Checklist• Congregational• Projector• Blue cord to projector• Power cord extension to

projector• Computer• Power cord to computer• Mouse for computer• Net antennae • Usb cord for antennae• Usb extension for antennae

• Supplies• Plastic spoons,

knives and forks• Coffee maker• Coffee• Coffee cups• Water/juice cups• Juice• Food/desert• Tablecloth• Napkins

• Torah scroll• Tallit• Extra Tallit for reader• Kippa• Tsit tsits• Webcam• Shofar• Keys for building• Envelopes• Biz cards• Welcome cards• Sign• Sandwich boards

Temple Sheckles Available In The Hallway!

Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much in every way!

3333

PENINGPENING

low the Shofarlow the Shofar

4444

PENINGPENING

Why do we blow the Shofar?Why do we blow the Shofar?

Exodus 19:16Exodus 19:16““On the morning of the third day there On the morning of the third day there

was thunder and lightning, with a thick was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and there cloud over the mountain, and there was the sounding of a very loud was the sounding of a very loud SHOFAR blast. Everyone in the camp SHOFAR blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.”trembled.”

Because this is the way G-D begins sacred Because this is the way G-D begins sacred assembliesassemblies

• Due to poor weather, Mrs. Rosenberg, a fine Jewish matron-from the Upper East Side, found herself stranded-late one night at a fashionable southern resort...one that did not, ordinarily, admit Jews. When she inquired, at the Front Desk about a room, the desk clerk, looked at his book and said, "Sorry, no rooms. This hotel is full." Suspicious, about his mind set, Mrs.Rosenberg said,"I beg your pardon...your sign says, you have vacancies."

Today’s Joke

• The desk clerk stammered & said, curtly, "Mostly, I shouldn't say this, but you know, we do not admit Jews. Now, if you will try...on the other side of town..." Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened, noticeably, & said, "I'll have you know...recently, I converted to your religion." Sensing something, the desk clerk said, "Oh, yeah!? Well, let me give you a little test! How was Jesus born?"

Today’s Joke

• "That's easy" Mrs. Rosenberg replied,"He was born to a virgin named Mary...in a little town, called: Bethlehem." "Not 'Bad'!" replied, the clerk..."Tell me, more." Checking her memory, Mrs. Rosenberg said, "He was born in a manger!" "That's right," said the hotel clerk. "And...why was he born, in a manger?" Holding her head, defiantly, high, Mrs. Rosenberg, reared-back, and said -- loudly for all to hear,

Today’s Joke

• "Because, a Putz, like you...in the hotel...wouldn't give, a Jewish lady, a room for the night!"

Today’s Joke

Announcements

• Hebrew classes…if you missed last week, start today.

1010101010

HEMA ISRAELHEMA ISRAELHear oh IsraelHear oh Israel

Shema Israel Adoni ElohaynuShema Israel Adoni Elohaynu((Hear oh Israel the L-RD Hear oh Israel the L-RD our G-D)our G-D)

Adoni EchadAdoni Echad((The L-RD is oneThe L-RD is one))

1111111111

HEMA ISRAELHEMA ISRAELHear oh Israel Part 2Hear oh Israel Part 2

Barukh shem k'vod malkhuto Barukh shem k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'edl'olam va'ed..Blessed be the Name of His Blessed be the Name of His glorious kingdom for ever and glorious kingdom for ever and ever.ever.

1212121212

hy do we recite/sing the SHEMA?hy do we recite/sing the SHEMA?

Because Messiah said it was the greatest CommandmentBecause Messiah said it was the greatest Commandment

Mark 12:28-29Mark 12:28-29

2828 And one of the scribes came, and having heard And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had them reasoning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the Which is the greatest commandment of allgreatest commandment of all?”?”

2929 And Yeshua answered him, “The And Yeshua answered him, “The first of allfirst of all the commandments is, the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is One Lord:”our God is One Lord:”

131313

SPECIALS

141414

e-nay Ma Tove-nay Ma Tov

Behold how good - Psalm 133:1Behold how good - Psalm 133:1AmAm

He-Nay Maw toveHe-Nay Maw toveBehold how good Behold how good

Oo-maw nye—eemOo-maw nye—eemAnd how pleasant it is And how pleasant it is

Shevet aw-heemShevet aw-heemFor brothers to dwellFor brothers to dwell

Gum Yaw HawdGum Yaw HawdIn unityIn unity

151515

-Seh Shalom-Seh ShalomCL3 Play EmCL3 Play Em

EmEm

O-seh Shalom O-seh Shalom Beem rue-mawvBeem rue-mawvAm D7 G Em Am D7 G Em

Who yah-seh Who yah-seh Shalom aw-lay-nu Shalom aw-lay-nu Am D7 G Am D7 G

V'al kol V'al kol Yees-raw-aleYees-raw-aleEm Am Em Bf7 EmEm Am Em Bf7 Em

B'-eem rue B'-eem rue Eem rue Ah- mainEem rue Ah- main ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Em Am D7 GEm Am D7 G

Ya-a-seh sha-lom Ya-a-seh sha-lom Ya-a-seh sha-lom Ya-a-seh sha-lom G Bf7 EmG Bf7 Em

Shalom aw-lay-new V’al kol Yees-raw-aleShalom aw-lay-new V’al kol Yees-raw-aleSing twice 2XSing twice 2X

May He who makes peace in His heights make peace May He who makes peace in His heights make peace upon us and upon all Israel…Amen."upon us and upon all Israel…Amen."

161616

menmenCL 3CL 3 AA

A-men ….A-men….A-men, A-men, A-menA-men ….A-men….A-men, A-men, A-men

Baw-rouk Ha-Shem, Baw-rouk Ha-Shem,Baw-rouk Ha-Shem, Baw-rouk Ha-Shem,Blessed be the NameBlessed be the Name, , blessed be the Nameblessed be the Name

Baw-rouk Ha-Shem Me-she-achBaw-rouk Ha-Shem Me-she-achBlessed be the Name of MessiahBlessed be the Name of Messiah

Chavareem Toveem!

• Chavareem Toveem!• Meet any new people. Let them see that Messianics truly

understand community and brotherly/sisterly love.• If someone is already talking to a visitor stand in line to meet

them don’t just walk away. We want to descend on them like they are a lost relative.

• Say hello to old friends. Find out how their week has been going. Show that you care.

• Say hello to anyone you have something against… and give them a hug . There is room in the Body for forgiveness.

• Exercise modesty with your hugs.

Chavareem Toveem

Chavareem Toveem• Chavereem toveem (Good friends) Chavereem Toveem (Good friends)• this is the time to stand up and sing• Chavereem Toveem (Good friends) Chavereem Toveem (Good friends)• on this Sabbath day it's an offering we bring• Baruch HaShem chavere shellee (Blessed be The Name my friend)• we're brothers and sisters… one family• Chavereem toveem chavereem toveem• this is the time to stand up and sing• Chavereem toveem chavereem toveem• on this Sabbath day it's the offering we bring• Baruch HaShem chavere shellee• united in Him we will live throughout eternity.• Chaveereem toveem

Our Prayer

Prayers

Prayers

• Pray for Joann’s gustatory taste, Pam, Karin, Jesse, Bob, Steve for healing.

• Prayer for Salvation for loved ones and the Jewish people Karin’s Granddaughter Heather and grandson Mathew…

• Sha'alu shalom YerushalayimPray for the Peace of Jerusalem. May His Shalom (Yeshua) come quickly. Pray for G-d’s will in the Middle East.

• Evi’s family

Prayers

• Pray for Pam’s family (Cinda’s family). Mark’s knee.• Pray for our government Pray for Obama smite him with

wisdom. Pray for SS needs.• Matt’s house that it wouldn’t be lost• Pastors in Wenatchee• Joann’s mom for her mind.• Perfect survey for Kathy at Colonial Vista.• For new Congregation in Leavenworth, if it’s G-d’s will.• For victims of crime. Pray the victims will have courage to

stand up and be heard.

Prayers• Russ’s oldest daughter for recovery.• Pray for Misty and her family for comfort and for the children.• Aunt Melanie for surgery for headaches • Prayer over our tithes and offerings.• Messianic Evangelistic group in Vancouver BC• Pray for continued blessings on the limousine service.• Pray for Chuck’s family for health• Pray for Jerry and Jerry’s son for Salvation.• Karin’s daughter for recovery.• Alla, from Russia for her house matters to be taken care of for

the right people to give her the right help..• END

25

ring our gifts to the altarring our gifts to the altar

We Bring Our Sacrifice We Bring Our Sacrifice WithWith Praise Praise

We Bring Our Sacrifice We Bring Our Sacrifice WithWith Praise PraiseUnto the House of the LORD (2 X)Unto the House of the LORD (2 X)

And we offer unto HimAnd we offer unto HimOur sacrifices Our sacrifices withwith thanksgiving thanksgiving And we offer unto HimAnd we offer unto HimOur sacrifices Our sacrifices withwith joy joy

La'asok B'divray TorahBlessing Before The Reading Of The Torah

Next Week’s Parsha

• Jul 23, 2011 Mattot ("Tribes"):

• Numbers 30:2-32:42 • Jeremiah 2:4-28• John 18-19

• Jul 16, 2011 Pinchas ("Phineas"):

• Numbers 25:10-30:1 • Jeremiah 1:1-2:3• John 15-17

Today’s Parsha

• 10 ADONAI said to Moshe, 11 "Pinchas the son of El'azar, the son of Aharon the cohen, has deflected my anger from the people of Isra'el by being as zealous as I am, so that I didn't destroy them in my own zeal. 12 Therefore say, 'I am giving him my covenant of shalom,

Numbers 25:10 - end of chapter

• 13 making a covenant with him and his descendants after him that the office of cohen will be theirs forever.'This is because he was zealous on behalf of his God and made atonement for the people of Isra'el." 14 The name of the man from Isra'el who was killed, put to death with the woman from Midyan, was Zimri the son of Salu, leader of one of the clans from the tribe of Shim'on.

Numbers 25:10 - end of chapter

• 15 The name of the woman from Midyan who was killed was Kozbi the daughter of Tzur, and he was head of the people in one of the clans of Midyan. 16 ADONAI said to Moshe, 17 "Treat the Midyanim as enemies and attack them; 18 because they are treating you as enemies by the trickery they used to deceive you in the P'or incident and in the affair of their sister Kozbi, the daughter of the leader from Midyan, the woman who was killed on the day of the plague in the P'or incident." END (Baruch HaShem)

Numbers 25:10 - end of chapter

• 1 These are the words of Yirmeyahu the son of Hilkiyahu, one of the cohanim living in 'Anatot, in the territory of Binyamin. 2 The word of ADONAI came to him during the days of Yoshiyahu the son of Amon, king of Y'hudah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It also came during the days of Y'hoyakim the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah, continuing until the eleventh year of Tzidkiyahu the son of Yoshiyahu, king of Y'hudah, right up until the time Yerushalayim was carried away captive, in the fifth month. 4 Here is the word of ADONAI that came to me:

Jeremiah 1 - whole chapter

• 5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I separated you for myself. I have appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." 6 I said, "Oh, Adonai ELOHIM, I don't even know how to speak! I'm just a child!" 7 But ADONAI said to me, "Don't say, 'I'm just a child.' "For you will go to whomever I send you, and you will speak whatever I order you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you, says ADONAI, to rescue you."

Jeremiah 1 - whole chapter

• 9 Then ADONAI put out his hand and touched my mouth, and ADONAI said to me, "There! I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Today I have placed you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant." 11 The word of ADONAI came to me, asking, "Yirmeyahu, what do you see?" I answered, "I see a branch from an almond tree [Hebrew: shaked]. 12 Then ADONAI said to me, "You have seen well, because I am watching [Hebrew: shoked] to fulfill my word."

Jeremiah 1 - whole chapter

• 13 A second time the word of ADONAI came to me, asking, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a caldron tilted away from the north, over a fire fanned by the wind." 14 Then ADONAI said to me, "From the north calamity will boil over onto everyone living in the land, 15 because I will summon all the families in the kingdoms of the north," says ADONAI, "and they will come and sit, each one, on his throne at the entrance to the gates of Yerushalayim, opposite its walls, all the way around, and opposite all the cities of Y'hudah.

Jeremiah 1 - whole chapter

• 16 I will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness in abandoning me, offering incense to other gods and worshipping what their own hands made. 17 "But you, dress for action; stand up and tell them everything I order you to say. When you confront them, don't break down; or I will break you down in front of them! 18 For today, you see, I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of bronze against the whole land - against the kings of Y'hudah, against its princes, against its cohanim and the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you," says ADONAI, "to rescue you.“ END (Baruch HaShem)

Jeremiah 1 - whole chapter

• 1 After Yeshua had said all this, he went out with his talmidim across the stream that flows in winter through the Vadi Kidron, to a spot where there was a grove of trees; and he and his talmidim went into it. 2 Now Y'hudah, who was betraying him, also knew the place; because Yeshua had often met there with his talmidim.

John 18 1-11

• 3 So Y'hudah went there, taking with him a detachment of Roman soldiers and some Temple guards provided by the head cohanim and the P'rushim; they carried weapons, lanterns and torches. 4 Yeshua, who knew everything that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Whom do you want?" "Yeshua from

John 18 1-11

• 5 Natzeret," they answered. He said to them, "I AM." Also standing with them was Y'hudah, the one who was betraying him. 6 When he said, "I AM," they went back ward from him and fell to the ground. 7 So he inquired of them once more, "Whom do you want?" and they said, "Yeshua from Natzeret." 8 "I told you, `I AM,'" answered Yeshua, "so if I'm the one you want, let these others go."

John 18 1-11

• 9 This happened so that what he had said might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those you gave me." 10 Then Shim`on Kefa, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the cohen hagadol, cutting off his right ear; the slave's name was Melekh. 11 Yeshua said to Kefa, "Put your sword back in its scabbard! This is the cup the Father has given me; am I not to drink it?" END (Baruch HaShem)

John 18 1-11

• Baruch atah Adonay Eloheynu melech ha'olam, asher bachar-banu mikol ha'amim, venatan-lanu et torah-to.Baruch atah Adonay, noten hatorah.

• Blessed are You, LORD our God, king of the universe, who chose us from all the peoples and gave to us His Torah. Blessed are You, LORD, giver of the Torah.

Noten HaTorah

• Turn on the video camera and CHECK IT! • Because we’re recording this for other

Yeshivas (Bible Schools) lets do any questions or comments after Hebrew class. Otherwise it messes up the recording and it takes hours to try and edit. Thank you, I appreciate that and so do our other students.

Video Cam Reminder

• This morning we’re going to learn about the Mikva.

• We’ll learn what it is.• What’s the purpose

of it• Who should do it and

when it should be done.

• What it is…• It’s a Jewish ritual

bath. • It’s where the idea of

a baptism came from.

• It’s a Jewish idea, not a Christian one.

• John the Baptist didn’t invent it, it had already been invented.

• However, it’s been changed through the years in the Church and now it’s hardly recognizable from it’s original concept.

• What are these differences?

• First of all, the minister/Rabbi doesn’t go into the water with the individual.

• What the first Jews did (including the Jews of the first century) is the Rabbi stood outside of the Mikva and read the Torah or from the Prophets while the individual or group of individuals dunked themselves.

• “But John the Baptist changed that didn’t he?”

• No he didn’t, if he had changed it, Shaul (Paul) would’ve done it Yochanon The Immerser’s (John the Baptist’s) way after the death and resurrection of Yeshua.

• But Paul didn’t.• He continued to do it

the same way Jews have been doing it for centuries.

• How do I know that?• Simple…

• I went to Rome.• There is a series of

paintings there that date to the first century which depict Paul officiating at a Mikva.

Dr. Ray Pritz with his grandson

• I couldn’t find a picture of it unfortunately for this teaching.

• But I have seen it with my own eyes.

• There are three paintings side by side.

• The first frame shows Rav Shaul (Paul) outside of the Mikva reading from the Torah while a man is at the top of the steps of the Mikva.

• In the second scene we see the Rav in the same position while the man is squatting, immersing himself in the Mikva.

• And the third scene shows him exiting out of the Mikva on the opposite side.

• I am the artist who drew these depictions, they are copy write!

• If you’d like to use them, they can be purchased for a fee.

• This painting at the catacombs isn’t our only evidence obviously so, let’s look at some more.

• This is a third century depiction and once again we notice Yochanon The Immerser’s (John the Baptist) on the outside of the waters of the Jordan fully clothed.

• Once again, Yochanon The Immerser’s (John the Baptist) on the outside of the water.

third century

• And again…

3rd – 4th century

• And again…

• Clear down to the 5th century we see Yochanon outside of the waters.

5th century

• Notice something else?

• Yeshua is nude.• That’s right,

Baptisms were done in the nude.

• And to this day, that is how a Mikva is done in Judaism.

• Before you panic though, we wont be doing them in the nude.

• In this age of technology and mini cameras, we will be clothed.

• That is our Halacha, I can’t budge on that one.

• So why did the tradition get changed from the minister on the outside of the water to becoming them being in the water and dunking them?

• It’s all a misunderstanding from one verse.

• Acts 8:38.• This is the story of

Phillip and the eunuch.

• The eunuch says to Phillip two verses before…

• 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said , See , here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized ?

• Two verses later…

• 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still : and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

• “Well, that must be the New testament way to do it then!”

• No, not at all. • There’s a reason

Phillip had to go into the water with him.

• This animation I made is actually backwards, the eunuch was coming from Jerusalem not going to Jerusalem but it’ll still suffice.

• Along this road there was no water.• In fact it’s called the desert road! 26 An angel

of ADONAI said to Philip, "Get up, and go southward on the road that goes down from Yerushalayim to 'Azah, the desert road."

• The only water they could’ve come to is the Mediterranean.

• My dad and I have both been to this point in this road.

• If you walk out into the water, it is bedrock and it is only ankle deep until you get 100 yards out into the water.

• In order for the eunuch to be able to hear the Scriptures being read to him as was the custom, Phillip would’ve HAD to go into the water with him.

• Flash forward a hundred years later and some nunu from Bible School didn’t understand and went made a theology out of it.

• We don’t know who actually started it but whoever it was, all he had to do was simply ask the Jews down the street, but noooo, can’t ask the people who wrote the Book, that would make too much sense.

• The vast majority of the Church fathers were anti-Semites, they didn’t want to ask the Jews anything, better to just make things up as they went along

• So the Rabbi would stand outside the water reading the Scriptures while the people would go and dunk themselves.

• Now that we understand that we can understand Acts 2: 41…

• 41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.

• Can you imagine trying to dunk 3,000 people in one day?

• Not very likely, so this is how it worked…

• Who is supposed to be immersed (baptized)?

• Anyone who is of age (12-13 roughly) and is Born Again in Yeshua (Jesus).

• When is it supposed to be done?

• The Church Fathers taught that it was only to be done once after a person is Saved.

• But that is incorrect.

• There are various reasons to be immersed in a Mikva.

1. By Jewish women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth.

2. By Jewish men to achieve ritual purity.

3. as part of a procedure after conversion.

• Now lets look at these one by one.

3. as part of a procedure after conversion.

• Now lets look at these one by one.

• A Mikvah must be taken by any women to achieve ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth.

• After a woman’s cycle or after childbirth a woman is then considered Niddah.

• The word Niddah is often translated as “unclean”.

• I know I’ve talked about Niddah here before but I’m going to drive it home again…

• Translating the Hebrew word “Niddah” as “unclean” is a poor choice of translation.

• It does NOT mean “unclean”.

• In fact, when a woman is Niddah she is set apart, she is holy, that’s what holy means, set apart, and no one is to touch her because blood is present and the blood, the life force, is holy.

• She remains in that state until she goes through the Mikva.

• Does that mean a prostitute is holy when she has her cycle???

• It doesn’t mean she is a holy person no, but it does mean she is in a holy state, she is in a state where she could get pregnant and give forth a life.

• After the blood has passed, she takes the Mikva and then if she’s married…

• She can resume relations with her husband and we have what Teresa and I call “Mikva Night”.

• Men must also go through the Mikva!

• Lev 15:1• 1 ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, 2 "Tell the

people of Isra'el, 'When any man has a discharge from his body, the discharge is unclean.

• Here’s that word unclean again. It’s a bad choice of words in the translations. They say unclean because they don’t understand the Jewish idea of separation of the holy and the mundane.

• So, every time a man has an emission, he needs to go through the Mikva.

• If you’ve recently become a Believer in Yeshua, you also need to go through the Mikva and be Immersed.

• You now understand that it is NOT a one time thing only.

• There are various reasons.

• Wow, it seems like a lot of work.

• You know what, go tell G-d that.

• I’m tired of hearing lazy Believers out there trying to cut corners.

• This is the way to holiness, walk ye in it.

• The Mikva is a necessity and we’ll be doing a Mikva in August, I expect everyone to be a part of it.

• Ruthi and Jimmy have offered us their pool so we can have some privacy as the Scriptures are read.

• There’s another difference in how we do it then how most Churches do it.

• We do not do it in mixed company.

• It is NOT a spectator sport!

• First of all it was done in the nude. X

• You’re not going to be like “Oh, hey grandma”.

• But if we’re all clothed, what difference does it make?

• It makes a big difference!

• You’re not supposed to have the distraction of the opposite sex.

• It’s the same reason there’s a divider wall between the men and women at the Kotel (the Western Wall in Jerusalem)

• It’s not because it’s misogynistic.

• It’s due to laws of holiness and to keep us focused on what we’re doing concerning the things of G-d.

• When the time comes, we will have our own building here in Wenatchee.

• When we do it will be on the model of the First Century Synagogue.

• The women will be up in the balcony and the men will be on the floor.

• In Messianic Judaism there are no fears of equal rights, we know we’re all equal.

• But we’re also aware that we have different roles and callings.

• What is the symbolism of the Mikva?

• The idea of the Mikva goes way back. Moses and the Hebrews passing through the red sea was a type of Mikva.

• Even though they didn’t get wet, they were passing through the water.

• Netilat-Yadayeem – the washing of hands - before eating is a form of Mikvoth.

• Mikva is feminine singular in Hebrew Mikvoth is feminine plural.

• I also want to point out that a Mikva isn’t always about uncleanliness or rebirth.

• Yeshua was immersed and He was neither unclean or in need of being reborn!

• He allowed Himself to be immersed as a sign that He was to begin His main ministry.

• So immersion isn’t just for one thing, it has multiple functions.

• After a conversion, immersion not only identifies you with Messiah, but afterwards you are also recognized as part of the Messianic community.

• It also doesn’t signify that one is no longer a Jew.

• It is not a renunciation of ones Jewish identity.

• There are some churches out there that use it exactly in that way.

• In fact, here it means the opposite.

• At Beit Aveinu, it means you’ve identified yourself with an ancient sect of Judaism.

• The sect of the Nazarenes..

• It also needs to be understood that Immersion doesn’t save one from his/her sins.

• It isn’t necessary for Salvation, but it is necessary.

• Some teach that it isn’t necessary and quote Acts 8:37 as proof of this.

• And Philip said, “If you believe with allyour heart, it is permitted.” And he answering, said, “I believe that YeshuaMessiah is the Son of Elohim.” 38 And he commanded the chariot to standstill. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he immersed him

• They say , “See right there!!! It is PERMITTED not COMMANDED!”

• Phillip wasn’t saying it’s not commanded here.

• Let’s look at it in context…

•

• We can see from the previous verse that they were looking at the body of water

• 36 And as they were going on the way,they came to some water. And the eunuchsaid, “Look, water! What hinders me frombeing immersed?”

• Since a Mikva HAD to be performed by total submersion Phillip was declaring that particular body of water as permissible.

• One could be totally immersed in it. It was fit for Mikva.

• Most incorrect doctrine can be cleared up by reading a few verses before and after the portion cited.

• It’s important to know what other Churches teach and believe so that you can sharpen your own belief system and learn more about the faith.

• Another reason we don’t go into the water with them is to show that this is something the individual does on their own.

• It’s of their own free will that they enter. We don’t coax them, we don’t even invite them into the water.

• We’re not there to catch them either as the protestants do.

• This is their experience and theirs alone.

• It’s not that we’re not supporting them, we’re reading them the Scriptures but the actual act of submersion is between them and

G-d.

• Every part of the body must be submersed.

• Even the hair. No jewelry is worn and we even like to have them carry a branch of hyssop with them in reference to the ashes of the red heifer and purification.

End

• We also dip three times. • The reason for that is to

ensure complete immersion and the number 3 pertains to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• So who’d like to do a Mikva?

• Please stand for the Benediction.