Bernard Levine

The Secrets of the Jews… (What Christians don’t know about the Jewish religion, traditions and way of life) By Bernard Levine This book will open the door to exciting new discoveries that you have never heard of and don’t know about the Jewish way of life. For anybody that has ever longed for and wished to tour the land of Israel, for all those who love the Jewish people and have been yearning to find out more about their religion and way of living, for every Christian who loves Jesus and would like to learn more about His Jewish roots….this unique book is packed with lots and lots of very special gems! Contents Why are Jews not allowed to tear toilet-paper on the Sabbath? Which letter of the alphabet is printed upside down in the Bible? Why do Jews not eat cheese-burgers? What is Jesus’ surname? Why are Jewish women not allowed to touch or read a Bible? Did you know that Jews have a special way of washing their hands with a specific prayer that is said before washing hands? When do Jews wear white clothing? Why do Jews unscrew or take the globe out of their fridge before the Sabbath? Why do some Jewish men not work and instead let their wives go out to work? Is there a special Coca Cola that is especially made for Jews? When does the Sabbath begin…in the morning or in the evening? How many men are needed to be present in synagogue before prayers can begin? On which specific day do Jews ask forgiveness for their sins? Most of the Old Testament is not studied by Jews…why? What happens if mistakes are made while writing the Torah scrolls? Why can’t Jews carry the keys of their front-door or house on the Sabbath? What are some popular Jewish traditional foods? Why do Jews kiss the mezuzah on their door-post? What happens at the Western Wall / Wailing Wall in Israel? What is a ‘get’? What is God, the Father’s unique personal name that is left out of most Bibles? What is the difference between Hebrew and Yiddish? Are Jews allowed to kneel in prayer? Are all Jews the same? Are there different religious Jewish sects? Is there a special prayer that Jews say before going to the toilet? What do you find hanging on the door-posts at every Jewish home and why? What happens when a Jewish boy turns 13 and when a girl turns 12? What happens at a Jewish cemetery? Can Jews be cremated? Why do Jews not eat prawns, crayfish or crab? Why do Jewish men cover their heads when praying? What’s the difference between orthodox Jews and reform Jews? Why can’t Jewish women sit together with their husbands in the synagogue? What is a Zionist? Do Jews celebrate Easter? What is the Beth-Din? Do Jews say ‘Grace’ at meal-times? What’s the difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardi? What is Tanya? What is the difference between Torah and Tanach? What is Tefillin? Why do Jewish men wear fringes on their vests? What is the Talmud? What is the Gemara, the Mishnah and the Midrash? How do you witness about Jesus Christ to a Jew? What is in a Jewish Prayer Book? Why does a Jewish bridegroom break a glass at a wedding? Why don’t Jewish men dance together with women? Why are Jewish women not allowed to show men their elbows or their knees? What is the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament? Did you know that Jews have their own kind of bacon? How do you read Hebrew? What is the holiest day of the year in the Jewish Calendar? Can any Rabbi circumcise a baby boy? What prayer do Jews say as soon as they wake up and open their eyes? On which specific day do Jews ask forgiveness for their sins? What are Jews not allowed to do on the Sabbath? How many commandments are there in the Bible for Jews? How do Jews go about dating to meet the opposite sex? God’s name is never pronounced by Jews…what name is used when referring to God? Which book in the Old Testament is the only book that does not have God’s name? Are there special blessings Jews recite before they eat specific foods? Can a Jew have a tattoo? Why do Jewish women wear wigs? What is the role of Jewish women at the beginning of Sabbath? What do Jewish Fathers have to do with their children on the Sabbath? What is a mikva or public bath? When are Jews not allowed to eat bread? On which Jewish festival do Jews eat and sleep outside? How different is the Jewish calendar? What is chedar? Did you know that God’s personal holy name is never pronounced? How do Jews celebrate the festival of Tabernacles? ( Succot ) Which verses in the Torah have words with Suspended letters? Which verses in the Torah have words with Dotted Letters above? What happens when you are called to read a portion of Torah in the synagogue? What are some popular Hebrew words and phrases? Can you sit anywhere in the synagogue on a Jewish holiday? All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author. ©Bernard Levine 2016 Dedication To my precious wife, Chrissie thank you so much for all your help and kindness. To Whiskers ( Wikkie ) you give me so much joy and fun. Why are Jewish women not allowed to show men their elbows or their knees? Women wear long dresses to cover their knees…they also wear long sleeves to hide their elbows. They believe that men get ‘turned on’ and aroused if they were to see either their uncovered elbows or knees…so not to tempt them and to display modesty, they cover up. Why are Jews not allowed to eat cheeseburgers? You are not allowed to mix milk dishes with meat dishes at the same meal. Steak cannot be eaten together with an egg. When meat is eaten, you cannot have milk in your tea or coffee after your meal. The kosher laws state that one should not eat milk products with meat products and that all milk and meat dishes, pots and pans, and utensils should be kept separate. Washing dishes is also done separately in two different sinks. Some Jews have 2 fridges and some even have 2 microwaves...one to be used for meat dishes and the other to be used for dairy dishes like cheese, yogurt or egg dishes. Why are Jewish women not allowed to touch or read a Bible? The Bible or Torah is a holy sacred book, and when women are experiencing their menstrual cycle they are in an unclean state….because we do not know when a women is having her periods, the Rabbis have made a law that a woman cannot touch or read the Bible as she would be defiling the sanctity and purity of the Holy Book in her unclean condition. So, what must a woman do if she wants to read God’s Word?…she has to ask her husband, her father, her brother or any man to read the Bible to her. How do you witness about Jesus Christ to a Jew? Jews know that Jesus Christ is not the real name of the Son of God, so instead of telling Jews about Jesus, rather tell them about Yahshua which is the Hebrew name of Jesus. Why can’t women sit together with their husbands in the synagogue? In an Orthodox synagogue, the women sit upstairs or away from the men but in a Reform synagogue, men and women sit together. The women do not partake in the service in an Orthodox synagogue but are observers. In a Reform synagogue, they even have women or girls in their choir but the choir in the Orthodox synagogue is only male. Did you know there are no swear words in Hebrew? Hebrew is the holy divine language of God and there are no swear words in Hebrew. Israelis use Arabic swear words. What are you not allowed to do on the Sabbath? Orthodox Jews are not allowed to drive on the Sabbath. Smoking on the Sabbath is also forbidden by Orthodox Jews. Cooking is not permitted. You are not allowed to handle money. You cannot watch television, listen to the radio or read a newspaper. Writing is forbidden. Telephones cannot be answered. Cutting your nails or hair is not allowed. You cannot switch on lights. Before the Sabbath begins, Jews have pre-set timers which are used to automatically turn the lights on and off. Can any Rabbi circumcise a Jewish baby boy? Only a Rabbi who has studied and specialized in the laws of circumcision can perform the task. He is called a ‘mohel’. Why do Jewish women wear wigs? When they go out, married Jewish women wear wigs to hide their own hair and beauty from other men. Only their own husbands are allowed to see the natural beauty of their wife’s hair. Single Jewish women do not have to wear wigs. Can you sit anywhere in the synagogue on a Jewish holiday? Orthodox Jews have separate seating in a synagogue. Women sit upstairs and men sit downstairs. There is no collection of tithes or offerings during a synagogue service…so instead Jews pay membership subscription fees to belong to a Synagogue. There is a high attendance of worshippers going to synagogue on the Jewish Holy Days, and seats are reserved in the names of members who have paid their yearly subscription fees. If you do not belong to a synagogue, then you look for a seat that is vacant and which has not been reserved. Why don’t Jewish men dance together with women? At an Ultra Orthodox wedding, men sit together on the one side of the room with the women sitting together on the other side of the hall. When the music plays, the men join together and form a circle and enthusiastically dance the ‘hora’. The groom is seated on a chair and is lifted up high in the air by several of the men. The ladies then come together to dance the hora in their own separate circle, together with the bride. A long ribbon is given to the bride and the other end of the ribbon is held by the groom while they are both carried along through the dance. Ultra Orthodox Jewish men and women never dance together with each other. How do Jews go about dating to meet the opposite sex? The parents of ultra-orthodox Jews arrange with each other to have their children meet one another for a refreshment drink in the lounge of a hotel. After a short period of time, perhaps half-anhour, the son goes back to his parents and the daughter goes home with her parents to report and discuss the merits of their first time introductions. If they are pleased with each other, the parents arrange the date of the wedding. Ultraorthodox Jews do not get engaged. What is a mikva or public bath? After a woman has completed her menstrual cycle, she goes to a public bath, known as a mikva. The immersion of her body in the water is a symbol of spiritual and body purification. What is a ‘get’? When a Jew gets divorced they must appear before the Jewish court of law, known as the Beth Din. A ‘Get’ is a document issued by the Beth Din which is given by the husband to his wife when they get divorced. The couple go through a ritual which often involves one partner spitting in the face of the other partner to prove that they no longer want to continue being married to their partner. In addition to appearing before the Jewish court of law, the couple must still also enter into the divorce procedure according to the laws of the country they are living in. What happens if there are mistakes made while writing the Torah scrolls? The Torah scrolls are written by hand with a quill by a Rabbi (Scribe) who has studied and specialized in the art of writing a Torah Scroll. If a mistake is made while writing any of the Hebrew letters, the entire scroll with the flaws is then buried and will not be used. Why do some Jewish men not work and instead let their wives go out to work? It is considered an honour for a husband to devote his weekday work hours to study Torah. The wives are proud of their husband’s Scripture study commitment and they are happy to go out to work as the bread-winner. Why is Jewish sexual intercourse different? Ultra-Orthodox Jews believe that the act of sexual intercourse is meant solely for procreation and sperm should not be wasted. That is why they do not use any form of contraception. It is not unusual to find Jewish married couples who are the parents of 20 or more children. Why will Ultra-Orthodox Jews not listen to a woman singing? Reform Jews have women singing in their choirs at the Synagogues, but in Ultra-Orthodox Synagogues, women are not permitted to join the choir. A woman’s singing voice is regarded as sensual which can distract or tempt a man. So Barbra Streisand (who is a Jewess) or any other female recording artist music CD’s, will never be heard by Ultra-Orthodox Jews. Most of the Old Testament is not studied by Jews…why? The priority of every Jew is to first and foremost study the 5 books of Moses, known as the Torah. The books of the remaining prophets such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Daniel are not studied because they are regarded as not as important as the Torah. When is a married woman allowed to have sex with her husband? Every month, Jewish women have to insert a white cloth into their vaginas to see if there is any blood on the cloth. The moment a woman finds any blood stain on her cloth, she is then regarded as unclean. Ultra Orthodox Jewish women, cannot have sex for 12 days every month, which are the 5 days of menstruation and 7 days after. When all bleeding stops, a woman must examine herself internally, twice a day, in the morning as well as in the afternoon to check there is no further bleeding. Once she is satisfied that the bleeding has stopped, she then counts seven consecutive days. (this is known as clean days) After she has completed the seven day count, she must then go to a mikva, (a ritual bath) to immerse herself. Only after she has been to the mikva and has immersed herself in the water, she is then allowed to have sex with her husband again. What happens while a woman has her periods? While she has her periods, husbands are not allowed to touch their wives and they cannot sit together on the same couch. The wife is not even permitted to cook for her husband and cannot serve him any food or drink. Husbands and wives must sleep on separate beds. There are some couples who even sleep in different rooms. Did you know a husband and wife cannot have sex for six months after the birth of a baby? When a woman gives birth to a baby, she is not allowed to hand the baby to her husband. She must ask a nurse to pass their newborn baby over to her husband. After giving birth, the couple cannot have sex for six months. What happens if a woman has her periods on her wedding night? The bride must plan her wedding date so that she will not have her periods on her wedding night. When does a woman wear white underwear and when does she wear colored underwear? A woman should wear white underwear during the entire time that she is counting the seven clean days and she should also put clean white sheets on her bed. After her periods are over, when she can again resume sexual intercourse with her husband, it is the custom for women to wear colored underwear. Is it true that a woman must show her underwear or vaginal cloth to the Rabbi? If a woman finds a blood stain on her vaginal cloth or on her underwear, she takes her vaginal cloth or her underwear to the Rabbi, who decides if she is ready to resume sexual relations with her husband. The Rabbi will measure the size of the blood stain to determine the woman’s condition. Why must Jews unscrew or take the globe out of their fridge before the Sabbath? Jews are not allowed to ignite a fire or a spark on the Sabbath ...that is why a light-switch cannot be switched on or off. Orthodox Jews remove or unscrew the globe from their fridge so that it does not make contact. Jews buy a time-switch and pre-set the lights to come on or go off automatically at specific times, so they will not break the Sabbath by touching the light-switch on the Sabbath. Did you know there’s a special Coca Cola that is especially made for Jews? For Passover, the Coca-Cola factory brings out a special Passover Coke with their bottles and bottle-caps labelled ‘kosher for Passover’. Orthodox Jews will not drink Coke that is not kosher for Passover. There are also many other products exclusively made for Passover like Passover coffee, Passover soap and even Passover detergent! Have you heard Jews are not allowed to tear toilet-paper on the Sabbath? The act of tearing toilet-paper on the Sabbath is forbidden. There are different kinds of work and the act of cutting or tearing is a type of work which is not allowed to be performed on the Sabbath. On the day before the Sabbath, Ultra Orthodox Jews will prepare and tear pieces of toiletpaper ready for the Sabbath or they will use tissues instead of toilet-paper. Jews are also not allowed to shave, cut their hair, nails or grass on the Sabbath. Why can’t Jews carry the keys of their frontdoor or house on the Sabbath? It does not matter what the weight of the item is, whether it be a small book or a heavy table, carrying any object outside of your home is regarded as work and is not allowed on the Sabbath. When Jews leave their homes on the Sabbath, they either leave their front-door unlocked or they have their keys hanging on a chain around their neck or inserted as part of the buckle of a man’s belt. As long as the object is not carried in their hands, they are not breaking the Sabbath. Did you know Jews are not allowed to recite their own individual prayers…why? There are set prayers that every Jew recites every day from a Hebrew Prayer Book called a Siddur. There is a prayer when you awaken from sleep, morning, afternoon and evening prayers and a prayer before you go to bed at night. Both Moses and King David were very close to God. A Jew cannot pray his own words because the psalms of David and the words of Moses are considered to be of a much higher level of purity and reverence than the words of an individual. Have you heard there a special prayer that is said before going to the toilet? You are forbidden to pray whilst inside the toilet, but the prayer that the Jews pray is a special prayer asking God to open up their bowels so that they would be able to have release and to stand before God and serve Him. Does the Rabbi suck the blood from a newborn baby’s penis? This is not a commandment in the Bible but it is a commandment of the Babylonian Talmud that a Rabbi should suck the blood from the circumcised penis of the infant child. What does the Rabbi do with the foreskins? Some parents choose to keep the foreskins which the Rabbi parcels up for them, but most parents choose to have the foreskins buried according to the Jewish tradition. Do Jews have sex through a hole in a sheet? No, this is not true. However, the Talmud prohibits sexual intercourse during the day or by the light of a lamp (Niddah 17). Rabbis consider that the best time for sexual intercourse is at midnight in complete darkness. The Rabbis are in favor of the missionary position with the woman being on top and the man below, or alternatively the man could be above the woman. (Gittin 70a). For Jews, the purpose of sex is procreation. (Mishnah Torah Issurei Biah 21:9) Sperm is not allowed to be wasted. Why do Jews take a live chicken and swing it above their heads? On the day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Ultra Orthodox Jews take a live chicken and wave it above their heads three times, believing that all their sins are transferred to the chicken. Did you know that some Jews are not allowed to go to a cemetery? Today, Jews have been divided into three distinct Jewish groups namely Kohens, Levis and Yisraels. The Kohens, who are the descendants of the priests of ancient Israel, are not allowed to visit cemeteries because contact with the dead would render them impure. They are also forbidden from flying over cemeteries. The Israeli airline, El-Al, does not fly over cemeteries. Have you heard about the special way Jews are supposed to put on their shoes? The Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch) has a specific order for Jews of how to put on their shoes, mentioning that the right shoe should be put on first. To tie the laces of the shoes, the custom is to begin with the laces of the left shoe. Did you know Jews are not allowed to wear garments of wool and linen together? The Torah forbids Jews to wear any type of garment or fabric that contains both wool and linen. "Do not wear wool and linen together" (Deut. 22:11) "A wool and linen garment should not cover you" (Lev. 19:19) especially, the area underneath the collar of men’s suits should be checked. When linen is found under the collar, it must be removed and replaced with non- linen material. With regard to women’s clothing, the label should tell you if the garment contains wool and linen. Women’s clothing may contain linen on the collar of a blazer or jacket, in the seam binding or an appliqué on the garment. Why do Jewish boys not cut their hair growing from their temples? The Torah forbids a man to cut the hair on the corners of his head (the temple and sideburns), as well as not to remove the corners of his beard. "You shall not round off the peyos of your head" (Leviticus 19:27). Are you aware that certain electric shavers are not allowed to be used by Jews? According to the website ww.koshershaver.org the ‘lift’ mechanism of an electric razor does not adhere to the laws of the Torah and must be removed from a ‘lift and cut’ shaver. Did you know that Jewish boys only have their first haircut at the age of three? A Jewish boy does not have his hair cut until he is three years old. This is a custom followed by Ultra Orthodox Jews. What are some of the laws that women must obey? Men and women must sit separately and not dance with each other at Ultra Orthodox Jewish weddings. In Orthodox synagogues, men and women must pray in separate areas. Women cannot read the Torah aloud at the Western Wall (which men can do). Married women have to conceal their hair. Some women wear scarves but most women wear wigs. Why can’t Ultra Orthodox men shake hands with a woman? Any kind of touching is forbidden between men and women. Ultra-Orthodox men will not sit next to a woman on a plane. Women have been attacked, insulted, spat upon on the streets of Jerusalem by UltraOrthodox men for wearing jeans, slacks and showing their arms. Women must wear long sleeves to hide their elbows and long dresses or skirts to hide their knees. Why do Jews pay a lot of money for a citrus fruit called an etrog? An etrog which is a lemon-like citrus fruit is part of the ceremony and observance in the festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The Rabbis examine the outside skin of each etrog fruit very closely for markings or imperfections. The very best etrog, one that has no blemishes is sold for the highest price. What do some Jews experience difficulties in synagogue? At the synagogue services, most Jews find it difficult to follow the Hebrew reading in the Jewish Prayer Book (because they can’t understand Hebrew). So what do they do? They often look at the man in front of them to see what page number he is on…and then they check to see if the man sitting next to them is on the same page. The reading of the different portions in the synagogue service is often a race between congregants to see who can get finished first. Did you know that Jews are given a list of the brands of foods they are allowed to buy? The Jewish Court of Law, known as the Beth Din have inspectors that go around to companies manufacturing various kinds of foods. According to the company’s adherence to the Jewish kosher laws, the food brands are given the Beth Din mark or stamp of approval which is printed on the outside packaging of the food product. The different brands of manufactured foods, detergents and toiletries are listed in a booklet published by the Beth Din and made freely available to the Jewish community. What happens if a scroll of the Torah is dropped? The entire congregation is supposed to observe a 12 hour fast for a whole month. What happens to Torah scrolls that are old? When Torah scrolls become too old to be used, they are buried. Do Jews have to pay for a seat in a synagogue? During the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) as well as on the day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Jews cannot sit anywhere they like in the synagogue. The seats in the synagogue are allocated to the congregants who have paid for their seats. What are you not allowed to do on the Sabbath? Orthodox Jews are not allowed to drive on the Sabbath. Smoking on the Sabbath is also forbidden by Orthodox Jews. Cooking is not permitted. You are not allowed to handle money. You cannot watch television, listen to the radio or read a newspaper. Writing is forbidden. Telephones cannot be answered. Cutting your nails or hair is not allowed. You cannot switch on lights. Before the Sabbath begins, Jews have pre-set timers which are used to automatically turn the lights on and off. What happens before Passover in a Jewish home? Before Passover, the whole house is cleaned thoroughly...they move the furniture searching for bread crumbs which is forbidden in the home during Passover...they even clean their walls. There is a game the father plays with his children to encourage them to participate and search for breadcrumbs... the father uses a spoon as a dust-pan, and a feather as the broom and a candle to search for the crumbs. Bread, known as Chometz, is sold to a gentile for the duration of the Passover. No cakes or cookies can be eaten during the time of Passover. Did you know there is a special way of washing your hands and there is a certain prayer that is said before washing hands? Before partaking of any meal, Jews will take a jug and pour water several times first over one hand and then over the next hand. They put their hands together and say a special prayer of blessing. When do Jews wear white clothing? It is a custom to wear white clothing and white shoes on the Day of Atonement, (Yom Kippur) the holiest day of the year. When does the Sabbath begin…in the morning or in the evening? Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday afternoon and at ends at sunset on Saturday evening. How many men are needed to be present in synagogue before prayers can begin? There must be 10 adult males present in Synagogue, before the Prayer-Service can begin. Boys aged 13 or older are considered to be men and are counted in the quorum. On which specific day do Jews ask forgiveness for their sins? Only on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) Jews repent of their sins they have committed throughout the entire year. Why do Jews kiss the mezuzah on their doorpost? On entering or leaving their home, Jews will touch the mezuzah on their door-post and then kiss their hand. This is as a reminder that they are blessed coming in and they are blessed going out and it is also a reminder to keep their homes sacred and holy. What are some popular Jewish traditional foods? Kitka, also called challah is plaited bread that is eaten on Friday night Matzot or unleavened bread is eaten on Passover A special prayer is recited before drinking wine or grape juice Chicken, either boiled or roast is popular on Friday nights Bitter herbs like horse radish are eaten on Passover Chicken soup with a kneidel (dumpling) is a regular family favourite Hamantaschen (triangular pastry) either filled with cheese or poppy seeds are traditional delights during the festival of Purim Apple dipped in honey is eaten on the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) There are many other traditional dishes like meat or cheese blintzes, gefilte fish with carrots, chopped herring, chopped liver with Kichel (cracker bread), halvah, lokshen pudding, (noodle-pudding) piroggen, (Jewish meat-pies) imberlach (Passover sweets), schmaltz, (chicken fat spread) tzimmes (mixture of stewed vegetables and dried fruits), babka, hot beef eaten on rye bread, grein (horse-raddish), kugel (pudding), kreplach (small dumplings), cholent (stew that is eaten on Sabbath afternoon), potato latkes (pancakes) teiglach (knotted pastries in honey syrup) bagels (there are different varieties like olive bagels, onion bagels and choc-chip bagels to name just some). What happens at the Western Wall / Wailing Wall in Israel? Men and women are separated by a barrier at the Wailing Wall. (in Hebrew the Wailing Wall is called the Kottel) Prayer requests are written down on bits of paper which are then carefully placed and hidden between the stones of the wall. It is popular tradition to have a boy’s Barmitzvah service at the Wailing Wall. Do Jews say ‘Grace’ at meal-times? Prayers of thanks-giving are recited after the meal is eaten. However, there are special unique prayers that are said before partaking in certain specific foods like a prayer when bread is broken, a prayer before you drink wine, a prayer for fruit and a different prayer for vegetables grown underground. What is cheder? Jewish children attend cheder which is after school Hebrew language and religious studies. Did you know that God’s personal holy name is never pronounced? Instead of pronouncing God’s holy name of Yahveh, the word ‘Hashem’ is used which means ‘THE NAME’ above all names. What happens when you are called to read a portion of Torah in the Synagogue? During the Sabbath morning service, the Rabbi will individually call on several Jewish men to publicly read a portion of Scripture from the Torah. To be called up by the Rabbi to read from the Torah is considered a great honour and a special blessing. As he reads from the Torah, he uses a silver ‘hand pointer’ to carefully follow each line in the Torah. How do Jews celebrate the festival of Tabernacles? ( Sukkot ) During Sukkot, Jews build a temporary structure in the garden of their homes with palm branches placed on top as the roof. The family and guests eat all their meals inside the Sukkah (booth or hut) that they have built. Children love decorating the Sukkah walls with pictures or their drawings. Everyone joins in a joyous celebration of singing songs in the Sukkah. Some men even spend the whole night sleeping in the Sukkah. What is the Megillah? The Megillah is the book of Esther which is recited in the Synagogue on the festival of Purim. Jews are obligated to hear the Megillah publicly being read aloud in the Synagogue. The children love dressing in fancy-dress costumes to celebrate Purim. Which verses in the Torah have words with Suspended letters? There are 4 words having one of their letters suspended above the line namely: Judges 18:30 Psalms 80:14 Job 38: 13,15 Which verses in the Torah have words with Dotted Letters above? Gen 16:5 Gen 18:9 Gen 19:33 Gen 33:4 Gen 37:12 Numbers 3:39 Numbers 9:10 Numbers 21:30 Numbers 29:15 Deuteronomy 29:28 Which rooms have a mezuzah on the doorpost? Religious Jews will place a mezuzah on the door-post of every room, except their bathroom. Some Jews even have mezuzahs on the pillar of their gate as well as on the one side of their garage wall door. What happens at a Jewish cemetery? Flowers are not put beside the grave at a Jewish funeral. After you have visited the grave-side, you go into a room to wash your hands… washing away the traces of death. Instead of flowers, there is a charity money-box and donations may be given. Why do Jews not celebrate Easter or Christmas? Jews do not read the New Testament and don’t believe in Jesus Christ, so they do not celebrate Christmas and Easter. Instead of the Christian holidays, Jews have their own holidays like Rosh Hashana (New Year), Passover, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and the Festival of Lights known as Chanukah as well as many others. What is the Beth-Din? The Beth-Din is made up of a number of Rabbis who are the authority to uphold the laws of kashrut (kosher laws), marriage and divorce as well as laws pertaining to business. When one Jew does something wrong to another Jew, they appear before the Beth-Din, which is the Jewish Court of Law. Why do Jews have 2 sets of separate dishes in their kitchen? Jews are not allowed to eat meat dishes at the same time together with dairy foods like eggs, yogurt, drinking milk or cheese. Jews have separate dishes when they eat meat, and when they eat dairy foods, they use different plates. The meat plates and cutlery and the dairy plates and cutlery are also washed separately in the kitchen-sink. Why do Jewish men cover their heads when praying? As a show of respect and humbleness to their Creator, Jewish men are not allowed to pray to God if their heads are not covered either by a scull-cap, known as a yarmulke or a hat. If a Jew arrives at the synagogue and has forgot to bring his head-covering, he is either given a handkerchief to cover his head or they have spare yarmulkes located in the foyer of the synagogue. What are some popular Hebrew words and phrases? Shalom....it means ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’ or ‘peace’ depending on when and how it is used Todah...thank you Boker Tov....Good Morning Erev Tov....Good evening Lyla Tov...Good night Ma Nishma?....How are you keeping? Kesef....money Yom...day Machar...tomorrow Yad...hand Slicha...sorry or excuse me Lama?....why? Ma zeh?...what is this? Rega...wait, just a moment L’chayim...to life...a toast made before drinking Tikvah...hope Mazel Tov...Congratulations Ken...yes Lo...no Beseder...Okay Kama zeh oleh?...how much does it cost? Aba...dad Ulai...maybe Ish...man Isha...woman Ani...I Bat...daughter Ben...son Sefer...book Ima...mom How do Jews keep the Sabbath? Jews cannot watch TV, listen to the radio or play CD’s on the Sabbath. Reading of secular books or newspapers is also not allowed. Food may not be cooked on the Sabbath. Food to be eaten on the Sabbath, must be prepared the day before. The 7th day of the week is a holy day to come closer to God. Jews love going to Synagogue, praying, studying the Scriptures, visiting family or friends, resting and sleeping on the Sabbath. Why do Jews not eat prawns, crab, ostrich, rabbit, calamari, lobster, bacon or pork? In the Bible, it is recorded that seafood like prawns, lobster and crab are scavengers of the sea and are unclean and therefore should not be eaten because they are not kosher. Jews follow the Old Testament laws and all of these foods are regarded as unclean, not kosher. What is the Parsha of the week? The Torah is divided into weekly Torah portions or readings and a different parsha is studied every week of the year. What is Jesus’ surname? In Bible times, when someone called your name, to make sure that the right man was called, the name of the man was called out together with the name of the man’s father. In your Bible you will see many references in the genealogy of a person mentioned as either ‘son of’ or ‘daughter of’ someone. The Hebrew name of Jesus is Yashua and His earthly father was Joseph. When the Rabbis in the synagogue called for Jesus to come and read a portion from the Book of Isaiah, they referred to Him as ‘Yashua ben Yosef’…translated as Jesus son of Joseph. Even today, when a man is called up in the synagogue to the Alter to read a portion of law from the Scriptures, he is called by his first name and then ‘son of’ and his father’s first name. Which letters of alphabet are printed upside down in the Bible? In the Hebrew Bible the letter ‘nun’ corresponding to the letter ‘n’ is written upside down in 9 different places: Numbers, 10:35–36 These two verses have an upside down letter "nun" at the beginning and end. Psalm 107 The upside down letter ‘nun’ appears seven times in Psalm 107 at verses 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and then at verse 40. What is God, the Father’s unique personal name that is left out of most Bibles? There are 4 Hebrew letters in God’s name namely Y H V H. The letters are sometimes written as Y H W H. There are no vowels in Hebrew so how do we pronounce God’s personal name? Most Bible authorities say that God’s name is Yahweh while others prefer using the name of Jehovah. Hebrew only has 22 letters of alphabet and does not have the letter ‘J’. However, if you want to call God by the name Jehovah, it would be more correct to substitute the letter ‘J’ for the letter ‘Y’ and use Yahovah instead of Jehovah. What is the difference between Hebrew and Yiddish? Hebrew is the holy language of God and the Old Testament. Hebrew was one of the languages spoken by Jesus. Hebrew today, together with Arabic are the 2 main languages spoken in Israel. Yiddish is not a pure language and consists of words taken from Hebrew, German, Aramaic and several other languages. It was the language spoken by Jews who came from countries in Europe like Poland and Russia while Ladino was spoken by Sephardic Jews who came from Middle Eastern countries of Spanish origin. Are Jews allowed to kneel in prayer? No. Jews never bow the knee in prayer. Are all Jews the same? Are there different religious Jewish sects? If you had to put 100 Christians in one large room, you would find that many of the Christians belong to different groups or sects…for example, there would be Baptists, 7th Day Adventists, Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Charismatics, Methodists and Anglicans. The Jewish religion also has many different groups or sects. Some of the popular Jewish groups are Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Chasidic, Satmar, Bells, Vilna Gaon, Kollel, Lubovitch and Liberal. Each of these groups has different traditions and customs, beliefs as well as their interpretation and carrying out of the laws of the Scriptures differs vastly from each other. For example, the Orthodox Jews do not allow you to drive a car on the Sabbath while the Reform Jews feel that we are living in a modern world and if you wish, you are permitted to drive to synagogue on the Sabbath. What do you find hanging on the door-posts at every Jewish home and why? Moses was commanded to tell the Israelites to place the blood of a lamb on the door-posts so that the Israelites would be protected when the angel of the Lord would pass over their houses. The Egyptians, who did not have the blood on their door-posts would have their first born killed when God’s angels flew over their homes. Today, every Jewish home has a mezuzah hanging on each and every door-post of their homes, excluding the bathrooms. The mezuzah can either be made of wood, metal, perspex or any other material. The outside case of the mezuzah is not important but what is inside is vital. Rolled up inside the mezuzah is a hand-written scroll or page containing a very sacred Hebrew prayer called ‘the Shma’. What happens when a Jewish boy turns 13 and when a girl turns 12? At the age of 13, a Jewish boy is considered to be a man and to celebrate entering into manhood he has a Barmitzvah. A Jewish girl becomes a woman at the age of 12 and has a Batmitzvah party. In synagogue, the boy stands before the alter and recites a portion of the law that he had specially learnt and prepared for several months. At the Barmitzvah or Batmitzvah party, they are presented with gifts by family and friends. Can Jews be cremated? Jews are not allowed to be cremated because the Rabbi’s teach that our bodies do not belong to us and must be returned to our Creator and not be destroyed by fire. What’s the difference between orthodox and reform? The 2 main Jewish groups or sects are orthodox and reform. Orthodox Jews keep to the old traditions and customs of the Scriptures while the Reform Jews practice modern Judaism. Orthodox Jews do not allow anyone to smoke on the Sabbath….Reform Jews do not mind if you choose to smoke on the Sabbath. What is a Zionist? A Zionist is a Jew who is pro-Israel and whose purpose is to promote the state of the nation of Israel. What’s the difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardi? Ashkenazi Jews come from Anglo-Saxon countries like America, Britain, Australia and South Africa. Sephardic Jews come from the Eastern countries like Spain, Morocco, Yemen and Sudan. What is Tanya? The book of Tanya is regarded by the Chasidic Jewish sect called Lubavitch as an important book to be studied after the Torah. The Book of Tanya was written by one of their own Rabbi’s, namely Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi who was also known as the Alter Rebbe. What is the difference between Torah and Tanach? The Torah is a collection of the 5 books written by Moses or the first five books of the Bible. The Tanach which includes the Torah is the complete Old Testament. What is Tefillin? ‘And you shall bind them as a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.’ Deuteronomy 6:8 Tefillin is also known as phylacteries which are 2 small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with four biblical passages that are placed inside the leather boxes. Tefillin are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. The obligation of tefillin is mentioned four times in the Torah: And it shall be for a sign for you upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand did the LORD bring you out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes; for with a mighty hand did the LORD bring us forth out of Egypt. Exodus 13:16 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 6:8 You shall put these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall tie them for a sign upon your arm, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. Deuteronomy 11:18 The purpose of tefillin placed on the arm adjacent to the heart and placed on the head above the brain serve as a reminder that these two major organs are willing to perform the service of God. The duty of laying tefillin rests upon males after the age of thirteen years. Tefillin are not worn on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. Why do Jewish men wear fringes on their vests? Under their shirts, Jewish men wear a vest with tassels hanging from the 4 corners of their vest. There are 10 strings on each corner of the vest. The reason they wear the tassels is to be a constant reminder throughout the day of the commandments they need to fulfil. What is the Talmud? Jews believe that you cannot understand the Bible unless you have a detailed explanation of everything that is recorded in the Scriptures. The Torah is known as the ‘written law’ and the Talmud is known as the ‘oral law’. The Talmud was never written down but was passed on from one generation to another generation through the years, from mother to daughter and from father to son. The Talmud interprets the meaning of the scriptures and how to apply the various Laws. What is the Gemara, the Mishnah and the Midrash? The Jews have 2 different Bibles…the ‘Written Torah’ and the ‘Oral Torah’. The Talmud is known as the "Oral Torah" and Jews believe that it was given at the same time as the ‘Written Torah’ to Moses on Mt Sinai. The Talmud is made up of the writings of the Gemara and the Mishnah. The Gemara is an interpretation of the ‘Written Torah’ by various prominent Rabbis, which were handed down and published in a series of books. Most of the Gemara is written in Aramaic whereas the Mishnah is written in Hebrew. There are two versions of the Gemara namely the Jerusalem and the Babylonian versions. The Midrash are a collection of books explaining passages and stories in the Scriptures to derive deeper meaning from the text. The Mishnah are Jewish commandments and principles relating to various subjects such as agricultural laws, festival and Sabbath laws, marriage and divorce laws, the laws pertaining to food, functioning of the courts, laws for women, buying and selling, neighbourly laws to name just some. What is in a Jewish Prayer Book? Jews are not allowed to compose or say their own prayers…they have to pray from a Jewish Prayer Book known as a Siddur. Most Jews do not own a Bible, Torah or Tanach but everyone has a Siddur in their home. The Siddur contains the Morning Prayers, Evening Prayers and Prayer to be said before going to sleep at night. It also has special prayers for protection, a prayer for seeing the new moon, blessings over foods, breaking bread, prayer before drinking wine, handwashing prayers, the Traveller’s prayer and blessing the children. Why does the bridegroom break a glass at a wedding? Jewish people believe that it is lucky for a bridegroom to break a piece of glass at a wedding. The piece of glass is wrapped in paper and placed next to the bridegroom’s feet. When the bride and groom are pronounced husband and wife, the groom will lift his foot and bring it down hard on the wrapped-up piece of glass. Then everyone shouts ‘Mazeltov’ wishing the newly-weds congratulations and happiness. The broken glass symbolizes the saying: ‘May your marriage never be shattered like the glass you are breaking’. What is the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament? The order of the books in the Hebrew Bible differs from the order in Christian Bibles. The last book of the Hebrew Bible is Chronicles 2 whereas the last book in the Christian Bibles is Malachi. Did you know that Jews have their own kind of bacon? Yes, because Jews do not eat pork or bacon, food manufacturers have come up with a Jewish version of bacon and it is called ‘macon’. How do you read Hebrew? Hebrew is read from right to left. In Israel, the Hebrew newspapers, magazines and street-signs do not have vowels. There are only 22 letters of alphabet in Hebrew. What is the holiest day of the year in the Jewish Calendar? The Day of Atonement which is called Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. It is a solemn fast day where Jews confess and repent of all their wrong-doings that they have committed throughout the year. What prayer do Jews say as soon as they wake up and open their eyes? Jews start their day with a ‘Thank you prayer’ to God called "Modeh Ani" showing appreciation that they have been brought to life out of the sleep-death to a brand new day. How many commandments are there in the Bible for Jews? 613 commandments are recorded in the books from Exodus to Deuteronomy. Which book in the Old Testament is the only book that does not have God’s name? The book of Esther. Are there special blessings you recite before you eat specific foods? In the Siddur (the Prayer Book) there are special prayers to be prayed before you eat bread, or drink wine, blessings for vegetables and a different blessing for fruits. Can a Jew have a tattoo? No. Tattoos are forbidden. What is the role of Jewish women at the beginning of Sabbath? Jewish women are given the honor of welcoming the Sabbath bride with a special prayer which they recite as they light the Sabbath candles. What do Jewish Fathers have to do with their children on the Sabbath? Jewish fathers bless their children, one by one, starting with the eldest proceeding to the youngest, by placing their hands on the child’s head and giving them a special unique blessing. When are Jews not allowed to eat bread? During the festival of Passover, Jews eat unleavened bread called ‘Matzot’. On which Jewish festival do Jews eat and sleep outside? On the festival of Tabernacles, which is known as Succot. Which books have been left out of the Bible? There are 14 extra Old Testament books that the Catholics have included in their Bible, but which are not considered to be of divine inspiration to be included in the Hebrew Bible. Some of these books are: Jesus Ben Sirah The Book of Tobit Susan and the Bel Dragon Baruch Macabees 1 Macabees 2 Macabees 3 Jewish Traditions condemned in the Bible Jesus condemned the traditions of the Jews which are a heavy burden placed on the Jews. Mark 7: 8, 9, 13 Matt 15: 6 You have made the Word of God invalid because of your tradition. Mark 7: 13 Thus you have made the Word of God invalid by your tradition you have handed down. How different is the Jewish calendar? The Jewish calendar does not start in the month of January but begins in the month of September or October, each year it is different depending on the cycle of the moon. Conclusion Jesus Christ (Himself a Jew) was against the traditions of the Jews because the laws made by the Jewish Rabbis are a heavy burden placed on the Jews which they are unable to completely fulfill. Not only do the Jews have to obey God’s holy laws as recorded in the Scriptures, but the Jews must also obey and keep all the man-made laws of the Rabbis. If only the Jews would realize that God doesn’t punish people who tear toilet paper on the Sabbath and He does not mind if Jews eat cheese burgers combining meat together with a dairy product in the same meal. I am so blessed and don’t have to wonder like the Jews do, who the true Messiah is. There are hundreds of Bible prophecies which have already been fulfilled proving that Jesus Christ is the coming Messiah. I am so deeply grateful and very privileged that I have been freed from trying to keep all the 613 Old Testament laws and I can live by the grace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. THANK YOU JESUS There's no other friend so true and so faithful There's no other love so precious, so dear There's no other joy so rich and fulfilling There's no other grace so kind and so rare There's no other one who has done more for the world than Jesus. Why I love Jesus Jesus could see into the future and He knew what was going to happen. He has prepared a place for believers in His kingdom. He did not follow His own will, but followed His Father’s will. Jesus taught us how to pray. He freed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us. Through His blood and grace, He saved us from our sins. Jesus is alive and lives forever. Through Jesus, all things are possible. Jesus is love. The blood of Jesus is powerful and the enemy cannot defeat Him. All power and authority has been given to Jesus. Jesus taught us to live showing love and kindness. Jesus suffered greatly for us to give us a better life. Jesus stands for goodness. Jesus ways are pure. Jesus is the greatest king in the universe. Jesus created the world together with Father Yahveh and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our High Priest interceding for us. Jesus stood for truth. Jesus is without sin and is holy. Jesus died for us. Jesus took all of our sins. Jesus is coming again to redeem His followers and again to judge the world. Jesus is the most influential life ever to live on our planet. Jesus is the centre of history and the most dominant figure in all of history. Jesus has a heart for the lost, for the suffering and the poor. Jesus will judge everyone who has ever lived. Jesus will give believers glorified, resurrected bodies. Jesus will bring peace. Jesus is perfect and sinless. Jesus, who is God the son, became human. Jesus loves children. Jesus grants believers spiritual authority. By His stripes, we are healed. Jesus is the soon coming Messiah. Followers of Jesus will have eternal life. Jesus reigns as King forever. Jesus has power of nature and the elements. Jesus is our foundation and rock. Jesus has power over evil spirits. Jesus gave believers the Holy Spirit to help, guide and comfort us. Jesus is our Shepherd and leader. Jesus is our redeemer and deliverer. Jesus is our High Priest accepted by God our Father. There is no other way to come to Father God, but through Jesus. Jesus obeyed His Father and displayed great humility. Every knee must bow at the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ was Father God’s purpose to be fulfilled on earth. Jesus is not governed by time. The virgin birth of Jesus was prophesised many centuries ago. Do all in the name of Jesus. Jesus is our guarantee of eternal life for all believers. Jesus is faithful. Jesus answers prayers. Jesus receives our praise, love and appreciation. Jesus came to declare and make known His Father’s name. Jesus is the only way by which we can gain eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus is a historical fact The soldiers reported this – 15 Matt 28: 1 -4; 11 Mary Magdalene and other women were witnesses John 20: 11 – 18; Matt 28: 8 -10 Jesus spoke at length to the two men on the road to Emmaus Luke 24: 13 Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Chamber John 20: 19 – 29 Jesus appeared to His disciples John 21: 1 Jesus ascended to heaven before the eyes of His followers Acts 1: 4 – 10 Events that followed immediately after the death of Jesus The earthquake and the tearing of the veil of the temple Matt 27: 51 The opening of the graves Matt 27: 52 The confession of the Centurion Matt 27: 54 The conviction of the multitude Luke 23: 48 The breaking of the legs of the thieves 19: 31 – 32 The piercing of the side of Jesus The entombment John John 19: 34 John 19: 38 – 42 The sealing of the tomb and the setting of the watch Matt 27: 66 Jesus appearances after the resurrection To Mary Magdalene 11 – 17 Mark 16: 9, John 20: To the other Woman Matt 28: 8 – 10 To Peter Luke 24: 34 To the disciples at Emmaus Mark 16: 12 – 13, Luke 24: 13 – 35 To the disciples, Thomas absent – 48, Luke 24: 36 John 20: 19 – 25 To the Eleven, Thomas present – 18, John 20: 26 Mark 16: 14 His appearance in Galilee Matt 20: 16 – 20, John 21: 1 – 24 To the Five Hundred 1 Cor 15: 6 His appearance to James 1 Cor 15: 7 His final appearance at the time of His Ascension Mark 16: 19 -20, Luke 24: 50 – 53 Christians will receive rewards For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive his reward according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Cor 5: 10 Incorruptible Crowns will then be awarded Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5: 4 Crown of Life Rev 2: 10 Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim 4: 8 Crown of Rejoicing (Soul Winner’s Crown) 1 Thess 2: 19 The Incorruptible Crown 1 Cor 9: 25 We will worship Jesus and cast our Crowns at His feet Rev 4: 10 Jesus claimed certain divine abilities To forgive sins Matt 9: 1 – 8 To be the Source of life John 5: 26, John 6: 47 – 58 To have authority to judge the world 25 – 29 John 5: To be the Eternal One, He called Himself the I AM which would have been the height of blasphemy if untrue John 8: 58 -59 Jesus accepted worship and titles ascribable to God alone Saviour John 4: 42, Isaiah 43: 11 Isaiah 45: 42, My Lord and my God John 20: 28 The Christ, the Son of the living God 16 – 17 Matt 16: What will you do in heaven You will judge angels 1 Cor 5: 3 You will reign with Jesus on earth and in the heavenlies 2 Tim 2: 12 You will be witnesses at the Great White Throne Judgement Rev 20: 11 – 15 You will judge the world 1 Cor 6: 2 You will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb Rev 19: 7 If God revealed to us the wonderful gifts and blessings that await us, it will blow our minds. 2 Cor 12: 4 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord 1 Cor 15: 58 Jesus Prayed Jesus prays for Himself John 17: 1 Jesus prays for His Disciples John 17: 6 – 13 Jesus prays for all believers John 17: 20 – 25 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Mark 1: 35 When you need a helping hand in this world When you need someone to rely on There’s only Jesus He is always there for you! Who you are in Christ I am complete in Him Who is the Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2:10). I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). I am free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). I am far from oppression, and fear does not come near me (Isaiah 54:14). I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18). I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16). I have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5). I have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I have the Greater One living in me; greater is He Who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). I have received the gift of righteousness and reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened (Ephesians 1:17-18). I have received the power of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on the sick and see them recover, to cast out demons, to speak with new tongues. I have power over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means harm me (Mark 16:17-18; Luke 10:17-19). I have put off the old man and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of Him Who created me (Colossians 3:9-10). I have given, and it is given to me; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, men give into my bosom (Luke 6:38). I have no lack for my God supplies all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). I can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one with my shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16). I can do all things through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13). I show forth the praises of God who has called me out of darkness into His marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9). I am God’s child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, which lives and abides forever (1 Peter 1:23). I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ unto good works (Ephesians 2:10). I am a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I am a spirit being alive to God (Romans 6:11;1 Thessalonians 5:23). I am a believer, and the light of the Gospel shines in my mind (2 Corinthians 4:4). I am a doer of the Word and blessed in my actions (James 1:22,25). I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me (Romans 8:37). I am an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Revelation 12:11). I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9). I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). I am the temple of the Holy Spirit; I am not my own (1 Corinthians 6:19). I am the head and not the tail; I am above only and not beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13). I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). I am His elect, full of mercy, kindness, humility, and longsuffering (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12). I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the Blood (Ephesians 1:7). I am delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13). I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:7). I am called of God to be the voice of His praise (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9). I am healed by the stripes of Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). I am raised up with Christ and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 2:12). I am greatly loved by God (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4). I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power (Colossians 1:11). I am submitted to God, and the devil flees from me because I resist him in the Name of Jesus (James 4:7). I press on toward the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward (Philippians 3:14). For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). It is not I who live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Titles of Jesus in the Scriptures Advocate (1 John 2:1) Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18) Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13) Jesus titles Amen (Rev. 3:14) Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1) Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2) Author of Life (Acts 3:15) Author of our Faith (Heb. 12:2) Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10) Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13) Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15) Bread of God (John 6:33) Bread that comes down from heaven (John 6:50) Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48) Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15) Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7) Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20) Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) Christ (1 John 2:22) Creator (John 1:3) Deliverer (Rom. 11:26) Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20) Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5) Faithful and True Witness (Rev. 3:14) First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13) Firstborn from the Dead (Rev. 1:5) Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15) Gate (John 10:9) God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5; 2 Pet. 1:1) Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14) Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20) Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14) Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23) Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2) High Priest (Heb. 2:17) Holy and True (Rev. 3:7) Holy One (Acts 3:14) Hope (1 Tim. 1:1) Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27) Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69) I Am (John 8:58) Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4) Immanuel (Mt. 1:23) Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17) King of Israel (John 1:49) King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11) King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16) King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3) Lamb (Rev. 13:8) Lamb of God (John 1:29) Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19) Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4) Light of the World (John 8:12) Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5) Living One (Rev. 1:18) Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4) Lord (2 Pet. 2:20) Lord of All (Acts 10:36) Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8) Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16) Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48) Master (Luke 5:5; 8:24; 9:33) Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15) Mighty God (Isa. 9:6) Morning Star (Rev. 22:16) Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16) Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9) Our Great God and Saviour (Titus 2:13) Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2) Our Peace (Eph 2:14) Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3) Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30) Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6) Prophet (Acts 3:22) Rabbi (Mt. 26:25) Resurrection and Life (John 11:25) Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5) Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1) Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) Ruler of God's Creation (Rev. 3:14) Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5) Saviour (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20) Son of David (Luke 18:39) Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14) Son of Man (Mt. 8:20) Son of the Most High God (Luke 1:32) Source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9) Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11) Teacher (John 11:28, NIV) True Bread (John 6:32) True Light (John 1:9) True Vine (John 15:1) Truth (John 1:14; 14:6) Way (John 14:6) Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24) Word (John 1:1) Word of God (Rev. 19:13) Light of the World (John 8:12) Lamb of God (John 1:29) Saviour (Eph 5:23) Jesus is God He has authority to forgive sins Matt 9: 2 – 6 Luke 7: 48 Jesus is omnipotent 11: 18 John 5: 21 – 22 Matt 11: 27 – 28 Matt John 10: 18 Jesus is all-knowing John 1: 48 John 2: 25 Jesus is one with God the Father John 10: 30 33 John 12: 45 John 14: 9, 23 Jesus has authority to answer prayers John 14: 13 - 14 Acts 7: 59 Jesus has the right to receive praise and worship Matt 21: 16 Jesus speaks of Himself I AM the true vine John 15: 1 IAM the good shepherd John 10: 11 I AM the bread of life John 6: 35 I AM the light of the world John 8: 12 I AM the resurrection and the life John 11: 25 I AM the way and the truth and the life 11: 25 I AM the gate for the sheep John 10: 7 John Prophecies fulfilled by Jesus He will be a descendant of Abraham Matt 1: 1; Matt 1: 17; Gal 3: 16; Gen 12: 1 – 3. He will be betrayed by a friend Matt 26: 1416; Mark 14: 10-11; Ps 41:9. He will ascend into heaven Luke 24: 51; Acts 1: 9; Ps 47:5. He will be given gall and vinegar to drink Matt 27: 34; John 19: 29-30; Ps 69:21. He will sit at the right hand of God as a High Priest Col 3: 1; Heb 1: 3 Heb 5: 5-6; Ps 110: 1, 4. He will be born of a virgin Matt 1: 21-23; Luke 1: 34-35; Luke 2: 7; Isa 7:14. He will be rejected and hated Peter 2: 4-7 Matt 21: 42; 1 Matt 13: 57; Mark 6: 4; Luke 4: 24; Ps 118: 22. His coming will be announced by an anointed messenger Matt 3: 13; Mark 1: 2-3; Luke 1: 17; Luke 1: 76-77; Luke 3:3-6; John 1:23; Mal 3: 1; Isa 40: 3. He will be the chief cornerstone 1 Peter 2: 6-7 Isa 28:16 He will perform miracles Matt 11: 4-6; John 9: 6-7; Isa 35: 5 -6. He will defeat Satan Gen 3:15. Gal 4: 4-5; Rev 12: 11; He will be a stumbling block Luke 2:34; Rom 9: 32-33; 1 Pet 2: 8; Isa 8: 14. He will preach in parables Matt 13: 35-35; Mark 4: 33-34; Ps 78:2. His kingdom will be forever Matt 4: 12-16; Matt 4: 23; Luke 1: 32-33; Isa 9: 1 – 2, 7. He will have Gentile believers John 10: 16; Acts 10: 34-35, 45, 47; Isa 11: 10; Isa 42: 1. He will not have any of His bones broken John 19: 33, 36; Exod 12: 46. His body will not decay in the grave Luke 24: 6, 31, 34; Acts 2: 31; Ps 16:10. He will have a great love for God’s house John 2: 17; Ps 69:9. He will be forsaken by God, ridiculed by people and His clothing will be divided by the casting of dice Matt 27: 39-44, 46; Luke 22: 63-65; John 19: 1820, 23-24; Rom 15:3; Ps 22: 1 – 18. He will be a prophet like unto Moses Acts 3: 20-22; Deut 18: 15 – 18. He will be King of the Jews and the Son of God Luke 1: 32, 35, Luke 23: 10-12; John 18: 33-37; Acts 4: 27; Ps 2: 1 – 2, 6 -7. He will be meek 6. Matt 12: 15-21; Isa 42: 1 – He will be spat on and beaten Matt 26: 67; Mark 14: 65; Mark 15: 19; Luke 22: 63; John 19: 1-5; Isa 50: 6. He will be anointed by the Spirit of God Matt 3: 16; Mark 1: 10; Luke 3: 22; Luke 4: 16-19; John 3: 34; John 5: 30; Acts 10: 38; Rev 19: 11; Isa 61: 1. He will be born in Bethlehem Matt 2: 1-6; Luke 2: 4-7; Mic 5: 2 – 5. He will enter into Jerusalem riding on a donkey Matt 21: 1-5; Zech 9: 9. He will be pierced John 19: 34, 37; Zech 12: 10. He will go into Jerusalem’s temple Matt 21: 12; Mark 11: 11; Luke 19: 45-48; John 2: 13-16; Mal 3: 1. He will be a descendant of David Rom 1: 3; Matt 1: 1,17; Acts 13: 22-23; Jer 23: 5 – 6; Jer 33: 14 – 16. He will be condemned and will suffer, but will remain silent before His accusers. He will be buried with the rich Matt 26: Matt 26: 62-63; Matt 26: 27: Matt 26: 11-14, Matt 26: 27-50, Matt 26: 57-60; Mark 15: 4-5, 21-37, 42-46; Luke 23: 6-9, Luke 23: 32-46, Luke 23: 50-54; John 19: John 19: 16-30, John 19: 38-42; 1 Peter 2: 22-23; Isa 53: 1 – 12. He will be alive during the killing of the children of Bethlehem Matt 2: 16-18; Jer 31: 15. He will be forsaken by His disciples Matt 26: 31, 56; Mark 14: 27, 50; Zech 13: 7. He will be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Matt 26: 15; Matt 27: 7; Zech 11: 12 – 13. What are the benefits of loving Jesus Look what Jesus has done for me and you! Our sins are forgiven Rom 6: 11 There is no condemnation Rom 8: 1 We are a new creation 2 Cor 5: 17 We are God’s children Gal3: 26; Eph 1: 5 We are seated in heavenly realms Eph 2: 6 Nothing can separate us from God’s love Rom 8: 39 We are blessed with spiritual blessings 3 Eph 1: The Holy Spirit will guide us John 16: 13 God will meet all our needs Phil 4: 19 We will have eternal life John 3: 16 In Jesus we will have peace John 16: 33 If we confess Jesus, we will be saved Rom 10: 9 We will be rewarded for serving Jesus Col 3: 23-24 The dead in Christ will be resurrected 1 Thes 4: 16 God will give us rest Heb 4: 1,9 God will give us the Holy Spirit John 14: 16-17 We have been given fullness in Christ Col 2: 10 We are blessed with the riches of His grace Eph 2: 7 Jesus has freed us from the curses of the law because the old covenant has been taken away Gal 2: 4; 2 Cor 3: 14 All things work together for good to those who love God Rom 8: 28 You will be blessed with eternal glory when you follow Jesus. Some of the many Miracles of Jesus He walked on water Matthew 14:22-33 Calmed a storm Matt 8:23 -27 He healed a woman’s bleeding Mark 5: 25 -34 Healed leprosy Mark 1:40 - 45 Healed the blind Matt 9:27 - 31 Cast out demons Matt 9:32 - 35 Fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish John 6: 1-14 Rose from the dead Luke 24: 1 - 8 Ascended into heaven Acts 1: 9 - 11 Raised the dead John 11; Luke 7: 11-17; Luke 8: 41-56 Turned water into wine John 2: 1 - 11 Provided a net full of fish John 21: 1 -14 He healed the deaf Mark 7: 31 -37 Celebrate Jesus Wise men came from the East to worship and bow down before Jesus. People went to great lengths and travelled a long distance just to get a glimpse of Jesus. The wise men fell on their faces to honour and worship Jesus. One-of-a-kind unique rare photo taken at my granny's house celebrating the completion of reading from the Torah 'a-page-a-day'. My granny and mom are standing at the back. In the front, on the extreme right is World renowned Rabbi Aharon Kotler. Meeting of 2 World Famous Rabbi's, Chafetz Chaim and Elchonon Wasserman at my Granny's house in Poland. My mom is the younger woman standing in the door-way. Rare Historical Photo of The World's Greatest Rabbis taken at Etz Chaim in Poland in 1933. My mother gave me this photo. I Love Jesus I was born a Jew. My mother was the only child of Rabbi Kesler, who immigrated to South Africa from Poland. My Grandpa, Rabbi Kesler taught me the assigned Torah portion for my barmitzvah, which I had to publicly read in synagogue. In our home, we always had the radio on throughout the day. Our home was filled with music and a deep reverence for God. On Sundays, the radio station had a morning church service broadcast. At first, it was just a voice talking in the background, but then after a while, the sermons that the preachers delivered caught my dad’s attention and he told me ‘they talk a lot of sense!’ Dad especially enjoyed their choice of words in their uplifting message. The more we listened to what the preachers had to say, our understanding and belief in Jesus began to grow. Things were quite different in the Jewish Orthodox synagogue. Because the service was all in Hebrew, (which most of the community did not understand), we were always left feeling empty without a message of hope….without getting any scriptural teaching. I didn’t like that you could not sit where you wanted to in synagogue, especially on the high holy days like Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). The seats are allocated according to what you can afford to pay. It’s like when you buy your ticket to go to a concert. The rich sit in the front rows, while those who cannot afford the higher cost of the front row seats, have to sit in the back rows. (and this is supposed to be ‘a house of God’) As commanded in the Old Testament, during the festival of Passover, all Jews have to eat unleavened bread (Matzot). Several weeks before Passover, the grocery shops are full of Jews buying all their Passover food necessities. In my trolley, I had several boxes of Matzot, when suddenly a stranger came up to me and he told me not to buy that specific brand of matzot as it was not kosher! I was surprised and replied, that my grandfather, who was a Rabbi always bought that particular brand. ‘No!’ he insisted, you should rather be buying another make of matzot as he continued explaining to me, that is a higher level of kashrut. (meaning that the standard of manufacturing this Matzot adheres to a higher level of keeping kosher). It does not matter what brand of Matzot you buy, as long as the Beth Din (Jewish House of Law) stamp of approval is on the box, it is considered kosher for Passover. My grandfather gave me a tallit (prayer shawl) that had blue stripes. On another occasion, while at Shul (synagogue) several men came to tell me that I should rather get myself a prayer shawl that had black stripes and not blue! (the colour of the stripes on a prayer shawl does not matter to God). In the synagogue, while the prayer service is taking place, there is a lot of chatter going on….men discussing business while the service is carrying on, women try to outdo each other with the latest trends in fashion. The Rabbi often shouts and tells them ‘sheket!’ (shut up!) For many, the purpose of going to synagogue has become a social thing to catch up on the gossip and happenings of what has been going on in the Jewish community. Many of the congregants gather outside, during the service hear the local news and have their discussions. Jews are not supposed to eat bacon or prawns. Many Jews will tell you, that in their homes they never have bacon or prawns….but, they will have bacon and egg at a restaurant, and prawns. This is hypocritical! Who are they trying to fool? My mother used to type her father, the Rabbi’s High Holiday speeches. Always on the day of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashana) as well as on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the synagogues are packed with worshippers. Although the entire Synagogue service is conducted in Hebrew, there is a short sermon in English from the Rabbi. The sermon is usually topical and centred around the news that is happening in the country and in Israel. With the Synagogue overflowing with congregants, my grandfather, the Rabbi took the opportunity to address his community. He said: ‘Every Sabbath, I talk to the four walls in the synagogue…there are only a few worshippers here. Where’s everybody? On the Sabbath, the women are at the hairdressers, and the men are playing bowls or golf. What about the children?...they are at the movies. Is it more important for you to partake in your own activities, instead of coming to the Synagogue to pray on the Sabbath?’ After the service, my grandfather was summoned to the President of the Synagogue’s office. The President gave him an envelope with his salary check and fired him! The President told him: ‘You spoke the truth, but you offended the community. The members of the Synagogue feel they want to do their own thing on the Sabbath. They don’t want you as their Rabbi any more!’ I remember seeing my grandfather crying, hurt and devastated for speaking the truth as their leader. He eventually got a post to be the spiritual leader of another community. You will often find Jewish men and women actively involved in collecting money and doing things for charity. The Jews believe that the way to heaven, is doing good deeds….they call it ‘mitzvoth.’ And Jews have to wait a whole year, to ask God for forgiveness of their sins they have committed. Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is the only day of the year when a Jew tries to remember all the wrong doing he has done during the year and pleads to God for forgiveness. My secret was discovered On Sundays, we often went to visit my Dad’s brother. 'Where's Bernard?' my Uncle asked my Dad...doesn't he want some cake and a cold-drink? 'There he is, at the pool, reading a book'. 'Bernard, what book are you reading?' 'Uncle, I'm reading the Bible and reading all about Jesus' 'What! Does your father know what you are reading?' 'I want you to get yourself off my property...right now...immediately...I'll get your father to take you home...I will not have anyone reading about Jesus on my property!' My family does not want to know me because I believe in Jesus. You see, I was brought up in the Jewish faith and Jewish people are not allowed to read the New Testament and they do not believe in Jesus. Because of this, the Jewish people do not celebrate Christmas or Easter...instead they celebrate the Holy Days recorded in the Old Testament like Passover, Day of Atonement and the Festival of First Fruits. MY MOTHER WAS THE ONLY CHILD OF RABBI KESSLER, WHO ORIGINALLY CAME FROM POLAND. At the age of 13, according to the Jewish custom, I had my Barmitzvah (coming of age for a Jewish boy). At school, the Jewish children left the class-room whenever we had Bible Studies...the Jewish boys usually played soccer until we were all called in back to class for the next subject. I started reading about Jesus at the age of 14 and was immediately attracted by the purity of His words overflowing with love. My dad passed away and at my father's funeral, the officiating Rabbi came up to me and asked me to pray a certain specific prayer for my father. I told the Rabbi that I was willing to do so, but that I would have to pray 'in the name of Jesus'. The Rabbi said that this could not be allowed so my Dad's brother said that he would recite the prayer. His daughter then shouted out loudly: 'You a traitor to the Jewish nation!' After the funeral, no one wanted to associate themselves with me and everyone just walked away and left without saying a word to me. The first time I went to Church, was when I was in my forties....I was too scared to let the Jewish people know I believed in Jesus. I was also confused and never knew which Church to go to...I couldn't understand why there were so many different Christian Churches and what the difference was between them all...I heard some the names of the Churches like Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Protestant, 7th Day Adventist, etc but it all seemed so strange to me. I read about a Bible Correspondence Course and began receiving the lessons and submitting my answers that were marked and corrected. My Christian book library started growing rapidly and I loved learning all I could know about Jesus. The beautiful gift of Jesus I feel very privileged and blessed that I was chosen to discover the absolute truth about Jesus...that Jesus really is the Son of God and that He gave his life to suffer and die for my sins....and that He is coming back as my Messiah. I am so very, very grateful for all that Jesus has done for me. I thank Jesus every day for His immense love, kindness and grace. THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD, OR THAT ANYONE CAN OFFER ME, THAT IS BETTER THAN JESUS. With appreciation Bernard Levine THANK YOU FOR JESUS Be the someone who stands up for Jesus Be the person who thanks God for daily blessings Be the voice who talks about the victory of the cross Be the heart who loves to serve God. What is the value of the gift of Jesus? When you think about it just how amazing it truly is that God gave His very own blood to get us saved from our sins Nothing as big as the sacrifice of Jesus has ever been done for us. The value of the gift of Jesus is much greater than all the wealth of the world. In this world of uncertainty There is a very real true guarantee Jesus is coming back for His bride. Put your trust in Jesus Christ He is the only way to eternal life Jesus is our purpose, our safe refuge and foundation Love God extravagantly and thank God for Jesus. THE GREATNESS OF JESUS The most influential life ever to have lived on this earth The greatest love this world has known The central fulfilment of hundreds of Bible prophecies The leading key figure of humanity Jesus is unique He walked on water He raised the dead He opened blind eyes He brought us eternal life Only through His blood can we be pardoned Only through His name can we receive God's power Only through His life can we find victory Lord Jesus We love and worship you. GIVE GOD JOY The most beautiful eyes in the universe watches over us with passionate love The most powerful hands that there is protects us with awesome strength and care The kindest heart you will ever find flows with boundless grace and forgiveness There’s so much tenderness in God’s Spirit There’s so much giving in God’s nature When we look for a true friend, God’s compassion is always there for us When we need deliverance, God’s help is so mighty The most valuable treasure in the whole world is that Jesus loves you Give God joy in praise and appreciation for all His wonderful gifts. My Prayer for You Let the beautiful love of Jesus bring joy to your day the hope of Jesus fill you with peace the truth of Jesus give you new light the miracles of Jesus bless you. Let the kindness of Jesus touch your heart the promises of Jesus give you new breath the teachings of Jesus feed your soul the power of Jesus strengthen you. Let the grace of Jesus heal your mind the warmth of Jesus encourage you the help of Jesus fulfil your needs and bring you closer to Him. PRECIOUS JESUS Whenever you're needing help and don't know what to do Give your heart to Jesus He will help you make it through You can always depend on Jesus His power is Almighty You will see amazing miracles coming true just for you! The Beauty of God’s Love God is amazing He chooses every baby's DNA and blood type He puts every star in place to float in the sky He creates every fingerprint with a rare design He makes an egg to burst open with life. God is great He selects all the love-songs for every bird to sing He makes broken bones mend He gives every flower its specific perfume He cares for seeds and they turn to fruit. God is awesome He tells the seasons when to change He gives us air so we can breathe He feeds multitudes of living organisms on our planet He waters fields of green carpets with morning dew. Every leaf is a marvel of God's genius Every baby is filled with God's love There is nothing in this world more precious than the beautiful kindness of God. Bless Someone Today Bless someone today with words of kindness Do something nice for a friend Sow seeds of encouragement into a stranger's heart Tell your loved ones you greatly adore them Make someone's day precious and beautiful Give God praise for His greatness Strengthen your companion with fruits of joy Add faith to your neighbor's life Bless someone today and remember - Jesus loves you. About the Author For more than 30 years, Bernard Levine has written the inspirational and romantic words published in greeting cards and posters, published both locally and internationally. Bernard is the author of several books namely Awesome Love, Hidden Secrets of the Jewish World Now Revealed and Make Money Collecting Books, Get Free Celebrity Autographs and more! His most popular poems are featured in a collection entitled The Best of Bernard Levine. Bernard lives with his wife, Chrissie and cat, Whiskers in sunny South Africa.