Bob Gorelik

The question is often asked, “How did Gentiles get the notion that they needed to pull away from Judaism and form new practices?” The answer is complex—but the “withdrawal” can be traced back to the writings of the early Church Fathers.  

 The question about where did the Gentiles get the notion to pull away from the Jews/Judaism is an easy one—Anti-Judaism was a centerpiece feature of the early Church Fathers’ ideology. The “A Brief History of Anti-Semitism” workbook has a plethora of reference material covering church history. Sadly, many of the Church Father’s wrote hate-filled sermons and letters telling believers to stop practicing Judaism and stop associating with Jews. …

First-Century Messianic Judaism—What Caused the Gentiles Believers to Leave It?Read More »

The Jewish people celebrate Passover with a festive ceremony called a Seder. At the Seder, we eat a variety of unique foods and drink four cups of wine that together represent the four aspects of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt (Exo 12:12-13).

 After the meal (which is served in the middle of the Seder), we eat a piece of unleavened bread (matzah) known as the “afikomen.” It is the last thing that we eat during the Seder and represents the Passover lamb that was sacrificed in Egypt on the night that God redeemed His people. …

Wine and Bread at Passover and the SabbathRead More »

The “surface” meaning of a text is known as a peshat. In other words, a text means what it says—whether or not it is intended literally or figuratively. When God called Abram to leave his own “country,” God promised him (among other things) that He would make of Abram a “great nation” (Gen 12:1-3).

How do we know that God intended to “raise up” a “flesh and blood” people from Abraham—a physical people (Israel) through whom He would accomplish His redemptive purpose in the Olam HaZeh (this world)? It’s simple! …

Understanding peshatRead More »

We are often taught that “serving the Lord” means “leading” strangers “to the Lord” at the checkout counter of our local market—or in line at the DMV. But it really means letting God’s “light” shine forth from our lives. It means walking with the Lord in such a way that we reflect the character of God in the presence of others. It is not very easy to do consistently. And, it may involve “sharing the Gospel” with a stranger—but it mostly means walking in God’s “ways” without pretense.

A covenant is a “formal binding agreement defining relationships and responsibilities between two or more parties.” Biblical covenants were often “cut,”—as in the case of the Covenant that God made with Abraham (Gen 15:18). It was facilitated when Abraham took “a heifer, a goat, and a ram … along with a dove and a young pigeon … and cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other” (Gen 15:9-11). …

An Unconditional CovenantRead More »