From the Rabbi's Desk

 

Article # 3
 
What is the Torah? That was our question in article #2. Let me say from the start that a very poor job has been done in both the Jewish world as well as the Christian world regarding the importance of Torah.
 
 For those that seek to be disciples of Yeshua, the situation regarding the observance of Torah is not optional. The very call that Yeshua gave to his disciples was to be disciples and then they are instructed to go to the nations and make disciples of them (the nations.) In the Messianic world as well as the Christian world, the thinking is that all we have to do is call on His name repent of our sins and then avoid gross sin. Is this what Yeshua meant? Those who are of an inquiring mind would say how different was Yeshua's teaching in relation to the rest of the contemporary world of the Messiah. The answer is to those who have researched, not a great deal. Yes, there are some areas where he hade some original statements, but, bye and large He was well within Jewish thinking of the period. The Pirkei Avot, the "Ethics of the Fathers," also known as the "Sayings of the Fathers." In chapter 1:1 we read (paraphrasing), there are three things that you (probably a disciple of the word or a disciple of the sages) need to do ensure righteous judgment, make a fence around the Torah and raise up many disciples.
 
 Can we see this in Yeshua's teaching? The answer is yes! Yeshua called for mercy in judgment, and practiced it. Just one example is found in Matthew 7:1-12. He built a fence around Torah, in Matthew 5:21; 27:31. In fact, the fence that Yeshua constructed was far beyond anything that other contemporary teachers of His day taught. Then we get to make disciples of nations. The areas that most of the messianic world and the church gravitate to, are the signs and miracles. These are important, but are only part of His teaching and lifestyle. When we say that He was sinless we say that he did not contravene the Torah, otherwise He would have sin. We are to emulate His lifestyle as well as practice His Halachah (oral interpretation of the written Torah.) He went to synagogue every Shabbat, as was His lifestyle; He went to the Temple every pilgrim feast as instructed by Torah. There is not one teaching that contravenes the written Torah, that is on record.
 
 Therefore part of our discipleship and that of the nations that we are to disciple must include the Torah as a lifestyle. Did Hashem not say be holy as I am holy? I think there is a movie or book that is entitled 'An inconvenient truth,' and that is what Torah is for those that shun it! It is certainly much easier to say that it is too inconvenient for my western lifestyle. After all the Lord will understand.
 
 There is a very interesting Proverb in chapter 28:9 which reads (CJB*) "If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination."  Why do so many skip over areas in scripture that demand action other than doing what is spiritual to us. Everything that G-d gives us is not only physical but also spiritual. From keeping the Sabbath on the seventh day and not on the first day of the week, observing the High Holy days on the appointed dates according to the biblical calendar. These are not optional dates nor arbitrary  MITZVOT (commandments).   

* = Complete Jewish Bible