Our community and leadership envision a vibrant and engaging interaction with Jewish tradition that will transform the way messianic Judaism is understood and observed. We encourage a rediscovery of rabbinic thought and a revelation of the Mashiach who forever remains at the core of that tradition.

The Mishnah teaches us that "the world stands on three things: On Torah, on Service (Avodah), and on Acts of Loving Kindness (Gemilut Chassidim)." (Pirkei Avot 1:2)  We seek to reinvest Loving Kindness into our study and action of Torah in our lives, and in our Service to Hashem as we cleave to Him.

Investment in Torah

At the core of our community gatherings is our weekly study of Torah.  As we focus on the texts breathed into Moses we find that our study of the rest of scripture gains more clarity.  For centuries, people have tried to understand the Yeshua of the Gospels without understanding the foundation of Mashiach's life, the Torah of Moses.  Yeshua brought us to the Torah by investing his life in perfecting it.

The purpose of scripture is to challenge us and drive us higher in the pursuit of a perfected world.  We challenge ourselves by engaging in the age old dialog of teacher and student.  The Jewish sages, who were closer to the transcendent event of Sinai,  bring us a wealth of Divine insight which serves to highten our awareness of the Torah bound up with our souls.

Communal and personal knowledge of Mashiach is interwoven through this constant dialog in our community.  His life perfectly exemplifies a life bound up in Torah as demonstrated in his teachings and compassion toward others.

Service of the Heart

The Torah service proclaims, "you who cling to G-d, you are all alive today" (Deut. 4:4)  We seek traditional Jewish forms of worship, through Hebrew, English and in song.  This kind of service is a vehicle that we believe brings us into a constant awareness of the Divine around us.  We believe that our lives should be infused with blessings, not just once weekly, but throughout our days.

The Kindness of an Open Hand

The Torah teaches us many ways that we can help one another, but most of all it shows us how to relate to one another, as we toil over Torah, and cleave through Avodah.  If we don't display love and kindness toward all humanity, our engagement with Torah and Avodah are vanity.  Loving kindness transforms our personal relationships and forms the framework for our Torah understanding and practice.

Because all people are created in the image of G-d, how we treat them is a reflection of our respect and love for Him. Therefore, true piety cannot exist apart from human decency.

What others are saying...

Recently, Boaz Michael from First Fruits of Zion came to visit our community.  Here is what he had to say:

While in the Seattle area, we visited with a congregation of over 40 years named Beit Hashofar. Take a tour of this beautiful Synagogue with me and hear about [the] vision for this community and some thoughts on establishing solid and lasting communities.

Here is his video update from his family road trip:

Hear it for Yourself

In June 2008, our rabbi gave an important message at the annual UMJC International Conference near Jerusalem.  This message, based on Parashat Korach (Numbers 16-18), shows us how important sacrifice and unity are in our movement.  These words express the vision of Beit Hashofar and the community we are building.

(approx. 30 minutes)

We are a diverse and emerging community learning Jewish wisdom and tradition in South Seattle. For over 40 years Beit Hashofar has been a voice for Mashiach in the Puget Sound. Our community forms a safe and non-confrontational environment where Jews and non-Jews of varied affiliation enter into open minded dialogue. Interfaith couples have also enjoyed a service which engages both partners equally. We're a group of families and singles seeking an authentic and vibrant Jewish expression.

We are a "Messianic" Jewish community. Messianic Judaism is not identified by specific practice or custom. Some in the movement are seeking less traditional approaches to Jewish life while others attempt to engage Jewish halakha, implementing traditional patterns of prayer and ritual observance. Our Synagogue exists comfortably within a more traditional context and yet feels free to experiment with innovative approaches to liturgy and Jewish expression. A Judaism truly nourished by the life and teachings of the only Mashiach is a Torah observant Judaism. While our movement is primarily one of baalei teshuvah (those returning to Jewish observance) we are steadily moving towards our high calling; a life reflecting Jewish law and tradition.

Our services are every Shabbat, Saturday at 10 a.m. We meet for services at 13001 37th Ave S, Tukwila, Washington. The service is about two hours long. The liturgy and music are in Hebrew and in English, and are user friendly. The focus of our service is a blend of liturgy (sung in traditional nusach) and Torah understanding for our time.  We are a diverse community, everyone is welcome.

If you are wondering what you should wear in synagogue, we prefer for people to dress up for the occasion with modest attire.

(in addition to the Rambam's Thirteen Principles)

(adapted from the Core Values of Hashivenu)

We believe in Yeshua of Nazareth, honoring him as Messiah.

We gather in community to worship, study, and support each other. We seek tikkun olam, reparation of our broken yet beautiful world, with the help of G-d.

We consider our expression of faith as a viable branch of Judaism. Our faith in Messiah does not replace our faithfulness to the heritage of our forefathers.

We are those who by birth share in the covenant G-d made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and whose ancestors pledged themselves and their descendants to a particular way of life with G-d at Sinai. Having been born into the covenant, we have also come to recognize Messiah Yeshua as the One sent by G-d to bring the covenant to its appointed goal.

The deep structure of religious life consists of the rooted patterns of thought, speech, action and identification reflected in our daily lives as individuals, families, and congregations.

When we say that Messianic Judaism is "a Judaism," we are also acknowledging the existence of other "Judaisms." We do not deny their existence, their legitimacy, or their value. We are not the sole valid expression of Judaism with all else a counterfeit. We recognize our kinship with other Judaisms and believe that we have much of profound importance to learn from them, as well as something vitally important to share with them.

G-d's particular relationship with Israel is expressed in the Torah, G-d's unique covenant with the Jewish people.

Within the Messianic movement it is an accepted assertion that the Jewish people have a unique covenant relationship with G-d and a particular vocation in this world. Rabbi Saul of Tarsus affirmed the irrevocable nature of the promises, gifts, and calling of G-d. While opening up new possibilities for the Gentiles and placing them in a new relationship to Israel, the coming of Yeshua does not obliterate Israel's character as a people set apart with a special destiny. Yeshua assured us that he came to fulfill and not abolish the Torah (Matt. 5:17).

Within our movement both Jews and non-Jews gather in a covenant of mutual blessing.

Though our community consists of members from diverse backgrounds, we seek unity through the leadership of the Messiah and the guidance of G-d's Spirit.

Yeshua is the fullness of Torah.

The Torah was given by G-d at Mt. Sinai. Yeshua was more than a latter born Moshe. He is the Word who was in the Beginning, through whom the world was created. The commandments of the Torah are Yeshua's commandments, not an arbitrary set of rules or rituals. They are a revelation of the heart of G-d; they are a reflection of Yeshua's heart. They cannot be understood to be G-d's lesser commands. Yeshua's teachings do not permit such a view. Those who wish to be more like Him must follow the Torah's teachings because they are His very heart.

Our goal should be to follow Torah, having faith and a desire to connect with G-d through the act of following. Surely, this was the life Yeshua lived and the life He desires His people to live. Every act of observance is an opportunity to connect to G-d through Yeshua's renewing committment to us. He is the fullness of Torah. Our lives should be so full.

The richness of the Jewish tradition is a valuable part of our heritage as Jewish people.

We embrace traditions derived from both Torah Shebikhtav (Written Torah) and Torah Shebe'al Peh (Oral Torah). We rejoice at the privilege of drinking from our own wells, the wells from which our fathers, and from which Yeshua and the Apostles also drank and were sustained. Besides these wells we meet with Yeshua today, and here He speaks with us anew.

Because all people are created in the image of G-d, how we treat them is a reflection of our respect and love for Him. Therefore, true piety cannot exist apart from human decency.

Yeshua did not speak against ritual and tradition but against the wrong attitudes of those who taught and practiced them with improper motives. When people treat people poorly, whether for religious reasons or non-religious reasons, the value of their religious practice becomes nullified.

Religious people easily become preoccupied with words, presuming to become the voice of G-d to those around them. But it is far more fulfilling to be the hands of G-d in the world, as Yeshua and the prophets taught. Yeshua stated "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve," and "He who wishes to be the greatest among you must become the servant of all."

1. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the Creator and Guide of all the created beings, and that He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.

2. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is One and Alone; that there is no oneness in any way like Him; and that He alone is our G-d - was, is and will be.

3. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is incorporeal; that He is free from all anthropomorphic properties; and that He has no likeness at all.

4. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the first and the last.

5. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, is the only one to whom it is proper to pray, and that it is inappropriate to pray to anyone else.

6. I believe with complete faith that all the words of the Prophets are true.

7. I believe with complete faith that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, peace unto him, was true; and that he was the father of the prophets, both of those who preceded and of those who followed him.

8. I believe with complete faith that the whole Torah which we now possess was given to Moses, our teacher, peace unto him.

9. I believe with complete faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will be no other Torah given by the Creator, blessed be His name.

10. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows all the deeds and thoughts of human beings, as it is said, "It is He who fashions the hearts of them all, He who perceives all their actions." (Psalms 33:15).

11. I believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, rewards those who observe His commandments, and punishes those who transgress His commandments.

12. I believe with complete faith in the coming of Messiah, and although he may tarry, nevertheless, I wait every day for him to come.

13. I believe with complete faith that there will be resurrection of the dead at the time when it will be the will of the Creator, blessed be His name and exalted be His remembrance forever and ever.