C
Crusaderbear
Guest
For the Jewish People…may they find their way…
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima, Amen!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Fatima, Amen!
Further Divisions
Despite the fact that many Jewish believers remained integrated into Jewish life, as rabbinic Judaism developed and took form, the Tannaim— the earliest generation of Talmudic rabbis—sought to define established Judaism. They attempted to draw a line distinguishing those who were “in” from those who were “out.” The stage for this struggle was in the community center of Jewish life—the synagogue. In the second century, if not earlier, a prayer was introduced to the liturgy to expose Messianic Jews for the purpose of banishing them from communal life. Called the Birkat HaMinim (Benediction of the Apostates), it was introduced into the Amidah , part of the Shabbat liturgy. It called for the destruction of apostates, among whom Jewish followers of Jesus were included. A copy of this benediction, found in an ancient Cairo synagogue, condemned the Nazarenes and called a curse upon them. It read, “May the Nazarenes … instantly perish: may they be blotted from the book of the living.”[10]
Secret believers ended up outing themselves when they omitted the benediction during >the synagogue service, for they would not pronounce a curse upon themselves. Over time, Jewish followers of Jesus either voluntarily or unwillingly left the synagogue and ultimately the Jewish community.
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