Frequently Asked Questions (page 2)
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and we would be without the hope of His salvation. Furthermore, the written
Scriptures are a type of Yeshua, for G-d gave us the Bible in common words,
and the Eternal Word took on flesh that He might be revealed to us. As we
parade the scroll, we allow ourselves time to thank G-d for His Word and
the blessing of His communication to us. It is a tradition among many Jewish
communities to touch the fringes (tzitzit) or a book to the
Torah scroll as it passes and then touch it to your lips to remind us that
the Torah should be sweet to our lives.
Why do we use so much Hebrew language?
You will notice that many of our prayers and readings use the Hebrew language. Since the culture, customs, and traditions of the Hebrew Scripture are bound in the Hebrew language we have returned to its usage in our congregation. There are certain truths of the Scripture that do not come out in English translations, so we encourage the learning of Hebrew language for all who attend. The 39 books of the Hebrew Scripture were given to us in Hebrew language and in order to understand them fully, we must return to a study of this language. At Beth Yeshua, we translate everything back into English so that no one is left out.
Why do we call Jesus “Yeshua”?
Yeshua is the Hebrew name given to Him at the time of His birth. The name Yeshua comes from the Hebrew word Yasha (“to save”) and means “salvation.” Since we worship within a Hebraic setting, we attempt to use the name that Yeshua’s family and those around Him would have called Him. There is no condemnation for those who say Jesus, and we realize that this has been His name within mainline Christianity. You will notice we also use the title Mashiach, which means “anointed”. The Greek word for “anointed” is Christ. We at Beth Yeshua, have chosen to use the Hebrew name and title Yeshua HaMashiach, which means “Salvation, the anointed.”
Why do some of the men wear yarmulke?
The little skull caps you will see on the heads of men are called kippot (kippah is the singular form), while in Yiddish, they are called yarmulke. At Holy sites within the land of Israel, kippot are required attire for every man. At Beth Yeshua kippot are completely optional but any man who desires to wear one, may do so. The primary reason for wearing kippot is to maintain a connection to our Jewish heritage and to be identified with a traditional Jewish symbol.
Why do some people wear prayer shawls?
The prayer shawl is called a tallit and the fringes on its corners are tzitzit (Numbers 15). The prayer shawl was designed as a means of fulfilling the command to wear the fringes on the four corners of our garments. The tallit also functions to provide a covering for those who want to minimize distractions at times of prayer. It is traditional within Judaism for parents to give a child their first tallit at their bar/bat mitzvah or for a wife to give one to her new husband on their wedding day. The tzitzit or fringes on the tallit are to remind us of the gracious commands given by G-d and His presence with us in the Tabernacle. Tallits are not required but are certainly encouraged at Beth Yeshua.
What is that thing attached to the door of the meeting room?
As you enter the congregational meeting room you will notice a metal tube attached to the doorpost. The Torah (instruction/teaching of G-d) commands us to write the Torah upon our doorposts and gates. Initially, this was carried out by actually etching the words of G-d into the doorpost, but over time, it became common to attach something removable to the door. In Hebrew, the word for doorpost is mezuzah, and thus the metal tube you see at Beth Yeshua is a mezuzah. The mezuzah contains little pieces of parchment with the writings of Scripture from Deuteronomy 6:4–9 and Deuteronomy 11:13–21. The mezuzah can be made of differing material and it is traditional to touch it as one enters or leaves the room. Since the door is the gateway to the home and those outside the home, the mezuzah reminds us that our coming in and our going out should be governed by the Word of G-d.
What is the cabinet at the front of the meeting room?
The beautiful cabinet you
see at the front is the Ark and represents the Ark of the
Covenant that resided in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle and later,
the Temple. As we observe the ark, we are reminded that upon the ark was
sprinkled the blood of many lambs to remind us of our need for atonement.
We are also reminded that Yeshua, the Messiah is our atoning sacrifice and
that His blood was
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