A Blue Thread is a first-of-its-kind blog commenting on topics of interest to the Jewish community from a Karaite perspective. A Blue Thread leverages the resources of the entire Karaite Jewish community to become your go-to site to learn about Karaite Judaism, its rich culture and its contributions to Judaism as we understand it today.
For all Jews – secular or religious, Karaite or Rabbanite, male or female – we welcome you to the latest thread in the tapestry of Karaite Judaism.
[Comment Policy: I reserve the right to delete any and all comments inconsistent with the positive, welcoming and Jewish nature of the blog.]
Enjoy your site, very informative..
I am blessed by your site. I would like to know more about you and your background. From the site, it sounds like you grew up in a Karaite home. For us that seek to follow YHVH without compromise it is refreshing to read your blog.
Todah Rabah!
I would like to see a blog entry on conversion, both from born Jews and from non-Jews to Karaite Judaism.
Thanks!
My journey has taken me from being a luke-warm Christian to study the scriptures. I realised that Paul is a false Apostle and I rejected his writings. I then moved closer to Messianic Judaism till my study of the scriptures proved that Jesus is not the Messiah. I now know that the true religion is Judaism and I want to convert to Karaite Judaism. If you can, please put me in contact with a Karaite synagogue in Israel with whom I can discuss conversion. I will be very happy to travel to Israel from Australia to convert.
Shalom
Frank Wassermann
As far as I know, you actually cannot convert in Israel. This is a problem with Israeli law. You have to convert abroad – unless my understanding is wrong or the law has changed.
My name is Benjamin and i also want to convert to Karaite Judaism. I need someone to guide me through all what i need to do.
Thanks .
Benjamin From Trinidad and Tobago.
bsro4me@hotmail.com is my email
Frank, Shawn is correct about converting in Israel. Unfortunately Karaim are barely existent outside of Israel but if you want to be Jewish and recognized by the State of Israel as such then you could convert to any form of Judaism and afterwards practice as a Karaite. I know of others who have done this themselves.
Frank,
Check out this link. http://kjuonline.com/home.htm It provides courses which lead to conversion to Karasim.
Shalom
Frank, your journey to find the truth is similar to my own however, I am a gentile who is married to a Polish-Jew. We left the Christian church several years ago, after discovering what a deceitful liar Paul was. We were then drawn to the Messianic Hebrew movement. After studying the Scriptures together, we realized that there was no way Jesus/Yeshua could have possibly been the Messiah. After being lied to for most of our lives by the church (man), we decided that we were going to observe only the words of the Hebrew God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which is in line with what the Karaite’s believe.
My husband is a Polish-Jew who (like many) hid their “Jewishness” by assimilating in to the Christian faith, while living in Poland. Even after coming to the US after the WW II, they were still terrified of being “found out”, so they passed the Christian teachings on to their children/grandchildren. To this day, my husband is the only one in his family to recognize and embrace his Hebrew roots openly. The irony that we live and own a business in Dearborn, Michigan, which has the largest Muslim population outside of the middle-east is not lost on us. Oftentimes, we find that our Muslim cousins share many of the same beliefs as the Jews do- and are actually much closer to the truth than the Christians! Our children attend a private Catholic school (our public schools are not good) and with permission from their Principal, do not participate in any of their masses or observe any of their teachings. I am thrilled that our son and daughter have been able to recognize on their own, the violations and cherry-picking of Hashem’s Laws and words that the Christians are taught to follow. They are the “Blue Thread” that my husband and I hope to preserve. We practice our faith in our own home and do not belong to any Synagogue or church, since there isn’t a Karaite community around us. There are moments when we feel like we are all alone in our beliefs, but knowing that there are others out there who feel the same way we do, gives us peace of mind.
Thank you Maurice Pessah, for helping to spread the truth of Torah and Tanahk to those of us who were lost, and for helping to bring my husband back to his Hebrew roots.
Shalom,
Gail
Izbthcldwll, from what I’ve studied, and from a purely biblical perspective (which btw is what Karaite Judaism prides itself on), all that is required to become a Karaite Jew is a vow to worship YHUH and Him alone, to acquire the proper knowledge of and obedience to His covenant, and a vow to join one’s self to the people of Israel such as the case with Ruth the Moabitess. The current situation, however, requires the Karaite leadership to properly vet new converts through education at the karaite university along with a beit din so that they truly understand what they are getting into. Since no one has the divine authority to determine who is and who isn’t a jew, it can be argued that the current conversion process is not biblical and is therefore up for debate.
Lionel,
A few years ago, I called the Karaite Jews of America, to inquire about converting and was told exactly what you stated regarding the only required step to converting to Karaite Judaism was to make the vow. I was told that an “official” conversion was not necessary, unless our family planned to move to Israel using the “Law/Right of Return” and to be granted Israeli citizenship.
Hi Gail,
Who told you this?
I can’t recall the gentleman’s name who I spoke with on the phone. He was from the Karaite Jews of America located in California.
Shawn,
Excellent work! Our community is very blessed to have someone with your
dedication and knowledge.
Regards,
Maurice Pessah
I have been studying Torah for 3 years now and living as strictly as possible by its rules. For the longest time I thought I was not finding something that should be apparent. I kept seeing all these other Jews follow rules, customs, and rituals that I did not find in the Torah. And, quite a bit of it being a ridiculous double standard and contradiction (i.e. The ultra-orthodox having wives wear wigs so they aren’t alluring yet allow them to style it so it is alluring??), but then I finally figure out I’m a Karaite!!
I have been searching around, and it appears there are virtually no places to gather in the USA except in Daly City. And, it appears that the Karaite University is not taking applicants for education or conversion.. Any suggestions on my next step? It would be quite appealing to meet some like-minded Jews, as I find discussing Judaism with non-Karaite
as hypocritical as discussing it with Christians.
I am doing my best to make a trip to Israel later this year (just got my passport photo done)
so hopefully by then I will have more info about converting, etc.
Thank you for all you do,
Ches Misso
Hi Ches, I am going to remove this comment for not conforming to the positive and welcoming tone of the blog. Feel free to email me directly if you have questions. (I don’t want this deletion to dissuade you from finding your path. I just don’t believe it is hypocritical to discuss this Tanakh with Rabbanites or scholars or christians.)
Before,coming to this site,I have been searching…I know now…been following the Torah…keeping Shabbat and trying to observe HIS mitsvots.We would really like to know more about “becoming a Karite” is it possible for a gentile to be a Karite ??
Hi, thank you for your note. Karaites are Jews, and Karaite Judaism is a type of Jewish movement (or as some would say Jewish “sect”). In my humble opinion, I do not believe it is proper for non-Jews to call themselves Karaites. If you are interested in living a Torah-observant lifestyle, there are many organizations that can help you. There are even organizations of non-Jews who wish to keep Torah. By all means, drop me a note if you have any questions. (Shawn@abluethread.com).
As a Jew who agrees with you that Karaites are Jews, I still have to note that it seems like the great majority of people who call themselves Karaites are Gentiles! I don’t really understand???
The “dry bones” of Ezekiel’s vision are, according to Orthodox Judaism, the children of Ephraim who died in battle because of their arrogance, leaving without provision and battling while hungry in Sefer HaYashar.
If this were a prophecy, could there be people who had seemed to be dead (people who were dead in their arrogance at one time), who would be looking for (hungry for) the Torah to breathe life into them?
If the patrilineal descent line were Torah-derived, and yet the last several hundred years have followed only a matrilineal descent line, where is the Torah-observant Israelite? Could there be Hebrews / Eberites (those who “crossed over”) who are now hungry to follow Torah?
https://www.nehemiaswall.com/lost-book-of-jasher
Interesting interview here.
Sefer haYashar may be fiction.
The decent lines issue is still of concern, and the concept of “can these dry bones live?” is still amazing potential.
Perhaps one who adheres to Hebrew Scriptsure could properly be called a Karaite (Scripturalist). And the distinction of Karaite Jew could be reserved for Jews.
The problem is that you are taking a term that had a very specific meaning and trying to give it another meaning to fit some modern notions.
As I can tell a Gentile is a Gentile and a Jew is a Jew but when a Gentile Converts he is no longer a Gentile but a Jew so the above stays true. It doesn’t matter what brand of Judaism you belong to you are separated from the nations as Jew but as a Gentile you are still part of the nations not bad or good but that is the way things are.
Dear Shawn Lichaa,
I just enjoyed your film on your faith. I am Egyptian as you and have 1000 Questions and would like to exchange information. Maybe you’d like to contact me.
yours,
Marwan
Hi Marwan, please email me at shawn@abluethread.com
Greetings…I wanted to know when the Shmita year or sabbatical years starts for Karaites is it at Yom Teruah or the 1 st month when we do Pesach???
The majority historical Karaite view is that it occurs in the Seventh Month.
Nehemia Gordon (at the Karaite Korner) suggests that it occurs in the Spring (The Month of Aviv). His view is set forth toward the end of this post: http://karaite-korner.org/yom_teruah.shtml
And the traditional Karaite view is set forth here. http://www.karaites.org/uploads/7/4/1/3/7413835/mikdash_meat_section_7_yom_teruah.pdf
Search the Scripture well.
Thank you for answering. I will have to search far and wide as there are no Karaites in Australia that I know of.
Shalom
Frank
I think that there is a congregation in the US (Daly City, California, I think:) I believe that they accept converts and carry out conversions, I have no connection with them but I have read this in a few places
Hi Frank, I’m in Australia and believe along similar lines to you. Shalom.
Nice site, the Blue Thread!
I have met a gentleman in suburban Sydney who says he is a Messianic Karaite Jew
Well . . . we all have our identity. . .
I’m pretty sure my family is the only Karaite family in Sydney… and we are definitely not “””Messianic”””.
Hi Haley,
I am for sure the only Karaite Jew in Queenstown TAS, so do not let your isolation push you off the path
Very informative site. Is there a Karaite community in San Diego?
Very small – and aging.
Very interesting website. I am sad to hear that the community in San Diego is small and aging. I see this trend in general with Rabbinic synagogues as well.
How many members are in the schul? Do you have daily services? Do Kaarites care about making Minyan or is that strictly rabbinical?
If you need any artwork done for shirts, posters, website, etc………it’s free for you. Just let me know. I am an artist and know other artists as well. You wouldn’t have to pay anything. Just let me know the file format, art requirements etc…..
A question. How do you decide what is a metaphor? Why do you not use teffilfin and mezzuzahs?
Hi Yitzchak,
Thank you so very much for this wonderful offer. I would love some assistance. We decide a metaphor based on the context. With respect to tefillen and mezuzot, we think the context and language is clear that the torah is discussing something figurative. Look up the word “kesher” and see that it mostly has a figurative meaning. There are other reasons as well.
Shawn
I’m studying Hebrew and Torah. Is there a Karsrite individual or synagogue near Pittsburgh, PA. I’m very interested in becoming a Kararite.
If you send me an email, I’ll be happy to chat with you.
Since Karaites have been following patrilineal descent and Rabbanites have been following matrilineal descent for almost two thousand years, it follows without fail from simple logic that a sizable proportion of Karaites must not be Jewish from the point of view of Rabbanite halakha and conversely that a sizable proportion of Rabbanites must not be Jewish from the point of view of Karaite halakha. It is amusing (but hardly surprising) that this bare unquestionable fact is simply ignored on all sides. It’s called politics.
Most Jews married other Jews for at least the last 1200 years. I do not know what the situation was like prior to that; but your point is generally correct.
My understanding is that in Karaite Judaism both one’s mother and one’s father must be Karaites in order to be considered a Karaite. If my understanding is right, all Karaites are Jews according to Rabbinic Judaism.
This is not correct. Israelite lineage is through the father in the biblical and the karaite tradition. Having said that, until this last 40 years or so, the Karaites lived in places where there was no intermarriage.
I found your website from youtube. I’m from Jakarta, Indonesia. I found similarities in what we both believe in. I was born and raised in a moslem family which believe in Al Quran and Hadith (kind of oral law in Islam), but later I converted to Quran only. The same thing that you do in Karaites. Most of the Islamic laws was based on ‘Ulama’ teaching. But as yours, I didn’t consider it as main law. I responsible to find out by myself the interpretation of the scripture (Quran). I watched your presentation in Youtube and become familiar with your explanation. Just like looking at myself on the mirror. My belief is minority as well and entirely different with the moslem vast majority. My interpretation of the scripture is flexible, some of them need to be interpreted literally, and I know when to interpret another verses metaphorically. By doing that, I do believe that God has sent messengers to convey his messages to all mankind. We dont have to be 100% the same but at least we go to the same direction. I’ve been looking community just like yours who follow only the scripture from the God and I’m very happy to see that you are there. And I do believe that the same teaching must be exist in the others belief such as christianity who denied the divinity of Jesus and only follow their scripture. We are in the same monotheism foundation.
What is the karite practice with regard to shaving with a razor or otherwise
Well since 2007 there are two Karaites in Australia I have given my details to them
But no one knows by the sound of this
Frank Wassermann
Dear Shawn,
Thank you so much for being a source of information. Is there a Karaite community in the United Kingdom?
Regards,
Bianca
There are many individual Karaites in the UK. It is hard to say there is a community though.
Nice Blog! I am from Maryland and was looking up the dates for Passover and came across your blog.
Thanks for having this and keeping the knowledge and pride my parents and many other older people that came for religious freedom to the US.
please email me Shawn@abluethread.com
I live about an hour and a half Daly city and we met once at Bnai Israel…I came with my son…ive been going there off and on with my son Malaki for almost 2 years…and im very serious about converting can you please contact me I will not waste your time…this is my whole life and I want to be offially part of Israel and live for Gods truth…ive been keeping Torah the best I can for about 4 years now according to karaite customs…and Have been studying hebrew for about 4 years…still learning…please help me.
Is there anywhere that makes tekhelet cord that is thick and durable like the rabbinites but is not dyed with unkosher sea snail?
Can you please email me asap I just some with the rabbi of B’nai Israel in Daley City he said that it would be good to convers with you, please email me and I can email you my phone number thank you- Shalom
Please email me at shawn@abluethread.com
Greetings,
In a Karaite text, I have found mention of someone who was “appointed to be the mitpalel.” Of course the last word means ‘one [specifically, male] who prays’, but this must be the name of a specific functionary. Do you have any information on the duties of such a person?
Thank you for your attention to this matter — and all the best in the new year.
Which text is this? I’d have to see to give context.
Is there any word in the Karaite language meaning ‘rabbi’s wife’? I am not asking for a word-for-word translation of ‘rabbi’s wife’ or ‘wife of a rabbi’, but, if it exists, a single word having that meaning, thus a word analogous to Hebrew rabanit and Yidish rebetsn.
Thank you for your attention to this matter — and all the best in the new year.
Not that I am aware.
I believe and fallow Karaite Judaism I wish to convert but I dont know any other Jewish people except for my step father. But I am open minded to any thing pertaining to Judaism
I have been on a long journey to find the truth about God and what I can believe/have faith in. My journey started when I was 12 and I challenged the catholic church, then practically every faith after that. None of it sounded right to me. I had no confidence that what I was being told/taught was true, it just didn’t sound right at all. My journey lead me to the root of it all, the Torah and the Tanach. I never believed Jesus was the Messiah. He was so contradicting and this world didn’t get any better. Plus the things that were written about him were weird so I stopped looking to Christianity, it was all the same. I then looked into Judaism. I found myself closely relating to the Orthodox faith, however, confused with the oral law, it seemed to make my learning more complex and difficult, then in my studying judaism I found out about Karaite Judaism. I live in Milwaukee, WI and there are, not to my knowledge, any Karaites here, so no synagogues and no support for my growth or fellowship. Any advice?
Hello,
I’m trying to demonstrate the presence of Karaite Jews in Sicily during Middle Age. I have no more than some weak hypothesis (Moshe Idel says “there is no evidence about Karaite Jews in Sicily”), but I think thei came with the Byzantine commander Ghioghios Maniakes.
Can you help me?
Please contact me at fondazionem@gmail.com
Thank you
Davide C. Crimi
Hello,
I’m trying to demonstrate the presence of Karaite Jews in Sicily during Middle Age. I have no more than some weak hypothesis (Moshe Idel says “there is no evidence about Karaite Jews in Sicily”), but I think they came with the Byzantine commander Ghioghios Maniakes.
Can you help me?
Please contact me at fondazionem@gmail.com
Thank you
Davide C. Crimi
In Sicily in particular? Please email me at shawn@abluethread.com
Great job
I hope that this doesn’t offend anyone but I found that your blog covered a lot of topics that may make this link appropriate. We have produced this high quality Audio book that may be of interest to this community.
“The Books of I & II Maccabees: Where The Story of Hanukkah Is Found”
http://amzn.to/2e1qQ6n
I also have several other audio books that my be of interest to you on other similar topics. You can visit my friends author page here.
https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Bagley-III/e/B01M73B0OZ/
Thank you for your time.
I love your site. Thank you so much for your time and effort… I know it can be a daunting task, maintaining a website, much less having the time to respond to everyone that appears. But, from reading just this one thread, you have done an excellent job. Much gratitude from everyone.
I converted to Judaism almost 18 years ago. Within the first couple of years of my conversion, I quickly came to discover that I had problems within what we call Rabbinical Judaism. I could never wrap my mind around why we needed the Oral Law of the Rabbinate on top of the perfectly Written Law of G-d. After many years of wrestling with it and within it, I stepped away for a time. I became a non-practicing Jew who began to explore other religious faiths (Christianity, Islam) to see how they dealt with their Holy Writings.
It was in Islam that I discovered Quranism, or Quran-only. Which, by strange coincidence, led me to Karaite Judaism. I had never heard of this branch of the Jewish tree that followed only the Tanakh. I was extremely excited… until I saw how small a group they really were. I mean, where I currently live, being Jewish is an oddity of it’s own–but to be Karaite, well that would just be unheard of. Here in the deep South of the US, we have a large Reform community, a dwindling Conservative shul and a non-existent Orthodox presence.
But, if I read correctly, in your opinion, any Jew who wanted to follow in the ways and practices of the Karaite Jews would be more than welcomed to and could also consider themselves a Karaite? Even without having a community? I would be a loner amongst loners.
When and if you have time I would love to hear your thoughts.
Shalom and Shanah Tovah,
Taavi
My situation is the same as yours. I left christianity around 5 years ago, I tried Messianic Jewish, Hebrew roots until I discovered Jesus was not the Messiah, Was not God’s son, I always new he was not the Father. I go every Shabbat to a Orthodox Synagogue but I don’t agree with oral law. I follow Karaite Jews of America online. I love karaite judaism but I live in Ontario Canada and i don’t know anybody else who practice karaism. Thanks to Blue Thread for this blog and for their time.
Hang in there Ines, many Karaites all over the world are isolated, me too.
Frank, Perth Australia
Shalom Taavi,
I live in east central Mississippi. I’m looking for others to fellowship with. What part of the deep south do you live?
Shalom to ya’ll,
Alton Lamar Goodin
I have pondered the requirements for conversion of many groups, yet none could clearly prove it from the Bible. I found my answer in a book by Devin Sper called ” The Future of Israel” It has a chapter on proselytism in the times before Rabbinic laws as well as christian and muslim threats which greatly slowed it down. Israel was still zealous for the Torah and they knew that Judaism is the international faith that all will follow eventually. Many thousands, possibly millions from the nations became Jews simply by accepting the G-d of Israel as their G-d, the Jews as their people and living according to Jewish law. I see no reason why conversion should be any different today.
My father is Jewish. Ive read that the Karaites are Patrilineal descent. Would I have to convert or would I just be able to perform Karaite prayers and wear tallit?
Hi, I don’t see a ‘contact us’ so I can send an unrelated question so I’ll use this space.
My question is how do Karaites translate the Hebrew word, “ger”? The Rabbanim translate it either as convert or stranger. Do Karaites do the same?
Personally, I don’t think it ever means convert, just stranger.
And I’m not sure how to differentiate ‘ger’ from ‘zar’. The latter most often means non-Kohen but it’s also used to just mean a stranger.
I know in modern Hebrew ‘ger’ usually refers to a convert and ‘zar’ is used for a stranger.
So how do Karaites translate ‘ger’ in the Tanach?
Thank you
It was a pleasure visiting and meeting some members of your congregation last weekend. I look forward to returning to SF when the renovations are completed.
You are welcome any time!
Thank you, Todaz please publish the English version with the Hebrew included in the book. I’m so desperate for a Torah commentary. The only thing I can rely on if not Sephardic commentaries is secular scholarly commentaries by conservative Jews, it’s nice to be informed by archeology and ext but I want to understand the laws piece by piece from a Karaite perspective. It’s very depressing not having anything to read which actually makes sense from an objective point of view. Makes YHWH give it to you to complete the entire Torah commentary soon. I can’t wait to purchase my first copy. Please finish your work, this task is not from man but our father and maker Yah.
1. Do you keep the solar calendar (sun-sat) for your work week like the rest of the world?
2. Do you keep the luni-solar calendar based on the barley harvest for feast days only?
3. Do you keep the 7th day Sabbath on Saturday like the Seventh-day Adventists?
Thank you for your help in this.
Sandy
Shalom Rabbi
As a modern orthodox Jewish man, have realized that the written Torah/Tanakh has the totality of Judaism and its laws, commandments and mitzvot. After understanding that the tefillin passages are not to be taken literally but figuratively as many statements similar to circumcizing the heart.
Recently found the following pesukim in my studies.
Ezekiel 13:18-21
“and say: Thus, said the Lord GOD: Woe to those who sew pads on all arm-joints and make bonnets for the head of every person, in order to entrap! Can you hunt down lives among My people, while you preserve your own lives? You have profaned My name among My people in return for handfuls of barley and morsels of bread; you have announced the death of persons who will not die and the survival of persons who will not live—lying to My people, who listen to your lies. Assuredly, thus said the Lord GOD: I am going to deal with your pads, by which you hunt down lives like birds, and I will tear them from your arms and free the persons whose lives you hunt down like birds.
I will tear off your bonnets and rescue My people from your hands, and they shall no longer be prey in your hands; then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
Could it be that Hashem is also angered by the wearing of kippot (bonnets) and tefillin (arm pads) in understanding the Rabbinical Judaism’s Oral Torah of men gods. (Bava Metzia 59b:5)
Your understanding would be appreicated.
Hello Blue Thread! I am Jewish (99.8% DNA) born of Ashkenazy parents, so I completely understand that Jews certainly do not have to “convert” to be Karaite or follow the Karaite path. But from the blog commenters to Blue Thread over the years, it seems that many non-Jews (especially “Shul-Shoppers”) are seeking to convert and become Jewish Karaites. Does the shul in California, or the Karaite organization in the US or in Israel have any plans to establish a conversion path? It is quite clear to me that if these folks are frustrated in their effort to become Jews (of any sort) they will continue on their paths and join with another group. Or, does the Karaite path just flat out discourage conversion to Karaite Judaism? A reply is greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Baruch HaShem!
The Talmud was born in Babylonia when Cyrus the Great of Persia, said to all the people that he concurred, they must except him as their ruler but in return he allowed the people that he concurred to worship who they choose to. This meant the people needed to come up with governing laws to be eligible to continue to worship who they choose, otherwise Cyrus would have deemed them to be not worthy/capable to continue worshiping their choice and would enforce them to worship his peoples choice which was zoroastrianism.
In this environment the Israelites where almost forced to add to the Torah more rules to produce extra order within their communities.
It worked which is great and the Israelites where able to prosper in Babylonia under Persian Rule.
Now away from Babylonia, under Secular Law, Torah law is only for righteous who choose to follow it how they please/intemperate it and is not enforceable. Secular law is enforceable now. (At least in democratic countries)
Some Muslim countries do enforce Quranic Law and we whiteness how that isn’t working as a way to govern the masses of people. It has not proven to generate the same order yet flexibility & overall quality of life that Secular Law does.
The Talmud is not authentic to יהוה , in the sense of liberation from Idol worship , but is authentic as an example of how many men can work together as One to generate order and co operation amongst people who are less willing to dive deeper into the metaphorical meanings of work such as the Torah. However, again this cooperation is replaced by Secular Law today.
The Talmud can be viewed as a great example of mankind’s ability to co operate in unforgiving environments and that we can do this ourselves but that’s where its truest essence ends.
I would like to study Hekesh and Sevel Hayerushah but my Hebrew is not so good and would like to find these Karaite works in English, a PDF wold be preferable.
Check out Mikdash Me’at at the karaite reading room.
https://www.karaites.org/reading-room.html
I heard you on Judaism Unbound. Thank you for opening my eyes to other forms of Judaism.
Harry Goldin
Shalom,
I am currently at a great loss. I am directly descended through my paternal line, in the same situation of others whose families were Russian Jews escaping persecution and hiding in Christianity. Now that I am aware of my history, I feel great guilt that we abandoned the Covenant and am seeking answers as one not accepted by Orthodox Judaism. Tanakh is clear about the responsibility of a father to his firstborn son and a son to his father, the seed of Israel. It is especially so considering G-d’s approval of the Rechabim in how they honored their father’s commands. I am not looking to immigrate to Israel, but simply want to show my love for G-d, honor my fathers’ Covenant, and share in the guidance and support of a community of fellow believers. Would you be able to put me in contact with an official within the Karaite community for guidance?
B’shalom,
Eric
Peace
I was wondering if you could help me. I was interested to know how many times a day karite Jews perform the contact prayer, what form is used and what is recited.
I hope you can help.
Dan
Shalom Shawn
Your YouTube video on the Karaite interpretation of Tefillin is well done. As a retired Jewish physician, I have had several years in an attempt to study and understand Hashem’s Tanakh.
I was raised as a modern orthodox Jew like my father and his father before him. I no longer wear tefillin after having found some interesting texts. Your understanding of several pesukim with metaphorical meanings to texts you mentioned.
I believe found references to Tefillin and sewn boxes on arms and head coverings (Rabbinate Kippot).
Ezekiel 13:18-21
“And say: Thus, said the Lord GOD: Woe to those who sew pads on all arm-joints and make bonnets (head coverings) for the head of every person, in order to entrap! Can you hunt down lives among My people, while you preserve your own lives? You have profaned My name among My people in return for handfuls of barley and morsels of bread; you have announced the death of persons who will not die and the survival of persons who will not live—lying to My people, who listen to your lies.
Assuredly, thus said the Lord GOD: I am going to deal with your pads, by which you hunt down lives like birds, and I will tear them from your arms and free the persons whose lives you hunt down like birds.
I will tear off your bonnets (head coverings) and rescue My people from your hands, and they shall no longer be prey in your hands; then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
Some Orthodox and Hasidic rabbis have attempted to provide me with some explanation for this prophet Ezekiel pesukim. Most attempt the use of sophistry without direct understanding.
Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
B”H
Robert Mandel
Hello I am researching the history of karaite family please let me know if you can help or recommend someone who can.
Thank you