Boaz,
I appreciate and am so very much encouraged at your (and your families) ability to live out your convictions in such a peaceful way - despite what the world thinks or says about you. I know it must not be easy. I am sure that it is very frustrating at times, but you keep on plugging away at it. I would guess that is what it is all about. Chipping away daily our old life, slipping into the new life that the Messiah has promised us....I have always pondered in my short time as a Believer (10 years now) "how do I DO all this?" and I am talking about mainstream Christianity for the most part. It is only the last 5-6 years that I have had my eyes opened to the so-called Messianic side of things and now it is Torah that is getting my attention and heart. To say that it is overwhelming is a complete and understatement, but like your family and so many others I am starting to chip away and discover the new me. Blessings and Shalom to you & your family. Cheryl

I spent a number of years in a Sabbath-keeping church that shunned all traditions as evil. There were no special foods, decorations, or rituals to mark the holy days as special. Let me tell you, it made it very hard to enjoy those days and to make them important to our children.

In truth, there is nothing wrong with tradition, as long as it doesn't become law. Any traditions we adopt should add to our sense of holiness and joy, and should bring Messiah into better focus. Traditions are tools that help build the house, and the Messiah provides the raw materials.

MJ

Boaz,

You and your family's guiding principle of "high personal standards; no condemnation" is wise planning, and has been successfully implemented. The emphasis on lifting up Messiah and on discipleship is appropriate and allows people to find the "life" in Torah that God intended. Thanks for your dedication to raising our level of education.

My wife gave you and your family a high compliment after your recent visit; she said, "I wish they could be our neighbors." This evidences that your philosophy is working. Though some of our personal practices may differ, we felt honored by you, and it is clear that the character of Messiah is being formed in your children.

There is no greater testimony to the validity of the approach you outline above; the proof is in the pudding.

Thank you, Boaz. From one full time head-coverer to another, I completely appreciate and agree with your statements on that subject. The after meal prayer is one that our family has been participating in for about two years now. This is one thing that my dear husband is very concerned with - concerned that others learn that this IS something to do and it is good! He had me print up copies of our shorter (2 paragraph) version of the Birkat HaMazon, with a short explanation of why we do it, to keep at the table for guests to take with them if they so choose. Needless to say, we're really looking forward to getting our hands on this new resource.

Your entry today is much appreciated mostly because we can read it and say "YES! There are others out there who feel like we do!" Thank you.

Boaz,
As a relative newcomer to the Torah lifestyle the question of headcoverings for men has become a curious issue for me. While attending my first conference in Hudson this year I noticed that many of the men had their heads covered and so I began to wonder if I was missing something important. I asked a few questions and was under the impression that is was an act of submission to G_d, but also read in 1Corinthians chapter 11 that men should not cover their heads. (But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man and the head of Christ is G_d. Every man praying or prophesying having his head covered dishonors his head). (1Cor11:3-4) I see in many FFOZ teachings that a Torah lifestyle is presented in much the same manner between both Jews and gentiles. Is this an area where there are differences?

I would agree it is a personal choice to wear or not wear a kippa.

I am an Orthodox Jew, a beleiving one. So much enjoyed this article. Also have attended Ultra-Orthodox congregations. Being Jewish, we still attend traditional shuls, my choice. Thanks.

It is my understanding that reciting a blessing after the meal is actually the Scriptural instruction according to the Torah. It is the blessing before a meal that has a Rabbinic origin.

Yeshua observed and affirmed the Rabbinic teaching to bless before a meal many times as shown in the B'rith Chadashah, without abrogating the instruction of Torah.

Ironically, Christians who disdain Rabbinic teaching but bless before a meal are Rabbinic!

As a female who wears a head-covering during liturgy and prayer, I appreciate the heart you show, Boaz. It took my dear husband many months (actually several years!) to understand my head-covering was not an act of trying to appear Orthodox, but an act of obedience to the Holy One. He called me to cover my head in prayer, as a symbol of my husband's covering over me, and HaShem's covering over us both. Now, as the wife of a Messianic Rabbi, I teach the women in our congregation that it IS a personal conviction, and is between them and their L-rd, not between them and I. The same is true of dance, or any other form of worship. Torah allows for personal conviction of many things, and tradition does the same. May we always focus on G-d, and let the 'little things' work themselves out according to His eternal will. Todah rabah for expressing my heart! May you and your family be blessed!

This is a great article...thanks for sharing! People get so upset sometimes with the more "orthopractic" in our movement, without trying to understand the reasons behind the way we choose to live out the Torah. I just got my Breaking Bread table editions, and was very pleased with them. However, I was wondering if you might create a resource like this that INCLUDE the Sabbath meal blessings. For some reason I thought that it would include them. I am still happy with them for everyday use, but if we could have a nice-looking booklet that includes the Shalom Aleichem, zemirot, etc. PLUS the Birkat HaMazon that would be awesome. Just a thought...

**BOAZ** Thanks for your thoughts. Those things are on the docket and God willing we will have the ability and the resources to create all of the various publications that will enable us to connect with God and assist our worship.

It is wonderful that you 'cover' your head. I cover, too, though I am a woman. As you say, the men's head covering is not a commandment of Torah - though it is a tradition and brought on by personal conviction. But, the woman's covering is a commandment in Torah (according to the traditions taught by Paul). I know there have been many arguments against the woman's covering, but it is interesting over the years to note that Paul says a man should not cover his head and a woman should. It seems that things are a little lopsided when confronted with the Word. Convictions and traditions differ greatly from commandments. What is interesting is that the 'command' for a woman is about prophesying and praying and having a 'sign of this authority/power' on her head. Ezekiel 13:18 speaks about the power that covering has and how the veils will be removed from women who falsely prophesy. I wonder if that is why women no longer cover in the assembly.