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Naomi and Boaz This section of of the Ruth Project we see
comprising of the Jewish people. The Jews with these groups
can be seen
in two different lights- -Boaz- those who
accept Jesus as the Messiah and within the Church
-Naomi- those who do not see Jesus as the Messiah; yet, these still Christians as "righteous Gentiles" and seek dialogue and other potential relations with them. "Which is an argument for the
sake of Heaven? This is the
argument of Hillel and Shammai. And not for the sake of Heaven? This is
the argument of Korach and his entire congregation."
Hillel and
Shammai were two rabbis that came before Jesus' time to
"prepare the way" for the Jewish people for John
the Baptist and Jesus. In this writing we also referenced a parable
that is explained in "What Is the Essence of
Judaism" by Rabbi Robert Kahn. Some Jewish teenagers asked
him this question and this was his explanation: I wasn't the first in history to
pose such a question. In a way it is
the same question that the non-Jew asked of Shammai and Hillel
(Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31a), "Convert me to Judaism on condition
that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot." This
individual was either being disrespectful- which is why Shammai chased
him away with his rod-or he truly wanted to know the essence of
Judaism. Regardless of his true intentions, Hillel treated him
respectfully, converted him, and said, "What is hateful to you, do not
do to your neighbor: This is the whole Torah. The rest is commentary;
now go and study."
In the eyes of Judah, many in the Ruth Project, as well
as those in
the Jewish-Catholic dialogue (and Hebrew Catholic Movement) may be
"standing on one leg" as far as some of things we
believe in, and yet which of the Jewish sages are they likely to meet
when they ask this question above? After all, doesn't the
Tanya state: "In that day, say HaShem of
hosts, everyone of you will
invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree."
We believe the fig tree is Israel and the vine is our
Church
(Jn.15.1-11) because our Moshiach called Himself the Vine. One day this
Scripture states we will invite each other "under"
each of these respective faiths and in this we see the essence of the
Ruth Project, and the ecumenical calling coming from Vatican II. In
Judah, an equal call came forth to form this unity, not one of marriage
but one of family as we said above. We will stand with you no matter
what comes, and
all we request is that which Ruth asked of Naomi. Like her, we are
determined to go with you even into the next holocaust as identifiably
Jews, whether you accept us or not, because we believe in our hearts
this is our way to really say in our hearts "Never
Again"! Next- to Boaz Home |