Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Rosh Hashana Machzor

In this first installment of a new series exploring ancient Jewish and rabbinic texts, we examine a striking prayer from the Orthodox Union Rosh Hashanah Machzor. During the blowing of the shofar, the liturgy invokes “Yeshua (the kohen hagadol) minister of the inner chamber.” Many today claim that faith in Jesus as Messiah is foreign to Judaism and incompatible with the Tanakh. Yet these ancient rabbinic sources reveal that core beliefs — a suffering Redeemer, the divine Messiah, and a High Priest who intercedes — were part of Jewish expectation long before the first century. This series highlights how Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these ancient hopes.

This will be the first in a series of quotes from ancient Jewish and rabbinic sources on the Messiah.

The reason for such is that many of those who follow Judaism today claim that Jesus came to start a new religion that was totally foreign to Jews of His day and that Christianity is totally incompatible with the TaNaKH. These writings will be shared to reveal that many of the ancient beliefs of Jews in regards to who the Messiah would be and what He would do were fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.

I will be quoting from Rabbinic sources but this is by no means an endorsement of these writings as there is much that I disagree with as many of the beliefs in Judaism are in contradiction to the Word of God. I am glad to hear the thoughts of others but I ask that the conversations be respectful and in love (Ephesians 4:1).
Belief that Jesus the Messiah is the LORD in the flesh, the Son of God, our Redeemer who would suffer for the sins of mankind are rejected in Judaism today, yet in ancient Rabbinic writings all of these doctrines are found.

“May it be your will that the Tekiah-Shevarim-Teruah-Tekiah blasts that we sound be embroidered into the heavenly curtain by the appointed Malach, just as you accepted the prayers of Eliyahu, who is remembered for good. Yeshua (the kohen hagadol) minister of the inner chamber and the ministering Malach, and may you be filled with mercy upon us. Blessed are you Master of Mercies.” (Orthodox Union Rosh Hashanah Machzor page 449)

For those who seen Simcha Pearlmutter’s testimony on being a Jew who believes in Messiah and the “underground” movement of rabbis through the centuries who have held this faith, the above picture is what he is talking about at the end of his testimony. For those who haven’t seen his testimony, here is the link so you can do so if you wish.

Rabbi Simcha Pearlmutter talks about Yeshua his Messiah 1/9

While I am not a supporter of some of Mr. Pearlmutter’s teaching/beliefs, this interview is a good source to see that the writings of the New Testament are not full of foreign concepts to ancient Jewish belief.

For those not familiar, the machzor is a prayer book used by Jews on High holy days such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This portion of the machzor is recited during the blowing of the shofar on ‘Rosh Hashanah.’

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Messiah the LORD

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – The LORD our Righteousness

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – The Son of God

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Messiah born in Bethlehem

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – King & Priest

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant 2

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: The Messiah Texts – Raphael Patai

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: Sanhedrin 98b

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: Midrash Rabbah

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: Jewish Sources

Jesus from Rabbinic Sources – Suffering Servant: Rays of the Messiah’s Glory