Showing posts with label chosen people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chosen people. Show all posts

Tuesday 31 March 2015

More looking for similarities

English: Moses Isserles (or Moshe Isserlis) (1...
Moses Isserles (or Moshe Isserlis) (1530 - 1572) - a Rabbi and Talmudist, renowned for his fundamental work of Halakha (Jewish law), titled the Mapah (HaMapah), a component of the Shulkhan Arukh. He is also well known for Darkhei Moshe, a commentary on the Tur. Isserles is also "the ReMA" (or "the RAMA") רמ״א, the Hebrew acronym for Rabbi Moses Isserles. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In Christianity we do find the same problem as in Judaism having different faith groups all claiming that they are the right Jews or right Christians.

Rabbi Eliezer Silver who visited a displaced persons camp after the war, encountered a Jew who told him he no longer wanted anything to do with Judaism.

He explained that there was a Jew in the camps with a siddur that he would share only with those who were willing to give up their daily slice of bread.
 “If that’s what Judaism is all about, I want nothing more to do with it.”
Rabbi Silver asked him gently:
 “And what did most people do?”
 “They gave up their bread and took the siddur. They starved!”
Rabbi Silver asked
“Why,” “do you look at the one Jew who could behave so dastardly? Why not reflect on the many more Jews who were willing to starve in exchange for a few minutes of precious prayer?”
Rabbi Yaniv says the same to an Ashkenazi whose wife is Sephardi
 
Why are you looking at one disparity in the difference of custom between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews rather than the astounding number of similarities they share?
The differences are so negligible that they just prove the rule – we are one people with one Torah. Jews are forbidden by the Torah to eat or even own leavened products on Passover.
We should remember that God took His People out of Egypt to make them one nation, united by the Torah. The Jews should take this at heart and should know their common history and their common goal.
 Some eat rice, some don’t, and it matters not. We are one family, the children of Israel.
explains Yaniv.

Also the Christians living all over the earth should know that there are differences depending on where they live and what season it is. Most important is that they do not take part in pagan traditions, like the Easter bunnies a.o..

Please do read the interesting exhortation of rabbi Yaniv:

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Wednesday 18 June 2014

Some christians do have problems with the Christian connection with Jews

Mainly American Christians do show their disgust with Judaism. Doing so they forget that Jeshua, Jesus Christ, the man who they are supposed to follow was a very devout Jew, belonging to the Jewish sect of the Essenes.

Many Americans say the Jews killed Jesus, but it would be the same as Europeans saying the Americans killed our compatriots in World War II or they killed the Afghanistan and the Iraqis and the Iranians and the Vietnamese and the Koreans and so on. It were some Jews and other people present in Jerusalem at that time who were agitated by the Pharisees and certain Jewish leaders, but not by all the Jews, who also saw in Jesus one of their own.

Also the new Pope is aware it would be better if more Christians started to investigate the Jewish roots of Christianity and the Christian flowering of Judaism.
Francis said.
 “I understand it is a challenge, a hot potato, but it is possible to live as brothers.”
Francis’ statement seems to go further than his predecessor, St. John Paul II, who made headlines in 1986 as the first pope to visit Rome’s main synagogue and declared Jews to be the “elder brothers” of the Christian faith.
“Every day, I pray with the Psalms of David. My prayer is Jewish, then I have the Eucharist, which is Christian,”
the Argentine pontiff added.

Too many Christians do not use the Old Testament, but it was the main part of Jesus his teaching. At that time there was only the Old Testament which was brought to the beleivers in the One God, which was the Divine Creator, God of Adam, God of Abraham and the God of Israel, God His people.

Those Jews are still God His people, we may never forget that.

Certain  right-wing Christians in their denial of the Jewish connection even go so far to deny the Christians would not have killed many of those people of God. A denial of the Holocaust the pope criticizes as “madness.”


Deutsch: Pius XII., Glückwunschschreiben zum 1...
Deutsch: Pius XII., Glückwunschschreiben zum 100. Jubiläum des Pilger in Speyer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Francis I also defended the record of Pope Pius XII, who led the Roman Catholic Church during World War II. Francis will soon have to decide whether to advance the sainthood cause for the controversial wartime pope, who is accused of failing to speak out publicly against the mass murder of Jews. For years, Jewish leaders and Nazi hunters have demanded the Vatican open up its secret wartime files.


Some Jews have accused Pius, who ruled from 1939 to 1958, of turning a blind eye to the Holocaust. The controversy has put a strain on Catholic-Jewish relations for decades.


Francis said he was concerned about
 “everything which has been thrown at poor Pius XII,”
while stressing that he sheltered Jews in the convents of Rome and other Italian cities, as well as the popes’ summer residence in Castel Gadolfo. Strange though that the Catholic Church did not come sooner with proof of such actions. We do know about nuns and priests who took all possibilities to bring Jews in safety. Many also told lies to the German soldiers to protect others. Their concious may have got very harsh times. but how was the concious of pope Pius XII?

The Vatican says Pius worked behind the scenes to save thousands of Jews and did not speak out more forcefully for fear that his words could have led to more deaths of both Jews and Christians at the hands of the Nazis


Pope Francis warns us to be careful, all being able to make mistakes.
"I don't want to say that Pius XII did not make any mistakes - I myself make many - but he has to be seen in the context of that era. For example, was it better for him not to speak out so that more Jews were not killed, or that he speak out?"
he said and added that Pius XII ordered the Church to hide many Jews in the convents of Rome and other Italian cities, that he sheltered Jews in the papal summer residence south of Rome and that 42 children of Jews and other refugees were born in his apartments there.



Francis added that he breaks out in an “existential rash” when he hears people speak against Pius and the church’s wartime record while ignoring inaction by the Allies fighting against Nazi Germany or forgetting the responsibility of the great wartime powers.
“Did you know that they knew perfectly well the rail network used by the Nazis to take the Jews to the concentration camps? They had photographs,”
 “But they did not bomb these rail lines. Why? It would be nice if we spoke a little bit about everything.”
Already in the 1930ies English and Americans did know about certain plans of the Germans, but they did not find it appropriate to react then, when there was still time to prtect further escalation.


Last month, Francis visited the Yad Vashem memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem. The Yad Vashem's website, addressing the issue of the allies' activity during the war, says:

 "In practice, no military initiatives were taken to prevent or delay the extermination."
While some historians have argued those train lines should have been bombed, other historians note the allies were losing planes and airmen at such a high rate, and the lasting effects of the bombing of those train lines would have been so slight, that bombing them made no military or humanitarian sense.


Jewish groups have asked Francis and his predecessors to freeze the process that could lead to sainthood for Pius until the all the World War Two era archives are opened to historians, saying Catholic-Jewish relations could be harmed if the process moved ahead.

Speaking to reporters on the plane returning from Jerusalem last month, Francis said the sainthood cause for Pius was stalled because he had not been credited with performing a miracle, which Church rules require, suggesting it was not stalled because of any outside pressure.

Francis also used that interview to condemn anti-Semitism. He reportedly said it is a continuing problem that was primarily seen in right-wing European political parties which still continue to try to bring a screen in front of the people by ignoring the facts of history like the holocaust.

Francis confirmed that he intends to open the Vatican archives wartime collection.

"They will shed a lot of light,"

 the Pope said.


During Friday’s interview with the Barcelona daily, Francis was also asked about his own security, saying he refused to travel in a bulletproof “sardine can” vehicle because he wants to mingle with ordinary people.
“It is true that anything can happen, but let’s face it, at my age I have nothing to lose,”
the 77-year-old pontiff said. The way he can  now be in contact with young and old is much more important. Such a personal contact can do the Catholic Church some good to reboost it again.

Friday 29 March 2013

A Holy week in remembrance of the Blood of life

Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said to them: “These are the words which the Lord has commanded, that you should do them” (Exodus 35:1)
English: Moses speaks to the children of Israe...
English: Moses speaks to the children of Israel, as in Deuteronomy 31:1, illustration from "The Boys of the Bible" by Hartwell James, published by Henry Altemus Company, 1905 and 1916. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


The people who believed in a Divine Creator came already together at regular times in the time of Moses and the time before him. Moses was warned by his father in law that he could not do things on his own.
“17 and Moses’ father-in-law said to him, the thing that you do [is] not good. 18 you will surely wear away, both you and this people that [is] with you. for this thing [is] too heavy for you; you are not able to perform it alone. 19 listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and god will be with you. you be for the people toward god, that you may bring the causes to god. 20 and you shall teach them ordinances and laws, and shall make them know the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 and you shall look out of all the people able men, such as fear god, men of truth, hating unjust gain. and place [such] over them to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” (Exodus 18:17-21 MKJV)
Today we also do find many people in church communities to be burned out, and the people right along with their supposed leaders. Today there are a lot of priests and church-leaders who are not really there for the people before God. They also are afraid or do not bring the many matters of concern to God. Though their job is to teach the common people the rules and instructions of God and to show them how to live, what to do. Many of those church-leaders do not fear God any-more or do not look up to men of integrity, men who are incorruptible — and do not appoint them as leaders over groups organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. Many churches have gone far off track of what the bride Christ had offered.

Now we have been celebrating Chag Ha Aviv – Passover, our spring holiday – also named Chag HaMatzot the holiday of unleavened bread with so many other chosen people by God, we could and can take time to meet with many people who believe in the One and only One God of gods, Jehovah.

This 7 or 8 days of holy time coincides with what many Christians call the Holy Week. For us it is also a holy week.

As the Jews eat their “bread of procrastination” it is also for us a time to reflect on our faith. On 14 Nisan, Tuesday the 26th in the evening, after sundown, all over the world serious bible students came together to remember two special moments in history.

In Belgium people could follow the Memorial Meal in several languages (a.o. Dutch, French, German, English, Mandarin, Afrikaans, Congolese, Arabic, Albanian) and hear the readings from the Scriptures in their own language or a language they also know. Somehow they could find a language which could suit them and which they could follow so they should not have a had a language excuse.
There should also not have to be an excuse to delay the coming together, because we have 8 days time to come together to share the Good News with friends, colleagues, brethren and sisters in Christ.

As Rabbi Avi Katz Orlow wrote: "We all have ways we can grow; matzah is there to flatten us out and remind us that this growth might not fit neatly into our schedule." For him Jews are not destined to be the doormat of history. When the situation calls for it they need to be ready to risk their own safety and security to stand up for those who need our help.

Jews and Christians must be brave enough to end fights without going into fighting themselves. But even in those situations we need to know when to call it quits and move on. The armour we do have to put on is the armour of love, which was demonstrated by Jeshua (Jesus)

The Matzah has the focal point on freedom and on 14 Nisan we could say we have a remembrance of Liberation Day. First of all there where the Chosen People, Israel, the People of God, who were blessed by the Creator and shown the way to safeguard themselves for the destruction of the firstborns which came over the land of Egypt because the people of Egypt did not wanted to listen to the God of gods. Secondly there is the night Jesus prepared a meal with his disciples, washed their feet as a humble servant, broke unleavened bread and said thanks to the Most High Elohim. On that night he was going to be betrayed and brought to a judgement bringing death he let us know that we have something to look forward and that he was willing to serve as a mediator between God and men, being the Lam of God, bringing blood of life, the Blood of The Everlasting Covenant.

Through sharing meals we each can connect to the network of Jewish tables, Christian tables and share the connection which was made for the Gentiles by the Nazarene Jeshua, Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

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Please do find some of the readings of the service of 14 Nisan:
Please do also find to read about the Last Supper:
  1. Deliverance and establishement of a theocracy
  2. 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception
  3. 14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus
  4. 14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast
  5. 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain
  6. 14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate
  7. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
  8. High Holidays not only for Israel
  9. Festival of Freedom and persecutions

Vindt ook om te lezen rond het Laatste Avondmaal:
In het Nederlands:
  1. De Gezalfde en de eerste dag van de feestperiode van Ongezuurde Broden
  2. Voorbereidingstijd tot een herinneringsmoment
  3. Zalving van Christus als profetische repetitie van de begrafenisrituelen
  4. 1 -15 Nisan
  5. 14 Nisan, de avond om Christus Zijn predikingswerk te herinneren
  6. 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #1 Oorsprong
  7. 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #2 In Jezus tijd
  8. 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #3 Voor het Overgangsfeest
  9. 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #4 Een Gedood Lam
  10. 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #5 De te vieren dag
  11. Jezus Laatste Avondmaal
  12. Jezus aanbod op het laatste avondmaal
  13. Teken van het Verbond
  14. Jezus moest sterven
  15. Een Messias om te Sterven
  16. Lam van God #3c Christus stierf als onschuldig Lam NT teksten
  17. Een Groots Geschenk om te herinneren
  18. Een Feestmaal en doodsherinnering
  19. Geen Wegvluchter
  20. Slavernij, Ongedesemd Brood en Feesten

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Monday 18 March 2013

Jerusalem God's City for ever

In 'The meek one riding on an ass' you could read how Jeshua, or Jesus as he is called by many today, entered Jerusalem seated on a donkey.As a king he was welcomed into the town. Not all the people at that time knew that Jeshua was to become the real king of that city, which would be the capital of one united world.

Jerusalem, no matter what happens in the world, is going to be the promised place of the land of God's people. From the writings in the Old Testament we know that Jerusalem is going to deserve a special place not only in the heart of God but also in the hearts of the people of God.
English: This is a map of first century Iudaea...
English: This is a map of first century Iudaea Province that I created using Illustrator CS2. I traced this image for the general geographic features. I then manually input data from maps found in a couple of sources. Robert W. Funk and the Jesus Seminar. The Acts of Jesus. HarperSanFrancisco: 1998. p. xxiv. Michael Grant. Jesus: An Historian's Review of the Gospels. Charles Scribner's Sons: 1977. p. 65-67. John P. Meier. A Marginal Jew. Doubleday: 1991. p. 1:434. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


The Burton Christadelphians have a look at that special place which comes daily in the news with less nice news. But Bible believers are convinced that the situation is not going to continue for long any more. In God’s special city Jesus Christ will take up his throne and rule over the kingdom of God when he returns to earth.

The angel had assured Miriam (Mary/Maria) that God had a surprise for her, she becoming pregnant and giving birth to a son to be called Jeshua, the Immanuel (Jesus, God with us).  And God's messenger assured her that this boy would be great and be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ But we may not overlook that this first-born son was to be given the throne of his father David. Joseph took on the worldly fathership and as such Jesus became part of the Tree of David.

What the world forgets is that at that time the promise also was made that this Jesus was going to
rule Jacob’s house forever — no end, ever, to his kingdom.



32  he shall be great and shall be called the son of the highest. and the lord god shall give him the throne of his father David. 33  and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:32-33 MKJV)
This throne is in the place where King David ruled from, Jerusalem, over the first kingdom of Israel (see 1 Samuel 24v20 for example). Jesus we know will come to restore it (Acts 1v6).


then, indeed, these coming together, they asked him, saying, lord, do you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6 MKJV)
 
When we look at the many prophesies made about the Holy Land we can see that it would not be troubleless.
The Bible also prophesies that there will be conflict and trouble in Jerusalem for centuries. Zechariah 12 calls it a “burdensome stone” and says that there will never be peace there until Christ is reigning. We can see this happening today: “Jerusalem is a tinderbox that could go off at any time. All roads in our part of the world, all the conflicts, lead to Jerusalem.” (King Abdullah II of Jordan, 2010)

To find out more why the land we know as Israel today takes such a special place in the hearts of the Christadelphians, how it belongs to God, and those to whom He chooses to give it, please do find:

Why is Jerusalem always in the news?



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