Beit Yeshua
2009
October to December
Simchat
Torah
PESACH
at the
Lincolnton
Campus of
Gaston College
Planning for
HANUKKAH
Celebration
at Vision For Israel
Charlotte, NC
Marty Goetz
Concert
at Beit Shofarot
Sam Melnyk's
Bar Mitzvah
Vision For
ISRAEL's
Hanukkah
Celebration
Charlotte, NC
HANUKKAH
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.
Isaiah 62
6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.Carolyn and Curtis joined Beit Shofarot in Salisbury, NC, for Simchat Torah on Saturday, October 10, 2009. Paul & Susan, as well as Doug, Iline & Allie, of Beit Yeshua also attended the joyous celebration of the giving of God's written word.
Paul joins the others at Beit Shofarot for the sounding of the shofarot
A prayer of blessing is said over the children
The small and large Torah scrolls at Beit Shofarot are brought out - as well as a WWII Bible
(Left to Right) Leslie, Doug, Emmert, Brad, Rabbi Yossi & Will
Rabbi Yossi carries the large Torah around for all to see and touch
A man typically touches the tzitzits of his talit to the Torah,
then brings them to his mouth and kissed them - remembering the sweetness of God's Word
Simchat Torah mean "Rejoicing with/of the Torah,") and is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret "Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar). When the ark is opened and the Torah scrolls are removed, all the worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with all the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that often lasts for several hours and more.
We're reminded of the "sweetness" of God's Word though songs like "Sweet As Honey" by Dan Nichols and the numerous cheesecakes, danishes, doughnuts and other sweets at Oneg.
As Simchat Torah (the Rejoicing with/of the Torah) continues, flags were lifted up and everyone began to dance
Curtis takes the opportunity to dance with Carolyn as Adina dances with the Torah
Timothy, of Beit Shofarot, holds and dances with the Torah
Doug & Iline dance with the Torah
Curtis receives the Torah as the dancing intensifies
What a spirit of liberty to dance before Yahweh in celebration of His Torah
and His Torah made flesh - Yeshua HaMashiach
The joy of Ha'Shem is indeed our strength!
The yearly Torah reading cycle concludes by reading chapters 33 and 34 of Deuteronomy (D'varim)
Next week the Torah Reading Cycle will begin again with chapter 1 of Genesis (B'resheet)
Pastor Eric Reel of Freedom Church in Lincolnton invited us to come to the "Old Testament" class he teaches at the Lincolnton Campus of Gaston College and share a Pesach (Passover) Seder with his students. It was exiting for us to have the opportunity to share information about this festival of the Lord with this group of college students. Doug, Paul, Chuck and Curtis purchased the materials, pulled our Seder supplies out of storage and prepared a mini-Haggadah for the 50-minute class of 14 students.
Eric introduces the Men from Beit Yeshua
Pesach festival candles are lit and the blessing read
There were fourteen students in the class
The bitter herbs, the matzah, the shankbone - all part of the story of Pesach
The Plagues are recited 3 times and a drop of grape juice is removed from the cup for each one
Vision For Israel is planning for their 1st Hanukkah Celebration on Saturday, December 12, 2009, at their Vision For Israel/Joseph Storehouse/Greetings From Jerusalem location in Charlotte, NC. Currently, there are seven Christian/Messianic Ministries planning to be involved. Everyone is welcome.
On Tuesday, October 20th, Indira, Krista, Cindy, Timmy & Steve from Vision For Israel, Cathy from Highway to Zion, and Paul & Curtis from Beit Yeshua met to plan the festive day. Activities for the event will include a Parade through the neighborhood with flags & banners (weather permitting), games for the kids (including the dreidel game), Israeli Folk Dance classes & performance, shofar blowing instructions, food, sales on merchandise in the book store, the Hanukkah story and the lighting of the 1st candle on the Hanukkah menorah.
The group meets to make plans for the celebration
Cindy, Steve, Krista, Indira, Cathy & Timmy
Steve, Timmy & Paul
Curtis & Cathy
Steve and the staff at VFI have done a wonderful job of making the VFI facilities warm and inviting. There's always a sense of family and the presence of the Lord each time I'm there. Baruch Ha'Shem (Bless His Name!)
Vision For Israel's Hanukkah Celebration will be a wonderful time for ministries, groups & people with a love for Israel & the Jewish people to come together corporately and as a family. Hope you can be there for a fun day from Noon till 5:00 PM on Saturday, December 12, 2009. Come and stay the whole day or just drop in.
On Saturday, October 31, 2009, Messianic singer Marty Goetz was in concert at Beit Shofarot Messianic Congregation in Salisbury, NC. Beit Yeshua had 21 to attend the evening of praise, worship and dance.
Rabbi Yossi introduced Marty Goetz
Marty sang a variety of songs from his numerous CDs
Yossi introduced Will - who says blessings over the bread & wine
Beit Yeshua at Beit Shofarot
One of the best known customs of the Jewish people is that of Bar Mitzvah. Even if they are not from a Jewish background, most people realize that the Bar Mitzvah is an important step in the life of a Jewish child.
Beit Yeshua gathered in the Family Life Center of Covenant Bible Church on Friday evening, November 20, 2009 to observe Sam's Bar Mitzvah. This was also Sam's 13th birthday.
All Sam's Family joined Beit Yeshua for his Bar Mitzvah
Sam's mother, Jane, lights Shabbat candles
Sam's dad, Andy, leads the group in a blessing over the children
May the Lord make you like Ephraim and Manasseh
May the Lord make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and LeahSam's brother, Joe, leads the group in a prayer for Israel
The Sh'ma is sung
A time of praise, worship & dance
Doug did a short teaching on "What Is Bar Mitzvah?" and it's meaning in Sam's life
A potential Bar Mitzvah, or "son of the commandment", is a boy who has reached the age of accountability. He is responsible to keep God's commands, answerable for his own behavior and liable for the consequences of that behavior. Theoretically, he is recognized as a full member of the community, and thus the community joins to celebrate that rite of passage.
Proverbs 2
1 My child listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.
2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.
3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.
4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.Sam looks over his notes
Curtis introduces Jane, Andy and Sam
Sam shared about his acceptance of Yeshua as Messiah and how that had his life thus far
Sam read Parshah Toldot from the weekly Torah portion
Curtis reads a Brit Hadasha scripture from I Timothy over Sam ...
1 Timothy 4:12 - 15; 6:20; 6:11 - 14
Don't let anyone look down on you because of your youth; on the contrary, set the Believers an example in your speech, behavior, love, trust and purity. Do not neglect your gift, which you were given through a prophecy when the body of elders gave you s'mikhah (laying on of hands). Be diligent about this work, throw yourself into it, so that your progress may be clear to everyone. Keep safe what has been entrusted to you. Turn away from ungodly babblings Pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before the Messiah Yeshua, to obey your commission spotlessly and irreproachably until our Lord Yeshua the Messiah appears. ... then Doug, Curtis & the family spend some time praying over Sam
Sam says the blessings over the bread and wine
Andy sings the Aaronic Benediction
The Charlotte offices of Vision For Israel planned their first annual Hanukkah Celebration for Saturday, December 12, 2009 from Noon to 5:00 PM. Vision For Israel founders, Barry & Batya Segal, flew in to join the group in celebrating the Festival of Lights. Several other area Messianic & Jewish Roots were invited to join in the planning and celebrating, including Beit Yeshua (from Lincolnton, NC).
Members of Beit Yeshua join Steve for a photo when we first arrived
Saying "Hi" to Vision For Israel friends, Krista and Timmy
Beit Yeshua had about 25 in attendance for the day of celebrating that included teachings, Israeli Folk Dance, a parade, shofar blowing lessons, food and lighting the Hanukkah menorah.
Steve opens the celebration with a warm welcome and introduction of local ministries and leaders
Doug of Beit Yeshua teaches about the festival of Hanukkah and its celebration
Indira introduced the leaders of Down Home Shalom & Beit Shalom Yeshua
Dancers from Beit Yeshua perform to the song "Watchman" by Paul Wilbur
Curtis gives a brief introduction to the Israeli Folk Dance class that will occur next
While the Israeli Folk Dance class was happening, Chuck and Paul were upstairs teaching folks how to blow a shofar.
Chuck seldom lets an opportunity pass to check out a new shofar, while Lynda & Susan shop
Dr. Peter Wyns also shared about Hanukkah and how the US has been a friend to Israel
A parade through the community showed our solidarity and support for Israel
Barry & Batya Segal spend some time talking to the group about Vision For Israel and the Joseph Storehouse
Barry & Batya lead the children in lighting the Hanukkiah for the second evening of Hanukkah
A message from Steve Martin, US Director of Vision For Israel
"Thanks to all of you for blessing Israel and the Jewish people today. We don't know who all were touched today, but I believe the Lord certainly was. Especially as we joined together as one and made a proclamation that we will stand with Israel and His people."
Beit Yeshua planned their Hanukkah Celebration for Friday, December 18th, 2009, but winter weather, including snow, sleet, and bad road conditions, kept the group from coming together this year.
Curtis & Carolyn's home during the December 18th & 19th snow storm
I do have some great photos of family Hanukkah celebrations within Beit Yeshua.
Wane & Carolee light Hanukkah candles in their home
Chuck directs his grandchildren, Kara Jane & Jude, as they light the Hanukkah menorah
Carolyn posing with our large homemade PVC menorah on Day 1 of Hanukkah
and with a traditional Hanukkiah on Day 2
Hanukkah Sameach from Curtis for Days 3 and 4
Hanukkah is also called "the Feast of Dedication" and "the Festival of Lights"
A few more Hanukkiahs pulled to the kitchen to display on the 5th Day of Hanukkah
Enjoying the large Hanukkiah on Day 6 of Hanukkah
Day 7 of Hanukkah
Lighting our Hanukkiah on the 8th & final day of Hanukkah
Curtis' computer room displays one of his past hobbies. Can you tell he's a Trekkie?
This Star Trek Hanukkah LED Menorah is one he "doesn't" have.
But he does have the Star Trek Pez Container that were given to him as a gift.
Can you find the Star Trek Pez Containers on the shelves in my computer room in the above photo?
It's like finding Waldo in the book "Where's Waldo?"
