"LEADING THE MASTERS LOST SHEEP  HOME TO  ISRAEL"

by

Ariel W. Ehrmantrout

            Welcome to Torah4christians.com.™  Torah-4-Christians is a very special website that is dedicated to returning the biblical House of Israel, and the biblical House of Judah in the loving bonds of unity. This website is written primarily to Christians--people whose national origins are from the "Nations" of the World--or anywhere other than Israel who are searching for what they have been missing in their relationship with God.   You've tithed a zillion times; prayed and prayed and every now and then you feel like you received; or perhaps you are simply looking for the truth about the man called Jesus Christ--Yeshua ben Yosef of Natzaret.   Regardless of what brought you here--we are glad that you have come.  The last 4 months we have averaged 25,000 students--people just like you--from 6 different countries, who were all here to study in our "Cyber-Shul."

            We believe that many of you are in the position that we were in many years ago; meaning that you are "good, sunday go to meeting Christians," who began feeling that there had to be more to the Gospel than we were being taught.  Not that there was anything evil--or diabolical about the varying ministries we were affiliated with; only that there had to be more.  Amidst this overwhelming thought, there was a specific pulling--a tugging--a burning desire--calling to us to look into all things "Jewish" or anything to do with "Israel"--contrary to our natural nature.   Many of us were once born into and come from Catholic; Presbyterian; Lutheran and Methodist up-bringing; we were American Baptists; Independent Fundamental Baptists; Southern Baptists; Churches of God; Assemblies of God;  Charismatic Renewal;  The Faith Camp, and far too many other denominations to mention here. 

            We are a “renewed” kind of  outreach, one that is built on the greatest principles of the Torah: God’s Teaching and Instructions for a successful life that pleases the Lord--which is traditionally the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  Additionally, just like our Rabbi Gadol (Chief Rabbi), Yeshua ben Yosef, we are a people who are committed to Mercy; Love; Forgiveness; "Tikkun L'Olam" which means "The Restoration of All Things; and Social Justice . We seek to share with Christians everywhere the incredible life that is available to them through Jesus Christ—Yeshua YHWH for living and worshipping as a modern day born again, tongue talking and demon casting out “Jew;" and thus as a reborn "Jew" we too are reborn as "Israelites” which is what Yeshua paid such an incredible price for you to be admitted into.  Think about it like this, if the cost of membership was as high as the blood of Yeshua's, how much more blessed and special will that life now be--once we learn the order of the lifestyle and how to function in it?

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK CHRISTIANS ARE REALLY JEWS?

           The Shaliach Sha'ul--the Apostle Paul in writing to the Ephesians Synagogue in chapter 4, versus 4-6 says 

"4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Again writing in his first letter to the Synagogue at Corinth he goes on to say in Chapter 10:1-4:

"1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was YHWH-Christ."  Now please not in both occasions Rabbi Sha'ul--the Apostle to the Nations--is stating that there is only ONE FAITH and in the second occasion he says that it was the Ephesian Forefathers that were delivered from Egypt by Moses.

              If you are anything like all of us, most of you were just "told" that we were Christians after accepting the yoke of the Messiah by faith and following him in his death, burial and resurrection.  Not many of us had any reason to believe any differently until the Holy Spirit began to call out to us from the North, South, East and West, calling upon is to return as it says in Jeremiah 6:16a which says "This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' " and in Jeremiah 16:19b, again the prophet testified " to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good."

No matter what the flavor of Christianity we came from--the nagging question is always the same "Why does this not work for me the way it is presented; and why do I have to wait to get into the 'sweet by-in-by' to see the power that I see demonstrated in the 1st century Synagogues?

             So we began studying the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith, and found that the "Jesus"--"cool guy--ride on your Harley Jesus--you know --the tall skinny dude with the long "Vandyke" hair cut and a British accent--and with those piercing "blue eyes" to top it off, just may not be the person we were reading about in our New Testament.  Further, that Jesus, was really named "Yeshua" and that Yeshua was an Orthodox, Plebian Class Pharissee from the Gallil in Northern Israel, who trained in the School of Hillel from the time of His Bar Mitzvah at age12, until his Mikvah baptism by His Cousin Yochanan--or John the Immerser--on or about His 30th birthday.  You see this is where the deceiver step in to try to keep us ignorant of who we are and who YHWH--God intended us to be. 

               You see, YESHUA  IS A JEW--A JEWISH RABBI NAMED YESHUA….and ALL that are grafted into the Natural Olive Tree (Romans 11) that is ISRAEL--ARE JEWS AS WELL!  Your status changed when you accepted Yeshua the Messiah as your Guilt and Sin Sacrifice.  So whether you were born to a Jewish Mother and Father in the Bronx of New York; or to a poor dirt Farmer in North Dakota or anywhere else, it was the will of Yeshua for you to walk out your new life as a JEW as a sign to the world that all who have fallen short of the glory of God can return to YHWH--our God.  To be called "A Jew" is the greatest honor one could be given; and further, this is what Yeshua meant when He said "Pick up your cross and follow me."  No one in America--or the civilized "west" receives persecution for being called "a Christian."  However, we concede that there are many out of the "west" that suffer horribly for the name Christian.  But, it is not until you take on the Name and the Lifestyle of the Jewish people that the whole world appears to be solidly in agreement in their discrimination and hatred of the Jews.  The World was never meant to like you--or me for that matter, as we are "in" this world, but we are no longer "a part" of this world.  We are JEWS--which in its most classic definition means that we are "Him who praises YHWH."   

                Please be clear on this one fact: THAT WE HAVE IN NO WAY REPLACED the naturally born Jews--they are our Older Brothers and we are to love and respect them on every possible opportunity that we have.  We are just grafted into Israel right beside them--Jews-- as brothers and sisters who are all the Seed of Abraham.  Abraham is our Father, and He started just like this. 

            When YHWH called our Forefather Abraham was not a Jew.  In fact, Abraham could never technically be a descendant of His own grandson--but what he could be is a "Hebrew."  Hebrew means "One who has crossed over."  Abraham crossed the Jordan in the land we call today "Israel" by faith, and so we too have crossed over the spiritual placenta barrier that blocked us from being an intimate member of the House of Israel--the people known as Hebrews by that same faith.  After Father Abraham was in the land living by faith---God told him to circumcise his entire household; and He did.  So too are we now to "circumcise" our hearts and take on the Yoke of Judaism as taught by Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef and His Talmidim (Apostles).  In fact, like Abraham of long ago--after trusting in YHWH's loyalty, we should do exactly what Abraham did as recorded in Genesis 26:5 which states "That Abraham obeyed ALL of God's commands, decree's, laws and instructions."  Well we are not only "Hebrews," but we too are fellow "Jews" and "Israelites;"  and it is our responsibility to gather in the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel as God has called us.

            In teaching Christians and other non-Jews how to leave their former lives behind and live their lives as reborn Jews, we are fulfilling the message of the 1^st century Congregation which was recorded in John 1:12-13 which says:

             “12Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed       in His   Name, He gave the right to become Children of God—[JEWS] 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God!!” 

            The Children of God  have been—are now and forever will be the Jewish people; and the God of Israel loved you so much that He made certain that your trusting belief in Yeshua (Jesus) has given you the same rights and responsibilities to learn to live this “New Life” that your rebirth has granted you as a born again Jew.  You are the "Seed of Abraham" through your trusting loyal faith in Yeshua ben Yosef!! 

WE TOO SEARCHED FOR MEANING IN ORGANIZED CHRISTIANITY

            If you are like we were, after the initial “high” of being born again, over time all your old habits and ways began to return as well; some things were gone forever, but far too many things remained that we knew displeased our Father.  Many people in Christianity today are also struggling with this internal war.  In fact. many of us have become very good at hiding their sinful nature from the public—but YHWH (God) knows that it is there; this is why pornography movie rentals are always prevalent at large Christian Conventions at the Hotels and Motels where the Pastors and other attendee's stay.  This is why we've see such things as "Jim Baker," and "Jimmie Swaggert" or more recently "Ted Haggard."  We went to class after class, and read book after book, from Rick Warren to Benny Hinn and everyone in between; constantly looking for 40 days of purpose in a sea of obscurity.  Praise and Worship services were great but only lasted 20 minutes a week—then we would slip into the same old pattern of how things had always been—while beating ourselves for not having enough faith.  Well precious ones this is not in the heart of the Creator for you. 

             It was because the prophesies stood against us, as a "Dog returns to its vomit and a Pig to her trough" so too were we unclean--nothing more than dogs and hogs--mere beasts that ate the bread crumbs that fell from the Children of God's table.  So too, we wallowed in our debauchery and lawlessness like the old pig--the vacuum cleaner of the earth.  Partaking of anything, while professing our "Freedom" from Religious Bondage."  We were free from Catholic Bondage--and thanks be to God for that, but we were never freed from obeying the Bible--and most specifically, the 10 Devarim--the 10 life giving Commandments--the10 Words that we are all required to live by.  Yet like the beasts of the earth--we ignored the 4th commandment  to keep the Sabbath Day Holy, and we accepted a "Jesus" character that had "No Torah."  Deuteronomy 13 says that you should believe that no one is from YHWH if they do not have the Torah.  The Torah is Gods teaching and instructions for our life to be a success; but in the counterfeit, we are told that the Torah is done away with--while being taught the latest pop-psychology "top 7 secrets for success." 

              By obeying the Torah and its life giving principles, we enter into a community of people--the people of Israel; the Jewish people.  You can tell what God you are worshipping by what holidays you keep.  If your Holidays come from Rome--from the great prostitute, like Easter [honoring the pagan god of fertility called "Ishtar] and Christmas [the pagan ritual for Mithraism practiced throughout the Roman Empire]  then you are NOT serving the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who we worship as the one true and living God, YHWH or Yeshua.

            You are as Shimon Kepha--Simon Peter says in 1 Peter 1:29-30:

            “9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; [The Jewish People] once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  

             WOW!! Did you see that?  This is the exact same thing YHWH (God) said about and to the Jewish people in Exodus 19:5-6 which says:

            5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

             And the Great Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) of Tarsus puts the finishing touches on the matter in his instructions to the new Jewish Community in Rome found in Romans 2:28-29 when he says:

            28A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.  Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God."  This is how we know that we are Jews by our rebirth through the blood covenant sealed by Yeshua ben Yosef.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

                So dear Brothers and Sisters what does this all mean?  It means that for far too long we were fooled into powerlessness; with promises that it will come in the future, and exaltations to tithe more and believe stronger.  Constantly wondering why we could never get to that "Mustard Seed" level of Faith.  Except the answer was staring back at us each time we opened our Bibles.  Yeshua was a Jew and so were ALL and I mean ALL His initial followers for over 10 years AFTER His resurrection and ascension in the Highest Heaven for us.

                 We were once on the outside, practicing Christianity as it is today, hearing the same messages talking about rebirth week in and week out—like a record player that hits a glitch and skips over the same portion of music—over and over again; no matter how good the music is, after a while you need to hear something other than a skipping record.  Messiah saves us to serve in the "Am Israel"--the People of Israel—the Jewish people, just like the ancient one Ruth the Moabitess who said to Naomi the Jewish woman from Beth Lechem:

            15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will  stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May YHWH deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 

          Then Ruth began to live just like Naomi--her Jewish Mother-in-Law.  It was THAT lifestyle that caught the attention of the "Kindsman Redeemer" Boaz.  Boaz would have never seen Ruth, had she stayed among the Midianites and refused to come back to Naomi's people--the Jewish people.  If Ruth never returned, than there might not have been a Yeshua ben Yosef--ben David for Ruth gave birth to King David's Grandfather Obed.

            We loved the LORD but we knew there had to be something more.  But when God gave us the revelation that it is Jews that are His “chosen people” and that Yeshua (Jesus) was a Jewish Rabbi and He had chosen us too—we realized that it was the Jewish life He had saved us to live out!!  God loves all people, so we realize that we did not need to be made a "Jew" and frankly--none of us really understood that we were at one time.  However, together, The House of Israel--who are those coming out of Christianity; and the House of Judah, those who are RELATED TO THE KING MESSIAH are the brothers that were prophesied so long ago in the adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh--the Sons of Yosef.

WE REJECT BOTH  REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY &

BRITISH ISRAELISM

            Putting this another way, Bear's give birth to baby Bear's; Horses give birth to Baby Horses but we were taught to believe that once we accepted the teachings and sacrifice of a 1st Century Jewish Rabbi named Yeshua--that contrary to everything else in nature living like a Jewish Rabbi gave rebirth to Christians???  You know the old saying, if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, brother that thing is a duck!!  This is just completely against everything in nature.  We reject the "Replacement Theology" of Christian Theologians, because Heaven and Earth would have to pass away before YHWH would reject His chosen people Israel according to the Scriptures. 

            Further, we do not teach the racist theory supporting the dominant hegemony that argues that the 10 lost tribes founded Great Britain and ultimately the United States of America.  This is blatantly false, and frankly it is just a bit silly.  The tribes of "Ephraim"--those 10 1/2 Tribes of the biblical "House of Israel" are spread into every nation, language and tongue listed in the "Table of Nations" in the Torah; and it is a fact that Ezekiel 37:15-28 prophesies their return together with the biblical House of Judah in the last days. 

            However, the "dry bones" of Ezekiel 36 coming together must take place first--and this is what we believe we are a part of today.  Bone upon bone, cartilage, sinews and skin--rising up to be a mighty army for the Lord in His prosecution of evil in the last day; and then, the second and greatest Exodus.

            We have not replaced the natural Jewish people as the replacement theologians tried so hard to convince us of, but we have been grafted in along side the naturally born Jews into the SAME TREE—the Etz Chayim—which means “the Tree of Life.”  Jews everywhere have an eternal covenant with  YHWH and Yeshua IS YHWH; so for us live and to worship hand in hand as Jews after we are born again was a life giving revelation that finally brought us great peace and joy!   This was God's plan all along, look at the words of Yeshua Himself in John 17 where he prays:

            " 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

            As we left the catholic foundation, beliefs and rituals of Catholicized Christianity and pressed into Judaism as followers of the Jewish Messiah Yeshua ben Yosef our lives began to radically change!!  Our lives went from disorder to order—from chaos to a unified purpose--with the Jewish people worldwide to bring about Tikkun L’Olam: The Restoration of The World. We will not see the Kingdom in its full glory until we are One with the Jewish people worldwide as Rabbi Yeshua (Jesus) prayed for in John 17.  Yeshua Himself said about Jerusalem when He said "You will not see me again, until you say BARUCH  HABA  B'SHEM ADONAI"--or Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord YHWH.  When Judah sees us as serious and keeping the Sabbath, the Festival and Feast Days, which is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Idiom for "IN THE NAME OF" meaning to "LIVE JUST LIKE"-- proudly proclaiming our new lives as reborn Jews in proud testimony --then this is when they will say Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai--and Yeshua will return with a shout from a Shofar--a Rams Horn. 

            At www. torah4christians.com, we teach the Torah just like Rabbi Yeshua did.  The Torah is God’s Teaching and Instructions for a proper life to any and all people who are members of Israel by birth, or any who have been grafted into “the Natural Olive Tree” called “Israel”—the Jewish people—through rebirth.  Yeshua ben Yosef (Jesus Christ) is your entrance into the Jewish people and the incredible price which He paid has ushered you into the most blessed of families—the biblical family of Abraham, Yit'zak (Isaac) and Ya’akov (Jacob). 

            Yeshua made you a Jew—now it is time for you to learn to live like one; the Holy Shabbat; Rosh Chodesh New Moon Celebrations; the Spring Feasts and the Fall Feasts; Kosher Foods and Living; Jewish Festival Dancing and the Jewish Mind are ALL your inheritance in Messiah Yeshua—and we will teach you how to keep them so well that you will integrate into the natural Jewish community without any fear or problems in fitting in; and you will be able to participate like every other Jew in your community!! 

OUR PURPOSE

            Our purpose is to build a loving community of people who love the Lord Yeshua ben Yosef (Jesus Christ) in a completely new and exciting way; as born again, Holy Spirit filled JEWS online!!   We are not your every day Synagogue and this outreach of our Synagogue is not for the faint at heart, but for all who are strong and seek the truth as taught by the Jewish Plebian Pharisee, Rabbi Yahushua ben Yosef (Jesus Christ) then we are the right place for you to learn the Jewish lifestyle. 

            At www.torah4christians.com  you will grow in the 1^st century faith that you read about in your “New” testament without losing all the wonder, beauty and perfection of the Torah and the Tanakh—which for far too long we called the “Old Testament.”  You will finally understand why Yeshua and the Disciples did many of the things you read about but have not been able to understand—because they have been separated from their Jewish cultural background—but when we put the Jewish backgrounds back into the parables and the writings, you will understand them because you will be doing them too.  This is radical faith in action—the kind that changed the world forever!!

IN CONCLUSION

            We have over 200 hours of free teaching and instruction on this website--and all of it in the Hebrew Roots of the faith and of Judaic thought.  Please remember:

EVERYTHING  HERE WILL  ALWAYS  BE FREE OF CHARGE!!

            You should never have to pay for another man's understanding of the Word of God: The Torah.  If Hillel, Shammai, Rabbi Akiva and Yeshua did not charge--then no other Rabbi should charge you either.  2 Corinthians 2:17 states that we are not to be like those who "peddle the Torah for Profit"--and We are the only Ministry in the Hebrew Roots that does not charge for Teachings.  And Praise YHWH we will always keep it that way.  In the months to come you will see us add MP3's of live teachings on this site and we may even include video at no charge to you as God supplies. 

            The only thing we ask from the public who benefit from this educational outreach is that you will covenant with us to pray for us.  God has already opened to us His Torah, se we are exceedingly rich beyond all comparison; but we have children, and grandchildren--and very busy business and academic careers that allow us to bring you this ministry.  You can pray for whatever God lays on your heart--and we thank you in advance for those prayers!

            Torah is something that all mankind was given freely as a part of covenant.  Freely we received and freely we will give.  We average 25,000 students per month from over 6 different countries-and we just  had our biggest attendance yet -so please feel free to study away.  If there is something about the teaching you need expounded on, or we can serve you in any way please do not hesitate to email us at:

ariel.ehrmantrout@ yahoo.com

or

questions @ahtorah.org

            If you are ever in Murrieta, California or the San Diego Valley of Southern California,  we would love to see you at one of our "Introduction to Judaism" classes which are currently being held each Shabbat Night--Saturday Evening at 5pm.  If you are interested, then please call our offices at Temple Ahava Torah at 951-541-0881 for more details. 

            Welcome to www.torah4christians.com, and we are proud to welcome you back to your Father's House; He has been awaiting your return for thousands of years!

R. Ariel and Sarah Ehrmantrout

And the Staff of Volunteers

Torah4Christians.com

 ^{Check out our two new blogging sites located at:}

^{www.hebrootsofchristianity.wordpress.com}

^{www.jewishrootsofchristianity.blogspot.com}

**Please make special note that we do not judge or condemn ANY individual Christian [or anyone for that matter] nor are we claiming that a Christian who doesn't know He or She is a Jew--or strongly disagrees with us is somehow eternally "lost," as God will judge each person according to what they have been shown. [Please note that it says "God--YHWH and not us] We are addressing the false idea as passed down by "Roman Church" that it is somehow a "valid replacement" for the faithful remnant of Israel and those former gentiles who come out with them--like Ruth of old--who follow Israel's God, as defined through God's Torah.  We love all Christians and Jews and this should not be misunderstood**