Oct: Just Jew It: Reading Torah, Reading the Jewish People
Thursdays, 7 PM Eastern, October 9, 16, 23, & 30
In much of Christian tradition, the revelation of Yeshua is often read back into the Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh). While this perspective has deep value for us as Messianic Believers, it can sometimes overshadow the original meaning and context of the text. To truly engage Scripture as Jews, we must learn to read forward—allowing the revelation to unfold naturally and honoring that, in many ways, we’re reading someone else’s mail. This means embracing the rich legacy of Jewish interpretation passed down through generations— living time capsule of our people’s spiritual journey. In this class, we’ll take an interactive approach to reading the weekly parashot, drawing insight from both ancient wisdom and present-day reflection.
Meet Your Instructor
Rabbi Paul Saal
Paul Saal is the Dean of Students at the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (MJTI), where he teaches courses in personal and communal spirituality and ethics. A former editor of Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism, he has authored numerous theological papers and articles. He received smicha (ordination) through both the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) and the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council (MJRC), where he also served as president. He is the founding leader of Congregation Shuvah Yisrael in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he has lived since 1994. His passion is mentoring future rabbis and leaders for lives of service.