Baruch is Jewish and lives in Israel. His daughters have both served in the Israeli army. His Jewish credentials are genuine. He is also pastor of a church in Israel, and a speaker at banner of truth conferences.

He is gentle but insistent on maintaining a distinction between Jewish culture and Jewish religous observance. Culturally Jews will observe certain traditions but when this is taught as a matter of religous observance Baruch objects.

Central to this understanding is the necessity of acknowledging the way rabbinic judaism has "captured the flag". Rabbinic Judaism really came to the fore with the destruction of the Second Temple. It has gone on to both define and impose what is "correct" on the Jewish population. To the extent that Messianics identify rabbinic Judaism as the biblical norm Messianic Jews err!

Interestingly Baruch draws parallels between Roman Catholicism and Rabbinic Judaism (p156,159).

There are separate chapters on Hebrews, Ephesians and Colossians. There is an extensive appendix and glossary, bibliography, scripture index and subject index. These sections occupy some 140 pages.

The meat of the book is found in the last two chapters "Keeping Torah" and "A Practical Assessment". Baruch pulls no punches in critiquing the Hebrew Roots Movement but still manages to do so graciously.

This is an excellent reference book. Having spent the last year reading extensively on this subject I would commend it to all. It might also be useful to missionaries struggling with the conflict between what is "gospel truth" and what is "cultural expression". It has certainly opened my eyes to the need to focus on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith. Christian growth has it's wellspring in Him and in this regard the Hebrew Roots Movement is a dead end.

For those not familiar with the Hebrew Roots Movement it is perhaps necessary to explain that it advocates the wholesale adoption of Rabbinic Jewish practices - essentially returning to the yoke of the "Law". In contrast Baruch sees Paul as a converted Pharisee enjoying his freedom in Christ, happy to slip in and out of his jewish national identity (p85)- secure in Christ.

Baruch makes an interesting point when he observes that Paul is indifferent to cultural traditions (eating meat) but dogmatic on religous observance (withdrawing from Gentile table fellowship).

A useful book which I will keep on my bookshelf and not consign to the attic!