Founder’s Blog
Who and What is FFOZ?
First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ) is a Messianic Jewish educational ministry dedicated to proclaiming the Torah and its way of life, fully centered on Messiah, to today's people of God. FFOZ has offices in North America and Israel, FFOZ has both Jewish and Gentile staff and contributors. We are on a mission to restore the original faith and practice of the apostles and first followers of Yeshua of Nazareth. We rejoice in our rootedness in Judaism as well as our relationship with Christianity.
We specialize in teaching Scripture from a historical, linguistic, and cultural context using ancient biblical and extra-biblical sources. Our teachings are not infallible, but they are birthed out of our personal convictions and honest understanding of the Bible. We live out those convictions as Torah-observant followers of Yeshua. We are a voice for a Torah-observant Messianic Judaism, and we regard Messianic Judaism as both a legitimate sect of greater Judaism and as a solid member of the broad community of the body of Messiah. Conventional thinking may regard this as an impossible theological position to occupy, but that conventional thought is the very paradigm we challenge.
What's in our name?
Jews, Gentiles and Mount Zion
The farmer in ancient Israel was commanded to bring the first fruits of his produce to present before the LORD at the Temple in Jerusalem. The ancient name for the Temple Mount is "Mount Zion." Although that name has been assigned to a different hill in Jerusalem today, in biblical times Mount Zion and Mount Moriah were the same hilltop. The term "Zion" generally refers to Jerusalem; specifically it refers to the Temple Mount.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of two types of people associated with Mount Zion: Jews and Gentiles. Regarding the Jews of Zion, Isaiah says that in Messianic times they will bear fruit in the form of a surviving remnant:
The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem will go forth a remnant and out of Mount Zion survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 37:31-32)
Regarding the Gentiles, Isaiah says that in Messianic times they will make a pilgrimage to Mount Zion to learn Torah:
Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths." For the Torah will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3)
The ministry of First Fruits of Zion is named for these two passages. We have already begun to see the first fruits, as it were, of both of these prophecies. We have seen the Jewish people replanted in the land and re-inhabiting Jerusalem. The modern state of Israel could rightly be called the first fruits of Zion as described in Isaiah 37:31-32. In addition, we have seen people from all nations turning toward Torah, seeking to learn the ways of Torah and to walk in its ancient paths as a component of their faith in Messiah. Today's Gentiles who are turning to Torah could rightly be called the first fruits of Zion as described in Isaiah 2:2-3.
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Visitor Feedback:
What a timely reminder! I stopped studying for tomorrow night's Torah Club to read your post just as I was pondering the phrase "scandal of particularity" as it relates to Israel's being "the chosen people" and how Gentiles who desire to enter into covenant relationship with G-d of Israel must enter into the nation of Israel, just as Paul wrote to the Ephesian (2) and Roman believers (11).
The teaching of FFOZ is the best thing to happen to me and our local group of believers in a long, long time, since leaving my Messianic synagogue in California to return home to upstate NY (the Pale of Settlement). As I watch the fruit of FFOZ grow in substance and quantity, I am amazed. HaYesod. Vine of David. (worldwide Holocaust instruction via webinar :) Boaz, I believe you and the staff are making a difference of historic proportion. May G-d bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and yours... and bring you shalom.
Daniel Hennessy | January 17, 2011 4:11 PM
First Fruits of Zion has been such a presence in the Messianic and Christian community for so long that it's very helpful to jog everyone's memory about its simple and straightforward purpose. Thanks for the reminder, Boaz.
James | January 18, 2011 7:34 PM
Great to see this posted. It caused us to stop and read it when the alert came in. The teachings you offer we feel are some of the most solid in the Body of Yeshua. We feel no restriction or cause for pause to recommend people glean from you all. Ya'all - in a Utahuhn accent ;D
Shalom,
Chuck and Wanita Panza
Firm Foundations Messianic Fellowship
Salt Lake City, Utah
Chuck and Wanita Panza | January 20, 2011 4:29 PM