The Torah Service is a distinct segment of structured liturgy within our larger worship service. Torah means 'instruction.' This segment of worship begins with the opening of the ark, followed by reading a portion from the Torah scroll, the scroll is then lifted up for the congregation to witness G-d's Written Word. The segment ends with the closing of the ark. In this manner the Torah Service 're-lives' the receiving of G-d's Torah at Sinai by the community of Israel.
Why a Torah Service? The answer should be fairly obvious - Yeshuat Tsion is a Messianic Jewish congregation -- Messianic Judaism is that form of Judaism which recognizes Yeshua as Messiah and L-rd. However, the Torah Service isn't something we do just for the sake of Jewish tradition. Much thought and prayer has gone into crafting our Torah Service so that it is an integral part of our entire worship celebration.
Why structured liturgy? As we know, the L-rd hears our prayers whether they are "free-form" or structured -- the attitude of the heart being what matters. Conversely, a structured prayer segment serves several purposes including: expressing communal rather than individual concerns, phrasing and patterns that provide familiarity and continuity over time, and unity among worshipers all over the world.
The Torah Service at Yeshuat Tsion shines the spotlight on two essentials: we rejoice in the Torah as a gift from the L-rd (Psalm19:7-11); and in order to apply the Torah wisely, we bring a Messiah-centered, Spirit-led approach to reading it, studying it, and living it.
Our devotion to Messiah Yeshua does not invalidate our need to follow G-d's timeless instructions spelled out in the Torah. Yeshua said, "I did not come to abolish the Torah but to fulfill it," (Mt. 5:17), and "If you love me, keep my commandments." (Jn 14:15). The fact that He fulfilled it does not mean that the Torah is no longer relevant to us. On the contrary, the Torah, along with the rest of Scripture, is of inestimable value for sound, G-dly living (2 Tim. 3:16). We are Messiah-centered, Torah-based -- but not Torah-obsessive, i.e., we are not consumed with legalistic devotion to minutiae (Mt 23:24). We honor the L-rd by our commitment to obey His word - cover to cover.
It is our fervent desire and prayer that the joy of the L-rd and His Word become real through our Torah Service. We invite you to join in with us as we worship the Giver of the Torah.
Blessings in Yeshua,
Chaim Urbach,
Messianic Rabbi
