Who Yeshua is to Us

Both the Tanakh and the Oral Tradition teach that there are two aspects to the work of the Mashiach. Some hold these to be the work of two different persons, but in common with some other branches of Judaism, we hold that the one and same person fulfilled and will fulfil both roles. There is Mashiach Ben Yosef, sometimes called Mashiach Ben Efrayim, who because of the lack of sincere teshuvah on the part of the Jewish people, will offer up his righteous life on our behalf. 

Although various scenarios are suggested about his work, both the J.P.S Tanakh of 1917 and the Targum of Yonatan Ben Uziel support our view that Mashiach Ben Yosef is the sufferer of Yeshayahu 53v5-6. The J.P.S version says: “But he was wounded because of our transgressions, He was crushed because of our iniquities: The chastisement of our welfare was upon him, and with his stripes we were healed. All we like sheep did go astray, We turned everyone to his own way; And HaShem hath made to light on him The iniquity of us all.” While the Targum in Yeshayahu 53v6 says: “He shall build the House of the Sanctuary, which has been profaned on account of our sins; he was delivered over on account of our iniquities and through his doctrine peace shall be multiplied upon us, and through the teaching of his words our sins shall be forgiven us.” 

According to Pirkei de R. Eliezer, ch. 19, his name is given as Menachem ben Ammi'el, which is the name other sources, including the Zohar III:173b, attribute to Mashiach ben David. The work that is accomplished by Mashiach Ben Yosef prepares the way for the coming of G-d’s appointed King, Mashiach ben David, who will gather the outcasts of Israel, restore the Torah to its place of authority and teach it correctly, rebuild the Temple and establish the Kingdom of G-d on earth. 

We hold Yeshua of Nazareth to be both Mashiach Ben Yosef in making an atoning death on behalf of the sons and daughters of Ya’akov and those from the nations who will convert to follow His Torah and join His people. Yeshua, is not a human-god figure, nor is he the point of departure from Torah. Yeshua lived, breathed, struggled as a man, in whom G-d dwelled. Just as HaShem’s presence dwelled in the Mishkan, the “Tent of meeting”, so too HaShem’s presence lives in Yeshua. However, Yeshua established and did not replace, Torah. 

We believe that Yeshua died, was buried and rose again and that he will return to rule the world as the Regent and Agent of the Eternal, Mashiach Ben David.