Messiah in the Day of Atonement
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The Chosen NOON. "Happy New Year!" On the evening of September 19, many within the %WV Jewish community will gather in the synagogues. It is Erev Rosh Hashana, the THE CHOSEN PEOPLE is a medium of eve of the Jewish New Year, 5751. information concerning the Jewish people, Traditionally, this is the day when God judges, or evaluates, mankind. The Israel, and the work of the Chosen People Ministries, 1300 Cross Beam Drive, Charlotte, rabbis teach that on Rosh Hashana God opens the Book of Life to see whose N.C. 28217-2800. names should be inscribed therein. Individuals attending synagogue services pray that their deeds of righteousness and their repentance will be sufficient to have their names inscribed in God's Book of Life. Rosh Hashana is a day of remembrance. There is a special prayer entitled Editor & Creative Director "Zichronos," meaning "Remembrances." This prayer concludes with a plea Jonathan Singer Writer that God will remember the binding of Isaac on the altar by his father, Amy Rabinovitz Abraham. On the second day of Rosh Hashana, the "Akeidah" (story of the Board of Directors binding of Isaac in Genesis 22) is read. James W. Straub, Chairman I find it significant that this passage of Scripture is recited. The story of Roy Adams, Executive Vice President Abraham and Isaac tells us that righteousness is not obtained through righ- Jeffrey Branman teous deeds, but through faith and that faith must be based on substitutionary John J. Kubach atonement. Sam Nadler, Executive Director John L. Pretlove, Secretary In Talmud there is an interesting statement in regard to where to place the Goldie Rotenberg altar when the second Temple was being built. It reads, "But how did they Albert Runge know (the site of) the altar? . .. Rabbi Samuel ben Nahman said: 'They saw Harold A. Sevener, President Isaac's ashes lying in that place' " (cf. Zebahim 62 A). How could Isaac's ashes Gary W. Smith David C. Weland be seen if Isaac was not sacrificed? The answer of the rabbis is that Isaac's ashes Jean C. Wheeler could be seen based on the premise of substitutionary atonement. The ram Director Emeritus took the actual place of Isaac. The ram's death was substituted for Isaac's Louis W. Ivins death. Honorary Director The Mishnah Rabbah on Bereshith (Genesis) states, "And Abraham went Dr. Charles L. Feinberg and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." Rabbi Judan said in Rabbi Banai's name, "He prayed to Him: 'Sovereign of the universe! Look upon the blood of this ram as though it were the blood SEPTEMBER, 1990 Vol. XCVII, No. 1 of my son, Isaac' . .. Rabbi Phinehas said in Rabbi Banai's name, "He prayed: THE CHOSEN PEOPLE (ISSN 0164-5323) is published monthly except August for $5.00 per year. 'Sovereign of the universe! Regard it as though I had sacrificed my son, Isaac, The magazine is published by Chosen People first and then this ram in stead of him' " (Midrash Rabbah, Genesis, Vayera, Ministries Inc., 1300 Cross Beam Dr., Charlotte, NC 56:9). 28217-2800, (704) 357-9030. Copyright 0 1990 by Chosen People Ministries Inc. To the rabbis of Talmud, the ashes of the ram were Isaac's ashes, based on Not to be reproduced in any form without the premise of substitution. Isaac lived because God accepted the death of the permission of the publisher. Second-class postage ram as a substitute for his death. Centuries later, God sent His Messiah, paid at Charlotte, NC, and additional mailing offices. Yeshua. He became the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. In POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: USA— Chosen People Ministries Inc., 1303 Cross Beam Dr., His death, we have life. God substituted His death for our death, His life for Charlotte, NC 28217-2800. CANADA—Chosen our life, His righteousness for our unrighteousness. People Ministries Inc., Box 4400, Sta. D., Hamilton, Sadly, the rabbis no longer believe in substitutionary atonement. Instead, Ont. L8V4L8, (416) 545-9066. Credits: Cover, 13, Religious News Service (Ben they believe in good deeds. This is why it is so important to bring the Gospel Shahn); Bettman,7,8,9. to the Jewish people. Pray that God will give our workers many opportunities to share the Good News of salvation. In Messiah, -et ‘ECFR! CHARTER 1111E111/1ER HAROLD A. SEVENER ACCOU1615' Hsu efoo DLIIIIIICAL PIUS PASCIATION For our friends in California, please consider attending SIMCHA, Oct. 19-21, 1990, a 0411.1.4 great opportunity for fellowship in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. Call 818/ AT.J01.1.0 CSA 43.10CanC. 884-8245 for more information. 11:112=1.1111111 amor• .441.6 2 THE CHOSEN PEOPLE BIBLES FOR SOVIET JEWS "1 Never Seen Such Hungry Hearts! " By SAM NADLER ur first trip to the Soviet Union in May of this On our second trip to the Soviet Union we found new Jewish year was blessed beyond believers already growing in the faith! what we hoped for (see OAugust issue of The Chosen Peo- ple). From the Red Square street corner to the Moscow synagogue, Jewish people were eager to hear about our faith in Messiah. In Kiev, where we preached, 70 Rus- sian Jews accepted the Lord! We were eager to return not only to see if the Lord had more of our people to bring to faith but our hearts ached to follow up and strengthen those who had professed faith during our first trip. A Family Man Even before we arrived in the Soviet Union, the Lord had minis- try for us. On my flight to the Soviet Union, Gregory, a Russian Jew in his early 50's sat just a few seats away. "Somehow" we got to talking. He had moved to the U.S. 13 years ago and was now returning to visit relatives in Russia. A family man, he lives in Queens, N.Y. and prides himself on the close relationship he has with his children. Upon hear- ing our beliefs he thought for a A Jewish woman receives a Bible in Kiev (top). second and said: "I think you'll in love?" I asked him. "Did things Sam Nadler, Executive Director, Chosen have much success in Russia. Your People Ministries (left) and Albert Davis change for you?" (CPM Toronto) exhort a room of new believers religion sounds very practical. Peo- "Yes, as a matter of fact, every- before distributing Bibles, stacked at right of picture. ple could believe without showing thing changed," he said. any difference in their lives." "Well, that's how it is with believ- To the contrary, I told him, people ing in Jesus. Everything changes. of like falling in love without a changed a great deal when they Though it might seem like you change in your life. If it doesn't came to faith. could come to faith without witness- change your life, it's not really "Do you remember when you fell ing a change in your life, it's kind love. And if you believe in Jesus THE CHOSEN PEOPLE 3 On my flight to the Soviet Union, Gregory, a Russian Jew in his early 50s sat just a few seats away. "Somehow" we got to talking. and it doesn't change your life, Micah 5:2 and taught on the valid- Jam-Packed there's no real belief there either:' ity and deity of Yeshua the Mes- Sunday morning we were invited siah. Besides those that came to to speak to 1,000 people at the That must have touched a nerve. faith, there were dozens more that Independent Church in Kiev. It is He voiced his suspicions of orga- stayed for hours to ask questions jam-packed and a good number of nized religion and those who prac- of Albert Davis (Chosen People Jewish people are in attendance. tice only the outward rituals. He Ministries, Toronto) and me. also confessed his failure to keep The Lord allows my message on rabbinic law. I pray that I planted a seed. He admits that he's been trained in is one of the people who made a decision for the Lord during our last trip. In his late atheism not to believe, and though 30's, he is very strong in the faith, consider- he does have some sense that there is ing he is only about two-months-old in the a creator, he can't imagine how he Lord. He's been witnessing to everyone— could believe all that would be even at work, where it can cost you a pro- needed. I encouraged him to let the motion. He is even planning a trip to the Lord do most of the work in this Baltic Republic and Latvia to tell his rela- matter, and for him just to con- tives and friends about Messiah. sider the issue. He had many questions so we spent time He thinks however that it would be strengthening him in the things of God. I impossible for him to come to belief shared with him from the Psalms and the overnight. New Covenant about God's plan and pur- pose, about God's purpose for evil in the I remind him that with God, noth- world (he is especially troubled over why God allows evil to continue) ing's impossible. and about salvation being once and for all. Joy Turns to Concern Samwel shared how he was witnessing to his supervisor at work. The joy of seeing those who had His supervisor, an atheist, wondered why he would bother maintain- come to faith during our first trip ing his Jewish identity now that he believes in Messiah.