Paris, August 7, 2012. [Revue Adventiste/France]. Since January, a “special” group has been meeting at the 'House of Hope' in Paris. Men have a kippa, some a Talith. They sing in a foreign language, and at the end of the service, they eat bread and drink grape juice.
These people are Adventists that reach out to the Jews, but not exclusively. They have formed a new group, the Adventist-Hebrew Community of Paris, Beth B'nei Tsion.
Beth B'nei Tsion, or House of the Sons of Zion, is the name given to several Adventist-Jewish communities worldwide. Outside Israel, you can find 45 such communities in 10 countries.
Hebrew: because their desire is to reach out primarily to the Jews, the worship respects Hebrew culture and tradition. The Hebrew language is mainly used but everything is translated.
Adventist: because it is indeed a kehilah Adventist community.
In this community any Jew would find a place where to worship God, where the hope focuses on Jesus, the Messiah, and where one does not lose identity, culture and roots.
This project has several goals:
• to allow the Jews of our cities to find Jesus, the Messiah, in an environment that is familiar.
• to allow members of our communities, of Jewish origin, to invite their friends or relatives to join them for worship.
• to enable our non-Jewish brothers and sisters to learn more about the people of the Messiah, to have
a more positive view of the Jews, than the one conveyed for centuries, and to overcome anti-Semitism, sometimes found in our own midst.
• to allow a renewal of the Church and deepen its roots.
Currently, Beth B'nei Tsion meets once a month for a Kabbalat Shabbat service, with singing, meditation and the Parashah-Kiddush. Once the venue permits it, we will offer a complete service. Occasionally, other meetings may be held in Pessah, souccoth etc. An introduction to the Hebrew language is also offered.
Mission Statement
Considering the unconditional and eternal love of God for the Jewish people, we, the Hebrew-Adventist Community, Beth B'nei Tsion, want to show our love to the people of Israel, responding to the call of the prophet Isaiah (40.1), who invites us to console the people of God and to promote reconciliation between Israel and the Church (Malachi 3.23-24). Considering our common heritage, we want to praise the God of love in a spirit of prayer, sharing our hope in Yeshua the Messiah.
Short glossary
Kabbalat Shabbat: early Sabbath.
Parashah: weekly reading of the Torah.
Kiddush: ceremony at which we eat bread and drink.
Passover Seder: Passover meal.
Sukkot: Feast of the huts.
Kehilah: assembly, church.
Tallit: prayer shawl.
Practical information
Kabbalat Shabbat: first Friday of every month at 7 pm.
House of Hope, 13, Rue Gracious, 75005 Paris (metro station Place Monge) - www.bethbneitsion.org
Leader: Joseph du Mesgnil d'Engente
(joseph.dmde@bethbneitsion.org - 06 08 03 90 37)
Introduction to the Hebrew language: Jean-Pierre Melo
(Jean-pierre.m @ bethbneitsion.org - 06 30 99 72 68)
