SHEDDING LIGHT ON A TURBULENT PAST

Dialogue between Jews and Non-Jews

By Ashirah Yosefah

“This is what the G-D of Hosts said:  There will yet be a time when nations and inhabitants of numerous cities will come.  The inhabitants of one will go to the other and say, ‘Let us go beseech G-D and pray to the G-D of Hosts.  I will go, too!’  Numerous nations and multitudes of peoples will come to pray to the G-D of Hosts in Jerusalem and beseech Him.  This is what the G-D of Hosts said:  In those days, ten men from peoples of every tongue will take hold of a Jew by a corner of his garment and say, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that G-D is with you.”  (Zechariah 8:20-23, The Living Nach, A Translation by Aryeh Kaplan)

In the past decade, a lot has happened amongst the Western nations and, indeed, throughout the world.  Hundreds of thousands of people, mostly from Christian backgrounds, have suddenly become fascinated with the “Jewish roots of Christianity”, or, they have gradually made their way out of the Christian church altogether, claiming that they have discovered paganism and idolatry amidst church doctrines.  In their quest for answers to their spiritual dilemma, many of these people are feeling drawn to Torah and are asking questions about Judaism, Torah and even questioning whether or not they might not be assimilated descendents of the Lost Ten Tribes.  Many of these people are voluntarily taking on customs and traditions that find their roots in Judaism.  Still others also estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands worldwide, are discovering the Seven Universal Laws for mankind, finding to their surprise that proper observance of these Seven Laws actually leads to a lifestyle that is parallel to that of a Torah-observant Jew in many respects.  Concurrently, hundreds of individuals are knocking on the doors of Rabbis with questions regarding conversion.  It would appear that Zechariah’s prophecy is beginning to unfold.

There are many complex issues involved for each of the groups identified above.  Conversion to Judaism is not for everyone, nor should everyone who feels an affinity with Israel and Jews consider conversion.  There are other options.  Nonetheless, a common complaint is heard and that is one of a lack of response or a perceived lack of understanding on the part of Rabbis to assist non-Jews in learning about Torah, about Judaism, about their spiritual options.  Given the history of the past 2000 years of Christianity and its love/hate relationship with Jews, such reserve on the part of Jews and Judaism is to be expected.  This being said, there are many Rabbis who recognize that there is a spiritual movement at work amongst the nations that was prophesied long ago and bears the definite mark of Hashem … despite much that might lead one to think otherwise.

Shuvoo works with a growing number of these Rabbis to provide a forum in which they can have a voice to answer the many questions being posed to them by non-Jews and to address the many issues that are arising as a result of the current Gentile hunger for Torah.  Most of the articles on this website have been written or selected to address these many questions and issues.  It is our hope that the articles will lay out a path to spiritual clarity for the hundreds of thousands who are sincerely seeking truth.

A word to the wise.  There are many spiritual leaders amongst the nations who teach their followers to disregard the Seven Universal Laws for mankind, also known as The Noahide Commandments.  These teachers claim that the Noahide Commandments are a prejudicial slight to non-Jews, offering a measly seven commandments when compared to the 613 commandments incumbent on Jews.  There are two important facts that need to be stated.  First, the Seven Universal Laws are actually gateways to a gradually deepening life of Torah observance, if they are properly understood and observed.  Secondly, there is only one starting point from which any Rabbi can begin to dialogue with someone who is not a Jew, but who is seeking spiritual guidance, and that is as a Bnei Noach.  Bnei Noach is the ancient, long-standing and Halachically proscribed category for Righteous Gentiles.  All discussion, if it hopes to advance to meaningful dialogue, must begin here.  It is our hope that the articles and information presented on this website will occasion many meaningful and productive discussions in the future.