iv
Modern scholars have greater access to documents and research developments relating to first-century
Judaism than at any other time in history. Many scholars, who only a few years ago were trying to disprove
the Bible, are now working together to gain a better understanding of the ancient culture in which Y‘shua
lived. Archaeological finds have become so plentiful that some have hailed these times as the beginning of a
golden age of biblical archaeology.
All of these discoveries have not only given us further proof of the veracity of the Bible, but have given us a
greater understanding of the period in which Y‘shua lived out His life on the earth and further evidence of the
Jewishness of His teaching. He was Jewish and His teachings reflect His Jewishness.
The church at Rome was admonished by Paul that its faith was never intended to be a denial of its Jewish
roots; but rather a branch that "should" grew out of these roots. The essence of this study is that without
Judaism, there would be no Christianity (although been heavily corrupted by the Roman Catholic Church).
Perhaps the most convincing evidence of the totally Jewish essence of Y‘shua is His method of teaching.
Over the past fifty years, studies of the Jewish nature of the early Church have brought to light many new
insights into the First Century documents, especially concerning the idioms and Galilean teaching methods
of Y‘shua. In this exegesis we study the customs, traditions, life cycles and common idioms in the life of
Y‘shua and His disciples.
From the Sages
Accustom your tongue to say "I do not know‖.
(Berachos 4a) Iyar 6―While no human being can know everything, some people cannot admit any ignorance about anything. For
them, any admission of lack of knowledge threatens their fragile egos. Although they try to impress others
with their omniscience, they accomplish the reverse, because the more they try to conceal their ignorance,
the more prominent it becomes.
Furthermore, the only way we can acquire knowledge is by accepting that we do not have it. People who
claim to know everything cannot learn. Therefore, many opportunities to learn pass them by, and their
denying their ignorance actually increases their ignorance.
We do not have to know everything, and no one expects us to. Today, more than ever, with the
unprecedented amount of information available, no one can be a universal genius. The simple statement, I
don't know‘, is actually highly respected.
We should also open ourselves to acquiring knowledge from every source. Learning from someone whom
we consider to be inferior to ourselves should not be demeaning. As the Psalmist says, 'I became wise by
learning from all my teachers' (Psalms 119:99). A willingness to learn from everyone is a sign of greatness,
while affecting omniscience actually betrays ignorance‖.
May we all admit that there are many things that we do not know, and may we all be willing to learn from
anyone and everyone. (From page 216 of;' Growing Each Day, by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., pub.
Mesorah Publications, Ltd., New York, 1992.)