Beth Israel Messianic Synagogue Blog

Register now for Jewish Family University in Jacksonville

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Family University 2008 is Jacksonville's 12^th family day of learning, sponsored by the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School and Jacksonville Jewish Federation. This program provides the opportunity for our community to study, discuss and explore Jewish concepts and to celebrate our heritage in all of its rich diversity.

Learners of all ages from throughout our entire Jewish community are encouraged to BRING ISRAEL HOME by participating in a variety of age-appropriate learning sessions designed for all levels of interest. From exploring fundamental principles at the heart of the Israeli-Arab conflict or learning about the origins of modern Hebrew to learning how to help your teen connect with Israel or creating a mizrach to point the way to Jerusalem, Family University offers something for everyone.

Children from pre-school through 5th grade will enjoy a day full of innovative programming that will include exploring an archeological dig, visiting a kibbutz, shopping in a shuk, Israeli dancing, and much more. Snacks will be provided. Middle and high school age students will spend their time off-site participating in a morning long mitzvah project. 

Following the morning sessions, families will reunite for a special Israeli Dance performance by Nitzanim, a dance group from Atlanta comprised completely of teenagers. If you wish, you can round out the day with an hour of open Israeli dancing led by local dance instructor, Charlie Dyer.

Click for more information about Family University 2008

The Ten Commandments

God gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Ten Words or Decalogue) at Mount Sinai as his law and instruction for Israel. These words continue to be foundational for all who worship the God of Israel.

The attached file (Download the_ten_commandments.doc) contains a chart from Wikipedia that compares four different arrangements of the Ten Commandments.

Shalom,

Rabbi David Levine

Jewish history

In my teachings this weekend, I mentioned that the Bible teaches history primarily through the stories of specific individual's lives. I also said that this method is still being used by modern Jewish historians, and gave as examples some of the articles that appeared in the latest issue of the American Jewish Historical Society magazine.

If you would like to read that magazine online, you can follow the link below:

Click here to read latest issue of American Jewish Historical Society magazine

Happy learning!

Rabbi David

Krauthammer's Law: Everyone's Jewish...

By Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
Monday, September 25, 2006; A21

Strange doings in Virginia. George Allen, former governor, one-term senator, son of a famous football coach and in the midst of a heated battle for reelection, has just been outed as a Jew. An odd turn of events, given that his having Jewish origins has nothing to do with anything in the campaign and that Allen himself was oblivious to the fact until his 83-year-old mother revealed to him last month the secret she had kept concealed for 60 years.

Customs vs. Law in the Jewish World

Dear Friends,

Our recent Shabbat discussions about the celebration of Holidays can fit into a greater Jewish tradition: How to deal with customs vs. laws. You might enjoy reading the article below from the Jewish Encyclopedia, in order to see how Rabbinic Judaism processes such controversies. Happy reading!

Love,

Rabbi David

CUSTOM (Minhag)  (back to article)

By : Executive Committee of the Editorial Board.   Julius H. Greenstone   

An old and general usage, or a religious practise, not based on any particular Biblical passage, and which has, through the force of long observance, become as sacred and binding as laws instituted by the proper authorities."Custom always precedes law" (Soferim xiv. 18). This is true not only of the Talmudic laws prescribed by the Rabbis, but also of many Biblical institutions. Many statutes and commandments, civil, moral, and ecclesiastical, found on the pages of Scripture undoubtedly had their origin in the customs of the people, which, however, became modified and fixed by being inscribed on the sacred books. Some of the customs, as, for instance, circumcision, or the prohibition of eating blood or of eating the "sinew which shrank," may date back to patriarchal days; others, again, may have a later or perhaps a foreign origin.

In That Day, by David Levine

Copies of In That Day, written by Rabbi David Levine, are available in the Beth Israel Bookstore. Rabbi David will gladly sign your copy!

To order from Amazon.com, follow the link below:

Speaking of Faith | The Jewish Roots of the Christian Story | Chagall's "White Crucifixion"

Link: Speaking of Faith | The Jewish Roots of the Christian Story | Chagall's "White Crucifixion".

You can listen to a wonderful interview with Joel Marcus, a Jewish Christian scholar, whose out-of-print book, "Jesus and the Holocaust" is one of the best contemplations on Jesus and the Jewish people.

This is one of my top recommendations!

David Levine

White Crucifixion, by Marc Chagall

Link: White Crucifixion, Marc Chagall .

Marc Chagall's White Crucifixion shows Yeshua's centrality to the Jewish people. This link will connect you to an online store which has hard-to-find prints of this amazing painting.

Kol Nidre history and background

On the evening of Yom Kippur, our congregation will hear the chanting of the Kol Nidre (All Vows), the soulful prayer which for many is a sincere heart's cry to God.

I will give an introduction about the varied history of this sometimes controversial prayer, and will refer to an article that is quite good. If you want to dig deeper, and get an extensive background into the Kol Nidre, just click on the following link:

Click here to read full article on Kol Nidre from JewishEnclopedia.com

I am very interested to read your comments.

Chag Sameach!

Messianic Rabbi David Levine