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WHAT IS SHUVOO?
Shuvoo means "return". In fact, it is an active verb form meaning "(you) return". It has particular emphasis in a passage written by the Prophet Malachi: "Ever since the days of your fathers, you've turned away from My statutes and haven't observed them. Return (shuvoo) to Me and I will return (ashuvah) to you, says the G-d of Hosts." (Malachi 3:7, JPS Tanach)
This website is about returning to G-d … the G-d of Israel. It is about returning in truth and clarity, looking back to the foundation of faith for all nations of the world, the Noahide Commandments, and forward to the Torah given by G-d to Moses - the most complete revelation of G-d that can exist in this world until the World to Come.
The Noahide Commandments are seven basic laws binding upon ALL humanity. Six of these laws were given to Adam, and the seventh law was given to Noach after the Flood. Keeping these seven basic laws would allow the 70 nations of the world to live righteous lives and inherit a share in the World to Come. Jews also keep the seven laws within their observance of the Torah. The Noahide Laws are the "measuring stick" by which any religion can be evaluated - if it contradicts these basic laws, it is necessarily flawed.
With the giving of the Torah, G-d established a Covenant People chosen, formed and called out by Him to be His witnesses:
"And Moses went up to G-d. The L-RD called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me. Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Ex. 19:3-6)
"All the nations assemble as one, the peoples gather. Who among them declared this, foretold to us the things that have happened? Let them produce their witnesses and be vindicated, that men hearing them, may say, 'It is true!' My witnesses are you - declares the L-RD - My servant, whom I have chosen. To the end that you may take thought, and believe in Me, and understand that I am He; before Me no god was formed and after Me none shall exist. (Isaiah 43:9-10)
As the appointed witnesses of G-d, the children of Israel were given a special responsibility:
"For He has said: It is too little that you should be My servant in that I raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel: I will also make you a light of nations, that My salvation may reach the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6)
Until the destruction of the Second Temple, Judaism actively reached out to the nations of the world, teaching Bnei Noach (non-Jews who understood and adhered to the Noahide Laws). For the past 2000 years, the Jewish nation has been scattered to the four corners of the earth, living under the dominion of foreign governments in nations that had their own religion(s). It would not have been well received by the leaders of these religions and governments if Jews had encouraged their people to consider the Noahide Commandments as a way of life. Simply being a Jew in these nations without being persecuted was usually difficult enough. As a result, the Sages of Judaism cautioned against active outreach to the nations of the world for it would surely have been seen as a religious and political threat. However, a nation was reborn in 1948, and Jews have been returning to their G-d-given land ever since. In Israel, a Jew can fulfill the commandments of the Torah freely, including the command to be "a light to the nations". "For instruction shall come forth from Zion and the word of the L-RD from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3) This is happening in our days. With the advent of Internet, never before in history has so much Torah been accessible to the nations of the world. The Shuvoo website has been created to act upon the responsibility for Jews to be a light to the nations.
The passage of time has layered darkness, deception, distortion and confusion upon both the Noahide Laws and the Torah. Neither one is truly understood by the nations of our present time. Tragically, the Torah is not understood by many Jews, especially Jews who have found their way to other religions through assimilation or proselytizing. Shuvoo has been created to illuminate the ancient paths of return (shuvoo) to the foundations established by G-d in order that all mankind might merit the revelation of Moshiach and the Redemption of the world.
"[The L-RD] says: Build up, build up a highway!
Clear a road! Remove all obstacles from the road of My people!"
Clear a road! Remove all obstacles from the road of My people!"
(Isaiah 57:14)