60 Questions Christians Ask About Jewish Beliefs and Practices

by Michael L. Brown

"An invaluable guide from a trusted expert."--Lee Strobel

Written in a compelling, accessible style, this book answers the most common questions about Jewish people and culture, drawn from the steady stream of queries Michael L. Brown's ministry receives every month.

As a Messianic believer, Brown provides clear answers to questions like "Are there Jewish denominations?" and "Do the Jewish people expect a literal Messiah?" The book also addresses Christians' questions about their own relationship to the Old Testament law, such as "Should Christians observe the Sabbath on Saturday?" and "Are Gentile Christians spiritual Jews?"

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

Michael L. Brown (born March 16, 1955) is a Messianic Jewish Old Testament scholar, professor, activist, itinerant speaker, and author who has preached in numerous countries and written twenty books. He is the founder and president of ICN Ministries. His writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He was married to Nancy Gurian on March 14, 1976 and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Megan, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book itself is formatted around a friendly tone insofar the layman can pick up this book, read the contents therein, and walk away completely satisfied with how the information is presented. Secondly, I have to say that Dr. Brown is the top-of-the-line leading Messianic Christian Apologist; even still, his knowledge, intellect, and wisdom does not outshine his love, zeal, and passion for Messiah Yeshua, His Holy Word, and His brethren, to wit, the Jewish people. Lastly, I have to say that as someone who was struggling with some of the questions outlines in this book, I wanted to speak to Dr. Brown personally; I called into his radio show "Line of Fire" praying for some answers and Dr. Brown sent me his book free: a gracious gift from a humble servant of God. I am so blessed to support his ministries and am already constantly referring my friends, many of whom were in the same intellectual predicament I was in, to this book.

What more can be said? 60 Questions could not have been more brilliantly written for the layperson. The contents are divided into four topical sections; namely, "Jewish Practice," "Jewish People," "Jewish Background," and "Christians & Israel." Of them all combined I can say that I learned much information concerning things I was unsure of, knew nothing about, was undecided about, was struggling with, and things I already knew (but Dr. Brown further verified my previous contentions in many areas). Some of the main areas, that proved beneficial to me, I would like to highlight and are as follows:

1. The break down of modern day Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed) and the differences therewith.

2. The nonsense of David C. Pack's "10 Lost Tribes" of Israel

3. The truth about Jesus' language, regardless of well meaning authors, many of whom I respect, like Douglass Hamp.

4. The truth about Jesus real Hebrew name (Yeshua NOT Yahshua, Yahshuaha, Yahoshua, etc) and also how it is no ways a corruption of the Greek word for Zeus regardless of what the "Zeitgeist crowd" will tell you.

4. The philological proof concerning the original historical New Testament's etymological language.
(i.e. I recently watched the new Biola University debate between William Lane Craig and Dr. Alex Rosenberg to which Dr. Rosenberg claimed that the NT original manuscripts were written in the Aramaic language and only then translated to Greek thenceforth - Dr. Brown does a brilliantly job at succinctly disproving all such claims alike in a fresh and timely manner)

5. The truth about Torah law, Jesus, Paul, Gentiles, Kosher, and more!

Dr. Brown does a brilliant job in the latter portion of the book describing many misconceptions, and dispelling confusion and error. He words Jesus' relationship to Torah in a brilliantly way that I had never previously thought of, namely, that Yeshua transcends Torah law - not abolishing Law and Prophets (Tanakh) - but rather, upholds it because he fulfills it. Hence, he transcends the Torah, because he gave Torah, thus, Yeshua is a NEW covenant whilst the old is fading away. Old was good; new is better! Amen! He writes on page 214: "Must Gentile Christians keep the Law? Certainly not! Nowhere does the New Testament require Gentile believers to observe the Torah...Gentile believers are NOT required to obey the Mosaic law, and for a believer to put himself under the Law is to go backward, not forward" (60 Questions, 214).

Dr. Brown deals with what he calls the many "fringe groups" which are nonsensical at best and heretical at worse. Withal, these pan-Israelite groups are largely Gentile believers desiring to get back to their Jewish roots (Dr. Brown tackles what it really means to get back to our "Jewish Roots" (he deals with what that really means to the Gentile throughout all of Part 4), and he writes how he has seen them dress up in ancient Israelite Garb, bind themselves to the law, and even worse, deny the eternal Lordship of Yeshua Messiah as some sort of obligation to Torah). What is fascinating is all of the aforementioned bizarreness is what brought me to Dr. Brown in the first place. I have friends, and still do, who are so zealous for Israel (Gentile Messianic Christians), that they reject authority of Paul over Torah, reject true freedom of New Covenant over Torah, and worse, reject everything "Christian" insofar that I saw one person tweet the other day "Christianity is from Satan." Notwithstanding the confusion therefrom, Dr. Brown paves the way and makes clear paths for the layperson to intellectually understand where he can reside as both a Gentile believer in Yeshua Messiah, grafted into the Tree of Promise by observing the Feasts Days if one should so choose etc., all the while, not forgetting our freedom in Yeshua, freedom in the New Covenant, and freedom to live by Christ; nay, to die is gain (Phil 1:6).

Saints, I could increase my long-winded diatribe ten fold because I cannot stop praising this book, namely, because of the clarity that God has brought to me through the words therein. Hallelujah!

I'll summarize the entire book as followed:

Should gentile believers understand that their only hope came from through Jews, through the Jews, to the Jews (and then to the Gentiles Rom 1:16). YES absolutely, the church needs an awakening of this and it is in FACT happening!

Should these same believers bind themselves to Torah or get involved in other fringe Messianic groups that take the focus off of Yeshua as Messiah, and that alone? BY NO MEANS!

As Dr. Brown would say: "Purge the thought!"

If you are reading this: buy this book, and be blessed.

Grace and peace in Christ.

Brent McCulley (2/28/2013)

[Neh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely clear writing. Such a gentleman, too, when I got to meet him in 2012--which must be why the book sounds nicer than Jewish New Testament Commentary by Stern. Still, learned much. (On a side note, books like this make you have a mixed view as a Lutheran/Calvinist but "dispensational", so as not to espouse replacement theology uncritically. So Scripture honoring and consistent.) Lord bless you, sir.

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown, Michael L. 60 Beliefs Christians Ask About Jewish Beliefs and Practices. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011.

Michael L. Brown, Semitic language expert and Jewish convert to Christ, writes a good primer introducing Christians to "why Jews do what they do." While it points out inconsistencies and tensions in rabbinic belief, it primarily serves to a) explain the Jewish foundations of Christian thought and b) combat fringe Christian silliness.

Are there Jewish Denominations?

Reform Judaism was a humanistic reaction to Orthodox Judaism. The Reform motto became “Guidance, not governance.” Conservative Judaism, by contrast, respected the sanctity of traditions but acknowledged a historical development to them. The differing traditions view the following doctrines accordingly:

Scripture:

Orthodox--Tanakh is inerrant and authoritative.

Reform--imperfect human product, but special.

Rabbinic authority:

Orthodox--God gave Moses a written and oral law

Reform--respect their teachings but you aren’t bound to them.

Humor

When speaking of God, Orthodox Jews say “adonoy” (referring to the Eastern European pronunciation). Conservative Jews say “adonai” (referring to the Middle Eastern pronunciation). Liberal Jews say “I-don’t-know.”

What is Hasidic Judaism?

Originated in the 1700s with Eliezer ben Israel, known as Baal Shem Tov. He emphasized joy and laughter and that one good deed was worth more than the 613. Initially opposed by the Formalists, his teachings ended up becoming widespread, if not mainstream.

Unique to the Hasidim was the position of “rebbe,” Grand Rabbi of a community. This position had almost mystical importance and was passed down from father to son.

Lubavitch. They are known as the Chabad, an acronym for

(3) What is the Oral Law?

The oral law explains the written law? Where is the evidence for it? It’s oral, so you can’t find evidence of an unwritten law in a written text (sound familiar?). On one hand there is no problem with saying there are long-standing traditions. Brown, however, points out the irony: it is in their written form that the oral traditions have been preserved.

(4) What is the Tanakh?

It is the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

(5) What is exactly meant by the term ‘Torah’?

On one hand, Torah is broader than “law,” yet the Talmud has legal discussions which are considered Torah, yet they insist that Torah isn’t law.

(6) What is the Masoretic Text?

It’s actually a textual tradition, since there are thousands of medieval manuscripts.

(7) What are the holy books of Judaism?

Babylonian Talmud. Commentary on the Mishnah. Covers every aspect of Jewish life.

Haggada. Non-binding rabbinic stories and commentaries.

Halakhah. A specific legal ruling.

Kabbalah. Jewish mystical writings.

Midrash. Rabbinic commentaries.

Mishnah. The oral law.

Targum. Aramaic translations of the Hebrew bible.

(10) Do Jewish People Expect a Literal Messiah?

Yes, but he will be fully human.

(11) Do Jews refer to God by the Name Jehovah?

No. Jehovah is based on a mistaken rendering by those who were educated in Hebrew, but didn’t know the scribal practices. They didn’t know the scribes put the vowels for adonai in the word yhwh.

(13) Why do traditional Jews have separate dishes for milk and meat products?

They think this is how they observe the prohibition for not boiling a goat in its mother’s milk. You can’t eat meat and drink milk together. The problem is that in Genesis 18:8 Abraham did both.

Part of Brown’s book addresses silly myths Christians tell themselves about Hebrew. No, the New Testament wasn’t originally written in history. Jesus’s real name isn’t Yahushua.”

Hebrew Roots

This is where some Christians take their silliness to full-orbed live action role playing. To be fair, there are Jewish roots to the NT. Jesus did not come into the world as a Greek Socrates to establish a Greek-Christian religion. He came to fulfill Moses and the Prophets.

Further, Romans 11:18 makes it clear that we are the branches, not the root. We are grafted into Israel’s new covenant. We understand that the Feast of Tabernacles points to the final ingathering of the nations. Israel is to play a special role in world redemption, whose salvation will be life from the dead. Yeshua himself will not return again until his own people welcome him back (Matt. 23:37-39).

Now for the silliness. If you watch these Hebrew Roots groups, you will see that Torah replaces Jesus in terms of centrality.

On another point, Paul didn’t always follow the LXX. When he quotes Habakkuk 2:4 in Romans 1:17, he is not using the LXX. Half the time when Paul cites the LXX, he isn’t citing it exactly. Romans 11:27-28 appears to be a misquotation but is actually closer to the Hebrew.

[Julie Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this as a real book, as opposed to an ebook, and I am very glad I did. The author is clearly very learned and explains the answers to the questions very well. I read this book in just released lockdown and it leans into my revised thinking of celebrating Jewish festivals as a believer in Jesus Christ.

Definitely a book to refer back to.

The author states his belief in Yeshua , and what it means to do so, being Jewish.

Recommend highly

[KY Wifette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it; maybe some day when I can overlook his opinions. I DO believe he has valuable insight; however, his disrespect towards his own people and their beliefs/actions ...."I know, right, can you imagine they do/believe it??".... This attitude/opinion, I can do without.

[Angel Davila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Answered many questions clearly and intellectually.

[Joshua Foote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of new info

Lots of new info

there was a lot of good and new information(at least for me) about Judaism and Jesus and how they correlate.

[Dave Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative