Events and Administration

Shabbat Shalom is Coming!

By Boaz Michael  | Comments (5) | Posted on June 4, 2008

Shalom! This morning my family and I arrived in a cold and wet St. Paul, MN. If you have not looked ahead at the weather, it appears that it is going to remain this way for the next couple of days so bring appropriate clothing, and perhaps even an umbrella or a poncho.

We are very excited for this year's conference. Perhaps my wife expressed it best earlier this morning as we were driving over the border into Minnesota from Iowa; she mentioned how encouraged she was with the emphasis of this event. She excitedly spoke of looking forward to the subject matter, the thrust, and the teachings because they will prove so helpful in establishing a healthy and mature walk for the body as we all desire to continue growing in the ways that we honor God's commandment of the Sabbath.

For us--all of the First Fruits of Zion staff and teachers--it is really refreshing and nice to teach from a positive and constructive perspective rather than feeling the need to rehash and trudge through the difficult issues of identity, Torah apologetics, and various disputes of interpretation or doctrine. We are ready to celebrate and share all that we have learned and developed to make our Sabbath observances more meaningful, significant, and most importantly, enduring.

We are going to be packing out the house and using every seat available, so early attendance is recommended. Please make room for others when you choose your seating. Beth Immanuel's sanctuary has pews rather than chairs, so it will be easy to spread out, but we will not have room for this luxury.

Furthermore, we ask for your understanding and patience in advance. I am sure that on some level as much as we have tried, we may have overlooked some things in our preparations. If you have needs or concerns during the event, please communicate them to one of the several First Fruits staff members.

Upon arriving at Beth Immanuel, and before the first event, please check in at the registration desk. We need to give you some information and confirm your attendance for final meal and seating arrangements.

May the Father be blessed with our rest this Shabbat and this Shavuot. May we grow in wisdom and understanding, and develop a deeper love for one another.

Reminder (this information was sent in previous communications)

If you have never been to a First Fruits of Zion conference before, a few caveats may prove helpful.

• Our conferences are academic in nature. Emphasis is on teaching and learning. Prepare for a time of intensive study. There are less banners, dance and music at a First Fruits of Zion conference than one might expect to find at some other Messianic Jewish conferences. Regular liturgical prayer is part of the program.
• First Fruits of Zion represents a conservative interpretation of Messianic Judaism. We take Torah very seriously. No commerce takes place on Sabbath, food is kosher and prepared in advance of Sabbath and we encourage all participants to set the Sabbath and festival aside in keeping with the commandments.
• Formal attire is appropriate for Sabbath and Shavuot. Sometimes people show up to our conferences dressed casually and feel out of place on Sabbath and holidays. We don't want anyone to be surprised.
• In addition, we place a high priority on modest dress. Shorts are discouraged. Dresses and skirts should be long enough to cover the knees when seated. Shirts should have sleeves and cover mid-sections. Necklines should not be low-cut. Everything private should be covered.
• Our conferences are family-friendly. We are anticipating a lot of children this year. We will endeavor to have some kid-friendly and youth-oriented functions, but be aware that parents will be responsible for their children and young people at all times. There is no childcare. First Fruits of Zion families need to be invested in their children, attentive to them, and keeping them in order.

About the Author: Boaz Michael is the president and founder of First Fruits of Zion.

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