Mini Lessons: Doctrinal Clarifications

R: Perhaps you have addressed the following terms in the studies, and I have overlooked them. But could you, please, define for me, and give the similarities/differences for, the following terms as they apply to HaShem, Yeshua, and our family/friends?

JoA: I don't believe I directly address most of these in the lessons, but I'll be happy to do so now.

R:

Honor

- We, of course, are to honor HaShem and honor our parents. In what ways do we show honor to HaShem, Yeshua, and to others?

JoA: HaShem: The number one way one honors HaShem is through Torah observance (i.e. by observing the 613 mitzvot for Jews, the 7 mitzvot for Noahides (Gentiles) with ones complete heart, mind and soul. We also honor HaShem by dealing properly with others (I John 4:20).

Y'shua: The Rebbe taught that if we would honor him we must follow his teachings (John 14:15) and seek harmony with HaShem as he does (John 17:11).

Others: Deal honestly with others in love and compassion (Micah 6:6-8, Matthew 22:36).

R: Praise - We, also, are to give praise to HaShem and we praise others, like our children. Can we praise Yeshua?

JoA: "Praise" means different things to different people and under different circumstances. ONLY HaShem is deserving of praise (honor, worship etc). However, by His mercy He bestows great potential on all of His creation. People seek to manifest their potential in different ways. When a child realizes that he/she has the ability to "count all the way to ten" we say mazel tov (congratulations)! That accomplishment is worthy of praise! When someone opens our eyes to a truth not previously known they are deserving of our thanks and praise. Their are many accomplished servants of HaShem who act on their potentials for the betterment of others with no thought of reward. Such people are deserving of our praise. This is true of little known teachers like the ones who taught us to count to ten and for advanced teachers like Moshe avinu, Rebbe Nachman, Rebbe Y'shua and so on. The important thing in giving or feeling praise for another is remembering that their accomplishments are always the result of HaShem's gifts and mercies coupled with their willingness to manifest it. Ultimately, ONLY HaShem is deserving of praise.

R: Prayer - We are to pray to HaShem, but, since prayer can also be "talking to" someone or "pleading with" someone ("I pray thee" in older English), does this mean one can "pray to" Yeshua since he is alive and can hear us? When does "prayer" mean "worship?"

JoA: This is a subtle one. English is not a very precise language. In Hebrew, prayer (to God) is tephillah -- from which we get the word t'fillin (which we wear during certain prayers) -- while "I pray thee" translates naw. We ONLY "pray" to HaShem. To pray to another is a form of idolatry. At the same time there are subtle distinctions. I can talk with you and its not idolatry so would it be idolatry to talk with Rebbe Y'shua? With Moshe avinu? With Rav Paul? With Rebbe Nachman? ... Because the society in which we live is so steeped in the worship of the man Jesus and others (Muhammad, the Buddha etc), it is strongly advised not to speak with those not physically present. It is too easy to drift into Spiritism and worship. Rather, speak with HaShem and say, "HaShem, Rebbe Y'shua taught us that.... please help me to understand and apply that to my life."

Only pray to HaShem.

R: Worship - Of course, worship is for HaShem alone... but what is worship exactly? How can we know when we are honoring or praising Yeshua and not worshipping him?

JoA: Again, there are subtleties here. Worship is heartfelt love. I love my wife more than anyone else on the planet, but is that worship? No. Could it be? Yes! People often go too far or lose their balance. This leads to idolizing the other person and to all manner of abusive situations. Anything and anyone can become an idol. We each must carefully guard against this! There are boundaries to love as there is with everything else.

Our focus should never be on Rebbe Y'shua but on HaShem alone. We are deeply indebted to our Rebbe and we hold him in the upmost respect by maintaining proper balance. If HaShem alone is the center of our religious life we're probably doing OK. The Rebbe came to point us to HaShem, not to himself. As he taught us:

Matthew 22:36 "Rabbi, which of the mitzvot in the Torah is the most important??
22:37 He told him, 'You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.'
22:38 This is the greatest and most important mitzvah.
22:39 And a second is similar to it, 'You are to love your neighbor as yourself.
22:40 All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot.

If HaShem alone is your focus the rest will work out for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

I hope this helps clarify things

With blessings of Shalom
      John of AllFaith
         Yochanan

The Jewish Way of Rebbe Y'shua

Mini Lessons: Doctrinal Clarifications:
    What We believe
        (Based on Rambam's Thirteen Principles of Judaism)

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Elohaynu Adonai Echad
"Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One."

1. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.
2. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God is absolutely, indivisibly, One (echad). There is no unity that is in any way like His. He alone is our God. He was, He is, and He will ever be.
3. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever that resembles Him at all.
4. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God is the first and the last and that beside Him there is none other.
5. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that it is only proper to pray to God. We do not pray to anyone nor anything else.
6. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that the prophecy of Moses is absolutely true and takes precedence over all others. He is the chief of all prophets and teachers, both before and after Him.
7. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God has sent many prophets and teachers for our edification, both in the past and in the present. These men and women convey different levels of truth and insight. Their words must always be understood in the light of the Written Torah (i.e. Genesis - Deuteronomy) revealed through our teacher Moses. We accept Rebbe Y'shua Ha'Notzri (i.e. Jesus of Nazareth), the Ba'al Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, the Lubavitcher Rebbe and others among these anointed prophets and teachers.
8. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that the entire Torah that we now have is that which was given to Moses by God.
9. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that this eternal Torah will never be changed, and that there will never be another given by God.
10. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God knows all of man's deeds and thoughts. It is thus written (Psalm 33:15), "He has molded every heart together, He understands what each one does."
11. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that God rewards those who keep His commandments, and punishes those who transgress them. This is true for both Jews and Gentiles, although Jews bear a heavier responsibility (Exodus 19:6).
12. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) in the coming of the Messiah (haMoshiach). However long it takes, we will await His coming every day. Thus far the essential Messianic prophecies remain unfulfilled.
13. We believe with aspiring emunah (faith) that the dead will be brought back to life when God wills it to happen. We believe that according to God's direction souls may be granted more than a single lifetime as taught in the Jewish doctrine of ibur neshamot (or "the rolling of souls").

For more information about our teachings check the bookcases inside the yeshiva, attend our free 2nd Life classes, join our group, speaking with Yochanan (im or notecard Yeshiva).

Shalom and may HaShem always grant His mercy and guidance to you.

For More Go To:

Our Second Life Page
The Yeshiva home page
The Way of Rebbe Y'shua

            With blessings of Shalom
                  John of AllFaith
                           Yochanan

The Jewish Way of Rebbe Y'shua