Request

[Katydid]

OK, I understand the need to sharpen our understanding on difficult subjects, but is there any chance we could have some "milk", so that those of us who haven't cut teeth can learn before we move onto all the "meat" that is available here. Since I am basically and infant in all of this, just like an infant, I don't know all the questions to ask, so if someone could pose some "infant" topics, that could be discussed, I would appreciate it. Basically, I know that I believe that the ENTIRE Bible is in place and that nothing has ended, but I don't know specifics, only a little more than some Christians, and alot less than what most of you seem to know.

 

[ShirChadash]

There are probably old threads you might find interesting on the older pages here, and maybe we can bump some for you, too, as well as start new. Don't worry, it really won't take you too long before you read things here that make you begin formulating questions... and no question is a "dumb one", so feel free to ask when you want to. Let me see what I can find for threads to bump. Is there anything you are specifically interested in learning more about?

Editing to add... I'm not usually able to post so much as I have been today... but I'm usually up for a good search!

 

[Katydid]

Well, this one is not scriptural, but can anyone explain why my husband and I now feel like black sheep. We don't fit in in a Christian Church, and we aren't welcome in a Jewish service, and we feel would not feel right about decieving people by going anyway. So where do we go, considering that we live in a foreign country(Germany) and we don't think there are any Messianic congregations around. With our neighbors, well, let's just say they think we are strange. The church thinks they have to "save" us from working for our salvation. I mean we really feel like we are on our own to work through our faith. We feel like we have to figure it all out ourselves. With no mentor or anything, this is very difficult.

 

[Katydid]

here is another. How do we know how to celebrate that Feasts? What do we do, on our own for Passover, for Pentecost, for Sukkot (especially considering we live in military housing in an apartment), you know, what do we do? Is there a manual for that. Also, I am hypoglycemic, I cannot miss a single meal or I get woozy and if I go too long, I pass out, so how do I fast. At what ages do the children start fasting? How do we know when the feasts are according to the Biblical calendar, is there a calendar we can buy for that?

As you can see we are full of questions.

 

[Katydid]

Last issue, maybe, when do girls, children I mean, start covering their heads. Why do men where Kippot and when do young boys start wearing tzitzit and if we find out why they wear kippot, when do young boys start wearing them.

 

[Katydid]

OK one more. How do we get our boys circed on the eighth day. I mean, my son and stepson were both done within the first 24 hours, how do we get them to wait 8 days to do it? We are planning on having more children, so this one is fairly important. Oh and does the circ on the first day for my first two count for the biblical standards? Oh my, I had more questions than I thought I did. But, I still know there is more that I should know, and I just don't know that I should know it, you know?

 

[Toney]

Katy,

I think you would benefit from Justin's FAQ and, as Z Lady suggests, some old threads. I might recommend a recent one on the Trinity as well as an old and closed one titled something like "Orthodox MJs."

Z is a great spiritual mentor and I am sure she will bump some threads of particular interest to you as well as relevant and timely.

The Lord always places a Simon of Cyrene or a Veronica in our path of spiritual growth. Z is such a person.

 

[Katydid]

I have read the FAQ, but that is more general ideas from what I read, maybe I should reread it. Maybe I missed some stuff.

 

[Yael]

I can't give you "directions" to any thing in particular. I am sure other members here can do that.

I would, however, encourage you to avoid overwhelming yourself and your family with making changes. I am speaking in regards to such things as keeping kashrut, observing shabbos, purity laws, etc... When one takes on these things, it is usually a drastic turn from one's previous life. It can be a set up for failure and frustration.

I speak from experience. I have been working on kashrut for two years. The giving up of pork products was not a big thing. I had that instilled from an early age. The seperating our of milk and meat was a hard step. I started with no meat and cheese combination. I have spent the last year keeping meat and milk seperated out by three hours. That has been a challenge.

I guess I would endorse small steps on your journey. I am sorry to hear that you don't feel welcome in a Jewish congregation where you are. I am positive that if you were in the States, you would find that to be the exception and not the rule.

Children, pregnant and lactating women are except from fasting. Those with health conditions that preclude fasting are also exempt.

Best wishes,

Yael

 

[Katydid]

Yael, we have been keeping kashrut since the beginning, I started that before we got married and since I cook, well, we did it even before my husband agreed, though we don't separate meat and milk as we don't quite know what we believe in that, any info on that as far as scriptural support or any commentary would be appreciated, so that we can look and figure out how we feel about that. As far as the fasting, is it OK with the medical condition to do a modified fast, like only eat a certain food all day and nothing else? I mean, I don't want to miss out on the blessing of fasting, but I am unsure how to do this. Thank you for your words.

 

[Ruhama]

Representative fasts like what you're talking about are good things.
For me, when I've done them, I've usually cut out something like dessert, or gone vegan or something like that. It has the same effect of reminding you that you're trying to focus on God, because you reach for your usual foods and realize you can't, and it has the side benefit of making you less likely to be so reliant on those foods after you fast (especially if you do it for more than a day or two).

 

[ShirChadash]

The Lord always places a Simon of Cyrene or a Veronica in our path of spiritual growth. Z is such a person.

Oh my! Toney -- who sugared you up, so!?! LOL

 

[ShirChadash]

Okay, I just got back from 6 miles on the bikes with the fam (whew!) and gotta do the (shower and) dinner thing here. But I'll be happy to search out threads for you Katy, when I can get back on later

Abba bless,

~Z~

 

[Yael]

Katydid;

I am coming at this from an orthodox Jewish perspective. It would be at this point I would direct this conversation to a local orthodox rabbi.

You are coming from another way, I would defer to those who practice a faith similar to yours.