Dear Refiner's Fire...

A Jewish Christian convert friend sent me a link to your article on replacement theology, since she knew I had been exploring faith along these lines for quite some time. I was indeed quite interested and so explored your site further. I've not read very far as yet, but like you, I do see that the Scriptures tell us that Jesus was very much a faith keeping law abiding Jew. What I did not see in the Scriptures was your claim that He was a “tallit wearing” Jew . . . though I'm open to the possibility. Can you send me back up for the view that He wore the tallit?

Anyway, I'll be spending more time at your site, thank you for putting it up, and for your faithful walk with Him!

In Christ, Barbara

Our Response....

Shalom Barbara,

Thank you for writing to The Refiner's Fire! You've asked a very good question.

Remember the lady with the issue of bleeding in Matthew 9?

Traditional interpretation of her actions has been that of a desperate woman who wanted healing so badly that she defied the laws of impurity to touch the hem of Yeshua's garment. The actual Aramaic word was not “hem” but “edge” which referred to the “borders” or kanaf of “garments” (beged), which is where “fringes” or “tassels” (tzit tzit) are placed (Numbers 15:38, 39). Y'shua, like all other Torah observant Jews, wore tzit tzit as a reminder to do the Commandments of YHWH, and not seek after what is right in one's own eyes. The Hebrew kanaf is also found in Malachi 4:2 “…with healing in his kanaf (wings)...” See also Zechariah 8:23.

The tallit worn by religious Jews is a prayer shawl. The tzit tzit on the four corners of this garment are made with specific form and design, as the numerical value of the tassels adds up to 613 (the number of original commandments). Tzit tzits are symbolic of a need for every believer to remember the commandments of God.

The key to truly understanding the Word is to try to view it through a Hebrew mindset as opposed to a Greek one.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write!

Shalom, Shali