No Evidence.

Renowned Talmudic scholar, Daniel Boyarin, in his latest book, The Jewish Gospels (speaking of Isaiah 53, on pg.152) states:

"I cannot overstate the extent to which the interpretation of this passage has anchored the conventional view of Judaism's relationship to Messianism. It has been generally assumed by modern folks that Jews have always given the passage a metaphorical reading, understanding the suffering servant to refer to the People of Israel, and that it was the Christians who changed and distorted its meaning to make it refer to Jesus. Quite to the contrary, we now know that many Jewish authorities, maybe even most, until nearly the modern period have read Isaiah 53 as being about the Messiah; until the last few centuries, the allegorical reading was a minority position." He continues, "Aside from one very important - but absolutely unique - notice in Origen's Contra Celsum, there is no evidence at all that any late ancient Jews read Isaiah 52-53 as referring to anyone but the Messiah."

Purchase Daniel Boyarin's The Jewish Gospels here.
Read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah here.
Watch The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53 video here.

Yechida

“The essential idea of Moshiach is – (Yechida). As it is known, David possessed the level of (Nefesh), Eliyahu of (Ruach), Moshe of (Neshama), Adam of (Chaya) and the Moshiach will possess the level of Yechida. These five names are the five levels of the soul. Nefesh (vitality) is the lowest frame and life-force of the body, the natural soul and simple life of man. Ruach (spirit) is the spiritual faculty vivifying man’s emotional attributes. Neshama (soul) is the divine force vivifying the intellect. Chaya (living) is an even more refined Godly level.

Yechida is the divine spark itself enclothed in the most refined spark of the soul, “United and one with God”. It represents total bittul (self-nullification)…..Yechida in this sense is expressed in Mesiras Nefesh (literal self-sacrifice) martyrdom…” (emphasis mine)

from On the Essence of Chassidus by R. Menachem M. Schneerson [Pg. 23]

The Concealed Light

The Concealed Light: Names of Messiah In Jewish Sources
by Tzvi Sadan [Vine of David, 2012]

Book review by: Darren Huckey
Available at: Vine Of David

They say that quite often big things come in small packages. This is definitely the case with Tsvi Sadan’s, The Concealed Light. It is the most recent publication put forth by Vine of David, a ministry arm of First Fruits of Zion that specializes in early Messianic Judaism and the development of Messianic liturgical resources. Committed to excellence in both academic integrity and aesthetic presentation, Vine of David pushes the envelope in their latest offering. First, let me introduce you to Dr. Sadan.

“Dr. Tsvi Sadan is uniquely qualified as the author of this book. Born in Israel, where he currently resides, he holds a Ph.D. in Jewish History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has researched Jewish and Christian views of the Messiah for more than twenty years. Tsvi has taken on the task of becoming familiar with traditional Jewish materials. In this book he draws on this knowledge to give a picture of the Messiah found in Jewish literature but known to few Jews and fewer Christians.” He also had an article published in the latest issue of Messiah Journal, entitled Halachic Authority in the Life of the Messianic Community.

Now, let us move into the actual book.

Acher (Different), Even (Stone), Adoni (My Lord), Or (Light), Ar’yeh (Lion)… The list goes on from Alef (א) to Tav (ת). These are the names of the Messiah of Israel according to what the sages have derived from the Holy Writ. In this beautifully crafted book, you will find one hundred and one names in all, each presented in Hebrew with their English translations, explained in laymen’s terms by native Israeli and Hebrew scholar Tsvi Sadan. In The Concealed Light, Sadan goes deep into familiar rabbinic sources, such as the Talmud, Midrash Rabbah, Sifrei, Pesikta Rabbati, Zohar, etc. to pull obscure references to Messianic titles expounded upon by the sages, and clearly explain the significance of each one. But then he takes it one step further by delving into little known sources such as Sefer Yeshu’ot Meshicho and the Perushei Siddur HaTefillah laRokeach—many of which are only available in Hebrew—to bring out even more insights into the Messianic identity as affirmed by Judaism.

Here is a sampling of the amazing research he has pulled together for this:

Orphan

“‘We have become orphans without a father (Lamentations 5:3 NAS). … God said to Israel: ‘You have said to me, “We have become orphans without a father”; therefore the redeemer I will bring from among you has no father, for it is said … “Today I have begotten You””’ (Psalm 2:7). [He] “concluded from this that their Messiah … has no human father” (Sefer Yeshu’ot Meshicho). (page 116)

Olive

“‘Oil … for the light’ (Exodus 27:20)—this is King Messiah, who is also called ‘Green Olive Tree’ (Jeremiah 11:16). [He is called] ‘pure oil’ (Exodus 27:20) because he will light up the darkness for Israel, as it says: ‘That You may say to the prisoners, Go forth’ (Isaiah 49:9), and it also says, ‘The Gentiles shall come to your light’ (Isaiah 60:3)” (Otzar Midrashim, 138). (page 75)

Gold

“On ‘one day which is known to the LORD’ (Zechariah 14:7)—that day is a day of vengeance, when the Holy One, blessed be he, intends to wreak vengeance upon other nations. When he does, then ‘I will make a man more precious than gold’—this is King Messiah, who will transcend and be more precious than all the inhabitants of the world, all of whom will worship and bow down before him, as is written: ‘Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him … The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents’ (Psalm 72:9-10)” (Zohar, Vayera, 107b). (page 186-187)

Glorious

In an outstanding Jewish commentary from the ninth century CE on Psalm 36:9, “In Your light we see light,” the author offers an imaginary conversation between God, Satan, and Messiah which reflects his own understanding of who is Messiah and what is his role. In this conversation, Satan attempts to deter God from honoring Messiah. Challenged, God asks Messiah what he intends to do in light of the suffering inflicted upon him because of those whom he came to save, and the Messiah answers:

“Master of worlds, with the joy of my soul and the pleasure of my heart, I accept upon myself that none from Israel will perish and that not only the living will be saved in my day but also those hidden in the soil…and not only those will be saved, but all hosts whom you have thought to create but have not. This is what I desire, this is what I accept upon me” (Pesikta Rabbati, 36). (page 120-121)

Sorrow & Simplicity

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” ~ Albert Einstein

There really are so many things in life about which to be concerned. Our personal lives and walks with G-d, the ever-growing complexities of current events and global turmoil, the pain and suffering we see every day and the limitless depravity of mankind - all these things, and so many more, constantly compete for our concern. Even the believer that has built their house on the truth of G-d's Word can sometimes encounter seemingly insurmountable obstacles or experience paralyzing despair in the face of life's many challenges.

When we allow encroaching shadows to envelop the light, we can forget where we are and eventually lose our way. In life's darkest times, it helps tremendously to focus our cares on the simple truths that HaShem has placed in our hearts. Our various aspirations and goals, while often rooted in healthy ambition, can overwhelm us in seasons of adversity. Meditating on the simplicity of G-d's love for us has the power to restore hope and peace to our beleaguered souls. When we seek the calibration only G-d provides, His priorities become our own. His peace becomes our strength. In this spiritual winnowing, the Ruach HaKodesh breathes a calm focus into our now quieted and attentive hearts.

If there is one thing we know about Rav Shaul, it's that he had a great many things to deal with in life. Harsh persecution nearly everywhere he went, feelings of alienation from many leaders in the Jewish establishment, and the burden of being responsible to grow Messianic Judaism and shepherd congregations throughout the known world, surely weighed heavily on his shoulders. In Romans 9, he spoke of a wish he had. The word "wish" seems somewhat lighthearted to us today, though. It was more of a incredibly deep, heartfelt plea - one borne out of terrific stress, unyielding anguish, and an indescribable love. He appears to have felt somewhat powerless to change this situation - and his mind began to entertain the unthinkable. Somehow, in Shaul's despair, he actually wished that he could be cut off from Yeshua in order to bestow salvation to Israel. He wished that he could, literally, be damned so that they might be saved.

"I am speaking the truth in Mashiach. I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Ruach HaKodesh - that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Mashiach for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of Torah, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is Mashiach Yeshua who is G-d over all, blessed forever. Amen." ~ Romans  9:1-5

Now!

"Yonah the Prophet had to suffer a tempest at sea and three subsequent days in the belly of a whale before he woke up and returned to Hashem with all his heart. Must we also, Heaven forbid?

As I'm writing this article, flood waters are rising in New York City despite the fact that Hurricane Irene has been degraded to a tropical storm. And, on the other side of the Atlantic, rockets fired from Gaza are still falling in the South of Israel, despite the fact that there's supposed to be a ceasefire.

Despite the fact... Are we starting to understand that we don't run the show? Is anyone foolish enough to see that our fate is not in our own hands?"

Three

"Here is the secret of two names combined which are completed by a third and become one again. 'And G-d said Let us make Man.' It is written, 'The secret of the L-rd is to them that fear him.' (Psalm 25:34). That most reverend Elder opened an exposition of this verse by saying '"Simeon Simeon, who is it that said: 'Let us make man?' Who is this Elohim?"' With these words the most reverend Elder vanished before anyone saw him... Truly, now is the time to expound this mystery, because certainly there is here a mystery which hitherto it was not permitted to divulge, but now we perceive that permission is given."

One

"Hear, O Israel: The L-RD our G-d is one L-RD." Deuteronomy 6:4

Rabbi Menachem of Recanati (1250-1310), in writing his commentary on the Shema, describes, in a similar fashion to some of the other writings we've looked at recently, the mysterious Unity of the G-dhead. In writing about this mystery, he concludes, "These are secrets which are revealed only to those who are reaping upon the holy field, as it is written 'The secret of the L-rd is with them that fear Him.'" (Psalms 25:14).

Rabbi Menachem then wrote:
"Hear, O Israel, the L-RD our G-d is one L-RD." This verse is the root of our faith, therefore Moses records it after the ten commandments. The reason (that there is said YHWH, Lord, Elohim, our God, and YHWH, Lord) is, because the word Shema does not here signify "Hear;" but "to gather together, to unite," as in 1 Samuel 15:4, "Saul gathered together the people." The meaning implied is; The Inherent-Ones are so united together, one in the other without end, they being the exalted G-d. He mentions the three names mystically to indicate the three exalted original Ones."

..and their lies.

Darkness now descends on your internet experience, intrepid reader. The following are a few excerpts from Martin Luther's "The Jews and Their Lies", which I prefer to think of as "The Jews" and "their Lies", as in the Jewish People and the lies that rush forth so effortlessly from the mouths of their many enemies. What you will read is the script directly from ha satan, but it must be beheld, and its many historical effects comprehended, in order to even begin to understand Jewish/Christian relations today. Church, behold the words of one of your most beloved "fathers".

The Irrelevant Drunkard

In speaking with James, of Morning Meditations, I said, "James, you’ve asked an excellent question: “If Jesus was/is Jewish and he lived and taught in a manner completely consistent with the Judaism of his day (which would include Rabbinic rulings and halachah), how can you be a disciple of “the ultimate Rebbe”, and yet disdain people who are Jews?” And it should be a rhetorical one, but sadly, there are many out there who would try to answer it. From my experience, it seems that many Christians, and even some Messianic Gentiles, so to speak, “love” Israel because “Jesus” was born there. It’s like they’re sticking up for His “hometown”, in a sense. They really don’t (and probably can’t) have a handle on how Mashiach relates to and fits into Rabbinic Judaism – and aren’t even conscious that anything is missing in their perspective. For the average Christian, if I may say, Israel is precious to the extent that it serves as a harbinger of the return of “Jesus”. Its existence and people are a timepiece pointing to heaven, rapture, etc and little more. They “love” the concept Israel much like they “love” the concept “Jesus” – which, while it surely sounds harsh, is probably more about a “what’s in it for me?” attitude than a grasp of the “big picture” purpose of Israel in the earth – understood as G-d’s magnificent plan for redeeming humanity through the Jewish People, their faith, and ultimate blessing, the Mashiach Nagid."

40 years

I never knew, for 40 years, that Jesus was not His real name. I did not know, for 40 years, that His real name is Yeshua. I did not know, for 40 years, that Yeshua is the "Word of God made flesh". Ten years ago, I learned my Savior is Jewish, He lived Jewish ways, kept His own holy festivals, walked and talked in His Father's commandments and commanded us to imitate Him. The traditions of the christian world is not the traditions that Yeshua kept. Even if they are blown out of proportion, the man made holidays that the world keeps do not belong to our LORD, and He never kept them. So if we want to be like Him, let us keep our Father's traditions that He gave us. They tell us of who Yeshua is, and what He has done, and what He is going to do in the future. I would rather spend one day in the courts of HaShem than a million in the palace of those who do away with all His traditions and keep those of any other god. Annette

Just like you, I lurk. And while lurking around some Messianic site (I believe it was an FFOZ page), I came across this comment left by "Annette", who I assume to be a woman with a typical Christian background - someone who learned about the Messiah completely in a "sanitized" Gentile bubble. Apparently, this bubble, void of a holistic, Hebraic understanding, enveloped her view of Messiah for the majority of her life. It saddens me that this seems to be the case for so many. So many years of scripture not quite making sense. So many years of missing out on all the beauty and meaning of the heritage Yeshua loved. So many years of not knowing His name. I know a lot of people were up in arms when The Passion of the Christ came out and I can understand why, but I was so excited about the world hearing the Messiah being referred to by His actual name, Yeshua. I mean, millions of people all over the world heard His name for the very first time when they saw that film. It makes me wonder how many studies commenced after the credits. How many people, in countries all over the world, went home and were unable to look at scripture the way they had before?

The Immortal Jew

Concerning the Jews
(an excerpt from the article published in Harper's Magazine, 1898)

"If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race*. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world's list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in the world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

Emblem of Eternity

"The Jew is that sacred being who has brought down from heaven the everlasting fire, and has illumined with it the entire world. He is the religious source, spring, and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religions. The Jew is the pioneer of liberty. The Jew is the pioneer of civilization. The Jew is the emblem of eternity." ~ Leo Tolstoy

Pure Golda

In light of today's troubling events, I'd like to turn the blog over to Golda Meir - one of Israel's founders, its fourth Prime Minister, and an absolutely amazing woman.

"How can we return the held territories? There is nobody to return them to." - news reports, 3.8.69

"There were no such thing as Palestinians. When was there an independent Palestinian people with a Palestinian state? It was either southern Syria before the First World War, and then it was a Palestine including Jordan. It was not as though there was a Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people and we came and threw them out and took their country away from them. They did not exist." - Sunday Times 6.15.69 & The Washington Post 6.16.69 

"Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." - to the Washington Press Club, Washington DC, 1959

"We don’t thrive on military acts. We do them because we have to, and thank G-d we are efficient." - Vogue Magazine, 1969 

"This country exists as the fulfillment of a promise made by G-d Himself. It would be ridiculous to ask it to account for its legitimacy." - Le Monde, 10.15.71

Repeat after Ruth

"Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For wherever you go, I will go. And wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people and your G-d will be my G-d. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the L-rd do this to me, and even more, if anything but death should ever separate you and me."

~ Ruth, the Moabitess to Naomi, her Jewish mother-in-law (Ruth 1:16-17)

Shabbat chat (pt.2)

Here are some really interesting quotes from Roman Catholic scholars concerning the keeping of Shabbat that contradict, or otherwise further confuse, the views that we looked at yesterday.

1) "Protestants who accept the Bible as the only rule of faith and religion, should by all means go back to the observance of the Sabbath. The fact that they do not, but on the contrary observe Sunday, stultifies them in the eyes of every thinking man.  We Catholics do not accept the Bible as the only rule of faith.  Besides the Bible we have the authority of the Church, as a rule to guide us... We accept her change of the Sabbath to Sunday... It is always somewhat laughable, to see Protestant churches, in pulpit and legislation, demand the observance of Sunday, for which there is nothing in their Bible."

Peter Kraemer, Catholic Church Extension Society 1975

2) "You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify." 

James Cardinal Gibbons, "Faith of Our Fathers" 1917

3) "Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that worship should be changed from Saturday to Sunday. Now the Church instituted, by God’s authority, Sunday as the day of worship. This same Church, by the same divine authority, taught the doctrine of Purgatory long before the Bible (New Testament) was made.  We have, therefore, the same authority for Purgatory as we have for Sunday." 

Martin Scott, "Things Catholics are Asked About" 1927 

Shabbat chat (pt.1)

I've gone back and forth today on how to present these first few thoughts - even which ones to present. Unfortunately, there are so many. They're not my own and, before I type a word, I hope it's obvious that I take issue with all five. I wanted to explain a little background, maybe compare them with various scripture, but finally decided it would be best to present them the same way I first came across them, which was with no accompaniment at all - just a healthy dose of Roman arrogance.

1) "Every Sabbath, on account of the burial of Jesus, is to be regarded in denunciation of the Jews. In fact, it is not proper to observe, because of Jewish customs, the consumption of food and the ceremonies of the Jews."
Pope Sylvester - 314-335 CE

2) "Let us then have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries... avoiding all participation in the false conduct of the Jews."
Constantine, Council of Nicaea - 325 CE

3) "Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday, the Sabbath, but shall work on that day. But the Lord's day (Sunday) they shall especially honor, and as being Christians, shall if possible, do no work on that day. If, however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ."
Canon 29, Council of Laodicea - 364 CE

4) "All things whatsoever it was the duty to do on the Sabbath, these we have transferred to the Lord's day (Sunday)... because it is more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath."
Eusebius of Caesarea - 4th Century

5) "The Catholic Church for over one thousand years before the existence of a protestant, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday."
The Catholic Mirror - September 23, 1893

In closing, someone actually qualified to decide what day Shabbat is to be observed once said:

"If you hold back your foot on Shabbat from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; If you call Shabbat a delight, Adonai's holy day, worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. If you do, you will find delight in Adonai. I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor, Yakov, for the mouth of Adonai has spoken." 
Isaiah 58:13-14

The Greatest Obstacle

"The greatest obstacle to understanding the Bible is thinking that you already do."
~ Ian Young