“Faith of the Chosen”
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“FAITH OF THE CHOSEN”
“For thou art a holy people unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ -
The LORD thy Eloheucha (God): יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ -
The LORD thy Eloheucha hath chosen thee to be His own
treasure, out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth”.
Deuteronomy Chapter 7: verse 6.
PRINCIPLES
OF THE JEWISH
FAITH
Introduction:
Considering I wrote the first edition of this
work and released it on October 23, 1977 - 11 Heshvan 5738 (Jewish calendar), I
recall writing the following;
“To make a serious attempt to write in
detail regarding the Jewish faith would take many years of research by great
scholars.”
Since then I have become a Rabbi and received
my ‘Smicha’ (ordination), many, many
years ago as I am currently 80 years of age.
Thus, this work
online is a copy of a booklet which was printed and is aimed mostly at the
general community, but is suitable for one and for all!
It was always on my mind so long ago, that the
intention of this work is to provide a general outline of the “Principles
of the Jewish faith!”
Covered are the following subjects: THE LORD GOD, THE CHOSEN PEOPLE, THE MESSIAH, THE LAW, THE SABBATH, SIGNS, THE HEBREW CALENDAR and THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF FAITH.
Many
may ask why I chose the title of this work; well it is actually based on what
was written in Deuteronomy chapter 7: verse 6.
“The LORD thy God hath chosen
thee (the Hebrews – Jews) to be His own treasure”.
The main objective of this work is to be informative for those who are willing to gain an insight into the faith of Israel.
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
October
23, 2025 - 1 Heshvan 5750.
“Thou art My servant, Israel, in whom I
will be glorified” ... “I will also give thee for a light of the
nations” ... “that My salvation may be unto the end of the
earth” ... “For the LORD hath comforted His people, and hath
compassion upon His afflicted” ... “and all flesh shall know that I
the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob”. Isaiah 49: 3 & 6, 13 & 21.
The first and the most important truth of the Jewish faith is, that we believe that our Maker is One, and that He was before all time began. He is יְהוָה - YHVH - the LORD as there is no other than He!
This truth is expressed by the confession of faith which we Jews recite twice per day, and then for a third time in the evening each day.
Deuteronomy 6:4. In Hebrew, transliteration and English:
שְׁמַע
יִשְׂרָאֵל: יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָה
אֶחָד
בָּרוּךְ
שֵׁם כְּבוֹד
מַלְכוּתוֹ
לְעוֹלָם
וָעֶד
“Shema Yisrael Adonai Elohenu,
Adonai ECHAD”.
“Ba’ruch
Shem Ka’vot Mal’chu’to Le’Olam Va’ed”.
“Hear O Israel, the LORD our
God, the LORD is ONE”.
“Blessed
be the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever”.
It is for this belief, that Elohim (God is One), that we Jews have willingly sacrificed their life, for their faith. Indeed we have suffered and we are still suffering because of those who have opposed us for far too long! However, this belief distinguishes the Jewish faith from all other faiths, yet, thankfully we see it gradually spreading, and hope to see it accepted by all mankind. The words “there is no unity like unto His” have this meaning, we say of many things that is one. We speak of one man, one house, etc, well knowing that there are other men and other houses, however when we speak of One Elohim (God), we rigidly exclude the existence of another deity or a so-called god. The words, “And He alone was, is, and will be the LORD God, expresses Jewish belief that there has never been, and there will never be no other being with Divine attributes as mentioned before, such as has sadly been assumed by the Christian world.
THE
The Scriptures’ proves that the Israelites were ‘chosen’ by God (blessed be He), to be “... a kingdom of priests and a “Holy” nation”.
“Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine
own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be
unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy? nation.”
Exodus 19: 5-6.
“For thou art a holy people unto the
LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be His own treasure,
out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth”. Deuteronomy 7:6.
As a kingdom of priests Jews have to spread
the knowledge and the worship of one God. The
“For out of
Sadly the sins of
“Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will
take the children of
“And yet for all that, when they are in
the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them,
to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD
their God. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors,
whom I brought forth out of the
THE MESSIAH.
Judaism believed that the Messiah (the Anointed) will come; Hebrews wait every days for his coming. He will be a descendent from the house of David, fully human and possessing no more divine lineage than any other man, will be the Messiah, the Anointed at the head of Israel, and will be the source of peace and happiness to all mankind.
“And My servant David shall be king over
them, and they all shall have one shepherd”. Ezekiel 37:24.
“And David My servant shall be their
prince forever”. Ezekiel 37:25.
The Christian world holds that the Messiah has already come and is to return; also Christians believe that he was god on the earth in the form of a man. Judaism believes, as already stated that the Messiah will be a man “from the House of David” and not of divine descent.
“And there shall come forth a shoot out
of the stock of Jesse, and a twig shall grow forth out of his roots. And the
spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD”. Isaiah 11:1-2.
“And a redeemer will come to Zion, and
unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD”. Isaiah
59:20.
The characteristics were given by the prophets as follows:
“And it shall come to pass in the end of
days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established as the top of
the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow
unto it. And many peoples shall go and say: 'Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain
of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His
ways, and we will walk in His paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge between the
nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords
into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”. Isaiah
2:2-4.
“And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and
the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion
shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of
the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the basilisk's den. They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover
the sea” Isaiah 11:6-9.
“And the LORD shall be King over all the
earth; in that day shall the LORD be One, and His name one”. Zechariah 14:9.
“For then will I turn to the peoples a
pure language that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him
with one consent”. Zephaniah 3:9.
The Messianic age as prophesied has to date has not occurred, however it is still to come according the Hebraic Scriptures. At various times, throughout history, men have come forward as a Messiah or a prophet. But none ever satisfied the conditions as has been laid down by the LORD! The Jewish faith therefore continues to believe, hope and pray to the Almighty, blessed be He, for the coming of the Messiah and with him the blessing of the Messianic age of peace, and love!
THE LAW - THE FIVE BOOKS OF THE TORAH.
Judaism firmly believes that the Law, the
Torah at present in possession, is the same as that which was given to Moses.
The Torah has not undergone any change. It has been anxiously guarded by the
nation (the Jewish People) as a holy treasure. It is not the property of a
class or a caste, but the Torah belongs to all people. The ninth principle of
the Jewish faith says; “I believe with perfect faith that the Torah will
not be changed, and that there will never be another Law from the Creator,
blessed be His Name. This principle is the expression of Jewish belief in the
Immutable Law. All our prophets exhorted the Israelites to be faithful to the
Law, and the last of our prophets says in the Name of God; “Remember ye
the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb
for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances”. Malachi 3:22. Jews today,
read the Torah as it was written in Hebrew, with the Torah (the Law) which
Moses set before the Children of Israel according to the commandment of the
LORD by the hand of Moses.
Jews today, read the Torah as it was written in Hebrew, with the Law being the same as when it was given unto Moses.
“And this is the law which Moses set
before the children of Israel”. Deuteronomy 4:44.
“The LORD was pleased, for His
righteousness' sake, to make the teaching great and glorious”. Isaiah
42:21.
This very Law makes the Jewish people different from all other faiths.
The Law relates to prayer, the Sabbath, Festivals, diet, cleanliness, personal behaviour, and family life and to love and give charity to others!
THE SABBATH.
“And God blessed the seventh day, and
sanctified it”. Genises 2:3.
“And the LORD spoke unto Moses and said,
speak thou also unto the children of
“Wherefore the children of Israel shall
keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a
perpetual covenant”. Exodus 31:16.
The main object of the Sabbath is “keep
it holy”. While abstaining from all kind of work, as is clearly stated
Exodus chapters’ 31 and 35, Jews to devote the Sabbath solely to those
things which draws them nearer to God in prayer! The blessing and the holiness
of the Sabbath was sown to the Israelites on the occasion of the manna, when
this “food from Heaven” was provided, whilst journeying from Egypt
to the “land of milk and honey.” Each day a certain omer, was
collected for each person. But on what we now call Fridays, the Sixth Day,
there was sufficient manna for a double portion. While on the Sabbath no manna
was found!
SIGNS.
“Set up thyself signs” in order not to forget those things ought to be remembered. Although the best reminder of God’s presence is the voice that speaks from within, out of the conscience. Nevertheless Jews, are liable, as human beings, to forget important duties in the absence of an outward reminder. Thus the Law, the Torah, has appointed three such reminders. 1. The MEZUZAH (doorpost ornament), 2. TZITZIT (fringes) and 3. TEFILLIN (ornament).
The MEZUZAH is a piece of parchment that contains the two
first paragraphs of the “Shema” – “Hear O Israel”
(Duet: 6;4-9 and Deut:11;13-20)
are written. The parchments is placed in a small container, and affixed on the
right hand doorposts.
“And you shall write them upon the posts
of thy house, and on thy gates”. Duet: 6;9.
The Object of the ‘Mezuzah’ is to remind every Jew of the presence of God, of His Unity, Providence and Omnipotence, both on entering and leaving the home to protect it from being polluted by bad deeds.
Regarding the ‘Tzitzit’, which are special fringes, the LORD said:
“Thou shalt make unto thee fringes upon
the four corners of thy garment wherewith thou coverer thyself” (Duet: 22;12.
Jews fulfil this commandment in two ways, 1. By wearing the whole day a small garment with four corners, each of which has fringes attached. 2. During the morning prayers, and on the Day of Atonement all day, Jews wear a Talith (prayer shawl) over their garments, having fringes on each of its corners as well. This command is explained as follows;
“Ye shall look at it and remember all of
the commandments of the LORD”. Numb: 15;39.
Then there is the ‘Tefillin’.
“Thou shall bind them as a sign upon thy
hand and they shall be frontlets between your eyes”. Deut: 6;8.
The object of this commandment is to direct thoughts to God and His goodness, and to impress certain lessons on the mind. The laying of Tefillin is obligatory for all males from their thirteenth birthday, as is wearing of the fringes, all being signs of God’s covenant.
Other signs are: The covenant of Abraham:
“And God said unto Abraham: ‘And
as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant, thou, and
thy seed after thee throughout their generations. This is My
covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee:
every male among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall be circumcised in the
flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be
circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born
in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy
seed’”. Gen:17;9-12.
The Sabbath is likewise a sign:
“‘Wherefore the children of Israel
shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations,
for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and
the children of
THE HEBREW CALENDAR.
The Scriptures
says that the children of Israel left Egypt at midnight by the light of the
full moon of the spring equinox, on the fourteenth night of the Hebrew month of
Nissan, almost thirty two and a half years ago. This is the night observing the
festival of Pesach, the Passover. An
immediate timing difficulty arises. The Jewish year, has twelve months of
twenty nine or thirty days. The year of the sun, which governs the seasons, is
about eleven days longer. A Moon calendar drifts backwards at a rate of a month
every three years. The Mosaic Law specifies that the Passover is a spring (in
Israel) festival. The freedom feast must therefore come in blossom time. The
ancient solution of the problem was a leap month every few years, proclaimed by
the Sanhedrin. When the dispersion destroyed Israel, the rabbis worked out a
perpetual calendar on a nineteen year cycle, with seven leap months so arranged
as to keep the Passover for ever at the equinox. This calendar has the respect
of modern astronomers. During all these thousand of years the Passover has
never drifted out of spring time, and it will not. It is interesting to note
that the seventh day, the Sabbath, commences on the eve of Friday night, this
has been so since the creation!
THE THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF THE
JEWISH FAITH.
1... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the author and guide of everything that has been created, and that He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.
2... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is a unity. And there is no unity in any manner like unto His, and that He alone is our God who was, is and will be.
3... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is not a body, and that He is free from all properties of matter, and that He has not any form whatsoever.
4... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the first and the last.
5... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, and to Him alone, is the right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being, besides Him.
6... I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7... I believe with perfect faith that the prophesy of Moses our teacher, peace be unto him, was true, and that he was our chief of prophets, both of those that proceeded and those that followed.
8... I believe with perfect faith that the whole Torah, now in our possession, is the same that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be unto him.
9... I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed and there will not be any other law from the Creator, blessed be His name.
10... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows every deed of the children of man, and all their thoughts, as it is said. It is He that fashioned the hearts of them all that giveth heed to all their works.
11... I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, rewards those that keep His commandments, and punishes those that transgress them.
12... I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah, and, though He tarry, I wait daily for His coming.
13... I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the end of time, when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His name, and exalted be His name forever and ever, for thy salvation I hope, Oh LORD.
The thirteen principles are divided into three groups; 1. The first five speak of God. 2. The next four speak of Divine Revelation and 3. The last four speak of Divine Providence and Justice.
1... Principles, 1 to 5; “God and His Attributes”. The belief in God is the foundation of all Religion. Belief in God is the conviction that there exists a being who is the Creator and Ruler of the whole Universe, to whom we are responsible for all our deeds, words and thoughts. This being we call God (Elohim in Hebrew). We do not see Him, we cannot form any definite notion or image of Him, for He is beyond all human imagination and conception. We know of Him from His works and His Words.
2... Principles, 6 to 9; “Revelation and Prophecy”. A Prophet is a person who has received a Divine communication and the charge to communicate it to his fellow-men. He has no other knowledge of the future, but that which has been revealed to him by God. In other things his knowledge is human and natural such is accessible to all. The process, by which the Prophets learn the will of God, is called inspiration. The Prophet is an inspired man that is a man endowed with the Spirit of the LORD. The Prophets were also holy men; their minds were filled with pure thoughts, their deeds were noble and their conduct blameless. They were men of God, or servants of the LORD, because their life was wholly devoted to the service of the LORD. They were trustworthy men and all their words were true.
3... Principles, 10 to
13; “
IN CONCLUSION.
The author trusts that this booklet has given you, the reader, a further and hopefully a better insight to the faith of God’s ‘chosen people’, being the ‘Children of Israel’, the ‘Jewish People’.
Although this booklet has covers some of the main principles of Judaism. Should the reader wish to further enlarge their knowledge of the Jewish Faith, there are many good books available on this subject from Jewish book-stores throughout the world.
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Shalom Aleichem”
– “Upon you be peace”.
“GIVE
UNTO THE LORD THE GLORY DUE
HIS
NAME ... WORSHIP THE LORD IN
THE
BEAUTY OF HOLINESS”.
Tehillim - Psalm 20:21.
And remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim,
blessed be He, said the following to a number of the prophets...
“Return unto Me,
and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Elohim (God); walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and
hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may
know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH
Elohim”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies”
motto is as follows;
“The
More Torah, the More Life”,
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom (Peace) of צְבָאוֹת-
יְהוָה(the LORD of hosts) be with you, and please always uphold our
blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the ‘מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and
continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Te’fee’lah’s (Prayers) and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah (blessings)
before food and drinks, etc!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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