Messiah Podcast First Fruits of Zion

As the Nazis attempted to eradicate the Jewish people from every corner of Europe, one country’s Jewish population actually grew, thanks to the tireless efforts of Metropolitan Stefan of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Messianic Jewish Rabbi Daniel Zion. Avi Mizrachi and his daughter Devorah share the harrowing story of the heroes who courageously and repeatedly put their lives on the line to save the Jewish population of Bulgaria from Hitler’s death camps.


– Episode Timecode –

00:00 Introduction to Avi Mizrachi and his daughter Devorah
05:27 Family connections between the Zion and Mizrachi family
09:51 The fruit of friendship between a Metropolitan Bishop and Chief Rabbi.
13:15 A mystical vision that prompted Rabbi Daniel Zion to believe in Jesus.
17:42 Pre-war life for the Sephardic Jews of Bulgaria.
20:37 Devastating legislation that paved the way for Hitler.
25:15 The miracle of March 9, 1943 – Stopping the First Deportation attempt.
33:18 Fleeing to the forest to join the partisans and fight the Nazis.
39:08 Rejecting despair with Truth, Faith, and Love (Emet, Emunah, and Ahavah).
41:15 How to maintain gratitude and perspective in a concentration camp.
45:44 Why did the Tzar of Bulgaria decide to defy Hitler?
49:50 A gesture of gratitude in the Bulgarian Palace.
51:47 What lessons can be learned from the past?
59:42 Constant roadblocks: A story of Aliyah

– Episode Resources –

Dugit
https://dugit.org

Legacy of Hope: Hidden Heroes from Generation to Generation
https://amazon.com/Legacy-Hope-Hidden-Heroes-Generation/dp/B0CPGZ1Z7F

Daniel Zion, Biography and Selected Writings of Rabbi Daniel Zion
https://ffoz.store/products/daniel-zion-book

The Power of Civil Society in a Time of Genocide: Proceedings of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church on the Rescue of the Jews in Bulgaria, 1940-1944
https://tinyurl.com/bdeku9cx

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

The Epistle to the Hebrews constitutes one of the most difficult sections of the Bible for those of us who have embraced a Messianic Jewish perspective. Thankfully, D. Thomas Lancaster, First Fruits of Zion’s Director of Education, has spent years penning a commentary that will enrich and enlighten you. He joins Messiah Podcast to provide a sneak peek into the premise that unlocked the historical understanding of this important book of the Apostolic Scriptures.

– Episode Highlights –

* The Epistle to the Hebrews is a difficult book to interpret from a Messianic Jewish perspective. Daniel Thomas Lancaster's new commentary brings the latest in New Testament scholarship and the oldest of Jewish hermeneutical principles to bear on the biblical text to present a relevant and insightful understanding of the epistle.

* The authorship of Hebrews is uncertain. While it was certainly not the Apostle Paul, it may have been a second-generation disciple of the apostles like Clement of Rome.

* Hebrews emphasizes Yeshua's importance as the gateway to the Messianic Era and warns against turning away from him.

* The hermeneutical method used in Hebrews, known as kol vechomer, establishes the weight of the first matter to make a case for the second matter.

* Understanding the Jewish context and the distinction between Jews and Gentiles is crucial in interpreting Hebrews.


– Episode Resources –

The Holy Epistle to the Hebrews
https://ffoz.store/products/the-holy-epistle-to-the-hebrews

The Holy Epistle to the Galatians
https://ffoz.store/products/the-holy-epistle-to-the-galatians-book

The Holy Epistle to the Ephesians
https://ffoz.store/products/the-holy-epistle-to-the-ephesians-book

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

Every year, hundreds of disciples gather for Malchut, a summit for First Fruits of Zion Friends. We spend three days getting reacquainted, taking meals together, and recentering our vision for the kingdom. Today’s guests are some of the many Malchut 2024 attendees. You’ll hear about their heart for Messiah and his kingdom, how they came to embrace a Messianic Jewish perspective, and their joy at knowing they’re not alone on their journey of faith.

– Episode Takeaways –
600+ disciples of Yeshua gathered together in Orlando Florida in March 2024 for the annual Malchut conference and were encouraged and energized by great fellowship, delicious food, and solid teaching.
Torah Club is growing world wide and is a resource that supports, educates and strengthen local communities of various shapes and sizes.
Messianic Judaism can be a lonely spiritual path and the resources and events that First Fruits of Zion produces is inspiring deeper study of the Scriptures, and devoted love and discipleship for Yeshua,


– Episode Resources –
FFOZ Friends
https://ffoz.org/friends

HaYesod
https://ffoz.org/hayesod

Restoration
https://ffoz.store/products/restoration-book

Tent of David
https://ffoz.store/products/tent-of-david-book

Israel Tours
https://ffoz.org/events

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

Early Jewish believers in Yeshua created a catechism for new disciples from among the nations. Lost for hundreds of years, this document, the Didache, reveals the expectations and standards the early Yeshua-believing community put in place for Gentile disciples of Yeshua. Our guest today, Dr. Daniel Nessim, has spent his academic career demonstrating that the first disciples of Yeshua considered the Torah to be the moral compass of all those who joined the community of disciples, whether Jewish or Gentile.

– Episode Takeaways –
The Didache is a discipleship manual created by early Jewish believers in Yeshua for personal Gentile discipleship and how to conduct themselves within the community.
The Didache was written around 80 CE during a tumultuous time in history and reflects the beliefs and values of the early Jewish believers, who considered the Torah to be the moral compass for all disciples.
The arch of the Didache progresses from directing individuals on the proper moral path to addressing issues of community life that were particularly applicable at the time the Didache was written.

– Episode Chapters –
00:00 Welcome Dr. Daniel Nessim to Messiah Podcast!
02:41 The Didache: What it is and where it came from.
05:44 The purpose and significance of the Didache.
08:16 Relationship of the Didache to other early Christian writings.
09:49 The historical occasion for writing down the Didache.
12:37 The clues that betray the Jewishness of the Didache.
14:20 Rediscovery of the Didache.
15:52 Impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on Didache research.
21:44 Thesis of the book “Torah for Gentiles” by Dr. Daniel Nessim.
28:16 Parallels with Greek moral instruction.
31:12 Modern interpretations of the Didache.
32:36 Textual criticism and the similar sayings of Yeshua in the Didache and the Gospels.
37:52 Hard lines and leniencies in the Didache’s concession passages.
41:37 Is there a specific list of Gentile responsibilities to the Torah?
49:02 Judaism as a religion of grace.
50:07 Why the Didache disappeared.
52:24 The end of Jewish Christianity and the historical context of the Didache.
58:27 The value of the Didache in the present era.

– Episode Resources –
Torah for Gentiles?: What the Jewish Authors of the Didache Had to Say, by Dr. Daniel Nessim
https://www.amazon.com/Torah-Gentiles-Jewish-Authors-Didache-ebook/dp/B091G5C914

The Way of Life, The Rediscovered Teachings of the Twelve Jewish Apostles to the Gentiles, by Toby Janicki
https://ffoz.store/products/the-way-of-life-book

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer discusses the Catholic Church's embrace of distinction theology and its impact on Jewish-Christian dialogue and the Messianic Jewish movement. He highlights the significance of the Second Vatican Council and the documents Lumen Gentium and Nostra Aetate in redefining the church's understanding of itself and its relationship with the Jewish people. The Catholic Church's rejection of deicide and recognition of the ongoing special relationship with the Jewish people have had a profound impact on Christian theology and paved the way for further dialogue and understanding. This conversation explores the theological developments and dialogue between Messianic Judaism and the Roman Catholic Church. It delves into the concept of Jesus as the Living Torah and the connection between Yeshua and the Jewish people. The role of Cardinal Lustiger in emphasizing Jewish identity within the Catholic Church is highlighted. The conversation also touches on the progress being made in the Catholic Church regarding the recognition of the enduring significance of the land of Israel. Overall, this dialogue is seen to be of historic significance and a promising trajectory for Catholic theology.


– Episode Takeaways –

The Second Vatican Council, prompted by the Holocaust, marked a significant reassessment of the Catholic Church's understanding of itself and its relationship with the Jewish people.
The documents Lumen Gentium and Nostra Aetate work together to lay out how the church understands and identifies itself and how it understands and identifies itself in relationship to other religions of the world.
The Catholic document The Gifts and Calling of God Are Irrevocable went even further to express the enduring covenant between God and the Jewish people.
As a Jewish Cardinal, Jean-Marie Lustiger made significant contributions to the dialogue between Judaism and Christianity. Acting as a counselor to Pope John Paul II on the Jewish people, he emphasized Jesus' solidarity with his people and the continued Jewish identity of Jews within the church. He saw the suffering of the Jewish people as a part of the Messiah's suffering, highlighting the deep identification of the Messiah with His people.
The Catholic Church is moving toward visible changes to reflect the realization of the enduring significance of Jewish identity within the church and the Jewish people in the land of Israel.

– Episode Resources –

Searching Her Own Mysteries by Rabbi, Dr. Mark Kinzer
https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Her-Own-Mystery-Identity/dp/1498203310

Nostra Aetate
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html

Lumen Gentium
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

The Gifts and Calling of God Are Irrevocable
http://www.christianunity.va/content/unitacristiani/en/commissione-per-i-rapporti-religiosi-con-l-ebraismo/commissione-per-i-rapporti-religiosi-con-l-ebraismo-crre/documenti-della-commissione/en.html

Film: The Jewish Catholic
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2806908

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.

First Fruits of Zion teaches that the whole Bible, including the Law of Moses, that is, the Torah given to the Jewish people, has relevance and practical application for Gentile Christians. Some Messianic Jews disagree; they argue that the Torah is for Jews only. Today’s guests, FFOZ Senior Educator Aaron Eby and Director of Torah Club Damian Eisner are here to challenge the idea that the Torah has nothing to say to Gentiles.


– Episode Highlights –

Terms are confusing if they are not well-defined. Many people stumble on the Jewish Jesus online but many times the source of the information they stumble on is what we would call Hebrew Roots. First Fruits of Zion is part of Messianic Judaism, and there are some important distinctions.
The community of faith is composed of both Jews and Gentiles. But despite us being “one in Messiah,” First Fruits of Zion believes that it is important to maintain our unique identities. Why do we think so, and how do we advise Jews and Gentiles to avoid blurring the lines of distinction?
Acts 15 documents an important time in the life of the apostles when they decided on the course of faith for Gentiles who were coming to faith in the Jewish Messiah. What does this passage teach about Jewish and Gentile obligations to the Law?
The Sabbath and the Jewish festivals are full of richness in meaning and blessing. What does the remembrance and observance of the Sabbath and the other biblical holidays look like for Jewish people, and what would they look like for a Gentile disciple?

– Chapters –

00:00 Welcome to Messiah Podcast.
02:05 First Fruits of Zion is a Messianic Jewish organization, not Hebrew Roots.
13:08 What is distinction theology?
20:00 The apostles’ expectation of Gentile disciples.
25:22 Interpreting Acts 15 and Acts 21 and the four prohibitions for Gentile disciples.
29:38 The synagogue has always been a place for Gentiles to learn about the God of Israel.
40:43 What does the distinction between Jewish and Gentile observance of the Sabbath look like?
55:51 How can Gentiles interface with and observe Jewish holidays like Passover and Tabernacles?
01:04:51 Is 1 Corinthians 5:8 an invitation to Gentiles to celebrate Passover?
01:11:34 A biblical model for do’s and don’ts for Gentiles.
01:15:23 Gentiles are adopted to be part of the family of God.
01:20:32 First Fruits of Zion does not subscribe to what is commonly known as “one law theology.”

– Episode Resources –

Restoration: Returning the Torah of Moses to the Disciples of Jesus
https://ffoz.store/products/restoration-book

From Sabbath to Sabbath: Returning the Holy Sabbath to the Disciples of Jesus.
https://ffoz.store/products/from-sabbath-to-sabbath-book

The Holy Days: Returning the Biblical Festivals to the Disciples of Jesus.
https://ffoz.store/products/the-holy-days-book

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (https://ffoz.org) in conjunction with Messiah Magazine. This publication is designed to provide rich substance, meaningful Jewish contexts, cultural understanding of the teaching of Jesus, and the background of modern faith from a Messianic Jewish perspective.

Messiah Podcast theme music provided with permission by Joshua Aaron Music (http://JoshuaAaron.tv). “Cover the Sea” Copyright WorshipinIsrael.com songs 2020. All rights reserved.