Dear Avram,

Just love your site with its wonderful teaching.

Please can you put me on your mailing list for your newsletters?

I am producing a little free newsletter for local Christians who are interested in Jewish roots. We pray for the saving of all Jews as Paul tells us to do.

We thank you so much for your sharing truths. Because we don't understand the Hebrew fully, we often miss lovely little nuggets of truth.

In the love of Yeshua,

Helen and Rob
New Zealand

Shalom Avram and Ruti!

First of all, THANK YOU for the package of information on Passover! I had purchased a "starter pack" on Passover from a messianic website which includes the preparation guide and the messianic hagvadallah. It was good but yours was WONDERFUL and really helped it all piece together!

(((((HUGS)))))))) God bless you for guiding us into this wonderful celebration!

Carolyn
Wisconsin
USA

July 2005

Shalom!

Here's what happened.

January 10 of this year Yahveh began to reveal Himself to me.  I'm sure you've heard this exact same story from others.  My entire being was caught up in a need for all things Jewish.  I needed Jewish "things" around me.  I needed to know the Hebrew language.  I was no longer able to sit in Christian churches.  I was being shown something and until it became clear, I thought I was losing my mind. When the truth behind christmas and easter was revealed to me and my wife we repented and decided to start celebrating the feasts of the Lord.  The very next day my wife was right here with me in my strange little world.  I received a magazine from the Jewish Voice Ministries which had an article about the Marrano Jews.  It told of the Sephardic Jews who had the exact same experiences that I was having, before coming to the knowledge of their heritage.

My father gave me a blue folder about 25 years ago.  It contained the genealogy of my mother's side of the family.  I had always known that her ancestors came from Spain.  Anyway this folder was useless to me as I never cared about family trees.  Considering my thoughts about this blue folder, it very well should have wound up in the trash can. This folder followed me around from house to house, city to city, and I ALWAYS knew just where it was.  It is one of the oldest things I have.

While I was reading the article about the Marrano/Sephardic Jews, that voice that was becoming so familiar to me said "get the folder". The names of these people were the first thing to catch my eyes.  The names were mostly Jewish names.  Even people who married into the family were Jews.  There was a notation beside many of the names..."JEW".  My heart leapt in my chest!  My wife was gone to the store and I had no-one to tell.  I was running around the house telling the pets!  Mostly, I was praising my God.

That's how I found out.  It has since been confirmed by phone calls to strangers on that side of the family.  It's common knowledge to the others but, for whatever reason, I was made to wait.  It was worth the wait.

Another thing.  I have been in a Messianic Torah study group for a few months.  I have met some wonderful people, but something isn't right.  The name of Yahveh is not spoken.  It is replaced by all of the usual names.  I wasn't sure of how to pronounce the name, and have been praying about this very much.  When I saw your website I knew it was right because that is the name I felt led to call Him. This may sound nutty (you may already think I'm nuts) but Yahveh shows me things constantly.  I'm learning to listen.  I was wearing a Star of David after ridding my house of crosses.  A customer was seeking a book on the Messianic Seal, and I was looking for information when I found your website.  After seeing what I was wearing on my neck, I took it off and repented of this.  This all is connected with my search for the name of God.  We took a trip to Texarkana this weekend and stayed in hotels in Texarkana and Paris, Texas.  At both hotels we were placed in room 109.  I was outside looking at the swimming pool when I was suddenly curious about the room key.  It's the swipe card type.  The instructions for use are on the back.  There in the Spanish version of the instructions was the word llave (pronounced Yahveh).  It was in step 1 and in step 2.  In step 3 was the capital letter spelling EL.  This may just be a wacky coincidence, but I truly feel that it was the confirmation I was needing.

I hope you don't think I'm crazy, but every time I act in obedience to Yahveh, things happen.  Truth is revealed and garbage is removed. Yeshua is working in me to bring me to Himself.  I had a lot of baggage from the churches and probably still have a lot that I don't know about.

Have a great day!

Charles
Texas, USA

PS I'm really not crazy.

=========

Dear Charles,

I am just thrilled by what you shared with me. It is absolutely Wonder-Full! Glory and priase to Yahveh & His Son, Messiah Yeshua.

May I use what you wrote to place it on my web site, under 'Comments from Readers'?

the Lord Yeshua is sooo good!

Avram

July, 2005

Avram,

Thought you might like to see how many households are receiving your wonderful testimonies of Yeshua, and picking up important pointers on how to witness!

We all feel as if you take us with you every time you write. Also, they join us in praying for each of these babes...either unborn as yet, or newly reborn.

Love and Prayers From All of Us....

Alberta Lou
Texas, USA

Thanks for sending us what Avram & Ruti did with Yehuda : )

23 Oct 2005

I've been trying to do some research on Dagon the Philistine Fish God mentioned in 1 Chronicles and found your excellent article (Jesus the Fish God).

I've also read parts of the Two Babylons by Alexandar Hislop and find it fascinating.

Great job using that info in your article. Easy to understand, well written, and nicely linked together!

Crystal G.
Victoria
British Columbia, Canada

25 Oct 2005

Shalom Avram

I just want to let you know that I'm currently studying your article GOODBYE MESSIANIC JUDAISM and that I'm absolutely thrilled.

You have hit the nail on the head. I have not completely finished it (I have read up to page 10) but I'm so deeply moved when I get all these facts and insights.

Actually, while taking another look at your website I suddenly came across this article yesterday. In fact, it had not been my intention to go to your website at that moment but somehow I was led there. When I saw this article I sensed immediately that it was very, very important.

I also sent it to Siegfried and we met yesterday evening and studied part of it together.

Avram, when did you write this article and how did you arrive at this insight???

I believe the Holy Spirit is moving on you mightily!!!

More soon,

Hermann
Achim, Germany

=======================
Dear Hermann,

Shalom: May the Peace of Messiah Yeshua be with you today and forever.

Thank you, Hermann, for appreciating the article. It's very new on the site, just two or three days old, and it doesn't yet have the endnotes in place, but hopefully soon, they'll be there. After the endnotes were in, I was going to email you, and all the other candidates for ordination, and ask you to read it and to comment on it. I wanted all of you to know that we were veering off from associating ourselves with the 'Messianic Movement.' But it seems the Lord had other ideas on when you would read it. I was delighted by your appraisal. Thank you, Hermann.

As for how I arrived 'at this insight', as the article relates, it's been a long time coming. I've seen the perversion of Torah in the Messianic Community for the last 20 years or more. I was hoping the Lord would be able to correct it but it never happened. And then, with the reading of Rev. Juster and Rabbi Resnik's official position paper on Torah 'for the Gentile', I felt it was time to sever ourselves from any association with the 'Messianic Movement' because of it being tainted by the false understanding of the Law of Moses for believers today, by most of the leaders and members of the Movement.

To Messiah Yeshua be the Glory,
For He really deserves it,
For opening our eyes,
To His Truth,
Avram

30 Oct 2005

Good Morning Avram and Ruti,

This is the reason Yeshua led me to your site. Remember when I first wrote to you and you said it was an advantage that I had no-where to go? I really am finding the truth is setting me free (after being brought up in a strict Roman Catholic upbringing) - my mother thinks I am totally unholy and has a prayer on her fridge for me "A prayer for a heretic in the family".

I worked out very quickly that by going to congregations of any kind I'd have to put up with people's egos which compromised or negated God's word; even when you explain church errors, people choose to ignore what you're saying, they'd rather go for the club mentality, safety in numbers, bums on seats, we're saved by grace alone (the Law is an option to ditch) attitude - God's word is much much easier to follow and it really does help that I am not alone as Yeshua is always with me and that you are just on the other end of an e-mail (I appreciate that you do take time out to respond to my e-mails and you and Ruti and your ministry are always in my prayers).

I love the Shema especially .… “these words which I command you today" He never says "these words which I give you the option of today" - I love black and white, it's just so.....black and white.

Thank you for this article (Goodbye Messianic Judaism!), I shall e-mail it onto a friend who has time to think about these things at the moment.

Shalom in the love of Yeshua,

Kate
England

30 Oct 2005

Thank you Avram (for Goodbye Messianic Judaism!), this is what I have been screaming about for 3 years now, but my screams have landed on deaf ears. I could not possibly list all the examples I have seen, it would take weeks to write them all down. So, I have remained in no man's land, with few companions.

Again, thank you!

Pat
North Carolina
USA

30 Oct 2005

ya know i wrote a friend what i thought of Messy Messianics and went to ya web site and found ya ARTICLE (Goodbye Messianic Judaism!) ☺ LOL

in TRUTH.......Messianic Congregations are driving me nuts!!!!!!!....… (i've been in THREE over the years but NEVER join any Conference)

so we are going back to staying home......

they are either playing TORAH or  mixed up in Kaballah......*DUD* .....glad ya wrote the ARTICLE AVRAM.

B & B
Mississippi
USA

30 Oct 2005

Avram,

This (Goodbye Messianic Judaism!), is an excellent article and in my heart, I long for Torah. I don't follow it very well, but I miss it. That's why your Hebraic Perspective has such a ring of Truth.

There was a book called Joshua - a modern day fairy tale about a Messiah-like character. It was written by a Catholic Priest, and had Joshua frying his food in bacon fat. How little we (the Church in general) really know our Messiah.

In His service (pathetically, inadequately),

Sam
Georgia, USA

31 Oct 2005

How I praise YHVH for men like you who will take a stand against all this wishy-washy Messianic congregations! That is why I stay at home on Shabbat and keep it HOLY (by myself and whoever wants to join me)… I must admit that there is one that was very kosher and kept Torah... however, they did not encourage the Holy Spirit to visit us in worship... because you see Avram, the rabbi there said that GOD did not need cheerleaders. He missed the whole point.

So I moved on to another "Messy Antic" congregation - and there, the very Jewish rabbi flirts TOO MUCH with Gentile pastors - just to make extra cash to go and preach his "whatever"... because he definitely does not encourage the Dietary Law, nor does he encourage the Biblical Festivals. Oh! They put up a succa inside the congregation... for one day - Very nice, but not very kosher. Also, Rosh Hashannah goes by unoticed.... like another holiday. This rabbi celebrates Christmas with his children because they married Gentiles - and it does not seem to bother him nor his wife. At all. His daughter married a nice Catholic boy....dah! And now they attend an Evangelical church near their home. Ha! They don't even bother with us "Messy Antics"... Smart. So why should I?

Next we have this wonderful Russian-born guy who proudly says that they eat ham and other pig meat... and he too hangs out with Gentile preachers. He has his meetings on Sundays and says that Shabbat is under the Law. Up until last year, he was decorating his house for Christmas.... until we exhorted him that he was not a good testimony in his Jewish neighborhood.… Whatever!

Now do you understand why I stay home? And they say "Jackie is rebellious"... Yeah, they're right... rebellious to heathens.

I will continue reading Goodbye Messianic Judaism! later... I would like to forward it to a "Gentile-Messianic" Website with your permission?

Blessings to you & your wife!

Jackie
Quebec, Canada

====================

Thanks for sharing, Jackie. What you wrote about the 'leaders', is just awful. Such ignorance and pride. 

I want to encourage you to stay home on Shabat, along with the others that join you.

A rose by any other name, is still a rose. And a congregation that doesn't keep Torah, is still a congregation that doesn't keep Torah, no matter if their name is 'Messianic'. Would we go to a Catholic Church? Of course not! Idolatry abounds there. Would we go to a Baptist Church, if it were the only one in town? Of course not. Sunday and pig are on their menu. Why go to a Messianic congregation that eats pig, etc.? It's nonsense and foolishness to receive 'teaching' from such as that.

And if the Holy Spirit is quenched, even if they teach Torah, it's going to be a truncated version of Man. 

Please feel free to share the article with whomever you like. I hope it speaks to others as well,

Avram

31 Oct 2005

Dear Avram,

I agree with you 100%. My husband & I think the "Messianic Movement" here in the States has gone off the deep end. I'm sorry I don't know the man's name, but a predominant leader here in the States is trying to push an agenda that a male who wants to be involved in the Messianic congregation, MUST BE CIRCUMCISED! No if, ands or buts. That is why our little Torah study group meets in someones house, because it seems that in the Messianic movement, they (leaders) have their own personal agenda & have LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE, Y'SHUA! Even when you tell them, they don't acknowledge that they are wrong. It is terrible.

We are studying Genesis right now, Isaiah & I believe Matthew in the B'rit Chadasha. We are trying to learn at least 2 to 4 Hebrew words from the Torah each week. We hunger for the WORD of God, we rely on God to teach us, because the leaders in the so called Christian & "Messianic Jewish" congregations are NOT. 

Continued Blessings to you & your wife. Thank you for sharing, I will pass on your message to my friends. 

Until Messiah Returns,

Margaret
USA

31 Oct 2005

Hello again Avram, Ralph 'and' Mindy here ~

We hope and pray that you and Ruti and all your family are well and thriving.

We read your latest article 'Goodbye Messianic Judaism' and it resonated to us. As I mentioned to you before, being a Gentile believer in the Messianic Movement since 1988 and now married to Mindy for the past seven years (a Jewish woman who came to Yeshua in 1992) who began attending the congregation I was a part of in 1992. We now have a worship dance ministry.

An aspect of our ministry is to financially help believers living in the land of Israel. We would like your input, being in The Land, and seeing perhaps for us ways we could being helping.

We currently reside in Nevada however, we intend to relocate back to the Los Angeles area very soon ('God's will'). Your article has also confirmed to us having a home fellowship when we return to Los Angeles. We know other like-minded individuals who we have already shared your new article with. Also, we would like to get back with you with comments on your newest article and perhaps with questions for you regarding both of us becoming ordained through you.

With His Love and Shalom to you,

Ralph and Mindy S.
Nevada
USA

31 Oct 2005

Avram,

I just read your article. I found it difficult to stop reading it. It was as if I was starving and the words were food.

I have attended a host of different Messianic Jewish services over the years and, though I could not put my finger on it, found myself reluctant to fully embrace certain aspects of their theology.

I couldn't put it into words, it was just a feeling. Whenever there was talk of evangelizing the Jewish people something inside me felt uneasy.

I am by no means a scholar of the word. Any wisdom I possess is a gift from the almighty. All I know is how to listen to and trust in my Heavenly Father when He speaks. He is all I have. His greatest gift is the ability to recognize His voice, and the patience to wait on solid the confirmation of His message with sound doctrine based on the written word. I knew it would come in time.

You have just supplied that confirmation.

I don't quite know where I am going, but I know He will lead me there, and I trust He will not allow me go astray, because left to my own devices I surely would.

To obey His commandments are the key to fullness in life. Why reject life? Why reject Torah? How did all this happen? How deep and how high up is the corruption? Where is righteousness?

Many people have come to me to help them find answers. Just last Friday a friend called me because he found out the church he had been attending is infested with corruption of the worst kind all the way to the top. He wants to know where to go.

He wants to pray with me because I have always spoken the truth to him even when it hurt. 3 years ago I warned him to be cautious of the leaders of his ministry.

They were not using wisdom in their dealings with people. It seems I was right. He had a painful parting of the ways a year later. Now his new "church home" is found wanting and he feels lost.

Frankly, when it comes to organized religion, I don't know where to reccommend. Perhaps Yeshua was setting an example for us as an itinerant preacher. An often overlooked aspect of His life.

Thank you, and bless you Avram,

Bill C.
Chicago, IL
USA

2 November 2005

Shalom, Avram and Ruti,

Thank you so much, thank you so much, I cried because of the "coming home" for me in your article (Goodbye Messianic Judaism!).

Yes this, is what we experience over the last 10 years.

Thank you, I will share this with friends who are confused about things in their congregations.

I think it will encourage them, because now it is not only from me, they hear it, but they can think it over by scripture verses you gave.

I glorify our Lord Yeshua and our Father the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob for this article, and for ....… Torah which He gave to His bride.

Thank you,

Joke
the Netherlands

4 November 2005

Goodbye Messianic Judaism!, is beautifully written, Avram!

Once again, another informative and "no detail left unexplained" article.

Endless thanks and praise to Yeshua for Avram and Ruti!

Yakov
Cincinnati, OH
USA

7 Nov 2005

Avram,

I wanted to thank you for your Yah-ordained article (Goodbye Messianic Judaism!). Yah has such incredibly perfect timing. I had not been on my computer for a week due to work schedule. I had about 70 emails when i finally got back to it. Your article was one of them.

I copied it out to "study" while the other emails were incoming. As i read it i KNEW it was Providential for that day.

That evening we were to have a Bible study & some of the points you wrote about were brought up. I could not remember all the details you discussed since i had JUST received the article. Yet, i can tell you the Spirit of the Lord brought some pertinent notations up from your article to make a point, to open up someone's mind, or at least challenge their present thinking.

THANKS BE TO YAH!!!  HE is ever so "graceful".  

Further we are studying Exodus chapter 20 in morning class(we began in Genesis) & Yah has opened the present teacher's mind to see the culturalization of himself, the church's history, & how far 'in the hole' we have been deceived. So you see how powerful it is to be "prepared" for such a class. Your article "gave much weight" to the arguments we presented yesterday.

So you see your mission field goes far & wide, & Yah's good is never ending.

THANK YOU!

It is good to know, one great day, i will see the faces of my Brother & Sister so far away!

Y'varekh'kha Adonai v'yishmerekha.
Ya'er Adonai panav eleikha vichunekka.
Yissa Adonai panav eleikha v'yasem l'kha shalom.

jodi
Oklahoma
USA

Chris writes about Avram’s emails to Daniel Juster about Torah and Messiah:

20 November 2005

Haha! Daniel seems to be a living archetype when it comes to christian ministers.

What a stereotypical thing to do (re-pasting his previous message, as if it could answer new questions and defend new positions).

But as you should know, my friend, christian ministers can be just as stubborn as hardcore rabbis.

Even though they have the Book of Books right in front of them, telling them flat out what to do, they need months to even begin comprehending that The Law is for today, and that the practices of the church are mostly pagan rituals of various origins.

Thanks for sending this,

from Chris

U.S.A.

BatYah writes about Avram’s emails to Daniel Juster about Torah and Messiah:

20 Nov 2005

I agree with everything you said to Daniel, Avram. This is the argument I am currently having with christians. They want to believe the Torah was "nailed to the cross". I have tried so many times to get them to see that it hasn't but only those who have eyes to see will see and ears to hear will hear it.

Sometimes it seems like I am talking to brick walls so I move on in another direction. If they will not see it and not change, then your job is done. That is a reality that I am coming to grips with. We are to sow the seed and let Yeshua water it and grow if they so choose. If they do not wish to see the truth that is staring them so plainly in the face, walk away from them and move on. Eventually someone will hear us but as it was in the days of Noach, so to shall it be today.

Blessings and love to you and Ruti,

BatYah

USA

20 November 2005

Avram

I wished to tell you how beautiful I found your expression concerning the Covenant, "Abraham's is the seed, Moses' is the stem, and Messiah is the ROSE on the stem." Whose heart could this not touch who searches?

Spirit Blessings

Mariah

Karen writes about Avram’s response to Dan Juster:

21 November 2005

Shalom, brother Avram!

How disappointing that these Messianic leaders do not seem to take your reproofs seriously. To repeat what one previously said in response, or resend the same email is to say that what you are saying is worthy of being ignored.

My experience with Messianic congregations is that there is a Jewish elitism being promoted, and observance to God's Torah is not promoted by the Jews or anyone else. Bookstores are open on Erev Shabbat, and everyone goes out to eat after Friday night or Saturday morning services. 

At the same time that an unScriptural separation is made between Jewish and Gentile believers, no separation is made between Christian (i.e., Catholic and pagan) practices, Jewish (Rabbinic and Kabbalistic) practices, and obedience to Yeshua and Moses in the Scriptures.  It is very ecumenical (unity in a bad sense-the unequal yoke in religious matters).

I don't think anyone really understands that the Immersion of the Holy Spirit is the actual putting of God's Torah in the heart. You are one of very few that try to teach this concept.

I can see why you have come to the point of saying "Goodbye" to Messianic Judaism. Its leaders do not want its power base being diluted by offending those who are unwilling to keep Torah. They are quite willing, however, to offend those who want to try to keep Torah.

I hope and pray that more believers who seek a closer walk with God will be called out of this movement.

Shalom,

Karen
Toledo, OH
U.S.A.

23 November 2005

Shalom Avram:

Please excuse my grammar and spelling, I was never good at this. Bless HaShem for spell check.

I read many articles from different web sites and have never e-mailed anyone who has written them until now.

Last week I came across “ Goodbye Messianic Judaism ” . I was so blessed with what I read. The Holy Spirit had been dealing with me about this problem for about a month. I wasn’t sure it was the Spirit or me, but inside of me something was not right. Your article really helped me.

I e-mailed it to a friend on mine who e-mailed you about the article. Her name is Alice. She fwd the letter you sent back to her and the article I think it was “ ‘What a day ” .’ I love to read how people witness to others. And even better the testimonies of someone accepting Messiah.

I want to start a class on witnessing. I am trying to learn everything I can about planting seeds. I am not interested in repeating the methods of the church as I spent many years there and saw many come to the lord for a week or two. After they said the prayer of salvation that they where told would get them in to heaven those who led them thru the prayer left them hanging there with no further teaching and moved on to the next person.

My wife and I have been in a Messianic church for a little over 4 yrs now. It is a small church and our turn over is quite high. People come from other churches for a couple of weeks then we never see them again. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they are curious and just don ’ ’t want to leave their church.

We do not have a plan for going out and telling others about Messiah. I want to see if I can put one together. We have a lot of Jewish people in St Louis. I my self am not Jewish. But I have always loved Jewish people as long as I can remember (I am 59). I do have a cousin who is Jewish. My Dad’ ’ s sister married a Jewish man back in 1945. My cousin and I are the same age. I have not seen him in the past 12 years. I want to find him and tell him about Messiah. But I don ’ t want to mess it up. I need to learn how first.

I have a good man for a Pastor/Rabbi but he is weak it the area of witnessing.

I have read many of your articles in the past week. Right now I am working on SET MY PEOPLE FREE! ” ACTS 15:20.

I would be blessed with any advise or help you can give me.

Thank you and the Lord bless you and your wife.

Please add me to your e-mail list.

Daniel
St. Louis, IL
USA

23 Nov 2005

Shalom mr Avram,

I've read your article on "Goodbye messianic Judaism". At first glance on the title, I thought: Oh dear, what happened? Are we on the wrong track? Have we been misled again? Then I carefully started to read and then I understood. You made it very clear to us and it's good to rebuke them who bring false teaching to hungry people.

thank you,

Krgds

BatYah
USA

23 Nov 2005

Dear Avram Yehoshua,

I am an apostate named DJ, reading for the first time the entire Christian Bible from beginning to end. My object is to discern the truth about Christianity because from so many different Christians have I heard so many different interpretations of what is supposed to be a common belief.

Seeking alternate translations for some of the passages I have encountered, I came (by a search engine) across your article entitled "TEFILLIN: To Wear or Not to Wear?" I have seen pictures of fervent Jews wearing these odd black devices on their foreheads, so when I read Ex. 13:16, I understood what the devices were. But it struck me as "misdirected zealousness" because it seems out of context with what the passage is saying.

"A sign upon your hand"...that seems to mean "signified by the achievements of the do-er", the sign is the work one has accomplished with one's hand. So does your article agree, and I was pleased by the agreement.

But "frontlets between your eyes"...well, "frontlets" was one of the search engine words that led to your article. My thinking is that what Yahveh is telling us is not a thing between one's own two eyes but between "your" eyes, as in "between the eyes of the various participants", as if the translation is saying "The observance of my ordinance will be signified by the act of carrying it out and acknowledged by witnesses of the act." Not between Joshua's eyes, for example, but between the eyes of, say, Joshua and Aaron.

English is what I read, ancient Hebrew is not. But English is not very clear about this, so I am asking you, learned theologian, if you will please clarify whether the interpretation of plural "your" may be as valid as singular "your" in the pertinent scriptures.

For your help I thank you. Very much admired your article and will return to read others.

Gratefully yours,

DJ
USA

23 Nov 2005

Avram wrote back:

Thank you DJ for your astute analysis of the situation with the black boxes. I am also glad that you are coming into the Fold and wanting to know the proper Path to take.  If I can help you in any way, please let me know.

As for ‘your’ being singular or plural, there are different words in Hebrew to signify whether it is singular or plural. 

The Hebrew word is singular (your eyes) in Ex. 13:1 and Dt. 6:8.

But it’s plural for Dt. 11:18 (your eyes).

Even with the plural for Dt. 11:18 though, it’s not a way the Hebrew would speak of it to mean, ‘between the eyes of your neighbors’. It’s just the way the language is.

It was a good point you brought up though.

Avram
Ramat Gan
Israel