Shabat Shalom

[visionary]

Gut Shabbos to you too...

 

[Yahudim]

Shabbat Shalom,

Though I have been very busy lately and haven't participated much, I have been watching the threads these last couple of weeks. There have been a few interesting topics, a few intentionally sensational topics and more than a few redundant and irrelevant ones too. I've even received a PM or two on the nature of the threads and how the end time stuff is bringing out the more extreme and imaginative among us and our visitors.

But what I have missed in this thread, are the contributions on how people choose to honor and observe the Sabbath in their home and why. When I started this thread, I would simply offer Sabbath good wishes or tell a little story illustrating how welcome it was in our house. Each blurb would be filled with little tidbits about lighting candles, the Sabbath meal or whatever. It was my hope that over time, others would share how they observed the Sabbath and what it means to them.

This Sabbath, while meditating on the restriction on kindling a fire on the Sabbath, the thoughts of how others observe came to mind. Some will not use electrical or electronic devices because they can cause a spark. Some take the prohibition in less restrictive terms, seeking only to literally comply without reading anything into it. Then again, there are those that point to the only judgement given within Torah of someone transgressing this Sabbath instruction, as having to do with someone actually leaving the camp and coming back with the 'kindling', the chopped or cut firewood; so their observance is even more lax.

In our house, we will keep the Sabbath flame burning, lighting one candle off of another. But we will not start a new fire unless there is risk to life for not doing so. Nor do we extinguish fire either and for like cause. While meditating on this, I remembered the fire on the Altar of Sacrifice. It was the fire from heaven that was to be kept burning by the Priests for all time. It was the fire that provided embers for the Altar of Incense and flame to reignite the cleansed, fueled and re-wicked lamps of the Menorah.

I thought the similarity compelling and worthy of meditation. Man instructed to do with his fire on the Sabbath, in the same manner that His Priests are to do with the Father's fire from heaven in the Temple everyday. Kindle nothing new, but light fire from fire and flame from flame. My thoughts raced from wilderness campsites to the Temple fires, to the thermonuclear fires of creation. In the end I found myself thinking about His ministering spirits; those beings of fire and ministers of His creation and His children.

This week, we will remember the Light of the World and the spark that He struck among the people of the world. We will remember what He fulfilled of prophecy that we might understand and live. We will seek to do as He instructed, remembering His instructions of the Exodus and of His sacrifice to our children and our children's children; all while giving thanks for all that He did. My biggest thoughts are too small for the smallest parts of Him. But like the Sabbath flame, I will seek to keep His fire burning within me. And I will seek to speak His truth and blessings over all, even as we were taught.

L'Shana Tovah v'Chag Sameach,
Phillip

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Talmidim,

I enjoyed your thoughts here regarding the Sabbath and the descriptions.

In all honesty I work on the weekends mostly, as the position that I took requires me to be there every weekend. So this means I do not rest on the Sabbath. And even if I were to try to get some of the Sabbath in say a Friday evening start, something always comes up. This frustrates me of course. And also with a husband who does not believe as I do regarding the Torah can be even more frustrating.

I have tried to take the rest of Friday evening just to relax and read from Psalms 119 and pray. Sometimes this works and other times it doesn't. I have even gotten up earlier so that I could at least read from the Torah before going to work. So far so good.

I also cannot do the other things mentioned for the Sabbath. so I am sort of stuck. Not sure what to do from here. But I have enjoyed reading about your post on Sabbath and the blessings.

Moriah Ruth

 

[visionary]

I am like Moriah Ruth.. I too do not have the family in on the Sabbath keeping, so my Sabbath is private, with family raiding the refrigerator for all the prepared meals before I get to set them out, for the time appropriate. I make snack plates, soups, and cook items that can be eaten cold or warmed up. I know exactly what Moriah is saying about the frustration of the world eating up the time that has been set aside to be with Him.

I too enjoy your Sabbath postings as they take me there to be with you and your family and receive the blessings therein. So while I can not post wonderful harmony in Sabbath home environment, I can pray, read, and praise Him.

 

[yedida]

I am like Moriah Ruth.. I too do not have the family in on the Sabbath keeping, so my Sabbath is private, with family raiding the refrigerator for all the prepared meals before I get to set them out, for the time appropriate. I make snack plates, soups, and cook items that can be eaten cold or warmed up. I know exactly what Moriah is saying about the frustration of the world eating up the time that has been set aside to be with Him.

I too enjoy your Sabbath postings as they take me there to be with you and your family and receive the blessings therein. So while I can not post wonderful harmony in Sabbath home environment, I can pray, read, and praise Him.

I join in with Moriah and Visionary. There is no one here but me. At one time my roommate and a friend were together, now it's just me. And lately, just surviving the day, any day, takes all the effort I have. I'm trying to regain my first love, but..... So reading about yours or someone else's sabbath blessings is about as good as it gets.

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Thank you Visionary and Yedida for sharing your struggles with keeping Sabbath and Torah. It is always good to know that I am not the only one struggling with this or being alone in the struggle.

There is not even a Messianic group here where I am to even relate or fellowship on the Sabbath if ever I do have the Sabbath off to rest. So I am just kind of winging it. And just hope for the best. However I believe that God knows our hearts and how much we want to be obedient to Him and serve Him.

This is why I come here to be encouraged to keep going.

Moriah Ruth

 

[anisavta]

This past Shabbat, my husband was out of town, so I went to the little Reform synagogue near my house. It was refreshing to worship with fellow Jews, sharing in the blessings and prayers, but disappointing in that the message was from an immigration lawyer discussing immigration issues in our state. Not into political drashes on Shabbat.

 

[ChavaK]

I went to the little Reform synagogue near by but disappointing in that the message was from an immigration lawyer discussing immigration issues in our state. Not into political drashes on Shabbat.

I think that is not too unusual for the liberal end of the Jewish spectrum.

 

[anisavta]

I think you're right Chava. You'd find the same thing in a liberal Christian church too.

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Anivista,

Yes you are so right about the Liberal Christian churches. One would think that when they go to church they will hear about God's word and how to applicate it to your life but instead it seems wordly in nature. Even the worship music I can't stand because it sounds too much like the world's music. In my thinking if you are going to worship and sing to God it should be right from the heart and in a respectful manner.

Here in the city we do have a Jewish community, however it is only like 20 families. And they do not meet up on the Sabbath because they do not have a Rabbi or enough men to do the Sabbath service. They do meet up on certain Feast Days, such as Yom Kippur. As for any other major Feast Day they go to another location outside of the city.

Also most of the Jewish family here do not attend the Sabbath or Feast Days. Some of the Jewish families have married Gentiles and this seems to keep them away. I did attend one of their Yom Kippur service 2 yrs ago. I would love to attend their services here in the city when they have them, however my husband would think otherwise.

Moriah Ruth

 

[Aryeh Jay]

My G-d this is so sad. Reading about Moriah, Visionary, and Yedida being alone on Shabbat or having family members not supporting their beliefs just makes me want to cry. Maybe I’m pregnant or something. My oldest Daughter decided to become a Christian, and she has no problem letting us know that she is, but we still love her and she is very respectful during Shabbat.

 

[yedida]

I put this link up in another thread but think it may be appropriate to post it here too for those who don't have a listing of this weeks' readings:

פרשת השבוע - Torah Readings for this week

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Thank you Yedida for the posting of the readings.

Moriah Ruth

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Aryeh Jay,

Thank you for understanding. Your statement that you must be pregnant got me laughing. That was cute.

Also it is good that your daughter still respects you on the Sabbath. To me this shows she still respects and honors her parents.

Moriah Ruth

 

[ContraMundum]

This is more or less in response to a few comments on this thread, but especially in the light of what Tal has brought up.

My Shabbos observance is to say the least, erratic at times. My shabbos routine starts on a Friday morning. I go to the Jewish area of my city twice a month to stock up on food, books, candles and whatever else. On those trips I enjoy a nice meal and maybe catch up with a friend. Because I am by nature rather introverted and very nervous around people I don't know I tend to slip in and out trying to be unnoticed. I always try to avoid the Chabadnik outside of my favorite bakery "taking Jewish blood pressure", but if I see him engaged with some poor guy he's managed to corner, I will slip some tzedakah in his little money box. It usually goes to someone at some local kollel, I would assume that is looking after some newly married guy.

Come close to lighting time, I do light a candle. I buy those special "long life" ones you get at a Jewish store. I am probably a bit slack but I will not hesitate to put it out if I have to leave the house. I just don't want to burn down the place. Burning down the house complete with my precious library would ruin my whole day. I tend to read a lot on Shabbos and pray about and for my congregation. I avoid the computer and tv, but I don't get uptight about it. It's only a few hours. I have been known to sleep until noon. I avoid shule, both Orthodox and Messianic, as I feel over-socialized and over-religious'ed already.

When I say my observance is erratic, it is because I will drop all the peace and quiet for my other religious obligations. I have no guilt about this, although once or twice I have been tempted to feel guilty. I really don't believe God hates people for trying to serve others, even though it would fall on the sixth day of the week. I know most people here understand that anyway.

As a kid I would watch the clock like a hawk for the end of the "boredom". I couldn't wait to play music or watch tv or generally goof off. I now appreciate what my family was doing a little better. It was basically taking time off to regenerate. Probably even a little from me.

I do really respect those who keep the day of rest. Even our Reformed friends who believe that the day of rest was moved for the New Covenant. At least they keep it in honour of the Lord. Old folks at my church tell stories of Sundays when no shopping was done, and people went to church and then home to read their Bibles. I tell them we did the same on Saturday, and that I still do as much as possible. There's never any debate about it. I think we both know that a day of rest is for our own benefit, and God commanded this with us in mind.

As I get older and more disenchanted with religion in general, ironically I appreciate this aspect of my faith more and more. Maybe it's because I no longer feel the need to do things immediately, or maybe I just want to avoid the world and be closer to God. Maybe I'll take any excuse to be lazy. maybe all of those things are in mind.

For those alone on Shabbat, I get it too. But I don't let it get me down. I love the almost monastic feel of my place in those special times when it's quiet. Perhaps approaching your Shabbat with the focus and intent of just being close to God may bring about blessings you haven't expected. Maybe even a blessing to those around you! An alone Shabbat can be about hitbodidut. That works I think.

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

ContraMundum,

Thank you for sharing that and for the encouragement to find even a bit of quiet on the Sabbath regardless of what is going on around me.

Moriah Ruth

 

[Yahudim]

ContraMundum,

Thank you for sharing that and for the encouragement to find even a bit of quiet on the Sabbath regardless of what is going on around me.

Moriah Ruth

Shabbat Shalom Ruth,

Just so you know , most of us here are pretty turned off by the term 'Easter'. It is a derivation of Ishtar and many scholars associate it with Astarte, Ashtaroth, the 'Queen of Heaven', etc. Don't feel bad. It's a common mistake and besides, we thank you for the sweet sentiment behind the good wishes. The Resurrection Day we are celebrating is Yom HaBikkurim or the Day of Firstfruit. I prefer Chag Sameach which loosely translates to 'have a joyous pilgrimage feast'. There are many more qualified to translate than I, but you get the drift.

I'm going to send you some blessings so you can buy yourself something nice.

In His Love,
Phillip

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Talmidim,

Thank you so much for the blessings.

As for Easter, you are correct on that. However I do not worship or celebrate Easter like the world or the Christian world does. I do not have colored eggs, bunnies and all that nonsense in my home. I worship for what Yeshua had done for us, dying for our sins. Also Yeshua has risen from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
This is how I see Easter and this is how I worship. I keep everything focused on Him and Him only.

Also I know this part is contraversial for some. I also know that Yeshua came for us for eternity and that we should always think of what He has done for us, and this should be everyday, not just at Easter.

Also I am new to Messianic beliefs so I am asking for your patience, understanding and prayers. Many blessings to you in return.

Moriah Ruth

 

[Yahudim]

You have them and more. Blessings on you and yours!

Talmidim,

Thank you so much for the blessings.

As for Easter, you are correct on that. However I do not worship or celebrate Easter like the world or the Christian world does. I do not have colored eggs, bunnies and all that nonsense in my home. I worship for what Yeshua had done for us, dying for our sins. Also Yeshua has risen from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of the Father.
This is how I see Easter and this is how I worship. I keep everything focused on Him and Him only.

Also I know this part is contraversial for some. I also know that Yeshua came for us for eternity and that we should always think of what He has done for us, and this should be everyday, not just at Easter.

Also I am new to Messianic beliefs so I am asking for your patience, understanding and prayers. Many blessings to you in return.

Moriah Ruth

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Thank you.