrated the Jewish Feast Days. You can too! By Jack Zimmerman
WEB Join us monthly for our 60-minute live, interactive webcast. Please visit www.jewishvoicelive.org for the latest information.
TELEVISION
Visit www.jewishvoice.tv to watch online.
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Art Director Evie Kriegbaum Graphic Designers Evie Kriegbaum Jennifer Nelson Jewish Voice Ministries International P.O. Box 31998 Phoenix, AZ 85046-1998 USA 602-97l-850l 800-299-YESHUA (937482) www.jewishvoice.org Jewish Voice Ministries Canada P.O. Box 476 Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3P2 855-7-YESHUA (937482) www.jewishvoice.ca Jewish Voice Ministries UK Admail 4224 London W2 4UN 855-9-YESHUA (937482) www.jvmi.co.uk
PRAYER WATCH Why Care About Prayer?
Prayer changes things. We are the conduit the Holy Spirit uses to complete His work in the world.
Magazine questions or comments: magazine@jewishvoice.org Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is taken from the New International Version.
By June Liggins
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By Daniel Juster
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Senior Editor Kevin Geoffrey
FAITH CHRONICLES Messiah is the Center of Our Jewish Faith
Father and son share different perspectives of what recognizing Yeshua as Messiah means to a Jewish family.
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www.youtube.com/jewishvoicetoday
www.twitter.com/jewish_voice
By Rabbi David & Rabbi Matt Rosenberg
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FILM REVIEW The Sound of the Spirit
A film review that helps to clarify what Jews who accept Jesus experience.
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up f r o n t | J o n at h a n b e r n is
Messiah: Our Passover Lamb
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Isr ael that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. … The animals you choose must be yearold males without defect … Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Isr ael must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorfr ames of the houses where they eat the lambs … and when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:1-3, 5-7, 13).
Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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T
he Passover Exodus is the watershed event in Jewish history. Indeed, it is a momentous event for all mankind. Many Believers don’t fully comprehend the Passover in the context of the awesome deliverance and redemption of God it foreshadowed. In fact, understanding the Passover will deepen your understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. All the biblical festivals and observances were foreshadows of the redemption that the Messiah would ultimately bring. The entire Gospel of John, for instance, uses the Passover as the backdrop for his retelling of the atonement now provided to us through Yeshua, the Messiah. The author of the book of Hebrews uses Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement as the backdrop for revealing how Yeshua, as our high priest, has made eternal atonement for us by going into the holy of holies “once and for all” with His own blood. The word Passover comes from the Hebrew word pesach, which means “shelter.” Interestingly, the Aramaic word for lamb is talya, which can mean either “lamb” or “servant.” Isaiah 53, often referred to as the “suffering servant” chapter, describes Yeshua as a “lamb led to the slaughter who did not open his mouth.” In fact, Jesus is referred to as “the lamb” 34 times in the New Testament. The parallels between the Passover Lamb and Yeshua are extraordinary. Let’s take a closer look.
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The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, died for the sins of the entire world—that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
The Lamb Was to Be Without Blemish “The animals you choose must be yearold males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats” (Exodus 12:5). The Passover lamb, according to the ordinance of Pesach, was to be in the prime of life and without blemish. Blemish refers to sin. Yeshua, our final and perfect atonement, lived a sinless life. We are told that we have been redeemed out of sin not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Messiah—as a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:19). Why? Because God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Each Household Needed a Lamb “. . . a lamb for each household” (Exodus 12:3). The Word of God is explicit in the Prophets and the New Covenant that all have sinned. There is not one who is righteous. That is why everyone needs atonement to have a personal relationship with God. Just as each household required a lamb, the Word of God is clear in the Scriptures that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; what we consider righteousness before Him is really like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Every individual needs atonement, a sacrifice for his sins.
The Whole Community of Israel
Required a Lamb “all the members of the community of Israel . . .” (Exodus 12:6). At the heart of Christian antiSemitism is the false accusation that the Jewish People killed Jesus. During the Holocaust, Jewish People were told they were being punished for killing Christ as they were led to the gas chambers. But this concept was nothing new. It began in the very early foundations of the Church. Were the Jewish People responsible for killing Jesus? No. Matthew 20:19 says He would be handed over to the Gentiles and be mocked and flogged and crucified. So did the Gentiles kill Yeshua? No. Who really killed Jesus? Exodus 12:6 says that all of the community was to kill the Passover lamb. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, died for the sins of the entire world—that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Yeshua made it very clear in John 10:17-18 that He alone had the authority or power to end His life—that He GAVE or laid down His life freely that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. If He hadn’t laid down His life for us, we would have no redemption. The whole assembly killed Yeshua because He had to die and chose to die for us as our Passover Lamb.
The Passover Lamb Was to Be Slain In the Evening, But Not to Remain till Morning “Do not leave any of it [the Passover lamb] till morning” (Exodus 12:10).
The Gospel accounts make it absolutely clear that Yeshua is the sacrificial Passover Lamb. They record that He was crucified at the same time that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered, and that He was taken down from the tree before evening. He was hung upon the Roman execution stake, upon which the victim would suffer, yet not die for many hours. The executioners would eventually break the legs of the victim to hasten death, yet the Passover Lamb was not to have any broken bones. The Gospel accounts tell us that the legs of the prisoners on either side of Jesus had to be broken, but when the Roman soldiers came to Yeshua and saw that He was dead already, they did not break His legs ( John 19:33). Even in this detail we have a record of Yeshua fulfilling the ordinances of Passover.
When I see the Blood . . . “When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). In Exodus 12:7, we see the introduction of the blood—the precious blood of the Passover Lamb, which brings redemption. Judaism as God instituted it was a nation called out to be connected to God inseparably. But sin separates us from that precious fellowship with Him. We need atonement for that sin. The solution is at the very root of Judaism. In Leviticus 17:11, God said: For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. Without the shedding of blood, there is no atonement. God called Israel out to
(Continued on page 22) Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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PERSPEC TIVE | RABBI BARNEY KASDAN
s Le a r ia n n
d i l a o ys? H h s
t is
a n C C t h a r h W
the J e om w i Fr
PICTURED HERE: Traditional Passover Seders are performed according to the Haggadah booklet that contains the order of service. The Seder’s centerpiece is the Seder plate featuring six foods that tell the story of Pesach. While matzah is not found on the Seder plate, it contains the maror. The sacrifice is represented by the z’roah, the lamb shankbone. Also included are charoset, a mixture of apple, nuts, spice, and wine; maror, or horseradish; karpas, a green vegetable, often parsley; and beytzah (an egg.) 8 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
W
e have witnessed many blessings in recent decades with the growth of the modern Messianic Jewish Movement. For us Jewish Believers in Yeshua, it has provided a practical way to express our heritage through our Messianic synagogues and our home life. Many would agree that embracing Yeshua has increased our understanding and appreciation of the Jewish holidays. But what can Christians within the Church learn from the Jewish holidays? I believe there are many vital lessons to be gleaned.
#1 The Jewish holidays reflect accurate shadows of the things of God. The New Testament says it this way: So don’t let anyone pass judgment on you in connection with eating and drinking, or in regard to a Jewish festival or Rosh Hodesh [New Moon] or Shabbat. These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah (Colossians 2:16-17 Complete Jewish Bible). I have heard numerous teachings on this passage that conclude that the Jewish Festivals are now irrelevant. It is true that we are not to judge others based on their observance (or nonobservance) of the Feasts. I believe some of the misunderstanding stems from mistranslation in this verse. Many translations insert the phrase “mere” or “only” a shadow, thus implying that the Jewish holidays are not worth much to Christians. This is highly unfortunate, especially when one realizes that those words are not in the original language. Instead of denigrating the Feasts, it seems that Shaul/Paul is actually underlining the truth that the Feasts are positive shadows of God’s reality! True, we do not venerate the holiday itself. But a shadow does, indeed, reflect a real object. The Jewish holy days are not just cultural or sociological expressions of a people. For Bible Believers, these holy days present beautiful shadows of who our God is and what His plans are for this world. Passover is more than matzah ball soup. It reminds us of God’s work of redemption both from the slavery of Egypt as well as from the spiritual slavery of our sin. Rosh Hashanah is more than the shofar/ram’s horn. It is a wonderful shadow reminding us of the Messiah’s return. Certainly, there are many Christians who say we do not need these shadows. But the irony is that they often substitute other shadows (holidays and customs) in their place. I sincerely do not wish to judge anyone on such things, but my point is that
too often Christians have ignored the amazing shadows given by God to reflect His heart and His plans.
#2 The Jewish holidays model proper appreciation for the Jewish roots of the New Testament faith. While the verse in Colossians reminds us to refrain from the judgment of others on these things, Shaul/Paul writes elsewhere about another reason for Christians to appreciate the Jewish culture. He wrote to some non-Jewish Believers who may have questioned the importance of this truth when he said: You—a wild olive—were grafted in among them [Jewish Believers] and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, then don’t boast . . . remember that you are not supporting the root, the root is supporting you (Romans 11:17-18 CJB). It is clear that the New Testament is not advocating a mandatory legalism in regard to Christians and the Jewish holidays. But on the other hand, the New Testament does encourage all Believers (non-Jewish included) to understand and appreciate the original context of their faith in Yeshua. This Messianic faith did not come from Athens or the Renaissance of Europe! Since the olive tree is a biblical symbol of Israel (cf. Jeremiah 11:16), the message of the New Testament is undeniably rooted in the history and culture of Israel. By studying and understanding the Jewish holidays, Christians can gain a fresh appreciation of their true spiritual roots. If this had been the clear understanding in Church history, there certainly would have been a much better relationship between Christians and Jews. A few years ago in a U.S. city, a rock was thrown through a window of a Jewish home where a Chanukah menorah was clearly displayed. This sad act of anti-Semitism was countered in a marvelous way. In a show of solidarity, multiple Christian homes placed a Chanukah menorah in their own windows. When Christians understand the Jewish holidays, they invariably appreciate the Jewish roots of their own faith in Yeshua as Messiah. This is not to be confused with a “replacement theology” where Christians replace Jews. But I like to call it “appreciation theology” where Christians affirm their true origins.
#3 The Jewish holidays clarify the true Messiah. (Continued on page 24) Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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P E R S P E C T I V E | danie l j u ster
How Can Christians Honor the Feasts? A
ny discussion on the Feasts of Israel should begin with a disclaimer: Christians from the nations are not obligated to keep the Feasts of Israel. Keeping the Feasts means that every specific Feast Day that is said to be a Sabbath day, as well as the Seventh Day Sabbath, is kept as a day off from work, and a 10 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
day to remember the meaning of the Feasts. Several passages are very clear on this, including Acts 15:19-20; Colossians 2:16-17; Galatians 5:2-3; and Romans 14:5-7. In addition, though Christians from the nations are not obligated to keep the Feasts as we have just
described it, Jewish People, including Messianic Jews, are obligated to keep the Feasts. This is clear not only from many passages in the Torah, but also from several New Testament texts (Galatians 5:2-3; Acts 21:20-26; 1 Corinthians 7:17-18; Romans 11:2829). This is part of our Jewish way of life and identity that did not end with the coming of the Jewish King and Savior of the world.
The Importance of the Feasts for Christians However, to say that not all are obligated to keep the Feasts is not to say that the Feasts are not important for all Christians. The biblical Feasts represent God’s salvation for all people, prophetic fulfillment in the first coming of Yeshua, and prophetic fulfillment concerning the events of the Last Days, the Second Coming, and the Age to Come.
Passover Meanings for Christians Israel was delivered because the Passover Lamb’s blood was placed upon the doors of the homes of every Israelite. Without regard to any good works, Israel was saved totally by God’s election and their response of faith to leave Egypt. Bondage is replaced with liberty. Even so, Paul compares the salvation of Christians and their baptism in water to the exodus through the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). The Lord’s Supper is compared to the Israelites eating the manna in the wilderness. Even more so, in the first three Gospels, the unleavened bread and cups of wine of the Passover ritual were brought to fullness in the Lord’s Supper, where partaking of the bread is partaking of His body and the wine is taken as His blood, giving us life and paralyzing the forces of darkness.
All Christians could celebrate the Feasts in parallel to Jewish celebration, and in this way, the Church would be connected to the Jewish People in her very identity.
Every Feast is full of meaning to encourage and strengthen our faith. Passover, for example, tells us the great story of the salvation of Ancient Israel, which foreshadows the salvation of all Christians. Sukkot remembers God’s provision in the wilderness, provided the context for Yeshua’s incarnation, and speaks of the coming unity of Jew and Gentile worshiping God together.
Passover points to that day in which Israel will have a greater deliverance, leading to the nations coming to the light of God, a kind of universal Passover. However, it will be preceded by shakings and plagues, for, as it was in Egypt, so it will be in the world according to the
book of Revelation. Passover week includes First Fruits, the day of the resurrection of Yeshua, who is called the firstfruits of those who will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20).
Christians and Pentecost During the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost), Believers were being immersed in the Spirit, probably in the courtyard of the Temple. The promise to be immersed in the Spirit is to all who are in Yeshua. Rabbinic Judaism calculates with good reason that this season was the time of the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The connection, then, to the giving of the Spirit is wonderful because, as Romans 8:4 says, The righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us who . . . live . . . according to the Spirit. Pentecost looks forward to the day when the world will be filled with the Spirit and the earth will be full of the knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9).
Should Christians Celebrate the Feasts? Some argue, I think foolishly, that we need to get the calendar right and celebrate on exactly the right days. Some pick the dates calculated by the rabbis, some a solar (lunar) calendar, and some have their own dating according to the ripening of grain. Such legalism is beside the point! Rather, I think all Christians could celebrate the Feasts in parallel to Jewish celebration, and in this way, the Church would be connected to the Jewish People in her very identity. Celebrations need not be on exactly the “right” day but near to the time that Jewish People are celebrating.
(Continued on page 25) Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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P E R S P E C T I V E | j a c k z i m m er m a n
How to Observe the Feasts Without Scaring Your
R
emember Disco?
It was essentially the name of an era that spanned the mid to late 1970s; a time of nightclub dance floors and mirrored balls, and songs
with eloquent lyrics like, “Flapping my arms I began to cluck, look at me, I’m the disco duck.” Such compelling words. Ah, how I miss that age of enlightenment
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and intelligentsia! Anyway, it was also in that era that the TV Show 60 Minutes had a segment called “Point/Counterpoint,” in which two people gave their differing views on a particular subject. Thing was,
the issue at hand never got resolved. Many viewers expressed a great deal of contentment about this, when they no doubt said to themselves, “What was the purpose of that? So, in the spirit of Point/ Counterpoint, and to go one step further, I want to bring an issue before you, give you both sides, and then resolve it once and for all.
THE ISSUE: “I’m a Christian;
why should I celebrate the Levitical Feasts?”
THE POINT: You shouldn’t
celebrate those Feasts. After all, those were Old Testament Feasts given under the Law, and we all know that the Law is dead because we have grace now. Besides, those Feasts never applied to Gentiles anyway; they were only for Jews, and even Jews today can’t celebrate all the Feasts, so why should you? Can anyone, Jew or Christian, bring a sheaf of barley today to a Levitical priest in Jerusalem’s Holy Temple? We couldn’t even if we wanted to! So, let’s stop trying to earn our righteousness and salvation under a law that couldn’t give us either in the first place, but one which pointed to the only one who can—Jesus (Yeshua), who fulfills the Law.
THE COUNTERPOINT:
Reader, you and I need to talk. First, you must understand that while the Law is dead in terms of penalty (because we don’t bring a bull to be sacrificed anymore to atone for our sins under Leviticus 17:11), we acknowledge that the Law is very much alive in terms of principle (because we do still accept the need for a sacrifice for sin atonement, through Jesus now, under Leviticus 17:11). So what does that have to do with
observance of the Feasts? Think about this: Nobody’s asking you to smear your lintels and doorposts with lamb’s blood on Passover. (In fact, your neighbors might start avoiding you like the Plague if you did.) But does that mean we don’t acknowledge that it was on Passover that Yeshua became our Lamb of God who took away our sins when He shed His blood on the fulfillment of those lintels and doorposts? Therefore, all who believe in Yeshua should acknowledge this Festival, because it’s all about Him. And by the way, as an observant Jew, He celebrated every one of them.
And what about the Feast of Tabernacles, aka Sukkot? Would this writer suggest you build a booth in your backyard and live in it for seven days, just like they did in ancient Israel, as a reminder that when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, God gave them booths to dwell in? Look, I’ll admit, we Jewish People like the booth. We like it a lot. But I personally am not the best with PVC piping and palm fronds. They don’t even give you an instruction manual! But does this mean that if you don’t build a booth at all, you don’t observe the Festival at all? Of course not.
On the Feast of Firstfruits, nobody’s asking you to go to a non-existent Temple priest and bring him a sheaf of barley from your backyard. (In fact, you probably don’t even have barley growing in your backyard. And don’t ask your neighbors for some; they don’t have any either, and they’re probably still avoiding you after that lamb’s blood stunt you pulled at Passover.) But does that mean that we don’t acknowledge that it was on Firstfruits that Yeshua, who is our Firstfruits (see 1 Corinthians 15:20-23), rose from the dead? And just as the barley was lifted up in days of old, we would do well to remember that Yeshua said in John 12:32, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself.” Therefore, all who believe in Yeshua should acknowledge this Festival, because it’s all about Him.
What you do is, after you’ve had a chance to calm down because you’ve come to the realization that carpentry is not your gifting, you observe this Feast by noting that just as God dwelt with the people in those booths in the desert, and just as Yeshua dwelt with us when He came in the flesh, not only will He dwell with us again for all eternity, but in Zechariah 14, all Believers will celebrate this Feast in the millennial Kingdom!
What about the other Feasts? Still think the Feast of Trumpets was for the old days? How about observing it by noting that Yeshua will one day return blowing that very same ram’s horn, just as 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us.
Jack Zimmerman is Staff Evangelist at Jewish Voice and an ordained Messianic Jewish Rabbi. To invite Rabbi Jack to speak at your church, congregation, or event, please visit www.jewishvoice.org/speakers.
That’s why Christians should observe the Feasts. Because when you observe them in light of their New Testament fulfillment, then you’re truly observing even more of who Yeshua was, is, and always will be. Thanks for watching, and good night.
Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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TE A D P U Y MINISTR
With a full stomach and cozy “new” clothes, Tariku fell sound asleep in the security of the JVMI clinic while he waited for an escort to lead him outside. 14 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
Meet Tariku
By Judi Clarke
Seeing the Security Director at our Addis Ababa Distr ibution Center was surprising. Normally found outside the medical clinic compound maintaining peace in the long lines of patients, Bob didn’t often venture insid e the gates, let alone to the fourth floor. Standing over six feet tall, he almos t eclipsed the small boy whose hand he held. What the boy wore could hardly be called clothes; they were so old and torn. He said his mother was dead and he was alone. While fitting him with a “new” set of clothes, we quickly fell in love with his charming smile and engaging personality. Concerned that older boys might steal his bag, we dressed him in the new clothes, putting his ragged clothes in the bag. Someone slipped out and returned with a plate of local food for him. After he ate his fill, we waited for an escort to take him safely out again, but everyone was swamped, including us, so the boy waited with little supervision. In the midst of the hubbub, a new local worker was assigned to us. We asked him to watch our little orphan. Soon the coworker recog nized him. “I know this boy. His name is Tariku. His mother lives, and he has brothers and sisters.” We didn’t care that we had been lied to. Tariku’s tattered clothing was the worst we had seen and we wanted to help. “His mother is a begga r,” our helper continued. “She’s blind.” Oh, my. Desperate living conditions, a beautiful smile , and a charming personality—I could see it all add up. I couldn’t fault the boy for lying and using his charm to win our hearts. The needs of his family were huge, and, at six years old, he was doing his part to help. Describing him later to a friend, I heard the reply, “If I were in his place, I’d probably do the same. You would have to lie, cheat, charm—whatever it took to survive.” It was an hones t admission I appreciated. It opened my eyes to the reality of life for such a one as our tattered little charmer with the blind beggar mother. Oh, how they must live! We sat Tariku in a chair in the hallway where we worked. If he stayed all day at least we knew he’d be safe. When things quieted down, we would see him back outsi de. Some time later, we saw him curled up in the big chair , sound asleep. When we looked again, he was gone. By now we knew he was artful at fending for himse lf on the streets, as artful as a small six-year-old boy could be. We knew he would make his way home just the way he had made his way to us. We were thankful he had received a new set of clothes and shoes, a full stomach, and a safe place to sleep—but we missed him. We will be taking a group of volunteers to Addis Ababa for another JVMI medical outreach, and we hope to bless many “Tarikus” with the love of Yeshua and free healt hcare while we are there. Thank you for your generous suppo rt so we can continue to minister to the Lost Tribes of Israe l. If you are interested in going on a future outreach with us, see our trip schedule online: www.jewishvoice.org/outreach.
Judi Clarke is a writer for Jewish Voice Ministries with a particular passion for missions and showing the love of Yeshua to the impoverished people of Africa. Her husband, Rusty, is a photographer on many of JVMI’s outreaches, and they like to say that together they make “a” photojournalist. Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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P E R S P E C T I V E | B O NN I E S AU L W I L K S
Keeping Shabbat Offers Restoration for Your A
Soul
s sacred as the Day of Atonement, Sabbath celebration eclipses all other Jewish holy days and feasts. Mystics, rabbis, and observers through ages have written about its ethereal quality, its wonder, reward, and miracle. My first Erev Shabbat experience occurred in Israel in my early twenties. That evening shone like a shaft of light piercing through a dark cloud with radiance and enduring beauty that has captivated my heart until this day. As we walked into Kibbutz Einat’s dining room with the local Israelis, candles flickered on the tables covered with white cloths. Stark against their everyday casual style, many of the women wore dresses; and the men dressed in jeans and white shirts. The atmosphere rang of 16 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
celebration, and an enticing smell of baked chicken and onion gravy permeated the dining room. As a non-Jew, a deep sense of belonging and longing at the same time engulfed me. I had discovered a missing puzzle piece in life, whose unexpected emergence suddenly bridged unexplained gaps and unanswered questions that had nagged me daily. On that Sabbath twilight—just one special evening of an ordinary week—all of the scattered components of my life paled in comparison to the soothing sanctuary of rest that had been offered. My heart let go of its worry and settled into peace, the kind of tranquility that is promised those who eat of the fruit of observance. Sabbath came serendipitously and miraculously as a gift from God. I relished the sense of
Rest
shelter that warm fellowship afforded me during that delightful evening meal. I reveled in a clear break from the workday world. The Sabbath’s eternal order carried me through the quiet calm of the next day of relaxation and prepared me for the upcoming week. And in a real way, it prepared me for my life’s calling. Since then my family has enjoyed many such days of Sabbath peace and respite. Some have been in crude and unrefined places, and others have been in luxury and opulence. I have vivid memories of cold Erev Shabbat meals in Odessa, Ukraine, where our teeth chattered as we lifted our glasses to bless the God of Israel. Our hearts flooded with joy as we ushered in the hallowed evening in an austere Ukrainian home with no heat and little food, and we sensed God’s eternal purposes. Once we observed the Sabbath in a six-star hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which was in stark contrast to the poverty on the streets, just outside the door. We have celebrated in countries like Israel, Argentina, Ukraine, Russia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Cyprus, Hungary, and the United States with Jews, Christians, Catholics, Orthodox, and Messianic Jews alike. And in each place no matter the physical surroundings, rich ingredients of love, peace, rest, brotherhood, family, and harmony have greeted us every time. The true Spirit of the Sabbath does not disappoint or delay. Those early impressions of keeping the Sabbath holy have never left me and continue to enrich my life as I endeavor to follow hard after God by the setting aside of a day especially for Him. The offering of peace that comes from the One True God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still draws Jewish People, Arabs, Christians, and all nations today. There is a great revival in relearning or learning anew the Sabbath’s old remedies. Many are discovering its restorative attributes and applying it to frenzied lifestyles. The God of Israel demonstrated the value of Shabbat thousands of years ago. Today He continues to offer dry and weary souls a refreshing fountain, bubbling up for those who will take the time required to drink of Sabbath rest. Originally, I approached the subject of Sabbath keeping as a casual observer. Having lived on a kibbutz in my early
twenties, a deep love and respect sprang up in my heart for the separated day of rest. Only in the last 10 years have I become a serious partaker in the restorative power that comes with honoring this holy day. I discovered that the benefits of Sabbath practice cannot be fully realized by just keeping one or two days a year. The complete therapeutic profit yields a full-strength dose of physical and mental well-being through habitual remembrance and observance. It is a discipline, and its reward rebounds through faithful practice. The true joy of exercise is found through the constancy of it rather than the sporadic attempt, and so it is with the honoring of the Sabbath day.
The God of Israel demonstrated the value of Shabbat thousands of years ago. Today He continues to offer dry and weary souls a refreshing fountain, bubbling up for those who will take the time required to drink of Sabbath rest.
It is amazing to imagine that Sabbath respite sprang out of creation. Most think of the Ten Commandments as being the original law denoting the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. But God declared a day of rest at the end of six days of creating. It is beyond our finite imagination that the omniscient and omnipresent Creator took a day of rest. This is the ultimate example in Scripture of why it is vital to rest. If God, Who is the Supreme Being in the known universe, saw value in a period of rest at the end of a six-day work period, then how much more should we frail humans need to follow His example?
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ez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God P R AY E R WATC— H | J1 UChronicles N E L I G G I N S 4:10. And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit ted his request. ces in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— is his name. — Luke 1:46-49. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” — John 11:42. Of David. u, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my mies triumph over me. — Psalm 25:1-2. Then Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the d; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your erance. “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like God. — 1 Samuel 2:1-2. Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. se, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philisfor my two eyes.” — Judges 16:28. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom y family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may ngthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. — Ephesians 3:14-16. How great his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from ration to generation. — Daniel 4:3. “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ — Luke 3. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” — Luke 23:42. n Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the pows against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have e against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11. Although our sins testify against us, do something, Lord, for the sake of name. For we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you. — Jerh 14:7. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern great people of yours?” — 1 Kings 3:9. Father, if you are willtake this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be e.” — Luke 22:42. Then h e fell on his knees and d out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When had said this, he fell a s l e ep. — Acts 7:60. Keep servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. Psalm 19:13 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousand all these things will be given to you as well. — Matw 6:33. How can we thank G o d enough for you in return all the joy we have in the presence of our God because you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to e to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May trengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes all his holy ones. — 1 Thessa lonians 3:9-13. “My prayer is for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me ugh their message, that all of them may be one, Father, as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us that the world may believe that you have sent me. I given them the glory that you gave me, that they may one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that may be brought to complete unity. Then the 18 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA d will know that you sent me and have loved
Why CARE
About Prayer?
P
rayer is a simple, six-letter word, yet we act as if it were some scientific formula that we must decipher. To me, it is simply a very open and honest, heartfelt conversation with your greatest confidante. However, in our day-to-day scurry, many of us have forgotten the importance of prayer. Someone told me that, “Beginning your day without prayer is like leaving the front door to your home wide open as you go off to work.” Most of us would never think of leaving our homes unlocked for strangers to come in, yet we leave the front door to our lives, our ministries, and our work wide open to the enemy of our souls. A country must protect and guard its borders to keep its citizens safe. Prayer is the way we guard and protect the borders and sphere of influence God has placed in our care . . . yours and mine. When you stand with our ministry, Jewish Voice, in prayer for the salvation of the Jewish People and the nations, for our humanitarian efforts, for our congregational plants, and for our television ministry, you are guarding
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and protecting the things that are near and dear to the Father. You are the conduit by which the Holy Spirit completes His work in the world.
Why Pray for Israel Many of us have family members who are not serving the Lord. However, we pray for them because we want the blindness to be removed from their eyes so they can see as we do. I wear glasses and I understand how blurry things can get when I don’t have them on. Likewise, Israel is our extended family. Romans 11:25 reveals that they have a blindness that keeps them from recognizing that Yeshua is their Messiah. God loves the Jewish People and is faithful to preserve them. He has made an everlasting covenant with them and His seed after Him: Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him” (Genesis 17:19).
Onsite Prayer
The Lord did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your ancestors that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). So tell me, when does “everlasting” end? When we stand with Israel, we stand with God. Simple! We cannot say that we love God and not be willing to protect our family through prayer. Many may not understand that Israel’s role and survival is a spiritual one, but family should. Your prayer is the greatest gift they can receive. June Liggins serves as the Strategic Management Analyst at Jewish Voice, where she is responsible for a full range of activities that assist the organization in achieving its overall strategic goals and initiatives, and ensures operational effectiveness. She has also served the church for nearly two decades by facilitating and participating in ministry/ leadership training, women’s symposiums, and team-building summits.
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At Jewish Voice Ministries International, our Prayer Center is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is a space that is saturated by prayer. You can actually feel the tangible presence of God when you enter. If you are local, we invite you to join us in the Prayer Center every week. If you are visiting Phoenix, please stop in and pray with us for one hour. Coming to pray at Jewish Voice will release blessings into your life. We have made blessing the Jewish People in prayer, in giving, and in financial support top priorities. Please stop in and join us whenever you can. We are building the House of Prayer, one hour at a time! Join us and together we will see our vision become a reality! Contact our Prayer Coordinator, Paula Walberer, by calling 602-288-9822 or emailing Pwalberer@jewishvoice.org to set up a time for your orientation.
Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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FA I T H C H R O N I C L E S | R a b b i D av id R osen b erg & ra b b i M att R osen b erg
Messiah of our J David’s Story It was fall 1971. I had just driven home from Hofstra University on Long Island to our apartment in Passaic, NJ. My brother Jan had just returned home from Temple University. As I walked into the kitchen, he was telling my mother about “Jesus,” while still wearing his kippah. My mom was horrified and upset. Using some colorful language, I asked Jan what he thought he was doing. As we faced each other, he began telling me about Jesus. I looked at him and asked, “Is this some kind of horrible joke about Jesus? Can’t you see mom is upset?! Are you kidding me!?” Without touching me, Jan looked into my eyes and said, “I’m not kidding!” His words were so powerful it was as though someone had placed his hands on my chest
and pushed me so hard that I was thrown back against the wall behind me. I was a wrestler, the New Jersey state runner-up in the 136-pound weight class. I know when someone pushes me, but there was no one there. I was so scared that I ran out the door, slamming it behind me, and drove right back to Long Island. I had absolutely no framework for understanding what had just taken place except anger, cursing, and “he must be crazy!” Besides, I actually didn’t know who Jesus was, except for the “inner knowing” that whoever he was, he wasn’t for us as Jews! One year later, Helene and I ran away to live together in Oregon. Between my parents’ “Jewish” divorce, Helene’s family’s “Catholic” divorce, and my brother’s faith in Jesus, we made a covenant to love each other forever, but to never talk about God
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again. He caused too much pain. From that point on, however, there was someone who had to tell us about Jesus wherever we went. Though barely 20 years old, we became committed to a new way of life that swept our generation into a “counter culture” movement. We were hippies, and unbeknownst to us, multitudes of hippies were turning to Jesus in the early ‘70s on the West Coast and we had arrived just in time. Since we had little food, an invitation to a Christian coffeehouse potluck seemed okay. The music was great; the food was fine. The pastor’s message was interesting, until a woman named Daisy (of course) stood up and said, “The Lord wants us all to pray until everyone in this room knows Jesus.” They all seemed to turn and stare at us, and Helene whispered intensely to me, “Exit stage right; let’s get out of here!” But the New
York Jew felt bad about not saying goodbye, and on that day, Helene and I met our Messiah together. We were married two weeks later.
I thought my brother Jan and I were the only two Jews in the world who believed in Jesus, until someone gave me an album of the “Liberated Wailing Wall,” a musical touring group from Jews for Jesus. As I listened to the record, I cried, thinking, “We are not alone!”
Matt’s Story I am a second-generation Messianic Jew and Messianic Rabbi. My parents planted Shuvah Yisrael Messianic Synagogue in Plainview, New York, when I was ten years old. Our family first became involved in Messianic Judaism when I was five weeks old and we moved from Ashland, OR to Philadelphia, PA to join Beth Yeshua, one of the first Messianic Jewish congregations in the world. I have truly been raised in Messianic
teacher drew a chart on the board with the differences between the two. Under Judaism she put “The Ten Commandments” and under Christianity, she put “love your neighbor as yourself.” I raised my hand and said, “You can’t do that. All Christians believe in The Ten Commandments. And, when Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ He was quoting Leviticus 19:16, which is in the Torah!” My teacher, a little surprised, encouraged everyone to bring Bibles to school the next day and to have me present more. One of my Jewish classmates freaked out and couldn’t believe that believing in Yeshua is entirely a Jewish thing to do.
h is the Center Jewish Faith I was astonished to find that most of the writers of the New Testament were Jewish, quoting the ancient Jewish Scriptures. They believed their faith in Messiah was part of the continuing story of Jewish faith in the God of Israel. We also understood that the Jewish world would never understand Yeshua without a living, visible Jewish remnant. We were determined to return to New York and establish a Messianic Jewish community so we could raise our children as Jews in a Jewish community with Messiah at the center of our Jewish faith. Rabbi David Rosenberg & Rebbitzen Helene Rosenberg founded Shuvah Yisrael in May 1989. They each hold a Master’s of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. Rabbi David has smecha (ordination) with the IAMCS. Shuvah Yisrael has belonged to both the IAMCS and the UMJC for more than 20 years. David and Helene have three sons and five grandchildren.
Judaism, and my life experience is immersed in being both Jewish and a follower of Yeshua ( Jesus). Growing up on Long Island meant I went to school with a lot of Jewish People. In fact, most of my friends had one Jewish parent and one Catholic parent, just like me. I have always been confidently both Jewish and a follower of Yeshua. For me, Judaism makes more sense when we believe that the Messiah that God promised us really did come for His people in the person of Yeshua. All through elementary school, junior high, and high school, I was always having to prove that believing in Yeshua and being Jewish was not only possible, but a reality in my life. In my tenth grade social studies class, we were learning about world religions when we came to a segment on Judaism and Christianity. My
At 17, I became more serious about God and decided to go to Nyack College and beginning training to become a Messianic Rabbi. I now lead a Messianic Synagogue in Seattle, WA, called Beit Messiah. My wife, Laura, and I have three awesome children and are raising another generation of Messianic Jews who are both entirely Jewish and believe in Jesus. We believe in Yeshua and know with certainty that we have returned to the Jewish faith of our Fathers, three Rosenberg generations strong! Matt Rosenberg is the Rabbi of Beit Messiah in Seattle, Washington. He is ordained by the IAMCS Board of Rabbis and has served as secretary of the YMJA. Before moving to Seattle, Rabbi Matt served for five years as Associate Rabbi, alongside his father, Rabbi David Rosenberg, at Shuvah Yisrael on Long Island, New York, and in Manhattan. Matt is married to Laura and they have three children.
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(Continued from page 7) be a nation under Him to show the world that He is the One True God. In Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses exhorts the Israelites with these words: Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the Lord is one! God called out a separate people, recognizing that no man could keep His Law perfectly. But at the center of the Law is God’s gracious provision— life for life. In each of the homes of the Israelites and Egyptians in Egypt that night, an innocent life had to be taken to spare the life of the firstborn of each family. Here again is a fundamental principle of the Good News— all have sinned and are guilty. God has pronounced judgment on all. But He makes no distinction between race, creed, or color—whether you’re Jewish or Gentile. It is not by your works that you obtain righteousness or right standing before God, but it is a gift of God. The wages of sin is death. This was God’s judgment upon the inhabitants of Egypt— Egyptians and Israelites alike. That night the angel of death was to smite all the firstborn, including the Israelites. But the blood was to be a token upon the houses. God promises: When I see the blood, I will pass over you (Exodus 12:13). This is the very center of Passover and the Good News—in this the Gospel is summed up. I never learned these things growing up. Passover to me meant the meal and getting together with family, but there was never any concept in my Judaism of blood or sin. I was taught about the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and learned about the biblical figures, but never truly understood that God is alive and His Word is alive, and I am a sinful being in need of atonement. I never
appreciated that deliverance in a deep and meaningful way. Yet we the Church also lack that appreciation if we don’t appreciate the Old Covenant Scriptures—we have missed the deep understanding of God’s character as Deliverer and Provider. We are told in the Prophets 750 years before Yeshua was born that One would come and would die for our sins. He would be without sin, yet it would please God to bruise Him and to lay upon Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53). Yeshua said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved” ( John 10:9). Why? Because He is the Passover Lamb who shed His blood so that we can apply it to the doorposts of our hearts, and cause the angel of death to pass over.
The Good News Jeremiah 31 promises that, “The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them. … I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (vv. 31-32, 34). In 750 B.C. the prophet Jeremiah declared the expectation of the Jewish Messiah who brought about this New Covenant in His blood by which all may receive forgiveness and God’s own Torah will be written on our hearts. A Jew without a Messiah is as incomplete as Christianity without its Jewish roots. It is rooted in Judaism that we come to understand the sinful condition of mankind and the glorious graciousness
JVMI Messianic Passover Seder Kit Make Passover a family tradition! Celebrate this ancient, yet timeless biblical tradition with Rabbi Jonathan Bernis and his family. Kit includes Messianic Passover DVD, Haggadah, Seder Plate, Kiddush Cup, 2 candle holders, and Matzah Cover! Rabbi Jonathan Bernis gives step by step instructions for the Passover Seder meal, and shows how Yeshua (Jesus) is the fulfillment of Passover.
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of our God who provided this atonement in the death and resurrection of His own flesh. We need to understand the Old Covenant and the grace of God to understand and appreciate the new. The Passover service teaches us this, taking us through the story of the deliverance of the Hebrew children by the hand and grace of God—not only out of the land of Egypt, but also the deliverance from death by the blood of the Passover Lamb. As you celebrate Passover, you will see this great miracle and gain a greater understanding of God’s love for mankind.
A RabbI Looks at the
Afterlife
A New Look at Heaven and Hell with Stories of People Who’ve Been There
And lest you think that celebrating Passover is only for Jews, Exodus 12:48 tells us the Lord made provision for the “foreigner” among His people who wanted to participate in the Feast. Readers who are not accustomed to this celebration may feel like foreigners, but put your minds at rest. The apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, For Messiah, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival [Passover] (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). Concerning Pesach, God said in Exodus 12:14, “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.” Clearly, from both the Torah and the New Testament, there is strong encouragement to keep the Passover. Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah. He is the Passover Lamb. He is the Passover given to the Jewish People from God and the atonement given to the world. When God sees the blood applied to the doorposts of our hearts, the angel of death will pass over. This is the declaration of Passover—the Good News—the grace and power of God unto salvation!
Pesach: The Feast of Passover Discover the full meaning behind the ancient traditions of this wonderful Jewish celebration in this minibook from Rabbi Jonathan Bernis. Learn how the feast is celebrated and how the different elements of the Seder point to the work of Yeshua as the Lamb of God.
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(Continued from page 9) If the Jewish Festivals are given by God as a good shadow of spiritual realities, then it is quite logical that those holidays point us to the greatest reality of all; the coming Messiah. Passover is a 3,500-year-old holiday celebrating redemption. It cannot be a coincidence that it was at a seder where Yeshua of Nazareth told His Jewish disciples that the meal was symbolic of His work for all of us; the Lamb offered for the world (cf. Matthew 26). It should not be surprising that Yeshua not only celebrated Chanukah in Jerusalem, but used that holiday to clearly proclaim His Messiahship (cf. John 10). The fact is that every Jewish/ biblical holiday is an amazing teaching tool that can draw us closer to our Redeemer. In the Torah, the Festivals are called “God’s Appointed Times” (Leviticus 23). They are special times where God Himself says He wants an appointment with you! Put it on your calendar and don’t miss it. All of us ( Jews, Christians, inter-married families) have so much to learn as we understand and celebrate the wonderful holidays given from above.
a rabbi looks at jesus of nazareth With warmth and transparency, Jewish Voice’s own Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis shares a compelling case—with overwhelming evidence that can be traced to the Torah itself—for Jesus as Messiah. And then he provides Christians with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively share Yeshua with their Jewish family and friends in a loving and sensitive way. 240 pages, hardcover. ITEM #9090 | $25.00 GIFT SIGNED COPY | ITEM #9091 | $100.00 GIFT
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Barney Kasdan is Rabbi of Kehilat Ariel Messianic Synagogue in San Diego, California. He is the past President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) and is author of the popular books God’s Appointed Times, God’s Appointed Customs, and his latest, a 400-page commentary called Matthew Presents Yeshua, King Messiah (all by Messianic Jewish Publications). Rabbi Barney and his wife, Liz, reside in San Diego and have four grown children.
God’s appointed times Beginning with the Sabbath, Messianic Rabbi Barney Kasdan writes about all of the Jewish Feast Days, offering historical background, traditional Jewish observance, relevance to the New Testament, prophetic significance, and a practical guide for Believers, including recipes, songs, and crafts.
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(Continued from page 11) Keeping each day as a Sabbath is hard for even Jews in the Diaspora. However, the Church can have special times related to the Feasts on the Sunday closest to the Feasts. Good Friday could be connected more to Passover, and Resurrection Sunday to Firstfruits. These days would emphasize God’s promises, both those fulfilled and those yet to be fulfilled. They could also emphasize solidarity with Israel, with the Jewish People, and with Messianic Jews. Such times will enrich the Christian world with biblical knowledge, celebration, joy, and purpose. They can be times of greeting and showing support to the Jewish community. These celebrations, I believe, release intercessory power to move history toward the fulfillment of the plans of God declared in each Feast.
Dr. Daniel Juster is the Director of Tikkun International (www.Tikkunministries.org), a network of congregations and ministries in the United States and abroad. He was an honors graduate in Philosophy from Wheaton College, completed graduate course work for Philosophy of Religion at Trinity Evangelical Seminary, and received an M. Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary. He also received a Th. D. from New Covenant International Seminary, New Zealand. Dr. Juster was the founding President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.
JEWISH ROOTS: UNDERSTANDING JEWISH FAITH In this informative work, Dr. Daniel Juster discusses the eschatological meaning of the biblical feasts of Israel and their future prophetic significance. He presents the fundamentals of biblical theology, Israel and the Church, and evaluates the progress of the Messianic Jewish movement among Jewish and nonJewish Believers.
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(Continued from page 17) This also implies that a day of rest is good for all mankind, not just the Jewish People. Adam and Eve weren’t Jewish. They were born years before Abraham, the father of Israel and the Jewish People. The Genesis account of creation is persuasive: God intended Sabbath keeping to be a gift for all of His glorious creation. He commanded a time of holiness that was set apart from all other days to the first people on earth. They were to be examples of how men and women should live on earth to all generations who would follow after them. That makes the Sabbath decree as old as creation and beneficial for all humankind and worthy of serious consideration. This article was adapted from Bonnie Saul Wilks’ book, Sabbath: A Gift of Time. Bonnie Saul Wilks is the Senior Writer at the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute. When not chasing a train, plane, or automobile for the farflung regions of the world, she is nestled down at home in Euless, Texas, with her husband, Wayne, and daughter, Julia. Bonnie loves the art of homemaking and entertaining, and it is not unusual to find a large gathering around her table on Fridays for Erev Shabbat meals.
sabbath: a gift of time With modern-day pressures, honoring the Sabbath can be difficult. Bonnie Saul Wilks discusses what makes the seventh day special; and through current traditions, songs, and Sabbath recipes, demonstrates how it can truly be a time of rest and communion with family and God.
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Jewish Voice Today | March/April 2014
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FILM REVIEW
Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis
Messianic Rabbi Showcases Faith Struggle Through Unique Film The Sound of the Spirit Genre: Drama Running Time: 129 minutes DVD Release Date: June 12, 2012 Audience: Ages 12 and older In a unique film from Kingdom Pictures called “The Sound of the Spirit,” writer/director Michael Robert Wolf, a Messianic Rabbi, tackles the faith issue in the context of a young girl’s coming of age dilemma. Twelve-year-old Rivka is a Messianic Jewish girl whose father suddenly dies, and she is forced to live with her traditional Jewish relatives, who do not believe Jesus is the Messiah. Her faith is tested when she’s asked to have her bat mitzvah at a synagogue instead of her Messianic congregation. Will she comply with her family’s wishes? Has she compromised her beliefs if she does? “The Sound of the Spirit,” winner of four Dove Awards, is an ideal choice for a group Bible study discussion or youth meeting. Notes Wolf, “It builds bridges, opens hearts, and pushes down walls. The Jewish People who have seen it understand it shows who we are and the stereotypes that can exist.” Why you need this DVD in your home collection: • Written and directed by a Messianic Jewish Rabbi who knows the faith struggle • Helps Christians understand what Jews who accept Jesus go through • Explains misconceptions that traditional Jews have of Messianics and Messianics have of traditional Jews
DVD | ITEM #6047 | $20.00 GIFT Visit JewishVoiceToday.org or call 800-299-YESHUA. 26 JewishVoiceToday.org | 800-299-YESHUA
OUR JEWISH EXPERIENCE IS FOR EVERY BELIEVER Our weekly, half-hour television show, Jewish Voice with Jonathan Bernis, will challenge and encourage you in your faith to: • Gain a deeper, richer understanding of the Bible and God’s plans for you both now and in the prophesied Last Days • Participate in the Jewish customs, traditions, and feasts that are still upheld by our Jewish brothers and sisters today—with the additional knowledge of how Messiah Yeshua is the perfect fulfillment of these sacred elements • Grow in understanding of prophecy surrounding the Land and People of Israel, and learn what God’s will is for this tiny Nation and for those who choose to honor and serve her
Visit www.jewishvoice.tv for TV schedule or to view online.
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WITH
It’s your chance to interact LIVE with Jonathan Bernis and our panel of experts, to get your questions answered and grow in your walk with the Lord!
For the latest webcast schedule, to send your questions and RSVP now, go to www.JewishVoiceLive.org.
Where the past and the future
meet in the present.
J O I N J O N AT H A N B E R N I S & F A M I LY , N O V 2 9 - D E C 8 , 2 0 1 4
TOUR
2014
Isr el
Register now! 800-299-YESHUA | tours@jewishvoice.org | jewishvoice.org/IsraelTour
J EWISH V OICE M INISTRIES INTERNATIONA L
Inspired Alaska CR U I S E W I T H J O N AT H A N B E R N I S & FA M I LY
J U LY 5 -12 , 2 014
Jonathan Bernis and his family warmly invite you on the Inspired Alaska cruise with teachings, praise and worship and beautiful, breathtaking scenery! Don’t miss it!
Reserve your spot now! 800-299-YESHUA | tours@jewishvoice.org | jewishvoice.org/events