History of the Believers Synagogue Jerusalem

The seal at the top left of the screen (the fish, star of David and Menorah) is taken from the First Century Believers' Synagogue in Jerusalem. Normally known as the "Mother of Churches" to the Apostolic Fathers, it seems to have existed in a Hebrew Culture up until 135 A.D. It is best today to use the collective term Nazarene Jew or Nazarene Believers in an attempt to capture the whole of this earliest movement, and it would be useful to revive the term Yachad as a collective designation for the community of the Hasidim/Saints. Nazarene is used as an historical designation to refer to those original, 1st century, largely Palestinian followers of Yeshua (Jesus) , gathered around Yaaqov (James) in Jerusalem, who were zealous for the Torah, but saw themselves as part of the New Covenant Way inaugurated by their "True Teacher" Yeshua . James is a key and neglected figure in this whole picture. As the blood brother of Yeshua , authority and rights of guidance were passed on to him. When he was brutally murdered in 62 A.D. by the High Priest Ananus (see Josephus, Antiquities 20.197ff), Simeon, a second brother [sic "cousin" according to Hegesippus] of Jesus took over the leadership of the Jerusalem based movement. Clearly we have the idea here of a blood-line dynasty, and according to the Gospel of Thomas, discovered in 1946 in upper Egypt, this dynastic succession was ordained by Yeshua (Jesus) himself who tells his followers who ask him who will lead them when he leaves: "No matter where you are, you are to go to James the Just, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being" (GT 12). Indeed, when Simeon was crucified by the Emperor Trajan around 106 A.D., a third brother of Yeshua , Judas, took over the leadership of the community. After that due to persecutions and politics it had Gentile leadership. Even so it still functioned as a Synagogue. From 30 A.D. to 135 A.D. it had a recognized structure, a Beit Din and leadership.

One of the few records of the service says that it started with the Kaddish. This reference was from a pilgrim in the second century, who just mentioned it in passing. One of the others is the Testimony of a Gospel of Matthew being brought back from India to Egypt, Alexandria in Hebrew which was a copy that was read each week on Shabbat by the Believers there. So, the Hebrew Matthew ( probably the famous 'Q' gospel, was part of the Liturgy. There are other references to usage of Hebrew Matthew as well. So, we can be confident that this was done each week. What we do not know is which part was read each Shabbat.. So, we went for a triennial reading the same as Torah was read in the First Century over three years

There are not many references to the service, but there is the customs of the Fathers, reading of the Commandments, Amidah, Sh’ma, Kaddish and Torah reading, which is all normal part of, would of being the Synagogue of Yeshua’s day. He would have said all these, every day. He would have had a Talit, tied Tefillin sang Kiddush for Shabbat in His home. All these were customs of the Fathers. What He seemed to be offended by were the "Traditions of the Elders." Little did people see at the time what became of those, and how the Talmud became the supposed ‘Oral Ttadition-Torah.’ Talk about replacement theology. Yeshua is the Oral Torah The Word became flesh.

There seems to be a distinction between the first Believers whom the Brit Chadashah was addressed to, and the Christians of Antioch. The differences are simple, the Believers were Jewish and the Christians where not, but I believe both lived the principles of the whole Word. Shaul (Paul) was the Apostle to the gentiles who became Christians. Shaul never taught the Traditions of the Elders as the right teaching, he in his own words taught the Law or Principles of Torah which is grace, but ‘man made traditions’ were something he condemned. He always seems to be looking at the bigger picture of unity as I see in Ya’akov (James the LORD’s Brother) both seemed to view doing rather than thinking! So this is the case for ‘Customs of the Fathers’ verses ‘Traditions of the Elders’ that is what became Rabbinical Judaism later on.

Our issue is now what is authentic that sometimes is Orthodox. To us the ‘Customs of the Fathers’ not the ‘Traditions of the Elders’ is our goal. Modern Orthodox Judaism is strong in the Traditions of the Elders, sometimes these are Customs of the Fathers, but this does not give the whole story. Torah and Yeshua, instead of Torah and Oral Law is very simplified answer, but it may help at first. We see Rabbinical Judaism as a reaction to Believers in Yeshua. We see Believers in Yeshua as more authentic, or Yeshua’s Judaism as the real continuance of the people of the Book. So this Synagogue has a goal of being authentic to Yeshua’s Judaism. If that to you you are looking for Believers Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Nazarene Judaism, Messianic Israel or Hebrew Roots people, then I think this Synagogue will be appreciated by you. In our Synagogue we go for ‘sound Doctrine’ so we tend to leave the opinions of groups to the person who leads them. Sound doctrine is how you relate to Messiah in your walk, what is written in scripture that is beyond question, what you believe of Messiah rather than what people think, and of course what you do with it. So we focus on Mitzvot as we see this as growing into the image of Torah which is Yeshua.

Due to the pagans influence the early Synagogues of Believers declined and became empty, until now! Jews and Christians everywhere are now getting back to the early Judaism of Yeshua. But they are learning that Yeshua is the model of life, practice and He is the future.

More Information

Believers Synagogue Jerusalem
Early Believers Synagogue found in Jerusalem link
Essene Gateway
Information on Second Temple Synagogues
Nature and Origins of Synagogue
Guest house for Synagogue
Map of First Century Jerusalem
Cenacle
Women in the first century Synagogue