בס״ד
מכתב לקפה בשמתא
“The children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant.
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the L-rd made heaven and earth, and on the Seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.”
-Exodus 31:16-17
An urgent appeal to “Jews For Jesus” and Cafe Basimta from a concerned orthodox rabbi living in Israel,
Conducting business in the Holy City on the eternal Shabbat Day of the L-rd is an utter desecration of Yeshua’s name and the name of all Jews who supposedly “follow” him. No matter what an individual’s opinions are on how to “honor” and “keep” the 4th of the Ten Commandments, nobody honestly disputes that conducting business on the Seventh day constitutes a desacralization of the “Holy Shabbat.” The Master Yeshua whipped and flipped tables when merchants conducted business in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. What would he say about conducting business in his name within the ‘temple of time,’ in the same Holy City?
Even if one were to imply that G-d was a liar (G-d forbid) and that what He abundantly declared eternally sanctified is actually no longer relevant, one who professes Paul’s authority should obey what even he wrote:
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of G-d. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the assembly of G-d, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”
-1 Corinthians 10:31-33
“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.”
-2 Corinthians 6:3
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward G-d, but under law toward Messiah), that I might win those who are without law;to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
-1 Corinthians 9:19-22″
“Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee”
-Paul, Acts 23:6
And it should go without saying, what the Master himself commanded us:
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
-Matthew 5:18-20
“Then Yeshua spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do… For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
-Matthew 23:1-2, 23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice Lawlessness!’“
-Matthew 7:21-23
““Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
-Matthew 7:15-20
What fruits is the opening of this cafe on Shabbat bearing? Good fruits? Fruits of peace? Fruits of holiness, concerning the Sabbath which G-d Himself calls, “holy?” Or, bad fruits of disorder, strife, conflict, and sacrilege?
“For G-d is not the author of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the holy ones.”
-1 Corinthians 14:33
“For where envy and selfish ambition exist, disorder and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from Above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
-James 3:16-17
“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
-Romans 12:18
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the L-rd”
-Hebrews 12:14
We should heed carefully what the Master’s brother and the elders instructed Paul to do, including animal sacrifices at the Holy Temple:
“And when they heard it, they glorified the L-rd. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the Law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.””
-Acts 21:20-25
I pray that you will take this message to heart, as your entire ministry is needlessly tarnished and defamed by this shameful controversy.
If “Jews For Jesus” would repent fully, the testimony to both secular and religious would be massive, a proper and necessary example of humble repentance and reconciliation would be set, and Yeshua’s name would be magnified in the eyes of all. This would truly bring nearer the final and eternal Redemption of the world from Zion – that for which Yeshua sacrificed his very life.
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May they prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.
For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say: ‘Peace be within thee.’
For the sake of the House of the L-RD our G-d I will seek thy good.”
-Psalms 122:6-9
Eye To Zion 