Holiday Greetings From The Temple Institute In Jerusalem (shavout/pentacost)

This is a talk by Rabbi Chaim Richman, an Orthodox Jew who is the director of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem.

Disclaimer:  I think that for a Christian this video may help to connect with the topics that are interesting and important.  In my next post I will briefly discuss Christian Anti-Judaism and misconceptions associated with it.  I do not endorse, nor do I personally support the work of the institute for various reasons. I feel, however, that this video is very helpful and informative.  What do you think? Please, comment!

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Dr. Eli Lizorkin-EyzenbergTo secure your spot in our new course “The Jewish Background of New Testament” - CLICK HERE NOW

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  1. Rosa Juarez

    the firts fruits result for me to interesting
    for analitic mind! because Yahshua his self like corban fruits dead and for resurrections example for us. I believe that. but What do you thing Dr Eli? it is the unique form us are invited to analize for not be came in side our heart ofreid to dead. because now we have new Hope. I dont know i f u understand what talking about?

  2. ruth hirt

    Is bringing of the first fruits not lawfully converted into hard currency, which is the case in tithing? I believe, everyone should offer first fruits regardless of source of livelihood. In some churches (Pentecostal, Protestant, Evangelicals …) here and in the Philippines, practice this command. In those occasions, I gave hard currency due to unawareness and my unpreparedness. Will you advise me on this?

    We Christians learned to serve the L_RD by faith, I learned it first hand as well, practicing Tora – HaSHEM’s directives – do incur HIS favor and there are tangible proofs one can sense of HIS faithfulness. Praise G_D !

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Ruth, its good to hear from you again. Dr. Eli

  3. Kat Hobaugh

    I will mention what I liked. He said that the Torah is about action. That we commit to doing God’s will even if we don’t understand. I made a commitment to keep The Ten Commandments as a child because of what I read in Exodus 19:8,… but well I forget. I didn’t even have an inkling of what the Sabbath was, still that didn’t stop the law from doing its job and leading me to faith in Christ.

  4. jessy

    The message was beautiful how the torah is connected with the firstfruits. Our Gd is a beautiful celeberation, He is the flavour of freedom and all goodness. Praise be his holy name !!!!thank you for the efforts you take to make his way known.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Thanks, Jessy. Keep your comments coming.

  5. Sonia Willats

    I enjoyed this, and appreciated Rabbi Richman’s sharing both with Jews and those outside mainstream Judaism who nevertheless embrace Judaism and Israel.

    I also look forward to your post discussing Christian anti-Judaism. You addressed it (misconceptions re “The-Jews”) in the first post on this blog. I do not think it is always “demonising”. In my experience it is usually based on 1)rejection of Jesus and 2) seeking to establish righteousness through the law and not by grace.
    Nevertheless a lot of anti-Semitism hides under cover of these justifications.
    In my mind, if we love Messiah, it follows that we love His God, His people, His city etc.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Anti-Judaism and Antisemitism are not one and the same thing. We will see. I am waiting for an editor to send me the next post’s wording :-). Hint: it will be on how a Christian mind understands Jesus and his food-giving miracles in John 6.

    2. Jane Neal

      I to love this video, it is so full of rich understanding for me, of the Feast of Shavuot. I shall listen again, and try to put into practice – I feel we need to leave behind our cherished “stuff” and be willing to obey HaShem’s mitzvot, also, bring Him our offerings of “First Fruits” of love worship and devotion to His Torah, and in doing this, to His Son, Our Lord Yeshua!!

      1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

        I think Church history (and this discussion is part of Church history) 🙂 has been huge progress in understanding this. Dr. Eli

  6. Rosa Juarez

    Thank you so much for send to me this especial video about the firts shabuot for mi it my first time know about this celebration am learn with you I really apreciate this minja (gift) for me gag sameaj too.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Tora rabah, Roza.Gam lach Shavuot Sameach!

  7. Janet Henriksen

    Thankyou. Indeed fundamentaly if none till the ground none eat… if none eat, none live. We live by every word from the mouth of “He who will be Mighty Ones” So in a circle we bring back the first of what is given us that by labour we might live. Looking forward to the new Temple at Jerusalem: the nom. 1.5km x1.5 km building Ezekiel was shown, the house of prayer for all nations. I’m an architect and I love that specification. More so the peace of it,and the fruit of it. May many more desire to bring their fruits … that there be people waiting for the Temple.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Janet, just to be clear. I personally have mixed feeling about the whole Temple expectations Christian and Jewish :-). But we need to think about this important topic. From my point of view Jesus taught that He himself and his body is the Third and Final, Ultimate Temple. I am open to other views as well, however.

      1. Lois Eaton

        it seems to me that the rebuilding of the Temple is essential for biblical end times prophecy to be fulfilled – but I have heard it said that they could be fulfilled just with a tabernacle. I don’t know.

      2. Janet Henriksen

        He also taught people he was bread and had to be eaten, and told a Pharisee he had to be born again. I notice when not speaking in parable and in things hard to be understood to the ones he knows aren’t going to respond, that he said, “Jerusalem was to be trodden down of the Gentiles until…” indicating an end to the era of the destruction of the Temple. He also told his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt 19:28). This seems a promise to me. And again in simple language “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30) Thus we have the idea of the kingdom, of judgement/law and of “regeneration” where the son of man will be a king. I note a big difference between what is said in argument and what is said to the disciples. I could be wrong – you coudl correct me, but I sense that Y’shua was teaching that the time Isaiah spoke of was still future back then,
        And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?” (Mark 11:17)

        1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

          Janet, hi.

          I do not doubt restoration of Israel, or Kingdom to Israel, or Jesus being for all eternity King of Israel and all the nations, no do I in any way reject the idea about the apostles judging the 12 tribes of Israel. Far from it! I believe it all the way!

          The question, however, is not at all “if it is true”. The question rather is what does this truth mean and how will this look like? How would He reign? How would the apostles judge the 12 tribes? What is meant by 12 tribes (when there are no tribal records)? Why is the tribe of Dan skipped in the Book of Revelation and half tribe mentioned instead? Could this point to true but not to literal fulfillment? There are lot of questions we need to ask.

          I guess I am basically saying that the popular version of the third Temple rebuilding for me is not really convincing at the moment. Can it be true? Sure. Is it? Probably not.

          Yours, Dr. Eli

          1. Janet Henriksen

            I love to learn Biblical Hebrew as every word of the whole Tanakh is meaningful, and by every word I live. (I ate by it, I had depression which does odd things to thought- so Ecclesiastes meant I learnt to enjoy eating again, Psalms that I slept, you know?). So this message of Shavout is powerful and I deeply desire to bring my firstfruits, as I have been healed by the words (no drugs). The weight of words in Ezekiel from ch 40-8 indicates that they be of some importance..In the English translation Ezekiel, who does not waste words, there are 8,250 words and nine chapters to describe the building and associated things he was shown. This can be compared to the 11,400 words used in the whole of the Revelation to John. If it was not for the people who heard and those after then why tell it? If it is a good thing then it is terrible to show it then withhold it. I think of Yehoshua, “that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” (Jos 23:14) If it is a good thing it will come to pass. It fits what other prophets say about worship, and indeed what was told Abraham, that he would walk on the land he saw.
            What do you think?

          2. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

            I am not sure what you are asking.

          3. Harriett

            Hi Dr. Eli, An interesting point on why Dan is not listed in Rev. in the numbering of the 12 tribes. Neither, by the way is Ephraim. Levi and Joseph are inserted to take their place. The reason for this seems clear from Deut.17-20, where it says that the “man or woman or family or TRIBE” who should introduce idolatry into Israel, then “all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven, and the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this law.” And when it should be asked, “Wherefore hath the Lord done this?…then men shall say, Because they went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they knew not” vv.23-25.

            Now it was one of the tribe of Dan who first came under this curse, see Lev. 24:10-16. It was also Dan and Ephraim who participated in introducing idolatry later on (Judges 18:30-31), and afterward it was Jeroboam who devised the golden calves and set them up in the tribe of Dan, and see Hos.4:17 about Ephraim.

            Dan an Ephraim are restored in the future distribution of the Land , Ezekiel 48, for “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” Rom.11:29, but the land distribution has to do with earthly inheritance. Here in Rev. it has to do with heavenly preservation. The omission in Rev.7 is to show that these two tribes remain unprotected by the pledge of security given by this sealing. This is my understanding and I apologize that it is so lengthy.

          4. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

            Fascinating. I am learning a lot. Let’s keep thinking together. Dr. Eli

          5. Janet Henriksen

            The list of names in Revelation 7 each have a meaning. Dan might be missing as there is no more condemnation in judgment in rejoicing. The whole is symbol. The question I have is: if you are not sure, what do you think of the amount of text given to the temple in Ezekiel’s prophecy and what is its meaning?

          6. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

            The amount of text does not mean it is to be taken literally (although it could very well be literal) it means it is important. We should not read Ezekiel and Revelation the same way we read Acts and Chronicles. Genres are different. Apocalyptic genre deals with allegories all the time. So it turns out true, but allegorical, I would not be surprised. But as I said I am agnostic about these things.

          7. Janet Henriksen

            It is very interesting. I do love the layering of the Bible that gives richness and meaning beyond anything else I have ever read. Paul when speaking of the bond and the free woman as alegory was using a historical event. As an architect who measures things I would love to know what Ezekiel 40-48 may be alegorical for, as an extra layer.

          8. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

            I think there is nothing wrong with some text being fully allegorical, some fully literal, some both/and. I think you are afraid what it would do to other things in your faith if you seriously considered that there may never be a third physical temple. Am I wrong?

          9. Janet Henriksen

            I believe truth. Truth is (as I am a architect) a like a 3D building with multiple views but all confirming one picture. The more I look and the more I may learn (including from people like you as Iron sharpens iron) the more I may see. The answer to your question is therefore, no. My faith rests on every word written. Not one word lost or neglected (in Hebrew). My understanding, I would hope, will increase. If one loves and fears we may know one thing.. we may trust that what is promised which is good – will happen.. Israel is the best evidence for everything… if Ezekiel 37 happens so literally, then so will 38 and 39 and 40 and so on.. and not just Ezekiel but the good from Bereshit..to all the scrolls. I have confidence in that and wait for ‘the good’. In all books has a lot of detail I can walk through and see in my mind and see.. but no my faith does not rest on one idea, there are many many things ..from the nature of water, the physics of buildings… to the way you speak of the books of John which confirm many things for me. I delight in internal evidence from the life of Uzziah and what Gehazi says, and the use of the word ‘scarlet’ and now I study the role of the locusts in Revelation.. I read over an hour each day and take notes, to write and study,love in particular kind words to individuals from teh Holy One through Angels. They are my treasures. Each Hebrew lesson is a delight. Me, I have simple trust… based on experience more to do with living each day..like Job “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” (Job 19:26)and so I “Trust in the LORD with all my heart; and lean not unto thine my understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) Trust being akin to faith, truth being something one may lean on and not have doubt about. I do hope as you know about it that one day you may expand my horizons and give greater depth to what I experience in my imagination (I dream in 3D as an architect) by explaining the alegory in Ezekiel 40-48.

          10. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

            DUI (Dreaming Under the Influence) is a good thing. Let’s keep on thinking and dreaming together! Dr. Eli

  8. Elizabeth Buckley

    I certainly agree with Rabbi Chaim Richman, but also see the bringing of the first fruits as acknowledgment and surrender to the One who has given us everything. Without Him we have nothing and are nothing. In Him we have all things and become the beings He created us to be.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Elizabeth, thank you for your comment! Dr. Eli

  9. Dolores Luthi

    I get your message through my iMax, Sahari. Is that what you mean by Website? This was very interesting. But I still do not know what first fruits are, unless that is 10% of produce is raised?

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      By website I mean http://JewishStudies.eteacherbiblical.com

      Firstborn, First Fruits, Firstling

      firstborn, first fruits, firstling, the firstborn male child (Exod. 13:12-15; Num. 18:15-16), the seasonal initial produce of agriculture (Exod. 23:19; Lev. 23:10; Num. 15:20-21; Deut. 26:1-11) and food products (Num. 18:12-13; Deut. 18:4; Ezek. 44:30), and the first offspring of domesticated pure and impure animals (Exod. 13:12-13; Lev. 27:26-27; Num. 18:16-18; Deut. 15:19-23). These three ‘firsts’ are all accorded a sanctified status in the Hebrew Bible (and were also often similarly regarded in other cultures of the ancient Near East). The first fruits of agriculture are given to God in religious ritual in acknowledgment of his ownership of the earth (Ps. 24:1), upon which humans are mere tenants (thus, Abel’s offering is preferable to Cain’s, Gen. 4:3-5). This transfer invokes God’s blessing on the rest of the produce (Lev. 19:24-25; Prov. 3:9-10). The male firstborn of humans and beasts in Israel become dedicated to God because he saved them from the slaughter of the firstborn of Egypt (Exod. 13:14-15). This plague, in turn, was brought upon the Egyptians for enslaving Israel, God’s own appointed firstborn (Exod. 4:22; cf. Jer. 2:3; 31:9). Israel’s firstborn status is reflective of sociolegal realities. The firstborn son inherits a double portion of his father’s estate (Deut. 21:15-17; Isa. 61:7), the paternal blessing (Gen. 27), and succession to authority (Gen. 27:29, 37; 37:21-22; 2 Kings 2:9). The Davidic king is also viewed metaphorically as God’s firstborn (Ps. 89:28), an appellation the NT applies to Jesus (Heb. 1:6). (Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, & Society of Biblical Literature. (1985). Harper’s Bible dictionary (1st ed.) (310). San Francisco: Harper & Row.)

  10. Gerald Martinez

    The Torah [Instruction] is Hashem’s explanation of His intention for His creation, especially mankind, to whom he gave the gretest gift of free will, that Hashem gave to the Israelites, and through the Israelites to all mankind, through Moses. The Torah is “written on the hearts” of all mankind; it is the Natural Law – the mind of Hashem for His creation. Understanding, accepting and freely choosing to live in accord with the intention of Hashem for each of us is true freedom.

    1. Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg

      Dear Gerald, welcome to our study group! Thank you for making your first comment. Dr. Eli