It was really a special time of worship before Adonai. Rabbi Jason Forbes led us in Havdallah for the closing of Shabbat. My family and I led the blessing for the first night of Chanukkah. The music, of course, was outstanding thanks to Joel Chernoff. Close to three hundred people came out; many of which danced in a great dance circle. About twenty of our children had their own dance circle thanks to some outstanding women of God who jumped in and helped the kids!
The words that describe the event for me are "wonderful, exciting, amazing, and awesome." Of course the entire point was to celebrate our Messiah Yeshua together in unity. For Beit Messiah it was a no-brainer. We belong to both the IAMCS and the UMJC. Beit Tikvah is our sister congregation through the IAMCS and Beit HaShofar is our sister congregation through the UMJC. This was not just about bringing together all/any "Messianic" groups in Seattle. This was about bringing three like-minded Messianic rabbis and their synagogues who are focused on the same purpose: sharing Yeshua with our Jewish people in Seattle in a Jewish way. Our three congregations are different. We do things differently. And this is to our benefit. We are not saying that any of us do Messianic Judaism "right"! We are saying we are three expressions of what Messianic Judaism is! And to come together to celebrate the end of Shabbat, the Festival of Chanukkah, and Messianic Judaism in Seattle was a joy!
Special thanks go out to Joel Chernoff, his music was the catalyst for this special night. I also want to thank Dan Behrens who did a fantastic job with everything audio/visual. Phil Baxter leading our offering team, Fred Savo leading greeters, Mechele Baird helping me take care of Joel, the people that helped at the merchandise table. Thanks to Dave Petrie getting our Beit Messiah banner waaaaaaay up on the wall, Jennifer Benvenuti for leading all the dancers, Janelle Behrens and her team for setting up coffee and cookies. Thanks to Maryanne Savo and P.K. White for being so detail oriented and making sure the event went smoothly, everyone who helped with set up and break down, North Seattle Alliance Church for their partnership and friendship. Thanks to Rabbi Hylan Slobodkin and Rabbi Jason Forbes for their friendship and co-leading in this event. Thank you to the people from Beit Messiah, Beit HaShofar, and Beit Tikvah and so many other friends who came out and supported this outstanding effort of unity.
The end of the event was one of my favorite parts when Rabbi Hylan, Rabbi Jason and I stood on the stage together as representatives of our synagogues. To close the event Rabbi Hylan led us in the Aaronic benediction. Psalm 133:1 says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" And we did! And it was awesome!
If you have pictures from this event please send them to Rabbi@BeitMessiah.com so we can share them!
If you have pictures from this event please send them to Rabbi@BeitMessiah.com so we can share them!
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