Volume 23 Number 5
May/June 2007

The Dead Sea Scrolls--Hidden Treasures For Messianic Judaism

By Rabbi Barney Kasdan

The buzz is already in the air!  From the end of June through December of 2007, the only west coast exhibit of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls will be right here in San Diego.  One of the highlights of our synagogue trips to Israel is no doubt a tour of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem to view these incredible finds.  The story of the discovery of the scrolls is a story in itself.  You may remember that some bedouin Arab kids were shepherding their flock in the desert area of Qumran in March 1947.  One of the boys, attempting to scare his goat out of a cave, threw some rocks and subsequently heard the sound of breaking clay jars.  Intrigued by the surprising sound, they discovered seven scrolls stored in the dry cave.  The boys realized they could make some quick shekels and sold four of the scrolls for the equivalent of $100 to an Arab-Christian antiquities dealer.  A few months later, Professor Eleazar Sukenik of Hebrew University was contacted and he was able to purchase the three remaining scrolls for the Jewish community.  In a clearly prophetic event, it turned out that the scrolls were purchased for Israel (still Palestine) on November 29, 1947; the very day in which the United Nations proclaimed the Resolution for the Partition of Palestine.  Think about that fact; on the same day in history there were two major events (one physical and one spiritual) working for the restoration of our people.  It seems like a direct sign from G-d!  Eventually, all the Dead Sea Scroll finds were brought under the ownership of Israel, either through purchase or as spoils on the 6-Day War in 1967. 

        Over the last 60 years, scholars have been both amazed and perplexed as they scrutinized the massive amount of materials.  Eventually, 11 different caves in Qumran have yielded a crop of five complete scrolls and over 15,000 fragments which include a scroll of the entire Tenakh/Hebrew Old Testament except for the book of Esther.  The canonicity of that book, you may be aware, was debated by the rabbis of that era since it is the one book that doesn't specifically mention G-d.  Of course the book was later included in the entire Tenakh as it was agreed that G-d is working in the story of Esther. That means that the Dead Sea Scrolls include every other book of the Hebrew Scriptures including the great prophetic passages such as Isaiah 53 (the suffering servant/Messiah) and  Daniel 9 (the time of Messiah's arrival).  All this dated at 200 BCE well before the times of Yeshua.  Besides the complete biblical texts, the Dead Sea discoveries produced a wealth of extra biblical and civil documents.  Everything from commentaries, the community constitution (Manual of Discipline), personal letters and even shopping lists.  These are largely in clear Hebrew thus reminding us that the holy tongue was very much alive and well into the second century CE. 

        While there is some debate about the members of the Qumran community, most have concluded that the best candidates are the Essenes.  This group of ultra-orthodox Jews were so disenchanted with the establishment in Jerusalem that they headed for the wilderness to wait for Messiah's true kingdom.  Depending on one's theological and historical perspective, modern scholars have debated the meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Since they were penned or preserved during a most critical time of Jewish history (250 BCE - 135 CE), no doubt the materials inform our understanding of both Judaism and the earliest expression of New Testament faith.  Of course all this is great news for Messianic Judaism!  It has been our belief all along that there is a vital connection between our Jewish heritage and our conviction that Yeshua of Nazareth is the promised Mashiach for Israel.  This should be obvious to the serious student of the Bible but now it is even strongly confirmed from the external evidences found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Some of the interesting points that confirm this truth have been publicized by scholars.  One would be the famous Temple Scroll of the Qumran community.  This is a detailed description of how the true Temple (not Jerusalem!) will function in the messianic age.  Among the picture of sacrifices and festival observance, it is also noteworthy for it's 364-day solar calendar which was used by the sect.  This varies greatly from the 354-day lunar calendar that was normative in other branches of first century Judaism.  How can this help our understanding of Messianic Judaism?  One of the controversies over the centuries has been some of the apparent "contradictions" between the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and the record of Yochanan/John.  While the first three seem very parallel, Yochanan has many variations.  Most notably, the synoptics clearly depict the last meal of Yeshua as a Passover seder yet Yochanan 13:1 states, at the same meal, that it was "before the Feast of the Passover."  Is it a mistake or contradiction?  I doubt if Yochanan was that stupid or unaware of his own seder!  But now we have a most logical reconciliation of the divergent statements in the Gospels.  What if Yochanan was writing to a group of Jews who were following a different calendar than the Pharisees?  What if he was writing specifically to that group of first century Jews who followed the Essene calendar?  Although it was clearly a seder meal, to the Essenes it was "before the Feast."

         More intriguing evidence is found in the Gospel of Yochanan as he emphasizes the distinction between those of light and those in the darkness (cf. Yochanan/John 1:1-14).  Translators have noted that there is a strong doctrine in the Qumran "Manual of Discipline" teaching a distinction between the "sons of light" and the "sons of darkness."  I will point out another amazing point of parallel between Yochanan's writings and the writings of the Qumran community.  Professor Robert Eisenman, in his book The Dead Sea Scrolls Uncovered, caused quite a controversy with his translation of the fragment (4Q285) which says: "A staff shall rise from the root of Jesse…the Branch of David.  They will enter judgment with (him) and they will put to death the Leader of the Community, the Branch of David, and with woundings…."

        Eisenman called this the "pierced Messiah passage" which got the attention of a lot of Jews and Christians.  While the translations will continue to be debated by scholars, there is no doubt that the Dead Sea Scrolls provide us with a unique insight into the life of first century Judaism and its beliefs.  For those of us who embrace the pieced Messiah, we welcome the discussion.

Condolences

To Jule Wright and family on the passing of her father John.  (I Thes.4:16).

Praise Report!

 We are thankful for the wonderful Passover Seder we celebrated this year.  Over 440 people came together to remember the lessons of our redemption.  Many first time guests were touched with the message of Messiah.  Thank you to all the KA volunteers who made this a great event!

Group Ministries

Havurot:  Would you like to build some deeper friendships in Yeshua? We encourage participating in a Messianic home group in your area for study and fellowship.  Please contact the following people for details of time and place:   

        Del Cerro, Tony & Joan Savarese, (619)501-7778, 2nd & 4th Fri, 6:30 pm
        Carlsbad, Yrena Friedmann, (760)931-1298, 1st & 3rd Thurs. 7:00 pm
        Solana Beach, Michael and Jan Folb, (760)350-7676, 2nd & 4th Weds. 7:00 pm
        Escondido, Mark and Kathy Rantz, 760-294-4933, 1st & 3rd Fri, 6:30 pm
      Singles, Ken Nilsen, 858-586-1305 (call for times)
      San Ysidro (Espanol), Luciano & Lucia Rivera, 619-475-0430, Thurs, 6:00 pm 

KA Youth Group:  The KA Youth (All teens) meet weekly on Shabbat for study and fellowship.  They also meet on Tuesday nights, 6:30-8:30 pm, to hang out and have Bible study.  Talk to the Stintons about some great upcoming social outings.

Weekly Services

SHABBAT MORNING SERVICES: at 3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., in Clairemont,  Saturday, 10:30am.  Join us for this uplifting time of worship, fellowship and study. Our current sermon series is “Messianic Jewish Foundations in the Book of Romans.”

CHILDREN'S SHABBAT SCHOOL: Our children join us for the first part of the service, then break for different classes.  Classes for ages 2 through High School which include a Bible lesson plus background on Jewish studies and Hebrew.

DANCE MINISTRY: Dance workshop every other month at 1:30 pm meeting upstairs. Contact our office for the latest information.

BEGINNING HEBREW: Contact Joanne Kragenbrink for some tutoring options.

MIDWEEK MINYAN and MESSIANIC JEWISH INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO: Corporate prayer from 6:30-7:00 on Tuesday. From 7:00-8:30  Current class : “Torah--A Messianic Perspective.” The MJISD classes can lead to a certificate of Messianic Jewish Studies.  New class starting June 5, “Acts--The Early Yeshua Movement.”  Call for information.

ADULT SHABBAT CLASSES: Saturday 9:00-10:00am. This “Survey of the Torah” class will take you through the Parsha in one year.  Currently in Bemidbar/Numbers.   There is also a Spanish Torah Study at his same time.

Coordinators for Kehilat Ariel

Audio: Fred Stachnik

Dance: Ruth Pletcher

Facilities: Jim Scarborough

Hospitality: Colleen Liberman

International: Yrena Friedmann

Library: Pam Guest

Music: Eric and Joanne Kragenbrink

Newsletter: David Kasdan

Office: Donna Jacobson

Oneg: Mercedes Poucel

Outreach: Tony Savarese

Resource Center: Edik Godinez

Singles: Ken Nilsen

Translation: Paty Garibay

TV Program: Lety Levy

Ushers: Mark Rantz

Website: Rome Remigio

Youth/Education: Michael & Jeannie Stinton

Kehilat Ariel Board

Barney Kasdan

Anna Martin

Frank Rosas

Valerie Cooper

Tovik Liberman

Shamashim

Don Malette

Michael Stinton

Tony Savarese

Murray Jacobson

Eric Kragenbrink

Mark Rantz

Debbie Remigio

Donna Jacobson

Jeannie Stinton

Joan Savarese

Joanne Kragenbrink

Elders

Barney Kasdan

Rome Remigio

Frank Rosas

Coming Events

May 14 Monday, 7:00-8:30pm.  Men’s Mentoring Group.  All men are invited to this 12-week get together with other KA men for fellowship and spiritual growth. Great way to jump start your walk with Messiah!  At the KA office.

May 22 Tuesday, 7:00 pm. Shavuot Service. Join us as we celebrate the giving of the Torah and the gift of the Spirit.  We will bring our UMJC Shavuot love offering to bless Israel and the work of our denomination.  Our Youth Confirmation Class will be leading the Torah service.  Also, a Mount Sinai Ice Cream Social after service.

May 25-27 Friday-Sunday, UMJC Regional Retreat in Idyllwild.  This will be a great time for the whole family up in the beautiful mountains of S. Cal. There will be a great program of teachers, music and shabbat services attended by believers from all over the west.  Also just some great time with family and friends in God’s creation.  Call our office for more info and a registration brochure.

June 22 Friday, 7:30 pm.  Concert with Jonathan Settel.  Join us for this great event with this anointed recording artist as he shares some of his new material.  Free will offering.

June 24 Sunday, 11am - 5pm.  Messianic Community Picnic.   At De Anza Cove on Mission Bay.  Bring your picnic lunch, meat to grill and games as we enjoy a beautiful time with many believers from various messianic groups in San Diego. 

July 25-28  UMJC International Conference in Chicago. Join hundreds of Messianic Believers from all over the world for this exciting event. Dynamic worship services, concerts, and teaching from a wide variety of leaders in the Messianic Jewish movement.  More info and registration at www.umjc.org.

June 2008  KA/UMJC  Israel Trip. Join us for an amazing journey to the land of our forefathers with many others from our denomination as well as meeting Israelis in the Land. Trip lead by Rabbi Barney and an Israeli tour guide. For a full brochure contact our office.

Last Modified May 16, 2007