October “Book Review” and Give-Away: As it is Written: A Brief Case For Karaism

As it is Written I guess I can’t exactly do an objective book review here, since I am a co-author of As it is Written: A Brief Case for Karaism. As I mentioned previously, I tend to follow the Israeli saying that roughly translates to, “A baker should not comment on his own work.”

So instead of my telling you how awesome As it is Written is, I’ll let this Amazon review do all the talking for me: “Not very well written, short, and does not go in depth into explaining Karaite Judaism. It is a short, basic review.”

Well, you can’t win ’em all. But other Amazon reviewers found the book to be helpful: “Finally, a clear, concise, and long overdue introduction to Karaism that caters for the layperson and the student.”

A little background on the book might be helpful. When I was a freshman in college at the University of California, San Diego, my roommate sponsored a talk by Jews for Judaism, whose central purpose was (and is) to give Jews the proper knowledge base to respond to missionaries from other religions. One of Jews for Judaism’s educational pamphlets at the time contained a footnote that stated (something to the effect of), “People accuse the Rabbis of making up their own laws. This is not true.”

This one footnote changed my life. Although Jews for Judaism did not intend it as such, I felt that the footnote was a direct attack on Karaites, who do not believe in the authority of the rabbis to enact “mitzvot d’rabbanan” (or “commandments of the Rabbis”). The footnote inspired me to learn more and more about Karaite Judaism and I somehow ended up in an online Karaite forum with Nehemia Gordon and Meir Rekhavi.

A few years later, we (with a shout out to the late Mordecai Alfandari!) wrote As it is Written. The work draws on various of their writings and on Nehemia’s and Meir’s responses to questions in the online forum. I structured the work after the Jews for Judaism pamphlet and sought to give Karaites the tools to respond to various anti-Karaite polemics. In that regard, the aim of As it is Written was exactly what its subtitle suggests, a short defense of Karaite Judaism.

Of course, over the years, I came to learn that whether or not someone believes in in the Oral Law is mostly a matter of faith – and almost no amount of proof-texts will change that core belief. And I’ve also learned just how many Jews are interested in Karaite Judaism. As I’ve matured, I realized these Jews (including historical Karaites) needed a positive Karaite resource and that Karaite Judaism would never survive if it was simply an “anti-Rabbinic” movement.

That is one of the reasons why I work very hard to keep A Blue Thread from being the latest in the line of Karaite-Rabbanite polemics. So, whenever I write my next book (and I like to think that I’ve become a better writer since my first one!), I plan to focus on the Karaite Jewish experience – rather than why Karaites are “right.”

Until then, I hope you enjoy A Blue Thread and As it is Written. And from October 2, 2013-October 6, 2013 (inclusive), you can get free ebook copy of As it is Written: A Brief Case for Karaism from the Amazon Kindle Store.

*  *  *

A Blue Thread is giving away 15 print copies of As it is Written.  A Blue Thread will even cover the shipping. To be eligible for the give-away, simply comment on the post below. Your comment could be anything from “Choose me!” to “I love this book.” I’ll hold a random drawing on October 9th, and will notify the winners via email. My only hope is that after you read the book, you will post your thoughts to the comment section below. (If you’ve already read the book, feel free to do so now.)

If you miss out on this give-away, fear not. You can purchase the book from Amazon.  And we intend to do a similar give-away with another book next month.

Disclaimer: I have not received (and have never sought) any royalties from As it is Written.

105 Comments

Filed under Book Club, Books, What is Karaite Judaism

105 Responses to October “Book Review” and Give-Away: As it is Written: A Brief Case For Karaism

  1. Eddie

    great

    I would love to see this

  2. ben

    ummm Shawn, the :”israeli saying” u quoted is actually a talmudic saying אין הנחתום מעיד על עיסתו a baker cannot testify to the quality of his dough, but then again, how would u know? right, lol, BTW im a long time reader of ur blog, keep it up

    • Hi Ben, FINALLY someone picked up on my joke. I actually used it before and no one said anything. I did find out recently that the Israeli saying “alya v’kotz bah” is actually Talmudic. (I had not know that previously. I was explaining to someone that Karaites historically did not eat alya because it was not kosher – in the Karaite tradition – and a rabbanite responded that it gave new meaning to the phrase “alya v’kotz bah.” I’d heard the saying previously, but only recently learned its origin.) Thanks for the kind words.

      • But what is interesting is that I remembered the saying incorrectly. For some reason I had remembered baker as something like “אופה” – as opposed to הנחתום. And to clarify, I thought the saying was Rabbinic (but I was not sure it was Talmudic.)

        • ben

          LOL, נחתום is aramaic for אופה anyhow, im a rabbanite maimonedean, with mild karaite leanings, if the karaites had a tradition linking them back to the saducees or something that would link them to antiquity, id be more drawn to it, but since you guys hail back to Anan and dont really claim an unbrokenchain going back to sinai, i feel like i cant make the jump, u know what i mean? its like a new religion that was “rediscovered” in the geonic period, and rabbinate judaism with its far out legal rulings claim a link to Mosaic authority and claim it was never broken, now it may have been broken in pre rabbinic times, but from the second temple era untill today they claim continuity which carries alot of weight, for me at least…… but the subject totally fascinates me nonetheless…. thanks for all the info!

          • Interesting. I look forward to seeing you around here more often.

          • I don’t understand why you would think the Karaites aren’t linked back to the Sadducees. All the old rabbis said they were. The theory that they’re not is very modern. Its a coverup to be sure. And as for the claim often made by modern ‘Orthodox’ rabbis that the Sadducees simply ceased to exist with the destruction of the temple and all Jews descend from the Pharisees, its obvious this is not the whole truth since even the rabbanite teachings clearly have some Sadduceanism in them. Why, for example, is the book of life interpreted as having to do with this life rather than the world to come (as it is in the Pharisaic apocalyptic literature of the second temple period)? Its a compromise the Pharisees obviously had to make with the Sadducees after the destruction of the temple.

  3. Vincent

    Karaite-sympathetic Jew living within the Rabbinic system would love to read your work to get a better understanding of the movement.

  4. Debra Forsman

    I would like to read this one.

  5. Shalom Shawn!
    As a Karaite jew myself. I would love to receive this book!
    Cheers for this site!
    Gal Tamir

  6. Meira Flournoy

    I purchased book and found it very helpful and well written. Only problem is I gave my copy away for someone who was interested in knowing more about Karaite Judaism. Now i need another copy! 😉

  7. jeff burt

    Yes yes yes ….positive karaite resource ….has a transforming christian understanding tradition is blinding all believers and. At one point i would not have been swayed to understand any other point .but now i want to understand only the almightys version iam consumed in wanting to know .and hope others either in christianity or jewish will test there oral traditions …..thanks for the blue thread

  8. eleanor7000

    I’d be very interested in reading it as I am an isolated Karaite in Canada.

  9. Connie Tobias

    I would be honoured to be chosen to receive a copy of this book. Thank you, Connie

  10. Dale Miller

    Gosh,everytime i read,”the blue thread” i learn more and more…I really enjoy gaining wisdom as it is gleaned from the Torah. The setting for this could be right out of proverbs-Mishlei is:15:31-33. I guess that sum it up…thank you so much..

  11. Art Phillips

    I sure would love to get that book!

  12. Isabelle Cohen

    Bummer… I just bought myself a copy of the book! 🙂
    Well worth the money though. Thank you for co-writing it! 🙂

  13. It took my large bookstore a month to get last month’s book, so I am starting to read that. I would love to have this book also.

  14. Katharina

    As I’d really interested in Karaite Judaism, I’d love to get the book. Wish you all the best for your work!

  15. Z.

    This is wonderful and congratulations! I would love to be chosen for the book! either way, I need to get one!

  16. TrueBlue

    Definitely looks well worth the read and well worth putting a copy in every temple, synagogue, church and library to dispel a few myths or maybe just to make people aware that Karaites exist. Ofcourse, it might be difficult convincing most ‘churches’ that almost all of their Bible is Jewish and the rest is just commentary, but it would be worth the effort. I don’t disparage others, just try to remind them that everything comes from the Torah and the Torah alone. All that said, put me in the draw, even the Torah needs a little interpretation and this book looks like it would interpret the Karaite way quite well. 🙂

  17. eleanor7000

    Tried to enter the draw yesterday but never saw my comment go up. I’d be very interested a copy of As It Is Written, because I am an isolated Karaite in Canada. Thanks.

  18. KRH

    This book looks like a valuable resource to anyone interested in Karaite Judaism.

  19. Ray

    I posted the free Kindle ona few sites–hope they like the content.
    Yea–I would like to have a copy of the book.

  20. Norma Stearman

    Would love to see you, Nehemiah, come back to speak at OHHA in the Ozarks again some time…. Really, really enjoyed your last visit with our local group. Would definitely love to receive a hard-copy of your book as another resource in my studies. Shalom!!!!!

  21. Jamie J

    This book was awesome and gave me the information I was looking for to get started with my research on Karaism. I have it on the Kindle but can no longer read books on there as the screen bothers my eyes. Would love to have a hard copy!

  22. Cyndi Mettler

    Can’t wait to read it!

  23. Crosley Black

    Have just finished Conspiracy of Silence, look forward to reading this one!

  24. Thank you, reading the book, gave me a feeling of coming home! Shabbat shalom.

  25. Paul Hogg

    Shalom, anything that sets us free from the fences Yeshua broke down will only increase our relationship with Yeshua’s Father who is in Heaven. HalleluYAH.

    Pls pick me I’m a poor, but happy care giver in NZ :))

  26. Leslee

    I look forward to reading this book! Choose me 🙂

  27. I heard a Baptist pastor say recently, Sola Scriptura! We only do what the book says. Does that make him a Kara-ite Kristian? Then he preached on psalm 119 – that the theme of the psalm was to ‘read and obey your Bibles’.
    (But only the 10 suggestions. The rest of the 613-ish have been ‘nailed to the cross’.)

    Anyway Nehemiah, I appreciate you. If you wrote something on a napkin, I would read it and put it in my wallet for future teachings. Shalom and toda raba!

    By the way – has anyone ever done a non-rabbinic recount of the 613. I’d love to know the Karaite perspective tally.

    Sleepless in St. Louis

    • Thank you for your note. Your comment might have been partially tongue in cheek, but I must add that I object to the term Karaite-Christian. From the inception of the word over 1000 years ago, the term karaite has had a specific meaning and it referred to Jews who derive their laws solely from Tanakh.

      As to the 613, some Karaites have accepted the Rabbanite counting, but most Karaites do not even try to count.

      >

  28. Thomas Winchester

    Please put me in the drawing for the book ‘As It Is Written’. May I suggest your next book show that there is not an Oral Law but rather a Natural Law that has always existed and is simply codified in the Torah. If I could be of any help in this direction please let me know.

  29. Sam Kelkaynu

    This sounds like it could be a very interesting book. Do Karaites and Rabbanites understand the (written) Torah the same, and Rabbinic additions are laid over the top, so to speak, or do the additions affect the way Torah itself is understood? Are there examples in the book? Shalom, His name be upon you.

  30. Melanie Iris Munro

    I would be Blessed to receive a copy of ” As it is Written”…may you be Blessed too! Shalom from Melanie.

  31. Roger Oppenheimer, DDS

    Great book. It is a concise reply to what is Karaite Jewdaism. Looking forward to more books!

  32. JudyAltstiel

    CHOOOOOOOSE ME! CAN YOU SEE ME JUMPING UP AND DOWN LIKE A CHILD, WITH MY ARMS UP IN THE AIR SO YOU CAN SEE ME??

  33. Robert R Savard

    I haven’t read the book yet…although knowing in advance the “truth” that Nehemia is hot for tells me it’ll be good and not fiction

    Yehovah bless you and keep you
    Rob

  34. Aaron Kavli

    Me too! Thanks.

  35. Dale Fredrikson

    I look forward to reading your book. I am greatful for the free e-book

  36. Ron

    I am so far behind after reading these comments I know I need to read it.

  37. Michael Klein

    In the book, you spell out the Name of the Creator with a W instead og a V…. why is this? During my hebrew studies I did not encounter a W letter, thanks

      • Some people theorize that the Vav used to be pronounced like a “W” – that is why the book has it with a W.

        On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 1:35 PM, A Blue Thread

        • eleanor7000

          This theory is supported by the fact that in Arabic the word for “and” is pronounced “wa” – probably evolved from ancient spoken Hebrew with the Waw conjunction sounding like a W.

      • eleanor7000

        In reading Hebrew I always treat Waw as a W sound and Beit-no-dagesh as a V sound. Brings much clarity. Do others also do this?

        • Yes, I do too, and I’m not even Jewish! I plan to read the free book, as I greatly appreciate the Karaite way of life. My life mission is to restore Christianity to it’s Mosaic torah observant roots, and I find the corresponding efforts of my Karaite Jewish friends and neighbors in their community heartwarming. Yhwh bless! And yes, I would be willing to accept a free paper book!

    • Thomas Winchester

      The ‘V’ sound is from the diaspora language of Yiddish and evolved from the German influence in that language. When the Hebrew letter is the lead consonant, in the original Biblical Hebrew, it is always pronounced with a hard ‘W’ sound. As in the Creator’s name.

      • Paul

        Shalom Thomas,
        W ay to go….YHWH IS ECHAD

      • Thomas Winchester

        To further clarify what I just stated;,it would be more correct to say; The lead consonant of any new syllable is always pronounced with a hard sound.

        • eleanor7000

          What do you mean by “a hard W sound”? Is that different from a V? And you seem to be saying you treat Waw as having a “dagesh” when leading a syllable, even though it is never written with one. Can you give us some reasons?

          • Thomas Winchester

            The Letter Waw (and not Vav)

            The history of the Hebrew language is divided into four major periods. The first is Classical (or Scriptural) Hebrew. It is the language the Tanakh is written in. The second major period is Mishnaic (or Rabbinic) Hebrew; written about 200 C.E. The third period is Medieval Hebrew (Yiddish). It was used from about the 6th to the 13th century C.E. It uses many words borrowed from the nations the Jews have gone to in their Diaspora. The fourth is Modern Hebrew. It is the language used in Israel today. It is a unique combination of all the earlier periods; mostly Classical and Yiddish.
            Because I follow only the Torah I have made a personal decision to only follow the rules of Classical Hebrew, since that is the language it was originally written in. If you are not a purist like I am, and decide on Modern Hebrew pronunciations, there is not any reason to read further. Classical Hebrew can be further divided into three periods, pictograph (similar to hieroglyphics), Paleo, and the then the final and most familiar letters; those borrowed from the Babylonian alphabet. Unfortunately, there is very little historical and archeological evidence to work with the pictograph and paleo alphabets; so by default we are stuck with the Babylonian letters (yet remember it is also a Semantic language).
            So is the Hebrew letter under discussion a ‘waw’ or a ‘vav’? Briefly, the Greek alphabet evolved from the Hebrew (some might argue the Phoenician; really the same thing) and the Latin evolved from the Greek. So let’s backtrack. The Roman V is always pronounced as the modern W. The V evolved out of the Greek U; pronounced with a modern U sound. I suspect the Romans changed the shape to a V because it was easier to carve into rock. The same practice is still used for the letter U on many modern government buildings. Latin and Ancient Greek never had the modern V sound in their language.
            The W letter and sound evolved out of the U (or V pronounced with a U sound) to make the hard sound of W; as opposed to a soft U sound. That is why it is called a ‘double U’! The first syllable in the Creator’s name is Yahu. Note that it ends in a soft U vowel sound. The next syllable, because the letter under discussion is the first consonant gets a double U (i.e. a hard sound). The modern V sound is how the Germans pronounce the letter W. The German influence is where it was picked up in the Yiddish language. German does not have a W sound. I have validated the Hebrew pronunciation of this letter from many scholarly works that specialize in the Classical Hebrew language and I do not use Hebrew language books; that are corrupted with the modern Hebrew-Yiddish influence.
            The ancient languages, of Latin and Greek, occurred in the same region and time period as the Classical Hebrew language; and were influenced by the Hebrew (via Phoenician traders). None of them had the hard V sound; but it should be noted that they did have a soft b, pronounce bv as opposed to the hard B sound that is used at the beginning of a syllable. In summary I use the science of etymology and the works of experts in that field to come to my conclusion since we do not have any recordings of the ancient Hebrews.

  38. Dani'el Crabbtree

    This looks like a good book. I need to go to the internet cafee and read some more.

  39. 144000treesoflife

    “As It Is Written,” yes, that’s whats the name Karaite is supposed to stand for, yet why do most Karaites still go by the Caesar Constantine decree in their celebration of the Omer sacrifice and, in consequence, in their celebration of Shavuot? That is, by reckoning the Roman-Latin way, and by thus celebraing it on the morrow after the end of the Shabbat, and not by reckoning it the Torah way, which is the morning after the beginning of the Shabbat??? If you don’t believe me, why not do your own word study of מחר, or, more particularly, of the very first instance of that word in the תנך?

    Or perhaps I’ll find an answer to that question once I’ve read the hard copy of As It Is Written which I hope to be one of the blessed recipients of…

    Shabbat Shalom

    • 144000treesoflife

      That is, Genesis 19:34

    • Hi, is your point that Karaites should start counting on Saturday morning and not on Sunday Morning? The word at issue is not מחר. It is מָחֳרָת.

      I am not sure that would change the analysis in your mind, but I just wanted to point that out. I will look into your linguistic issue of whether “MiMacharat HaShabbat” can refer to the morning *of* shabbat – as opposed to the morning *after* shabbat.

      To be clear, all Karaites start counting the omer on Sunday. (I don’t know a single one that starts on Saturday – so I am not sure why you said “most.”) Would you please tell me what this Caesar/Constantine Decree you are referencing is?

      • 144000treesoflife

        Yes, my “point [is] that Karaites [those that wish to be true to the name Karaite] should start counting [the Omer] on Saturday morning [or actually at the time when the Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday] and not on Sunday Morning.” That is, the sacrifice of Omer was to be brought on Saturday morning.

        And yes, I am well aware that “The word at issue is not מחר. It is מָחֳרָת,” but, upon careful analysis, you may discover, as I have, that the differences between the two words only emphasize my point. Please feel free to point out to me any errors you find in the following response of mine – not forgetting the links provided!:

        Emperor Constantine (who reigned 306-337 CE) decreed (following the Council of Nicaea of 325 CE:)

        “At the council we also considered the issue of our holiest day, Easter, and it was determined by common consent that everyone, everywhere should celebrate it on one and the same day. For what can be more appropriate, or what more solemn, than that this feast from which we have received the hope of immortality, should be kept by all without variation, using the same order and a clear arrangement? And in the first place, it seemed very unworthy for us to keep this most sacred feast following the custom of the Jews, a people who have soiled their hands in a most terrible outrage, and have thus polluted their souls, and are now deservedly blind. Since we have cast aside their way of calculating the date of the festival, we can ensure that future generations can celebrate this observance at the more accurate time which we have kept from the first day of the passion until the present time….” (Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea#cite_ref-56)

        Judaism faced some severe restrictions under Constantius (337-361 CE,) who seems to have followed an anti-Jewish policy in line with that of his father. (Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantius_II#Judaism)

        “The purpose of the [Jewish calendar] is to ensure that the festivals, all of which occur on fixed dates of the lunar months, are also observed each year in the seasons designated for them in the Bible. To ensure the former, occasional intercalations of a day in a month were required; to ensure the latter, occasional intercalations of an extra month in a year were required.

        “These intercalations were determined at meetings of a special committee of the Sanhedrin. But Constantius II, following the precedents of Hadrian, prohibited the holding of such meetings…” (Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_II)

        Given the above decree, prohibition, and persecutions… Given also the fact that Hebrew was not spoken as a mother tongue for the extended period from the 2nd century CE until the Hebrew language revival of the 1880ies, it is easy to see that many particulars re the Hebrew culture generally, and re Hebrew calendar reckoning and Biblical Feast celebrations in particular, were forgotten. It stands to reason that the revivalists of the Hebrew language in the 1880ies, albeit accomplishing a great feat, did not get every detail revived perfectly, nor totally without error… Once the old time Feasts were again revived, albeit not perfectly in every detail, it is not an easy thing to correct such traditions. These errors as established by tradition seem to have a life of their own. (Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revival_of_the_Hebrew_language and http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/This-week-in-history-Revival-of-the-Hebrew-language)

        An analysis of the Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament gives me good reasons for believing that there was no conflict between Jews generally and Jews converted to Christianity so far as their observance of the day of Shavuot (Pentecost) is concerned. That is, all Jews were at that time (1st century CE) observing Shavuot on a Seventh Day Shabbat. (Cf. e.g. Acts 21:26-27 and http://adamoh.org/TreeOfLife.lan.io/NTCh/TableDatingEventsInActsAndInTheEpistles.htm#TLTActs21v26to27)

        Accordingly, I do not find it hard to perceive that most all, Jews and Christians alike, had forgotten some of the unique features of the Scriptural feasts… While being certainly eager, even impatient, to observe the instructions re the annual feasts as ordained in Leviticus 23. Unfortunately, most everyone, at this late age, were being steeped in Roman-Latin concepts of time, and some of the uniquely Hebrew concepts of time had been forgotten in consequence of the failure of keeping the Scriptural teaching feasts alive on a continuous basis. (For more particulars re the תנך instructions re Shavuot, please enjoy and be blessed by my discoveries presented under this link: http://adamoh.org/TreeOfLife.lan.io/NTCh/TheFeastofWeeks-TheAnteTypeForTheCycleOfJubilee.htm)

        In summary, once again: Yes, my “point [is] that Karaites [those that wish to be true to the name Karaite] should start counting [the Omer] on Saturday morning and not on Sunday Morning.”

        • Hi and thank you for your post. I wish that everyone had your enthusiasm. The problem with your theory is that it is expressly refuted by Joshua 5:11, where the counting started on a Sunday. This brings me to a fundamental point about being a Karaite. We read the text to find the answers. I see a lot of citations to extra-biblical sources. Please review Joshua 5:11 (and leviticus 23:14). If you need some assistance, please see this link. http://www.karaite-korner.org/shavuot.shtml.

          If you still disagree, perhaps it is best to agree to disagree.

          • I am looking carefully at all of your references, including your two references to the תנך and, as well, your extra-biblical link to one of Nehemia’s articles…

            Have you noticed that your extra-biblical link is building upon the presumption that the Omer sacrifice is always being brought on a Sunday? I see no Biblical support for that presumption in any of Nehemia’s articles, nor anywhere else. As far as I can tell Nehemia is simply not adressing this issue at all…

            If you think about it carefully, you may notice that if the Omer sacrifice was brought on the morrow after the Pesach sacrifice, then, in that year of crossing the Jordan, Abib 15 fell out on the Seventh Day Shabbat, not on the First Day of the week.

            Furthermore, the above said may be a moot point?, because neither מעבור הארץ, nor מצות, nor קלוי (all the items specified in Joshua 5:11) are listed exactly as such among the prohibited items לחם, קלי, and כרמל (the items specified in Leviticus 23:14.) As far as I know לחם is generally a reference to bread that is leavened, whereas מצות is generally a reference to unleavened bread. As best I can tell the words מעבור הארץ are “used only of stored grain” (cf. Strong’s H5669.) Lastly, the difference in the spelling between קלוי and קלי is, to my understanding of Biblical Hebrew, a difference denoting the difference between something less than perfect and between something perfect. For instance, as in the difference between something old and something fresh.

            Please correct me where I am wrong! Thank you for caring about this issue, and thank you for your comments, past and future!

            So, you see, I too am doing my best to live up to the meaning inherent in the name Karaite…

          • 144000treesoflife

            I am looking carefully at all of your references, including your two references to the תנך and, as well, your extra-biblical link to one of Nehemia’s articles…

            Have you noticed that your extra-biblical link is building upon the presumption that the Omer sacrifice is always being brought on a Sunday? I see no Biblical support for that presumption in any of Nehemia’s articles, nor anywhere else. As far as I can tell Nehemia is simply not adressing this issue at all…

            If you think about it carefully, you may notice that if the Omer sacrifice was brought on the morrow after the Pesach sacrifice, then, in that year of crossing the Jordan, Abib 15 fell out on the Seventh Day Shabbat, not on the First Day of the week.

            Furthermore, the above said may be a moot point?, because neither מעבור הארץ, nor מצות, nor קלוי (all the items specified in Joshua 5:11) are listed exactly as such among the prohibited items לחם, קלי, and כרמל (the items specified in Leviticus 23:14.) As far as I know לחם is generally a reference to bread that is leavened, whereas מצות is generally a reference to unleavened bread. As best I can tell the words מעבור הארץ are “used only of stored grain” (cf. Strong’s H5669.) Lastly, the difference in the spelling between קלוי and קלי is, to my understanding of Biblical Hebrew, a difference denoting the difference between something less than perfect and between something perfect. For instance, as in the difference between something old and something fresh.

            Please correct me where I am wrong! Thank you for caring about this issue, and thank you for your comments, past and future!

            So, you see, I too am doing my best to live up to the meaning inherent in the name Karaite…

          • Hi, you are welcome to your opinion. This site is actually not intended to convince anyone of anything. I promote the Karaite view (and some fun differences from Rabbinic Judaism). But having a full halakhic discussion is not the goal of the site. In any event, I have set forth my point and you have set forth yours. By all means, observe as your heart compels you.

  40. Excellent book, excellent lifestyle. May the righteous of Yhwh increase and be many!

  41. Eric John Nagel

    Shalom, I am going to download it and hope to win a copy to share with others.

  42. KRH

    This look like a great resource for Karaites, and for anyone interested in Karaite Judaism. Please include me in the drawing!

  43. Alochukwu

    Please choose me.

  44. Sheryl

    I have started reading this on the download to my computer (that is about to crash) so I would love a physical copy. It is very informative so far!!

  45. Charmaine

    Please choose me!!! I want to know more aboute Karaite’s and love Nehemia’s work already! I am sure I will enjoy this book!!

  46. Charlene

    I NEED this book in my personal library!

  47. Jim Behnke

    I lend my copy out to my friends. Everybody needs to read this book. It’s short and a fast read. You will be glad you got a copy. Keep up the good work.

  48. Kim Silvers

    I would live a copy

  49. Kim Silvers

    I would love a copy please

  50. Carol White

    What a sweet and significant way to get this book out to others! Thank you for this free E-Book and after I read it; I am sure to get a hard copy for our family library. Appreciate it so much and may Abba bless you abundantly for your thoughtfulness and generosity! Shalom

  51. I received this book and my hubby and I are really enjoying it. We are slow readers. I don’t need entered, but I have a question. Can we post discussions/questions from that book here?

  52. TrueBlue

    I’m wondering if there is a way to get an electronic copy without going through Amazon ? I don’t use a kindle but my reader will accept that format, unfortunately I don’t feel like handing my credit card information to Amazon…not after the lasttime. Is there a way to put a download on this site for however long you intend to make the book free ? Not that I’m trying tos top you from making a return on your work, of course. I just don’t feel like giving Amazon a return on it 😉

  53. DavidbenOmri

    I have enjoyed and been blessed by Nehemiah’s writings this past year along with his co- writing with Keith Johnson and have learned a lot from the Karaite perspective of Torah only based Biblical obedience. Very thought provoking challenges to traditions of men.

  54. Nancy Hodges

    Hope to obtain a copy of A BLUE THREAD because of my interest in the way the Karaites determine the months and the feast days, The Karaites seem to determine the seasons as it was intended, So glad it was written, May Yahweh richly bless you

  55. hugs for you all, love the book. I particularly like how you back everything up with scripture quotes and explain the reasoning behind your arguments.
    Keep up the good work. May God bless you and yours and your hard work.
    Mimi

  56. Johan Marais

    I would love to read the book, but unfortunately the mail was sent on friday and as I receive these mails at work, only read (Monday morning) about the free download offer after it expired. I did however download the book, but it is a ‘sample’.
    Johan

  57. Kate

    I’d love a copy of this as I think it’s incredibly valuable to hear about Karaite Judaism from a subjective, personal perspective. Reading about Karaites in texts written by non-Karaites is informative, of course, but it doesn’t give the same insight into what it really means to be a Karaite.

  58. gerson gutierrez

    Pudiera el Caraísmo rescatar y explicar el calendario Esenio ?

  59. Jo

    I don’t blog. How can I enter?

  60. Jerry

    Finally a book that will expand on the Karaites and focus on the razer edge between them and traditional Judaism, Giving some insites on exectly where Judaism deviates from the written texts to move to the Rabbanic authority. this will broaden the understanding of the ‘colorfull lanscape’ of jewish faith and hopefully turn our attention back to the scriputers as the inspired work(s) of Elohim.

  61. I got a copy of “As it is written” yesterday and read it completely in one sitting. Not only because it is quite concise, but because it is very Interesting, informative and well written. Amazing how such a short book could pack in so fun insight!
    Congratulations to the Authors.

  62. Eliyahu

    Although I’m not a Karaite Jew I would like to learn a more about Karaites and it’s seems to me that this book is a right thing for that.

    Shalom from Bosnia

  63. Linda Versyp

    First I need to thank you for the free book for Kindle. The more I read and understand about the Karaites, the more I feel like I’m in agreement with them in almost every aspect. There is so much “tradition” today in Judaism that is not found in scripture. As you so clearly stated: Nothing was to be added or taken away from the Torah and clearly so much has been added to and “adjusted.” Thanks again so very much for the information and the insights. Shalom from Hawley

    • Hi Linda, tradition is a beautiful and wonderful thing. There are even examples in the bible of people taking events and developing customs around them. The issue is when people turn tradition into a commandment.

  64. Ryan

    Rabbis arent supposed to interpret scripture, the judges are supposed to. Its not supposed to be an individual thing. Theres a tribe that has the job of deciding and making judgements. Life and death calls.

    • Karaites agree that it is not “supposed to be an individual thing” but we are supposed to have judges. We do not. So Karaites think that individual interpretation is the next best thing.

  65. Thomas Winchester

    There is no Messiah or any other such thing other than Yahuweh; and He is echad (one)! Only by using the occult art of hermeneutics (etymologically linked to the god hermes) do people come up with the bizarre concept of a man, or man/god, savior. This was started by the Essenes who were influenced in their Babylonian captivity by Zoroastrianism; and infamously continued from them by the Pharisees (modern Judaism) and Christians. Nobody reading the lines of Torah as a literal narrative can see otherwise. Read any other way you can make up whatever you want, and that is why there are so many religious sects and denominations.

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