Messianic Rabbi shares how he accepted Yeshua as Messiah

[BeitSimcha]

Some readers have the impression that because I say that I not a Christian, that I am somehow criticizing Christianity. Not so. I am just saying that the identity and expression of my faith in Messiah Yeshua is Jewish--worshipping on Shabbat and festivals, loyalty to Israel, etc.

[friedie1jeff]

Where was this "rabbi" ordained?

[BeitSimcha]

@Matthew1944

Two Jews, three opinions. Orthodox Jews still deny Reform and Reconstructionism as "false" Judaisms. Rather than neither, I think it's more accurate to describe Messianic Judaism as a bridge between Christian and Jewish world views and practice.

[BeitSimcha]

My smicha came from other Jews, through the International Alliance of Messianic Congregatons & Synagogues (IAMCS).

[BeitSimcha]

@LoraSinger

I don't consider myself a Christian, I am Messianic Jew.

A Christian attends Church and worships on Sunday, Christmas and Easter.

I don't. I worship on Shabbat, Passover, the High Holidays, etc.

I study and read from the Torah. I am loyal to Israel.

By Bibical and even Talmudic standards, I am still a Jew, who happens to believe that I've found the living Messiah of Israel--Yeshua!

[BeitSimcha]

@TheDeev

Just because the one interviewing me was a Baptist pastor doesn't make me one.

Didn't you notice I was wearing a kippah? Didn't you hear that I celebrate Shabbat, read the Torah in Hebrew, remain loyal to Israel?

As for anthropomorphism, take a look at Beresheet (Genesis) 18. It begins by saying the Lord appeared to Avraham. It goes to say that the Lord shared a meal with Avraham, and then He has an intimate conversation with His friend. Who was Avraham interacting with?

[BeitSimcha]

@yoiashi

You can get started learning about the festivals of the Lord by studying Leviticus 23.

A good book to study further is Martha Zimmerman's Celebrating Biblical Feasts.

Yeshua is His Hebrew name. The others are transliterations from the Greek transliteration, Yesus.

[BeitSimcha]

@uswaton

Quran distorts Scripture in major ways, denying what the Bible says about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let alone Yeshua. The argument that the Biblical texts have been distorted was proven wrong when the Dead Sea scrolls were found, demonstrating that the biblical texts are reliable. I urge you to read the Bible, with an open heart and mind.

[BeitSimcha]

@sergeysegal

Ahem, I was raised Jewish and had a bar mitzvah.

As an adult, I studied the Bible and Judaism in the University.

As a believer in Messiah Yeshua, I study Jewish customs and literature.

I think you may be defining "Judaism" narrowly.

[BeitSimcha]

@YeshuaisMoshiach777 .

The fact is, most Jews today come from liberal backgrounds, so it's little surprise that most Jews who come to faith do so. On the other hand, a representative percentage of believers come from Orthodox background. Our congregation's cantor was raised Orthodox. Many Orthodox Rabbis have come to faith, such as the Rabbi Daniel Zion, who saved Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust. Bottom line: is Yeshua the Messiah who fulfilled many Scriptures? Then he is Israel's Messiah.

[BeitSimcha]

I have not turned my back on own people. I support Israel (taught at the Technion), observe Shabbat and the festivals, prepare my children for bar/bat mitzvah, etc.

We have different views about Judaism.

What do you think Judaism is?

Orthodox Judaism, if that's why you mean, is not the same as any Judaism of the Temple period. All forms of Judaism had to adapt to the reality that the Temple was destroyed. What is your provision for atonement? Certainly not those required in Leviticus 11.

[aceapollos]

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Adonai! Indian christians stand with messianic jews...

[BeitSimcha]

Indeed, my Bar Mitzvah training in Reform Judaism was a bit light. However as a grad student, professor and Messianic Rabbi, I studied the Bible, Jewish history, and Rabbinic materials thoroughly. Have you? E.g., look at Daniel 7:13-14, which Rabbis understand to be Messianic. Who is the "ancient of days" and who is the "son of man"? Why is the latter given all authority and worshipped? In Daniel 9:26, who is the Mashiach who is cut off before the city and the sanctuary are destroyed?

[BeitSimcha]

3. G-d didn't changed his covenants, but he did add new ones. After Noah, He made one with Abraham, then with Moses, then David. Jeremiah 31:31-34 announces a New Covenant. Yeshua gave his Jewish disciples (and their disciples) this New Covenant. The New Covenant offers profound knowldge and intimacy with God and forgiveness of sins. Yeshua and his disciples offered the New Covenant first to the Jew, then to the Gentiles.

[BeitSimcha]

1. I was not on any drugs when I had the vision.

2. I did talk to an Orthodox rabbi (Chabad) during my studies several times. Frankly, I wasn't impressed by his arguments. I also dialogued with my Orthodox Jewish uncle. His arguments also struck me as mostly emotional rather than a reasonable look at what the Scriptures actually say.

I'll respond to your third question separately.

[BeitSimcha]

I was born to a Jewish mother (and father).

Therefore I am a Jew.

Think about it: if a Jew becomes an atheist or a Buddhist, he is still a Jew. So how do you conclude that I am not a Jew? But think about it again: I observe Shabbat and the festivals; I am an ardent Zionist; I read from the Torah scrolls and pray the Amidah, Kaddish, etc. If Yeshua really is the Messiah of Israel, then what I believe is very Jewish indeed!

[schrekklie]

But what do you make of Acts of the Apostles where it says: "Stand up, Peter, slaughter and eat!" (10,13)

I mean, just for understanding! Peter was born a Jew, and God commanded him to break the law.

[BeitSimcha]

In Acts 10:14, Shimon Kefa said, "Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." So he waited for an interpretation. He understood in Acts 10:28, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." So he understood the vision, not to violate Torah, but to accept Gentiles who feared G-d, were ready to accept Yeshua as Messiah and be filled with Ruach HaKodesh.

[MurrayMD]

Praise to Yeshuah on your revelation of who he is!

[DrGladwin]

Amen. I accepted JESUS CHRIST from Hinduism. Jesus is the ONLY way...

[Midspoint]

Baruch atem b'Shem, Yeshua!