Can a Talllit be an aid to your prayer life?

A Tallit or Tallis,  meaning cloak,  is the prayer shawl that is worn by Jewish men during a religious observance.  It is described in Numbers 15:37-40 and Deut 22:12. Fringes, known as tzitzit, are to be placed on the four ends of the garment with a blue ribbon. This blue color called, tekhelet, is to be the same color as the blue sky.  This is to remind the Jewish people that their origin comes from heaven. Therefore believers are to act accordingly.  The fringes were to remind the children of Israel of their 613 laws and especially the commandments.  The tzitzit are secured by a longer strand (shamash) in a pattern of 7-8-11-13 winds between double knots. In all there are 5 double knots. In Jewish numerology known as Gematria  the 7 and 8 equal 15. This is equal to the numerical value of the hebrew letters yod and heh or YH. 11 is equal to vav and heh or VH. Together they spell God’s name YHVH. 13 is equal to the letters Alef, Chet, dalet or the Hebrew word Echad which means One. Thus Yahveh is one. When the Hebrew letters for Tzitzit are used it adds up to 600. Add eight strands of fringes and five knots which equals 613, the number of laws given in the Torah. Numbers 16:39 states, ” And when you see them, you shall remember all of God’s commandments so as to keep them.

The neckband, known as an atarah designates which part of the tallit is to be worn around the shoulders. It is usually accompanied by an inscribed blessing. For those who do not believe the messiah has come it would read ” Baruch atoh Adonai Elohenu melekh ha’olam asher kiddeshanu bemitsvotav vetsivanu lehi-tattef batsitsit”  This signifies that the commandments sanctify if obeyed and commands that the tzitzit be worn to remind one to observe all the laws. For those wh believe the Messiah has come their atarah can include “Baruch atoh Adonai Elohenu melekh ha’olam asher milla et kol hatorah biYeshua Hamashiach ikissa et kulanu vetsedkato” Blessed are you O Lord King of the universe who has fulfilled all of the law through Yeshua the Messiah and have covered us with His righeousness.

In Matthew 23:5 Yeshua criticized the Pharisees “All their works they do to be seen by men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments.” In the Tenakh and New Covenant  the Tallit can also be translated as skirt, garment, and mantle.  When worn it became a body tent or type of tabernacle.  In the Book of Acts we learn that the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus the Apostle Paul made tents. Perhaps the tents he made were Tallit.  What does the New Covenant say about the Tallit? In Mark 6:56 and Matt. 14:35-36 ”they besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”  In Matt 9: 20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48 we see people touching the Tzitzit of the Tallit and are healed.

For sure the command to wear the Tallit was for the people of the Mosaic Covenant. Therefore there is no compulsion placed upon the belivers in the Messiah.  However,  Yeshua wore it. Those who touched it while he wore it were healed. In the book of Matthew we are told where two or three gather in his name their He is in the midst of us. Yeshua also admonishes us to pray in secret.  Therefore, although we are under grace the tallit can be worn by a believer in the Jewish messiah during a convocation i.e. a gathering of believers and in private prayer. When it is used to glorify God it can help one stay focused on the Messiah who also wore the Tallit, it can help one remain prayerful, and when used as a tent (Atarah covering the head) it reminds us that we are surrounded and protected by His loving embrace and the wings of his heavenly angels.

Is Gay Marriage OK with the God of the Bible?

I pray that this as in all posts to this site are moved by the Spirit of the God of the Bible the Ruach ha’ Kodesh. My hope is in the Spirit of the only God, this Spirit, the only one where we can be saved through the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

Advocates say, “Sexual orientation is not a choice; we are born the way we are”. Ones who believe this way believe some are born that way, meaning they have no choice in the matter. God understands this and gives no judgment or condemnation. How can a loving God condemn any of us if we are born that way?

Why don’t the Rabbis believe the Messiah could be born on December 25th?

First, what do we know? We know, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” (Micah 5:2)

So the ruler of Israel is to be born in Bethlehem and his origin is from the beginning of time. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

We have a record that this baby was born in David’s city some 2000 years ago, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” (Luke 2:8) This baby was born during a time of the year when the shepherds were in the fields with their flocks. “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7)

Fittingly this baby who years latter would call himself the Lamb of God was born in a stable and placed in an animal trough because there were no more rooms available in Bethlehem. So what else do we know?

Harmony of the Tenakh and New Covenant: Adam

According to the Tenakh the first man Adam became a living soul. The Hebrew word is Nephesh which means a living being. So the breath of life from God and the dirt of the ground, molded to chemical and biological perfection, became the first soul/being (Gen2:7).

Yahveh Elohim, The Lord God (i.e. I am that I am, the Eternal), planted a garden EAST of Eden. In that garden was the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. A river ran through Eden which separated into four other rivers. God forbade Adam to take into himself the fruit from the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for if he did he would die. A women was created by God from the rib of man and they were to be joined.

Barnes and Noble review of “The Jewish People and Jesus: Is It Time For Reconciliation? You Decide.”

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jewish view of Jesus

By Thule1 – See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Jewish People And Jesus: Is It Time For Reconciliation? You Decide (Paperback)

Concise presentation of Jewish views of Jesus the Christ who is claimed as the the Messiah and died, but rose from the dead to provide payment to God (Creator of all things) for the transgressions of individual humans who request such forgiveness and place their faith in Jesus. The presentations are logical and sound but leave the decision to accept or reject the relationship between Jesus the Christ and God, and His offer of eternal life up to the reader. The author, although not of Jewish lineage or religious practices, is an expert on middle-eastern affairs and demonstrates his comprehensive understanding of Jewish culture and historical objections to the theocracy of Jesus the Christ. If logic alone were the deciding factor for conviction that Jesus the Christ is the true Messiah, then this presentation would probably suffice to persuade a reader to seriously consider acceptance of such a faith.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Messiah

Rosh Hashanah: Jewish new year ushers in ten days of Penitence. It is announced with the blowing of the shofar. It urges God’s people to get right with him. How is this done? Through the shedding of blood, according to his specifications that becomes pleasing to the Lord. This feast displays the hope that the Lord has that his people will commit themselves to living for the Lord. This also points to the time of the end when people will no longer regard the intent to please God. At this point when the thoughts of men are continually on evil the trumpet judgments of Revelation will occur. There will be 7 trumpets that will announce judgments on a huanity that will not repent. These events will crescendo until the Messiah comes to fulfill the meaning of His Feasts.

Yom Kippur: During the time of the Temple the High Priest (Kohen) would sacrifice a bullock to atone for his sins before he could act on behalf of the people of Israel. He would sprinkle this blood on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant known as the Mercy Seat and seven times on the ground in front of the Ark. Then he would sacrifice a goat for the sins of the People and sprinkle the blood as before for the Holy of Holies. He then provided atonement for the tabernacle by sprinkling the blood of both animals on the horns of the alter and seven times on the ground around it. The High Priest would then lay his hands on a scapegoat in the Temple court. The goat was then led outside of the city where it was released. According to the Babylonian Talmud, a scarlet cord was tied around the neck of the goat. If the cord turned white while the scapegoat was led away from the city the sins of the people were forgiven. This occured until the the year 30 A.D. The Talmud records that the cord failed to turn white for 40 years prior to the year when the Temple was destroyed in the year 70 A.D. This means from the year that Yeshua was crucified until the the Temple was destroyed the cord failed to turn white. This signified that the New Covenant had been enacted as foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 31. The old formula was no longer required for the remission of sin since the Messiah, Son of God, sacrificed himself not as a covering but a cleansing for sin.

Categories of Professing Believers

In this posting we will explore all those who consider themselves Christian.

Cultural Christians: Those who consider themselves Christian but don’t necessarily belong to a church and may be non-practicing. They are more likely to be liberal on social issues (gay marriage and abortion rights). Generally tend to believe if one is a good person then they most likely will be saved or believe that good people from all religions will/can be saved. They do no believe that the bible is inspired or inerrant in the original manuscripts, but is an ancient and at least a partially obsolete compilation of stories, myths, and philosophy.

Believers in “Churchianity”: Attend church on a regular basis. Believe there is a sanctity to belonging to the “true church” (i.e. the right denomination). They tend to know the Bible better than Cultural Christians but do not read the Bible on a regular basis, and are satisfied to listen and believe what their relgious authorities tell them. Tend to be more observers than participants in the challenges posed by the lives of Jesus and St. Paul.