Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, July 27, 2019
Shalom,
So much to write and so little time. First, I want to write a series of RRs on Holy Communion. Then, I promised (some time ago) to do a series on the Siddur (Jewish prayer book). As we say in Hebrew, “L’at, L’at,” meaning literally “slowly, slowly” but figuratively “little by little” or “little at a time.”
Holy Communion – part 1: At Shomair Yisrael, one of the founding principles of our congregation is to have a place to celebrate the Lord’s death (and His victory over death) every week. This is an issue for some people who believe the Table of the Lord should only be celebrated once a year, on the first night of Passover. That would never do for me.
Rabbi Trail: I’m not an expert in Communion, but I have partaken at the Lord’s Table just about 3,000 times, and it has never been the same twice. All I’m saying is that, as I approach my 70th year, I’ve learned a thing or two about sharing communion, and I want to share it with you readers. End RT.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians… 1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Read the context of 1 Corinthians 11. Paul starts by explaining that the chapter is about traditions. One of the great traditions in Judaism is blessing the bread and the wine. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 11:17 by bringing a chastisement of the community in Corinth for not being orderly in partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Corinthians 11:20 Therefore, when you meet together in the same place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper— … 22b Don’t you have houses to eat and drink in?
Paul is saying that this is more than ordinary bread and wine. He is saying in effect, “If all you want is ordinary bread and wine, go and eat at home.” And if this is more than ordinary bread and wine, then do it with some ceremony. 1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you—that the Lord Yeshua, on the night He was betrayed, took matzah; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in memory of Me.” 25 In the same way, He also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in memory of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. More on this tomorrow.
Yes, the reference is to the Last Supper (a Passover Seder). Yeshua took the afikomen at the end of the meal, broke it, and blessed it. Then He took the 3rd cup (which follows the eating of the afikomen in the order of the Seder (which is Hebrew for “order”), and blessed it as well.
This is is clearly something different from the start of Shabbat. At the start of Shabbat, we have a Kiddush (sanctification of the wine) and then the HaMotzi (blessing of the bread or challah). At Communion, the order is reversed. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.
Before I close for today, I want to make one last comment. There is much we do (and believe) in Messianic Judaism that is not normative to traditional Judaism. Yeshua makes the ultimate difference in every way. We cannot just be satisfied with Judaism as usual once we know the Jewish Messiah. Yeshua changes everything. His body and His blood made the way for our salvation. We have to celebrate that.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue 27 July 2021 18th of Av, 5781
De 9:4-29Ez 391 Ch 18(Jn 6:37-71)1 Ti 2
Week 31
Memory Verse: John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. We looked upon His glory, the glory of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.
151 7/26 Monday: Luke 1
152 7/27 Tuesday: Luke 2
153 7/28 Wednesday: Matthew 1-2
154 7/29 Thursday: Mark 1
155 7/30 Friday: John 1