Book Shelf
This is a list of books recommended by Altarnate Media Staff to help you grow in your faith in Messiah, your understanding of Ancient Texts, and your walk in Jewish Observance
Rabbi Elijah Pinchas
This book will abolish antisemitism and replacement theology once-for-all, digging through dead branches and dirty dogma into the Judean roots of the Christian faith, and attempting to unveil the true Jewish identity of a certain rabbi from Bethlehem who forever transformed the world for good. The intention of this book is to make known the prophetic role of the Jewish writings called, ‘The New Testament,’ especially in the unfolding of G-d’s plan throughout history. In the spirit of Elijah the Prophet, this book reveals truths which are only now coming to light as preparation and heralding for the revelation of the Messiah and complete world restoration.
Rabbi Elijah Pinchas
“The concept of the exiled Messiah is known in many Jewish sources, but in the form in which it is retold here, many of the details have clear kabbalistic connotations: the storm that carries the Messiah off is a symbol of the forces of evil, and the place of his refuge reflects the kabbalistic idea that the soul of the Messiah resides in the Garden of Eden until the time comes for him to appear… In a tantalizing detail, [Rebbe] Nachman seems to imply that the true Messiah has indeed come once, only to be rejected. To whom was he referring? Who among the false messiahs was the true one?”
-Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, The Tales of Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav: Selections with Commentary, p. 32, 33
Rabbi Elijah Pinchas
In Christianity, it is thought that the Messiah alone is the redeemer and that he redeems us. However, in the most foundational Jewish sources, it is the Messiah who is exiled from his people due to our sins. It is the Messiah who needs to be redeemed through our repentance. This is the Final Redemption, and once he is redeemed, he will come immediately. Where is he then and how do we redeem him? This book will also demonstrate from Jewish tradition and interpretation of the Scriptures the prophetic expectations of the Messiah and how only one Jew in world history has thus far met them.
Altarnate Media
"Preparing the Way" is not just a collection of essays; it's a groundbreaking journey towards understanding and unity. Compiled by the discerning minds at Altarnate Media, this book delves deep into the rich tapestry of Orthodox Judaism and Christianity, revealing the often overlooked Pharisaic roots of Yeshua (Jesus). This compilation bravely addresses the misconceptions clouding the perceptions of both Jews and Christians about each other. It brings to light the common language of faith that has been obscured by centuries of misunderstanding. By setting aside these misconceptions, "Preparing the Way" aims to foster a dialogue that transcends traditional boundaries, paving the way for unprecedented unity. For Christians, this book offers a profound insight into Judaism, a key to truly comprehending Jesus - not just as a figure in Christian theology, but as a Rabbinic Jew. It challenges Christians to see beyond their conventional understanding and appreciate the Jewish essence of their faith. Simultaneously, it invites Jewish readers to reconsider their views of Jesus. Moving past the misconstrued image of a rebel or a heretic, "Preparing the Way" presents Jesus as a figure deeply rooted in Jewish traditions, challenging Jews to see him in a new light - not as a detractor from their faith, but as a man and righteous peer of the Pharisees, who fulfilled the role of Moshiach ben Yosef and through his death, brought billions to repentance. "Preparing the Way" is more than a book; it is a call to both communities to embark on a journey of discovery - about each other, about Jesus, and about the shared path that has the potential to unite them in understanding and respect.
Will Hess
What really happened at the Cross? Did the Father really forsake His son and “turn His back” as some claim? How could an all-loving God punish someone innocent for the crimes of the world? By taking a careful look at the Biblical text, Old Testament practices, New Testament terminology, culture, and history, Will Hess seeks to present a clearer view of Christ’s work than what is often popularized and answer some of the biggest questions surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This work is a must read for anyone who wants to better understand how Jesus defeated our greatest enemy on the most pivotal day in human history.
Pamela Eisenbaum
Pamela Eisenbaum, an expert on early Christianity, reveals the true nature of the historical Paul in Paul Was Not a Christian. She explores the idea of Paul not as the founder of a new Christian religion, but as a devout Jew who believed Jesus was the Christ who would unite Jews and Gentiles and fulfill God’s universal plan for humanity. Eisenbaum’s work in Paul Was Not a Christian will have a profound impact on the way many Christians approach evangelism and how to better follow Jesus’s—and Paul’s—teachings on how to live faithfully today.
Abraham Cohen
Long regarded as the classic introduction to the teachings of the Talmud, this comprehensive and masterly distillation summarizes the wisdom of the rabbinic sages on the dominant themes of Judaism.
"To some readers of this book, the Talmud represents little more than a famous Jewish book. But people want to know about a book that, they are told, defines Judaism. Everyman's Talmud is the right place to begin not only to learn about Judaism in general but to meet the substance of the Talmud in particular . . . In time to come, Cohen's book will find its companion-though I do not anticipate it will ever require a successor for what it accomplishes with elegance and intelligence: a systematic theology of the Talmud's Judaism."
—From the Foreword by Jacob Neusner
What was clear to the original readers of Scripture is not always clear to us. Because of the cultural distance between the biblical world and our contemporary setting, we often bring modern Western biases to the text. For example:
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When Western readers hear Paul exhorting women to "dress modestly," we automatically think in terms of sexual modesty. But most women in that culture would never wear racy clothing. The context suggests that Paul is likely more concerned about economic modesty―that Christian women not flaunt their wealth through expensive clothes, braided hair, and gold jewelry.
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As Westerners, we tend to give much attention to avoiding vices and not much to developing virtues. We tend to think that virtuous acts are spontaneous. But what went without saying in Paul’s day was that it is not enough to remove vices; you must acquire virtues to replace them with, just like changing clothes (Col. 3:12).
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Western individualism leads us to assume that Mary and Joseph traveled alone to Bethlehem. What went without saying was that they were likely accompanied by a large entourage of extended family.
Tim Hegg
The majority of studies on Paul have taken a similar perspective—one well entrenched in the contemporary Church. But what does Paul look like as a first-century Jew? In this revolutionary book, Tim Hegg reveals a different Paul. Tim looks at Paul from a Torah perspective, placing Paul back into first-century Judaism. This fresh perspective views Paul as one who maintained his Jewish identity and loved the Torah.
Harvey Falk
This book is an important and provocative study of the thought of the Pharisees in the time of Jesus and marks the first attempt by a rabbinic writer to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth consistently upheld the views of the rabbis of the School of Hillel, and that all his criticism was directed at the School of Shammai and their followers. After the School of Shammai disappeared from the Jewish scene following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in the first century, Judaism developed according to the teachings of Bet Hillel. This alone increases the common grounds for dialogue between Jews and Christians. Some important findings of this book include the following: The Pharisees of Bet Shammai controlled Jewish life and thought during the first century; the School of Shammai denied salvation to the Gentiles; the Shammaite Pharisees and priests considered Jesus a danger to the Jewish people; the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed because of Bet Shammai's hatred of the Gentile world; the prophet Elijah condemned Jesus' crucifixion. These new insights will help achieve a new understanding of the seemingly anti-Jewish passages contained in the Christian scriptures, and make possible improved relations between Christians and Jews. It is acclaimed by scholars of both faiths.
D. Thomas Lancaster
Torah is also for Christians. Biblical Christianity was originally a sect of Judaism that believed in Jesus and revered the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as the core of her Scriptures. Restoration is a riveting argument for a return to that original, biblical expression of faith in Jesus.
Discover for yourself the profound beauty of Torah life, the celebration of the biblical Sabbath, and the appreciation of God's holy festivals. Your eyes will be opened to another dimension of the faith that is beginning to re-emerge among Christians worldwide.
Lancaster answers common theological objections to the Torah while demonstrating that Christians are already keeping more of God's Law than they realize. This thought-provoking, theological boat-rocker is a fun-to-read, inspiring journey into the world of the Bible.
Mark Kinzer and Russell Resnik
The gospel of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth has healed countless lives over the centuries, but the gospel itself has been wounded through neglect of one of its main components. The books of Luke and Acts reveal that the death and resurrection of Jesus are linked inextricably to the destruction and promised restoration of Jerusalem, the city that personifies the Jewish people as a whole. To highlight this expanded understanding of the gospel, Mark Kinzer and Russ Resnik unpack the Hebrew term for gospel, besorah, as a prophetic message of salvation for Israel and all nations. In Luke's besorah, the death and resurrection of the Messiah are a sign of the coming judgment and restoration of Jerusalem and the Jewish people--a restoration that brings with it the renewal of all creation. This prophetic dimension of the besorah is a key to healing the fractured gospel and restoring its power amidst the strife and tumult of the twenty-first century.
David M. Moffitt
Traditional views of the atonement tend to be reductive, focusing solely on Jesus's death on the cross. In his 2011 groundbreaking book Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews, David Moffitt challenged that paradigm, showing how the atonement is a fuller process. It involves not only Jesus's death but also his resurrection, ascension, offering, and exaltation.
In the succeeding years, Moffitt has continued to expand and clarify his thinking on this issue. This book offers a more fulsome articulation of his work on the atonement that reflects his recent thinking on the topic. Moffitt continues to challenge reductive views of the atonement, primarily from the book of Hebrews, but he engages other New Testament passages as well. He offers fresh insights on sacrifice and atonement, the importance of resurrection and ascension, Jesus's role as priest, and a new perspective on Hebrews.
Joel David Bakst and Miriam Leah Ben-Yaacov
This work reveals the ancient yet futuristic imperative behind the unexpected confluence between Kabbalah and science that was prophesized to begin in the year 1840 and onward. This prediction, first revealed in the 13th century Zohar, necessitates the “reunion” of the kabbalistic “wisdom from above” together with the technological “wisdom from below” in order to stimulate global redemption into the Messianic Age and beyond. This mystical doctrine is based upon the teachings of the Gaon of Vilna drawn from his writings and especially from the 200 year old hidden book Kol HaTor - The Call of the Turtledove – kept secret and only published in 1968. The Secret Doctrine of the Gaon of Vilna is the first ever extensive and coherent presentation of the esoteric Kabbalah school of Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo Zalman, considered among the greatest Torah sages and mystics of the last several centuries.
D. Thomas Lancaster
Peter says that Paul’s letters contain things that are hard to understand, which lawless people twist as they do the rest of the Scriptures.
Bible readers generally understand Galatians as Paul’s dissertation against the Torah and against Judaism. More than any other book of the New Testament, Galatians defines the line between Messianic Judaism and greater Christianity.
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Paul was a prodigy educated in the most elite schools of Pharisaism. He wrote and thought from that Jewish background, rendering several key passages of his work incomprehensible to readers unfamiliar with rabbinic literature. This collection of sermons on a Messianic Jewish approach to Galatians opens Paul’s world and provides the historical Jewish context necessary to decipher the epistle.
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In an easy-to-read, narrative style, Torah Club author D. Thomas Lancaster, takes his readers from one end of the epistle to the other, challenging conventional interpretations and offering new insights to reveal the Jewish Paul.
Tim Hegg
Paul’s primary audience was non-Jewish members of the Galatian congregations who were not proselytes but who had come to genuine faith in Yeshua and had been received into the community on the basis of Paul’s teaching. They are clearly not circumcised (5:2-3) and had come out of paganism (idolatry) into the community of Israel (4:8). While Paul expects that all will hear the words of this epistle (Jew and non-Jew alike), and he writes with this in mind, his primary audience is the non-Jewish membership, and it is to them that the bulk of exhortations are directed.
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Jacob Fronczak
Why Messianic Judaism Is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism
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Luther’s hatred for the Jews is not the only problem Messianic Judaism should have with Protestantism. The Five Solae themselves are at the root of Protestant anti-Semitism.
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Protestantism brought about a new understanding of the Bible and critiqued many inconsistencies within the Catholic Church. However, some of the main tenets of the early reformists departed from the original thoughts and ideas of Yeshua and the apostles.
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The aim of this book is to re-examine the Five Solae from a Messianic Jewish perspective. The paradigm these five statements represent, unless it can be radically redefined, is inimical to a truly Messianic Jewish theology and worldview. If you are a Christian of another stripe who has found your way to this book and you are unfamiliar with Messianic Judaism, you will almost certainly find this book provocative.