Moshe to Mashiach 1996 Conference
Jerusalem 3000 (and nearly 2,000)
A Consultation on the Meaning, Authority
and Practice of the Torah in Relation to the Messiah
BY CLIFFORD DENTON, D.PHIL.

It is nearly 2000 years since the Elders and Apostles met in Jerusalem to discuss the requirements for Gentiles who were being saved. The issue was not only one of circumcision, it was one of the whole Torah. It was not a question of whether the Torah was appropriate for Gentiles so much as how the teaching of Torah should proceed. In a lawless (Torah-less) world and in a church which has detached itself from its Jewish roots it is apparent that we have misunderstood the role of Torah in the lives of believers, whether Jews or Gentiles.

It is an interesting fact that it was not only believers in Yeshua who were asking about the requirements for converts, around the time of the Council of Jerusalem. The same question was also being asked among other Jewish sects. It is also interesting that other Jewish sects came to the same conclusion as the Council of Jerusalem, that it was appropriate for converts to begin with the Noachide laws. This surely was a master-stroke of the Holy Spirit at the Council of Jerusalem, and we can interpret the message sent out by the Apostles as follows: First, there was no conflict with requirements for conversion to Judaism in general, and secondly, that here was a starting point from which teaching, through the grace of God, could then proceed. Converts were expected to hear teaching from the Torah in the synagogues around the world (Acts 15:21) and grow into the realization of the beauty of God's Torah, while provoking Jews to jealousy (Romans 11:11). How we have failed to fulfill our calling! How mislead we were by other Church councils which turned us away from the Jewish roots and from Torah!

The time is right for Jewish and Gentile believers to reconsider the role of Torah. A number of ministers will co-operate to bring together a consultation in Jerusalem in 1996. The date of the consultation is set at November 29-December 5 and it is entitled Moshe to Mashiach 1996, the World Torah Conference of Messianic Believers. Some of these terms seem a little strange in comparison with conventional church vocabulary, but we are using the title in this way so that a fresh emphasis can be be made with Jewish and Gentile (Messianic) believers co-operating together. Tishrei (based in the UK) and the First Fruits of Zion (based in Israel and the USA) have agreed to share the organizational responsibility, and we are working in cooperation with a number of other societies, including The Restoration Foundation and Maranatha Revival Crusade, to bring this consultation about. In particular we are cooperating with leading Jewish believers in the Land of Israel who will introduce key themes on Torah to delegates in the context of dialogue and consultation. We believe that this consultation is as urgent for the present day as the Council of Jerusalem was for its day--one consultation in the early days after Yeshua, and one as the world heads towards a major climax.

This is not planned as a holiday conference, though there will be an optional study tour December 5-11, 1996. We are arranging accommodations through a tour operator as far as is needed, but delegates are expected to make their own way to the consultation, booking their own air travel. Thereafter, it will be a cooperative venture. Further details are available in a leaflet from FFOZ, PO Box 280827, Lakewood, CO 80228-0827, USA or from Tishrei, 9 Argyll Ave., Gorseinon, Swansea, Glain SA44UL, S. Wales, UK. The consultation is open to all who have a concern for the restoration of the Jewish Roots of the faith and who recognize the need to establish the role of Torah in the lives of believers.

Board of Reference: Ariel Berkowitz, Menahem Behayim, Dov Chaikin, Dr. Karl D. Coke, Dr. John D. Garr, Rivi Litvin, Arye Powlison, Dwight A. Pryor, Joseph Shulam, Dr. David Stern.