Forums Hebrew Christians, Messianic Jews Messianic Jewish Theology

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    • Brother Gilbert Joseph
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        Post count: 82

        In a past blog article I wrote about five kinds of Hebrew Catholics. Richard Harvey in 2009 published a book called “Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology” in which he listed eight kinds of Messianic Jews who have or are developing their own kind of Messianic Jewish theology.

        They are:

        1. Jewish Christianity [represented by Baruch Maoz]
        2. Dispensational Hebrew Christianity [represented by Arnold Fruchtenbaum]
        3. Israeli National and Restorationist [represented by Gershon Nerel]
        4. New Testament Halakah [represented by Dan Juster and David Stern]
        5. Traditional Judaism and the Messiah [represented by Michael Schiffman, John Fischer and David Friedman]
        6. Postmissionary Messianic Judaism [represented by Mark Kinzer, Rich Nichol and Tsvi Sadan]
        7. Rabbinic Halakah in the Light of the New Testament [represented by Joseph Shulam]
        8. Messianic Rabbinic Orthodoxy [[represented by Elazar Brandt]

        Most Hebrew Catholics would not have heard of most of these people except for possibly Mark Kinzer and David Stern. Baruch Maoz is an Israeli Christian pastor whose parents were Russian Jews that settled in America. Baruch was born in America in 1943 but moved with his family at age 10 to Israel. His famous book is called ” Judaism is not Jewish: A friendly Critique of the Messianic Movement”. He is a critic of any reliance by Messianic Jews on Rabbinic authority. He is thus an Evangelical Protestant pastor of Jewish background and Israeli nationality.

        Arnold Fruchtenbaum was an Ashkenazi Jew also born in 1943 in Russia and at the age of 4 his family moved to Germany and then in 1958 to America. He founded Ariel Ministries and is concerned with the evangelisation of Jews as the number one priority. Gershon Nerel is a Israeli who lives in the Messianic community Yad Hashmona in Israel and prefers the term Jewish believer in Yeshua. Dan Juster is an American Jew who was the first president of Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and the founder of Tikkun Ministries. He now resides in Israel. David Stern is an American Jew now based in Jerusalem who produced the Messianic Jewish Bible and wrote the ‘Messianic Jewish Manifesto’.

        Michael Schiffman is an American Messianic Jewish Rabbi who wrote “Return of the remnant: The Rebirth of Messianic Judaism”. John Fischer is an American Messianic Rabbi born in Hungary in 1946. David Friedman was the former Academic Dean at the King of Kings college in Jerusalem. Like Mark Kinzer, Rabbi Rich Nichol is a leader in the UMJC today in America. Rabbi Tsvi Sadan is an Israeli Messianic Jew who publishes ‘Kivun’. Joseph Shulam is a pioneer of Messianic Judaism in Israel and Elazar Brandt is an Israeli Messianic Jewish musician.

        It is interesting that distinct forms of theology from a Messianic Jewish perspective are developing and we are looking forward to this development among Hebrew Catholics in the future. It is pleasing to note those developments in Messianic circles that are departing from merely parroting Evangelical Protestant theology with a Jewish gloss. The turn towards liturgy, tradition and mysticism shows a positive move of the Holy Spirit among certain groups of Messianic Jews.

      • maslobin
        Participant
          Post count: 1

          I really appreciate your listing and description of the various branches of Messianic thought. This is something that I have wondered about for quite some time. My Jewish husband was an agnostic when we married and through the years came to believe in our Lord and Savior. I would like to learn more about the various beliefs and am delighted to find this rich website of information. Thanks so much!

          • Brother Gilbert Joseph
            Participant
              Post count: 82

              maslobin, just notice your response. Thanks for your feedback, it is always much appreciated. Their is also an Association of Hebrew Catholics discussion group on facebook.

              cheers br Gilbert Joseph

          • mark
            Participant
              Post count: 21

              Brother Gilbert Joseph,

              I share Maslobin’s appreciation of your post as well. Interesting and helpful!

              Where do you think the development of Hebrew Catholics is heading? Ideally, what would you like to see regarding Hebrew Catholic development?

            • mark
              Participant
                Post count: 21

                Brother Gilbert Joseph,

                Toda! Ho’res…tov meod!

              • mark
                Participant
                  Post count: 21

                  • This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by mark.
                  • mark
                    Participant
                      Post count: 21

                      Brother Joseph Gilbert,

                      Thank you for this thoughtful, exciting approach–thanks for your contribution!

                  • mark
                    Participant
                      Post count: 21

                      Brother Gilbert,

                      Though I focus more on literal/historical interpretation of Scripture, the content, interpretation, and beautiful musical piece (Our Lady Danced at Cana/Six Creative Days) in The Dance of Two Camps: Nakedness of Spirit and Soul truly are fascinating, enriching, and inspiring! Thank you for sharing that with me.

                      Regarding the Hebrew Catholic Vocation, this for me especially is informative, delineating, and helpful. Your insights are articulated so well and insightfully, for example, “The Catholic Jew is to be a living icon of the Jewish Messiah for the Gentiles. The Hebrew Catholic family is to be an icon of the Jewish family life of the Holy Family…Thus the distinctive vocation of the Jews in the Church is the witness to Torah and mitzvoth as revealed in Divine Revelation and unfolded in salvation history through the reality of the Messiah and his acts of perfect adherence and fulfillment of the Torah and mitzvoth as the way of perfect sanctification.” Your referencing ecclesial authorities supported and underscored your thesis very well.

                      I have two questions of clarification that only you can answer. I some circles, “Torah-observant” is a nebulous or controversial term. How do you define it? Also, for you what are the parameters, rules, etc., for a Chasidic Catholic community. Thank you; looking forward to your response!

                    • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                      Participant
                        Post count: 82

                        Thanks Mark for your feedback. It is always appreciated as most people don’t bother. In regard to your question about Torah observance. I think that will differ for different people depending on their background and present life situation. I explain my ideas more in the link I post above of a voice crying in the wilderness. These two post below-one I wrote before I became a consecrated brother and the other after.

                        13 steps on how to be a Khasidic Catholic in daily life

                        • mark
                          Participant
                            Post count: 21

                            Brother Gilbert Joseph, “13 steps…” is excellent! Within the given range of flexibility, it works for me, and I have been observing in this way for about a week ago. Thank you.

                            • mark
                              Participant
                                Post count: 21

                                Correction: “…for about a week.” :-)

                              • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                                Participant
                                  Post count: 82

                                  That is wonderful. I am very glad you found it helpful and you have found your own way. I think experimenting to see what resonates in a way that is loving and joyful and not a burden (except those burdens which are our duty to bear) is the way to go. You can always adjust and change as you go through different spiritual journeys and stages.

                                  cheers Br G

                                • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                                  Participant
                                    Post count: 82

                                    This post is about the ten stages of Adoration that you may find useful at some stage of your spiritual journey.

                                    Ten Levels of Adoration

                              • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                                Participant
                                  Post count: 82
                                • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                                  Participant
                                    Post count: 82

                                    Mark in regard to Torah observance-I think it is wise to start with little simple things like lighting the Shabbat candles on Friday night and other little ways that don’t burden one too much and then gradually include more aspects as one is ready or able to do.

                                  • Brother Gilbert Joseph
                                    Participant
                                      Post count: 82
                                      • mark
                                        Participant
                                          Post count: 21

                                          Brother Gilbert Joseph, all of the works you have referenced above are interesting and theologically stimulating, replete with insight, and spiritually resonate very well with me. Thank you.

                                      • mark
                                        Participant
                                          Post count: 21

                                          Brother Gilbert,

                                          Currently, are there Torah observant Chasidic Hebrew Catholic communities? If so, just for perspective, do you know about how many, or (roughly) how many Hebrew Catholics you think may be devoted in this way? Thank you.

                                        • akalaish
                                          Participant
                                            Post count: 5

                                            Brother Joseph, thank you kindly for starting this thread. I am new here (that probably goes without saying). I am an ordained Messianic Rabbi, and I look forward to getting to know all of you. May the Holy One bless and keep you, my friend.

                                            Shalom
                                            ב״ה

                                            • This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by akalaish.
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