Passover in Israel
If you plan to go with us on the study trip to Israel for Passover, please go ahead and register for the trip at the link below to hold your place. I don't think you'll find a better price at that season. We need to meet our minimum of 20 participants before we start booking our flights, and we need around six more to meet that minimum.
There is an opportunity for at least one person to receive a reduced tour price in return for helping to prepare the kitchen for Pesach, prepare the meal, and prepare the seder plates. This needs to be someone already familiar with Passover who would know the requirements concerning
chametz and a general knowledge of the seder.
There may also be a reduced price available for anyone who would like to stay a few days longer (or more) and to help with planting trees, cleaning, etc. This volunteer job, however, requires good health and a little muscle.
If you want more information on the tour or volunteer opportunities for discounted tour, please contact the Blossoming Rose
soon. Our page on their site is here:
https://blossomingrose.org/israel-tours/standing-with-israel-the-revelation-2018/
Vayishlach
This week's Torah portion is rich with prophetic narrative. One strange insertion into the text concerns the Israelite practice of not eating the meat around the hip sinew. The text does not state that the practice is a commandment; instead, it is a practice or custom that commemorates a historic Scriptural event, the naming of Israel.
For those who identify themselves with Israel, this is a personal point of remembrance. It is of huge significance, for whether native-born or grafted-in, Israel is a unique people upon this earth. One's identification with Israel follows a night season of wrestling with Adonai. Additionally, one struggles with people and fears about what people may do to us. Like his Grandmother Sarah had to confront her fear of barrenness when she laughed, so Jacob had to confront his fear of Esau, who was marching toward him with 400 armed men.
Every Israelite must struggle to see Adonai and to cross back to the Land of Promise. The other struggle, however, is just as important. When following Adonai means provoking people, it is frightening to move forward. What will my family and friends say? What will my boss and co-workers say? Will this journey destroy my children? These are legitimate fears, and the text says that Jacob was extremely frightened; in fact, he became "small." He was humbled by what he had to face.
Nevertheless, Jacob prevailed in the darkness and Israel emerged into the morning light. On this momentous morning, a tradition is born to commemorate the faith of Israel "to this day."
Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.[1]
The Torah holds the Seed words from which the rest of the Older Testament (TANAKH) and Newer Testament (
Brit HaChadasha) grow. Those books of Scripture between Joshua and Revelation document traditions grown from the Torah. In fact, even Jacob's wrestling match with the angel plants the Torah seed that customs will grow from the Torah itself.
The writings of the
Brit HaChadasha only appear to send a conflicting message about manmade traditions. As with this tradition of not eating the hind part of the animal connected with the hip, some traditions are upheld, while others are not. Rather than ignore the passages that affirm positive traditions grown from the Seed of the Word, it makes sense to study the relationship of tradition to the Word itself and to apply Yeshua's rules of weights and measures.
If you have some extra time for reading while the rest of the world is celebrating the holidays this December, consider reading two BEKY Books:
Truth, Tradition or Tare? Growing in the Word and
The Seven Shepherds: Hanukkah in Prophecy. These books complement one another with careful Word study into traditions and their relationship to the Truth of the Word, or "It is written..." The Seven Shepherds continues to be a best seller in Messianic Judaism on Amazon, and I believe it is because it is such a different approach to Hanukkah than anything else out there.
A good Word study reconciles the passages that appear to disagree. In times past, a believer might be asked to disregard passages such as the perpetual nature of the Torah covenant, especially regarding Shabbat, kosher eating, or feast days. Especially at this season, it is important to have good answers regarding man-made traditions and how they relate to the ancient, but eternal path of the believer in Messiah Yeshua. Those who reject all tradition have to also reject Paul's unequivocal injunctions to the Corinthians and Thessalonians to keep them!
These two BEKY Booklets help the reader to work through the challenges in a logical way and to identify logical fallacies in common arguments. And to the relief of many, the method allows all Scripture to be God-breathed and instructive. Even if you believe you've already researched Hanukkah in the Torah, Prophets, and Brit HaChadashah, try it again. I don't think you'll be sorry.
