Firstborn: “. . . referring to a male
offspring who is the first issue of his mother's womb. According to the
Torah, the firstborn, known in Hebrew as bekhor, has special sanctity.
Therefore, he is subject to specific Torah laws . . . these laws . . .
teach us that everything in the world belongs to God and man owns only
what God has given to him. When a man . . . finally sees the first
fruits of his labor . . . he must redeem them from their rightful
owner.”
Redemption of Firstborn Ceremony: “In the case of a human
bekhor, this ceremony . . . consists of redeeming the child from a kohen
(priest) by giving the kohen five silver coins. During the ceremony, the
father presents his son, often on a specially embellished tray, to the
kohen, who asks him in an ancient Aramaic formula, whether he wishes to
redeem the child or to leave him to the kohen. (Encyclopedia Judaica
Jr.)
Eli’s Sons Take Advantage of Worshipers: This kind of
profiteering is still repugnant in Jewish Law. Providing religious
service for money is improper. Yet one can see religious men at the
Western (Wailing) Wall waiting to assist Bar Mitzvah services on Mondays
and Thursdays, (not Saturdays, Sabbaths, because no money is handled on
this day). The families allowing them to assist are supposed to pay
money in return. If the sum is not sufficient, often, more is demanded.
It’s like blessings being given with one hand while the other is cupped
for a “donation.”
Jesus Cleansed the Temple: He was filled with reverent
indignation because men were desecrating his Father's house, selling
doves and lambs to be offered as sacrifice, not so much for the service
but for the money they would make. He overturned the moneychanger tables
and said to the sellers of doves, “Take these things hence; make not my
Father's house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:16.)
Service to God Instead of Self-service Evident in Jewish Culture:
Entertainment: “After the shivah, (mourning period at death) a
modified period of mourning continues till the thirtieth (Hebrew:
sheloshim) day after death. During this period the mourner should not
attend places of entertainment or participate in social gatherings. A
mourner may not marry during the sheloshim.” Sabbath: “. . . observance
of the Sabbath became the identifying mark of the Jew. It set him apart
from all other religions. (In) Maccabees (2:31--41), at the
beginning of the Hasmonean revolt against Syria, the Jews would not
fight on the Sabbath . . . Later they realized that was a mistake and
that if danger to life is involved, the Sabbath is suspended.” “The
rabbis of the Talmud thought that the Sabbath is the most important of
all the laws of the Torah and that by itself it is equal to all the
rest. One statement is that "if Israel keeps one Sabbath as it should be
kept, the Messiah will come." They saw Shabbat as a special privilege;
a gift that God gave His people Israel and as a foretaste of the
world-to-come.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Concern for Well Being of Animals: “Man must rest on the
Sabbath and may not work his animals either. "Thou shalt not do any
manner of work, neither thy son . . . nor thy servant . . . nor thy
cattle" (Exodus 20:10).
Sabbath Joy: “. . . indeed it is a positive commandment, often
difficult to observe, to be happy on them. The joy required is not
frivolity but, contradictory though it may sound, a serious happiness.
The highest level of joy according to the rabbis is the simhah shel
mitzvah, the joy felt at performing a commandment or doing a good deed.”
“For the Sabbath, there are special candlesticks and oil lamps, Kiddush
cups, hallah covers and tablecloths; and for Havdalah, special
candleholders and spice containers in many shapes and sizes, some of
them masterpieces of artistic workmanship.” “Women usher in the Sabbath
each week by lighting candles and blessing God "who sanctified us by His
commandments and commanded us to kindle the Sabbath light." On Saturday
night, traditional Jewish families light a havdalah candle made of
several wicks braided together, raise a cup of wine and sniff fragrant
spices, thus bidding farewell to the Sabbath peace and beginning a new
week.”
Sabbath Bread: “From Talmudic times, it was the special duty
of the housewife to bake the bread for the Sabbath . . . prepared from
white flour, is also called "hallah." Two such loaves are placed on the
festive Sabbath table as a symbol for the double portion of manna which
the Israelites in the wilderness received every Friday, and because of
the Showbread in the Temple, which was displayed each Sabbath.”
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) On the Sabbath the Hallah is baked
sweeter than regular bread because the Sabbath is a “sweeter” day.
Sabbath Customs: “Funerals may not take place on the
Sabbath . . .” “In some communities it is customary for the father to
bless his children on the Sabbath eve when he returns from the
synagogue.” “In every town where there are Jews they must appoint
'charity wardens,' men who are well-known and honest that they should
collect money from the people every Sabbath eve and distribute it to the
poor . . .” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) It is interesting to see the
similarity of young Aaronic Priesthood bearers gathering “Fast
Offerings” at the beginning of the month. Fasting is an integral part of
Jewish life, yet never on a Sabbath unless it is Yom Kippur. There is a
monthly Yom Kippur Katan (lesser), a day before the beginning of every
month. It is a fast day, again, never on a Sabbath.
Fasting: “Both the prophets and the rabbis stressed that mere
fasting without repentance for our bad deeds is valueless.” “Fasting is
an act of repentance or of supplication seeking divine forgiveness or
the prevention of disaster. Public fasts also commemorate catastrophic
events in Jewish history . . . On fast days one neither eats nor drinks.
On major fasts, other prohibitions are washing, wearing leather
shoes, using ointments or perfumes, and other physical pleasures. There
are special prayers and the Torah is read in the synagogue. Yom Kippur
and Tishah be-Av are observed from sunset to sunset. All other fasts are
from sunrise to sunset.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Morality: “Amos cried out against the careful observance of
the Temple ritual when it ignored morality as an integral part of
religion. Ritual alone does not please God, who demands that it go hand
in hand with mercy and compassion.” “Judaism encourages modesty as one
of the means to chastity. Thus the Jewish woman is enjoined to dress and
act modestly at all times. Furthermore, a man is forbidden to be alone
with a woman with whom he is not permitted to have sexual relations from
considerations of both chastity and modesty.” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
Israelite Kings as Role Models: It should be considered that
even though the children of Israel wanted a king for their own personal
reasons, God allowed them to have kings as role models of an even
greater “anticipated” King of Kings. The clothing (deep red) and the
entry into Jerusalem on donkeys that have never been ridden before are
examples of signs of the King of Kings.