Jesus Was a Rabbi?
Yes, not everyone knows that Jesus was a rabbi. He spoke in the
synagogue, and read from the Torah. Many of his dharma teachings
made use of the rabbinical technique of using oblique references
(remez or hints) to scriptural passages, so looking on Jesus' teachings
with knowledge of the Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures, or Torah)
can sometimes shed new light on them. Gallilee was a very dynamic
place with many teachers inviting people to learn Torah or 'take
the yoke of Torah,' and Jesus offered a yoke which was easy and a
burden which was light. To misinterpret scripture is to 'destroy'
it and to interpret well is to 'fulfill' it.
Jesus would have celebrated his Shabbat services on Friday, beginning with the practice of lighting the candles before sundown. Sometimes the oldest daughter has the privilege of lighting the candles, and the experience is shared with whoever runs the household. Sometimes, time is spent looking at the candles, and cupping their light and lifting it towards the face. Some people say the prayers, others sing them. If your sangha wishes to explore this practice, we've included it here on this page. It is also the practice to set aside the Sabbath from work, and keep it for reflection. 1:
Candle blessing
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha olam, Asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav
v'tzivanu l'hadleek ner shel Shabbat — Holy One of blessing, Your
presence fills this place... you've given us teachings about lighting
candles on your Sabbath1
Bread Blessing:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha Olam, Ha'motzi lechem min
ha'aretz. Amen — Holy One of blessing, Your presence fills this
place... you bring forth bread from the earth.
Wine blessing:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha Olam, Bore p'ri Hagafen.
Amen — Holy One of blessing, Your presence fills this place...
you created the fruit of the vine.
Listen to the blessings online. Choose spoken: or spoken/sung:
traditional 'sabbath peace' greeting?
...shabbat shalom!
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1 Although often translated as Blessed art Thou, Lord
our God King of the Universe, we prefer Rabbi Kushner's more
poetic Holy One of blessing, Your presence fills this place. Kushner,
Lawrence. Jewish Spirituality for Christians. Vermont: Jewish Lights
(2001): 24.
