Temple Beit Shem Tov: About Sabbatian Kabbalah

Who We Are

Temple Beit Shem Tov is a spiritual community dedicated to the service of God in this world. Our synagogue is virtual, that is, we meet to worship and study on the Internet, rather than a building made of stone, glass, wood or steel. Our membership is international in scope and includes people from all kinds of social, economic and religious backgrounds. What holds us together is our common belief in the One True God of Israel and our mutual love, respect and support of each other in our worship, study and work.

Our Roots

We are part of the Sabbatian movement, the largest and most profound expression of Jewish Messianism since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE and the heroic but tragic Bar Kokhbah Revolt of 132-135 CE. In 1665 Shabtai Zvi (Sabbatai Sevi) announced himself as the long awaited Jewish Messiah, the only such claim ever to be accepted by the majority of the Jewish people throughout the world. On September 16, 1666, in what proved to be the most difficult to understand of many ma’asim zarim (mystical strange actions) performed by the Messiah for purposes of tikkun (spiritual repair), Shabtai Zvi converted to Islam during a meeting with the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople. Most of the Jewish people were unable to comprehend this spiritual action (i.e., they were not yet worthy for the Messiah to establish His kingdom on earth), and viewed his apostasy as a profound betrayal of the Jewish people, Judaism and God, Himself. Rabbinic authorities denounced Sabbatians as heretics, and the movement went underground, where it has remained for four hundred years. Even so, it has had an enormous impact in the world, influencing the development of Hasidism and encouraging the emergence of democracy in the United States, Europe, Turkey and other countries. In 2005, Rebbe Yakov Leib HaKohain, the acknowledged leader of the “Neo-Sabbatian” Donmeh in the western hemisphere announced to his disciples that the time had come for the movement to emerge from its exile and to worship and teach openly.

Our History

On June 4, 2006, Rebbe Yakov Leib HaKohain, through the rite of “the laying on of hands,” granted semicha (ordination as a Minister of God) to Yahoshua Nesher ben Yakov Leib (YaNYaL), to preach, teach and heal. At the same time he commissioned Rebbe YaNYaL to found a new congregation dedicated in part to furthering understanding between the Jewish and Native American communities. On October 3, 2006, Rebbe YaNYaL appointed the initial members of the congregation’s Board of Elders. On October 18, 2006, the State of Washington accepted our Articles of Incorporation as a corporation sole, approving Rebbe YaNYaL’s appointment as Overseer and Trustee of the congregation’s assets. On October 26, 2006, Rebbe YaNYaL sent out the first of his email lectures, and on July 1, 2007, this web site went online.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help restore God and His Name to Their pre-creation state of unity by working toward spiritual perfection in ourselves and in the world.

Our Ministry

We carry out our mission through three ministries – worship, learning and doing.

We worship God through prayer, praise, singing, observing certain rituals and engaging in contemplation and meditation – all in order to awaken the Immanent God of Israel inside us and cleave to Him.

We study the mysteries of the Written and Oral Torah in order to grow in spirit and wisdom. God intends that we all become teachers, not only to our children but also to those who seek us out, so that His Shekhinah (Divine Presence) may come to others and these others may come into God’s service.

It is truthfully said that “faith without works is dead,” and “by their works you shall know them.” Accordingly, we carry our faith into the world through our actions to improve the world. These “good deeds” start at home in how you treat your family, friends and neighbors. They naturally include your financial support of this ministry and in other ways helping it to grow. But they also extend to your participation in tikkun olam (the spiritual repair of the world), as reflected in the programs we support under our Peace and Justice Ministry.

Our Beliefs

We believe in the One True God, Who has revealed Himself through His creation of the universe. God made mankind solely for the purpose of having an “Other” upon which to bestow His Perfect Goodness. In the act of Creation God fell from a state of unity into a state of multiplicity, characterized by a myriad of opposites in conflict. God suffers grievously from this condition and seeks comfort and mercy. As human beings we are charged with the divine service of spiritually repairing the world by transforming that which is evil into that which is good, by raising up that which is lower to that which is higher. In our doing so, God is comforted and the world is brought closer to that day when “the LORD will be king over all the earth, and in that day the LORD will be one and His Name one.” (Zech. 14:9)

God is everywhere and in all things, including the heart of each human being. God wants a deep and personal relationship with every person and calls each of us by name. The cultivation of this divine relationship is the most important thing we can do over the course of our lives. This relationship is unique – God to Soul - and can only be made by you, not your priest, rabbi or minister. Nor can any person stand between you and God.

God has revealed Himself to all peoples in all lands in all times. Thus, God has many names, all symbolizing the One True God. The holy scriptures of all faiths, or at least what they hold in common, both written and oral, are the true revelations of God. Our teachings, while grounded in Judaism, are therefore syncretistic and universal in nature.

There are many paths to God, but God is not a path. Therefore, we do not proselytize others, nor do we argue over who is “right” or who is “wrong.” Such useless activities are based in the human ego and serve only to trap God in religion and separate us from each other and God. God, Who is King of the Universe, will decide who is right or wrong, righteous or wicked, based not on which path to Him we take but solely on the intentions of our heart and the purity of our actions along the way.

Our Values

God says, “Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.” (Lev. 2) All of our values as a spiritual community are embodied in this commandment. More specifically, the greatest of the commandments is “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5) The second, like unto the first, is “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Lev.19:18) We must never forget these commandments and treat others with love and respect at all times. Even our enemy is a reflection of God and has God in his heart, and if he hates us, we must love him the more in order to make up for the deficiency his hatred brings into the world. Our congregation is a spiritual family, and, in accordance with Lev. 19:16 and 25:17, we do not tolerate lashon hara (evil speech) in our congregation. Nor, in accordance with Lev. 19:11 do we appreciate those who come to us under false pretenses or with hidden agendas in their hearts. Those who cannot embrace and live by these values will be asked to look for a congregation that better suits their nature.

Our Founder and Spiritual Leader (coming soon)