The Days of Awe

We are currently in the Yomim Nora’im - the 10 days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur – known as the Days of Awe. During these 10 days, we are to focus on Teshuva (Repentance) and preparation for Yom Kippur. Special insertions are added to our daily prayers, emphasizing the themes of G-d as King, G-d’s judgement, and G-d’s holiness. We also recall prayers referring to the Book of Life.

Remember us for life, O King Who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life – for Your sake, O Living G-d … Who is like You, Merciful Father, Who recalls His creatures mercifully for life … Blessed are You, our G-d, the Holy King. (From additions to the Amidah during the Days of Awe).

These 10 Days of Awe (and the whole High Holiday period) are meant to particularly recall G-d’s mercy. As Rabbi Wayne Dosick notes, although our “prayers are solemn and serious, they are also filled with joy and with hope. For Judaism teaches that G-d is ready and very willing to forgive the transgressions of those who come in sincere repentance.”
HaShem’s desire is for relationship with us and the High Holidays are opportunities to meet with G-d in the most intimate of times. The 10 days help us to more intently focus on, and deal with, those things which hold us back in life, and from the presence of HaShem.
Although we should be focusing on repentance, forgiveness, and overcoming life’s obstacles every day – G-d, also knowing the procrastinate nature of humanity, has built into the calendar specific times in which we are obligated to deal with those shortcomings. Otherwise we might just continue to sweep them under the rug. For most of us, the last thing we want to do is go to someone we may have hurt in the last year to seek forgiveness. Or confront a person for the hurt they have caused us. But by doing so, and allowing forgiveness to take place, we remove more of those spiritual stumbling blocks. We are able to break free of the weight of guilt, shame, anger, and inadequacy.
The Days of Awe are awesome days because they are what you make of them. My deepest prayer is that they would be for you a time of blessing and restoration.
G’mar Chatimah Tovah – May you be sealed for a wonderful New Year!

Copyright Yinon - by Rabbi Joshua

Plans for the New Year

Dear Chaverim (friends). Rosh HaShanah has always been an important spiritual reference point for me and this year was no exception. It is a time for reflection, rededication and sharing my hopes and dreams with Hashem. It is my heart's desire that we will eventually have a network of Gay-friendly Messianic Communities and Synagogues around the world. And over the past year I have had a number of enquiries from around the world as to whether there are any GLBT Messianic Groups which meet up regularly on Shabbat.

Yesterday, I received an email from a brother in Florida. He and his partner are gay Messianic believers and they too would like to set up a Messianic Synagogue for Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah (isn't that fantastic?). I have also received similar messages from New York and Atlanta (Georgia). But it's not going to happen by itself - we are endowed by HaShem with unbelievable creative abilities and we can make it happen!

We would dearly like to start a group in London, UK. Perhaps we could meet once a quarter to begin with for a Shabbat Worship Service and communal meal? If this is something you are interested in, please write to me at avigdor.kuhn@gmail.com

Oh and one final, but very important point: You don't have to be gay, lesbian, bi-or trans-sexual to fellowship with us! We have no desire whatsoever to create an exclusive LGBT Messianic Fellowship. All we desire is to worship our King and Saviour Yeshua in peace and harmony with each other.

May your name be inscribed in the Book of Life

L'Shanah Tova - the Jewish High Holy Days are upon us, begining with Rosh Shanah (the 'head' of the year). The "Ten days of Awe", starting with Rosh HaShanah and ending with Yom Kippur ten days later, are known as the days of repentance. According to Jewish tradition, our conduct during these ten days decrees what our spiritual life will look like in the coming year. These ten days are of vital importance to reconnect with HaShem, to return to Him, to cry out for forgiveness and determine once again, to live a life of holiness. Each year I get weighed down by my own inadequacy, the cares of this world, my lack of spiritual progress, my poor record of Bible study and prayer. But each Rosh HaShanah I am encouraged that I can start again. That I can use these ten days to get closer to HaShem, to determine once again to make each Shabbat a time of holiness and to draw closer to my heavenly Father and elder brother, Yeshua. Like Passover, Rosh HaShanah is a time of renewal and rededication. According to Jewish Tradition, it is not only the birthday of the world, but also the birthday of Messiah - yes, Yeshua was born on Rosh HaShanah (and most decidedly not on Christmas Day).

In Jewish homes throughout the world, Rosh HaShanah is celebrated with apples and honey. It is an ancient tradition whereby Jews dip apple slices into honey, symbolising the wish for a sweet new year. On many Rosh HaShanah greeting cards, you will see comments like "may you have a sweet new year", with apples and honey usually somewhere to be found on the card.

However, we should not forget that the main theme of Rosh HaShanah is repentance and the blowing of the shofar (with its penetrating sound) is designed to stir us into action, to leave behind the cares of this world and return once again to the source of all life, goodness and hope. If you have ever visited a synagogue service on this day, you will no doubt remember the terrifying sound of the shofar (rams horn). It should therefore not surprise us that according to the book of the Apocalypse (Revelation), Yeshua will be crowned King Messiah and Sovereign Lord over ALL on this day (Rev. 11:15): "the 7th angel sounded his shofar and there were loud voices in heaven saying, the kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and His Messiah and He will rule for ever and ever.

May this be soon and within our lifetime. Chag Sameach to each and everyone of you. May you experience the excitement and renewal of a personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua HaMashiach - the King of Israel and Saviour of ALL. And may you have a sweet New Year :-)

Blessings and Curses

Each week, the Jewish people study a portion of the Torah, called the Parshat. The Pentateuch (five books of Moses) is divided into 54 portions or 'Parshiyot', thus making it possible to read the whole Torah over the course of a year. It is customary to read the Parshat on Shabbat morning in the synagogue and typically, seven members of the congregation are 'called up' (this is called an 'Alijah') to read a section of the Parshat of the week in Hebrew in sequence. It is a great honour to receive an Alijah, although often the Rabbi will read in Hebrew while the member of the congregation holds the Torah scroll for him.

In this week's Parshat (Ki Tavo) we read about the famous "blessings and curses" which Mosche pronounced on Mount Gerizim and Ebal. The curses were spoken from Mt. Ebal, while the blessings were spoken from Mt. Gerizim. I am listing below part of the Parshat, which you can follow in Deut. 27.9-26 (translation from David Stern "The Complete Jewish Bible"):

9 Next Moshe and the cohanim, who are L'vi'im, spoke to all Isra'el. They said, "Be quiet; and listen, Isra'el! Today you have become the people of ADONAI your God. 10 Therefore you are to listen to what ADONAI your God says and obey his mitzvot and laws, which I am giving you today." 11 That same day Moshe commissioned the people as follows: 12 "These are the ones who are to stand on Mount G'rizim and bless the people after you have crossed the Yarden: Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah, Yissakhar, Yosef and Binyamin; 13 while these are to stand on Mount 'Eival for the curse: Re'uven, Gad, Asher, Z'vulun, Dan and Naftali. 14 The L'vi'im, speaking loudly, will proclaim to every man of Isra'el: 15 "'A curse on anyone who makes a carved or metal image, something ADONAI detests, the handiwork of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret!'All the people are to respond by saying, 'Amen!' 16 "'A curse on anyone who dishonors his father or mother.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 17 "'A curse on anyone who moves his neighbor's boundary marker.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 18 "'A curse on anyone who causes a blind person to lose his way on the road.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 19 "'A curse on anyone who interferes with justice for the foreigner, orphan or widow.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 20 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his father's wife, because he has violated his father's rights.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 21 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with any kind of animal.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 22 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his sister, no matter whether she is the daughter of his father or of his mother.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 23 "'A curse on anyone who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 24 "'A curse on anyone who secretly attacks a fellow member of the community.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 25 "'A curse on anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.' All the people are to say, 'Amen!' 26 "'A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!'

 

Did you notice something? Did you read the text carefully? There is no condemnation of homosexuality. Neither in the 10 Commandments nor in this important Parshat on forbidden sexual relations, is there even a hint of condemnation against same-sex love. The sacred texts of the Tanakh and the Brit Hadasha ("Old" and "New" Testament) contain the very words of HaShem, the words of life and hope. Homosexual believers need not be afraid to take the Bible seriously. We have nothing to fear from the G-d of ALL grace, who passionately cares for this gay and lesbian children.

Some thoughts on Adam and Steve

The following is another article by Messianic Rebbe, Dr Les Aron Gosling; this concludes the series for now. Soon the High Holy Days will be here again, starting with Rosh HaShanah, then Yom Kippur, Sukkot and finally Shemini Atzeret. May HaShem fill us with His love and joy as we prepare for this special festival season! I will be writing more on the Festivals shortly. 

 

How often have we heard the old swan song from the ministers of bigotry and prejudice representing the Moral Majority: "In the beginning," they bellow, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"

Among the P'rushim (the Pharisees) it seems to have been the ideal that when arguing Scripture against Scripture the further back one could go to the very beginning of creation the more powerful and effective and thus the more original the case (of whatever was being argued). Such a stand also assured that bystanders could see who was more skilled in debating the point at hand. Yeshua was virtually forced to respond to the P'rushim (and others) in similar manner. We can see this approach expressed in a number of situations when Yeshua responded to arguments which were being presented to the Lord by his opponents. "In the beginning it was not so..." etc. (See Mk 10.3-9 which illustrates this clearly.)

True, in the beginning God did not create Adam and Steve. He created Adam and Eve. God then proceeded to let human beings run their course in a measure of freedom. If we accept the notion that the children of Adam and Eve were the only human beings present on earth at that period of history, then we are pressured to acknowledge the obvious truth that they had sexual relations with each other...in other words incest was the norm. And, indeed it was until that "norm" changed in a social context. By the time of the immediate post-Flood period it was only the kings and queens of the earth (as an example, the Pharaonic  Dynasties) that maintained close blood ties in their family-successions. Indeed, even Abraham the "father of the faithful" -- who was most certainly a "Prince" (and is called such in Scripture) -- was married to his half-sister (Gen 20.11,12; Gen 17.16). Had he lived in the days of Moses he would have been stoned to death for such a transgression against Torah (Deut 27.22; Lev 20.17).

While Adam and Eve were one man and one woman in relationship (i.e. in "marriage") at the beginning, it did not take too long before one of their descendants -- Lamech -- decided one woman was not enough for him so he took two women, named in the Scripture as Adar and Zillah (Gen 4.19). And, while he is recorded as the first polygamist in the history of the world, there is not one word of negative comment about such a decision by God (or anyone else for that matter) on his lifestyle. Not a single word.

Another question here naturally presents itself: Why then is it paramount for man to legislate where God has maintained His silence?

The patriarchs had more than one wife (and they maintained concubines as well). The record is there in Genesis for all to read for themselves. Again, it is there without a shred of negative comment. Let's not forget too, that had Jacob especially not had children by a variety of women (wives and concubines) there would be NO ISRAEL IN EXISTENCE TODAY (Gen 29). (Most of the Christian fundamentalists are against homosexuality or a plurality of wives but are staunch supporters and defenders of Israel as a State and the Jewish people in Israel can do no wrong as far as they are concerned! They tend to "overlook" Israel's origins.)

Moreover, we are assured by a prophet of God under inspiration of the holy Spirit that it was the Lord God of Israel who gave David Saul's thirteen wives (2 Sam 12.7,8). David is already on record for possessing wives and concubines, with God's allowance and permission. There was no word of retraction or condemnation by God concerning it. When God condemned David's son Solomon for collecting wives and concubines aplenty it was not because of his sexual tastes and proclivities but because they turned his head to worshiping alien gods.

By the time of the prophets God was describing His activities with the Chosen People in terms that relate to marriage. "I am married to you," says God to Israel (Jer 3.14). In fact the Sinai Covenant was a marriage agreement. But, FIRSTLY, what people fail to understand about this marriage of God to Israel is the fact that Israel constituted two nations: The Kingdom of Israel in the North (Samaria), and the Kingdom of Judah in the South. He was married therefore to two women (Ezek 23.4; Jer 3.6-8).

SECONDLY, God was married to two sisters. This was proscribed in the Torah (although male-oriented Levirate marriage customs were honoured). There are Messianic legalists today who also proscribe polygamous unions but they are at a loss to explain why it was good enough for God to marry two women, two sisters at that, and is not God our prime example to follow? Now, of course, I am speaking "tongue-in-cheek" as I am sure my students all realise, and I am attempting to make a point here in this short discussion. And I'm not finished yet! Consider a particular parable given by Our Lord Yeshua himself which involves the Lord's marriage to ten virgins!

In Mt 25.1-13 Yeshua uses an example of a polygamous union to describe his coming wedding banquet. The wedding feast was a symbol used by rabbis of the time to speak of the inauguration of the coming Messianic Kingdom of God. And Yeshua is not backward in coming forward with the means at his disposal for creating a "type" of his glorious advent. Polygamous unions were not unknown in Judaea and the Galil in the first century -- especially among the Herodians and many of the outer village people followed this lifestyle. And Yeshua takes advantage of this somewhat common marriage lifestyle to teach a great truth.

I might add that so common were polygamous unions in the first century (especially among the Jews) that one of the qualifications for holding an office in the Messianic Assembly was to be the husband of one wife (Titus 1.6; 1 Tim 3.2). Modern scholarship, however, is challenging even this concept for, in the original Greek of the text, the emphasis is on the responsibility of the Elder of a Messianic synagogue (ekklesia) to be concerned and caring "for wife [number] one." If this is a correct reading, and it appears to be the case, then there is an allowance for more than one wife for a minister of the Gospel as long as he renders due benevolence (for want of a better assessment) to the first wife in his entourage! And, no, I do not want any more than my one wife, the Rebbetzin (LOL). She's quite enough for me (ROFL).

In short, why be offended over issues involving "Adam and Steve" andlet's stop using the old outworn technique of going back to "how it wasin the beginning." We are not "in the beginning." A great deal of waterhas flowed beneath the bridges that tie the history of conflicting cultures together. Things are no longer the way they were 6000 or 25000 years ago. This is 2012.

The Lord is coming. It’s time we remembered this fact above all others.

Accept his word and his alone and worship him and him alone.

Rabbi Dr Les Aron Gosling

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