THE MESSIANIC JEWISH BIBLE INSTITUTE
Summe r 2017
Emmitt Smith and MJBI Focused on the Goal Line
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FE ATURE ARTICLE
4 | Why the Rabbis Don't Understand Rosh HaShanah 5 | Life From the Land: HaTikva Project 9 | Jewish Feasts & Holidays
CO N TE N TS
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For Zion’s Sake
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Why the Rabbis Don’t Understand Rosh HaShanah
Summer 2017
By Nic Lesmeister
By Ron Cantor
Contact Information P.O. Box 610105 Dallas, TX 75261
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(817) 864-9300 USAoffice@mjbi.org • mjbi.org
Online Schools School of Messianic Theology SMT@mjbi.org • smt.mjbi.org
By Nic Lesmeister
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Introducing Kevin Bentley By Alisa Stephenson-Nicolescu
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Life From the Land: HaTikva Project
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Jewish Feasts & Holidays
The King’s University
Accredited Messianic Jewish Studies Program tali.snow@tku.edu • TKU.edu
Emmitt Smith and MJBI: Focused on the Goal Line
By Evan Levine
By Tara Kieschnick
International Schools ARGENTINA Argentina@mjbi.org MinisterioBetEl.org
RUSSIA Russia@mjbi.org
Dates to remember
ETHIOPIA Ethiopia@mjbi.org
UKRAINE Ukraine@mjbi.org OrHaMashiah.org
August 28 Launch of MJBI Kadima Program in Zimbabwe
HUNGARY Hungary@mjbi.org
ZIMBABWE Zimbabwe@mjbi.org
September 4 Labor Day (USA) September 14 MJBI D/FW Fall Banquet September 21 Rosh HaShana (Jewish New Year) September 30 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) October 9 Columbus Day (USA)
ECFA Accreditation You have invested wisely during your lifetime. Now let these investments make a lasting difference in people’s lives with a gift to the Messianic Jewish Foundation. Your gift will go directly to sharing the Good News with Jewish people and helping strengthen Messianic Jewish congregations and ministry around the world for years to come. Please contact us at 817-864-9300 or Foundation@MJBI.org for more information.
October 5-11 Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) October 13 Simchat Torah (Celebration of Torah) November 11 Veteran's Day (USA) November 23 Thanksgiving (USA)
View this issue online 2 | SUMMER 2017
at Zea lo u sM a g .o rg
FOR ZION’S SAKE NIC LESMEISTER ZEALOUS
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ate in 2016, I began feeling an urgent stirring in my heart for the forthcoming year. The elections were over, Dr. Wayne Wilks and I had completed our transitional year as I took over the role of President & CEO, and MJBI had moved into new offices. As I set my heart on the Lord in reflection, I felt Him saying, “Let’s Go!” Immediately, I knew that an intense pace of ministry was ahead of us at MJBI in the beginning of 2017. In the first six months of 2017, I traveled to 13 countries and five continents. From Japan to Israel, and South Africa to Poland, I became good friends with American Airlines. With each trip, I increasingly felt a new emotion rising in my spirit. Through the strength of the Lord, I was becoming more and more DETERMINED. Determined to press into the expanding ministry opportunities the Lord was bringing us to train new leaders for Jewish ministry. Determined to faithfully carry the flame the Wilks family passed on to Tabatha and I. And ultimately, determined to see Yeshua glorified all over the world.
In this issue of "Zealous", we are unveiling the details of our annual banquet event. I am beyond excited about this year’s special guest, former Dallas Cowboy Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. Ron Cantor, long-time MJBI friend, shares a compelling insight on the fall holiday of Rosh HaShanah. We will introduce you to a new member of the MJBI team, and you will hear from another Israeli friend of mine who directs an incredible Jerusalembased ministry in our “Life From the Land” feature. I hope that by the end of reading this issue of “Zealous” you will be as excited as I am about the ministry MJBI is being called to around the world in the days ahead. Without your partnership, it would be impossible to carry out our God-given mission. We sincerely thank you! For Zion’s Sake, Let’s Go!
NIC LESMEISTER, PRESIDENT & CEO
Magazine
Nic Lesmeister Editor-in-Chief
PROJECT MANAGEMENT Tara Kieschnick Managing Editor
EDITORIAL Bonnie Saul Wilks Staff Writer
Carol Adams Editor
ART & DESIGN George Estrada Graphic Designer
SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook.com/mjbi.usa Twitter.com/mjbi Youtube.com/mjbiusa Instagram @mjbiusa
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Why the Rabbis Don't Understand Rosh HaShanah By Ron Cantor
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very year Jewish people do the strangest thing. We celebrate a new year in the middle of the year. It is called Rosh HaShanah, and it is not in the Bible. Well, not explicitly.
The scriptures tell us: “On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets” (Numbers 29:1). We also have this: “On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts” (Leviticus 23:24-25). You may have noticed that not only does it not mention “Rosh” (head) “HaShanah” (of the year), but comes on the “first day of the seventh month.” In Hebrew this is called the Day of Trumpeting. So, the supposed Jewish New Year is actually a day in which we are to blast trumpets as a memorial. A memorial for what? It doesn’t say. There is no specific reason given for the blowing of the trumpets. Now doesn’t it
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seem strange that God would leave that out? Unless, there is a meaning that would be revealed in the future. It is commonly believed that this blowing of the trumpets is a call to repentance, as Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is only ten days later. In the Scripture, the shofar, or trumpet, had many meanings. Numbers 10 speaks of the silver trumpets being a way to call people to assemble or the Israelites to battle. The ram’s horn was sounded at the New Moon festivals each month as we see in Psalm 81:3. However, I think that the greatest fulfillment of this holiday is in expectation of the Messiah: “Then the Lord will appear over them; His arrow will flash like lightning. The Sovereign Lord will sound the trumpet; He will march in the storms of the south” (Zechariah 9:14). The revelation is further revealed in the New Covenant: “And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:41). “In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).
day. Tishrei was their New Year, and it is possible that the rabbis embraced this—as it was already a holiday and thus easy to incorporate without causing friction with their captors. They could celebrate Yom Teruah as a New Year. Of course this is merely a hypothesis. The most important point here is to discover its true meaning of the Feast of Trumpets—a day to look toward the coming of Messiah when he subdues the enemies of Israel (Zechariah 14:3-4) and sets up His Millennial kingdom. As believers, we can join in by taking extra time on this day to pray that Messiah’s return will be hastened. (*There are four exceptions: Aviv, Ziv, Etanim and Bul) RON CANTOR is the GOD TV Israel Regional Director and host of the daily TV program, “Out of Zion.” He also serves on the leadership team of Tiferet Yeshua, a Hebrew-speaking congregation in Tel Aviv. Ron and his family moved to Odessa, Ukraine, to work for MJBI in 1996 before eventually moving to Israel in 2003, where they now reside.
I believe that because the rabbis were blinded to the revelation of Yeshua, they were also blinded to the true meaning of Yom Teruah—the Feast of Trumpets. They needed to beef-it-up and give it more meaning, and thus decided that creation took place on the first day of the seventh month. And now it is accepted as gospel truth (pun intended) without a shred of evidence. There is more. The seventh month in Hebrew is called Tishrei, which really isn’t Hebrew. In Hebrew the months are simply recognized by their order—the first month, the third month, etc.* While exiled in Babylon, we took on the Babylonian names of the months like Nisan and Tishrei. The Babylonians took their celebrations quite seriously, where as in the Scriptures, it is never emphasized as a holi-
“I believe that because the rabbis were blinded to the revelation of Yeshua, they were also blinded to the true meaning of the Feast of Trumpets.”
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Emmitt Smith and MJBI Focused on the Goal Line BY NIC LESMEISTER, MJBI PRESIDENT AND CEO
I have a humiliating confession. Though I am one of the most die-hard Texans many of you may ever meet, I did not grow up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
In October 1989, when I was about to turn 7 years old, I was proudly wearing the Purple and Gold of the Minnesota Vikings. Growing up in rural Minnesota, I loved football. In fact, my hometown team – the Tigers – had finished runnerup in the state championship in 1988 and were undefeated deep into the 1989 state playoffs in the fall of that year. Football was on everyone’s mind in my little hometown. The biggest football news that year, however, was the infamous Herschel Walker trade between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings received a soon-tobe irrelevant Herschel Walker and the Cowboys received a major handful of draft picks. One of those draft picks ended up being a young man from Florida, Emmitt Smith. For most of us, the rest is history: Three-time Super Bowl champion, eight-time Pro Bowler, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, and Hall of Famer. Yet Emmitt’s achievements did not come easily. He was frequently criticized for being too small, not strong enough, and too slow. What was it, then, that made him the greatest rusher in NFL history?
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EMMITT JAMES SMITH III is a former college and professional American football running back who became the National Football League's all-time leading rusher through his fifteen seasons in the league during the 1990s and 2000s.
Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith (22) in action, rushing vs Washington Redskins at Texas Stadium. Irving, TX (1994) Credit: Al Tielemans (Photo by Al Tielemans /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
Emmitt Smith is constantly referred to as one of the best second-effort runners in the history of the game of football. Another way of putting this is that Emmitt Smith was determined. Clip after clip of Emmitt’s career shows him smashing into a defender, then driving forward with focused vision to gain even more yards before being brought to the ground. You can see the determination in his eyes as he focused down field on the goal line ahead of him.
As a staff, we at MJBI feel many similarities to Emmitt Smith. We’re not out to win a Super Bowl, but we have a task before us that is even more challenging – to see all Israel saved, which will lead to a revival in the nations of the earth (Romans 11:15)! We’re not the biggest, strongest, or even the smartest. But we understand the specific mission that God has given us to raise up and train leaders for this great revival, and we’re determined to carry our mission out to completion.
Though he was never the biggest, fastest or strongest, his determined will to succeed drove him to record heights on the football field. And the same vision and determined focus are now driving him as a successful businessman.
In Hebrews 12:1-2, we find some of the most famous Bible verses used by believing athletes from all over the world. The Message version puts it so plainly: “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way,
all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it… start running—and never quit!… Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God!” The Holy Spirit spoke these verses to us as a team as we were praying over our strategy at MJBI earlier this year. The Lord was reminding us that now is the time to go forward, with eyes focused on Jesus, who will show us how to press on to complete this great mission He has given to us. Our history is a hall of fame story of faithful leaders who have blazed
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the way for MJBI to be where we are today – active in nine countries around the world, training hundreds of leaders for Jewish ministry every year. But now it is our turn to move with determined focus toward that “exhilarating finish with God” and see the ancient plan of Israel’s restoration and redemption fulfilled! We have an aggressive vision to pioneer college-level Messianic education on the five major continents around the world. Currently, this only exists in two – North America (U.S.) and Asia (Israel). By 2020, we are aiming to be the first-ever provider of collegiate Messianic Jewish Theology in South America, Africa, and Europe. We have already co-launched the North American option for this program through The King’s University, and we’re actively moving to complete our vision in these other locations even as you read this. As I mentioned in my opening letter in this issue of “Zealous,” in the first six months of 2017, I traveled to all five of these continents, and 13 countries throughout all of them. I am determined to move this “20/20 Vision” into reality, to see the vision and mission of the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute fulfilled.
INTRODUCING KEVIN BENTLEY By Alisa Stephenson-Nicolescu MJBI Director of Partner Relations and Events
And just like Emmitt Smith, we at MJBI need fans. We need people to cheer us on, to support us, and to help motivate us when we’re weary from the challenging mission given to us. We can be as determined as we want, but we will not go far if we do not go with you and your support. On September 14, 2017, we will gather with Emmitt Smith at the Arlington Convention Center for our annual D/FW banquet. As you can likely tell by now, the clear theme for our event this year is “Determined,” with an emphasis on the Word the Lord spoke to us from Hebrews 12:1-2. We would be delighted if you could join us on September 14. Emmitt will share his experience, insight, and passionate wisdom with us as we run toward this great vision God has given us to reach, train, and bless the Jewish people. This will truly be a banquet unlike any other we have had in a very long time. Until we see you in September, may you be inspired with a new determined faith of your own to carry out the mission that God has given you. We’re praying for you, and grateful for your friendship in every way!
It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you MJBI’s new Strategic Partnership Coordinator, Pastor Kevin Bentley. Since 2011, I have had the privilege of knowing Kevin, his lovely wife of 21 years, Mindi, and their beautiful daughter Lauren. Kevin was the Director of Johnson County for Israel, an initiative through the Christian Heritage Foundation (CHF), a dear friend of MJBI and partner in ministry, located in Cleburne, Texas. In his role at CHF, Kevin facilitated relationships between pastors in the U.S. and Israel. This was a natural fit for Kevin as he grew up a preacher's kid and also pastored a church for 20 years. The Lord has placed within Kevin a talent and energy for connecting and bringing together people of all backgrounds and occupations to maximize kingdom work. When we began discussing the need for someone to foster our church and organizational relationships, it was providential to make Kevin part of the MJBI team.
Say hello to Kevin! Email him at Kevin@mjbi.org
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Kevin also serves as business pastor for DMI corporation in Cedar Hill. He and his family make their home in Cleburne, TX. Welcome to the team, Kevin!
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ZEALOUS MAGAZINE | 9
Life from
the Land
F E ATU R I N G HATI K VA PROJ EC T
H
ATIKVA PROJECT is a Jerusalem-based
Messianic ministry working to see the Israeli Body of Messiah built up and serving needy Israelis in the name of Yeshua. We believe the Lord has called the local, Israeli believers to step boldly into areas of public influence to provide value to our nation in many different areas while operating with excellence. In this way, we bring the name of Yeshua into day-to-day conversations in a way that brings blessing that cannot be easily ignored.
HATIKVA DENTAL Dental care is one of the greatest needs in Israel as it is not covered under the national insurance policy. We operate the first and only Messianic Jewish dental clinic in Israel where we boldly treat patients in the name of Yeshua. We are the only clinic in the nation providing a full range of dental services to the needy and are the preferred clinic
We are blessed to be serving the Lord in these critical ways as we work toward the spiritual restoration of Israel.
The ministry of HaTikva Project is expressed through three departments: HATIKVA AID Through HaTikva Aid, we provide direct financial support to Israeli believers who are experiencing financial crisis. We meet the day-to-day needs of widows, single mothers, and families experiencing extreme financial hardship throughout the nation of Israel. By pairing our financial aid with the support of local congregations and financial counselors, we are able to see breakthrough in the lives of many believers. 10 | SUMMER 2017
for “unwanted� and orphaned children is one of the highest expressions of the Gospel. Our aim is to encourage and equip the Israeli Body of Messiah to take a leading role in caring for such children in Israel. We will recruit and equip couples and families to host, foster, and adopt through conferences, seminars, and public education. We will work with various agencies to promote the benefits of Messianic Jewish families adopting Israeli children. As well, we provide financial support to help with the associated expenses.
of referral for government agencies in Jerusalem. We are currently developing a network of clinics throughout the nation and providing scholarships for believers to study dentistry. In this way, we meet a critical need with excellence while making the name of Yeshua famous through dentistry. HATIKVA FAMILIES This is a new initiative that we are excited to launch! We believe that caring
EVAN LEVINE is the Executive Director of HaTikva Project. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Elisa, and their three children. Evan also serves as a shamash (deacon) and worship director at Ahavat Yeshua, a Hebrew speaking Messianic congregation in Jerusalem.
Find out more about this dynamic ministry at hatikvaproject.org
H AT I K VA PROJECT
ZEALOUS MAGAZINE | 11 Youtube.com/mjbiusa Instagram: @mjbiusa
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CHAG SAMEACH—HAPPY HOLIDAYS—FROM THE STAFF OF MJBI!
The Jewish feasts are ripe with prophetic meaning and fulfillment by Yeshua. Further study and/or observance of these “forever statutes” can bring great dimension and abundant life to a “grafted in” believer. For more information on the scriptural basis, traditions, and recipes pertaining to the Jewish Feasts, please go to our website: mjbi.org/info and select “Jewish Holidays.”
There are seven “appointed feasts” mentioned in the Torah. The first are in the autumn, referred to as the High Holidays, and include the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShana), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and Feast of Booths (Sukkot). The spring begins with Passover (Pesach), including the Feast of Unleavened Bread and First Fruits, and ends with the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost). The Lord also set aside the seventh day, or Sabbath, of each week as a holy, designated day of rest. Over the years, other minor holidays were added to commemorate important events in the Jewish calendar. These include Purim in early spring, Tisha B’Av in the summer, Simchat Torah in the fall, and Hanukkah in the winter.
hen the children of Israel were delivered out of Egyptian slavery, God instituted special feasts, or “appointed times” throughout the agricultural year to celebrate, remember, repent, and give thanks. The Jewish calendar is based on these feasts which are set on a lunar cycle. It was well established by the time of the Babylonian captivity and predates by centuries the universally-accepted solar-based Gregorian (or civil) calendar finalized in the 1500’s. Because the Jewish calendar is “shorter” in days than the Gregorian, the feast dates change from year-to-year on commonly used western calendars.
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“These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times…and these feasts will be a statute to you forever…” Leviticus 23:4, 41
by Tara Kieschnick, Zealous Magazine Managing Editor
Jewish Feasts & Holidays
October 13, 2017 TISHRI 23, 5778
Simchat Torah
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“The Ninth of Av” fast day—commemorates the destruction of the two Temples in Jerusalem (since Sabbath lands on Av 9, commemorated this year on Av 10).
July 22, 2018 AV 10, 5778
Tish’a B’Av
Begins 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the night before Shavuot. "Feast of Weeks" or “Pentecost”—commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai as well as the giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.
April 1-May 19, 2018
Days of the Omer
"Passover" or "Feast of Unleavened Bread" and "First Fruits"—celebration of exodus from Egypt and Yeshua's sacrifice and resurrection.
May 20, 2018 SIVAN 6, 5778
March 31-April 7, 2018 NISAN 15-22, 5778
Pesach
“Lots”—celebration and remembrance of God’s deliverance of His people through Queen Esther and Mordechai over the evil Haman during the Babylonian captivity.
“Festival of Lights” or “Dedication”—celebrates the miracle of the oil during the Maccabees’ victory over Greek defilement of the Temple.
Shavuot
March 1, 2018 ADAR 14, 5778
Purim
KISLEV 25-TEVET 2, 5778
December 13-20, 2017
“Feast of Tabernacles” (or “Booths”)—harvest festival commemorating the period of wandering in the wilderness.
October 5-11, 2017 TISHRI 15-21, 5778
Sukkot
Hanukkah
“Day of Atonement”—holiest day in Jewish calendar— fasting day of self-searching, repentance, and restitution.
September 30, 2017 TISHRI 10, 5778
Yom Kippur
“Rejoicing in the Law”—celebrates the completion and beginning of the yearly Torah reading cycle.
“Head of the Year” or “Feast of Trumpets” —Jewish New Year.
September 21, 2017 TISHRI 1, 5778
Rosh HaShana
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