The impact of this simple mitzvah--one will see--is far reaching. Each command in Scripture serves a unique role in the whole of honoring God's Law, and the commandment to bless is a unique opportunity to connect the mundane act of eating to worship. This unique seminar will introduce the historical prayers of the people of God from both greater Jewish tradition and the tradition of early believers in Yeshua. This seminar will also teach some of the simple and catchy melodies for these prayers enabling families and congregations to rejoice and bless God in unison at mealtimes.

God willing, we will have our new resources with us at these events. We are racing to get them to the printers by the end of this week. Once we get these off the press and on our shelves, we will make an announcement on the web regarding the cost and availability.

We are eager to share these new resources with each of you. We have put hundreds and hundreds of hours into the creation of these new materials on prayer, and as I mentioned above these resources on the "Grace After Meals" are just the first fruits of our larger prayer resource projects. In time we hope to have quality children's materials that train our young ones in the patterns and importance of prayer as well.

If you live in the Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Illinois areas, I hope you will check and see if our meeting locations are within a reasonable enough distance to accommodate your participation. We look forward to meeting you. There are still a couple of dates that are not listed as we work out final details. If you live in the Columbus, Cincinnati, or Indianapolis areas and would like to work with us to get a seminar in your area we still have some dates available toward the end of June.

If you do not live near these areas, but would like to schedule this or a similar First Fruits of Zion seminar later in the year you can send us an e-mail by going to our contact page.

Please pray for the currently scheduled events with us. And know that as you pray for us, we are praying that these events will have a positive and lasting impact on the greater Messianic community and they will be a source of encouragement to the local body.

Contact us through this utility: Write Us

Isaac Lichtenstein was born in an Orthodox Jewish home in northern Hungary in 1824. He had a yeshiva education and was ordained as a rabbi by the age of 20. He eventually became the district rabbi for the Hungarian city of Tapioszele. One day he was teaching in his home, when one of his students, a teacher in the community, had shown him a 'New Testament'. In a fit of anger, he ripped it from his hands and threw it across the room. It fell behind some books and there it remained hidden and waiting for thirty years.

Thirty-five years later Rabbi Lichtenstein was rummaging among his books when he discovered the long hidden and forgotten New Testament. He decided to read the book for himself and see who the real Jesus was. Years later, he wrote to his son about that fateful encounter with the Gospels. He wrote:

From every line in the New Testament, from every word, the Jewish spirit streamed forth light, life, power, endurance, faith, hope, love, charity, limitless and indestructible faith in God.

His Sabbath sermons in the synagogue began to be heavily influenced by the teacher he was now studying under--the Rabbi from Galilee. He began to use Yeshua's material on Torah. He began to speak of Messiah in veiled suggestions. After two years, while teaching one of the parables of the Master, he could no longer keep silent. He forthrightly declared the Redeemer of Israel. Nevertheless, he did not step down from his post.

Like the apostles and first century believers, Lichtenstein never turned his back on Torah Judaism or on the traditions of his people. He remained a Jew in the Jewish community until his death.

You can read more of the Rabbi Lichtenstein story in messiah magazine issue 84, or if you can translate German to English, you can be a part of the Rabbi Lichtenstein story by helping us bring his writings to the English speaking world. Contact us by responding to this blog if you are interested in volunteering to translate.

D. Thomas Lancaster
Iyar 7, 5768
Sefirah 23

Frankie Lee is a neighbor dog that we met last Sunday. She's a tiny black and white mutt. We found her wandering the road out front of our house. After calling the phone number on her dog collar we discovered that she used to belong to the woman down the street but now our neighbor across the street was taking care of her. Apparently, Frankie Lee had gotten pregnant and her original owner doesn't want her anymore.

Despite the fact that we had just recently got a dog of our own, my kids instantly fell in love with Frankie. I think she knows it because twice already last week she has made the trek from her owner's house down our long driveway to come see us.

As I stepped outside last Thursday to say hello to Frankie, my oldest son, Aharon, blurted out that she has a tick and it's big. I felt queasy, so I told him to remove it and promptly got him some tweezers. Naturally he couldn't so I reluctantly stepped in. "Why don't we give her a bath?" my eldest daughter Channah suggested. Taking one look at Frankie it was obvious she hadn't gotten one in a very long time. I sighed at the thought of it, but said "OK," knowing it was the right thing to do. After the bath my youngest daughter, Abby, brushed Frankie for almost half an hour.

As we brought Frankie back to her temporary home for the night, I was reminded of a teaching by the Baal Shem Tov I had read just a few days earlier. He told his disciples:

"The moment you see anyone suffering, no matter who it is-- whether someone important or ordinary, whether someone righteous or wicked, and whether a Jew or a non-Jew, even animals, birds or insects-- you must act immediately to relieve their pain and suffering, doing everything you can, even beyond your ability, to help them, for that's the essence of Judaism."

So that day I didn't get everything done that I wanted to accomplish, but I thought to myself "tomorrow is another day." Yet with the help of my family I was able to relieve a little bit of suffering from one of God's creatures. Sometimes amongst all my studies it takes my children to help me realize what is most important.

After reading this book, you might be inspired to start incorporating traditional blessings for mealtimes into your everyday life, but at the same time you may find yourself asking the question, "Where do I start?" The details of the halachah can be very daunting and leave one feeling stressed and frustrated. The following is a suggested step-by-step approach to implementing these practices in a slow and manageable manner.

1. Make a commitment to bless God anytime you eat, even if it is just a snack. Try to do it both before and after when appropriate. The prayer can be something as simple as, "Thank you, Father, for this food."

2. Familiarize yourself with the Hamotzi blessing in English and begin reciting or singing it before eating a meal containing bread.

3. Start using the first benediction of Birkat HaMazon in English after eating bread.

Take some time to think this through-- but please post your ideas before next Wednesday, May 14. You can either post your lists or steps as a comment here or you can e-mail me your thoughts (boaz(at)ffoz.org). Once the final list is compiled I will share with everyone what we came up with. If we use your idea(s) in our final published list, as a way of saying thank you, we'll send you a unique and beautiful commemorative Shabbat medallion.

We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

One Israeli finalist in the competition was a girl by the name of Bat-El Levy. Her participation in the event generated an immense amount of controversy, because it was revealed that she is a Messianic Jew.

It is important to note that she did not disclose this information herself. In fact, it would never have been an issue except for the sleuthing of Yad L'achim, a very active anti-missionary group in Israel. Since she is Jewish from the perspective of civil and Jewish law, the Education Ministry permitted her to remain in the contest.

Bat-El Levy did not win the contest. Apparently, she fell behind relatively early on in the event. However, keep in mind that this is a prestigious international contest. The fact that she was a finalist means that she had won and accomplished much already. Not placing in a contest such as this is like not placing after competing the Olympics, or having your Grammy-nominated album not receive the award. It means that she probably knows more about the Bible than any of us. Besides, imagine the intense pressure she must have felt after the news broke...that alone would have been hard to bear.

The ironic part of all of this controversy is that Yad L'achim and the rabbis who called for a boycott of the competition only accomplished one thing: further publicity for Messianic Judaism. They really came out looking like they were scared of a teenage girl, and they served to increase awareness of the phobia and persecution of Messianic Jews in Israel. Instead of accomplishing their goal of marginalizing Messianic Jews, Yad L'achim and the Chief Rabbinate managed to marginalize themselves. But had the opposition groups left it alone, no one would ever have known that Bat-El was a believer.

Really, who knows how many finalists from past years may have been believers? The possibility exists that Bat-El was not the first.

Bat-El Levy, you are no less than a hero to us.

כל הכבוד בת אל!

UPDATE:

Arutz Sheva reported that the Sanhedrin organization issued a ruling in response to this controversy, stating that believers in Yeshua who identify as Jewish should not be allowed to participate in events that represent the Jewish people or the State of Israel, nor should they be allowed to serve in the IDF (Israeli Army).

As an Israeli citizen, I feel a certain sense of pride that Israel has survived these six decades despite all adversity. One cannot help but see the clear hand of God in the formation and protection of the state of Israel. Israel went from zero to first world country while most of the rest of the Middle East is still trying to figure out the meaning of the word infrastructure.

The nations of the world gnash their teeth at the tiny Jewish state and plot its demise. For reasons that I do not understand (except in spiritual terms), Israel is hated throughout the world. The people who consider themselves the voice for tolerance and liberal thought are the first and the loudest in condemning Israel, even though there is no other country in the Middle East that exercises tolerance and liberality like the State of Israel. Human rights advocates constantly condemn Israel even though there is no other state in the Middle East that cares about human rights like Israel does.

At First Fruits of Zion, our goal has been to connect believers with the land, the people and the scriptures of Israel. Our ministry used to be based out of Israel. Currently we maintain only our design office in Israel, but my hope and prayer is that we will soon be able to reopen an active First Fruits of Zion office and outreach effort in the land.

We believe that God is moving in the world through His people, and amazing prophetic events are being fulfilled in our lives. Not the least of these is the return of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, an event that was foretold by all the prophets. According to the prophets, the return to the land and the return to Torah are supposed to go hand in hand.

Unfortunately the modern state of Israel is very secular and worldly. Most Israelis are neither religious nor Torah observant. A deep divide exists between religious Jews and secular Jews. Even among Messianics this divide is evident. Only rarely does one find believers in the Israeli Messianic Jewish community who understand the importance of living lives faithful to God's covenant and commandments.

On my recent trips to Israel, however, I was encouraged to see more and more young people in Israeli society who seem to be taking a few steps towards God. I saw more young people praying at the wall than I used to see. It seems that there may be something of an awakening happening in the new generation. My prayer for Israel, as she turns sixty, is that she will return to God, return to faith and return to Torah and that God will return her righteous Messiah King soon.

Happy Birthday Israel.

Anti-missionary organization Yad L'Achim found out about Bat-El's Messianic beliefs and with the help of other rabbis, are calling for either the cancellation of the Bible Quiz or the disqualification of Bat-El since "she is not Jewish" and believes that Yeshua is the Messiah.

The Education Ministry of Israel has responded and have stated that they will not remove Bat-El, since she meets the state's requirements for Jewish status. The opposing leaders in Israeli are calling for a boycott of the program.

More of the story is located here at the Jerusalem Post.

This, and the recent court decision regarding the allowances for Messianic Jews to make aliyah, have thrust Messianic Jews into the limelight of Israeli news. Pray for our fellow believers that they would be a good witness. Pray also for Bat-El and her family as they are receiving much harassment from the Charedim. Pray for the opponents as well, that they would come to see that Messianic Jews truly love Israel and desire to live as Jews, while remaining dedicated to the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth.

Many of us in the Messianic Jewish movement are not Jewish. I myself have been a Gentile my entire life, so the Holocaust is something that did not happen to me or my family, but nevertheless it has dramatically affected me and all of us. Were it not for the events of the Holocaust, I know I would not be working for First Fruits of Zion, keeping the Sabbath or teaching Torah. The Torah observant Messianic Movement is rooted in that experience, though it is not necessarily my experience, it has forced us all to see the world through other eyes. Whether you realize it or not, it is the Holocaust that is responsible for the birth of the modern state of Israel and the reassessment of Christian tradition and theology. Those things do not justify the Holocaust or make sense of it. There is no explanation for the Holocaust. If you think you have one, I will not accept it.

I once sat in a Talmud class, when the very sober issue of the Holocaust was raised. Another Christian sitting with me offered his interpretation of those events, that Judaism had become assimilated and that the Holocaust came as a result of the enlightenment and reform movement in European Jewry. God's cure for assimilation, persecution. It seemed plausible ...

The Rabbi turned red in the face, and shook as he said, "That's very interesting. That's a very interesting theory. Does that also explain why thousands and thousands of Orthodox Chassidim were marched into the ovens? Was it because they were too assimilated?"

If you can offer me an explanation of why something like this happens, if you can turn to Deuteronomy and show me in the list of covenant curses how the Jewish people brought this suffering upon themselves, then you do not understand the significance of what has happened.

I think that sometimes the events of the Holocaust become matter of fact for us, and we forget the gravity of the tragedy. We fail to grasp the significance of the Holocaust. No other event in Bible history, in the history of the Jewish people, is as big and dark as what happened in our own lives, just a generation ago. This is the blackest mark in the Jewish story. Six million. That was one third of the total Jewish world population. The world's population of Jews still has not recovered to the level it was at prior to that event. One third of a population was systematically eliminated.

Four hundred years in Egypt is small compared with the Holocaust.

The Assyrian exile pales compared to this.

Less Jews died in the Babylonian conquest.

So too with the Roman wars in the days of the Apostles.

There is no other event in Jewish history, inside or outside the Bible, that is darker, deeper and heavier than those seven years of WWII and the trains to the death camps.

Without having experienced it first hand, it is impossible to grasp how huge this is, how heavy it is. For something like that to happen on earth, in the physical, what kind of spiritual forces were stirring? What was happening in spiritual realms? Think about it.

Corrie Tenboom said that when she turned to face the direction of Germany, she could feel the presence of evil radiating out from that land. For one third of God's chosen people to be slaughtered only on the basis that they are called Jewish, that they bear God's name upon them, what was going on in spiritual realms?

"Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." (Revelation 12:12)

The Holocaust has huge spiritual ramifications. It has huge theological ramifications. It is a cornerstone of my whole world view. No other historical event has so impacted me and shaped me.

The Holocaust has forced us to rethink our theology and return to the text. The ministry of First Fruits of Zion is here as a direct result of the Holocaust. It forced us to ask, "If we have been wrong about something so fundamental as Israel and Judaism, how many other things have we been wrong about?" I cannot tell you how many scholars I have read who have said the turning point in their theology and scholarship was Auschwitz, that was the thing it took to shake them out of the theology of smug anti-Semitism.

Now we are on the other side of the event and we must ask ourselves how to rebuild out of the ashes. Here's what I learn. The Holocaust shows me that we are off track. The Messianic Movement, the Torah Movement is about getting back on track. It can be compared to a man who was on a journey when he realized he was lost. He said, "I could either continue to wander, or I could go back to where I was when I lost my way and take the correct route from there." That's what we are doing at First Fruits of Zion. We are saying the Protestant Reformation did not go far enough, we want to go back to the very apostolic Judaism practiced by Yeshua and the apostles and the first believers so that we can start over.

What went wrong the first time? Here's what went wrong the first time round. The first time around we in Gentile Christianity jettisoned the Torah and became arrogant over the natural branches of the Family Tree of Israel.

At First Fruits of Zion, we have made a conscious rejection of Replacement Theology, the theology that says, "The Church Replaces Israel." So now here we are, we have gone back, we have set the clock back 2000 years, and we have returned to the Torah mode of life and the synagogue mode of worship. Personally, I feel that I have been driven here by the ghosts of Auschwitz.

In honor of the Remembrance Day, the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem has opened a new online video channel where you can view survivor's testimonies. You can see the channel here: Yad V'Shem

D. Thomas Lancaster
25 Nissan, Sefirah 10, 5768

The Supreme Court of Israel has apparently reached a landmark decision regarding the rights of Messianic Jews in Israel. According to internet chatter, on April 11 (Nissan 11), the Supreme Court of Israel ruled that Messianic Jews have the same rights regarding automatic citizenship as Jews who do not believe in Yeshua. This means that Jewish believers (who can demonstrate that they are halachically Jewish) can no longer be blocked from making aliyah to Israel or maintaining citizenship. According to some reports, the Supreme Court also ordered a cessation to persecution of Jewish believers.

Read the story as it appeared in the Baptist Press here.

This Sabbath is the seventh day of Unleavened Bread. Special prayers of thanksgiving should be offered up in our congregations, communities and homes.

Nissan 18, 5768
D. Thomas Lancaster

Post Script from Aaron Eby:

I think you overstate the decision, and I don't think the BP has it quite right either. From what I have gathered, the ruling indicates not that Messianic Jews have immigration rights equal to other Jewish people, but that if they are NOT Jewish but do have a Jewish grandparent, their status as "Messianic" does not automatically deny them them the right to citizenship. Furthermore, it seems hopeful but uncertain that a second generation Messianic Jewish person can be granted citizenship, but a first generation Messianic Jew is still out of luck.

Post Post Script from Avner Wolff:

The court ruling: (you probably already have this)

The parties have submitted to us the following notification:
"In their notification dated 13.04.08 the Respondents declared, that the fact that a person is a "Messianic Jew" has no bearing on an application according to Sec. 7 of the Law of Citizenship, as well as an application according to Sec. 4(A)(a) of the Law of Return (as long as the person applying according the abovementioned section of the Law of Return is not considered to be Jewish, as described in section 4B of the Law of Return).
The Respondents declare that in accordance with their notification they will process the applications of all Petitioners as soon as possible, as well as the application of Alvetina Zibareva, and Valentina Zibareva who requested to join the petition on 01.04.08 to the extent that their request is similar.
Due to these circumstances the representatives of the Petitioners requested to remove the petition without a ruling regarding court costs.
The Petition is removed by consent as aforesaid.

In other words: If you are NOT Jewish, but have a Jewish grandfather, you can make aliyah under the law of Return.

From Myers: (legal counsel for the 12 persons)

In a landmark decision on April 16, 2008, the Supreme Court of Israel ratified a settlement between twelve Messianic Jewish believers and the State of Israel, which states that being a Messianic Jew does not prevent one from receiving citizenship in Israel under the Law of Return or the Law of Citizenship, if one is a descendent of Jews on one's father's side (and thus not Jewish according to halacha).
This Supreme Court decision brought an end to a legal battle that has carried on for two and a half years. The applicants were represented by Yuval Grayevsky and Calev Myers from the offices of Yehuda Raveh & Co., and their legal costs were subsidized by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice.

All twelve of the applicants were denied citizenship solely based on grounds that they belong to the Messianic Jewish community. Most of them received letters stating that they would not receive citizenship because they "commit missionary activity." One of the applicants was told by a clerk at the Ministry of Interior that because she "committed missionary activity," she is "acting against the interests of the State of Israel and against the Jewish people." These allegations are not only untrue, but they also do not constitute legal grounds to deny one's right to immigrate to Israel.

This important victory paves the way for persons who have Jewish ancestry on their father's side to immigrate to Israel freely, whether or not they belong to the Messianic Jewish community. This is yet another battle won in our war to establish equality in Israel for the Messianic Jewish community just like every other legitimate stream of faith within the Jewish world.

Calev Myers
Founder and Chief Counsel

Immediately following the release we received various requests to interview Boaz and Daniel. One couple in Florida reported to us that they were interviewed by their Christian radio station's morning show after they submitted our news story. Another FFOZ Friend sent me this clipping from his local newspaper in Wisconsin.

There seems to be a growing appreciation for the Jewish Jesus and His authentic lifestyle, and that's creating an environment where God's biblical calendar is becoming something worth talking about, especially around the Appointed Times and holidays. Sometimes however, it's hard to know where to start.

You've heard us say it before... First Fruits of Zion is all about "proclaiming the Torah and its way of life, fully centered on Messiah, to today's people of God." It turns out that proclaiming is relatively easy, but actually being heard can be a whole different ball game.

Do you find yourself engaged with a wide variety of friends, family and co-workers whose experience and background is exceptionally diverse? Even one-to-one, communicating clearly can be so difficult. Words can mean wildly different things to different people in this environment. On the macro level it gets worse. Today's demographic segmentation and market message targeting seem a far cry from our Master's highly successful down-home discipleship techniques.

We're continually looking to develop creative resources and Yeshua-centric methods that help us all get better at opening meaningful and constructive dialog.

What are your experiences or ideas in this regard? How was your Passover? What can First Fruits do to help you connect and share your passions with greater clarity?

On the Torah Club Online forum we came up with the idea to study the Avot together online. From Passover to Shavuot we are going to each day take one of the disciplines that are described in Avot 6:6 and share thoughts and ideas on them. Then from Shavuot to Rosh Hashanah we are going to take a few mishnayot each week from a chapter of the Avot and share thoughts and insights with each other.

One of the things that excites me about engaging in this study with believers in Yeshua is that many of the teachings of these sages are reflections of the teachings of the Master. I think that it is going to be fun to see the parallels and the cross overs to the words and teachings of Yeshua.

If you are a Torah Club member you have free access to the forum. Just fill in the registration first. We would love to have you check in and join us in that study.

If you are not currently a Torah Club member, then the summer months might be the perfect time to join. When your mind is turning to thoughts of leisure it may be a nice reminder monthly in your mail box to have your Torah Club arrive and spend some of the dog days of summer in a lawn chair with the Word in one hand and Torah Club in the other...don't forget the lemonade (you might want to get a table for that).

For information on the Torah Club program click here.

One of most prominent passages brought up against the theory of a Friday crucifixion is found in Matthew 12:

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as 'Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster,' so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:38-40)

The argument goes something like this: If this is a literal three days and three nights, and Messiah rose on Saturday night, then He must most certainly didn't die on Friday because that would be less than two days and one night.

Yet, as I study the Master's teachings in light of the rabbinic style He used, I personally think this is a more midrashic and non-literal saying. "Three days and three nights" would better be understood as just a period of time rather than a literal time frame. There are examples of this in the Midrash as well as in the Hebrew Scriptures. In addition, in the Gospel According to the Hebrews, which appears to be a Hebrew version of Matthew that was used by the earliest Jewish believers, we find the phrase "three days and three nights" omitted and it simply reads, "... so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth." This reading agrees with the other synoptic versions.

Further more in Acts 10:40 and 1 Corinthians 5:14 the text tells us that he was raised on the third day not after three days. Again pointing to be what I believe is less literal understanding. Also when the disciples are on the road to Emmaus and meet up with the Master they say:

"... it is the third day since these things happened." (Luke 24:21)

If the Master was exactly three days and nights in the tomb, then this would be the fourth or fifth day since these things happened.

There are other arguments for a Friday crucifixion as well. For example the Gospels tell us that he was crucified on the "day of preparation (Mark 15:42)." This phrase is never used anywhere else to describe any day but Friday before Sabbath. It is also the oldest Church tradition regarding the day on which the Master died outside the Gospels.

I have really just scratched the surface of this issue and there are many other arguments and details that could be discussed. All in all, I mainly wanted to present a view that might bring a fresh perspective to some. One thing that disheartens me is to see division and endless bickering over these issues. The most important thing about this time of year is that we are regarding Messiah as our Passover lamb and that we are celebrating the Father's Passover Festival to the best of our knowledge and ability.

In my opinion Passover is the best and most joyous of all Hashem's appointed times--food, festive meals, the Exodus story, celebrating our freedom, the renewal of life, the onset of Spring, family togetherness--what could be better! This is the time when I want everything to have a distinctive flair; that little extra touch that says this holiday is unlike any other. In our home this means extra cleaning, unpacking the elegant dishes reserved for this occasion, special table decorations, fresh flowers, shopping for unique menu items, preparing lots of food, laying out our finest clothes (ironed not just tumbled dry), and inviting guests with which to share this festive occasion. I admit, I have been stressed and have felt the added pressure of wanting to give this festival special treatment, but that was until I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha.

Most of you are familiar with how the passage in Luke 10 tells of Martha busying herself making preparations for Yeshua and His disciples while her sister, Mary, sits at the Master's feet listening to His teachings. I always assumed that Martha was rebuked for being busy with her preparations, but upon a closer reading, I came to realize that Yeshua disapproved of her worry and stress over the preparations, not the actual preparations themselves; after all, it is a great mitzvah to be hospitable to guests in one's home. The kernel I gleaned from this passage is found in Yeshua's words, "But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." It doesn't say Martha's part is bad, on the contrary, it was an essential part of extending hospitality, but when Martha became overwhelmed and anxious in her busyness, she lost sight of the reason why she was making such a fuss.

In all my planning and preparations, only one thing is necessary, that I keep the focus of this festival on honoring God and remembering His redeeming love. The long to-do list, while significant for observing and sanctifying the Passover, is all of secondary importance. So I have made an attitude adjustment. I can be busy with the preparations like Martha, but I will not fret over having the perfect Seder. I will choose to sit at the feet of the Master like Mary and learn from Him during this season. I will view the weekly Sabbath at the start of Passover not as an inconvenience, but as a gift of rest from my heavenly Father, a chance to cease from all my efforts and rely upon Him. So what, if the matzah balls are lumpy and the table cloth has a stain? I can rest in knowing that I have chosen the good part, and the closeness to God and joy in my heart that I experience during this time will not be taken away from me.

One exception is Yaakov HaTzaddik (James the Just) the brother of Yeshua. Although his death is not recorded in the Apostolic Scriptures, we do have an early account of it in Josephus' writings. Josephus lived from about 37-100 CE and wrote his Antiquities of the Jews in about 93 CE. Here's his account of the event of which he was most likely an eye witness.

And now Caesar, upon hearing the death of Festus, sent Albinus into Judea, as procurator; but the king deprived Joseph of the high priesthood, and bestowed the succession to that dignity on the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus. Now the report goes, that this oldest Ananus proved a most fortunate man; for he had five sons who had all performed the office of a high priest to God, and who had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly, which had never happened to any other of our high priests; but this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper opportunity [to exercise his authority]. Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or some of his companions]; and, when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done; they also sent to the king [Agrippa], desiring him to send to Ananus that he should act so no more, for what he had already done was not to be justified. (Josephus, Antiquities 20:197-201)

Josephus tells us that James' martyrdom takes place in Jerusalem in between two Roman procurators: Festus had just died, and Albanius had not yet arrived in Jerusalem after his selection by Ceasar. This allows us to firmly place the date of James' death in the year 62 CE.

To find out more precisely the date of his death, let's turn to the church historian Eusebius (260-339 CE). In his Ecclesiastical History, he dedicates a whole chapter to James' death and martyrdom. Here is the version he is said that was passed down from Hegesippus (110-180 CE, a Jew by birth and one of the earliest church historians):

James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just (Zaddik) by all from the time of our Savior to the present day... As there were many even of the rulers believed, there was a commotion among the Jews and Scribes and Pharisees, who said that there was danger that the whole people would be looking for Yeshua as the Messiah. Coming therefore in a body to James they said, "We entreat thee, restrain the people; for they are gone astray in regard to Yeshua, as if he were the Messiah. We entreat thee to persuade all that have come to the feast of the Passover concerning Yeshua; for we all have confidence in thee. For we bear thee witness, as do all the people, that thou art just, and dost not respect per sons. Do thou therefore persuade the multitude not to be led astray concerning Yeshua. For the whole people, and all of us also, have confidence in thee. Stand therefore upon the pinnacle of the temple, that from that high position thou mayest be clearly seen, and that thy words may be readily heard by all the people. For all the tribes, with the Gentiles also, are come together on account of the Passover." The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle of the temple, and cried out to him and said: "Thou just one, in whom we ought all to have: confidence, forasmuch as the people are led, astray after Jesus, the crucified one, declare to us, what is the gate of Jesus." And he answered with a loud voice, "Why do ye ask me concerning Jesus, the Son of Man ? He himself sitteth in heaven at the right hand of the great Power, and is about to come upon the clouds of heaven." And when many were fully convinced and gloried in the testimony of James, and said, "Hosanna to the Son of David,' these same Scribes and Pharisees said again to one another, "We have done badly in supplying such testimony to Jesus. But let us go up and throw him down, in order that they may be afraid to believe him." And they cried out, saying, "Oh! oh! the just man is also in error." And they fulfilled the Scripture written in Isaiah, "Let us take away the just man, because he is troublesome to us: therefore they shall eat the fruit of their doings." So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, "Let us stone James the Just." And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said, "I entreat thee, Lord God our Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And while they were thus stoning him one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, the son of the Rechabites, who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, cried out, saying, "Cease, what do ye? The just one prayeth for you." And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out clothes and struck the just man on the head. And thus he suffered martyrdom. And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still remains by the temple. (History of the Church 2:23:4,10-18)

We gain a few more details here such as the fact that James was thrown off the pinnacle of the Temple, stoned and then finally killed with a fuller's club. Yet the most important detail we receive is that James' death took place right before Passover. Although neither Jewish nor Church literature preserves an actual date for James' death, it seems from Josephus' and Eusebius' information we may conclude that James was martyred in 62 CE during the week before Passover.

This has inspired me to take some time during the week before the Pesach to pay tribute to James by studying his epistle and reading about him in Eusebius. As we prepare to remove the physical and spiritual leaven from our lives, we would be well served to focus on his words to us:

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (James 2:17)

May his words sink in deep, as we allow the Father through His Torah and His Spirit to transform our lives. What better person to learn this from than one who sacrificed his life for the Torah and for His faith in Messiah Yeshua.

Weaving it Together

There are two garments in the Bible that are described using the unclear term ketonet passim. One is the garment given to Joseph by his father Jacob (Genesis 37:3), and the other was the garment worn by Tamar at her brother Amnon's house (2 Samuel 13:18). Ketonet is a tunic, but it is the term passim (plural of pas) that puzzles the translators. The NASB described Joseph's garment as "varicolored," but translates the very same term in 2 Samuel as "long sleeved."

Why "long sleeved"? Well, the NASB probably consulted the LXX, which interprets Tamar's garment as karpotos ("reaching to the wrist"), an adjective form of the word karpos.

The same interpretation is found regarding Joseph's garment in the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 84.8). Several sages are discussing the meaning of the term passim. One opinion is raised that it is called passim because it reaches to the wrist, which in Greek is karpos.

Rashi makes a different association between the term describing Joseph's garment and karpas. His commentary on Genesis 37:3 states, "Passim is a term for a garment of fine cloth. Similar is karpas (in Esther 1:6)." Rashi is evidently connecting passim with the "pas" in karpas. This follows an interpretation in the Talmud (b.Megillah 12a) that karpas is a compound of kar ("mattress") and pas ("fine cloth").

In multiple ways, Rashi, the Midrash and the LXX all create a link between Joseph's coat and karpas.

Joseph's coat, like the hyssop of the first Passover, was dipped in blood after Joseph was betrayed and sold to a passing caravan. Joseph was taken to Egypt.

Joseph's brother Reuben was gone at the time Joseph was sold.

Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. He returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is not [there]; as for me, where am I to go?" (Genesis 37:29-30, emphasis added)

It turns out that Reuben's question was prophetic. It was Joseph's descent to Egypt that eventually led to his entire family living there--and ultimately, becoming slaves. One might say that the slavery in Egypt was the end result of the betrayal of Joseph. The coat dipped in blood is symbolic of that betrayal.

Raba b. Mehasia also said in the name of R. Hama b. Goria in Rab's name: A man should never single out one son among his other sons, for on account of the two sela's weight of silk, which Jacob gave Joseph in excess of his other sons, his brothers became jealous of him and the matter resulted in our forefathers' descent into Egypt. (b.Shabbat 10b, Soncino Talmud)

Dipping Twice

It is amazing how the act of dipping in blood that led to slavery in Egypt was the same act that led to their unity and freedom. The first time it was a cloth (Joseph's coat), the second time it was a plant (hyssop). It is also interesting how the unique term karpas links the two together.

Considering the implications of Joseph's betrayal, it is understandable why eating the karpas would be such a silent event. On the one hand, a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt would be incomplete without something to symbolize how we got there. On the other hand, the betrayal of Joseph is such a shameful event that we may not want to discuss it openly at the seder.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. (Genesis 45:3)

Messianic Implications

You may have connected the dots already, since it is hard to miss the connections between Joseph and our Master Yeshua. After all, he too was despised and rejected by many of his own, assumed to be dead, mistaken for a pagan Gentile ruler, and in the same way, he will be revealed as a faithful Jew and ultimately king and provider to the world.

It was, in fact, at the seder that Yeshua spoke of his betrayal.

And He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me." (Matthew 26:23)

"Dipping" at a seder meal has specific connotations--either the maror or the karpas. And since they hadn't made the blessing on the bread yet (v. 26), it was probably the karpas he was talking about.

At the crucifixion, the dipping appears again:

Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. (Matthew 27:48)

What did they hope to accomplish by doing this? Were they trying to help or harm him? And really, what did it have to do with Elijah (see context)? I don't know, but here's an interesting connection that may or may not have anything to do with it.

Said R. Safra: A berry-like excrescence is a forerunner of the Angel of Death. What is the remedy for it? -- Rue in honey, or parsley [karpesa] in strong wine. (b.Avodah Zarah, Soncino Talmud)

Maybe some of you can offer more ideas about that event.

Remembering the Messiah at Your seder

I'm curious. What are you doing for your seder? We've got two mitzvot to deal with at Passover: telling the story of the Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 10:2, 12:26-27; 13:8, 14-15), and remembering our Master (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). Both are important and cannot be left out. On the one hand, they directly relate to one another. But incorporating them both is sometimes difficult, awkward or time-consuming. It requires deliberate thought and planning. How do you plan to make your seder accomplish both tasks? Do you find it difficult? What works best?

For More Information

Most of this research is based on the work of others. See the following external sites for more information.

• Why Does The Seder Begin With Karpas?
• Harry Potter and Jewish Unity
• Karpas: What is it?
• Karpas: Double Dipping