From the Editor – Issue 26
By Andrew Sparks
Kesher 26 treats a number of controversial issues and contexts and reflects many voices. As stated in a previous Kesher editorial, “our journal functions as a forum … to periodically explore our identity as a Messianic Jewish community. Although a diversity of voices express Messianic Jewish identity, our story is still developing and continues to…
Paul within Messiah, Torah, and Judaism
By Jon C. Olson
Paul's allegiance to Yeshua (Jesus) is often thought to have impelled him to break with Judaism and the Torah (Law). This article advances a contrary position to the traditional view, maintaining that Paul remained within Judaism. In writing about circumcision, Sabbath, Jewish dietary laws and meat offered to idols, Paul accepted the authority of Scripture…
The Hebrew Christian Shoah and Its Soteriological Legacy
By Daniel F. Jonathan Nessim
One hundred years ago, Europe was home to the majority of the world’s Jewish population. In 1933 the American Jewish Yearbook placed the total Jewish population of Europe at about 9.5 million. ‘This number represented more than 60 percent of the world's Jewish population, which was estimated at 15.3 million.’[1] Today there are about 1,456,000…
Jewish and Historical Foundations for Post-Holocaust Messianic Soteriology
By Vladimir Pikman
Introduction Soteriology - literally, “the study of salvation” - is a branch within the corpus of Christian systematic theology dealing with the work of the triune God in bringing creation, and especially humans, to enjoy the divine purpose for existence. More specifically, “objective” soteriology speaks of the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of Christ in…
Benjamin Cardozo: Jewish Justice
By Elliot Klayman
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH[1] Benjamin Cardozo (1870-1938) was born of Jewish parents in New York City. His father, Albert, was a gifted judge on the New York Supreme Court.[2] He became infamous for his relationship with the Tweed Ring of the Tammany Hall notoriety. Albert was forced to resign as a New York judge due to alleged…
Response to Nanos: Renewed Covenantalism, Not Triumphalism or Supersessionism
By Jacob Fronczak
Richard B. Hays explored the problem of Hebrews’ supersessionism in his monograph, “ ‘Here We Have No Lasting City’: New Covenantalism in Hebrews,”[1] in which he documented the recent phenomenon of scholars beginning to question the assumption that the ancient homily depicted a supersessionist theology which left no place for the Torah or for the…
Paul Employing Leviticus: Same-Sex Intercourse Considered Amongst Torah Commandments
By Jon C. Olson
It is sometimes argued that because the New Testament writers set aside circumcision, food laws, Sabbath, biblical purity laws, and welcomed Gentiles, anything in the Old Testament ought to be set aside if unsuitable for the ekklesia.[1] Recently, this argument has been raised with regard to the prohibition of same-sex intercourse in Leviticus. A seminary…
