Introduction – Issue 39
By Seth N. Klayman
Blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it. (Luke 11:28 NASB) Fifty years ago my father, Elliot Klayman, heard the “word of God” and chose to follow it. This unique volume is offered in celebration of the momentous significance that his decision carries for this world and the world to come.…
Tributes
By Kesher Editor
Elliot Klayman is well known for his kindness and generosity. I have 50 years of experience to attest to this observation. Whether you have a health need, a legal need, or a prayer need, he is always ready to step up and assist by giving you his full attention. He is truly a giving person…
Rabbi Elliot Klayman Curriculum Vitae
By Kesher Editor
Books and Articles in Books What the Rabbis Know about the Messiah: A Study of Genealogy and Prophecy. Cincinnati: Messianic Publishing, 2011 (editor). What the Rabbis Know about the Messiah: Student Workbook. San Diego: Messianic Publishing, 2018 (co-author). What the Rabbis Know about the Messiah: Teachers Manual. Columbus: Messianic Publishing, 2002 (co-author). “Jewish History and…
Is Jesus of Nazareth Still King of the Jews? New Testament Christology and the Jewish People
By Mark S. Kinzer
Elliot Klayman has been a pillar of the Messianic Jewish movement since its inception in the final decades of the last century. He has also been a trusted, respected, and beloved friend to many. I count myself among them, and am grateful for the opportunity to express my appreciation for Elliot with this short article. While…
The Wedding at Cana and the Glory of God
By Vered Hillel
Introduction “On the third day . . .” These words open the account of the Wedding at Cana, where Yeshua changed the water into wine (John 2:1–11).1 Noteworthy in this passage is the interaction between Yeshua and his mother over the shortage of wine. Yeshua’s reply to his mother is surprising, “Woman, why do you…
The Death of Messiah: Human Agency and Divine Necessity
By Russ Resnik
In the first days of 2020, the website of the influential evangelical magazine Christianity Today ran a bold critique of antisemitism entitled, “Killing Jesus’ Brothers and Sisters.” The op-ed was a clear and forthright—and welcome—condemnation of historical antisemitism as it has been conveyed through centuries of Christian doctrine and rhetoric. The op-ed’s positive impact, however,…
John 18–19: Esther Redux? Scripture Coding in the Trial and Execution of Yeshua
By Patrice Fischer
Prologue Scene: A cat is playing a violin. A cow is flying in the sky, near the moon. A dog, looking on, is laughing. A plate with legs is running. What do these disparate unexpected occurrences have in common? Why would they form a “group”? If you cannot answer these questions, perhaps you need to…
The Son of Abraham in the First Gospel
By David Rudolph
The first Gospel begins with the words, “An account of the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt 1:1).1 It is not difficult to see how the theme “son of David” pervades Matthew’s magnum opus. The term appears ten times, and Yeshua is portrayed as the shepherd-king of…
This Is My God: Midrash and Multiple Interpretations
By Carl Kinbar
Rabbinic writings are typically divided into two categories, halakhah and aggadah. In some ways, they are worlds apart from each other. Halakhah is the articulation and elucidation of the 613 mitzvot that constitute the Torah. It was developed foundationally in the Mishnah, Tosefta, and the Talmuds. The Babylonian Talmud continues to be the primary halakhic…
Law in Romans: An Interpretive Proposal
By John Fischer
Rather than pursue the usual procedure for addressing a biblical-theological issue in a paper of this nature, this will be an effort of a somewhat different sort. It is commonly accepted and expected that the author conduct a rather thorough—but usually tedious and often tiresome—review of and response to the literature on the subject. Instead,…
Jews, Exile, and the Murashu Archive of Nippur
By Joshua Brumbach
In May of 1893, while clearing collapsed debris from a room overlooking the ancient ruins of Nippur, a group of local workmen made a startling discovery. Buried beneath the rubble they found a large number of clay tablets. Their exciting discovery caused a great tumult among the expedition from the University of Pennsylvania.1 Located…
The Virtue of Hesed
By Howard Silverman
It is a privilege to contribute to this Festschrift in honor of Elliot Klayman. Elliot is a gifted visionary, teacher, mentor, and friend. His wisdom, generosity, kindness, and sense of justice continue to leave a deep imprint on the Messianic Jewish movement. Elliot has always been a man to honor the past, envision the future,…
The Temple, the Synagogue, and the Early Yeshua-Community
By Joseph Shulam
During the Second Temple period, the synagogue was an established institution in the Jewish community in both the land of Israel and in the diaspora. It was where the people assembled to study the Torah and to pray. The synagogue also served as the center for all the community’s cultural and religious activities. During the…
Humble Uncertainty: A Narrower Path to a Greater Hope
By Paul L. Saal
The first time that I encountered the phrase “Jesus saves” was in 1969 when I was 11 years old. It appeared in the form of graffiti spray painted on a railroad trestle over the Arcadia Soda Shop on South Columbus Avenue where my friends and I would hang out after playing basketball. It didn’t take…
Messianic Jewish Life Together: Covenant, Commission, and Cultural Brokerage
By Jennifer Rosner
Orthodox Jewish feminist Blu Greenberg writes with regard to the tensions between her various theological and ideological commitments: “So I live with the conflict. I live with it every day, in a thousand ways that pull me in one direction or another. I have come to realize that the conflict is a sign of my…
At Starbucks with Edith Stein: A Messianic Jewish Leader Interviews the Famous Catholic-Jewish-Scholar-Saint
By Rich Nichol
Edith Stein wasn’t difficult to spot. Let’s just say that most of the people in the Starbucks in Needham, Massachusetts, dressed and comported themselves very differently from this small, slender woman with the dark eyes, covered in a brown wool habit and black veil. She was sitting alone at a table waiting for me. I…
Three Influential Jews of the Past and Some Lessons for Today
By Barney Kasdan
Samuel Gompers – Pursuing Social Justice Samuel Gompers was born January 27, 1850, into a traditional working-class family in London. The family was previously from Amsterdam and involved in the cigar-making trade. His parents (Sarah and Solomon Gumpertz) seem to have come from a traditional Jewish perspective and saw to it early on that Samuel…
Bridging the Spirit to the Next Generation
By Stuart Dauermann
Rabbi Elliot Klayman is, like Noach, an ish tzadik, tamim bedorotav, “a righteous man, blameless in his generation.” All who know him will join in attesting that this righteous man is attentive to the needs and sufferings of others, and always involved in protecting, preserving, and passing on to coming generations the spiritual patrimony he…
Deny. Distract. Deflect. Defend.
By M B
Since the beginning of human history, this has been our default reaction to truth and accountability. When confronted with evidence of our own sin, these are the strategies we reach for in our back pockets to shield ourselves from the searing light of God’s truth, from the searing shame of accountability. Deny. Distract. Deflect.…
Humanitarian Aid: The Redemptive Power of Doing Good
By Michael Schiffman
When you talk about religion, for the most part, people think about it as belief. In religious circles, people discuss opinions about God, life after death, world events, and the end of time. It can be confusing and more often than not it leads to contention. Religion has become one of the topics you don’t…
Antisemitism Now and Then
By Seth N. Klayman
My father, Elliot Klayman, has devoted himself to helping people navigate life’s challenges, to generously offering spiritual and legal counsel, and to teaching the law, the Bible, and Jewish Studies. I have chosen to offer this personal story, including a relevant scriptural exploration, as a tribute essay because it incorporates these areas that have animated…
