Reddit mentions of The Exhortations

The canon of the Hebrew bible is basically the same as that for mainstream Jews, minus the book of Esther:

http://www.talmidi.co.il/htm/bible/bible1.htm

This is our only scriptural authority. There is no ‘favoured translation’. Of Jewish translations, I find the JPS translation is good, and out of Christian translations, the NASB is generally faithful to the Hebrew.

However, to enable us to read about the Jewish teachings of Yeshua without having to run the gauntlet of Paullist theology, we have ‘The Exhortations’, which is our equivalent of the ‘New Testament’:

https://www.amazon.com/Exhortations-Shmuel-ben-Naftali/dp/168907650X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=168907650X&qid=1567502231&s=books&sr=1-1

It has no scriptural authority, and it is not used to prove anything. It is a de-Christianised and re-Judaised collection of the gospels and ancient ‘Jewish-Christian’ writings, which were collected and put together in the 1980’s. It is used to keep us focussed on Yeshua’s spiritual and ethical emphases (the Kingdom of God, the practice of religion with humility and compassion), also to protect us from Paul, and inspire us to the same faith as that of the first Jewish, non-Paullist followers of Yeshua.

As an introduction to the faith, there are 2 books: An Introduction to Modern ‘Jewish-Christianity’ (Talmidaism):

Book 1:

https://www.amazon.com/WAY-Introduction-Jewish-Christianity-Talmidaism-Re-interpreting/dp/1976844371/ref=sr\_1\_1?keywords=talmidaism&qid=1568207665&s=books&sr=1-1

Book 2:

https://www.amazon.com/WAY-Introduction-Jewish-Christianity-Talmidaism-Teaching/dp/1982958081/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=talmidaism&qid=1568207689&s=books&sr=1-2

As to the question of ‘Are modern Christians still viewed as “real” Christians if they don’t follow Jewish law?’ I have to say that we don’t really engage in such arguments; we are respectful of the spiritual choices of other faiths. By way of information however, we view the term ‘Christianity’ as referring to the religion of Paul of Tarsus based on his beliefs and teachings, and so we really don’t like to be called, ‘Jewish-Christians’. We call ourselves, ‘Followers of the Way’, or ‘Talmidis’ (from the Hebrew/Aramaic word for ‘follower/disciple’, talmid). Ebionites are just one of our sects.

Our view of history is this: Paul began Christianity in Antioch. From the very beginning, he insisted that his Believers should not follow Torah or Jewish customs. In the 'Book of Acts', the council of Jerusalem in 49 CE is portrayed as having reconciled the Jewish leadership with Paul, but we view 'Acts' as being pro-Paullist propaganda, and so take this view with a pinch of salt. Our view is that the council formally defined Paul’s Believers as non-Jewish, but still exhorted them to live an ethical way of life (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29). The Jerusalem leadership did NOT see Paul’s ministry as a way of taking Judaism to Gentiles, but rather as a way of spreading monotheism and Jewish ethical values to Gentiles (Yeshua’s core values are, after all, the values of the Israelite religion and the Hebrew Prophets – they didn’t begin with Yeshua). Initially Jerusalem approved of Paul’s ministry. However, when news reached Jerusalem that Paul was telling Jews in synagogues across the Mediterranean to abandon Torah, that was when the Jerusalem leadership withdrew their approval. Christianity therefore departed/split from Talmidaism in 49 CE.

In short, we pass no judgment on any faith. If Christians wish to follow the ethical principles and teachings of Yeshua, we have no objection whatsoever. Christianity is the religion based on the teachings and beliefs of Paul of Tarsus, and Talmidaism is the faith inspired solely by the teachings of Yeshua (ie his teachings give our community our emphases). The Ebionites are just one of our sects.