A Family Integrated Business?

Nuts and Bolts of the Family Business Conference, July 20-21, 2012

Last week we went to an AME Conference (Apprentice, Mentor, Entrepreneur) called Nuts and Bolts of the Family Economy. The conference was geared toward equipping and encouraging families interested in establishing a family business.

In some of the a family businesses they worked together out of their homes. Fathers work at home leading their families while simultaneously mentoring their own children. The children learn a trade from the best teachers that they could ever have, their parents.

What a radical idea! Instead of sending our children off to college (where they can be brainwashed by secular professors), why not teach them while they’re young how to start their own businesses? Why not give them real world experience learning an actual trade and save thousands of dollars? One speaker proposed the idea that if children start working by the age of six, they will potentially be ready to start a business by sixteen. If a young man starts a business by sixteen he could, potentially, be ready for marriage by twenty-one because he will have a viable income. Actually, there were a few young men at the conference who did this. One started his first business at thirteen.

I found it interesting that every speaker that I saw quoted the same verse from the Shema:

“You shall teach them [the commandments of God] diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7

And most of the speakers backed up their points using the Torah. One speaker quoted Deuteronomy 5:13,14:

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God;”

His point was this: God gave us six days to work, not five. So, if we worked for six days, we would have more income and we could get ahead. Moreover, if we worked for six days, how much more would we appreciate the Sabbath?

Another speaker quoted the other half of Deuteronomy 5:14:

“…in it [Shabbat] you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.”

His point was this: Who’s doing the work? You (the papa and mama), the son, the daughter, the male and female servant, and the sojourner. Could this be a picture of a family business? Could a family business be Biblical? Could moving toward a multigenerational business be the next natural step after homeschooling and being part of a multigenerational community of faith?

Another great point that I took away from the conference was this:

“In a family business, don’t consider yourself a business owner only but a discipler of people!”

Your children and your employees will be your disciples. That is such a great idea and that's what it's all about anyway—right? Making disciples like the Master commanded us?

AME is somehow related to CHEC (Christian Home Educators of Colorado) so all the speakers are coming from a homeschooling perspective. The more I thought about it all, the more I realized that this ‘family economy’ movement was bound to happen. I see it like this—as home schooled children graduate high school, parents start to ask themselves "What’s next for my son or daughter? College or a Job?" Either way, they will be trained, taught, or mentored by someone else. So who are these teachers or employers? What beliefs do they have? What is their relationship to our God and Messiah? Yeshua said:

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” - Luke 6:40

Has this been your experience? It was for me. In college, students began to mimic their favorite professors; they used their favorite phrases and adopted their philosophies. At a first job, employees try to emulate their bosses; they learn their tricks of the trade and start to use their terminology. It happens just like the Master said—the pupil will, inevitably, be like his teacher. Who is teaching your adult children?

I wanted to share this to challenge your thinking and remind and encourage you that, as disciples of Yeshua, we will be counter culture. The things that we do will not always look like the rest of the world; and that's okay. We should be okay with this. We should get used to this and help our children to get used to it too.



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Riding Into The Storm

From this spot the mountains can be seen just over the tree tops but
because of the approaching storm, the mountains are not visible at all.

Sunday morning Isaac asked me to take him on a bike ride. He had been wanting to get out on his bike for some time now so I took him on a quick ride through the neighborhood. Although we only rode for a little more than half an hour, we covered a good amount of distance; I was impressed anyway. Since the beginning of July I have been telling Margaret that I was going to start biking to work; but for one reason or another I couldn't ride the bike because I needed to use my service van. That morning after my ride with Isaac, I was so pumped that I decided to drive the van to the office, leave it there and then bike home. I figured I would leave the van at the office from now on so when I need it, it's there. So, that night I did it; I loaded up my laptop and bike, dropped off the van and laptop at the office and then road the bike home. Going at a pretty good pace, it took me thirty minutes to get home. I noticed that, for the most part, the trip was up hill.

On Monday morning, my first day to ride to work, I left with about forty five minutes to get there. I arrived with plenty of time to spare. It felt good to ride to work. Coasting down the hills breathing in the cool, refreshing morning air. It was a great way to start the day.

At lunch I ran to the store and picked up a backpack for my laptop and all of the other stuff that I normally carry with me. As I transferred the stuff from the old bag to the new backpack I realized that I carry a lot of stuff around. As a bi-vocational pastor I find it a necessity to have some of my study material with me at all times, just in case I have an opportunity to study wherever I'm at.

Around three o'clock in the afternoon I heard some comments from down the hall about the weather and how dark it looked over the mountains. "Storm's moving in from the mountains! We're going to get dumped on!" shouted one of my coworkers. In all of my zeal and excitement to bike to work, I did not consider the weather. I went outside to look at the sky; it was dark. I began to get nervous.

Being the analytical person that I am, I typically don't jump into things without first thoroughly thinking them through; at least that's how I see myself. Looking back on my life, however, I find it interesting that some of the biggest life decisions that I've made, were made on a whim; without thinking too much about them. Most of these decisions I don't regret, and in fact, if I had stopped to analyze them at the time (or listened to the advice of others), I probably would have made different choices that would have taken my life in a whole other direction. So I embraced my not-so-thought-out decision to ride my bike to work, I put my goal before me and I determined to ride home--rain or shine.

As the workday was quickly coming to a close several folks offered me a ride. I declined. I also kept my mind from the thought of leaving my bike at the office and driving the van home or calling Margaret to pick me up. At this point, nothing was going to keep me from my goal. I strapped on the twenty pound backpack, climbed on the bike and began to make my way home.

Having made this trip twice within the past twenty four hours, from the office to the house the night before and from the house to the office that morning, my legs were already fatigued. I had only gone a couple of blocks from the office when my thighs began to burn. This is when I discovered that my gears are in need of a major adjustment; my shifting was limited for the entire ride home. As I pushed ahead, up hill and against the wind, the extra weight from the backpack became an ever-present reality. If this wasn't enough, I could see the dark gray clouds begin to cover the foothills as they quickly advanced in my direction. I was becoming discouraged.

In my mind it became a race; I had to beat the storm to the house but I had to keep a much slower pace than I did the night before. I prayed as I peddled; asking for endurance and the strength to make it. Once I started to feel a slight drizzle on my forearms and my face, I began to look around for places of refuge in the event that it started to "dump" on me. As I made my way through the bike trail I saw several people huddled under trees or standing beneath underpasses with their dogs. I was sure at any moment the rain would begin to fall on me and I would soon be drenched; my computer, Bible, books and everything else in my backpack. Every now and then a big raindrop would hit my face or my arms and I'd think, "This is it! It's going to pour!" but it never did.

Once I past the halfway mark I looked up to see that the mountains were becoming visible again. The dark clouds cleared up and I never felt the full impact of the storm. I finished my ride home in a cool, misty breeze. When I arrived at the house everyone was surprised that I wasn't drenched because the neighborhood had been "dumped on." I gave thanks to God and I was glad that I didn't give up but rather pushed myself as I was riding into the storm not knowing what to expect.

I feel like I am riding into a storm right now. I can see the dark clouds ahead and it's approaching fast but I have to remain resilient and stand my ground. It's tempting to look around for places of refuge to run and hide but I need to be looking to God for my refuge and my strength. I'm not sure what the outcome is going to be; I don't know what's going to happen when this storm passes or if I will even make it through the storm, but whatever happens, I know God is in it. I just hope I am faithful in this test in order to glorify His Name.



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You Shall Rejoice In Your Feast

"One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed."
Proverbs 19:17, NAS

Our Torah Portion this week (Deut 16:13-22) begins with more details regarding the third and final Pilgrimage Festival, the Feast of Booths (aka—Sukkot). We are reminded that, like the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot, during Sukkot the Children of Israel are commanded to rejoice. This feast takes place at the beginning of the Fall season; the time when fruits are harvested. The Text says that they are to celebrate after they have "gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vats" which is an indication that their rejoicing is out of gratitude to God for all that He has provided; namely a bountiful fruit harvest. The implication in Deut 16:15 is that they did, or will, have gathered in a large harvest because they are, or will be, blessed by God. This is where we find a connection between this week's portion and last week's (Deut 15:7-16:12).

In last week's passage we read about the poor in the land and how they are to be taken care of. The Children of Israel are commanded to give generously to their poor brother.

"You shall generously give to him [the poor brother], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings."
- Deut 15:10, NAS

The context of this passage is the Shmita, the seventh or Sabbatical Year; also known as the Year of Release or Remission because during this year, all debts are forgiven. The command in Deut 15:9 is to give to the poor brother who is in need even though the Shmita is near; which means his debt will be forgiven and you will not be paid back. Moses instructs the people to give generously to their poor brother when he is in need and in doing so, God will bless them in all their work and in all their undertakings, i.e. their harvest. In this imagery we can see a cycle of giving and receiving; giving to the poor and receiving from God. Receiving blessings from God (in the form of a bountiful harvest) and then sharing these blessings with the needy.

Another point that we cannot overlook is the identity of the poor in the Land. The Text is clear in identifying who they are—"one of your brothers" (Deut 15:7) that is, a fellow Israelite and not a foreigner. More specifically, the poor are the Levite, the alien, the widow and the orphan (Deut 14:28-29). The Levite and the alien do not have an inheritance in the land, therefore they cannot provide for themselves. The widow does not have a husband to provide for her and the orphan, or fatherless, is without a father and therefore without provision. These four groups of people are legitimately poor; they have a valid need as opposed to the able-bodied young man who refuses to work. The Apostle Paul says of these individuals, "if [he] is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either." (2 Thes 3:10)

In this week's passage we see that these four groups of poor people are commanded to rejoice at Sukkot along with another four groups of people:

"...you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns."
- Deut 16:14, NAS

The Levite, the alien, the widow and the orphan are contrasted against sons, daughters, male and female servants. The latter four groups are those who are part of a household within the Children of Israel. Their needs are provided for, they are taken care of. The former four groups are the poor and underprivileged, those who are in need. But the command doesn't seem to be given to them, it seems to be directed to the same individuals who were addressed in Deut 15—those who are NOT in need, those who DO have an inheritance, those who HAVE been blessed abundantly by God. The Midrash comments on this passage:

Hashem says:
"Your household includes four kinds of members: your sons, daughters, male and maid servants; and My household includes four: the levi'im, gairim, orphans, and widows. If you cheer My household members, I will then make yours and Mine happy."
- R. Moshe Weissman, "The Midrash Says, The Book of Devarim" (Brooklyn, NY: Bnay Yakov 2010) 200.

In other words, the poor are members of God's family too and during Sukkot (and all the Festivals for that matter) it is good to make sure that they are able to celebrate along with everyone else. Is this any different than today? Are we not also charged with this commandment to make sure that the needy in our communities are able to celebrate the Festivals with us? Yes we are. The Sages encourage those who are well-off to invite the poor into their homes on Yom Tov (festival) or to give them donations so that they can celebrate in their own homes. As Holy Spirit filled disciples of Yeshua, we should be quick to meet the needs of our poor brothers. In fact, on the Shavuot following Yeshua's death, resurrection and ascension, when the Ruach fell and three-thousand were saved; these born-again disciples, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, immediately began to sell their own property and possessions in order to give to those who were in need (Acts 2:41-47).

Let us strongly consider this commandment to help the poor in our community, especially during the three Pilgrimage Festivals when it is our responsibility to help them rejoice. Besides, the festivals are much more special when we can all enter in and celebrate as a community and a family. We need to understand that these principles in giving to the poor are for today because the "poor shall never cease" to be around us. (Deut 15:11) We need to, as families and individuals, determine how we can apply these principles to our own lives. We should be asking ourselves, "In what practical ways can I reach out to the poor in my community?" and "What has God blessed me with that I can share with them?" This should be a daily practice for us as followers of Yeshua; and when the world sees that we have genuine love for one another, they will know that we are truly his disciples (John 13:35).

"He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses."
- Proverbs 28:27, NAS

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Building A Model Takes Time

1979 Monogram Models Advertisement

Isaac brought home a model airplane the other day and wanted us to put it together after dinner. I tried to explain to him that model airplanes take quite a bit of time to assemble; days, sometimes weeks, maybe even a month or two! In addition to a lot of time, building models takes patience especially in learning how to use the tools and supplies properly; painting the pieces, cutting them out with an X-ACTO® knife, applying the model glue and putting the pieces together with tweezers while looking through a magnifying glass. It's a lot of work. Then I tried to explain to him that model airplanes are not supposed to be played with, but displayed and 'looked' at. He crinkled his nose at that bit of information.

All of this didn't stop or deter him. He was determined to put it together and play with it. So, after dinner, we slapped it together with super glue because we didn't have any model glue. We didn't paint it because we didn't have any model paint. We left out a lot of pieces too because he had removed them from the spruces. (In case you don't know, a spruce is the plastic frame that the parts come attached to. On the spruce next to each part is a number that corresponds to the instructions. This is how you know where each piece is supposed to be placed. You don't remove a part until you need it.) It was a learning experience for both of us. I'm just glad the thing only cost $2. Although it looks nothing like the picture on the box, he's been playing with it as it slowly falls apart.

I couldn't help but draw a connection between this plastic model airplane and Biblical models that we should have in or communities. Like the plastic model airplane, Deacons are to be observed by the other members of the community as models. Plastic model airplanes are a miniature replica of an ideal or perfect aircraft while Deacons are not perfect individuals, but rather, believers in Yeshua who are exemplary in their walk with Him. They fit the requirements found in 1 Tim 3 and Titus 1; they have been tested and have proved themselves fit to bear the title of Deacon. If someone is put into the office of a Deacon without first being tested, it will only be a matter of time before they are tested. A Deacon that falls has the potential of causing other members of a community to stumble.

"...let them also be tested first;"

1 Tim 3:10, ESV

Isaac wants to buy another model airplane so we can assemble it together. This time, he says, he wants to do it the right way so he can display it for all to see.

Below a timely AdWeek article on the topic. I hate the term 'tween'. Anyway...

At one time, 80 percent of tween lads built plastic models. Not any more.
By Robert Klara



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Hazy Fourth

Downtown Denver in a haze around 7pm.

This morning we woke up to a haze across the horizon as far as the eye could see. It was so thick that, from our area, we could not see the mountains or downtown Denver. It was really weird because we couldn't smell smoke but the sky was smoky. We spent the afternoon with some friends down in Columbine; delicious hot dogs, turkey burgers, homemade cobbler and good conversation. On our way back home it seemed like the haze had become thicker; ominous. I jumped online once I got home to find out what the haze was coming from because I thought most of the Colorado fires were under control. I found out it was from fires in Wyoming. It's amazing that smoke from a fire in a neighboring state miles away can affect us.

What a way to spend the 4th of July—in a haze with no fireworks.

Related Articles:

Smoke, Haze Coming From Wyoming Wildfires, 7 News (ABC)

Where can I see 4th of July fireworks in Colorado?, 9 News (NBC)



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Sue Samuel at Front Range

Messianic Recording Artist, Sue Samuel and her husband Brian, will be performing at Front Range on Saturday, July 7th at 7:00pm. Visit the Facebook Event here: Sue & Brian Samuel

Come out and enjoy original praise and worship music by this very talented Messianic Jewish couple.

Visit her website: SueSamuel.com

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My Experience in High Places

The Flatirons in Boulder, Colorado

Soon after I began my walk in the Torah I started a new job in Boulder at an up and coming graphic design firm. Working in Boulder was exciting for me because when we first moved to Colorado from Texas, Boulder was our original destination; but once we arrived, we found out how expensive it was to live there so we ended up in Westminster.

Driving to Boulder every morning was breathtaking. When I didn't take the bus I would drive through the backroads so I could see the morning sun shining on the Flatirons. I'd often pull over just to gaze at the mountains. During my lunch break I would walk up and down the Pearl Street mall and visit the eclectic shops or I'd stroll through the nearby neighborhoods and enjoy the scenery.

I found out that a Messianic Judaica shop, called High Places, had relocated from Estes Park to Boulder. When I found out where it was located, I would sometimes walk to it on my lunch break and eat my lunch as I browsed. One of the store owners, Elizabeth, would point me to books and music that she thought I would like. She was a kind lady. I would talk to her about the Messianic Movement and the Torah. I often encouraged her to consider making a website for their store; at the time there were very little Judaica shops online, not to mention Messianic ones. Unfortunately, the store didn't stay open very long. I remember driving up one day to find the store closed down. I would later run into Elizabeth at various Messianic events in the area. At one event I found out that her son, Toby, had recently joined FFOZ. I didn't have any interaction with Elizabeth after that, but when I think about my Boulder experience, she is part of it.

Elizabeth passed away last Wednesday. Yesterday I took a half-day off to attended her memorial service in Loveland. It was interesting to see the variety of folks there, Messianic and Christian believers, paying their respects to this godly woman who touched their lives. I was encouraged and moved by Toby's beautiful tribute to his mother. I was also encouraged to see the ways of God passed on from one generation to the next. Elizabeth's legacy will live on in her son's life and the lives of her grandchildren.



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Getting Back In The Swing

As a bi-vocational pastor (i.e., having a fulltime job in addition to overseeing a congregation) I've seen a pattern in the ebbs and flows of 'busy seasons' especially around the Moedim. This year, however, after Shavuot the busyness seemed to increase and hold at a steady, accelerated pace. I take this as an indication of a number of things: 1) my children are getting older, 2) our community is growing, 3) business is picking up.

As my children get older I have noticed that each of them are requiring more and more one-on-one interaction. This takes time and effort, which I will gladly give. The conversations are getting deeper, the questions are more thoughtful, and the bike rides are getting longer! There's nothing that can compare to spending time with my family.

As our community grows it requires more attention too. Delegating tasks is now a necessity if I'm going to get anything done, namely prepare a message for Shabbat. God continues to send folks our way and folks continue to step up to serve. We will be appointing deacons in the next month or so. This is an exciting step in the development of our community and an indication of the blessings of God on this local body.

Being in the HVAC business for the past few years I've come to understand the 'busy seasons' in this industry as well. When the weather gets warmer, the phone begins to ring off the hook. Thankfully we are gainfully employed with service and maintenance calls to businesses all over the Metro Denver area. Although I'm not a service technician and sit at a desk, I still feel the increase of work in our shop. Thank God for the heat!

Although I haven't made a blog entry over the past month and a half, I haven't been short of topics to write about, just the time to do it. There have been many things that I've wanted to address or comment on, but because more and more topics keep popping up every week, I may never get back to those thoughts. Oh well, I'll just keep moving forward and try to get back in the swing of things.



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Are You Growing Spiritually?

Sheaves of Wheat in a Field, 1885
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890)

It's been exactly one month since my last post. Lame, I know, but it's been busy around here. After Passover, everything seemed to pick up—park celebrations, Yom HaShoah, March of Remembrance, a birth in the community, Brit Milah, warmer weather, fixing bicycles, going for walks, yard work, other miscellaneous life events and then Sunday night was Pesach Sheni. In the midst of all the busy-ness we’ve been trying to keep track of the days as we count the Omer leading up to Shavuot. During the past 31-days we’ve been examining our hearts and our relationship with God.

Did you know that there are different theories on how to break and/or start a habit, whether good or bad? During this season of reflecting on our spiritual growth, I’ve challenged our community to use this time to break bad habits and start good ones. An example of a bad habit is watching too much television or movies, especially the inappropriate ones. What about spending too much time on facebook? These bad habits are horrible time wasters and in families, they can get in the way of spending time with each other and hinder the development of stronger familial relationships. But, when considering starting a good habit, focus on the ‘spiritual’ ones like praying and spending time in the Word. While positive ‘physical’ habits—like eating healthier or making better vocabulary choices—are good practices to have; let’s keep in mind that this season is about our spiritual growth. Let's use this time to focus on the strengthening of our spiritual life and our relationship with God.

FREE Download: Counting of the Omer Chart (PDF, 133 kb)



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We are Children of God, let's live like it

Our little Seder grew to 54 people.
Despite the size, all of us still had a great time.

I feel clean, spiritually. After a week of studying Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits, meditating on the Word, praying and worshipping with my MP3 player—I feel clean. In preparing a sermon for Pesach Shabbat, I began to look into the historical, typological and eschatological significance of Passover and their implication on our lives today. I imagined myself delivering a profound message on the typology and symbolism of the Seder; but, as I prayed, this was not the direction that I was led go. Throughout the week, a simple refrain kept coming to mind, “You're mine; live like it.”

The Passover Haggadah and the foods eaten during the Seder serve as a mnemonic devices which are designed to remind us of Who God is and what He did for the children of Israel. During the Seder, 4 Questions are asked by the youngest person present. These 4 Questions, which were developed by the sages as a response to Exodus 12:26-27, are the backbone of the Haggadah and the Passover story. The 'youngest person' who asks the 4 Questions represents the next generation who will take this ritual and pass it along to their children who will, likewise, pass it along to their offspring and so on. Once again we see the importance of a multigenerational faith in the preservation of the ways of God.

Because of the nature of the Moedim, no one festival can stand alone. They are all inextricably connected, in other words—they cannot be separated. Since Passover is the first festival in the cycle of the Moedim (Leviticus 23), it's significance and relevance to the other festivals cannot be easily overlooked. During the Passover Seder the story of the redemption of God's people is told as we follow the Haggadah. We are reminded of their freedom from Egypt where they were slaves to Pharaoh. We recount their deliverance through the signs, miracles and wonders of Yahweh. In their freedom, we can make a connection to the spiritual freedom from the bondage of sin that we experienced through the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Yeshua. Because of this, the Seder also serves to remind us of who we are—Children of God.

During the Seder dinner and throughout the seven days of Unleavened we are commanded to eat matzah, unleavened bread. During the season of Passover leaven is symbolic of 'sin'. Before the Passover Seder, we are commanded to rid our homes of leaven and likewise rid our hearts of spiritual leaven, or sin. This is an important principle to catch during this season because a sinful person cannot come into the presence of a holy God. At the Passover Seder we are reminded that God brought us out of Egypt, He delivered us, redeemed us and made us His people. During the seven days of Unleavened Bread we are reminded of the 'unleavened' life we are now called to lead as His chosen people. A life submitted to His Will. A life lived righteously based on the standards found in His Torah. We are His, we need to live like it.

As a symbol of rededicating our lives to Messiah during this season, we 'took a mikveh' on First Fruits. We immersed ourselves in the water and came out new 'clean' people. Like my son said, "we are being re-charged, like a battery" ready for another year and another cycle of the Moedim. During this Counting of the Omer season leading up to Shavuot, we purpose to continue to examine our lives and to continually rid our hearts of the 'leaven of malice and evil ' when we discover it. We want to be more like Messiah. We want to be vessels that the Ruach can dwell in. We understand that we are Children of God. We want to live like it.



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No Beitzah on our Ke'ara

A traditional Ke'ara or Seder Plate

A distinguishing characteristics between our Seder plate and a traditional Jewish Seder plate is the absence of the Beitzah, or egg. It has been our understanding that the egg was added to the Seder meal during the Babylonian captivity of Israel. The egg is a symbol borrowed from the ancient fertility rites and rituals of the pagan people in Babylon. According to the Chabad "a hard-boiled egg represents the holiday offering brought in the days of the Holy Temple. The meat of this animal constituted the main part of the Passover meal." (see The Egg, Chabad.org) In other words, the lamb shank bone represents the lamb that was slain for the Passover meal and the egg represents the Festival sacrifices that were performed on the first day of Passover or Unleavened Bread. We, however, understand that all of the sacrifices performed in the Holy Temple were types and shadows of Yeshua's death. Therefore, this boiled egg would be, in a way, symbolizing Him. For this reason we have excluded it from our Seder meals. We do not want to use a pagan symbol to represent our Messiah, nor do we want to use any pagan symbolism in the worship of our God.

Other items on the Seder plate that are not commanded to be there are the parsley (karpas) and the sweet apple mixture (charoset). The parsley is symbolic of the season; it is green and so is the springtime. The sweet apple mixture is symbolic of the mortar that the Hebrews used in building amazing structures for Pharaoh. These symbols are harmless and actually add to the Seder meal. The only items we are commanded to eat on Passover are the lamb, the bitter herbs and the unleavened bread.

Below are some related images for your amusement...

Beitzah - the roasted or boiled egg used
at a traditional Jewish Seder.

Kokkina Avga (Red Eggs) are a traditional food
during Easter for the Greek Orthodox Church.

Rabbits and the eggs are symbols of springtime
and fertility in many cultures.

Eostre - a Germanic pagan fertility goddess.
Notice the rabbits and the red eggs in her basket.

Related Articles:
The Egg in Exodus
By Yossy Goldman (Chabad.org)

Are the Symbols and Customs of Easter of Pagan Origin?
By Roger Patterson (AnswersInGenesis.org)

The Symbolism of Cracking Red Eggs on Easter
By Anastasios Papapostolou (GreekReporter.com)



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Choosing Greener Grass Over Community

The grass is always greener on the other side. But maybe
it's because the other side was fertilized with harmful
herbicides and pesticides. Be careful!

In our Torah passage last week we read about Reuben and Gad asking to stay in the wilderness instead of joining the rest of the tribes of Israel in crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land. The tribes fo Reuben and Gad had acquired an exceedingly large amount of livestock, presumably after the destruction of Midian. But on their way into the Promised Land they noticed that the land on the east side of the Jordan River was good for livestock—their livestock. So they petition Moses and request that they stay there, east of the Jordan, and forfeit their inheritance in the Promised Land.

Moses takes issue with this petition. He equates their appeal with the actions of the 10 spies, their forefathers, who lost faith in God and spread fear throughout the community. This sin is what kept them in the wilderness for 40 years to begin with and they are potentially going to take the people through the same thing. If they do, Moses lets them know that it will be on their heads. By desiring to stay in the wilderness they will cause the people to lose hope in their mission and faith in their God. This was not a light matter.

Moses knew that these unexpected, selfish actions would cause some to doubt the purpose of their hard work. It would cause them to second guess their mission and ultimately lead them down the path of disobedience and away from God. Imagine going through 40 years of wilderness-living with these folks—working toward the same goal, going through the same hardship experiences—and then once you arrive at your final destination, the goal of your 40 year trek, they bail on you. It would be incredibly discouraging.

The same can be said about churches today—when the going gets tough, the selfish get up and go. This is because in most churches today multigenerational faith is not preached. As a result, some families find themselves hopping from church to church in search for the ever-elusive 'perfect community.' Once they think they've found it, they settle down for a few months, maybe a year, until they find some imperfections with their new church family. When the opportunity comes, they decide that these imperfections are enough reason for them to leave. They feel that their departure is justified and they move on to next temporary commitment. The sad reality of this scenario is that the children have been carefully watching all along. The children of the families that stay in the church and, more importantly, the children of the family that leaves and moves from church to church. This experience will have a negative impact on their ability to commit to a community of faith when they are adults. It may even cause them to struggle with their relationship with God.

On the other hand, a multigenerational faith understands that, when committing to a community, the good times come with the bad. There are ebbs and there are flows. There are times of growth and times of drought. There are highs and lows. A multigenerational faith will model for their children a long term commitment to their community. Several years ago when we left our previous church that we had attended for nine years, it was tough on our children. They were devastated. It wasn't until after this event that I began to understand what it means to live multigenerationally. So now, we've committed to this community, Front Range, for life—God willing that is. I want my children to understand that long term commitments are good, like marriage.

The high divorce rate in our society is an indication that long term commitments are not valued. Marriage is no longer a commitment that lasts 'until death do us part' but 'until I get tired of being married to you.' We've become a selfish, self-centered society and when things don't go our way, we have no problem leaving. Many people today hop from job to job, house to house, school to school, church to church. etc... As a society we seem to be loosing the concept and value of long term commitments. Is it because they take work, sometimes hard work and even self sacrifice? It's much easier to leave when the going gets tough.

Although the grass may be greener on the other side, what else is on that other side? In Joshua 22 we read that Reuben and Gad realized that their children were going to pay the consequences for their decision to live outside the Promised Land. Their selfish decision took them outside of the safety of community and into the wilderness. Because they were self-centered, they put their own desires before the welfare of the children, before their commitment to their community and before their obedience to their God.

Remember, it's the children that suffer the consequences for our selfish decisions. So, when committing to a community of faith, consider trying extra-hard to stick it out during the bad times. Commit to a community for the long haul. It will only cause you to grow and it will benefit your children, God's next generation.

Related Passages:
Torah: Numbers 32:1-42
Haftarah: Joshua 22:7-9
Apostolic Scriptures: Hebrews 10:26-31



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Minor Traditions For Generations To Come

Esther and Vashti are popular costumes among the girls.

Mordecai, Ahashverosh and Haman are popular costumes among the boys

This past Thursday we had our annual Purim Bash, a minor celebration on the Hebrew Calendar. It's interesting to consider that both Chanukah and Purim take place in the winter. Chanukah takes place a couple of months after Sukkot and Purim takes place one month before Passover. Wow—Spring Feasts, Fall Feasts, Winter Celebrations—there is always something to celebrate on the Hebrew Calendar! Anyway...

This year we did not promote our celebration like we did in the past few years, but we still had a large turnout. I was glad to see how many people actually came out on a weekday night to celebrate with us. Our desire is to celebrate the festivals on the actual date of the festival and not a few days later when it might be more convenient. Making the effort to do this will speak volumes to our children.

These celebrations are really geared toward our children anyway. We work extra hard and make the necessary sacrifices to create fun and exciting memories that will stay with our children for the rest of their lives. They will tell their own children about the fun they had at these celebrations and hopefully make the same effort to create exciting celebrations for them. We do this for our children, the next generation, so they will take these traditions and pass them on to generations to come. This is the Hebraic way. This is a core value for us at Front Range.

To see photos of our Purim Bash, visit our Facebook photo album here: Purim Bash! 14-15 Adar 5772



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Marveling at God's Creation

We climbed as high as we could to get the best view.

Yesterday we spent the day in Boulder. We passed Chautauqua Park and drove up Flagstaff Road a ways. We found a nice place to park and get out and hike around. Although we live in Colorado and we've spent some time in the mountains, I couldn't help but notice how the children were in awe of their surroundings. The trees, the large rocks, the mountains and the altitude we had climbed. It made them laugh and sing, run and play. They marveled at God's creation and they enjoyed it. They explored the rocks and surveyed the land and when it was time to go, they didn't want to leave.

This made me consider my response to God's creation. When we first moved here from Texas, Margaret and I couldn't get enough of the mountains. Often, I'd pull over on the side of the road just to gaze at the front range. Today, however, it's not uncommon for me to go a whole day without even glancing over at the mountains. I pray that the Father keeps me in awe of His wonders and that I do not take them for granted. I don't want to become numb to the world around me. I want to be more intentional to give Him thanks and praise for the creation He made for us.

Below is a 1977 video that puts into perspective all of God's creation. Keep in mind it is not a faith-based video and it's not the latest in computer animation technology. This is a video that I saw as a child and then again in college. I hope it helps you to marvel at the world around us and at our own bodies which were fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

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There's only ONE Moses

Moses views the land from Mount Nebo.

One of the saddest pictures in the Torah is that of Moses coming to the border of Israel, at the edge of the wilderness, and then dying. Although he was specifically selected by God for the task of leading the people out of slavery in Egypt and into a land flowing with milk and honey, Moses was not allowed to complete his mission because of his sin. His forty year journey would end in the wilderness at Shittim, in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, just opposite Jericho.

In our parashah this week Adonai tells Moses to go up on a mountain and view the land. After he sees it, he would die. Before he ascends the mountain Moses is moved, once again, to intercede for the people. This time he prays that Adonai would not leave the people leaderless, or shepherd-less. Moses loved the flock in his care. Adonai then appoints Joshua, the son of Nun, as Moses' successor. It's not a surprise that Joshua replaced Moses; but, although he would now lead the people, Joshua's role would not be identical to Moses'.

The Torah tells us that Adonai only spoke with Moses face-to-face (Ex 33:11, Nu 12:6-8). Nobody else had this privilege. In fact, before the ordinances regarding the Kohen Gadol were in place, and possibly even afterward, Moses would enter into the Holy of Holies to speak with Adonai who would meet with him from above the mercy seat (Ex 25:22). Remember, only the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, to atone for the sins of the nation. But Moses had special access to Adonai that nobody else did, not even his successor, Joshua. Regarding Joshua, the parashah says, "...he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD." (Nu 27:21) In other words, Joshua would hear from God through Eleazar, the High Priest. Joshua would be a mediator between the High Priest and the people. He would convey to the people the words from Adonai that were given through the High Priest. Although Joshua was called a prophet, he was not the Prophet (Du 18:15-18) that would come after Moses. While Joshua was a great leader, he was not equal to Moses. Joshua's main task was to see that the mission of Moses came to fruition. This is why he is exhorted to "be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded..." (Jos 1:6-9) Joshua did not add to the Torah, he followed it.

Last night as we read this passage as a family, my children already knew that Joshua was not like Moses. I was amazed at their understanding of this fact because this is not something that we've talked about before; not in our devotional time anyway. But they understood that only Moses spoke with Adonai face-to-face because only he had a special relationship with Him. Nobody had a relationship with Adonai like Moses did.

It is important to understand that Moses had a unique role in Israel's history. He was not given a specific title and/or responsibilities like Aaron, his brother the High Priest; nor was his job established as a perpetual postion. Aaron's job, on the other hand, was a position that was supposed to continue, from generation to generation, through his sons (Ex 40:12-15). Although Moses' role was not ongoing, his mission needed to be completed, hence the appointment of Joshua. Here's another important fact—since Moses and the High Priest were the only two men who could come into the presence of Almighty God in the Holy of Holies, both Moses and the position of the High Priest were types of the Messiah-to-come, Yeshua. Knowing this, it is safe for us to establish the following two points:

1. Moses, the prophet, is a type of the Prophet, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jn 6:14; Ac 3:22-23).
2. The role of the High Priest is a type of the High Priest, Yeshua HaMashiach (Heb 5:1-10).

Today, we do not have a leader like Moses and our High Priest is currently serving in the heavenly tabernacle (Heb 8:1-6). Nevertheless, it is the practice of some congregations to base their hierarchical structure of church government after the Levitical priesthood (Nu 18:1-7) or the shoftim, the judges of the cities in Israel (Du 16:18), with the Senior Pastor serving in the role of the High Priest or Moses. But remember, Moses and the High Priest were types of Yeshua, so equating the modern day position of the Senior Pastor with that of Moses and/or the High Priest would be a dangerous and potentially heretical and blasphemous stance. To equate the Senior Pastor to the shoftim is not as bad, it's just not accurate. The reason is that Torah is not the law of the land today, here in the US or in Israel; and Senior Pastor does not have the same authority in a persons life that a judge did in Biblical times. Be careful if they tell you that they do.

It has been my experience that churches that lean toward a Levitical priesthood or shoftim model of church government (also known as the Jethro model or Moses' ecclesiastical government) are authoritarian in nature and therefore, heavy-handed in their leadership style. This results in the abuse of authority over the laity, time and time again. This stance is not the position of Messianic scholars but rather the position of fringe Torah teachers.

The Biblical model for the government of Israel was for the nation in the land with a functioning Temple and priesthood. This model was never intended to be used in small church communities outside of Israel under foreign governments. Sure we may see some parallels between the Levitical priests and the church leadership and we may see some parallels between the common Israelite people and the church members; but these are only parallels; similarities. We may also find wisdom in Jethro's model of delegation for Moses because it makes sense; it's the inspired Word of God. But we need to remember, there's only one Moses and the Senior Pastor is not functioning in his role.

We are not in Israel with a functioning Temple and Levitical priesthood. We are in the Diaspora, without a Temple and without a Levitical priesthood. So how should we govern our churches? In some of Paul's epistles we can find his God-inspired, Torah-based instructions on church government that he gave to the churches in the Diaspora. If you already have a knowledge of Torah, this would be a good place to start. For a clear explanation of how to run and establish a Messianic congregation, I recommend the TorahResource course "I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology. In this important teaching, Tim Hegg explains the necessity of a plurality of leaders (elders) which was the foundation of the governmental structure in the early church.

Related Articles:

Elders, be an Example to the Flock
Set Your Heart, June 9, 2011

Who owns your Church?
Set Your Heart, July 8, 2010

"I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology
By Tim Hegg, TorahResource.com

Bet Din
By Jacqueline Shields, The Jewish Virtual Library

Synagogues, Shuls and Temples
Judaism 101



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TV Commercials without the TV

The current in-store advertisements at Walmart.

One of the reasons we stopped watching television eleven years ago was because of the commercials. Although my career, at the time, was in the advertising industry, I didn't like being bombarded with televised junk mail. Don't get me wrong, I like good commercials. I like the creative process and the thinking behind the concepts. That kind of stuff motivates me. I just didn't want it consuming a large portion of my time. I wanted less distractions in my life. One of the benefits we found in moving to Colorado was the small number of billboards on the side of the highway. Less distractions—I like it. But while I was at the store this past weekend, I realized that television commercials don't need television anymore. Commercials are now played on dedicated flatscreens that are strategically placed throughout the store. Great. Now we've got our own personal i-billboards to distract us.

Blade Runner, 1982 (Ridley Scott)
The strange Japanese advertisement on the side of a building
and later seen on the side of a blimp.

Although these in-store video advertisements have been around for a few of years now, I'm still not used to them. I usually ignore them and walk past as if they are not even there. I'd feel weird standing there watching a commercial. Wouldn't you? Actually, when I first saw one of these commercial screens, I was reminded of the commercial on the giant screen on the side of the skyscraper in the movie Blade Runner. Remember the geisha lady taking a pill and smiling into the camera? Check out the clip below. Bizarre stuff, eh? Anyway, this was one of the production details that made this futuristic world believable. The story was set in Los Angeles 2019; which is only seven years away! Although the movie was made back in 1982, the execution still holds up today. The Blade Runner screenplay was an adaption of the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968), by Philip K. Dick (1928-1982). If you don't know much about Philip Dick and you like sci-fi, you should check him out and check out the other films based on his works.

Eight of Philip Dick's novels or stories were made into movies. The most recent is The Adjustment Bureau (2011). Another one of Dick's story-turned-movie, Total Recall (1990), won an Academy Award for special effects. If you were to watch this movie now, the effects would seem hokey; but back in the day, they were cutting edge—I promise. Actually, a remake of Total Recall is coming out this August. I'm hoping to go see it.

Minority Report, 2002 (Steven Spielberg)
The personalized, retinal-scan powered advertisements
that seem to be all over the city.

Minority Report (2002) was a popular Philip Dick story/movie that incorporated advertising in the plot. The story is set in Washington DC, 2054, where retinal scanning technology is used by the government to monitor the population. The media also uses this technology to deliver personalized advertisements. John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is a cop on the run. In the clip below, he realizes that he cannot hide in the city because of all the retinal scanners that are mounted everywhere. Big brother is watching his every move.

Anderton is trying to solve a murder mystery while simultaneously evading the police; but in order to move about the city undetected, he has to undergo an eye transplant. He needs new retinas which will provide him a new identity. In the clip below, he enters a Gap store where he learns his new identity.

Mr. Yakamoto, that's hilarious! Get it, he's not Japanese! Anyway, Minority Report is set in 2054, that's thirty-five years away. Do you think we will have this kind of technology in 2054? I mean, right now our computers let folks know what city we are in, websites track our purchases and offer suggestions the next time we visit. Our phones tell everyone where we've been and where we're at; and these are only a few of the basic tasks that simple computers can do today. Technology seems to be advancing at a faster and faster rate which effects all areas of our lives, even advertising.

It's hard to imagine that this story was first published in 1956. I know the screenwriters adapted the story to make it relevant for today; but I also know the advertising of today is much more distracting than the advertising of the 50's. It's probably true that the advertising of the future will be much more distracting than it is today. So I guess the impersonal flatscreens aren't that bad after all. I guess I can tolerate them or at least continue to ignore them. But once they start interacting with me on a personal level, I'm going to look into getting eye transplant insurance.

Related Links:

In-Store TV Still Fighting for Respect -- and Marketing Dollars
Ad Age, 2010

Does 'Minority Report' Portray a Scary Future?
ClickZ, 2002

The Philip K. Dick Website

Total Recall, 2012
Release date - August 3, 2012



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A Cure for Cabin Fever

Miryam (7), Isaac (9), and Aaron (5) exert a little energy.

I had to get these three out of the house this morning in an attempt to cure their cabin fever. They've been cooped up for about a week and needed to exert a little energy. Aaron's been wanting to show us, for the past year, that he knows how to get to the church on foot, so we thought we'd give him a shot. For a five year old kid, he's got a pretty good sense of direction. Here are some shots of our walk to the church and then back home again. Click on the photos for a larger view.

First stop, the bunch of trees down the street.
It's a great place for photos in the fall. We're a bit late.

This is a great open space to watch the sun set.
It's up on a hill; great view of the mountains.

From the top of this hill you can see downtown Denver.
Look right over Isaacs left shoulder,
you can barely make out the Denver skyline.

Here we are at the church. This is where our congregation meets.
Good job Aaron!

We took the long way home
and swung by the new 80th Street bridge.

There were some shoes in the creek.
The kids got a kick out of it.

Last stop, Mr. Mike's house to check out his bike.

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Hurt People Hurt People

Comic Book and Movie Villains are nothing more than bullies.
In The Incredibles (2004), little Buddy Pine grows up to become
the malevolent villain, Syndrome.

As part of my son's Gracie Jiu-Jitsu training, the coach will put the students in imaginary but 'real world' confrontations and then teach them how to protect themselves and get out of the situation. The common scenario he puts them in is the schoolyard bully who is trying take their lunch money by force. It's an old cliché but it's an all too real situation that children still encounter today. In the news more and more stories of bullied children are being told. Some of these children have been bullied to the point of suicide. Because of these horrific instances, anti-bullying laws are now being pushed to protect the vulnerable.

But bullying isn't only found on the playground or in grade schools. Many child bullies grow up to become adult bullies; and adult bullies can be more intimidating and more threatening than their younger counterparts. Adult bullies can be found in the workplace, in social clubs, in the neighborhood and even in the church. So, why do bullies bully?

The cute little orphan, Goob, grows up to become the menacing
Bowler Hat Guy in Disney's Meet the Robinsons (2007)

After years of reading comic books and watching movies, it has become clear to me that villains are usually nothing more than big bullies. Some villains are thieves and some are monsters but usually, they're just bullies. Villains are usually out for revenge. They want to make the people who hurt them in the past, pay and pay dearly. Their broken past and the injustices they faced, usually as a child, are the catalysts that made them a villain. In fact, Tip #2 of the Seven Tips on Creating a Fantastic Fantasy Villain, found on the Fantasy Faction website, touches on this.

To create a Lovable Villain you need to make them characters with whom readers can relate. There are ways of doing this that will help our readers empathise with the most miserable antagonist. Villains can own their own set of injustices. If they feel they are ‘hard done by’, by society, life or circumstance, they not only have an understandable reason for maladjusted behaviour, but they will have enough logic for their actions to allow the reader to have some sympathy towards their plight. From a single human frailty, such as fear, jealousy, or loneliness your villain can still generate evil but they will also have at least one character trait for a reader to relate to. Child abuse, neglect, ridicule in their early life could well influence a villain’s lack of self esteem and arouse a sense of sympathy from the reader.

To make them seem 'real' to their audience, authors and screen writers will give their villains a history that is believable; something people can relate to. Two recent, animated villains with a troubling past come to mind, Syndrome (The Incredibles, 2004) and the Bowler Hat Guy (Meet the Robinsons, 2007). In the movie clip below, Syndrome reveals the childhood rejection that made him a bitter villain.

In the next clip, the Bowler Hat Guy goes back in time and runs into himself as a child. Jump ahead to 2:06 or just watch the whole video.

These are a couple of fun, fictitious examples of how villains are made, but I think there may be some truth to them. I'm no expert on this subject but I have noticed that some people who come from broken backgrounds do end up as bullies; not all, but some. I know because I've experienced a few of these people in my life. Although I grew up in a rough neighborhood, I had a pleasant childhood. I didn't have any traumatic experiences so I cannot relate to how a person like this may feel; but I know they must be hurting. Because they are hurting, they hurt others.

Now, I have to mention that in comic books and movies, the hero usually has a past too. The hero usually comes from a broken background too; but the difference is that the hero has turned his bad experiences into something good. He becomes a fighter for justice and not a menacing villain. So, maybe bullies are not just victims of their circumstances. Maybe they do have a choice to do the right thing but they choose not to.

"People who are bullies haven't dealt with their own insecurities of low self esteem and self-worth. By controlling and manipulating and coercing they hide their own insecurities."

(from Steve Hutto's blog post Bullies In The Church?)

So, what about us, the disciples of Yeshua? If we are born again and if we've put away the sinfulness of our past and we are trying to live a godly life, why are there bullies in the church? I like what Steve Hutto says in his blog post about bullies in the church -- "People who are bullies haven't dealt with their own insecurities of low self esteem and self-worth. By controlling and manipulating and coercing they hide their own insecurities." When we are born again, there is a change that happens within us but this change does not erase our past. In fact, after we have accepted Messiah, we may still be affected by our past sins and/or the past sins done against us. This is why we have to intentionally address them. We need to accept forgiveness from God for our sins and know in our hearts that He truly has forgiven us. This will remove the guilt. Then we need to truly forgive those who have sinned against us. We need to release them to God and in doing so the anger toward them and the need to get revenge is removed. Being forgiven and forgiving others will release us from the bondage of sin. Hutto goes on to say, "The problem is that a bully doesn't trust God in the areas of his/her insecurities. They look to their own 'strengths' instead [of] acknowledging their weaknesses. Thus the power of Christ is not free to move in and through them." A disciple of Yeshua who is a bully, who has not addressed their past, will not be able to move in the fullness of the Spirit. There will always be this, their past hurts, holding them back. They will not be as effective as they could be in their job of advancing the Kingdom.

Hurt people hurt people; but forgiven people forgive people.

Related Links:
The Serial Bully
www.BullyOnline.org

Bullies In The Church?
Steve Hutto's Blog

Big Bad Bully
Psychology Today

Healing Past Hurts
www.LordsLaw.com



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Jewish Tradition and our Messianic Community

The Jewish Symbols Floor Puzzle from All Things Jewish

During our past four midrash meetings we've discussed Jewish Tradition and its place in the Messianic Community; more specifically our Messianic Community. This discussion brought up related topics that we briefly addressed but I may, however, elaborate on them in the future. The timing of our series of discussions was interesting. In the middle of the discussions a new issue of FFOZ's Messianic Journal was released. In it was an article called Halachic Authority in the Life of the Messianic Community which addresses this issue from their perspective. We didn't discuss this article as a group, and since only one person had a copy, we provided those involved an opportunity to read it. Another interesting coincidence that happened about the same time was the Ralph Messer/Eddie Long incident. We spent some time discussing this event because we found it relevant to the topic of Jewish Tradition in the Messianic Community.

The reason for the discussion was to get an idea of the feelings and thoughts that the community has toward Jewish Tradition. I've got my own thoughts and opinions but I wanted to hear what others had to say before we make any changes to our services. Most of the folks in our congregation have a Protestant/Evangelical background. I, on the other hand, have a Roman Catholic background with very little exposure to the Christian church. I was brought up in a very liturgical form of worship and most of the other folks have not.

As expected, the feelings and thoughts spanned the gamut from pro-Jewish Tradition to no-Jewish Tradition. The related topics ranged from tzitzit ties to Two-House theology. We weren't trying to come to a conclusion, we were just talking. But the final consensus was to continue to approach Jewish Tradition in the same way that we have been—one tradition at a time, weighing each tradition against Scripture and against our core beliefs and then asking ourselves if it is helpful, relevant and meaningful. It was a good exercise and helpful to find out where everyone stands. As we continue to grow, we may not have the opportunity to have intimate discussions like this again. I want to take advantage of this while I can.

We are Messianic but not Messianic Jewish. We realize that since most of us are not Jewish, we will be criticized for adopting and altering Jewish Tradition to fit our needs. We are prepared for this and after watching what happened down in Georgia, we know what not to do.

There is so much more to say about this topic. This is why tradition will be left as an ongoing conversation in our community.

Related Articles:
The place of Rabbinic Tradition in Messianic Judiasm
by Dr. Michael L. Brown, 1988

Traditions: Some Thoughts on the Place of Tradition in Torah Communities
by Tim Hegg, 2001



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