contact us at: bethmelekh@gmail.com
בית מלך Beth Melekh
  • Home - דף בית
  • Soundbites with Yaakov
  • Yaakov's Commentary - פירוש יעקב
  • Yeshivah Videos - וִידֵאוֹ
  • This Week at Yeshivah
  • Faith Statement - הצהרת אמונה
  • Worship Songs
  • Yeshivah - ישיבה
  • Weekly Torah - פרשה התורה
  • Yaakov Ben Yehoshua a Concise Life Story
  • Yaakov's BOOKS ספרי שׂל יעקוב
  • Torah Kosher Foods - אוכל כשר
  • Festivals 5780 - 5781 - חגים
  • Affiliate - בית הכנסת שותפים
  • Counting the Omer - ספירת העומר
  • Eliyahu Chris Hennessy

Objections to Christmas: A Messianic Jew Responds (2020)

11/12/2020

 
“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.”
–Romans 14:5-6 TLV
“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.”
–Romans 14:5-6 TLV
 
Introduction:
 
At this time of year the inevitable Christmas objectors rear their ugly heads. Being a Jewish Messiah follower and spiritual leader, and given my clear teaching in refutation of the “Pagan Christmas” lie, I usually receive a number of angry messages and or responses to posts on the subject. These messages are full of twentieth century evidence (not evidence at all), emotionalism and personal attacks and the majority of the reactionary messages are from pseudo learned so called “Messianic Gentiles”.
 
The Messianic movement has now been so heavily inundated with hyper-law keeping Gentiles that it no longer truly represents the Jewish followers of Yeshua. As Messiah following Jews we are appalled at the nonsense taught by many Messianic Gentiles and some Messianic Jewish leaders, who do not represent the freedom we have found in Yeshua but rather, are teaching as the laws of God, the doctrines of human beings, flesh born, unspiritual.
 
As a result of the demise of the genuine Jewish Messianic movement, our congregation now call ourselves “Messiah following” rather than “Messianic”. This is a decision made to clearly distinguish ourselves from the foolish teaching of so many.
 
I am bemused by the hypocrisy which has developed among hyper-law communities. I have heard them denounce the Talmud for being myth and conjecture, uninspired and full of made up stories and flawed theology, while they themselves teach as truth that which is not true. Christians have their Talmud, full of rapture theory, love languages, self-help, misinterpretation. So too do Hebrew roots groups, and Messianics, with their anti-birthday, anti-Christmas, everyone must keep Sabbath, we are the true called out Church nonsense.
 
How ironic that the Messianic anti-Christmas movement, which prides itself on living a faith that is connected to Hebrew roots and consistent with the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, has nonetheless taken its que for the denigration of Christmas from a gentile protestant.

The anti-Christmas movement essentially began in the eighteenth century CE, 1500 years after Christians began to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. The anti-Catholic German protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski (1693-1757) attempted, through pseudo scholarly works (1743), to prove that December 25 was somehow pagan and therefore Christmas was a pagan celebration and Catholicism is heretical.

His facts were false and his conclusions error but his work tickled the ears of protestants and puritans (a subgroup), the majority of whom hated the Catholic Church. Thus, out of hatred for Catholicism, and not from Scripture, the “modern” anti-Christmas movement was born. It has ebbed and flowed through the last two centuries and has now found new proponents among the Messianic movement. Rather than actually looking to the Scripture, and Jewish roots of our Jewish faith, we have taken the word of a man who based his theories on false facts, a Gentile no less, and have concluded that it is Jewish to be anti-Christmas. Actually, it couldn’t be more goyish (Gentile).
 
The truth is that for the most part modern Jews could care less about Christmas because 13.7 million of us believe Jesus to be a false demi-god of a Gentile religion that has nothing to do with our faith. Therefore, as a people and a religion Jews have little interest in being anti-Christmas.
 
But, for the Messiah following Jews of the first century the celebration of the birth of Yeshua had everything to do with being Jewish and with the redemption of Israel (so not remotely pagan, in fact, the opposite).
 
Several years ago, one of the beautiful ironies at work to refute the now metastasised anti-Christmas sentiment, was that at least one of the most common objections to the celebration of Christmas (it shouldn’t be celebrated on a date when a pagan deity was worshipped), was made impotent by the date of the Jewish observance of Chanukah (Rededication), which began on Christmas day, the 25th of December 2017. In 2017 the lunar Calendar of Israel coincided with the Gregorian calendar so that the 25th of Kislev and the 25th of December (a so called pagan date) became the same day.
 
The primary reason that I continue to speak out against the demonizing of Christmas, is the demoralizing effect that anti-Christmas sentiment has had on the community of believers (Ecclesia). I come across this message of bondage far too frequently among the wandering masses of Christianity, who, disillusioned with the shallow nature of their own faith, seek depth at the feet of pseudo-learned lay people and worse, professed Messianic Jewish Rabbis, many of whom dine on a steady diet of conspiracy theory, YouTube Bible teaching and conjecture.
 
My hope is that the following article will equip you for the practise of freedom in Messiah. A key aspect of the faith that has been sadly neglected by the para-church swing back to bondage on the rebound from hyper-grace. It has become more and more clear that in recent times the gift of the Holy Spirit most lacking in the western Ecclesia (Church) is that of discernment.
 
I am consistently told by certain Messianic extremists that I should not celebrate Christmas, worship on Sundays, use the name “Jesus,” etc. Though it must be said they are entirely misinformed regarding Christmas and the use of the name Jesus and fail to understand that all days belong to God; the more poignant issue is this, that they are so busy telling others what they shouldn’t do, that they are unable to articulate the freedom, wonders and depth of faith found in a Messiah essential Messianic Jewish Tradition. What’s more, the same celebrate extra Biblical festivals and break numerous other commands of Torah on a daily basis and are therefore, the greatest of hypocrites.
 
When we define ourselves by what we are not, we are repeating the error of our forebears both Jewish and Christian. Those we seek as converts to our way of thinking are instantly disillusioned, in our zeal we turn them away from the beauty and traditions we might otherwise have positively offered them. Often our fierce words of rebuke are based on poor historical knowledge, misinterpretation of Scripture, inaccuracies and myth; passed on by lazy teachers and blinded guides.
 
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Mattitiyahu/Matthew 23:14-16
 
This is not who we are, it is who we were, before we met Messiah, but now, in Him, we are to be a light to the nations. It is time to stem the flow of darkness that is issuing from our mouths. We are, “A royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to G-d. That we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Kefa/Peter 2:9
 
If we continually define ourselves by what we are not, we will inevitably forget who we are.
 
Anti-Christmas Sentiment is Anti-Christ
 
It’s interesting to note that the list of Christmas objectors includes the Mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Muslims, Conspiracy theorists, Hebrew roots groups, Messianic believers and atheists, among others.
 
“those who celebrate Christmas do not honor God or Christ, but honor pagan celebrations and pagan gods.” –The Watchtower Magazine (JW) Dec. 8 1988 (pg.19)
 
We must ask, why are cults and atheists some of the strongest opponents of Christmas? What is it that they share in common? There is one unifying answer, every pseudo Christian cult and atheist group agree on one thing, that Yeshua (Jesus) is not God with us (Imanu-El).
 
“Do not be deceived, evil communication (bad company) corrupts good character” -1 Corinthians 15:33 (The Bible)
 
The deity of Messiah is first revealed on earth in the Christmas narrative (Historical record: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). His divine conception and His lineage are first illuminated in the Christmas accounts. To neglect the celebration and remembrance of the Christmas story is a means of cutting off the truth of Messiah’s divinity and His legitimate human lineage at its root, thus supporting the Satanic claims that Yeshua (Jesus) is just a man and at the same time does not qualify to be Israel’s Messiah. This is a direct attack on Messiah, the Christ, and is at its heart driven by a spirit of anti-Christ.
 
Refuting Common Objections to Christmas
 
First, let me repeat that generally speaking Jews do not object to Christians celebrating Christmas because for the most part Jews do not accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah.
 
Therefore, from their perspective Christmas is simply the religious practice of the Gentile Western world.
 
So who are these people within the faith community who are objecting to the celebration of Christmas? They are for the most part, disillusioned Christians, who, with great pride, claim to be Messianic. They are not Jews but they are Judaizers and because of their devote observance of human rules, consider themselves more righteous than the so called, “Apostate Church” they claim to have separated themselves from. As a Jew I find this extremely offensive because they are not only misrepresenting the message of the Messiah but they are also pretending to observe Jewish practices and thus often appear to be representing the Jewish view. They do not represent the Jewish view, nor do they represent the Messianic Jewish view. They simply represent themselves and their own confused attempts to earn God.
 
A Response to Some of the Most Common Objections to Christmas
 
Some popular false claims regarding supposed Christmas syncretism with false gods:
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Even if it were true that false deities were worshipped in similar ways to Yeshua prior to His birth, this does not detract from Yeshua Who is all existing and therefore pre-existed all these false deities (John 1:1). Nor does performing miracles equate false gods and holy men to Yeshua. The Bible teaches that the Anti-Messiah will perform miracles in an attempt to fool the elect (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
 
The misuse of something does not define its intended purpose! A counterfeit does not delegitimize the real thing.
 
Nor does it matter on which day Yeshua was born or if other deities were worshipped on that day. All days were created by God for His glory. Again, the misuse of a thing does not define its intended purpose!
 
1.Christmas is Pagan.
 
This generalisation is lazy and intellectually dishonest as well as being an oxymoron (self-contradicting).
 
In fact Christmas is the name of a Judeo-Christian celebration of the birth of Christ (Messiah). The name Christmas is a contraction made up of two words: Christ and mas.
 
Christ comes from the Greek Khristos and means anointed one, it was intended by the Jewish New Testament writers to convey the Hebrew title Mashiyach, which is often translated Messiah, both titles represent the anointed one of God, Who would be born into time and space to deliver His people Israel. So I guess you could say the first part of the name Christmas is pretty much Jewish.
 
Mass: the English term mass comes from the Anglo-Saxon word maesse, which came from the Latin missa, which is a form of the verb mittere, which means "to send." In Hebrew we would use the term neshlach—to send. Therefore the meaning of Christmas is, “Christ is sent,” or Mashiyach neshlach—Messiah is sent. In truth, the two concepts of anointing and sending are rooted deeply in Judaism and help make Christmas—in my opinion—as much a Jewish Holiday as Purim and Chanukah. So, is Christmas Pagan? Well, the name certainly isn’t.
 
Some say that the celebration of Christmas is part of a Satanic agenda. To the contrary, to be anti (Christmas) Christ being sent is more Satanic than all the so called pagan links to Christmas put together. If there is a Satanic (Pagan) agenda at work, it is the agenda that seeks to silence the celebrating of the birth of our Messiah: it’s literally an anti-Christ agenda.
 
I wish you a hearty, “Chag Sameach le’Mashiyach neshlach!” and a, “Chag Ha-molad Sameach!”
 
Christ = Messiah & mas (Sent)
Christmas = Messiah is Sent
 
2.The date of Christmas is a day on which pagan deities were worshipped. Therefore, Messianic believers shouldn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.
 
As clearly shown in my previous tables regarding the supposed correlation between false gods and Yeshua (Jesus), the majority of the proposed pagan deity connections to the 25th of December are false. In addition, we have the following:
 
The god Tammuz was celebrated in February, March, April, June and July. The “Wailing of Tammuz” was celebrated at the end of summer long before the winter solstice.
 
Saturnalia was celebrated from 17 – 23 December, not 25 December.
 
And then there’s the false claim that Christmas borrows from Natalis Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquerable Son) an addition to the Emperor cult syncretized from paganism.
 
Natalis Sol Invictus is celebrated on the 25th December (4th century), however…
 
While Aurelian made Sol Invictus an official religion in Rome in 274 CE, the December 25 connection to the religion is a later syncretism between Sol Invictus and Saturnalia that did not exist in the third century CE. The earliest reference to this pagan celebration on the 25th December is written by Macrobius Theodosius in the 4th century CE [j].
 
The Christian author Hippolytus of Rome (170-235 CE) writing prior to 235 CE suggested that Yeshua (Jesus) was born on December 25. [k] Therefore, according to the known historical record, the first Christian reference to a December 25th date for Messiah’s birth predates the pagan Sol Invictus celebration by over a hundred years. The only conclusion is that the Emperor of Rome borrowed from the Christian practice in order to syncretize the pagan practice, and not the other way around.
 
Put simply. Christians used the 25th of December prior to the Natalis Sol Invictus cult. Pagans adopted our date.
 
The logic of this objection is that any day used to worship a false god should not be used to worship the one true God. Nonsense! Prior to the giving of the Torah and the moedim (festivals) of HaShem at Sinai, Israel was under bondage in a land where the Sun deity Ra-Atum was worshipped every morning at dawn and every evening at sundown (365 days a year). Using the foolish logic of those who claim pagan deities defile days, every one of HaShem’s moedim (festivals) should not be celebrated because they fall on days when the pagan deity Ra-Atum was worshipped. Who made the days? On which of the days should the God of Israel not be worshipped? We are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory.
 
In the midst of all the rhetoric and conspiracy allegations aimed at the Gentile Church fathers of the 2nd Century regarding the so called pagan date of the 25th of December. Few Christmas objectors have bothered to consider the fact that the authentic fathers of the Church were Jews who lived over 100 years before the first records indicating syncretism, and would have been eager to celebrate the birth of the Jewish Messiah on a regular basis in a Jewish way and for at least 100 years, free from Gentile interference.
 
In fact the Jews have an intrinsic connection to the date of the 25th of December. Every four years or so Chanukah coincides with the 25th of December. In fact, last year in 2017 the first day of Chanukah 25th of Kislev coincided with the 25th of December. Those who claim that pagan connections to this date make the day unsuitable must either denounce Chanukah (A festival Yeshua venerated) or simply admit that they are in grave error.
 
Given that we have no way of knowing when Messiah was born either from Biblical or Historical record, who’s to say that the 25th of December is the wrong date? We don’t know the date, therefore we contradict ourselves by saying that the 25th is the wrong date.

Consider this, the 25th of Kislev of the Biblical lunar calendar of Israel which begins Chanukah (A festival of light/dedication) coincides with the 25th of December  of the Gregorian Solar calendar on a regular cycle. Therefore, if we are bound by conjecture, as so many anti-Christmas proponents are, we may as well conjecture that it is equally likely that the date of Christmas was simply transitioned from one calendar to another and that early Messianic Jews celebrated the birth of Yeshua (The Light of the World Who rededicated Israel to God) during the festival of Chanukah. Which, as we know, is in the winter months and regularly coincides with Christmas.
 
3. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Remember my death until I come", therefore, we should not celebrate Christmas.
 
The logic here is, that anything not explicitly commanded in Scripture should not be observed. This flawed logic makes a negative commandment out of a positive commandment. It is a self-defeating premise because Messiah’s death cannot be remembered without His birth into time and space.
 
Yeshua Himself observed Chanukah (John 10:22-41), a festival that is not commanded in Scripture.
 
If we pursue the foolish logic of this objection, we must also cease to celebrate Purim, Chanukah, the Torah cycle,  the resurrection, and the miracles of the Messiah. Therefore, if we fail to acknowledge the Messiah’s literal birth into the world we make His life and ministry redundant.
 
An instruction to remember something does not negate the remembrance of other things.
 
4.Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Messiah’s birth because birthday celebration is pagan.
 
Ancient Pagans celebrated weddings too, should we no longer celebrate weddings? The false Canaanite deity Shalem is said to have been worshipped on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Yebus) thousands of years before Solomon’s Temple was built there.[l] Does this mean the Temple Mount is Pagan? By applying the logic that we should do nothing that pagans do, we must also cease drinking water, procreating, even breathing.
 
Did Joseph and Mary not celebrate the birth of Yeshua? They did, are they pagan? Did the Jewish shepherds of the Migdal Eder (Temple flock) not celebrate Yeshua’s birth? They did, are we to call them pagan? Were the gifts of the magi not celebratory? If they were considered pagan, why did Joseph and Mary allow them to be presented to Yeshua?
 
Some go so far as to suggest that Jews don’t celebrate birthdays. What nonsense, they have obviously spent little time around Jews. Furthermore, Jews have honoured and celebrated birthdays from ancient times. Within the Tanakh (OT) there are numerous examples of the births of children being celebrated. One of the ways the birth of Jewish children is celebrated both in the Scripture and in modern Jewish life is with the naming ceremony, called a Brit Milah for Jewish boys (circumcision), and held eight days after the birth. The births of children are honoured throughout Scripture by placing a God given name on the child and/or choosing a name that expressed the character attributes exhibited by the child through the pregnancy and in the birthing process (Gen. 25:24-26; ). Hence, Yeshua (YHVH Saves)! One of the most famous Messianic prophecies of Isaiah is in fact a birthday celebration song:
 
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given to us,
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
His Name will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor,
    Mighty God
    My Father of Eternity,
    Prince of Peace.
6 Of the increase of His government
    and shalom there will be no end--
on the throne of David and over His kingdom--
    to establish it and uphold it
    through justice and righteousness
    from now until forevermore.
The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot
    will accomplish this.”

-Isaiah 9:5-6
 
5.Yeshua (Jesus) wasn't born during the Christmas season, He was born during Sukkot (Festival of Booths).
 
No, there isn’t any conclusive way to determine the day or season of Messiah’s birth. We simply don’t have historical information that enables us to make an accurate assessment concerning the time of His birth. Those who presume to know are reliant on conjecture born from theological niceties and presumption. Am I saying Messiah was born on the 25th of December? Certainly not. Does it matter which day He was born? Given the lack of Biblical evidence citing exact dates and times for His birth I would hazard a guess that God doesn't want us to know the date or season of His Son’s birth. He probably has a very good reason for this. Learn to embrace the mystery of God, you don’t need to know everything, knowledge puffs up but love builds up.
 
With regard to the “Sukkot birth” claim, the census recorded in Luke 2:1-4 was the first of two, taken between 1 C.E. and 7 C.E. (It’s the latter of the two that is referred to in Acts 5:37). While Quirinius was not physically governing in Syria until 6 C.E., he was responsible for the oversight of its operations and defence under Varus, during Herod’s reign.
It’s important to remember that for the people of Israel, a census was considered an affront to God. The taking of a census denoted a lack of trust in God’s provision. This census therefore, was something they were forced to participate in under an oppressive Roman occupation. (See Exodus 30:12; 2 Samuel 24).
 
Beit-lechem (Bethlehem) is approximately 8 kilometres from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and approximately 136 kilometres from Natzeret (Nazareth) in the Galil (Galilee).
Given that a majority of governors over the province of Philistia (Occupied Israel) were keen to avoid further uprisings and the causes for them, it is unlikely that a census would have been called during an Regalim (going up) festival of Israel (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot). In addition, a Jew could not be both in his ancestral town and in Yerushalayim at the same time. While Beit-lechem was close to Yerushalayim, the majority of Israel’s outer communities were more than two days journey from Yerushalayim, where the Temple stood.  This is just one of many reasons why a Sukkot birth for Messiah is extremely unlikely. In fact all of the Regalim festivals fall into this category. Therefore, it is more likely that Yeshua was born in the winter months.
 
Some misuse the following verse, claiming it proves a Sukkot birth:
 
“Now in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,” –Luke 1:26
 
There has been much needless conjecture relating to this text. Many who are desperate to claim a Sukkot birth for Messiah need to perform linguistic, contextual, chronological and cultural gymnastics—to name a few—in order to manipulate this date to fit their argument, something every good Bible student knows, is usually an indication that we’re headed in the wrong direction. It’s most likely that this “sixth month” refers to the time as counted from the conception of Yochanan (see verse 36), the problem with confirming the date this way is that we don’t know which of the two times of year that Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division was serving is intended by the narrative.
 
We’re not told at what point during the year that the 24 divisions began to serve but we can presume that they began in the seventh month, Tishrei, following the inauguration of Solomon’s temple. If this continued to be the practice and providing the beginning of their service was not initiated at the spiritual new year of Pesach or at the giving of the Torah during Shavuot (Which are also possibilities [even if this were the case the math still wouldn’t conclude a Sukkot birth]), then we would calculate that each of the 24 divisions would serve one week twice a year. If they performed their duties in order of selection, Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division would have performed its duties eighth, in the last week of Nisan and the last week of Cheshvan, with some anomalies caused by the lunar calendar this will have varied slightly. If we count from Nisan, the sixth month would be Tishrei. If this is the month of Messiah’s conception then He was born in the month of Sivan. If we count from Cheshvan we arrive at Iyar, which makes Messiah’s birth in the eleventh month of the Hebrew Calendar, Shevat. Neither date is even remotely close to Sukkot.

However, the sixth month could also refer to the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar Elul, which is the month prior to Tishrei, which again leaves us with Iyar as a possible birth date for Messiah.
 
Additionally because Luke is either a Greek proselyte or a Jew from the Greek Diaspora, he could also be referring to the sixth month of the Roman calendar. Regardless, any conclusion arrived at is pure conjecture. We have no definitive way of knowing when Yeshua was born.
 
Some say, “But He was born dwell with us, and John 1:14 says that He became flesh and sukkot (dwelt) in our midst.”
 
But the text of John 1:14 does not say that Messiah Sukkot with us, but that He Shakhan (from Mishkan) came as flesh, as a Tabernacle in our midst. Meaning, He was a human being Who was like the Tent of meeting (Mishkan) which once dwelt in the midst of Israel. Shakhan is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek Skaynoo. Both are verbs and NOT proper nouns. Sukkot is a proper noun that is unrelated to the Hebrew Shakhan.
 
While it is true that Messiah dwells with us, it is not proof of the date or season of His birth. Messiah is also the Lamb of God, that doesn’t mean He was born at Passover. He is the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin, that doesn’t mean He was born during Yom Kippur.
 
6.The feasts of the Torah were specifically commanded by God but Christmas wasn’t. Therefore Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Christmas.
 
It’s true, Christmas was not commanded by God: neither were Purim or Chanukah, and yet Yeshua venerated Chanukah and used it as a teaching platform—John 10:22-36. Therefore, based on the foolish logic of this objection, Yeshua sinned because He celebrated a festival that wasn’t specifically commanded by God. Utter nonsense!
 
Some claim that Yeshua’s veneration of Chanukah is an exception because He is God with us, but Yeshua is not the exception, He is the Rule! He is the first-born among many brothers (Rom. 8:29). We are called to be like Him.
 
David was not commanded by God to dance half naked before the Ark of the Covenant—which carried the tablets of stone upon which God had engraved His word—as he brought it into Jerusalem with music and rejoicing. His wife Michal criticized him for His shameless celebrating and as a result the Scripture says that she remained barren until her death. If David danced semi naked in celebration before the written word of God as it entered Jerusalem, how much more should we celebrate with great joy the entry into our world of the living Word Yeshua our Messiah, born of a virgin, born to save us from sin. Though we know not the day, we celebrate Him gladly, lest we become like those who begrudge others their joy and seek to imprison people in the bondage of the past! The warning is clear, we must not become like Michal: perhaps she was physiologically unable to conceive after this event? On the other hand perhaps her husband simply no longer approached her to be sexually intimate with her? Or worse still—and most likely—she may have continued to harden her heart until she no longer wanted to be around David. This is the dangerous road we walk when we neglect grace and follow rules born of the foolish arguments of human beings. When we harden our hearts through jealousy and false religion we become isolated and alone. Like Michal we might find our spiritual womb barren, not because we can’t conceive but rather because we have refused our Husband, whose name is Freedom and in turn have failed to be inseminated by His grace. Don’t let the misconceived theories of the pseudo-learned mislead you.
 
7.Shepherds in Israel don't tend their sheep in winter, therefore, the shepherds of the Christmas story can't have been tending their flocks in winter. Thus, a December date for Messiah's birth cannot be correct.
 
In fact, Israel’s sheep are shepherded throughout the year including the winter months. Even more importantly, the shepherds of the Christmas story (approx. 3 C.E.) were no ordinary shepherds. It’s an historical fact that there was a tower in close proximity to Beit-lechem, called Eder (flock), around which were pastured the flocks destined for the Temple sacrifices. The group of shepherds in charge of these flocks held a position of great esteem in Israel and were led by a Priest whose role was to ensure the production of unblemished animals that would be offered at the Temple in nearby Yerushalayim. These sheep were needed year round for the Temple sacrifices. Therefore, a winter date for Messiah’s birth is quite possible.
 
8.Christmas trees are pagan.
 
Are they? It’s true that pagan cultures have venerated trees and worshipped tree deities. However, these were living trees growing outside the home. Furthermore, those that did bring trees into the home or communal space, didn’t use them in the same way that Christmas trees are used today. For example, the yule tide log of the Norse culture was burned in the fire. These pagan examples do not equate to the cutting down of a tree for symbolic use during Christmas celebrations.
 
Some decontextualize and mis-quote the following scripture from Jeremiah:
 
How the Christmas tree objectors read it based on their presupposition:
 
“3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are  like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.”
 
What the full text actually says:
“3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are  like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.”
 
It is not speaking of anything remotely similar to Christmas trees. It is speaking of idols carved from trees and representing false gods.
 
But I ask, “Who came first? The tree or the pagan?” The tree of course. God commands us not to worship objects of creation, he doesn’t tell us not to use them as reminders of Him, in fact God Himself commands the manufacture of Cherubim for the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:18), and these were symbols of His protection, not to be worshipped but to give a visual understanding to His worshippers. Are trees good or evil? They are neither. Once again, if the use of a thing by pagans makes it sinful then we should also discontinue using oxygen—this might be a good idea for some. I repeat, the misuse of a thing does not define it!
 
Conclusion
 
So we see that for many and varied illegitimate reasons, a number of modern Christians (Hebrew Roots movement) and Messianics (a term that is now so loosely applied that it is unable to identify any one group), have decided not to celebrate Christ-mas (Messiah is sent).
 
This on its own would be of little consequence if they simply chose to celebrate His birth at another time, however in the aftermath of the establishment of this foolish pseudo-learned doctrinal decision, they have ceased celebrating the birth of our Messiah altogether. Like the Separatists of the late 18th &19th  centuries, they have become so convinced of their own separation from the Ecclesia [Community of faith] (Viewing themselves as the so called “called out” pure Church/Bride), that they have, in seeking purity through their own actions, become subject again to bondage; forgetting that in Messiah we are not keepers of the Torah but rather we are kept by the Living Torah, Ha-d’var Emet (The Word of Truth) Yeshua, Who, if not for His birth into time and space, could not have been crucified and resurrected, thus leaving us without hope. Therefore, let us celebrate His birth, which illuminates His purpose in being sent, that we might also hope in the future glory purchased for us through His death and resurrection.
 
This year our congregation will once again delight ourselves in remembering the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, each one practicing the Biblical remembrance of Christmas (Messiah is sent) utilizing the symbolism and positive traditions that affirm their own convictions regarding this celebration. We are reminded that every Shabbat we light the candles of Sh’mor (Observance) and Zakhor (Remembrance), therefore we observe the holy day, remembering that Yeshua was born for the purpose of our Salvation (Yeshua). We remember what God has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do, in Messiah, The Hope of Glory.
 
“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.”
–Romans 14:5-6 TLV
 
As I’ve said before, we are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory.
 
An Afterthought
 
All our Jewish celebrations and festivals fall into one of two categories. Either they celebrate God’s provision for us or they commemorate His delivering us from our enemies. Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest provision and the commemoration of the beginning of our eternal deliverance. Thus it qualifies as one of the most important Jewish celebrations of all time.
 
If it were possible to be dull in the Olam Haba (World to come), I’m inclined to believe that those who argue against the celebration of Christmas will be wandering around the new Jerusalem debating whether we should celebrate Messiah’s return. After all, it’s not commanded in the Torah. Wake up sleeper!
 
Sources:
 
[a.] Vermaseren, M. J. (1951). "The miraculous Birth of Mithras". In Gerevich, László (ed.). Studia Archaeologica. Brill. pp. 93–109. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
 
[b.] https://www.ancient.eu/Mithra/
 
[c.] Ulansey, David (1991). The origins of the Mithraic mysteries. p. 6. ISBN 9780195067880.
 
[d.]https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/#:~:text=The%20elder%20Horus%20is%20one,the%20creation%20of%20the%20world.&text=In%20another%20version%20of%20the,wife%2C%20and%20daughter%20of%20Horus.
New York Folklore Society (1973). "New York folklore quarterly". 29. Cornell University Press. p. 294.
 Ian Shaw (2003). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-815034-3.
Piotr O. Scholz (2001). Eunuchs and castrati: a cultural history. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-55876-201-5.
Roy G. Willis (1993). World Mythology. Macmillan. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8050-2701-3.
 
[e.] https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/
 
[f.] https://strangenotions.com/horus-manure/
 
[g.]https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/dionysus/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20origin%20given,his%20true%20form%20to%20her.&text=A%20few%20months%20later%2C%20Dionysus%20was%20born%20from%20Zeus's%20thigh.
 
[h.] https://www.greekboston.com/culture/mythology/dionysus/
 
[i.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dionysus
 
[j.] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ambrosius-Theodosius-Macrobius
 
[k.] https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/december-25th-day-christ-was-born-8-arguments
 
[l.] https://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_2.html
 
NB: In combination with this article, please also consider the articles I’ve written on Luke chapters 1 and 2, and the previous articles I’ve written regarding Christmas:
 
Christmas: An Open Letter to the Haters
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/christmas-an-open-letter-to-the-haters
 
This Jew Boy will be Celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/this-jew-boy-will-be-celebrating-christmas-on-the-25th-of-december
 
Isaiah 9: For unto us a Child is Born
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/isaiah-91-2-6-7-for-unto-us-a-boy-is-born
 
Luke 1:1-38: Choosing Between Disbelief and Wonder
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-11-38-choosing-between-disbelief-wonder
 
Luke 1:39-80: From Generation to Generation
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-139-80-ldor-vdor-from-generation-to-generation
 
Luke 2:1-24: G-d’s Plan is not World Peace, it is Peace for the World
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-21-24-g-ds-plan-is-not-world-peace-its-peace-for-the-world
 
Luke 2:25-52: Hearing About Grace and Favour
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-225-52-hearing-about-grace-favour
 
© Yaakov Brown 2020


Comments are closed.
    Picture

     כתביו של יעקב
    Yaakov Brown

    Spiritual leader of Beth Melekh Community, Auckland, N.Z.

    Yaakov Brown BOOKS
    Picture

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    2019
    5778
    666
    Aaron
    Abba
    Abimelech
    Able
    Abraham
    Abram
    A Child Is Born
    Acts
    Adam
    Adam And Eve
    Adonai Roi
    Adonai Tzevaot
    Adultery
    Adversity
    Affliction
    Ahaz
    Ahsur
    Al Chet
    Aleph
    Aliens
    Aliyah
    Aliyot
    Allah
    All Tribes
    Almah
    Altar
    Amalek
    Ancient Hebrew
    Andrew
    Angel Of The Lord
    Angels
    Annas
    Annul
    Anointed
    Anointing Oil
    Anti-Christmas
    Antonia
    Anxiety
    Approval
    Arabic
    Aramaic
    Ariel
    Ark
    Ashamnu
    Ashteret
    Ashterot
    Ashur
    Ask
    Ask The Rebbe
    Asneth
    Assyria
    Atonement
    Aviyad
    Avram
    Azariah
    Babel
    Babylon
    Baker
    Baladan
    Baptism
    Bavel
    Bedikat Chametz
    Beersheba
    Beersheva
    Beggar
    Begin Again
    Beginning
    Behjamin
    Beit Chasda
    Beit Tzaida
    Bel
    Belly
    Beloved
    Benjamin
    Bereishit
    Besorah
    Bethany
    Bethesda
    Bethlehem
    Beth Melekh
    Bethsaida
    Betrayal
    Betrothal
    Betulah
    Bilhah
    Birth
    Birthdays
    Birthright
    Blasphemy
    Blessing
    Blessing For The Season
    Blind
    Blood
    Boat
    Body
    Bondage
    Book Of Life
    Books
    Books Of Moses
    Booths
    Branch
    Branches
    Bread
    Bread From Heaven
    Bread Of Life
    Brit HaChadashah
    Brother
    Brothers
    Burden
    Caiaphas
    Cain
    Camping
    Cana
    Capernaum
    Capital Crime
    Capstone
    Carry
    Caught In Adultery
    Celebration
    Challah
    Challot
    Channukah
    Chanukah
    Chanukiyah
    Chanukkah
    Chasidiym
    Chatan Bereishit
    Chatan Torah
    Chavah
    Chesed
    Chief Priests
    Children
    Children Of Light
    Chosen
    Chosen One
    Christian
    Christmas
    Chuppah
    Circumcision
    City
    Civil New Year
    Clay
    Clean
    Cloud Of Witnesses
    Clouds
    Coal Fire
    Coals
    Cohen Hagadol
    Comfort
    Comforter
    Command
    Commandments
    Compass
    Confusion
    Construct
    Contemplative Worship
    Context
    Contextual Fallacy
    Cornerstone
    Corner Stone
    Cosplay
    Courage
    Court Of Women
    Covenant
    Covenants
    Creation
    Creator
    Crescent
    Cross
    Crown Of Thorns
    Crucifixion
    Crushed
    Crying
    Cults
    Culture
    Cup
    Cupbearer
    Curse
    Cyrus
    Darkness
    Daughters Of Men
    Daughters Of Zion
    Davar
    David
    Day
    Day Of Atonement
    Day Of Coverings
    Day Of Soundings
    Death
    Dedication
    Deliver
    Demons
    Depression
    Desert
    Desolate
    Deuteronomy
    Devar
    Difficult
    Dinah
    Dionysus
    Dipped
    Disciple
    Disciples
    Discipline
    Disembodied Spirits
    Disputes
    Distinction
    Diversity
    Doctrine
    Dominion
    Dragon
    Dreams
    Drink
    Drunk
    Eat
    Echad
    Edom
    Egypt
    Eighth Day
    Elazar
    El Gibor
    Elieizer
    Eliphaz
    Elohim
    Elohiym
    Emmanuel
    Emotion
    Empirical
    Emunah
    Endor
    End Times
    Enemies
    Envoys
    Ephraim
    Error
    Esau
    Escaping Goat
    Eschatology
    Esther
    Eternal Life
    Eternal Priesthood
    Eternal Punishment
    Eternal Security
    Ethnic
    Etrog
    Eunuchs
    Eve
    Even
    Even Ha Shetiyah
    Everlasting
    Everlasting Father
    Evidence
    Evil
    Exodus
    Eye
    Eyes
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    False Gods
    Family
    Famine
    Farmer
    Fasting
    Father
    Fear
    Fear Not
    Fear Of Death
    Feast Of Trumpets
    Feet
    Fence
    Festival
    Festival Of Shelters
    Festival Of Tabernacles
    Festivals
    Filthy Rags
    Fire
    First Century
    First Century CE
    Fish
    Fishes
    Flagrum
    Flesh
    Foreigners
    Forsaken
    Foundation Stone
    Free
    Freeborn
    Freedom
    Free From Fear
    Freewill
    Fullness
    Gabbatha
    Galilee
    Galilee Of The Nations
    Gates
    Gathered
    Gat Sheminim
    G-d With Us
    Genealogy
    Generations
    Genesis
    Gentile
    Gethsemane
    Ghosts
    Gift
    Giving
    Glory
    Goal
    Goal Of Torah
    God
    Godhead
    Gods
    God With Us
    Golgotha
    Good
    Good News
    Goshem
    Goshen
    Gospel
    Gospel According To John
    Gospel Of John
    Government
    Goy
    Goyim
    Grain
    Grapes
    Grave
    Greek
    Groom
    Ha Akedah
    Ha Akeidah
    Haaretz
    Ha Aretz
    Ha Beit
    Ha Besorah Al Piy Yochanan
    HaBrit HaChadashah
    Ha Davar
    Ha Devar Emet
    Ha Din
    Ha-D'var Emet
    Haf Tarah
    Hagar
    Hail
    Ha Kotel
    Halakhah
    Haman
    Hannukah
    Haran
    Har Beit
    Harvest
    HaShem
    Hassidim
    Healing
    Heaven
    Heavens
    Hebrew
    Hebrews
    Hebron
    Hermon
    Herod Antipas
    Hezekiah
    Hidden Meaning
    Hidden Messiah
    High Holy Days
    High Priest
    High Shabbat
    Historical
    History
    Holy
    Holy Of Holies
    Holy One Of Israel
    Holy Spirit
    Homosexuality
    Horus
    House
    House Of Prayer
    Humanity
    Humility
    Husband
    Hyper-grace
    I AM
    Identity
    Idolatry
    Idols
    Images
    Imannuel
    Imanuel
    Imanu El
    Immanuel
    Immature
    Immersion
    Inerpretation
    Instruction
    Isaac
    Isaiah
    Isaiah 10
    Isaiah 12
    Isaiah 14
    Isaiah 30
    Isaiah 38
    Isaiah 47
    Isaiah 8
    Isaiah 9
    Ishmael
    Islands
    Israe
    Israel
    Israelite
    Israelites
    Jabok
    Jacob
    Jacob's Ladder
    Jacob's Well
    Jeremiah
    Jerusalem
    Jesse
    Jesus
    Jew
    Jewish
    Jewish Wedding
    Jews
    John
    John 1
    John's Gospel
    Jonah
    Jordan
    Joseph
    Joseph Of Arimathea
    Josephus
    Jotham
    Judah
    Judaism
    Judas
    Judea
    Judean
    Judeans
    Judge
    Judgement
    Judges
    Justice
    Kadesh
    Kadosh
    Kashrut
    Keeping The Sabbath
    Kefa
    Kerosh
    Ketonet
    Keturah
    K'fa
    K'far Nachum
    Kfar Nachum
    Kinetic Worship
    King
    King David
    Kingdom
    King Messiah
    King Of Glory
    King Of The Jews
    Kinneret
    Kinsman Redeemer
    Kiriat Arba
    Kislev
    Know
    Kohen HaGadol
    Kol Nidrey
    Koresh
    Kosher
    Kosmos
    Laban
    Lake
    Lamb
    Lame
    Land Of Israel
    Last Days
    Law
    Lazarus
    Leah
    Levi
    Leviathan
    Levites
    Levitical
    Levitical Priesthood
    Leviticus
    Life
    Life In The Blood
    Lifted Up
    Light
    Light Of The World
    Light To The Nations
    Lion
    Lion Of God
    Lion Of Judah
    Lions' Gate
    Live
    Living
    Living Water
    Living Waters
    Loaves
    Locusts
    Logos
    Lord
    Lost Tribes Myth
    Lot
    Love
    Love One Another
    Love Your Neighbour
    Lulav
    Maccabees
    Machpelah
    Magen David
    Malchus
    Man
    Manasseh
    Mangal
    Manna
    Mansions
    Marduk
    Mark Of The Beast
    Marriage
    Marta
    Martha
    Mary
    Mashal
    Mashalim
    Mashiach
    Mashiyach
    Mashiyach Neshlach
    Mashlim
    Matriarchs
    Matzah
    Matzot
    Mayim Chayim
    Meaning In Names
    Medium
    Meggilat
    Megiddo
    Megillah Ruth
    Melki Tzedek
    Memra
    Menachiym
    Mene
    Menorah
    Menstrual Cloth
    Meradoch
    Mercy
    Merodach-Baladan
    Messenger
    Messengers
    Messiah
    Messianic
    Messianic Age
    Messianic Gentiles
    Messianic Judaism
    Messianic Judaism 101
    Mighty God
    Mikdash
    Mikvah
    Mikveh
    Millennium
    Miltha
    Miracle
    Miracles
    Miriam
    Miriyam
    Mishnah
    Missing The Mark
    Mithra
    Mitzvah
    Mitzvot
    Moadim
    Molech
    Moloch
    Moral Law
    Mordechai
    Moriah
    Mosaic Penmanship
    Moses
    Moshe
    Mountain House
    Mountain Of HaShem
    Mount Zion
    Mourning
    Mt Gerizim
    Mt Moriah
    Mt Seir
    Mt Sinai
    Mud
    Murder
    Na'arah
    Nablus
    Nahor
    Nakdimon
    Nakdiymon Ben Gorion
    Names
    Naphtali
    Naqdimon
    Nation
    Nations
    Nativity
    Nebo
    Nefesh
    Negev
    Nephilim
    New Beginning
    New Commandment
    New Earth
    New Heavens
    New Jerusalem
    New Land
    New Testament
    New Year
    Nicodemus
    Night
    Nikodemos
    Nisan
    Noah
    No Fear
    Not Of This World
    Oaths
    Oath Taking
    Officer Of The King
    Oil
    Olam Haba
    Olam Hazeh
    Olive Press
    Olives
    One
    Pagan
    Paid Servant
    Paleo Hebrew
    Parables
    Pardes
    Parousia
    Passover
    Patriarchs
    Paul
    Paul The Apostle
    Pele Yoeitz
    Pentecost
    People
    Peoples
    Perez
    Perushim
    Pesach
    Peter
    Pharaoh
    Pharisees
    Philip
    Philistia
    Pictographic Hebrew
    Pilate
    Plagues
    Pool
    Pool Of Siloam
    Potiphar
    Potiphera
    Potter
    Powerpoint
    Practice
    Praetorium
    Prayer
    Prayer Shawl
    Pre-Trial
    Priest
    Priesthood
    Priestly Under Garment
    Prince Of Peace
    Princes
    Promised Land
    Promised Messiah
    Promises
    Prophecy
    Prophet
    Prophets
    Prosper
    Protection
    Proverbs
    Provide
    Prune
    P'rushiym
    Psalm
    Psalmist
    Purim
    Purple
    Questions
    Rabbi
    Rabbinical
    Rabbis
    Rabboniy
    Rachel
    Rainbow
    Ram
    Ram's Horn
    Rape
    Rapture
    Rashi
    Rav Shakeih
    Rav Shaul
    Reason
    Rebecca
    Rebeeca
    Redeemed
    Redeemer
    Redemption
    Red Sea
    Refute
    Regalim
    Rejoicing
    Rejoicing In The Torah
    Religious
    Religious Leaders
    Remnant
    Rend
    Repairing The World
    Ressurection
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Return
    Returning
    Reuben
    Revelation
    Righteousness
    Rites
    Ritual Purity
    Ritual Washing
    Rivkah
    Robe
    Rod
    Roman
    Romans
    Romans 14
    Rome
    Room
    Rooster
    Root
    Rosh Hashanah
    Ruach
    Ruach HaKodesh
    Ruach Ha-Kodesh
    Rule
    Ruth
    Sabbath
    Sacrifice
    Sadducees
    Sages
    Salem
    Salim
    Salvation
    Samaritan
    Samaritan Woman
    Sanctify
    Sanhedrin
    Sarah
    Sarai
    Sar Shalom
    Satan
    Saturday
    Saturnalia
    Saul & The Witch
    Saved
    Savior
    Saviour
    Scapegoat
    Scourge
    Scribes
    Scripture
    Scroll
    Seamless
    Second
    Second Coming
    Sect
    See
    Selichah
    Selichot
    Sennachereb
    Sennacherib
    Sent
    Sepulchre
    Seraphim
    Serpent
    Serpents
    Servant
    Servants
    Service
    Servitude
    Session
    Set You Free
    Sexual Sin
    Shabbat
    Shabbat Bread
    Shabbats
    Shaliach
    Shamash
    Shavuot
    Shechem
    Sheep
    Sheep Gate
    Sheep & Goats
    Shelters
    Shem
    Shemini Atzeret
    Shemot
    Shepherd
    Shiloach
    Shiloh
    Shimon
    Shimon Kefa
    Shivah
    Shmini Atzeret
    Shofar
    Shofrot
    Shomeir Shabbat
    Shomron
    Shomroniym
    Shomroniyt
    Shoot
    Shuvah
    Sickness
    Sight
    Sign
    Signs
    Silent
    Siloam
    Simchat Torah
    Simeon
    Simon Peter
    Sin
    Sinai
    Sisters
    Sitting Shivah
    Sixth Day
    Slave
    Slavery
    Slave To Sin
    Smoke And Fire
    Snake
    Sodom
    Sol Invictus
    Solomons Colonnade
    Solomons Porch
    Son
    Song Of The Lamb
    Sons Of God
    Sorceress
    Soul
    Speckled
    Spirit
    Spotted
    Star Of David
    Steps
    Stock
    Stomach
    Stone
    Story In Genealogy
    Streaked
    Streaming
    Strength
    Stump
    Substitution
    Success
    Sukkah
    Sukkot
    Sunday
    Superstition
    Swear
    Sychar
    Synagogue
    Tables
    Taken Away
    Tallit
    Talmidim
    Talmud
    Tamar
    Tammuz
    Tanakh
    Targum
    Tav
    Tear
    Teffilot
    Tefillah
    Tefillin
    Tehilim
    Temple
    Temple Mount
    Temple Rites
    Teshuva
    Testimony
    Tevilah
    That Day
    The Beast
    The Binding Of Isaac
    The Branch
    The Bride
    The Day
    The Exodus
    The Fall
    The Festival
    The Good Samaritan
    The Hebrew Text
    The Holy Name
    The Lamb
    The Land
    The Land Of Israel
    Theology
    The Pavement
    The Seventh Shofar
    The Third Temple
    The Two Olive Trees
    The Word
    Thirst
    Thomas
    Throne
    Tikun Olam
    Tishrei
    Tishri
    Tithing
    Toledot
    T'oma
    Tomb
    Torah
    Tower Of Babel
    Town Of David
    Tradition
    Transgression
    Translation
    Treasury
    Trial
    Tribe
    Tribes
    Trust
    Truth
    Turning
    Twins
    Tzemakh David
    Tzemakh Hashem
    Tzitzit
    Tziyon
    Uncreated
    Under Garment
    Unity
    Unleavened Bread
    Unquenchable Fire
    Uriah
    Uzziah
    Vayikra
    Vengeance
    Vicarious
    Village
    Vine
    Vinedresser
    Vineyard
    Violation
    Virgin Birth
    Voice
    Voice Of Annulment
    Voices
    Vow
    Vows
    Wait
    Waiting
    Walls
    Warning
    Washing
    Washing Feet
    Watchers
    Watchmen
    Water
    Water Of Life
    Water Ritual
    Waters
    Wave Offering
    Way
    Weak
    Weapon
    Wedding
    Well
    Wells
    Western Wall
    Whip
    Wine
    Wine Press
    Witchcraft
    Witness
    Woman
    Woman At The Well
    Wonderful Counsellor
    Word
    Work
    World
    World To Come
    Wrath
    Wrestles
    Write
    Xmas
    Yaakov
    Yaakov Ben Yehoshua
    Yaakov Brown
    Yahashua
    Yahshua
    Yam
    Yarden
    Yehoshua
    Yehudah
    Yehudi
    Yehudiym
    Yeshayah
    Yeshayahu
    Yeshivah
    Yeshua
    Yeshua In The Feasts
    Yeshua's Birth
    YHVH
    Yishaiyahu
    Yishay
    Yishayahu
    Yisrael
    Yochanan
    Yom Ha Teruah
    Yom Ha-Zikharon
    Yom Kippur
    Yom Shishi
    Yom Teruah
    Yom T'ruah
    Yoseph
    Yoseph Ben Gorion
    Zebulun
    Ziggurat
    Zion

    RSS Feed

May the present peace of Messiah Yeshua reconcile you to the eternal rest of HaShem!


Meeting times

Friday evening: 6:30pm - 10pm

Telephone

64 212709933

Email

bethmelekh@gmail.com