THE FAST OF ESTHER WAS AT PASSOVER
When we read the story of Esther, we need to remember that Esther called for the fast because Esther needed to go before the King to do something top save her people from the edict which would take place on the 13th on the month of Adar. Once Esther revealed Haman’s evil plot and he was hung, word needed to go out across the land to all 127 Provinces to let the Jews know they could defend themselves from the Kings 1st edict which could not be withdrawn.
The significance of the 3-day fast was alignment to the Exodus story, when the Jews were saved from evil Pharaoh. That is, like Pharaoh and his army, the evil Haman had perished on the same day that the Egyptian Army perished in the Red Sea. In this regard, the Jewish Bible scholar Adele Berlin (2001) makes the following astute observation in her commentary on Esther.
Ahasuerus’s sleepless night (Esther 6:1) was on “the night of watching” (Exodus 12:42), that is, the night of the Exodus. And Haman was impaled on 16 Nisan, during Passover.
In summary, the narrative of Pharaoh's desire to obliterate the Jews and the story of Haman's desire to destroy the Jews are chronologically parallel.
To commemorate the festival of Purim, the dates of Purim were moved one month earlier from Nisan to the month of Adar so as not to interfere with the celebration of the Feast of Passover (and yet still preserve the memory of the salvation of the Jews not from Pharaoh but from Haman)
(Talmud (b. Megilah 15A) indicates that Esther suspended the 3-day Feast of Passover (13-15 Nisan). The First Targum Esther corroborates this oral tradition of the Jews.)
Esther 9: 20 Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, 21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Beth Israel El Paso
Messianic Center
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info@bethisraelep.org
info@bethisraelep.org
Call Us Now!
(915) 203-3701
(915) 203-3701
WHY OUR CONGREGATION
We are a Congregation that believes in Jesus, loves God and people
Beth Israel is a messianic congregation located in El Paso, Texas. As a body of believers consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, we are committed to coming together regularly for worship, the learning of God’s word, for fellowship and spreading the good news of Yeshua(Jesus) the Messiah.
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Hamantaschen Baking Class
The Rebbetzin will do a Hamantaschen baking class 3/21 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Beth Israel 504 San Saba El Paso, TX 79912.
The synagogue will provide the cookie dough and mixers. Please bring your favorite jam to place inside the hamantaschen. It should be fun! Please Text if you are coming to the class. (915) 525-4713.
What is hamantaschen?
Hamantash or the plural hamantashen; also spelled hamantasch, are triangular filled-pocket cookies associated with the holiday of Purim. The name refers to Haman, the villain of the Jewish people in the Purim story in the book of Esther. In Hebrew, hamantashen are also known as אוזני המן (oznei Haman), meaning "Haman's ears". "Haman's ears" also refers to a Sefardic Purim pastry, "Orejas de Haman", thought to originate in Spain and Italy, that is made by frying twisted or rolled strips of dough.
The word tash means "pouch" or "pocket" in Yiddish, and thus may refer to Haman's pockets, symbolizing the money that Haman offered to Ahasuerus in exchange for permission to destroy the Jews. In Hebrew, tash means "weaken", and the hamantash may celebrate the weakening of Haman and the hope that God will weaken all of the enemies of the Jewish people.
The Rebbetzin will do a Hamantaschen baking class 3/21 Thursday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Beth Israel 504 San Saba El Paso, TX 79912.
The synagogue will provide the cookie dough and mixers. Please bring your favorite jam to place inside the hamantaschen. It should be fun! Please Text if you are coming to the class. (915) 525-4713.
What is hamantaschen?
Hamantash or the plural hamantashen; also spelled hamantasch, are triangular filled-pocket cookies associated with the holiday of Purim. The name refers to Haman, the villain of the Jewish people in the Purim story in the book of Esther. In Hebrew, hamantashen are also known as אוזני המן (oznei Haman), meaning "Haman's ears". "Haman's ears" also refers to a Sefardic Purim pastry, "Orejas de Haman", thought to originate in Spain and Italy, that is made by frying twisted or rolled strips of dough.
The word tash means "pouch" or "pocket" in Yiddish, and thus may refer to Haman's pockets, symbolizing the money that Haman offered to Ahasuerus in exchange for permission to destroy the Jews. In Hebrew, tash means "weaken", and the hamantash may celebrate the weakening of Haman and the hope that God will weaken all of the enemies of the Jewish people.
The Greatest Physician
Why are there so many Jewish physicians? Maybe it is because the Jewish people were called to bring redemption to the world. There is a concept in Judaism called tikun (repair/healing). When reading the Torah Scroll the Hebrew letters on the Torah scroll have no vowels. You must know the Hebrew words without the vowels to pronounce them.
We have a book called the tikun which is the Torah writings with all the vowels to help read along with the Torah scroll to help us pronounce the Hebrew correctly. This helper book is called the Tikun. It is interesting that the duty of God’s people is to bring (tikun olam) healing or redemption to the world. That is the same mission of our Messiah. So, it is no accident that the Jewish people became a people of healing. In fact, some of the greatest advances in medicine and healing of many diseases has come through Jewish physicians.
The good news is that the Messiah is the greatest Jewish physician in the universe. One of His missions is healing. He is the greatest physician who ever lived. He will deal with every single problem in your life as a specialist. You will never get a bill and He will even make house calls. Whatever you need for healing you just need, bring it to Him. Whatever your wounds or your pain, bring it to Him, let Him touch it, and bring you your healing, because He is the best Jewish physician ever.
Yeshua answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31) He made it clear that He had “come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He was willing to associate with those who were, by the standards of the religious leaders, not good enough, but these people who were open to hearing God’s word, are people that matter to God
Why are there so many Jewish physicians? Maybe it is because the Jewish people were called to bring redemption to the world. There is a concept in Judaism called tikun (repair/healing). When reading the Torah Scroll the Hebrew letters on the Torah scroll have no vowels. You must know the Hebrew words without the vowels to pronounce them.
We have a book called the tikun which is the Torah writings with all the vowels to help read along with the Torah scroll to help us pronounce the Hebrew correctly. This helper book is called the Tikun. It is interesting that the duty of God’s people is to bring (tikun olam) healing or redemption to the world. That is the same mission of our Messiah. So, it is no accident that the Jewish people became a people of healing. In fact, some of the greatest advances in medicine and healing of many diseases has come through Jewish physicians.
The good news is that the Messiah is the greatest Jewish physician in the universe. One of His missions is healing. He is the greatest physician who ever lived. He will deal with every single problem in your life as a specialist. You will never get a bill and He will even make house calls. Whatever you need for healing you just need, bring it to Him. Whatever your wounds or your pain, bring it to Him, let Him touch it, and bring you your healing, because He is the best Jewish physician ever.
Yeshua answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31) He made it clear that He had “come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He was willing to associate with those who were, by the standards of the religious leaders, not good enough, but these people who were open to hearing God’s word, are people that matter to God
THE FACE OF MOSHE
This last Torah portion spoke of Israel making the golden calf. Moses ascended the mountain to bring down God’s commandments which the Rabbis call the Mattan (the gift) to His bride which was Israel. When Moses did not return right away the people believing he was dead made their own idol representing God. When Moses came down his face shone with light. When Yeshua last ascended to heaven, he promised to return for the bride in the same pattern as Moses had done. Just like Israel, before Messiah returns the world will fall into great idolatry and great apostasy.
What is Apostasy? The Bible foretells that in the last days there will be a great apostasy. The word apostasy means to fall away from one's stand, or, in its Biblical usage to fall away from faith. It has already begun!
The Catholic Church has long been intertwined with much of the world civilization, and was central in laying down much of the world’s moral foundations.
After nearly 2000 years of declaring homosexuality, lesbianism, and alternate sexuality a grave sin, as it states in the Bible, the Catholic Church, under the Pope's leadership declared that it would now give its blessings to those involved in these foundations. This something that in the past would be unimaginable!
This is the world following the same course when Israel could not wait for Moses to come down believing he was dead. It is the same exact process, transformation, and fall that happened to Israel is what is happening to other organizations that once stood against this sin and then succumbed to it - from government leadership, to Hollywood, to the corporate world, to the American legal system, and on and on. But that it has now happened, and is happening to the Catholic Church. This it is a big deal!
When Messiah returns in the growing darkness of this world, the light of God will shine is His face like the face of Moses when he came down the mountain all the more brightly as He will light up the world!
Exodus 34:29 And it came about, when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai ( with the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So, when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.
This last Torah portion spoke of Israel making the golden calf. Moses ascended the mountain to bring down God’s commandments which the Rabbis call the Mattan (the gift) to His bride which was Israel. When Moses did not return right away the people believing he was dead made their own idol representing God. When Moses came down his face shone with light. When Yeshua last ascended to heaven, he promised to return for the bride in the same pattern as Moses had done. Just like Israel, before Messiah returns the world will fall into great idolatry and great apostasy.
What is Apostasy? The Bible foretells that in the last days there will be a great apostasy. The word apostasy means to fall away from one's stand, or, in its Biblical usage to fall away from faith. It has already begun!
The Catholic Church has long been intertwined with much of the world civilization, and was central in laying down much of the world’s moral foundations.
After nearly 2000 years of declaring homosexuality, lesbianism, and alternate sexuality a grave sin, as it states in the Bible, the Catholic Church, under the Pope's leadership declared that it would now give its blessings to those involved in these foundations. This something that in the past would be unimaginable!
This is the world following the same course when Israel could not wait for Moses to come down believing he was dead. It is the same exact process, transformation, and fall that happened to Israel is what is happening to other organizations that once stood against this sin and then succumbed to it - from government leadership, to Hollywood, to the corporate world, to the American legal system, and on and on. But that it has now happened, and is happening to the Catholic Church. This it is a big deal!
When Messiah returns in the growing darkness of this world, the light of God will shine is His face like the face of Moses when he came down the mountain all the more brightly as He will light up the world!
Exodus 34:29 And it came about, when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai ( with the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. So, when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to approach him.
What people value or the world honors is detestable in God’s sight. (Luke 16:15)
This morning after I was reading this, I was bothered by how many including myself value what the world values. It seems at some time and in some way we all value what the world offers. We all want to be seen with favor in the eyes of others. Many people lead double lives. Outwardly, seeking people approval. Some make a point of following the rules and work at impressing people so that they can appear to be godly and wise. But God knows the heart. Could I be capable of valuing something in my heart that is detestable to God?
The word detest is the same as abomination. It is something that causes hate or disgust. In biblical usage, an abomination is something that God loathes or hates because it is offensive to Him and His character. What does the world honor? Money, fashion, sexual immorality, physical beauty, and strength. To many these become idols in some way.
The prophet Jeremiah declared that the Lord “tests the righteous” and “sees the heart and the mind” (Jeremiah 20:12). A person may think his ways are right but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 20:12) When it came time for Samuel to anoint a new king, God looked past outward appearances to the heart to make His choice: “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height. . . . The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
When King David passed the mantle to his son Solomon, he prayed, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Since God knows my heart, I ought to always live to please Him alone and not worry about impressing people!
This morning after I was reading this, I was bothered by how many including myself value what the world values. It seems at some time and in some way we all value what the world offers. We all want to be seen with favor in the eyes of others. Many people lead double lives. Outwardly, seeking people approval. Some make a point of following the rules and work at impressing people so that they can appear to be godly and wise. But God knows the heart. Could I be capable of valuing something in my heart that is detestable to God?
The word detest is the same as abomination. It is something that causes hate or disgust. In biblical usage, an abomination is something that God loathes or hates because it is offensive to Him and His character. What does the world honor? Money, fashion, sexual immorality, physical beauty, and strength. To many these become idols in some way.
The prophet Jeremiah declared that the Lord “tests the righteous” and “sees the heart and the mind” (Jeremiah 20:12). A person may think his ways are right but the Lord weighs the heart. (Proverbs 20:12) When it came time for Samuel to anoint a new king, God looked past outward appearances to the heart to make His choice: “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height. . . . The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
When King David passed the mantle to his son Solomon, he prayed, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
Since God knows my heart, I ought to always live to please Him alone and not worry about impressing people!
WEDDING CLOTHES - MATTHEW 22:1-14
Heaven is described like a marriage that has been arranged for the King's son, and the initial invitations were sent out so all on the guest list could make plans to attend. In those times, travel over long distances was far slower than today, so plans needed to be made long in advance. However, those invited and honored by the invitation, declined to attend the wedding.
So, a second invitation was sent out to the same people, as time was getting short, but the invitees paid little attention to it, caught up in their own activities and ventures. They stated by their actions that they cared little for the king and his son. In fact, they were busy with their own business and felt they had no need to go.
Some who had personally received the invitation treated the King’s servants with great disrespect and even killed some. The King was rightly furious, and he mustered his forces to avenge his maltreated servants to erase the disrespect shown to him. His generosity had been rejected, and he responded with anger.
A third invitation was sent. For this one the guest list changed from the specially invited to the everyday people, some of which were good while others were bad. In this way the wedding was finally furnished with guests.
The custom in those days was for the one hosting the wedding feast—in this case, the king—to provide garments for the wedding guests. These wedding garments were simple wedding robes that all attendees wore. In this way, rank or station was covered, so everyone at the feast could mingle as equals. The wedding garment identifies the righteous, those who lived according to God's ways. (Revelation 19:8)
When the king entered the wedding hall, he noticed that one guest clearly stood out from all the others because he was not wearing a wedding garment. Having the man brought forward, the king asked: “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” . The sense of his question is one of incredulity. It might be better phrased, “Why are you not wearing a wedding garment, even though one was provided for you?” (Matthew 22:12)
The man was plainly not dressed for this occasion. His lack of a dress clothes was an example of disrespect for both the king and his son. The wording, “And he was speechless,” means that he was without excuse. It was not just that he lacked a wedding garment, but that he had defiantly refused to put one on.
This is why the king reacts so harshly and said: “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. His judgment is not against the man's lack of a wedding garment, but that he felt he did not have to wear one.
The man desired to attending the wedding feast, but he did not want to follow the custom of the king. His lack of proper dress revealed his inner rebellion against the king and his instructions. He was executed as a rebel.
We must realize that our wedding garments is provided by the King by accepting the sacrifice of His son that saves you. It is the King that has provided you with the righteousness and goodness which you possess as a generous gift through His Spirit.
Isaiah 61:10 I will delight greatly in the Lord because he has clothed me with the garments of Salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.
Heaven is described like a marriage that has been arranged for the King's son, and the initial invitations were sent out so all on the guest list could make plans to attend. In those times, travel over long distances was far slower than today, so plans needed to be made long in advance. However, those invited and honored by the invitation, declined to attend the wedding.
So, a second invitation was sent out to the same people, as time was getting short, but the invitees paid little attention to it, caught up in their own activities and ventures. They stated by their actions that they cared little for the king and his son. In fact, they were busy with their own business and felt they had no need to go.
Some who had personally received the invitation treated the King’s servants with great disrespect and even killed some. The King was rightly furious, and he mustered his forces to avenge his maltreated servants to erase the disrespect shown to him. His generosity had been rejected, and he responded with anger.
A third invitation was sent. For this one the guest list changed from the specially invited to the everyday people, some of which were good while others were bad. In this way the wedding was finally furnished with guests.
The custom in those days was for the one hosting the wedding feast—in this case, the king—to provide garments for the wedding guests. These wedding garments were simple wedding robes that all attendees wore. In this way, rank or station was covered, so everyone at the feast could mingle as equals. The wedding garment identifies the righteous, those who lived according to God's ways. (Revelation 19:8)
When the king entered the wedding hall, he noticed that one guest clearly stood out from all the others because he was not wearing a wedding garment. Having the man brought forward, the king asked: “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” . The sense of his question is one of incredulity. It might be better phrased, “Why are you not wearing a wedding garment, even though one was provided for you?” (Matthew 22:12)
The man was plainly not dressed for this occasion. His lack of a dress clothes was an example of disrespect for both the king and his son. The wording, “And he was speechless,” means that he was without excuse. It was not just that he lacked a wedding garment, but that he had defiantly refused to put one on.
This is why the king reacts so harshly and said: “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. His judgment is not against the man's lack of a wedding garment, but that he felt he did not have to wear one.
The man desired to attending the wedding feast, but he did not want to follow the custom of the king. His lack of proper dress revealed his inner rebellion against the king and his instructions. He was executed as a rebel.
We must realize that our wedding garments is provided by the King by accepting the sacrifice of His son that saves you. It is the King that has provided you with the righteousness and goodness which you possess as a generous gift through His Spirit.
Isaiah 61:10 I will delight greatly in the Lord because he has clothed me with the garments of Salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.
What is the Kiddushin in the Bible?
There are many different ideas as to what holiness is in the Bible. The Hebrew word for holiness is kadosh. From that same word comes the word kiddushin, the Hebrew betrothal ceremony.
The Betrothal portion of the ceremony consists of a preliminary benediction, the marriage proposal, and the giving of the ring. Fundamentally, it is a ceremony of acquisition. "When a man acquires a wife" (Deuteronomy 24:1) are words that fall on present-day ears.
What happens at a kiddushin?
The ceremony includes two distinct rituals, the betrothal (kiddushin) and the completion of the marriage itself (ni'usin). In kiddushin the bride accepts symbolic payment and a signed marriage contract or ketubah from the groom. The payment is generally made with a ring, but in Sefardic weddings it can be paid with a coin or gift.
Why is kiddushin important?
Kiddushin and marriage ceremony create the legal bond of marriage between husband and wife. First, kiddushin designates the woman for her husband and makes her forbidden to all other men.
During the ceremony the bridegroom and bride share a cup of wine together, sealing their pledge and consecration to each other. Messiah is the Bridegroom of our soul. Right now we are in the time called the betrothal (kiddushin), headed to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Mesiah pledged Himself to us and He shares the cup of wine as in communion, just like the bride and groom share the cup of pledging. True holiness is kiddushin- to be pledged to Messiah, devoted to Him, doing everything for Him because of what He did for you. Messiah gave you His kiddushin; His devotion and pledge and His all, His everything for you so that you would do the same. It's all about love, the love of the bride for the Bridegroom and the Bridegroom for the bride.
This is kiddushin and that is what holiness is really all about!
There are many different ideas as to what holiness is in the Bible. The Hebrew word for holiness is kadosh. From that same word comes the word kiddushin, the Hebrew betrothal ceremony.
The Betrothal portion of the ceremony consists of a preliminary benediction, the marriage proposal, and the giving of the ring. Fundamentally, it is a ceremony of acquisition. "When a man acquires a wife" (Deuteronomy 24:1) are words that fall on present-day ears.
What happens at a kiddushin?
The ceremony includes two distinct rituals, the betrothal (kiddushin) and the completion of the marriage itself (ni'usin). In kiddushin the bride accepts symbolic payment and a signed marriage contract or ketubah from the groom. The payment is generally made with a ring, but in Sefardic weddings it can be paid with a coin or gift.
Why is kiddushin important?
Kiddushin and marriage ceremony create the legal bond of marriage between husband and wife. First, kiddushin designates the woman for her husband and makes her forbidden to all other men.
During the ceremony the bridegroom and bride share a cup of wine together, sealing their pledge and consecration to each other. Messiah is the Bridegroom of our soul. Right now we are in the time called the betrothal (kiddushin), headed to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Mesiah pledged Himself to us and He shares the cup of wine as in communion, just like the bride and groom share the cup of pledging. True holiness is kiddushin- to be pledged to Messiah, devoted to Him, doing everything for Him because of what He did for you. Messiah gave you His kiddushin; His devotion and pledge and His all, His everything for you so that you would do the same. It's all about love, the love of the bride for the Bridegroom and the Bridegroom for the bride.
This is kiddushin and that is what holiness is really all about!
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