Tzit tzit is the word that describes the fringes at the corners of a garment. In old days when our garments were woven by hand on looms, we had ends with fringes on them. You can imagine the edge fringe of some placemats that are woven on smaller looms. At the corners of the garments is where G-d says to include a blue thread in the fringes. These particular fringes, the ones with the blue, are the tzit tzit.
Numbers 15:37-21 says this:
Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined,and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God.
When it wasn’t customary to wear garments with fringes on them (styles change, after all and in the days of the Greek rulers it was most likely dangerous to wear them publicly) the people decided to keep the tzit tzit command with their tallit. The tallit can be either an under shirt (as the tallit katan) or the prayer shawl. It is understood that when the woman who bled for 12 years reached out and touched the garment of the Master, that it was the tzit tzit that she grabbed. It is recorded several times that people simply wanted to touch the hem of the Master’s garment to find healing, for there is healing in His wings. It is also said in Scripture that in the end days ten men from the nations will reach out and grab a hold of one Jew’s garment and ask him, plead with him, to lead him to the L-RD. It is thought that it’s the tzit tzit that the gentiles will be grasping. There is something quite significant about the tzit tzit. I haven’t read the book myself, but I’ve heard great reviews about Dr. John Garr’s “The Hem of His Garment”. It’s one that is on my LONG wish-list. 
It’s a short little book but it teaches about the significance of the hem of a garment and the tzit tzit in Scripture.
If you see Orthodox Jewish men wearing tzit tzit you will notice that they hang down to, or often past, their knees. They are very long and bright white – no techelet. This has been the tradition for a very, very long time. At one point when the Master told us to “do as they (the Scribes and Pharisees, who are the forefathers of today’s Rabbinic Judaism) do” He also spoke about not flaunting the tzit tzit as some have done, wearing them so long as a status symbol rather than an issue of the devoted heart. I do not consider the Orthodox who wear longer tzit tzit as proud or wearing them inappropriately, according to the words of the Master, for the most part. But this portion of the Apostolic Writings is why my men have chosen to wear them short as opposed to long.
Today when tzit tzit are worn they are worn mostly in two ways:
1) On the tallit only and worn only in prayer, or
2) Hanging from the belt loop of the men (as close to a corner of the
garment as can be today)
The issue of the techelet is controversial. The techelet has been lost since Israel was dispersed from the Land, and even before that when the Romans said it was now illegal for any Jew to wear the prized color. Since then, Jewish men have not worn the techelet in their tzit tziot. For many they don’t wear the color because their fathers didn’t and they don’t want to presume to be better than their fathers. For others it is because they are unsure which color is right, which is kosher. The sages say that no techelet is kosher today because they aren’t sure exactly what creature gave them the blue. There are various descriptions of what color, exactly, the techelet was. Techelet simply means “blue”. Some say a sky blue, some say a royal blue, some say a purple. All that the language of Scripture says is “blue”. The funny thing about the kosher techelet is that it was made from a sea creature (non-kosher animal) that is smashed and ground to produce the color once exposed to sunlight. It’s not a “kosher” process, as far as all other kosher processes go (clean animal that was healthy and slaughtered in such a way as to fully bleed the animal properly). Whatever it was they used to make the particular color that was used, that creature disappeared from the Land about the time of the Roman exile. However, there is a particular little sea creature that does provide a blue hue that has been “reborn” in Israel in recent generations. What was once extinct has now returned – along with the people. The techniques to produce this particular color have been lost, though there are many men working to re-create it from what information they have in the records of the Sages and their own trial and error. Several different colors and several different sea creatures have been suggested to be the “real” one.
We have discussed the techelet issue with others and DH has opted to go with a royal blue color, since there doesn’t seem to be a Scriptural precedent for anything other than “blue”. My men wear their tzit tzit attached to their belt loops. DH and the boys wear 100% cotton tzit tzit – 10 strands of white and 2 of blue. The knots are basic knots too, also not kosher by Rabbinic standards. Different communities have different knots and prayers are said as the knots are being tied. DH, Eliezar and Shalom have tied their tzit tzit on their own. I have purchased “Techelet from Israel” that is more of an aqua/sky blue to use whenever DH or one of the boys gets brave enough to untie the knots on the tzit tzit of the tallit and re-tie them with the techelet. Many will say that nobody but a Jew can wear the tzit tzit. My men wear them because they have attached themselves to the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, the G-d of Jacob and He instructed His children to do something, so they do it the best they can. (We’ve also been instructed by our local Rabbi that non-Jews cannot keep the Sabbath or study Torah.) But as far as tzit tzit goes, it is a command that doesn’t seem to be gender specific in Scripture but traditionally only the men wear them. Some women will wear them but not Orthodox women and hardly ever Jewish women. I think that it’s going too far for non-Jewish women to wear them – non-Jews wearing them is one thing but a female non-Jew is quite another. It’s a bad witness and it does not promote unity, IMHO. DH and the boys wearing them is their attempt to fulfill one of the commandments that HaShem gave us. We fully realize that it isn’t accepted among many groups – very few of people are accepting of this actually. However their desire is to please HaShem more than man, so they do their best to both fulfill the command and be respectful to others about it.
I hope this has answered some of the questions I was asked recently about tzit tzit. Please take time to look at the links provided in this article as well, I enjoyed them and I think you will too.
Shalom, Shalom my new friend!
I really enjoyed reading this post about fringes – you are so thorough in your links – how convenient for your readers!
Can we disagree on the tzitzit issue and still be friends? I understand where you are coming from concerning women wearing them but I must admit I disagree. I quickly found this website – if you’re interested – http://www.mayimhayim.org/Rabbi%20Mike/Tzitzit%20and%20woman.htm (I hope I copied it correctly). If you have more of those marvelous links to share as relates specifically to women, please pass them my way. I’m always willing to listen and learn. Perhaps we can find something that sheds light on what the Jewish women were doing during the time of Yeshua – like did his mother wear them or Elizabeth or did Mary and Martha wear them?
Anyway, I have started wearing them because I believe it is commanded for everyone. I know traditionally only men wear them, but right now my thinking is that traditions are good as long as they don’t cause us to disobey direct commands. My Jewish brothers’ and sisters’ feelings and traditions are important to me but they should never stop me from keeping a plain commandment. Besides, wouldn’t our Father have been specific if it was only for men?
I am still in the process of attaching them to all my clothes – and I have been replacing my regular shirts/blouses with 4 cornered ones (just a slit on the sides makes them 4 cornered), or using 4 cornered jumpers/skirts. I only read that we need the blue color (and I chose royal blue also). It doesn’t say that we have to use white – are they white because the tallits are white? (I’m unsure about the white part – I need more info.) Anyway, the way I’ve been doing it is to make it out of thread that matches the garment and add in the blue thread. They are only about 3-4 inches long and tied according to the numbering for His name. When they are on my blouses, they fall right where my hands fall at my sides and I constantly feel them there and have taken to fiddling with them. They are truly a reminder to walk according to His word.
Maybe I am being a chromer but I hope not! I don’t want to offend any Jewish person because our Father has truly put a HUGE love for them in my heart. And I hope that my feeble efforts to keep this command will not appear outlandish but rather humble and simple. If Father grants it someday, I hope to go to Israel and learn so much more. Perhaps I will come back not feeling like its a commandment I need to keep, but right now, in all honesty, I don’t see it referring only to men.
Would you help me out and explain why its a bad witness and how it causes disunity? If I’m being a bad witness, I need to know and most certainly if I’m causing disunity. Please, please, please don’t take my questions the wrong way – I’m sincere in asking.
Still friends? I hope so. I’m eager to learn more….
Blessings and Shalom,
Lillian
P.S. Can I share something else with you? I have sat here and read this reply – many times – over an hour now – trying to get my words right and make sure that I don’t offend you. It’s hard when only using words – voices are so much easier to convey feelings. Please don’t be offended….I’m almost afraid to push the submit button….
Lisa thanks for answering my question. You are a wonderful researcher. I will keep this link “new” and read through the links as I have time…
Today, my husband is coming home and I will prepare the house and myself for his homecoming. I like him to feel as though I prepared as much for his arrival as I do say for my mothers!
LOL Lillian! Of course we can agree to disagree. I, too, at one point wanted to wear tzit tzit. I just didn’t know enough about them to make my own. And you’re right – Scripture is not gender specific regarding them nor does it say that the must be white and blue. Those are tradition. However, if I’m going to throw Jewish tradition in their face, I had better be careful about which ones I throw. If I’m going to be a Gentile who studies Torah and does my best to observe it yet somehow live together with a tad bit of unity with the Jews in my community, there are some things I’m going to have to lean more toward tradition with than not. Besides, they are the ones that the Torah was given to and we are the blessed recipients of their careful safeguarding of it all these years. Tzit tzit is one of those issues that, after much discussion, we (and several others) have agreed should be left closer to the “tradition” camp – for now anyway. We’ll see what the Father does with this conviction over time.
I doubt you’d be “chrome tzit tzit”, Lillian. The image that was given to us in that phrase was someone who is obnoxious and who feels that it’s their job to teach our Jewish brothers and sisters because, “I’ve got it right. You don’t.” In our area, the skin tight T-shirt (probably with some messi. phrase or in your face picture) on an overweight post-hippie guy who is rather loud and has very little … sense (not the right word but can’t find it just now) really describes the “Messianics” we’ve been in contact with over the years. That’s “chrome tzit tzit” and a damaged witness – IMHO. I don’t see you being that way.
BTW – I’m not very easy to offend. Don’t worry!!!
Acceptance – did you get my e-mail too? Thank you for your comment, it’s nice to hear someone say I’m good at something.
LOL May your reunion with your husband be sweet.
Did you read the blog post on Boaz Michael’s blog recently (FFOZ.org) about how they’re in Israel shooting scenes for a new curriculum, and they’ve got a Jewish film crew.. they explain their Messianic beliefs to the crew.. and all is going well, until they run into an American Messianic in Israel who is wearing Tzitzit – with a chrome thread – VERY BAD WITNESS!
Good post. I don’t wear them, my sons do – all are wearing all white right now, but they have worn home made with navy blue before.
I did read that blog entry. I mentioned it in a comment on another entry. It really struck us and now we have a phrase at home that describes what we envisioned that meeting looking like: “Chrome Tzit Tzit”. I suppose not everyone had the same mental image that we did when we read it, so others might not understand what we mean. I think you might have had the same image that we did.
Thank you, Sombra.
It’s good to hear from you again.
Blessings ~
Lisa
[did you get my e-mail too] Lisa, I did get your email. I just wanted to thank you publicly.
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for your sharing. We are Torah-abiding believers in Singapore, having received the Torah about 6 years ago. Since there are not many Messianic believers here, the term does not carry the same conotations as it does in your community. The Jewish population here is not large either, so we have yet to have any negative encounters. In fact, we took Hebrew lessons from a Jewish lady who has been very welcoming and warm, even though she knew from the start that we believe in Yahshua. She did not say anything about us wearing tzit tzits and shared with us a different melody for singing the Shema, apart from the one we know.
On the other hand, we tend to receive more flak from Christians who insist that the law is dead, along with accusations of our being legalistic. We pray and work hard to share the truths about the Torah, about laws that give life, not death.
Anyway, I intended to share my take on the tzit tzits. I had recently been led to observing this commandment anew, especially in encouraging the men of my family to do so.
To make a family commitment to it, I decided to make matching sets for everyone. We used white and navy blue, in keeping with the norm, though I am also wondering if it must be white.
I made them using a 4 section round braid, 7″ for the men and mini 3.5″ ones for the ladies to attach to the corners of our head covering, which we wear when we meet for Shabbat.
I don’t know where we got the practise of attaching tzit tzits to our head covering, it’s just something that is done in our congregation. I would appreciate if you would share any thoughts you might have about this practise.
I am always encouraged by your sharing and by the other ladies who share with their comments. I just wanted to let you know that YHWH’s spirit is moving and His Torah is loved and treasured even all the way here in sunny Singapore.
Shalom,
Teresa
~ All Praise be to YHWH ~
Hi.
You’re entitled to your own understandings of Jewish traditions, including the tzitzit commandment.
Personally I think gentiles should not be fussing over the tzitzit issue since this commandment was never addressed to them in the Tanakh, as you surely are aware. It is something for bonafide Israelites to make and tie onto *their* four-cornered garments.
With that being said, hanging tzitzit from belt loops (which may seem ‘cool’ or ‘hip’) is no fulfillment of the commandment according to its plain meaning and therefore is an idle act. With all due respect, deeming this particular attempt to fulfill the directive as “as close to a corner of the garment as can be today” is downright laughable. I for one have many shirts, jackets and coats that clearly and visibly are four-cornered though not in the manner of an ancient four-cornered cloak of oldern times or non-Western garments, and would never contemplate suspending tzitzit from belt loops.
Those hanging them from belt loops might as well attach tzitzit to t-shirts, sweaters, pants, or even sleeveless tops.
You proceed to write, “The techelet has been lost since Israel was dispersed from the Land, and even before that when the Romans said it was now illegal for any Jew to wear the prized color. Since then, Jewish men have not worn the techelet in their tzit tziot”
Fortunately, this is not so, since the real source of Tekhekt never slid into oblivion. It was the Indogofera Tinctora plant. Need proof? Read http://www.karaites.org.uk/sisit.shtml. It will be an expenditure of time worth its weight in gold.
The same article proves that “tekhelet” is deep blue, while Arriving at the supposed exact shade is less important.
You go on to say, “But as far as tzit tzit goes, it is a command that doesn’t seem to be gender specific in Scripture but traditionally only the men wear them. Some women will wear them but not Orthodox women and hardly ever Jewish women. I think that it’s going too far for non-Jewish women to wear them – non-Jews wearing them is one thing but a female non-Jew is quite another. It’s a bad witness and it does not promote unity, IMHO.”
Well, try as I might, I can’t see the sense in you excluding gentile females from wearing them whenever non-Jews resolve to adopt this commandment.
Scripturalist Jew,
Thank you for your input. In the study I have done I have learned that there are a few different suggestions that are strongly held by various people for what creature it is that the tekhelet is made from. There is not agreement among the leaders of yesterday or today as to which is correct and it is in that understanding that I’ve learned that the blue isn’t worn. And if there is ambiguity over the issue many default to the statement that “My father didn’t wear blue”. I’m sure you understand.
As to non-Israelites being bound by the commands, I obviously disagree. “There shall be one law for you and for the one who sojourns with you” He said on several occasions. There are several individuals in Scripture who are not of Israel yet are accepted into Israel based on their commitment to worship the One True G-d, the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, the G-d of Jacob. The King of the Universe didn’t decree certain rituals in Scripture for non-Hebrews to proceed through in order to be accepted, those are man made regulations. It is the heart He wants – a heart to obey, serve Him, to walk in His ways. We find that the TaNaKh is full of references to this. This is what our family stands on. If Israel is to be a light to the nations, why is it hard to believe when the nations do teshuvah?
Israel has done her job and continues to do so, even if it is unbeknownst to her.
The shirt vs belt loop thing – I agree, to a point. We do not wear untucked shirts. So the next thing is either to attach them to the base of the pant legs or to another point on the garment. The waist area is generally accepted so the belt loops it is. This may be an issue that the men in our family modify over time with study and prayer, but as for today they wear them here as opposed to not doing it at all. The idea is to do what we can, when we can, the best we can. Sometimes we can get caught up on straining out the gnat but swallowing the camel.
Why I don’t think women need to be wearing them? How much contention do you want me to stir up?
If in the wider circles it’s not smiled upon for women to wear them then that is where we draw the line. Because our faith is Jewish and we follow a Jewish Master, we feel we are among those who sojourn with Israel. I understand that we are not recognized that way by most men, but it is not the men we are striving to serve. We want to live at peace with men while obeying our Creator. We do look to the Scriptures and to our elders, our teachers, our role models (the sages of blessed memory, the leaders of today) for guidance. This is where the women wearing them, or not, comes from. If Jewish women were to wear them regularly then we might follow a different pattern, but because most do not this is the pattern we follow.
Thank you for your input and I hope that my response to your comment helps explain our position a little better. We have a long way to go, but when Messiah comes He will explain all things and correct us. I look forward to that day!!
Shalom dear sir/ madam.
“Thank you for your input. In the study I have done I have learned that there are a few different suggestions that are strongly held by various people for what creature it is that the tekhelet is made from. There is not agreement among the leaders of yesterday or today as to which is correct and it is in that understanding that I’ve learned that the blue isn’t worn. And if there is ambiguity over the issue many default to the statement that “My father didn’t wear blue”. I’m sure you understand.”
Comment: I’m aware of the bewildering assortment of positions on this issue within Orthodox circles, yet I’m still left unimpressed by the basic Rabbinic/Orthodox stand.
In the Torah, a relevant passage in Wayiqra (Lev 11:10-12) expressly forbids Israelites from deriving benefit from “unclean” sea creatures by referring to them as detested (“sheqets”). Therefore, tzitzit may not be dyed by secretions or blood emanating from unkosher marine creatures if the commandments’ plain meaning is followed.
“As to non-Israelites being bound by the commands, I obviously disagree. “There shall be one law for you and for the one who sojourns with you” He said on several occasions. ”
Comment: You’re not working with the plain meaning of the word “sojourner”.
It is only those non-Israelites who sojourn among Israelites that are bound by many commandments, but not all.
Non-Israelites who do not sojourn among Israelites are considered in the Tanakh “foreigners” (“Benei Nekhar”, “Nokhreem”) and are not in the least bound by Toraic commandments, excepting the proscription on consuming a hunted animal’s blood along with it (see Beresheet/Gen. 9:4-5) and perhaps the preceding command on procreation.
The tzitzit directive is explicit in being directed to Israelites alone.
Please realize that each commandment needs to be read *in context*. I encourage you to read the Torah and examine it according to its plain meaning (I recommend Shoken’s “The Five Books of Moses” as the best translation I’m aware of nowadays as it doesn’t differ to either Xtian or Rabbinic mistranslation conventions), and if you do so impartially, you’ll notice the commands directing Israelites “there shall be one law for you and for the one who sojourns with you” are nowhere to be found alluding to the tzitzit.
As to the location where to attach tzitzit, I’d suggest modifying tops, bloses, shirts, jacket and coats and so on to have 4 visible corners to which tzitzit will be attacjed.
FWIW, you do seem to realize that suspending tzitzit from belt loops is a departure from the Toraic direction as to where they need to be placed.
I don’t see prayer being a condition or prerequisite for aligning with the plain meaning of the Torah’s directives concerning tzitzit. All the men in your family need to do is avail themselves of the info I’ve shown in the first message above, and if there is sufficient degree of will to hew to the plain meaning, a way/s will be found.
“Why I don’t think women need to be wearing them? How much contention do you want me to stir up? If in the wider circles it’s not smiled upon for women to wear them then that is where we draw the line. ”
Comment:
Well, this is you people’s issue…
Respectfully, if you actually *were* Jewish (born to at least one Jewish parent outside of the Yeshua adhering movements or a convert with a Jewish movement that rejects JC’s messiahship), I would’ve gone through much trouble proving to you that the vast majority of Rabbinic greats looked favorably upon the fulfillment of this miswa by females.
The bottom line on this argument is that female believers who care little enough about flak from male counterparts will wear tzitzit.
PS:
if you find my reference to you as non-Jewish offensive, please keep in mind that your characterization of your faith as Jewish is equally offensive.
Let me explain it another way to help those men get it.
The reason that it is not a miswah (commandment) to place tzitzit on belt loops or anything besides a 4-cornered garment is because the miswot (pl. of miswah) are not merely symbolic. When the Torah says we are to eat massah on Feast of Unleavened Bread and shun leavening, a person who eats non-kasher massah (eg massah made of something other than the 5 acceptable cereals) has not fulfilled the miswah.
If you want to perform in this grand symphony called “Judaism” rather than play at being Jewish, there is a musical score to follow. The flute player can’t say, “Well, what if I just play a few staccato notes to symbolize that trill, since no one really does trills anymore” – because the score calls for a trill, not stacatto. If he doesn’t play a trill, a trill wasn’t played.
Likewise, if somebody is wearing tzitzit on a garment that isn’t 4-cornered, they aren’t peforming this commandment.
Done for today!
Neichor/nochri does indeed describe a foreigner – one who is to be excluded, an alien. But this is not always the word used when in English we read “foreigner”. Zar is sometimes used but denotes “something different”. These two words would denote a foreigner who is hostile toward Israel and whose allegiance is to a foreign god. The primary word for the foreigner who has joined himself to Israel is ger. Ger is one who has left his own village/family and sought refuge within Israel. It is often found contrasted with ‘ezrach, native born or citizen. As tradition progressed there was a difference between ger and proselyte. In the end, ger can be interpreted as a foreigner who is passing through Israel (a visitor), has taken up permanent residence in Israel, or a foreigner who has joined Israel as a covenant member (separate from a proselyte) later referred to as “a G-d fearer”. Even though we do not live in the land, we have “spiritually” attached ourselves to Israel by choosing to serve the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, the G-d of Jacob. When the King says He has one law for the foreigner and the native born the question needs to be: does He mean a law or does He mean the whole Torah? The ger participates in the Sabbath and Festivals and is required to observe the statues of the Torah (D’varim 31:12). They are allowed to bring sacrifices to HaShem (Vayikra 17:8, 22:18, B’midbar 9:14, 15:14), not allowed to eat blood (Vayikra 17:11-13), becomes unclean when eating meat from animals dead or torn (Vayikra 17:15), participates in the ritual of the red heifer (B’midbar 19:10), receives the death penalty for idolatry or cursing HaShem (Vayikra 20:2, 24:16), participates in corporate forgiveness (B’midbar 15:26), and may be cut off from the community for defiance against HaShem (B’midbar 15:30). If one is to be cut off, one must be part of first.
We are taught that HaShem, the King of Heaven, accepts non-Jews based on their faith just as He did with Abraham. We see this pattern in the Torah multiple times and we read various places where the sojourner is part of the community. Being a light to the nations has a goal that the nations would come to serve Him, this is His plan (D’varim 4:5-8). When people from the nations do teshuvah, do they become second class citizens in the eyes of the Father or do they become as adopted children in the lineage of Abraham? We have been taught that the ger, the sojourner who desires to serve HaShem in full, becomes as an adopted son. We do not have different expectations for our adopted children, they carry our name and have the same expectations and privileges as our natural children. So with this in mind, we strive to serve Him like adopted children. When we stand before Him, if we are wrong He will tell us and He will judge. But until that day, we have the Word of HaShem to guide our path and we need to be sure that the traditions we choose to keep are not in violation of what is commanded but hold them up, and in high regard.
We are learning the symphony, we were not raised hearing it. We were raised hearing completely different music. That being said, we make mistakes but we strive to learn and obey. We do often times find ourselves explaining (both to Jews and to ‘xtians’) that our Conductor is not man, so sometimes the way we walk things out is not what one or another group will want to see. But we also do our best to walk in a way that brings as much peace as possible, as much unity as possible, while not compromising what we understand to be true. I agree that Scripturally speaking women seem to be among those who are to wear tzit tzit, but we do draw the line with traditional opinion in some areas and default to the Sages, of blessed memory, at times. It might look confusing, like picking here and there, but it is out of respect and honor for our fellow man. At one point I did consider wearing tzit tzit and my husband was agreeable, but we held off a little and studied a little more. We felt that we needed to stand with the majority opinion regarding gender. And, you are right that belt loops are not corners. When my husband comes home he will read your message and consider your input. We have been taught that it is best to do what we can rather than do nothing at all.
Regarding prayer and tzit tzit, we do follow the daily prayer routine as a family – DH wakes first and prays alone while the children and I wake. After we do our morning Bible readings as a family, DH leaves for work and we do our morning prayer routines, the Shacharit. We follow the same formula and pattern, but for a few variations as you might imagine. There is much beauty in this routine.
May your day be blessed. And thank you for challenging us and discussing these things with us openly.
~ All Praise be to YHWH ~
You forgot the word ‘nilwa’/'nilwim’ (pl.). It surely is not the primary word denoting a foreigner in the midst of a process of attaching themselves to the Israelite covenant with YHWH in the Tanakh, yet it is a far more accurate label (see Yesha`yahu/Isaiah 56). Another term you have left out which denotes joining the _Jewish_ people is ‘mityahadim’ (‘persons becoming Jewish’)(see Esther 8:17. Esther 9:27 employes the term ‘nilwim’.)
I disagree that both Zar and Nokhree necessarily denote a foreigner who is hostile toward Israel.
Thus, for instance, there is no indication whatsoever that the Nokhree alluded to in Melakhim/1 Kings 8:41:43 is hostile to the Israelite nation. This is just one example I took off the top of my head.
Me, I am only interested in the biblical application of the term Ger. I am not concerning myself with the meanings it assumed in post-biblical periods, notably within Rabbinic Judaism.
Accordingly, the Ger — a person who sojourns among Israelites or Jews — is indeed required to obey most Shabbat commadments as in resting and reposing (but they are not obligated to perform the Miqra Qodesh (see Wayiqra 23:1-3), the holy reading (“Holy Convocation” is a mistranslation misleading people to think it must be performed by an assemblage or gathering)) and Festivals.
* In Devarim 31:12 the Gerim (pl.) are required to observe the statues of the Torah _that have relevance for them_. Tzitzit isn’t one of them.
* Gerim are indeed allowed to bring certain kinds of sacrifices to YHWH (Wayiqra 17:8, 22:18, B’midbar 9:14, 15:14)
* Gerim are indeed forbidden from eating blood (Wayiqra 17:11-13)
* Gerim do become ritually unclean when eating meat from animals dead or torn by other animals (Wayiqra 17:15),
* Gerim are required to be purified through water containing Red Heifer ashes of defilement contracted by touching a grave, human bones, a homan corpse, or being under any sort of shed or ceiling under which somebody died when they were present (B’midbar 19:10),
* Gerim do receive the death penalty for
(a.) sacrificing their children to be burned for the Molekh god (Wayiqra 20:2) (not for just any sort of idolatry),
and
(b.) for cursing YHWH (Wayiqra 24:16)
* Gerim do indeed participate in corporate forgiveness (B’midbar 15:26)
* Gerim indeed will be cut off from the community or congregation for defiance against YHWH (B’midbar 15:30).
However, this does NOT mean or imply that they were obligated to perform ALL miswot. It means they partook of the covenant between the Israelites and YHWH and were expected to perform many, though not all, miswot.
“We are taught that HaShem, the King of Heaven, accepts non-Jews based on their faith just as He did with Abraham. We see this pattern in the Torah multiple times and we read various places where the sojourner is part of the community.”
Comment:
As you well know, Judaism is not based only on the Torah.
Both Orthodox and Qaraite Judaism weigh in other parts of the Tanakh as well vis-a-vis non-Israelites’ acceptance in YHWH’s eyes. Let me mention in this context the Ruth book (or scroll as is usually referred to in Judaism), from whence we learn that a Nokhree or Ger must swear alligance to both the God of Israel and People of Israel to become a full fledged Israelite. One understanding derived from here is that self conversion is invalid, no matter how much wishful thinking there is on the part of some non-Jews who insist to the contrary.
Thus, Qaraite Judaism to name one is Tanakh-true or compliant rather than merely Torah-compliant. One aspect of this is the additional commands decreed by YHWH through Its prophets in the Nevi’im section. (while Israelites are forbiden from adding to the Torah, nothing in the Torah forbids YHWH Itself from piling up additional commandments and ordinances on his chosen people to perform.)
“Being a light to the nations has a goal that the nations would come to serve Him, this is His plan (D’varim 4:5-8).”
Comment:
I don’t see that being stated in the verses’ plain meaning. Perhaps the nations that learn (of) all the Toraic ordinances will be in such awe that they’ll not merely be jealous but _wish_ to serve YHWH as required in the Torah. but the latter part is still in the realm of conjecture which must not be confused for fact or a prophesy intended to unfold.
In ragards to performing the tzitzit commandment, I doubt any bonafide Orthodox rabbi or great worth his salt actually taught you (pl.) to do “the best you can”. I have trouble believing that any of them would sanction such performance of said miswa. Orthodox and Qaraite Judaism seem to be in accord about this. I do not know why Qaraite Yohanan Zaqantov departs from the stance both movements share (at least in his file on tzitzit in his website), yet he’s wrong on this point nonetheless. Each and every rabbi or sage in Judaism makes his or her mistaken statements.
Kudos to you for the impressive command of Toraic material you’ve shown here. Nevertheless and with all due respect, just because you consider your faith Jewish doesn’t make it so. A faith system that esteems JC even as much as being a teacher or a prophet of sorts is not and cannot be Jewish. Sorry, you and other poeple from the nations are not doing teshuvah if you maintain a belief in JC and insist he has a place in the theology you subscribe to.
I don’t want to quibble any more about this, so this will be my last visit here.
BTW, biology is merely _one_ of _some_ bonafide Jewish origins for individuals.
Been nice having this discourse with you.
Have a nice life.
Hello,
I absolutely love some of the communication I am reading on-line! I live in a small place in rural Canada and have never even met a Jewish person, however when I was a small child and I realized that Jesus was Jewish, I could not understand why the Christians around me were not Jewish too, lol. As an adult I have found myself very much alone in my hearts desire to follow everything the Lord asks of me. For instance, we have observed Passover for quite a few years now and recently I was feeling frustrated with my somewhat unequipped attempts at doing these things on my own without any instruction from any elder women. I was feeling as though I was “playing house” and my heart so wants to please my Father! Then standing in my kitchen and in my discouragement God let me know how He loves to watch me being obedient from my heart and I will get to learn the details of it all. I now have been asked to start head covering (that’s how I found this blog) I will be the only woman in my community doing this but I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be obedient.
Blessings,
Patricia
Shalom to sister Patricia, Lisa and the others!
– and all the others here in this “blog-community” — may Hashem bless you all!!
It just was a blessing to read Patricas comment about your way through life and how you found this blog! I feel I have much of the same as you- us living in little Norway- few (I don’t know anyone) wearing headcoverings for instance.. but I started just some weeks ago to wear and I searched and found this beautiful blog– The Lord revealed to us that Torah is Life– and the Messiah has opend the way for us so that we can walk on it – step by step – step by step. It is as if He is telling us : “Come closer- come closer…!” This is truly happening all over His world!
So Thanks to Lisa
Mette
Hi Lisa,
I did not read all of the posts, but did catch that your husband and sons wear tzitzits on their belt loops. Since this is an older post, this may no longer be true. I wanted to offer you an alternative.
Check out our website. This is a family business that we started. We are in Michigan.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Shalom,
Leslie
Here is the website for the tzitshirt:
http://www.freewebs.com/tzitshirt
It didn’t show up in my last post.
Blessings,
Leslie
Shalom Leslie ~
I’ll share your link with my husband.
Thanks for the link. It did show up in both posts, it is linked to your name.
Blessings ~
Lisa
I am an American non-Jewish-by-blood believer in Yeshua, living in Israel. I just started wearing tsitsiot after this Yom Kippur – because it is a command for all generations and I am grafted in to Israel.
Anyway – I just also found this article – 116 pages but looks interesting so far:
http://theassemblyofyahowahtheeternal.com/printerversion/the+laws/Tassel.pdf
Actually, I just moved to the Mount of Olives – an Arab Muslim neighborhood. I might get stoned for showing my tsitsiot around this neighborhood. So I bought some metal hair clips and use them to clip my tsitsiot up into the little pockets in the tallit katan.
I’m wondering how long it will take before I forget completely to do this tho. Meanwhiile I’m praying for a better solution!
I’ve got my new techelet soaking in salt water & vinegar now – because they’re not colorfast – and when they’re dry i’ll retie my all-white tsitsiot. Maybe after reading the pdf I’ll decide on all-blue after all tho…
I certainly appreciate all the info and comments here!
While I attempt to sort out these issues before YHWH, I’m a praise & worship musician with a reggae sound:
Yerubilee
“Messianic Roots Reggae
from Jerusalem”
Blessings in the name of Yeshua,
Teddy,
Yerubilee
Blessings to you Yerubilee ~
May you continue to learn and grow, and may HaShem protect you.
L’hit ~
Lisa