The Messianic Hebrews Customs
A. What is the "Torah"?
The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, Genesis (Bereshit ), Exodus ( Shemot ), Leviticus ( Vayyiqra ), Numbers ( Bemidbar ), and Deuteronomy. It is the words Yahuah has given to mankind as to how we are to conduct ourselves in our every day life as well as in our Worship of Him during the Holidays and everyday. The laws that govern our lives are given in the Torah along with information as to who we are and where we came from. It also give us a look into where we are going provided we do as it says.
B. What is the "Instructions"?
The "Instructions" is what most people refer to as the first five books of the New Testament. We do not accept the bible as having an Old Testament and a New Testament. There is only one True King and one Testament. The Books are; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts of the Apostles. These are instructions as to how we should obey the Torah. They point out that in some cases it is more important to do a good deed rather that keep the letter of the Law.
C. What is the "Prophets"?
The books of Prophets is just that and we do not pick which is greater or lesser. Prophecy from Yahuah is all important prophecy. We accept the Prophets of old whether from the so called Old Testament or New Testament.
The Books are; Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Revelation of John.
D. What is the "Writings"?
The Books are; Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Songs of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles, Hebrews, Romans, Corinthians I & II, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians I & II, Philemon, Timothy I & II, Titus, James, Peter I & II, John I & II & III, Jude. These make up what we refer to as the "Writings". The Writings are writings of wise men as to how something is to be are was done. The "writings" make for very good reading but some things in them we can not understand today as we do not always have the question or the understanding of times pasted. There are good examples within them and much can be learned from them. Some places the "Writings" seem to go against the Torah and we know this is not correct so we look for and discuss these topics to come to a conclusion as to what is meant by them.
E. Why does the Messianic Hebrews day start and end at sunset?
In the very first book of the Bible, Genius Chapter one Verse five, it is recorded that Evening and Morning were the day. Evening coming first and morning second. Therefore the day started at sunset thus does ours. This is keeping with the teachings of the Torah. Another reason for using sunset rather than some other time such as twelve o'clock at night is because most everyone can tell when the sun goes down and not everyone has a clock.
F. What is a Messianic Hebrew Rabben what does he do and who can become one?
In the Messianic Hebrew community the Rabben is many things. The Rabben is first the Religious teacher /leader. He is councilor, mediator, judge, and in some cases match maker. The Rabben officiates at weddings and religious services. The Rabben is the one person to whom everyone turns to for help or for answers. A head Rabben of a congregation is always married. Assistance Rabbens may or may not be married. First requirement to be a head Rabben is the Head Rabben to be must be married. Second, the Head Rabben to be, must be thirty years of age. To be come a Head Rabben one must be pronounced ready by a Head Rabben. Then there will be a ceremony where they are inducted into the Rabbennical services and they will receive a diploma so stating that they have finished their apprenticeship. To become an assistance Rabben one must study under a Head Rabben until such time the Head Rabben determines that you are ready to become a Head Rabben. To be come an apprentice Rabben one must convince a Head Rabben to permit you to study under him.
G. What is a Messianic Hebrew Cantor what does he do and who can become one?
Actually our Cantor is a song leader. Songs in days long past use to be chanted and the name cantor comes from this era of time, he was the one who lead or did the chants. But in the Messianic Hebrew community the cantor is a bit more than just a song leader the cantor is the music teacher and the theater choreographer of plays and other musical events. Cantors may also perform wedding and funeral ceremonies.
H. How is a Messianic Hebrew Synagogue different from
a Jewish
Synagogue?
There is really very little difference between a Messianic Hebrew Synagogue and a Jewish Synagogue. The few difference is in a Messianic Hebrew Synagogue there is no stained glass windows, no pictures, or any kind of decorations. All decorations, carvings, and other things to make the synagogue look it's best is on the outside as our looks are on the outside. We do not build such buildings so as to distract a person from the reason they are there, we build the building as plain and simple as possible. We use simple lighting and try to provide soft individual chairs (theater type). The focus in the Messianic Hebrew Synagogue is The Word of Yahuah. Even the Ark in which the Torah is keep is plain varnished wood no art work is done on the wood and no medal is used in it's construction. There is a seven light menorah in front of the Ark. These lights are kept burning at all times. There is a small partitioned off area leading from the women's section to the area where the Torah is read. There is also a portioned off area in the front of the synagogue where the women read and light the candles and from where the women speak.
I. How is a Messianic Hebrew Synagogue different from
a Christian
Church?
There is a great difference between a Messianic Hebrew Synagogue and a Christian Church. In the Messianic Hebrew Synagogue there is No pictures, crosses, statues, or any other thing that may distract a persons attention away from the words being taught. In the Messianic Hebrew Synagogue the women are separated from the men. The men sit down front so they can't be looking at the women, and the women sit in the back or in the balcony if there is one. In the Messianic Hebrew Synagogue there is seats not pews. We strive for comfort because our services are usually quite long, up to three hours on Sabbaths. The Messianic Hebrew congregation actually participates in the service. They do not just sit and listen. The congregation sit, and stand at various times and have replies to various prayers and recite some prayers in their entirety.
J. What is a Mitzvah?
A Mitzvah is a Commandment or good deed. The commandment that you shall not murder is a Mitzvah. To save a life of someone is a Mitzvah. Mitzvah or "good deeds" is something that Yahuah expects us to do as we live a life as He would have us to live. Doing good deeds help teach others what we are truly about. There is a saying "actions speak louder than words" this is true and this we believe. Therefore we do our best to live a life that represents the life style Yahuah would have us live. This way we are a light unto the rest of the world. This light will bring people unto Yahuah more than anything we could ever say.
K. What is a Mikvah?
A Mikvah is a place where a person goes to in order to submerge themselves in a spiritual bath or "Baptism". This "bath" is not for the purpose of cleaning the body but the spirit. There are many times we are commanded to go to a mikvah. Most all are after doing repentance or asking for forgiveness. There is always a Mikvah for men and another one for women. The Mikvah is located somewhere in the synagogue one may get to it with out most people knowing they are going to it. The one('s) for women is usually located so a woman may get to the entrance from an area where women only are allowed and the one('s) for men are located in an area where men only go. Everyone goes to a mikvah. Some go more often than others. Any one who teaches or presides over a religious service goes to a mikvah before presiding over such a service. Rabben go everyday because they teach everyday. A woman is commanded to go seven days after her last day of her minstrel cycle. A woman is also commanded to go after giving birth, just to name a few. At the mikvah there are those who have been appointed to over see the submerging. These people are usually older people of the community. Men over see the men and women over see the women. The people are there to help in the event you need help and to ensure that you completely submerge. The reason for men over seeing the men and women over seeing the women is simple the person being submerged is in the nude. It is the body that is being cleansed not the clothing. The mikvah is not a place to take a bath so a shower is provided in an area adjacent to the mikvah room so a person may wash. Once washed the person puts on a robe and enters the mikvah room. They enter the water with their backs to the witness and remains so even while coming out, they walk up the steps backwards. Only the men are required to face the witness once so it may be recorded whether they have or have not been Circumcised.
There is also a mikvah provided in an area outside the synagogue where the "baptism" takes place in full view of everyone there, of course this time everyone is fully dressed. Most "baptisms" take place in a stream, pond, lake or ocean, however there are times when that is not practical and a mikvah with living water in it is used. This "Living water" is water from a stream or other source that has fish living in it or can support live fish in it. Water with chlorine in it is considered "dead water".
L. What are the little boxes on the right hand side
of the Messianic
Hebrews doors?
The little box on the right hand side of a Messianic Hebrew's house or business is called a Mezuzah. Inside the case is the Mezuzah. Mezuzah is a parchment scroll with selected Torah verses (Deuteronomy 6.4-9; 11.13-21) placed in a container and affixed to the exterior door posts (at the right side of the entrance) of observant Hebrew homes (see Deuteronomy 6.1-4), and sometimes also to interior door posts of rooms. The word Shaddai usually is inscribed on the back of the container. This is in keeping the commandment that we are to write these things on our door post and our gate post.
M. Do the Messianic Hebrew use musical instruments in Synagogue?
Most diffidently. In the book of Psalm Chapter 98: 4 - 6 it says "Make a joyful noise unto Yahuah , all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto Yahuah with the harp; and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before Yahuah, the Creator of the Universe. This we try to do this everyday.
N. Why do the Messianic Hebrew use a seven candle
candelabrum instead
of a star of David?
The star of David has no religious connection at all it is just the symbol that the Jews chose as their national symbol. The seven branched candelabrum on the other hand is commanded by Yahuah to be used in our places of worship. Seeing that our everyday life as well as our synagogues are places of worship then we use this symbol in our everyday life.
O. What is Torah Observant?
Torah Observant simply means obeying the laws of the Torah. It means Keeping the Sabbath Holy. It means doing what Yahuah said for us to do or not to do. It is not the things that men hundreds of years ago said we should do. Torah Observant is just following the commandments of Yahuah, not what man has added on to the Law of Yahuah.
P. What does Kosher mean to the Messianic Hebrew?
Kosher and Torah Observant is very closely related. Keeping Kosher to Messianic Hebrew means eating the foods that are allowed in the Torah. Keeping Kosher goes just a bit further in that there are certain ways we prepare food and how food is cooked. These things deal more with cleanness and not eating blood than any other things. In the Jewish community they use a bit different standards than we do an example of this is meat and dairy products. In the Jewish community one is not allowed to eat meat and dairy products at the same meal. We on the other hand are allowed to do this provided we know the source of the diary product and the red meat. I say red meat here because the Jewish community include fowl in this. The scriptures where the ruling of not eating meat and milk together comes from is Exodus ( Shemot ) 23:19 "Thou shall not seethe a kid in his mother's milk." The Rabbens of old included all meat in this category except fish. We do not include all meat or even all red meat in this ruling. Reason is simple, Fowls do not nurse their young and therefore do not produce milk. Also, it says Mother's milk. A cow will not give birth to a sheep, goat, or deer. And these do not give birth to cows. Therefore provided we know the source of the milk product and the meat product and we know for a fact that they are not mother and offspring we are allowed to eat them together. We may eat fowl and milk or milk products at any meal.
Q. How do Messianic Hebrews conduct themselves during
a time of
mourning?
In order to explain this best I will start with the death of a family member.
It is required to bury our dead as soon as possible. We are not permitted
to cremate a body the body must be allowed, to return to the dust from which
it was taken, by natural means. The funeral usually takes place with in twenty
four hours but may be put off for as long as seventy two hours if needed
for some reason (very special cases longer). The casket is made of plain
wood with plain wooden handles. This is because all people are equal in death
there is none great or small, rich or poor. We take out of this world just
what we bring into this world. The Funerals are all closed casket because
we are to remember the loved one living, not dead. There is usually a picture
of the loved one in a festival mood, smiling, placed at the head of the casket.
On the day of death and after the funeral the immediate family returns to
their house and remains there for seven days. This seven day period is called
Shiva. The Hebrew word for seven. This is the first time period of Mourning
and is a time to reflect and remember the deceased. Kaddish is said or read
three times a day at the morning prayer, at the noon prayer, and at the evening
prayer. During this seven day period other family and friends bring over
food for the family to eat sense they will not feel like doing their own
cooking. We enter the house and may shake the hand of or place our hand on
the grieving family members but we do not speak to them unless they speak
to us first. The fact that we are there shows our concern and that we feel
for their loss. Besides no words can make up for the loss of a loved one
and we could say something to add more hurt, and that is not what we are
there to do. The next period of mourning comes over the next Hebrew year
less the week already spent in mourning. During this time Kaddish is said
or read at least once a week but some do this daily. Sometime before one
year a head stone is placed at the head of the grave or tomb. After the first
year Kaddish is said or read on the anniversary of the death of the family
member. At an Orthodox Messianic Hebrew funeral neither flowers, music, or
song is permitted. The reason for this is that these things are things of
joy and are out of place at a place of mourning. Mourning is not permitted
on any Sabbath, unless the death was on a Sabbath and mourning is resumed
after the weekly sabbath, mourning is not resumed after a High Sabbath. After
a period of one year after the death of this person anytime a person comes
to visit the burial sight they leave a small stone on the marker. This shows
that this person is not forgotten but still lives in someone's heart and
is still missed. All of these things which we do we do not for the dead but
for the living. They are very real reminders that even our days on this earth
are numbered and the only things that are certain are death and taxes.
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