Dearest Bob,

I read your reply to the ‘Open Letter to Evangelists’ with both interest and consternation. My original attempt in laying out the open letter was to create a secure platform for the anti-nomian (those not under Torah) to be able to have a fruitful dialogue with the nomian (Torah keepers) we may wish to proselytize. These rules of engagement might bring a new polish to an endeavor which up to this point has been all too lack-luster. The key to success with these people is to first hold them in esteem, real esteem because they alone, represent the fertile soil out of which our Messiah grew and upon which our Savior strew his precious seed. If we refer to Matthew 10: 5, 6 and then Matthew 15: 24.... "These twelve Yahushua sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans do not enter: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel"......Then later ... "he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel".

As was pointed out in the ‘open letter...’we must first and foremost, get the facts of history straight. These folks reverence their history. They are immediately turned off by outlandish claims that lack supporting proof. This was true then and now but on the other hand, their Greek neighbors, were hungry for wonderfully constructed myths that would help define their humanity as well as their objects of worship. Many Hebrews, then and now, succumbed to this allure of Hellenism and are held in derision by the faithful.

I read then re-read your response and found many claims, assumptions and even heavy accusations but Bob, where is the proof? Holy Writ (the so-called Old Testament) is an undeniable proof to the faithful Jew while the New Testament is considered un-approved and unreliable and must therefore be suspect. History and corroborating witnesses are also accepted evidence. Bob, when the Messiah, whose name in Hebrew is Yahushua, (YHWH is our savior), taught, He taught only from Old Testament sources and eye witness testimony, ‘If you don’t believe me, believe my works’ (John 10:37,38). We surely must not believe ourselves to be superior to him. He made no new doctrine, He obeyed the Torah and told us to. In John 14:15, the Greek translation quotes him as saying, ‘If you love me, keep my commandments’.  What were His commandments? Weren't they the same  and an even more stringent interpretation of the Law of Moshe? ....They are my commandments. I am sure they also are yours. Are they not? If we attempt to proselytize these faithful Jews, they may have a working knowledge of his Hebraic intent and would know this. The well learned among them also know that the great turn away from Hebraism to Hellenism among the early faithful to Yahushua was instigated by Sha’ul (Paul). Hellenism had been for 400 years the great nemesis of the faithful Hebrew people. Greeks worshipped human reason and the art of politics or compromise believing them to be a savior. Sha’ul was the father of Christendom, he was no faithful Hebrew despite what he might have said to the contrary. He broke the mitzva (command) concerning leading the people to serve other ‘mighty ones’ (Deut. 13: 6-10). This effectively expels the perpetrator from any association with the community. I hope we have generated light here, heat does not build up.

So, in way of conclusion, the main points here considered have included:

claims or conclusions are only as viable as the proofs that accompany them.

Proofs can take many forms: Holy Writ, historical evidence, corroborating eye witness accounts,

in all these the factor of consistency is paramount.

For instance, if YHWH has laid down a plan of salvation from the beginning, He does not and will not change the rules. He is the same then, now and forever.

Second point: We must do our homework, question our own understanding, check our sources, know the history of our faith. If we have been taught lies, it is up to us to discover them and not pass them on. If we blindly teach others these prevarications aren’t we then personally answerable to the Most High?

The final point: To reach a person on this kind of intimate level, we must take much care to understand their foundational structure, then we can kindly build on their understanding to give them an even more stable and sure grasp on truth. Frontal assault will only lead to counter-attack. How did Yahushua HaMashiyach *select, then teach his brethren and how will he select and teach in the future? Let’s follow him.

I hope this clarifies the meaning of the first ‘open letter’.

May the Most High increase our love and understanding,

Brother Jerry of Qumran Bet

*Matt. 10: 34-40