Statement of Faith

Beit Talmidim Ha'Derech
House of the Disciples of the Way

Core Principles of Faith

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1. Belief in the Creator
   We believe in one Creator, perfect and complete, the Primary Cause of all that exists.
   (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 45:18; Berakhot 10a)

2. Unity of G‑d
   G‑d is absolutely one, utterly unique and without parallel.
   (Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5; Taanit 2a; Mark 12:29)

3. Non-Corporeality of G‑d
   G‑d has no body or physical form and is unaffected by material limitations.
   (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 40:18; Sanhedrin 91a; John 4:24)

4. Eternity of G‑d
   G‑d is eternal, with neither beginning nor end.
   (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 90:2; Chagigah 13a; Revelation 1:8)

5. Exclusive Worship
   Only G‑d is to be worshipped. Worship of any other is forbidden.
   (Exodus 20:3–5; Deuteronomy 6:13; Sanhedrin 63a; Matthew 4:10)

6. Prophetic Communication
   G‑d reveals His will through chosen prophets.
   (Amos 3:7; Numbers 12:6; Megillah 14a; Hebrews 1:1–2)

7. Primacy of Moses’ Prophecy
   The prophecy of Moshe (Moses) is unique, superior to all others, and foundational to the Torah.
   (Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:6–8; Yevamot 49b; John 5:46–47)

8. Divine Revelation of Torah
   The Torah was divinely revealed at Sinai through Moshe and is the eternal standard of truth.
   (Exodus 19–20; Deuteronomy 4:5–8; Shabbat 88a–89a; Matthew 5:17)

9. Immutability of the Torah
   The Torah is perfect, unchanging, and eternally binding for Israel and for all who join themselves to the covenant through faith.
   (Deuteronomy 13:1; Malachi 3:6; Sanhedrin 90a; Luke 16:17)

10. Omniscience and Providence
    G‑d knows all and exercises divine oversight of creation.
    (Job 28:24; Proverbs 15:3; Berakhot 9b; Matthew 10:30)

11. Divine Reward and Retribution
    G‑d rewards the righteous and judges the wicked with perfect justice.
    (Deuteronomy 7:9–10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Avot 3:1–2; Romans 2:6–10)

12. Belief in the Messiah's Return
    We believe Yeshua, having fulfilled the mission of Messiah ben Yosef, will return as Messiah ben David to complete the redemption and usher in the Messianic Era.
    (Isaiah 11:1–12; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Sanhedrin 98a; Acts 1:6–7)

13. Resurrection of the Dead
    There will be a resurrection of the dead in the future Messianic age.
    (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19; Sanhedrin 90b–91a; 1 Corinthians 15:21–22)

Messianic Principles

1. Messiah as G‑d’s Agent
   The Messiah is G‑d’s chosen servant—not G‑d Himself—acting fully following His will.
   (Isaiah 42:1; John 5:30; Sanhedrin 98b)

2. Son of David
   The Messiah is a physical descendant of David through his paternal line.
   (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Jeremiah 23:5; John 6:42; Matthew 13:55; Luke 4:22; Sanhedrin 98b)

3. Halachic Alignment
   The Messiah will walk in and uphold the Halachah (Jewish law) of Rabbinic Judaism.
   (Malachi 3:22–24; Matthew 5:17–20; Matthew 23:1–4; Berakhot 34b)

4. Yeshua as Messiah ben Yosef
   Yeshua fulfilled the mission of the Messiah, son of Yosef, calling Israel to repent. Israel’s rejection led to the destruction of the Second Temple.
   (Zechariah 12:10; Luke 13:34–35; Gittin 56a)

5. Global Teshuvah through Yeshua
   Yeshua’s death and resurrection began a worldwide turning from idolatry toward repentance and repair.
   (Isaiah 49:6; Romans 1:5; Sukkah 52a)

6. Yeshua as the Living Torah
   Yeshua embodied the Torah, setting the example of righteous living for all who follow him.
   (Deuteronomy 18:18–19; John 1:14; Romans 10:4; Avot 6:1)

7. Torah as G‑d’s Righteousness
   The Torah reveals G‑d’s character and His holy standard of living.
   (Psalm 19:7–9; Romans 7:12; Makkot 23b–24a)

8. Oral Torah & Rabbinic Authority
   The Oral Torah and rabbinic authority are valid guides for interpreting the Written Torah when they do not contradict the plain meaning of Scripture or the teachings and example of Yeshua.
   (Deuteronomy 17:8–11; Matthew 23:1–3; Avot 1:1)

9. Scriptural Canon
   The Tanakh is sacred scripture. The Apostolic Writings function as a Mishna Torah and Minhag (tradition) for Yeshua’s followers.
   (Luke 24:44; 2 Timothy 3:16; Megillah 14a)

10. Grafting of the Nations
    Gentile believers are grafted into Israel and share in its covenants and responsibilities.
    (Romans 2:28–29; 4:11–17; 9:4–8; 11:11–24; Hosea 2:23; Ephesians 3:6; Galatians 3:26–29)

Clarifications and Further Beliefs

• The Kingdom of G‑d is a literal, future reality. Yeshua will return as Messiah ben David and reign from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). This includes the restoration of Israel’s national and spiritual life as foretold by the prophets (Ezekiel 37, Amos 9, Zechariah 14). This will make your eschatology more explicit.
  (Isaiah 2:1–4; Luke 1:32–33; Zevachim 118b)

• Justification is by grace through faith, not by individual merit.
  (Habakkuk 2:4; Ephesians 2:8–9; Berakhot 10b)

• Yeshua’s death is a propitiation for the sins of the nations, opening the way for them to enter G‑d’s covenants.
  (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:25; Moed Katan 28a; Yoma 87a; Shemot Rabbah 44:5; Tanchuma Vayera 23)

• His resurrection is the first fruits of the future resurrection.
  (1 Corinthians 15:20–23; Hosea 6:2; Sanhedrin 91b)

• G‑d’s Name is sacred; the Tetragrammaton is not to be pronounced, and all divine titles should be treated with reverence. In speech and writing, we use respectful substitutions such as Adonai (“Lord”), HaShem (“The Name”), or Elohim (“G-D”), following Jewish tradition.
  (Exodus 3:14–15; Leviticus 22:32; Pesachim 50a)

• The historical, cultural, and political context is essential for accurate scriptural understanding.
  (Nehemiah 8:8; Luke 24:27; Sanhedrin 34a)

• The covenants with the Jewish people are eternal and irrevocable. Israel is never replaced.
  (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:35–37; Romans 11:1–2)

• In the Messianic Era, all people will be transformed to fully embody Torah, as Yeshua did.
  (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Avot 3:6; Ephesians 2:19–22)

Missionary / Anti-Missionary Principles

1. No one should promote conversion out of Judaism.
   (Deuteronomy 29:28; Romans 3:1–2)

2. No one should require Gentiles to convert to Judaism.
   (Acts 15:19–21; Sanhedrin 59a)

3. Jews and Gentiles have distinct but honored roles in G‑d’s plan. While Jews and Gentiles have distinct callings within G-d’s plan, both are bound to the same covenantal way of life revealed in the Torah, each fulfilling their role in unity.
   (Genesis 12:3; Romans 11:17–24; Avot 4:3)

4. No one should be excluded based on belief or disbelief in a Messiah, especially regarding mikveh, conversion, or community life.
   (Isaiah 56:3–7; John 6:37; Sanhedrin 44b)

5. We must not cause others to stumble. What is permitted to one may be forbidden to another. Respect each commandment’s boundaries.
   (Leviticus 19:14; Romans 14:13; Avodah Zarah 6a)

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We uphold the unity of all who walk in the Way—Jew and Gentile—living by the same eternal Torah, following the example of Yeshua, and awaiting his return to establish the Kingdom from Jerusalem.