Havurah - Jews for Jesus http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah http://www.jewsforjesus.org/images/fb_logo.jpg http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah Jews for Jesus 61 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah en-us web@jewsforjesus.org Copyright 2009 2009-11-21T19:24:30Z hourly 120 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 and there was STRIFE: Jewish Believers and Conflict Many of us have felt the ache of unresolved conflict in our lives despite our attempts to untangle and resolve it. In fact, as long as there are people, conflict is inevitable. Conflict can turn the most beautiful day of the year into the gloomiest. Two close friends of mine parted ways after years of fruitful partnership in ministry because of unresolved conflict. Hours and hours went into mediation and counseling in an attempt to resolve their differences, all to no avail. Then there was Dan's experience after he had come to faith in Y'shua. His parents had brought in anti-missionaries to dissuade him from his belief. When he decided to marry another Jewish believer, things got even worse. His family refused to attend the wedding, with the sole exception of his brother -- who came only to dissuade Dan from the marriage. Conflict is both inevitable and painful. It can be time consuming: according to one statistic, a typical manager spends an average of 30% of his or her time...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/01 Havurah DOUBT: the film reviewed by Remy Remigio The scene is St. Nicholas parish, the Bronx, 1964. Father Flynn, a progressive young priest, has been accused by the long-standing principal, Sister Aloysius, of foul play with the school's first African-American student. Sister Aloysius has been suspicious of Flynn from the start. When the young and innocent Sister James confides in her about a guilt-induced suspicion that something inappropriate is happening, Sister Aloysius is determined to prove her hostile intuition correct. Without a shred of proof other than her moral certainty, she seeks to expunge Flynn from the school and conquer her doubt. As an actor, writer and movie-goer, I was engaged from the opening credits. Simple, tactful and understated, the film begins by leading the viewer through the life of an altar boy as he wakes from sleep and begins his day before being sent off to his local parish school, setting up the feel of a Catholic community in 1964. The performances by all four...


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Added: Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/03 Havurah real-life conflict: four vignettes CONGREGATIONAL CONFLICT Robert Rose The congregation I serve experienced conflict surrounding the resignation of the previous pastor. The presenting issue was how the church should respond to a homosexual couple whose house had burned down: should the church reach out and help the couple rebuild? Or was that response too supportive of a sinful lifestyle? The pastor had recently changed his views on that issue and hadn't told anyone. Relationships thrive on communication. However, this pastor chose to resign rather than lead an open conversation exploring his change of view. That decision ended up causing great pain to many in the congregation. When I applied to my current pastoral position, I didn't want to be a fixer; I had hoped the congregation was "over it." And in fact, over a two-year period the congregation has begun to heal. But I know now that though there has been healing and reconciliation, they will never be "over it." Loss and pain never fully leave us; they simply become...


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Added: Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/12_01/02 Havurah my father's gift I was sitting on the floor, carefully scrutinizing a selfportrait by Rembrandt. There was something in his handling of chiaroscuro, the way his features emerged from the dark umber shadows into brilliant light and color. There was something too in his confident posture as he stared not only into his mirror, but into the eyes of future generations, drawing out the soul of the little boy who gazed at his portrait over 300 years later. The paintings around my house filled me with hope that someday I too could be as great an artist as Rembrandt. I loved drawing portraits, and discovered that I was actually good at it. I believed this was God's gift to me, my destiny. What seemed to confirm this was that Rembrandt's birthday, July 15, also happened to be my own (give or take about 360 years)! I closed the Rembrandt book, and inhaled deeply. The scents that hung in our house still linger in my mind -- linseed oil and turpentine, charcoal and kneaded erasers. For besides...


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Author: Amer Olson
Added: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/04 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/04 Havurah Through My Lens: Reflections of a Missionary Provocateur by Greg Schneider For one reason or another, God seems to have gifted Jewish people disproportionately. If you look down a list of leading artists, musicians, or comedians, there is a much higher percentage of Jewish people than our numbers in the general population would lead you to predict. And I think that as a Jew, God gave me a certain sensitivity to artistic things. Since I really love people, I wanted to translate my talents into a storytelling medium. That's how I ended up in photojournalism.   Our family were Southern California Reform Jews. Dad was an amateur photographer, with one of those old twin lens reflex cameras. Photography captured my interest, and when an opportunity opened up in high school to take the football pictures for the yearbook, I volunteered. And I noticed that whenever I carried my camera, all the pretty girls started paying attention to me! The camera represented power, and photography was a passport to the action.   From that point on, I wanted to...


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Added: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/03 Havurah Art by Amer Olson "Mike Lynch", oil on linen "Freya", charcoal on paper "Pears", oil on linen "Carl", oil on panel "Old Friends", oil on panel "Stella", oil on linen "Tea and Fortunes", oil on linen "US District Judge Clarence C. Newcomer", oil on linen "The Beading Loom", oil on linen "Self Portrait with Mandolin", oil on linen "Terra Cotta Bowls", oil on linen "Sugar Spoon", oil on...


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Author: Amer Olson
Added: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/09 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/09 Havurah Portfolio of Arielle Rothbard (see article "Y'shua, Eve and the deep: Not Just Window Dressing") Y'shua Shalom Y'shua Shalom If you rotate some of the letters, you can see the Hebrew words Y'shua (right column) and shalom (left column). Window displays for the Jews for Jesus office at 109 E. 31 Street in New York City.  The bars are typical of many New York City street-level windows. A schematic of the deep A lighting class project, depicting depression. A mannequin created for an Anna Sui fragrance ad. A shadow-box project....


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Added: Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/08 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/08 Havurah A Short Timeline of Activism Meet some of the activist movements of the past and present. Sometimes the worthiest causes faced opposition and public disapproval. The fine print: this chart does not imply our advocacy of every cause listed. Also, if you can read this, you are sitting too close to your copy of Havurah. 18th-19th c. 1787-1807 William Wilberforce works for anti-slavery legislation in the U.K. 1790 William Carey launches modern missions, prompting anti-activism comeback, "Sit down, young man. When God is pleased to save the heathen, he will do it without your help or mine." 1832-1850 Anthony Ashley-Cooper pioneers child-labor laws in the U.K. 1863 Henri Dunant of Geneva co-founds the Red Cross to provide medical care to wounded soldiers. 1886 Student Volunteer Movement is founded; thousands of students volunteer for foreign missions. 20th c. 1899-1914 East European Jewish immigrants bring socialism and labor organizing to America. 1901...


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Added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/03 Havurah Art With A Mission In the beginning, God created a breathtakingly beautiful universe. And then God created men and women with eyes, minds, and souls to appreciate his creation and to be inspired by it. He made them not only with an eye to behold his beauty, but to dream, imagine and create in their own right. The design of the tabernacle as described in Exodus is one example of this creative force at work in man: "See I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts -- to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship" (Exodus 31:2-5). There is a place for "art for art's sake." Beauty brings joy, and joy is something God wants for us. "And he decorated the house [the Temple] with precious stones for beauty" (2 Chronicles 3:6). Art does not need to have a...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/01 Havurah messianic activism voices from two generations SUSAN PERLMAN Once an Activist, Always an Activist "I have a dream . . ." The stirring words of Martin Luther King, Jr. filled my thoughts. He spoke for African-Americans, for the poor and for the disenfranchised. Though I was none of these, I felt like he spoke for me, too, and I realized that I had to put my ideals into action. I was only a kid when that speech was given in the early '60s, but somehow my Jewish DNA included a predisposition for a cause-oriented existence. Embracing activism was my only option. That did not lessen when I became a follower of Y'shua. In the '70s, it was not out of character for me and the other Jews for Jesus to spend hours marching outside the Soviet Consulate on Green Street in San Francisco alongside other Jews protesting the treatment of Soviet refuseniks and pleading, "Let my people go." It was right for me as a follower of Y'shua to call attention to the plight of the Vietnamese "boat people." I remember going to City...


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Added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/02 Havurah Move Over, Al Gore: Here's Another Inconvenient Truth When Standing for Jesus Isn't So Popular A few years ago I met with the leader of a prominent Messianic congregation. In his opinion, Jews for Jesus' approach to evangelism was outmoded. There were certain models, he explained, that may have been effective in reaching Jewish people in the '70s but are no longer workable today. He clearly meant the high-profile, activist approach to Jewish evangelism that has characterized Jews for Jesus since our beginning. I pointed out that we continue using those methods because they give us opportunities to share the good news of Messiah with our people. But I realized that his statements reflected a popular opinion. For many believers a direct, activist mindset smacks of 1968, with little relevance to contemporary culture. But has activism disappeared from today's culture? How do people represent their beliefs in the public square in 2008? When Christians speak about evangelism today, they often use words like "relational," "incarnational" and "friendship." Fewer ...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_03/01 Havurah Y'shua, Eve & The Deep: not just window dressing  White foam core. Eight-inch high panels. At ninety-degree angles to one another. You will completely cover each panel with a photograph. Your combined photographs will create a cohesive environment. I look forward to seeing your final project. "Drafting project two from our favorite professor," I sigh, scanning the directions again. I begin brainstorming topics for the mini-exhibition's environment. There's no time to do a photo shoot with the first semester's workload peaking. I need a unique topic and recent photos. Come on, there must be something. Got it -- I'll use Israel! My post-graduation escapades in Jerusalem's suburbs were still fresh in my memory. It was October now. I was in my eighth week of attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), not for fashion design, but for window dressing and museum exhibition design. My first two months in Manhattan had proved to be both artistically demanding and rewarding in school and as a student intern with Jews...


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Author: Arielle Rothbard
Added: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_04/02 Havurah Isaiah, Pepper and the Beatles: Jhan Moskowitz on messianic prophecy IMAGINE that I own a book publishing company, Pepper Publications. I contract with a cookbook author and tell her that she can include any recipes she wants. The only requirement is that she needs to include pepper in every recipe. There is a filter that requires pepper to be one of the ingredients throughout the book. I believe the Holy Spirit superintended the canon -- meaning the completed Bible as we have it -- to be similar. By the time the canon was closed, there was a messianic filter. The entire canon of Scripture is messianic. Whoever closed the canon had a messianic hope and expressed it in the way the parts came together. The same is true for individual authors like Isaiah. Consider Isaiah 7:14, the passage about the almah. Usually we focus on analyzing whether almah means virgin and whether there was a near fulfillment or a distant fulfillment or both. But that may not be the best way to approach the passage. Think of a drawing of three stick men. The first...


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Author: Jhan Moskowitz
Added: Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/02 Havurah Messianic Prophecy: Are we using it for all it's worth? "That's Jesus," he admitted, flashing me a 'you-got-me-there' kind of grin. I had been studying Isaiah 53 with Uri, an Israeli now living in Manhattan's trendy Upper West Side. He had just uttered the very words I had hoped to hear! Carefully, he reread the passage in Hebrew and confirmed, "There cannot be any doubt -- Isaiah is writing about Jesus." I knew what would come next. We would talk a little more and Uri would accept Y'shua. But suddenly my bubble burst. "It's interesting," he shrugged, "but I'm Jewish. And besides, look how Christians have treated the Jewish people." "But ... you just said ..." "I can't. I made a promise to my father before he died that I will never forsake being Jewish." I have since encountered many other "Uri's." Even when messianic prophecy is presented appropriately and systematically, even when the facts are convincing, they remain unconvinced. Messianic prophecy can make a powerful impression upon...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/01 Havurah Four Questions for Dr. Michael Brown Dr. Michael Brown is a Jewish believer in Jesus and a well-known apologist and author. For more, visit his web sites at www.icnministries.org and www.ilifetv.com/thinkitthru. We interviewed him to draw on his expertise in the area of messianic prophecy. Havurah: In light of how the New Testament writers used messianic prophecy, how do you think we should be using it today? MB: We should be following the lead of the New Testament writers. But we need to understand their method and their mindset. Sometimes they just quote verses in keeping with the Jewish interpretive styles of the day in order to illustrate a point, not necessarily to give the primary sense of the passage. But certainly in the messianic passages that are quoted from the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament writers are often looking at the larger context. For example, Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14. This can only be properly understood when you realize that Matthew was looking at Isaiah chapters 7-11...


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Added: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_02/03 Havurah What is Authentically Jewish? How do we answer the above question when, in every age and Jewish sub-culture, we have absorbed many influences from non-Jewish societies around us? These influences have not only affected food and fashion, but even religious expression and doctrine.1 They include: The Hellenistic (Greek) culture of the 4th-1st centuries B.C. Hanukkah notwithstanding, Hellenism influenced many aspects of Jewish life.2 Rabbis used Greek language and references to Greek culture. Jewish art as well as Pharisaic Jewish society also picked up some Greek "flavor" as did Jewish biblical interpretation. And traditions? What could be more Jewish than the Passover seder? Yet it also drew from a Greek institution called the symposium, a kind of banquet and philosophical lecture for holidays and special occasions. At a symposium, you would find questions concerning the foods, eating of greens and an apple mixture, and reclining -- rituals readily recognizable as part of the modern seder.3 So is...


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Author: Rich Robinson
Added: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/03 Havurah What Rosenberg Can Learn From Rodriguez A Satmar Orthodox Jewish man once told me, "Messianic Jews aren't Jewish!" He went on to add, "Reformed, Conservative, Hassidic and most 'Orthodox' Jews aren't really Jewish either. . . ." Jewish identity was a simple matter for him. Real Jews follow the teachings of the Satmar rebbe. But for most Jewish people, including Jewish believers in Jesus, it's not so simple. The subject of Jewish identity has been hashed and rehashed with the age old questions: "What makes us Jewish?" "What should we do to preserve our Jewishness?" "How do we balance Jewishness and 'Jesusness'?" "Is it important that my spouse be Jewish?" "Does it even matter?" So is there any hope of a fresh perspective? Maybe you've already figured it out. Other communities of Jesus-followers are asking the same questions. Asian Christians, Latino Christians, African Christians and others also struggle with issues of faith and ethnicity1 -- but it's easy to stay plugged into our own iPods playing...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/01 Havurah Ten Questions for Emmanuel 29-year-old Emmanuel Mebasser is an Iranian-American Jewish believer in Jesus. He brings such a multicultural perspective to the table that we thought you might be interested in asking him a few questions. Since you're not here, Aaron Abramson asked the questions and here are some of Emmanuel's answers....


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/11_01/02 Havurah Virtual Disciples It was a communication breakdown. MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, Photobucket, Skype, AIM, personal websites, e-mails -- unavailable. All we could do was relate to . . . each other. Mere miles would not have hindered access to family and friends -- but between our schedule, a computer shortage and the expense of overseas phone calls, the usual flow of electronic communication slowed to a trickle. Sometimes, not even that. At first, frustration crept in as people found their usual connections curtailed. Nevertheless, 15 Jewish believers (all but me college age) found ourselves eating, studying, praying, worshiping, living and growing together for nearly three months, first in Israel, then India. We'd gone for discipleship, Jewish studies and outreach. In the process, we became a community.* IN "SECOND LIFE," THE 3-D CYBER NETWORK, PEOPLE CREATE COMPLETELY NEW IDENTITIES, INCLUDING NAME, GENDER, LOOKS, CAREER -- EVERYTHING. E-communication...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/01 Havurah A Messianic Jewish Approach to the Middle East Conflict The signs said, "Stop Zionist slaughter of Palestinians." Sure, I'd seen signs like those before. But in the hands of ultra-Orthodox Jews? Yet there they were -- dozens of them -- shoulder to shoulder in their black coats, alongside others holding Palestinian flags in front of the Israeli embassy. More signs read, "Judaism rejects Zionism and the state of Israel." Some had a crudely drawn Israeli flag linked to a swastika by an equal sign. Jews were cursing Jews, the riot police were trying to keep peace, and people from all sides were gawking. "Great," I thought. "As if Israel doesn't have enough problems." We Jews argue about almost everything -- you've heard it said, "Two Jews -- three opinions." But disagreements over Israel are particularly heated. The disengagement from settlements in the Gaza region divided Israelis and demonstrated the volatile nature of this debate. Many were angry at settlers and saw them as the cause of trouble,...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/01 Havurah An Arab Christian Perspective Abdu Murray is not only an Arab for Jesus; he is a former Muslim for Jesus. Aaron Abramson interviewed this brother to see how he deals with tensions and struggles similar to the ones we face over loyalty, conflicts, and maintaining a godly perspective concerning the Middle East. Aaron: Tell us a little bit about your own upbringing and how you came to faith. Abdu: I was born into a very devout Shiite Muslim family. My father was from southern Lebanon. My mother is Polish and was originally Roman Catholic, but converted to Islam when she met my dad. She is a very devout Muslim. We were raised in Lebanese culture, so I have had virtually no Polish cultural influence. My parents encouraged my brothers and me to be very serious about our faith, and I was. I read through the Koran numerous times, and by the time I was 18, people would come to me with questions about Islamic history, doctrine and theology. I took every opportunity to preach Islam to non-Muslims, whether Jews,...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/03 Havurah Case in Point: Jews and Arabs Join to Make Jesus Known Peter and Yarden Nasser met at a festival in Akko (in the Western Galilee region of Northern Israel). Unlike most of the participants, they went to celebrate Y'shua and to tell festival-goers about Him. In the course of evangelizing, Yarden, a Jewish believer, asked Peter, an Arab believer, to translate something to help her witness. They made such a good team that they continued witnessing together at other events following the festival. Soon they were telling one another about books they had read and things they had thought about. Peter wanted a wife who loved to evangelize, but Yarden, who really did love to witness, wasn't thinking of marriage at the time. Still, she couldn't help being interested in the fact that Peter was not only a great guy, but obviously cared for Jewish people -- and wanted to tell them about Jesus. He eventually won her heart, and three years later they were married. The Jewish-Arab couple encounters various reactions. Yarden, who moved to Israel...


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Author: Ruth Rosen
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/04 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/04 Havurah Israelis Everywhere Some might find my status as a "typical Israeli" debatable. On the one hand, I've spent my last several years in much the same way as my peers. On the other, I've done things that very few Israelis have done or would do. After my army service, I started traveling around the world (typical) but during my travels I had many opportunities to share my (not typical) faith in Y'shua with other Israeli backpackers. At times I just wanted to see the world and my witnessing was "incidental." At other times, I chose purposefully evangelistic trips. I've been asked to reflect on the nature of these experiences. The "typical Israeli experience" -- what is it? Well, picture this. After high school you are drafted into the army, which, like any good "total institution" takes away every indication of individuality and prepares you to fit in and do your best with the task at hand. As a teenage soldier, you face serious choices, serious consequences and serious situations unlike any you...


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Author: Daniel Goldstein
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/02 Havurah Recommended Reading Please note: Included in this list are books we strongly disagree with; the recommendation to read them is so that we might have an intelligent response. Burge, Gary,Whose Land? Whose Promise?: What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians,Carlisle, Paternoster: 2003 Critical of Israel, this book is Burge's personal exploration of his feelings about the crisis in the Middle East, put on paper to communicate with other Christians who share the same opinions and seek answers to the same questions as he does. Chapman, Colin, Whose Promised Land, Baker Books (September 1, 2002) This book addresses complex issues surrounding the continuing crisis between Israel and Palestine. Cohn-Sherbok, Dan, The Politics of Apocalypse: The History and Influence of Christian Zionism, Oxford: One World, 2006 In this book Cohn-Sherbok outlines the shift of Christian Zionism from Puritan times to the present, examining the escalating role of Armageddon. He also studies its...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_03/02 Havurah t o g e t h e r   a s   o n e Corporations spend millions of dollars annually training their employees in it. Universities offer courses on it. And every culture on this planet uses it on a daily basis. I got to experience it within the framework of a cross-cultural missions trip this past summer as part of a group of 13 young Jewish followers of Jesus trekking through Israel and India. Teamwork. We toured Israel, learned some Hebrew, and did some evangelism on streets and beaches in places like Tel Aviv and Eilat. Then we faced the REALLY big challenge: India! Our mission was to share the amazing news of Jesus with Israelis who travel through there after their army service. We really weren't sure what to expect. After a few days, we divided into three smaller teams and headed out to tackle the wild Israeli/Indian terrain of the Himalayas. Our group of four paired off each day to meet and witness to Israelis. My partner was Scott. Now I have absolutely no trouble starting up a conversation with...


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Author: Rebecca Lipkowitz
Added: Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Tue, 03 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_04/03 Havurah Jewish-Gentile Couples: becoming one flesh and one spirit In 1972, the sitcom "Bridget Loves Bernie," which had at its nexus a Jewish husband and a Gentile wife, was cancelled after one season because the intermarriage theme was considered too controversial. Evidently immune to the fuss, the stars of the show, Meredith Baxter (Gentile) and David Birney (Jewish) caused quite a stir when they married in real life in 1973. Fast forward to 2005. Being Jewish and intermarried is now the norm in American Jewish life. Since 1985, just over half of all Jewish people married in the United States took non-Jewish spouses. The intermarriage rate increased since 1960 to the point that almost one third of American Jewish spouses are Gentiles. Jewish cultural attitudes towards intermarriage have changed. The 2000 Annual Jewish Opinion Survey of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) revealed that a majority of American Jewish families were no longer pained at the prospect of family members marrying a Gentile. Analysis of the AJC survey concluded that the...


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Author: Tuvya Zaretsky
Added: Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/8_1/jgcouples http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/8_1/jgcouples Havurah WITNESSING THIS PASSOVER We all struggle with how best to tell our unsaved families about Jesus, and there are no easy answers. But Jewish holidays provide wonderful opportunities for witnessing. Our redemption from Egypt is so typical of the way God works His salvation plans. And the well-known theme of the lamb's shed blood can help you explain His plan to others. You might find some of these suggestions helpful: If you are a relatively new believer, be sure your family and friends know about your faith before the family gathering. Passover is no time to announce that you have accepted Jesus. The shock would likely detract from your family's enjoyment of the holiday and prevent them from considering spiritual things. If you visit someone else's home for Passover, do not come empty-handed. Whether or not you have money to spend, you can show appreciation for your host/hostess. This means as much to family members as it would to anyone else. Anything from a box...


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Added: Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/03 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/03 Havurah It Shall Be to You a Memorial The word "memorial" has never been a favorite of mine. I always associated it with death, either by way of a quasi-funeral service or a cold piece of stone marking a grave. Even the sound of the word seemed heavy and sad. But, like so many things, that perception has changed over the years. The older I get, the more impressed I become by God's concern and compassion for the forgetfulness of His people and His grace in setting up memorials. Our Passover celebration is a case in point. Before the Passover even occurred, God had already commanded that the day be kept as a memorial! Exodus 12 outlines God's instructions to Moses concerning His rescue plan for the enslaved Israelites. You know the story, and how it was when it came down to the last and most terrible plague. God gave Moses precise instructions on how to ensure the safety of His people against the coming judgment. And when He had finished giving the details for this first...


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Author: Ruth Rosen
Added: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/02 Havurah JEWISH BELIEVERS AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY: How do we see each other? Looking back on my experience as a new believer and a university student, I remember two distinct Christian groups on our campus: Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The two had not so much a rivalry as hermetically sealed lives. Among IVCF-ers, Campus Crusade had a reputation for being too "in your face," i.e., confrontational, perhaps giving unbelievers the impression that Christians are pushy, and not putting enough emphasis on discipleship. Among CCC-ers, IVCF was thought to encourage quiet Bible studies and prayer meetings, but not much action when it came to evangelism. So, on our campus at least, Crusade was the yin, InterVarsity the yang -- or was it the other way around? It seemed like you had to pick one or the other if you wanted to be in a community of believers on campus. I don't know if many stopped to think that both groups had their strengths and weaknesses, and that there could be a whole...


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Author: Rich Robinson
Added: Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_02/01 Havurah Heat and Light: A review of The Christian and the Pharisee

In today's "politically correct" environment, honest and respectful debate over religious differences is an increasingly endangered species. This is especially true in the long tradition of theological disputations between Jews and Christians. Nowadays formal discussion and debate is often set aside in favor of "interfaith dialogue." Such dialogue usually focuses on areas of mutual agreement and cooperation, to the exclusion of honest engagement over areas of disagreement. In light of this trend it is gratifying to be able to commend The Christian and the Pharisee: Two outspoken religious leaders debate the road to Heaven. In this 190-page book just released by Faithworks Publishing, well-known Christian author and minister R.T. Kendall engages Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, in a discussion of the theological issues that divide Judaism and Christianity. The debate takes place in the form of 14 letters exchanged between the two ...


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Author: David Brickner
Added: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_01/02 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_01/02 Havurah THE LIBERATED WAILING WALL: Past, Present and Future . . . I have been surprised, as I encounter various Jewish believers, that so many first encountered the Jews for Jesus ministry through the Liberated Wailing Wall (LWW). This mobile evangelistic team continues to present Jewish gospel music and drama in approximately 300 churches and Messianic congregations each year. In a sense the team is an institution, but it is really an amazing and ongoing collection of people's lives and stories, and I wanted to share some of those stories with you. You'll hear from Jeff Millenson, who served with the Liberated Wailing Wall many years ago and now oversees the team. You'll hear from David Abramsky, a member of our last LWW team, and then from Melissa Weinisch, a current member. They will tell you about the team's beginnings, how it's changed (or not changed) and how it can change people. I hope you will enjoy their stories. JEFF MILLENSON AA: Jeff, What can you tell us about the LWW? JM: Well, the team officially began in 1972, ...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_01/01 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/10_01/01 Havurah Christ in the Feast of the Tabernacles You probably know that the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is the final of the three Harvest Festivals and concludes the High Holy Days. But did you know that the first Hanukkah was a belated Sukkot celebration and that the dedication of Solomon's Temple also occurred during the Feast of Tabernacles? Were you aware that of all the festivals given to Israel, the Feast of Tabernacles was the only one that God said all the nations will one day celebrate? Perhaps you were; I know that I was not. Unfortunately, this very important holiday has been given secondary status among many of us. David Brickner, in his new book Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles, thoughtfully describes the Feast (as the celebration came to be known), its immensely important themes and its relevance for today's believer. I'm a college student and new at Jews for Jesus -- a summer intern at the time of this writing. Frankly, I was a bit intimidated when assigned to review the new book by "the boss." I quickly...


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Author: Seth Richards
Added: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/tabernacles http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/tabernacles Havurah Mushroom Barley Soup If you are entertaining ushpizin for Sukkot here is a tasty treat they're sure to love. This recipe debuted in Melissa Moskowitz's Jews for Jesus Family Cookbook and appeared with many other holiday offerings in David Brickner's Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles....


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Author: Melissa Moskowitz
Added: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/mushroom_barley http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/mushroom_barley Havurah Bulletin Board Holy Day Reminder ROSH HASHANAH: Saturday – Sunday, September 23-24 YOM KIPPUR: Monday, October 2 SUKKOT: Saturday-Saturday, October 7-14 SIMCHAT TORAH: Sunday, October 15 (All holidays begin the previous evening.) To see if Jews for Jesus is having a High Holy Day service near you go to: High Holiday Services Free Holy Day E-cards! We've got ten Rosh Hashanah cards to choose from, appropriate to send between now and Yom Kippur. You write your own message. Go to...


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Added: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/board http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/board Havurah Jewish Guilt and the High Holy Days "What special day do we celebrate next?" said a little girl to her father as she climbed into his lap. "Well, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot come just after summer," he replied. By her unmoved expression he gathered that she was not terribly impressed. This was no surprise since she had only been four years old at last year's services. Still, he had hoped that she would show a spark of interest, have some memory of the fall festivals. Was her lack of interest due to the relatively small Jewish community in their town? Or perhaps he'd not been intentional enough to balance his non-Jewish spouse's inexperience with Jewish traditions. Whatever the case, one thing was certain: he was feeling stirrings of guilt. "Well," he began, "Rosh Hashanah is . . . ," but before he could finish, she had wriggled out of his lap and run out of the living room....


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/guilt http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/guilt Havurah Ushpizin "Ushpizin" is the Aramaic word for "guest." It is also the title of a 2004 Israeli film, directed by Gidi Dar and written by Shuli Rand. Rand, who also starred in the film, won the Best Actor award from the Israeli Film Academy for the role of Moshe. On a side note, Shuli Rand is a Hassid in "real life" and Michal Bat Sheva Rand, the woman who plays his wife in the film is -- his wife! This viewer would never have guessed that "Ushpizin" was her first film. Bat Sheva Rand's debut is owing to the fact that as a Hassidic Jew, Shuli Rand is not permitted to touch any other woman. The movie is set during the festival of Sukkot. Moshe, a Breslover Hassidic Jew, has been reformed from his past life as a "bad guy." He lives and studies at a Yeshiva near the market in central Jerusalem. With barely enough money to provide for his wife and himself, he wonders how he can fulfill the obligations of Sukkot: building a sukkah, obtaining arbat haminim (the four species), and entertaining...


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Author: Yoel Ben David
Added: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/ushpizin http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_03/ushpizin Havurah Bulletin Board Summer is almost here! It is probably too late for you to join us on our summer witnessing campaign in New York City but please do pray for all those who have chosen to serve the Lord in this way. If you would like to receive regular e-mail prayer requests and updates send an e-mail to mascarr@verizon.com asking to be added to the prayer list. It's not too late to take advantage of opportunities for Jewish children and youth. Jews for Jesus has several staff members who are passionately committed to ministry to "the next generation" of Jewish believers in Jesus. But time and time again we find that some of the best ministry takes place as these kids form relationships with one another. Lasting friendships with peers who understand what it's like to be Jewish and believe in Y'shua are priceless and life-changing. Please consider one or more of the following summer options for your son or daughter: Camp Gilgal 2006 Providing Jewish children and youth with a Messianic camping...


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Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/board http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/board Havurah If You Feed Them, They Will Come When we think about serving God we often imagine going here or there to meet people, or to do projects. It is easy to overlook one of the best resources that many of us have for serving Him: our homes. Hospitality is becoming rare in our fast-tracked, Blackberry, blueberry, iPod, takeout dinner world. However, at heart most of us still long for HOME, not only as a place to rest our feet, but also as a place to include others as an extension of the warm inglenook of the heart. What is true hospitality? It is extending oneself and one's home to welcome friends and strangers. It is extending the love of God in a practical and compassionate way. In Jewish life, hospitality is regarded as a "sacred obligation...the mitzvah called...the bringing in of guests. Showing hospitality...is as much a part of our religious Jewish observance as prayer, study and giving charity...."1 The scene in Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye brings home the poor scholar for Shabbat...


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Author: Melissa Moskowitz
Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/feed http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/feed Havurah New from Jews for Jesus This Month! Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles by David Brickner is being released by Moody Press this month! Please refer to the enclosed flyer for more information and details on how you can order this book to help prepare for Sukkot this fall. You will notice that Moody is also releasing a new, expanded version of the classic, Christ in the Passover, by Moishe and Ceil Rosen. We do know that Passover has "passed over" but these holiday books do make a very nice...


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Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/new http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/new Havurah What's It to You? Aaron's article stated: "When Isaac was called, he was reminded of Abraham's special relationship with God and of the covenant promises (Genesis 26:2-5). Jacob was reminded of the Lord's relationship with both Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 28:13). Moses was reminded of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6). Joshua was reminded of Moses' faithful service (Joshua 1:1-3). They stood upon a foundation built by those who went before them. An association, an unseen bond united these heroes in their call to the Lord's service." What does that mean to us as modern-day Jewish servants of the Lord? Maybe reflecting on a few questions will bring it into perspective: Whose service stands as an inspiration to you as you seek to serve God? Whom do you hope might find inspiration in you as they seek to serve God? What have you done or might you do in the future to link yourself with God's servants, past, present and...


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Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/what http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/what Havurah Passing It On My name is David Lovi. I was born in 1980 and I grew up in a mixed home. My father is a non-practicing Jew and my mother was Catholic. We sometimes went to a cousin's house to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and my mother would take me to a Catholic church for Christmas Eve. I remember as a kid in kindergarten someone asked what religion I was and I said "both," thinking there were only two in the world.In high school, I began reading books on Taoism, Buddhism and even Islam, all of which were very confusing and did not satisfy my hunger for something real to grasp on to. All the while I was sinking lower and lower into all kinds of drugs and sex. When I got to college, I was so entrenched in my sinful lifestyle that I felt as though I was drowning. I wasn't sure if Truth even existed. Then one day in August of 1999, as I was sitting on the floor outside the Harper College library reading a book, a Korean man named Dr. Paul Koh approached me. He said, in a heavy accent, "Excuse me, would...


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Author: David Lovi
Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/passing http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/passing Havurah Reinstate the Draft A wave of fear swept over me as I held the familiar looking Hebrew envelope. I knew it contained my tzav rishon, or first military interview. I was 16 and had seen other friends receive similar letters. This letter required my presence before the military in order to evaluate my physical and mental condition for service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). It was only an interview, a simple bus ride, an afternoon's trip. But it represented much more. It was the first of many obligations of service or sacrifices I would make for Israel. To say I did not feel prepared was an understatement, and yet I knew I had no choice. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, both boys and girls in the Land have been raised with the awareness that they will serve their country when they turn 18. It is not a matter of personal preference; it is a matter of national security -- a matter of duty. Men and women give years of their lives, sometimes life itself, for this cause. Most...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400

]]> Mon, 15 May 2006 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/draft http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_02/draft Havurah Running Away I was camped with my paratrooper unit in the desert surrounding the Dead Sea when I recognized the name Joshua Friedberg on the front page of an Israeli newspaper. Ne'dar, missing. Before I had time to process what was happening, I was on a bus heading back to Machon Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem to join the search for my missing friend. I grew up in Seattle but my parents, both believers in Jesus, made Aliyah in 1990 when I was 15 years old. We began our new life in an Orthodox Jewish settlement affiliated with the Gush Emunim movement. Life in the settlement quickly shaped many of my views, particularly those regarding Palestinians. The barrage of stones (sometimes the size of cinderblocks) projected at our vehicle whenever we left the settlement made their mark, and not just on the car. The government provided protective windows for our car and an Uzi for my father but nothing they could provide was able to protect me from feelings of being trapped and helpless. Most of my...


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Author: Aaron Abramson
Added: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/running http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/running Havurah Salat Hatzilim Talking about the Middle East always reminds us of some of the wonderful dishes we've had there. Try this recipe for Salat Hatzilim - Israeli Eggplant Dip with a Bite, from Melissa Moskowitz. Ingredients: 2 large eggplants (about 4 pounds all together) 5 cloves garlic, mashed 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise, lowfat or regular 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh or bottled 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes - more or less to taste salt to taste serves 6 Process: The first part can be a little tricky and can be done one of two ways. The first way -- using the open flame of a gas stove -- will undoubtedly char your fingers along with the eggplant. But at least you don't have to go outside and get cold, wet or schvitzy (depending upon the weather). The second way -- using a charcoal or gas grill -- you will probably get cold, wet or schvitzed, but at least you won't burn your fingers. Using the first method: On a fork, hold the eggplant (one...


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Added: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/salat http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/salat Havurah Bulletin Board E-cards Please remember that you can post a comment about any of the articles in "Havurah," by going to: http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah Click on the article of your choice and look to the right where you can click on "comments." It may seem early to mention but Purim and Passover, both will have passed by the time you receive your next "Havurah." Sooo: E-cards! We have free e-cards for you to send. For Purim e-cards go to: http://www.jewsforjesus.org/judaica/purim/gallery For Passover e-cards go to: http://www.jewsforjesus.org/judaica/passover/ecards Passover Speaking of Passover, if you live in or near the following Jews for Jesus branch cities and are interested in attending our Passover banquets, give a call for more info: Boston 617-782-6222 Chicago 847-679-2680 Fort Lauderdale 954-616-5050 Los Angeles/Orange County 310-443-9553 New York 212-683-7077 San Francisco 415-387-9980 Toronto 416-444-7020 Washington D.C. 301-770-4000...


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Added: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/board http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/board Havurah Resources to Consider: Why Care About Israel by Sandra Teplinsky and Arabs in the Shadow of Israel by Tony Maalouf It is most unlikely that a completely unbiased book regarding Arabs and/or Jews exists, and the existence of an unbiased reader is even less likely. But that shouldn't discourage us from reading such books; it's just an incentive to pray for discernment concerning other people's biases, and a willingness to admit our own. There is no doubt that "some of Israel's best friends are Christians." At the same time, a growing trend among Christians prevents many from extending to Israel the friendship she so urgently needs. More and more seem to feel that support of Israel would justify or perhaps even add to the suffering of Palestinians. We would not ignore or minimize that suffering, nor insist that Israel has had absolutely no part in it. Yet we recognize that the media continually use that suffering, often unfairly or "un-factually," to besmirch Israel's reputation. We need resources to put in the hands of Christian friends who may be willing to reconsider their views, were they...


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Author: Ruth Rosen
Added: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/resources http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/resources Havurah Talking with Tass: A Palestinian who Loves the Jewish People As we reflect on the issue of reconciliation between Israeli and Palestinian believers, we thought you might appreciate reading a bit from Tass Abu Sadr, a Palestinian who was raised as a Muslim and has been a believer in Jesus since 1993. Tass spent many years as a Fatah fighter; his is a radical example of the supernatural love God can place between former enemies. He has partnered with us on our Behold Your God campaigns in Detroit, Toronto and Washington, D.C. Tass's ministry, Hope for Ishmael, keeps him very busy. He had just returned from one conference and was preparing to go to another in Amsterdam when we called -- and on top of that he was fighting the flu! But he was very gracious and willing to chat. We hope the following will encourage and challenge you: Q: What did you think about Jesus before you knew Him personally? I believed in Him as a prophet. As a Muslim I believed that He was the Spirit of God and Word of God in a higher way than the other...


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Added: Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Sun, 05 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/tass http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/09_01/tass Havurah Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People -- Longer Version Mark S. Kinzer, Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2005. In this book, Mark Kinzer is writing largely to the church, asking Christians to consider a radical new vision of the relationship between the church and Israel. Kinzer is concerned with the problem of supersessionism -- the view that the church has replaced Israel in the purposes and plan of God and is now heir to the covenants and promises. He reasons that if we reject supersessionism, we are left with the question of how the church and Israel can both be God's people. Kinzer's own answer to this question unveils a theology that is profoundly defective and indeed, unbiblical. First, a quick survey of the contents: Chapter 1 is an introduction to principles of interpretation, while the next two chapters demonstrate how the New Testament affirms continued Jewish practice on the part of the apostles and the early believers, as well as...


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Author: Rich Robinson
Added: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/kinzer http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/kinzer Havurah The Sweetness of Knowledge "When a child began his religious education his first book was strewn with raisins and almonds as a symbol of the sweetness of knowledge." Sam Levenson Calling all Jewish believers interested in a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Ministry... Are you interested in an accredited graduate program that is designed to equip you for Jewish ministry? One that is flexible to your schedule? A degree program that allows you to remain in your home area as much as possible? If the answer to those questions is "yes," then we think you ought to explore the Master of Arts in Specialized Ministry offered at Western Seminary's Los Gatos, California campus in partnership with Jews for Jesus. The Specialization in Jewish Ministry track offers a Master of Arts degree (60 units), a Graduate Studies Diploma (30 units) and a Graduate Studies Certificate (16 units). The core courses for Bible survey and Systematic Theology are available in the distance learning format on tape or DVD with on-line...


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Added: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800

]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/sweetness http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/sweetness Havurah About "Torah Observance" It's been a long time coming but The Messianic Movement: A Field Guide for Evangelical Christians from Jews for Jesus is finally in print. One of the eleven chapters explores Torah observance among Jewish believers in Jesus. (We've slightly abbreviated it here for space considerations.) Torah observance is a "hot button" for many as it touches on important matters of theology. Whether or not you struggle with this issue personally, it is one that very much affects the Messianic movement, as well as how we are seen by the larger body of believers. After reading this, if you have any comments to add, we'd love to hear from you. Introduction Among those groups that are sometimes considered part of the Messianic movement are those organizations and congregations that call themselves "Torah-observant," or that emphasize obedience to the Law of Moses by another term. These groups can vary from the theologically orthodox regarding the person of Christ and the Trinity,...


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Author: Rich Robinson
Added: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500

]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/torah http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/havurah/08_04/torah Havurah