Volume 1 #3  NL October 2022

 חשון תשפ"ג

ROSH CHODESH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER


Let's share what HaShem is doing around the world!

Let's Build His Kingdom Together!


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FROM RABBI KEN "MACCABEES" MACNEIL

UMJA PRESIDENT






Shalom and Greetings to All (Lekulam)!


Once again, we have come to the end of our Torah cycle--"chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek." "Let us be strong, let us be strong, and let us strengthen each other!" In the UMJA (United Messianic Jewish Assembly), we strive for unity (achdut) in our kehillot (congregations), as well as all who call upon HaShem in the Name of Yeshua. Over the past month, we have all come together in self-examination and renewal of our connections with G-d and with each other.  And in concert with Israel!  May we all grow in faith this upcoming year and in our servitude to our G-d and our master Yeshua!           

New Faces and Outreaches 

CORRECTION!!!


In our earlier newsletter we invited you to reach out and welcome Ro'eh Richard Cortes in Arizona, however, we were premature. The Foundation of the World Ministries is not currently chartered with the UMJA. We wish him well and pray for his blessing. 


International Affairs

We welcome back our senior rabbi, Rabbi Yosef Koelner, as he journeyed to a Messianic Congregation in Zambia, South Africa, where he spent Sukkot. We go where HaShem tells us.            


Please pray for Rabbi Jeremiah as he is making new connections in the Philippines with other Messianic believers and congregations. May we grow our presence in the Philippines and be a great blessing to the Philippine people.


On a more sobering note, Let us offer special prayers for protection for all those in the region of Ukraine. There is new evidence that Iran is supporting Russia with drones and equipment, as the US is supporting Ukraine. This is becoming a proxy war that is showing no signs of dissipating.  In addition, it has been reported that Russia may perform a nuclear test soon inside Ukraine.  Possibly as a warning or worse.  We know that troubles will come, but nonetheless, we must do our part.                          


In addition to financial and prayerful support, we must consider preparations for ourselves and our families. Many of us have already started preparing for tough times.  Stay tuned in the next issue for more helpful preparation advice. G-d does not tell us these things to scare us, but to prepare us! We are on the right team. :) B”H!                                     


What, then, are we to say to these things? If G-d is for us, who can be against us?

-Romans 8:31 (CJB)

THE WISDOM OF CREATION

by Rabbi Gabriel Lumbroso


MESSIAH IN THE SCROLL

King David said: 


So then I said, "Here I am! I'm coming! In the scroll of a book it is written about me. Doing your will, my God, is my joy; your Torah is in my inmost being. 

(Psalms 40:7-8 CJB)


The author of the book of Hebrews identifies this passage as being about Yeshua.


Then I said, 'Look! In the scroll of the book it is written about me. I have come to do your will.'

 (Hebrews 10:7 CJB)


Where in the scroll of the Torah is it written about Yeshua? Let’s look at a few passages.


THE WHOLE MEGILLAH IN ONE STORY

The whole history of humanity is written in the Book of Beresheet.

Through Yochanan, we know that HaShem formed the world through the Word—in Aramaic, “the Memra,” in Greek, “Logos,”—usually translated as “the Word.”


Right there it tells us about Yeshua. HaShem creates humankind with free-will, but then, he who is defined as the serpent, the craftiest of all the animals, comes to exert temptation. Humanity sins through disobedience and right then, we learn about He who will eventually defeat the devil.


I will put animosity between you and the woman, and between your descendant and her descendant; he will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.

(Genesis 3:15 CJB)


We understand that the “descendant of the woman” is He who wins domination over the Adversary.


CREATION: A WORK OF WISDOM

King David proclaims:


What variety there is in your works, Adonai! How many [of them there are]! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creations

(Psalms 104:24 CJB)


HaShem did his work in “Wisdom.” King Solomon confirms that very idea. Just as John gives names to Yeshua that define His attributes, like “Bread of Life”, “Lamb of God”, and “the Word”, Solomon speaks of the foreman Who created the world by calling Him “Wisdom.” He says that it calls to people:


Wisdom is calling! Understanding is raising her voice! 

(Proverbs 8:1 CJB)


That it helps people when they must make difficult choices:


On the heights along the road, where the paths meet, she is standing

(Proverbs 8:2 CJB)


It warns people of the dangers and temptations in the city:


…by the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

(Proverbs 8:3 CJB)


"Wisdom" addresses all mankind:


People, I am calling you, raising my voice to all mankind…

(Proverbs 8:4 CJB)


 Unlike many who speak not from truth but from personal interest, His words are truth:


My mouth says what is true, because my lips detest evil. All the words from my mouth are righteous; nothing false or crooked is in them.

(Proverbs 8:7-8 CJB) 


And His words are clear to those who have knowledge:


They are all clear to those who understand and straightforward to those who gain knowledge.

(Proverbs 8:9 CJB)


Wisdom is better than all the shiny stuff around in the city:


Riches and honor are with me...

(Proverbs 8:18a CJB)


It is the riches that last; the "food that stays on" (John 6:27):


...lasting wealth and righteousness...to endow with wealth those who love me and fill their treasuries.

(Proverbs 8:18b, 21CJB)


As Yeshua reminds us:


Seek and you shall find…

(Matthew 7:7)


Wisdom is found by those who seek Him;


 I love those who love me;

and those who seek me will find me. 

(Proverbs 8:17 CJB)


THE PERSON OF WISDOM

Solomon continues his prophetic oracle with Wisdom taking on the language of a person:


Adonai made me as the beginning of his way, the first of his ancient works. I was appointed before the world, before the start, before the earth's beginnings. When I was brought forth, there were no ocean depths, no springs brimming with water. I was brought forth before the hills, before the mountains had settled in place; he had not yet made the earth, the fields, or even the earth's first grains of dust…

 (Proverbs 8:22-26 CJB)


This “Wisdom” seems to have been the first of HaShem’s works (see Revelation 22:13). Then the oracle goes into the second day of the formation of the earth (see Genesis 1:6-8):


When he established the heavens, I was there. When he drew the horizon's circle on the deep, when he set the skies above in place, when the fountains of the deep poured forth… 

(Proverbs 8:27-28 CJB)


Now, onto the third day (see Genesis 1:9-10). 


When he prescribed boundaries for the sea, so that its water would not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman [HEBREW אמון: architect; foreman], and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always… 

(Proverbs 8:29-30 ESV)


Solomon describes this “Wisdom” as enjoying the company of human beings created in the image of HaShem (see Genesis 3:8-9).


…playing everywhere on his earth, and delighting to be with humankind.

(Proverbs 8:31 CJB)


Judaism considers this oracle in Proverbs 8 to be a prophecy about Messiah, the Agent of Creation, HaShem’s Master workman. This idea compares with Yochanan, who introduces Messiah to his readers by saying:


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing made had being.

 (John 1:1-3 CJB)


Paul also refers to the Messiah as HaShem’s wisdom:


…but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, this same Messiah is God's power and God's wisdom! 

(1 Corinthians 1:24 CJB)


As His disciples, we should also exemplify wisdom, which, as King Solomon says:


The fear of Adonai is the beginning of wisdom…

(Proverbs 9:10 CJB)


Thus, we see by comparing the Genesis creation story with Proverbs 8, just how Messiah is written about in the scroll of the Book.


MAY WE LEARN TO LIVE OUR LIVES

IN THE WISDOM OF THE FEAR OF HASHEM.


Click HERE for a short film of Sukkot and Simchat Torah at Yedidei Adonai.

Announcement from Lamed Vav House: Welcoming the Sabbath


The first publication of Lamed Vav House "Welcoming the Shabbat" is officially in print! If you have been wanting to establish a Shabbat tradition in your home but do not know where to start, this little guide is definitely going to be for you! Compiled by our Sephardic messianic Jewish rabbi, Rabbi Gabriel Lumbroso, these traditions are sure to unite households everywhere (space) and families through generations (time). Release date coming soon!


To learn more, find us at www.lamedvavhouse.com. The website is just getting off the ground, so check back often for updates!


PRAYER REQUESTS

  • Baruch HaShem! We praise G-d for strengthening our bonds of achdut (unity) and for the many new relationships developing. We know this is most pleasing to his heart, as it is written in Psalm 133. There Adonai ordains the blessing and we partake of eternal life! 


  • Give thanks for the new faces, newly ordained rabbis, roehs (Messianic pastors), and giyurs (converts) that HaShem is gathering around the world and in the UMJA!

 

  • We uphold new ministries being started around the country. In prisons, in growing congregations, in our new Yeshiva, and in books, praise G-d for wide open doors and the many details of these projects to develop and grow for His glory.  


  • That HaShem provides mightily for the 2023 UMJA conference.

 

CONFERENCE SURVEY 2022 

As we plan the UMJA CONFERENCE 2023, please help with this brief survey and email your thoughts to:  rabbigabriel@thelumbrosos.com.


1. What would you most like to see repeated in Conference 2023?


2. Is there anything (aside from the sound system issue) that you hope to see changed in future events?


3. Would you be in favor of a small registration fee to share costs of the event?


Forever Adonai, your word

stands firm in the heavens. 

Psalm 119:89

ARTICLES WANTED

  • Has Hashem been moving in your life or in your part of the world? We need to learn from one another.  


  • Are you new to our UMJA family? We want to support one another.


  • Do you have a story or testimony to share? We need to encourage one another.  



    Please send to karenlowdeloge@gmail.com for inclusion in a future issue.


Remember, there is truth to "Less is more!"

The shorter the article, the more people will read it!


IN THE CHESHVAN CALENDAR


  • Cheshvan 7: Yom Ha'allyah/immigration day. (Trad) . Also, in Israel, prayers for rain are added to the liturgy.
  • Cheshvan 11: Traditional date for the death of methuselah, and that of Rachel, the wife of Jacob.
  • Cheshvan 15: Jeroboam makes an imitation festival (1 Kings 12:32-33) Also, traditional reckoning of the death of Mattathias Maccabee.(1 (Macc 2:70)
  • Cheshvan 23: Defiled stones removed from the Temple (trad: Mac 4:43). Seath of modern Jewish Messianic pioneer: Rabbi Daniel Zion.

        




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