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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.
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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!
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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
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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?
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Thanks Mark for your comments I appreciate them. I would like to see a Torah observant Chasidic Catholic community.
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Mark here is a link to what I would like to see in the future.
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Brother Joseph Gilbert,
Thank you for this thoughtful, exciting approach–thanks for your contribution!
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Thanks Mark. I wrote this on Hebrew Catholic vocation back in 2006 and if you haven’t read it you might find it interesting.
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Here is a more mystical post that I recently wrote on another blog of mine. You may find it of interest or not your cup of tea.
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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!
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Dear Mark, for me the outward Torah observances aren’t as important as the inner light of each mitzvot which can be expressed in differing outward observances in different cultures. For someone who is a Jew God himself has given us acts or mitzvot in order to express that inner light of God’s Will in the concrete physical world. For me then it is the spiritual/mystical dimension of tikkun (repair or reparation) that is the most important and the focus of my life as a Jew and as a Catholic. Don’t know if I have shared this essay with you but if very central for understanding my thought.
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This essay I wrote in 2013 began my thoughts on the mystical dance.
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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.
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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.
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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
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This post is about the ten stages of Adoration that you may find useful at some stage of your spiritual journey.
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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.
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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.
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No worries-very pleased to help.
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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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Welcome to this group Rabbi. Great to hear from you. There is a more lively discussion group on facebook as well. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AssociationOfHebrewCatholics
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This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by
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