Jewish Roots: Understanding Your Jewish Faith (Revised Edition)

Without a hint of exaggeration, Daniel Juster has written a superb revision of Jewish Roots that needs a very wide hearing in the Church. It needs a hearing both globally and nationally among the most influential church leaders in the world. It needs a wide hearing amongst Seminaries and Bible Colleges. It needs a hearing across denominational lines and networks. Those from Reformed, Baptist, Wesleyan, Anglican, Anabaptist, Charismatic, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Vineyard, or any stream different from these need to consider the perspective of this book. It is an important perspective for every church and believer to fulfill their destiny on the earth. In my opinion this is one of the most important books written in church history. Isn't that saying a little much? I don't think so. I say this as someone who greatly appreciates the good and beautiful of the Christian heritage through the centuries and one who actively learns much from many denominations and streams in the Body today. Very simply, in order for the church of Jewish and Gentile believers to come into the loving unity Jesus prayed for in John 17, the perspective of this book must be substantially embraced. In order for the Gentiles churches in our cities to cooperate together as one Body in provoking Israel to jealousy, the perspective of this book must be significantly received and acted upon.I cannot tell you just how much I appreciate Daniels character exhibited through the pages of this writing. It reveals a man who truly loves his people Israel, the Nations and the spiritual family of Jew and Gentile in the Body of Messiah. The tone of the book is warm, exuding genuine care, compassion, understanding, and tolerance while at the same time being rigorously firm in his biblically rooted convictions. It's apologetic thrust for Jewish followers of Jesus walking out a Spirit-led, Gospel of grace believing, Messiah worshipping- Jewish life and calling in Torah, is brilliantly argued and defended. Messianic Jews and Gentile Christians could all greatly benefit from his teaching on Jewish calling, as they could likewise on his passion for Gentile freedom from Jewish calling. In these regards and more, I believe Dan J. is a true Pauline disciple, and therefore provides in this work a perspective that can be unifying thrust for Jewish and Gentiles believers in Jesus.His articulation of the biblical covenants and their relationship to one another could clear the air of confusion in many streams of the Body who limit the Law of God to the Mosaic order in doctrinally and morally depleting ways. It could also free those who do not yet see that the New covenant order is truly superior to the Mosaic order and that the New Covenant is truly the most fitting order for the fulfillment of the righteous requirements of Torah in love, under the effective leadership of the Holy Spirit. This is true of the New Covenant for both Universal law applying to all believers and Jewish aspects of life and calling in Messiah Jesus.If you do not have clarity and mature understanding of the relationship between Jewish life and calling and the Abrahamic covenant in the New Covenant order, please read this book! It will be of great help to the disciple of Jesus! His overall theological and apologetical thrust should be convincing to any open mind who reads this book with a serious ear towards the authorial intent of the Scriptures. In his arguments Dan consistently displays open mindedness without compromising moral richness and spiritual depth. It is doctrinally full of truth and wisdom and practically nourishing, life-giving and healthy. It is sensitive and generously fair to opposing or alternative views, often integrating defendable views together into a holistic view. It majors on majors and minors on minors. Read and learn!

I read it three years ago, and skimmed it today. It is medium heavy reading and he explains away LOTS of New Testament passages which are usual freedom from the Law of Moses passages (I don't agree) and shows the need for a Messianic Jewish movement (I agree). He argues against bringing Gentiles into Messianic Jewish movements primarily because of Acts 15 and Galatians 5 (really interesting take!). His great conclusion could have been his enumeration of the 613 commandments at the end and what Dan thinks is in force today. Primarily he declares Torah as a universal morality and that the laws in the torah that can be applied are spiritually applied with no legalism. Well, he summarizes the 613 laws and makes about half of them outdated because they applied to the temple. Some have Jewish/Israel only application, while a bunch are universal morality. But it ends up being a lot more vague than it could be. It is still a very interesting book. Dan Juster's movement is TIKKUN and he's always an interesting speaker that I've listened to on many occasions.

This book is foundational to Christianity. If I were a pastor, I would have a class on it and/or I would make people read it as part of church membership or what have you. As I was reading the first chapter, there was already so much information I decided to go back and read it again and start underlining and highlighting. Then I did the same thing as I got to chapter 4. I'm actually going to start over again and this time type out notes of my underlinings, etc. You will want to follow along in your Bible as you read this book to get a good grasp of everything . 2 things that make this book cool is it's thick, so there is a lot to read. Second, it answers all the difficult passages you may have questions about like with Paul, doing away with the law, kosher laws, shabbat, etc. Sheds light on everything. Get this book!

This revised edition of Jewish Roots is a must read for every serious seeker, student and follower of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) who would desire greater clarity about the Jewish origins of Christianity. Most importantly, Jewish Roots includes how this knowledge should impact our understanding and actions for today. Of the many good books out there on this subject, I know of no other single volume as comprehensive as this new edition of Jewish Roots. Even the Appendix sections includes excellent insights, such as the one that catalogs the 613 Laws of the Torah in a very helpful manner - it certainly makes Jewish Roots well worth having.

Highly recommended. This book will provide you all (well, a lot of) the information you need to know in relationship to jewish heritage, faith in Yeshua and the Messianic movement. Also the author shares valuable personal and institutional experiences that are a big blessing. This is one of those books that you have to read several times to get a grip of all the treasures written in the pages. Enjoy it!

This book changed my life and perspective. God is doing something for His people. Jews are finding Yeshua as Messiah But staying fully Jewish. Gentiles are leaving the church that teaches the law of God no longer applies, which is like saying the bible in totality no longer applies. So my experience after this book is to find an entire movement dedicated to understanding the bible through its original hebrew mindset, getting to the real understanding and intent. Leading to a deeper walk with God in repentance and holiness.

My brother-in-law learned thru 23/me that he had a small Russian Jewish heritage and I told him that he really needs to take time and read n learn about what this means and what will be expected of him before he dives in too deep.

very good

まだ途中ですが、自分のルーツについて考えさせられます。ユダヤ人とそのほかの人々の関係について、読むほどにわかってきます、人種を超えて、「人」について理解が深まります。ずっと続いているイスラエル付近の戦争の問題についても、全然今までと違った見方が与えられるのは感謝です。