Return 2 Torah

Spirit not Mechanics

2011-04-25T07:15:00.011-04:00

'Learning' Hebrew is not like learning any other language and it's NOT memorization. It's truly immersing your spirit in this heavenly language - awakening the Holy language within your spirit. So it is spirit not mechanics.

Gen 1:1-3 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be Light' and there was Light."

Hebrew is the language Adonai spoke when He created the heavens and the earth…powerfully displaying the creative power of the Word. Hebrew is the language He spoke to Adam – who partnered in naming animals, spoke to Eve (Chavah, referred to as mother of all living, lifegiver), Noah and others in those generations… unlike any other ‘religion’ the Torah alone shows that every Jewish man, woman, and child alive in 1312 B.C.E. — about three million people, according to the Torah — heard God speak at Mount Sinai and survived to teach their descendants about the event. As Yeshua is the Word (Torah) made flesh...we are becoming the same and so immersing in Torah, in Hebrew, is the L-rd transforming our physical flesh into Torah flesh.

A great site to glean from: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/

Print this: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Aleph-Bet/Alphabet.pdf

then these: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Grammar/Unit_One/Alphabet_Practice.pdf

and write each letter over and over...that is part of how you can flesh out those Holy letters that are written on your heart - hand, heart, eyes all being involved in the process.

All Hebrew posts

Learn Alephbet video

Immersing in Hebrew: deep calls unto deep, Psalm 42

2011-01-24T07:41:00.013-05:00

Psalm 42: 8-9
"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life."

The word translated here as 'waterfalls' is actually צִנּוֹרֶיךָ tzinoreeka which means 'cataracts' : a descent of water over a steep surface; a waterfall, esp.one of considerable size; any furious rush or downpour of water; deluge.

deep to deep calls

תְּהוֹם-אֶל-תְּהוֹם קוֹרֵא

tehome el tehome koreh

of the sound Your cataracts

לְקוֹל צִנּוֹרֶיךָ

l'kole tzinoreeka

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life.

יוֹמָם, יְצַוֶּה יְהוָה חַסְדּוֹ, וּבַלַּיְלָה, שִׁירֹה עִמִּי
תְּפִלָּה, לְאֵל חַיָּי
yo·v·mam ye·tzav·veh ha·shem chas·dov u·val·lay·lah ch shi·rah k shi·rov im·mi te·fil·lah le·'el chai·yai.

Immersing in Hebrew...Parshah Yitro: Shabbat

2011-01-22T10:12:00.002-05:00

Even if you 'know' only a few words in the passage below...with the English/Hebrew and transliteration, you will probably be able to figure out word meanings and that is one of the best ways to awaken Hebrew in your spirit...just dive in.

Exodus 20:8-11 from Parashah Yitro (Torah Portion Jethro)

⁸ “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לְקַדְּשׁוֹ.

za·cho·vr et-yo·vm ha·shab·bat le·kad·de·shov

9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד, וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל-מְלַאכְתֶּךָ.

she·shet ya·mim ta·'a·vod ve·'a·si·ta kol-me·lach·te·cha.

10. but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

וְיוֹם, הַשְּׁבִיעִי--שַׁבָּת, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ: לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה כָל-מְלָאכָה אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ, עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ, וְגֵרְךָ, אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ.

ve·yo·vm ha·she·vi·'i shab·bat la·shem e·lo·hei·cha lo-ta·'a·seh chol-me·la·chah at·tah u·vin·cha-u·vit·te·cha av·de·cha* va·'a·ma·te·cha* u·ve·hem·te·cha ve·ge·re·cha a·sher bish·'a·rei·cha.

11. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

כי שֵׁשֶׁת-יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֶת-הַיָּם וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּם, וַיָּנַח, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי; עַל-כֵּן, בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת--וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ.
ki she·shet-ya·mim a·sah ha·shem et-ha·sha·ma·yim ve·'et-ha·'a·retz et-hai·yam ve·'et-kol-a·sher-bam vai·ya·nach bai·yo·vm ha·she·vi·'i al-ken be·rach ha·shem et-yo·vm ha·shab·bat vay·kad·de·she·hu.

immersing in Hebrew: Yitro - 2 verses

2011-01-18T17:20:00.007-05:00

This week's Torah portion: Yitro

Here are the first two verses - If you are learning Hebrew, a beautiful way to learn is sound out the Hebrew words, compare to the transliteration and then often figuring out the meaning is easy. Meaning or not...the language itself will course through your soul.

Exodus 18: 1
And Yitro, the priest of Midyan, Moshe's father-in-law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moshe and for Yisrael His people--that HASHEM had brought Yisrael out of Egypt.

א וַיִּשְׁמַע יִתְרוֹ כֹהֵן מִדְיָן, חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לְמֹשֶׁה, וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ: כִּי-הוֹצִיא יְהוָה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִמִּצְרָיִם.

Vayishma Yitro chohen Midyan choten Moshe et kol-asher asah Elokim le-Moshe ule-Yisrael amo ki-hotzi HASHEM et-Yisrael miMitzrayim.

2. Moshe's father-in-law, Yitro took Moshe's wife, Tziporah, after he had sent her back [home],

ב וַיִּקַּח, יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן מֹשֶׁה, אֶת-צִפֹּרָה, אֵשֶׁת מֹשֶׁה--אַחַר, שִׁלּוּחֶיהָ.

Vayikach Yitro choten Moshe et-Tziporah eshet Moshe achar shilucheiha.

Aaronic Benediction & Spock's Vulcan Salute

2010-12-23T05:41:00.030-05:00

Numbers 6: 22-27

22 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

23 'Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying: On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel; ye shall say unto them:

24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee;

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ.
Y’-varechecha Adonai v’yish-marechah.

25 The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ.

Ya-air Adonai panav alechah veechu-nechah.

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם.
Yisah Adonai panav alechah v’ya-sem l’chah shalom.

27 So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.'

audio and more details about the blessing

Ted Pearce, Aaronic Benediction

a great song to learn the blessing - visit Ted's site

So yes Spock got his vulcan salute from the priestly blessing

Hebrew Links

2010-12-15T09:50:00.008-05:00

To help to awaken Hebrew within your heart...Hebrew posts on this blog

Hebrew4Christians

Printable alephbet flash cards & for ipod

http://translate.google.com/ actually a pretty good, basic translator, if accuracy is importance, don't rely on this however

www.interlinearbible.org/ an ok English/Hebrew/transliterated Bible - for vav uses ‘w’ sound instead of ‘v’

Hebrew words are based on 2 or 3 letter root words
Hebrew Word Roots: http://www.jewfaq.org/root.htm

More roots: http://www.hebrewatmilah.org/maskilon1/index.htm

find out your Hebrew day of birth and Torah portion

News Alert!

2009-11-18T08:57:00.049-05:00

I know horrific murders, suicides, beatings & rapes have continuously plagued the world since humans first wandered the earth...Maybe it's because I have gotten in the habit of reading google compiled news stories a few times a day but violence seems so disturbingly elevated right now, kind of like one of the many wake up calls that are sounding. Have you heard them? And even if such crimes aren't actually increasing, have you heard the wake up call that's been sounding since Cain's brother's blood cried out from the ground?

the beautiful 5 year old, Shaniya, killed...her mother arrested for sex trafficing...

a 35 year old man kills his wife, their two teenage boys and himself...

a woman, who just an hour or so after being brought home by police after filing a domestic complaint against her boyfriend, stabbed to death by him while cops were posted outside her apartment building...he was shot and killed as police came in on the stabbing...too late...

an army major & psychatrist murders 14 innocent men & women at Fort Hood...

the 16 year old Richmond High School girl repeatedly raped and viciously beaten by at least 4 young males while up to 20 others looked on...for over 2 hours...there are no words...

and the list goes on and on and on...

What causes people to lash out at someone they love? Or to rape and beat a 4 year old girl, a 16 year old sophomore, a 70 year old grandmother they know nothing about? A husband to shoot his family while they are sleeping?

Hopelessness? Maybe. Many are without hope or they hope in things that are hopeless, evil. Consumed by the wrong things? With stuff of the world, addictions, twisted ideologies, themselves. They are full of stuff and empty at the same time. Tormented by their own hurt? They seek to hurt others as a perverted way to avenge those who have damaged them. And that is the truth. They, themselves, are damaged people. They were not born killers, abusers, rapists...they were once innocent newborns, blank slates, full of the potential to love and be loved. Lies are planted. Then...walls are erected. Many are self-built. Walls to protect, to numb, to confuse, to distract, to blame, to excuse, to hide behind. With those walls in tact, any human being is capable of despicable things, things no one would have thought that newborn, reaching for his first cookie, would ever do.

And how desensitized are 'we' to tragedies that happen minute by minute? Do we look away from truths that hurt us? Is it too hard to read about a little girl being sold into sex trade, being raped, dismembered? A woman raped, fingernails ripped from her hands, then burned to death? If it were a movie: much easier. Sadly so, even entertaining to some degree. But in real life isn't it just easier to turn the other way? And try to convince ourselves that we aren't ignorant, callous, self-absorbed?

Why is there so little rage when violence like this happens? Not outward rage but an inward crying out from those not personally related to the tragedy, a renewed sobering revelation that we live in a lost, sad, sick, hopeless world...And yet it seems that there is more rage, inner and outer, about how long she had to wait at the registry. If he stepped in something while walking the dog. If they hit a pothole and damaged rim and tire. If traffic is heavy on the way to work then later find out there was a car accident that killed 3 people as they were on the their way to school and work...

Are we so damaged, so walled off by our own hurts and fears, that we turn away from others' hurts much like those 20 who allowed the rape and beating of a 16 year old girl to go on and on and on...watching yet walled off, desensitized from what really matters: loving another human being? "I have my own pain, I don't need to deal with others' pain." Or worse yet, is our wall: "I am ok and that's what matters." Someone behind that wall might even say "Thank God this isn't happening to me or my family..." Others behind their wall of denial will say, "The world's always been a mess. Sad but that's just the way it is." And what they don't say (or maybe they do) is "so I will keep at a distance from all that bad news. I need to hear the good news."

Hours before they found Shaniya's little body, the TV news kept replaying a security camera video of a guy holding her, waiting for the elevator in a Comfort Inn...carrying her to her death & she was just resting in his arms, alert yet unaware...seems unreal but true and so completely heartbreaking...

Our hearts need to break. And as crazy as it seems, when that happens, we will truly have hope. And others will see that hope in us.

Don't miss the news...sadly, there's more every day...
Richmond Highschool gang rape

Husband kills sons, wife, himself

Police: Body is that of North Carolina girl, Shaniya

Shaniya's story reveals widespread sex trafficking in black community

Hundreds say goodbye to Bolingbrook soldier killed at Ft. Hood

Google News Top Stories

Passover...a day early

2009-04-08T09:03:00.014-04:00

I celebrated the first evening of Passover last night, which technically is a day early since Passover begins tonight, Nisan 14 (Lev 23). So why a day early?

The first Passover night (Nisan 14) preceded the Exodus from Egypt, the Red Sea crossing, the Cloud that led the people by day & the Fire at night...

In Exodus 12, G-d instructs the people to select a lamb on Nisan 10, tend to that lamb til Nisan 14 when they were to: slaughter it & place its blood on their doorposts so that the L-rd would pass over their homes; then roast the lambs and eat the meat with unleavened bread, sharing within families and within the community. The very next morning they were led out of Egypt.

So in the Hebrew mindset Passover is celebrated to commemorate the going out of Egypt and the great miracles which the L-rd used to free the people. All of this beautiful and beyond understanding.

But there is so much more: G-d instructed His people to offer daily sacrifices of various kinds and for various purposes and much of those sacrifices were animals and that is because according to Leviticus 17:11 - "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."

Yeshua is THE sacrificial Lamb, only His Blood is pure, holy, able to make atonement for ALL. And so He had to be crucified on Passover. But He also wanted to gather with His friends to celebrate Passover, commonly known as the Lord's Supper or the Last Supper. And during that Passover seder, it was after He washed their feet, told them to eat His Flesh & drink His Blood, and the prayers in the garden, that He was arrested and then beaten & crucified on the same day that the Passover lambs were to be slaughtered for Passover. Not incidentally, G-d instructed the people that they had to eat the entire lamb, NONE of it could be left over. All of this preparing the people, looking forward to when Yeshua would say:

John 6:53-58 "Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.'"

So that is why it's a beautiful thing to have a seder an evening earlier.

And that mark which those who celebrate Passover are marked with...is the Blood of the Messiah, Yeshua, which literally means God Saves.

a mark on hand & forehead

2009-04-07T08:59:00.009-04:00

I was always familiar with the mark of the beast, aka 666. There are a number of movies that make allusion to this--probably most famously the Omen. And the idea of this mark comes from...

Rev 13:16-17 "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

And of course the mark of the beast refers to anti-christ, an anti-messiah. Christ & Messiah simply mean anointed of G-d as if dedicated to G-d, a servant. So anti-christ is anything that is anti-G-d, unanointed.

Now what's interesting about this is the mark of the beast is a sign on a right hand or forehead...and Passover (which begins April 8, 2009) is referred to the same way, as a mark...on your hand and forehead:

Exodus 13:7-10 "Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year."

Since in the past, I only read Exodus like a history book and history was my worst subject in high school, I never saw this before: Passover is the true mark of G-d. Why? Because Yeshua who IS the anointed became the Passover Lamb. Each year that the Israelites celebrated Passover before His death, was simply a foreshadow of His ultimate sacrifice. They sacrificed lambs, He was the Lamb.

And then I was reminded of Deuternomy 6:8...where it says of G-d's Word: "You shall bind them (His commandments) as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

This speaks of the same concept: He is telling His people to so love the Word and live the Word, that it shall be like a mark on their hand and forehead, always present with and within them.

And so I just thought it was pretty neat how all these "marks" point to Yeshua and each reference is just a different way of saying the same thing: He is the Word that became flesh...and as believers we are marked by Him and so Passover, being that He became THE sacrifice, is THE MARK of the L-rd.

Chag Sameach!

stimulus for porn...pernicious pun

2009-01-08T19:06:00.019-05:00

Bad puns abound over Joe Francis and Larry Flynt's request for a $5 billion bailout for the "Adult Entertainment" industry. I probably shouldn't even waste my words on this topic but couldn't resist.

The have a plan: With the $5 billion, they would "invest in building new means of distribution, and shoring up our distribution right now to prevent further erosion from factors like Youporn and other Internet content that has seriously affected our business over the past few years," Francis said in an interview with FOX Business. "We will use the money wisely, and we will create more jobs." (from the article below)

So to the many that are currently laid off, fear not, plenty of jobs on the way...I am glad they will use the money wisely and with others' interests & well-being in mind because as they say, "People are too depressed to be sexually active," Flynt said in the press release. "This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such but they cannot do without sex." (from the above article)

Interesting that Mr. Flynt suggests that to not participate in adult entertainment, porn, whatever you want to call it, is unhealthy. Maybe this is all a publicity stunt to stimulate their business. But even if it is a stunt, just the fact that these guys decided to give this a try makes an interesting commentary on our culture. I will leave it at that.

So let's see if they drive in their hybrid to DC as they promise...to show how much more upstanding they are than those raunchy car makers.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/economy/adult-entertainment-industry-wants-bailout/

just funny

2008-12-24T21:44:00.003-05:00

A 6 year old foster son of good friends of ours had this to say to his foster mom (our rabbi's wife):

"Lisa, I know Santa doesn't come to this house, but if he did, you would save a lot of money."

matters of quirkiness & faith

2008-12-16T16:39:00.018-05:00

My father died in 1995. He was 48, a mere 9 years older than I am right now. (Don't worry this is not a downer post, though I do have a mild fascination with death. ;) So I woke up at midnight last night after a short time of sleep and though I so wanted to sleep, my mind took over. And I was thinking about some nonsensical interjection I said in someone's office the previous afternoon. I can't recall what I said, but whatever it was there was a tiny logistic connective tendril. Tiny. I call it controlled ADD. Is that offensive to anyone? Unintended if so. I define someone with that condition as: when in conversation, he or she makes loose to very loose connections to whatever is being discussed, sometimes in song. But most always, eventually gets back to the original topic, albeit circuitously but usually humorously, at least for the loose connection maker.

The particular instance I was thinking of didn't amuse anyone but me so I returned to the original topic. Selfishly, often times, I am not thinking that my odd rambling, lyric embedding, or word inserting will entertain anyone but me. (I used to do it when I taught college comp courses all the time. I definitely needed to self-entertain during class.) So all this to say that at midnight I remembered that my father used to come out with things that made no sense in the conversation. Or at times, no one was saying a word and he'd say something that had no connection to anything recently said. I used to think, "how odd you are!" And so for the first time, last night, I realized where my little oddity comes from, at least one oddity anyway. And it made me laugh because what annoyed me in him is in me and I actually enjoy it! I thought that was great.

An even bigger thing used to annoy me: his faith. One thing I did know was: he was different. Watching my father die of cancer over the course of a month with such a peace, such an unwavering faith in G-d, is what caused me to really see what the heck was so different about him. And then after he died I began exploring what he was talking about: I tried to read the Bible and I remembered things he'd try to tell me about his faith, always beaming as he shared whatever it was. And then later I remembered that when he'd get home from work each night, often after 14 hours, he'd kneel in a spare room and pray. He'd close the door but I could see him through the small opening. I wouldn't be really looking; I would just catch a glimpse of him as I passed by. Obviously I made an unconscious mental note because at the time, I didn't think much of it. Until he was gone...I know cliche...but sadly some cliches are just that, sad, and sad that we persist in living them out...

So to make a slightly longer story wind down, watching his faith in action at such a difficult time and then remembering all these details that I unknowingly stored away, led me to find the peace, joy, and love that only G-d can offer us. (If that sounds cliche, so be it, at least it led to a good result.) All that's pretty big.

And now I've discovered this little thing too. Discoveries are good. So look around to the people that you've known for years or even a week and thank G-d for how He has used them to shape you in matters of faith and quirkiness. Oh and be aware: sometimes the shaping process doesn't always feel good, but it's the end result that matters.

A cool side note: I've since realized that during a lot of that kneeling, he was praying for me. You never really know who is praying for you. And you may be very surprised if you found out.

Jesus at the bar?

2008-12-11T21:48:00.023-05:00

I drive up and down Warwick Avenue usually twice per day. Driving home Sunday night I saw a sign on Eddie's Bar that I absolutely loved...here it is>>

In the window on the right is one of those Sam Adams light-ups and on the main Eddie's sign: "JESUS SAVES." I did a double-take and lots of knee slaps. I thought it was great. Usually the letters spell what band is playing or what the day's beer special is...

So on the way to work Monday morning I had to pull over and take some pictures. Here's what was on the other side: HO HO HO WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO

Some people might say HO HO HO makes more sense on a bar sign: Santa's battle-cry along with a lament that summer is gone. Enter winter: the season of depression. And a bar often caters to the depressed, at least stereotypically in tv land. Makes some odd sense.

But then you see the flip-side...JESUS SAVES. I have no idea why they put either slogan on this sign or both at the same time. But though the dichotomy is quite interesting, what I find more interesting is that JESUS SAVES on this bar sign reminds me that G-d is EVERYWHERE, waiting to be seen, heard, spoken to, smiled at, bought a drink...loved. If He can be in the church, the synagogue, the football field, He can also be in a bar.

So if you're in Eddie's, will you look around, I mean really look and when you see Jesus, will you buy Him a drink? I will. Thanks Eddie's!

Learnin' from Bruce Almighty

2008-12-02T11:11:00.017-05:00

Two days ago, I watched Bruce Almighty again. It's one of my favorite movies.

But what struck me most this last time I watched it was the ending. The homeless guy to the right is holding a sign that says something like "Amageddon outta here" and he slowly morphs into Morgan Freeman who is playing G-d. Such a simple scene, such a beautiful truth: we should see G-d in everyone we encounter. I know this but I have a hard time remembering...

So yesterday morning, I was talking to a guy at work that had been out with an injury for two weeks...and I wasn't thinking about Bruce Almighty but my mind did that morph thing and I knew that for that second, I was looking into the eyes of G-d and it rattled me. It's good to be rattled!

G-d speaks through the craziest things. Actually He really speaks through EVERYTHING, if we listen...

This is the funniest scene in the movie...

what's with thanksgiving?

2008-12-01T11:12:00.012-05:00

I am thankful. I want to be thankful daily--moment by moment. How did you feel on Thanksgiving? Was it a peaceful day in whatever house you were in, with whomever you were with, were you relaxed and calm, did thankfulness come up? If so, Baruch Hashem! I was peaceful but not because I find the day lends to that, but because I have chosen to view it differently than I used to.

I never had much expectation for holidays. I think that's because too many people around me did and were so depressed particularly from Thanksgiving to Christmas that I resisted expectations, expectations that are never met. Or to be fair I should say often not met. I am sure there are families where the expectations are more reasonable, are met, and depression is avoided. There are some of those right? But largely I think people want something from these holidays that is unreasonable and impossible to achieve. And those of us without expectations assume the "destined to fail and only cause stress" role of frenzied expectation fairy peacemaker, constantly thinking "Is this person ok?" "Is that one depressed?" "Did he have too much to drink?" "Did I have a piece of her pie because if I didn't she'll be depressed?"

This morning a co-worker said she was exhausted when she got home Thursday night and she didn't know why. She didn't have much to cook, she didn't travel but a few minutes, she got home early enough...and then she admitted it was that she feels she has to make sure "everyone is ok..." That is exhausting!

Another friend said her son and family got to her house at 4:30 after eating at the in-laws at 2 and her son hardly said a word. The next day he apologized and said he was just tired. She realized it was too much, expecting them to go to both houses. She said she was selfish to feel that he had to come to her house. She said she won't do that again. Baruch Hashem! That's quite a revelation she had with all the emphasis that this culture and our families have put on these special days.

In some families, one parental side owns a holiday and are damned and determined they will have people over to eat their food at their table in their house or else...they own the day after all! What? Is that what celebrating being thankful is about? Come to my house or I will hold a grudge and make every holiday stressful...

My friend with the son and I started talking about the odd comfort people find in these holidays that really is just deception. But it's something they hang onto like it will save them...hmmmm...sounds a little like worship. The emphasis we have placed on these days, the completely unrealistic expectations are a by-product of our lack of reverence for G-d and lack of following His holidays...the true holidays that are holy and set apart because He created them.

I love the line: "Christmas is about the kids after all..." Really? Last time I checked, it was supposed to be about G-d. But it's not. Never was. As hard as you try to cram Him in there, and I used to try to do just that, He's not there...at least not in the way we expect Him to be.

flame-carved commandments

2008-11-30T08:17:00.024-05:00

Disclaimer: I apologize for the meandering nature of this post. But as G-d is so uncontainable, I found it difficult to condense and contain these ideas into a neat package but hope this wandering is thought-provoking...

I know the verse:
Deuteronomy 9:10 Then the LORD delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. (NKJV)

and so I assumed that literally the 10 Commandments were "written by the finger of G-d." But Ad-nai is a consuming Fire...

Deuteronomy 5:24-25 And you said: ‘Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. (NKJV)

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (NKJV)

and the Hebrews literally saw that fire many times:

Exodus 20:18-19 And all the people are seeing the voices, and the flames, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mount smoking; and the people see, and move, and stand afar off, and say unto Moses, 'Speak thou with us, and we hear, and let not God speak with us, lest we die.'(JPS)

Did you ever notice that the people are "seeing voices"? Here's a more literal translation:

Exodus 20:18-19 And all the people saw⁶ the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw⁴ [it], they removed,⁴ and stood⁴ afar off. (KJV with links to Hebrew words and meaning)

Thunderings = voices; lightning= flames. If we read this account as merely words talking about some historic event or even worse, if we question that this event actually happened, we are missing the awesomeness of G-d. If the Bible is Truth, the details of this event Truly happened, as impossible as they may seem. But back to fire...this verse amazed me:

Psalms 29:7 The voice of the LORD divides the flames of fire. (NKJV)

or a more closer translation...

Psalm 29:7 The voice of HaShem heweth out flames of fire. (JPS)

The word hew in Hebrew is chatsab חֹצֵב which means to cut, carve, hew...divide, which the KJV uses. Jewish tradition teaches that, one by one, the commandments were written by flame as the people said "yes we will obey." So could it be that Ad-nai wrote the Commandments with flames of fire, carving His Word into stone, preparing to lovingly sear His Word in our hearts (Jer 31:33),and He does so as we receive what He gives us? Makes G-d-sense to me!

Jeremiah 31:33 "'This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,' declares the LORD. 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'"

I wonder if the word division in Hebrews 4:12, had it been written in Hebrew, would be chatsab?

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJV)

This Hebrew translation of the Brit Chadashah uses chatsab in Hebrews 4:12.

By the way, the 10 Commandments are just a shortened version of the Torah and the Torah is the Word and the Word is Yeshua, Jesus, the Messiah. So to really encapsulate the ideas in this post: Yeshua is a consuming fire that dwells in our hearts causing us to be like Him to show His Glory.

Empty Me

2008-11-28T08:25:00.000-05:00

This is the prayer of my heart and it's a beautiful song. I don't recall Chris Sligh on American Idol Season 6 but I thought that was pretty cool. He has a great voice. Baruch Hashem!

Guitar Tabs for Empty Me--only one worth trying that I could find.

Chris' site, lyrics

Chodesh Tov!

G-d's appointed times: lost in translation

2008-11-27T07:37:00.002-05:00

Because the meanings within the Hebrew language are multi-layered, familiarity with even a little Hebrew can deepen our understanding of G-d’s Word. Since we’ve just walked through a number of Ad-nai’s festivals, here’s a perfect example of G-d’s love, beauty and Truth inherent in the language that gets lost in English translation: “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years’” (Genesis 1:14 NKJV).
The Hebrew word for seasons is Moadim מוֹעֲדִים which means appointed or set times, as in “let us celebrate the moadim,” “let us celebrate the appointed times.” What’s the big deal? “Seasons” are equated with 12 months broken into 4 parts (summer, winter, spring, and fall), not specifically “set times,” which Ad-nai details in Leviticus 23 and all throughout Scripture.

In the beginning, G-d said…everything we need to know, but unfortunately so much Truth has been forgotten, hidden, or twisted by the world. But Ad-nai is revealing what has been hidden for so long that we would be prepared for this: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24, NJKV).

Like the Torah, the Living Word, the Hebrew language is a living language, the only truly living language. And though Hebrew lay dormant for centuries when it was only spoken by a small number of religious Jews, it has re-emerged as a vibrant, breathing, powerful language that Ad-nai is drawing out from within His people to glorify Himself. Learning Hebrew is not just about words and letters. Like everything else Ad-nai has created, it’s really about His Amazing love and the little gifts He graces us with, some wrapped in jots & tittles (Matthew 5:18), gifts of Himself.

Here's a side by side Hebrew/Engish Bible site.

the Hebrew alephbet

2008-11-26T08:32:00.008-05:00

The Hebrew Alephbet consists of 22 letters, all consonants. Most of these letters sound like the letter name. For example, the letter Mem מ is pronounced like an M, as in Moadim, which means appointed times. Of these 22 consonants, there are 2 silent letters that can take on different sounds, mainly for vowels. Vowel markers, small symbols near a letter, are also added for clarity in some Hebrew writing. Hebrew is read from right to left, which takes a little time to get used to. But when thinking about learning Hebrew, realize just like Torah, we are not in a race to acquire head knowledge; we are in a process of spiritual growth, allowing Ad-nai to birth within us what He has for each of us, each part of the body.

The name AlephBet comes from the first two letters of Hebrew: Aleph and Beit, similar to the English AlphaBet based on the first two Latin letters, Alpha and Beta. But that is one of the very few similarities to English because Hebrew has so many more levels of meaning compared to the English language. To some degree we can describe Hebrew much like we describe Ad-nai: simple yet amazingly and beautifully complex. For example, our letter B has no meaning aside from the fact that it sounds like “bee.” In Hebrew every letter has its own meaning(s), which then combines with other letters to make up the meaning of a word or phrase. Confusing? Here’s an example: El is a simple name for G-d. In Hebrew it is spelled אל - the letters Aleph Lamed. Ancient Hebrew letters were written as pictures based on the meaning of the letter. Aleph looks like the head of a bull - representing strength, and is often said to represent G-d. Lamed looks like a staff . And so when you say the “little” word El, realize you are saying something very “big” - The L-rd is my Shepherd!

Hebrew4Christians is a great site to begin to learn Hebrew.

Hebrew: the language within

2008-11-25T12:01:00.007-05:00

I began to learn Hebrew around October 2007 and have been shocked at how much I've gotten out of the time I've spent. If Hebrew, (hearing it, speaking it or just seeing it in print) somehow stirs your spirit, give it a try. I truly believe that as we expectantly enter into this holy language, it’s not so much that we are “putting in” something new, but that which our spirit already knows is “rising up,” reviving that heavenly language from dormancy. Just as the Torah is being written on our hearts, (has already been written on our hearts in G-d’s time), this ancient language has been written on our hearts as well. So as the Torah, the written Word, becomes Flesh...the Hebrew letters of that Word can become Flesh within us and begin to enter our spiritual understanding.

Here's one example of the benefit of beginning to understand Hebrew: adam (אדָם - read from right to left) means man or mankind. It is spelled א (Ah) represents G-d and דָם (dam) means blood. So adam means G-d's blood...there's so much more to this but that's just a little taste of the treasures you will find if you begin to study this Holy language.

Sleeping unawares

2008-11-21T08:46:00.007-05:00

I woke up at 5 am--which would be a fine time to get up if I hadn't been so tired lately--and instead of telling myself to fall back to sleep for an hour, I allowed my mind to wander...big mistake since I just laid there wandering through situations and plans...And that got me thinking that the only time we turn our thinking completely off is when we are asleep. In sleep, we are finally as G-d wants us to be: resting, at peace, trusting that He will awaken us and allow us to live another day. During sleep we are completely unaware of ourselves--just as He desires us to be.

So if we can rest and be unware of ourselves while sleeping, in our waking hours we should strive for that same unwareness of self: not caring what people think, but only caring about what He thinks; not worrying about what we need to do, but trusting in Him to provide; not planning every move we will make, but listening to Him to direct our every step.

The more unaware of the self that we become, the more aware we will be of the awesomeness of Ad-nai and maybe we will be in a position to hear and obey what He is saying.

To be like G-d

2008-11-13T10:14:00.009-05:00

When the serpent (which I doubt was a talking snake, which probably was an angelic being of some sort) said to Eve in Genesis 3:4-5: “You will not surely die. For G-d knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like G-d, knowing good and evil” (NKJV).

What convinced Eve to eat? The thought that she would be "like G-d." Somehow the serpent made the prospect to be "like G-d" more appealing to her than choosing to obey G-d's only command to not eat of that tree. Basically He said: I am giving you EVERYTHING: all the animals are under your control; the Garden is peaceful; I will walk with you and talk with you. But obey this ONE thing: do not eat the fruit of this one tree. He never told them not to touch it, as Eve tells the serpent; He simply says don't eat it...

Gen 1: 26-28 - Then G-d said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So G-d created man in His own image; in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them. Then G-d blessed them, and G-d said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (NKJV). Read Genesis 1-3

But in Eve's pursuit, and then Adam's, to be like G-d ~ they ate. The irony is they were already like G-d; He created them in His image...but He created them to be close to Him, to choose Him instead of the only thing He forbade.

That idea is hummmmmmmmmmmming in my head: that we choose to want to be "like G-d" by trying to be in control, run our own lives, run other people's lives, fix people, fix situations, insanely trying to make things fit when they don't...all to our own liking, thinking we know better than G-d because we are "like Him" after all--not that we consciously think "I am like G-d so there"--but it's built-in to our thinking. But instead His desire is that we realize He is in control, He knows exactly what needs to be done and we don't always know best because our minds are clouded with what we "think" is best...and all He ever wants is for us to choose to be close to Him...

All Hail King Obama

2008-11-06T08:53:00.022-05:00

If you doubt that Obama is being deified how do you explain the celebrations about his "victory" around the world?

Iran: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday congratulated Barack Obama on his election win — the first time an Iranian leader has offered such wishes to a U.S. president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution...(full AP article)

Belgium: "An Obama win would mean the rebirth of the American dream," Belgian senate president Armand De Decker.

France: Le Monde proclaims "Obama’s victory ushers in a new American Dream..."

Kenya: President Kibaki has announced a public holiday tomorrow for Kenyans to celebrate the victory of Barack Obama as the new President elect of the United States of America.

Germany: "Good morning, Mr President! Make the world better," requests Germany’s Bild-Zeitung tabloid.

Syria: Ath Thawra, the official daily, opines: "If Obama wins, it would be a historic event and the signal for an extraordinary development for United States politics and society."

The photo to the right is from an excellent slide show: World reaction to Obama win

Barack Obama, come to save the world, Telegraph, UK

Kenya to take day off to celebrate Obama victory, The Standard

Europeans Cheer Obama Victory, Wall Street Journal

World reaction to Obama victory: Elation, Los Angeles Times

World press reaction to Barack Obama's victory, TimesOnline, UK

Many around the world cheer Obama victory, Seattle Times
The ending of this article is very interesting...
"Saudi journalist Samir Saadi said that Obama's election means "'the U.S. has won the war on terror.'"

"'Given Obama's name, his background, the doubts about his religion, Americans still voted for him and this proved that America is a democracy,'" he said. "'People here are starting to believe in the U.S. again.'"

I have no idea why Obama's win = the US has won the war on terror...but what struck me more was the assertion that over the years people have lost faith in the US and now they are "starting to believe in the US again"...do you see anything strange about that? A renewed Faith in the US...

Now here's a comment about Obama's victory from Israel about their reality with a potential nuclear Iran: "Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni attacked U.S. president-elect Barack Obama on Thursday for declaring a willingness to talk with Iran about its nuclear program..." (full article)

I voted

2008-11-05T08:36:00.024-05:00

I voted yesterday. For president I wrote in "Yeshua, the only King." A wasted vote? No. I live in RI and this state always chooses a democrat, so the winner here was certain in my mind. But even if that weren't the case, I would have voted the same way. The short answer: G-d is in control.

The longer answer: G-d wants to be our only King--the King of our hearts. When we give such power to anything but Him, the world will be shaken...as it is right now. G-d allowed Israel to have a king because they said "we need a king; we must have a king!" They always had one, the Only One, but they wanted a man, so G-d gave them one...Here's part of that story:

2 Samuel 8: "Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”

So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day.” Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. So the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.” (NKJV)

The world is falling apart, which is evident most obviously by the failing economy. The failure we are reaping is because we relied on systems of the world instead of G-d for so many centuries. Whether you see it or not, all things are now stacking up seemingly against G-d and against Israel...and that's just where He is allowing the world system to get to: at the end of its frazzled rope but still thinking it can control its future. The United States has been such a huge player on the world stage with way too much control for way too long and the end is near...sound crazy? Remember: Truth is stranger than fiction.

There was no doubt in my mind that Obama would win this election. The person who will run this country is the exact person that G-d needs to fulfill His perfect plan, a plan that is very different from what the majority in this country or in the world expects and wants to happen next. And now many are de-ifying this president-elect, like he is THE savior on a white horse who is going to make everything better.

Fortunately there is ONE Savior who will return on a white horse and He truly will save the world and all will worship Him as their King: Revelation 13:8 "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (NKJV)

Zechariah 14:16 "And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles." (NKJV)

Baruch Hashem!

The NAME

2008-02-28T21:35:00.002-05:00

In Ki Tisa, God says His Name, as His Shekhinah passes by Moses, which many translations write as LORD or ADONAI (note all caps). That name is Yahweh or as it would be written with just consonants in Hebrew YHVH (pronounced Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey) also translated as "I am who I am." The LORD having shown Moses His Glory and having said His personal name (second time for Moses-the first time Exodus 6:2-3) was more amazing than most of us can realize.

Exodus 34:5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth'" (JPS).

God also refers to His Name as His memorial:

Exodus 3:15 "And God said moreover unto Moses: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations'" (JPS).

The special and sacred way in which God revealed His Name is one reason why God is sometimes spelled G-D, primarily in Jewish writing, because the name of the LORD is to be treated with utmost care because it is holy. This thinking goes along specifically with the third commandment, Exodus 20:7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." All things of God and things used in relation to God are sacred, holy, set apart--His Name being one of those sacred things.

Some Christians might be offended or at the least annoyed at the G-D spelling. "We are to go to the throne of God with boldness." "God was Abraham's friend, the Bible says. He's my friend too." It's almost like a young child who treats his parents as his friends, and so shows little to no respect for his mother and father. A parent should become something of a friend to a child (particularly in adulthood), but not at the expense of losing the respectful, love-in-discipline relationship. Likewise and even moreso with God, the creator of the universe and author of our lives. Understanding what is sacred and why and how to handle sacred things will dramatically transform our relationship to God. I have a lot to learn.

Baruch Hashem / Blessed be the Name of the LORD

Parashat Vayakhel (and he assembled)

2008-02-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

This week's Torah portion is Parashat Vayakhel which means "and he assembled."

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.

Torah portion: Exodus 35:1 - 38:20
God tells Moses to gather the people and ask them to bring materials to build the Tabernacle and all its components as offerings to the Lord. So they brought gold, silver, copper, acacia wood, oil, spices, linen, animal skins, gemstones.

Exodus 35:29 "Thus the Israelites, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord, through Moses, had commanded to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord."

God appoints one Israelite, Bezalel, to lead the project who He endows with all artistic and practical skills needed to complete this huge project. He appoints Oholiab to work with him and also divinely imparts skills to him. They are to work with all those who are skilled in any of the areas where labor is needed. Then the artistry begins...

Summary from Hebrews4Christians

Haftarah and Haftarah blessings
I Kings 7:40-50

Brit Chadashah
2 Cor 9:6-11;
1 Cor 3:11-18

Blessing after Torah study: Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst. Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

Why bother?

Shekhinah

2008-02-26T08:50:00.003-05:00

In last week's Torah portion, Ki Tisa, Moses asks the LORD if he may see His Glory.

Exodus 33:18 "And he said: 'Show me, I pray Thee, Thy glory.' 19 And He said: 'I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.' 20 And He said: 'Thou canst not see My face, for man shall not see Me and live.' 21 And the LORD said: 'Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock. 22 And it shall come to pass, while My glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with My hand until I have passed by. 23 And I will take away My hand, and thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'" (JPS)

God does what He says:
Exodus 34:1 "And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first; and I will write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou didst break. 2 And be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to Me on the top of the mount. 3 And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.' 4 And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; 7 keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and unto the fourth generation.' 8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

Shekhinah is Hebrew for the Glory of the LORD or the LORD's presence among us and literally means to dwell or rest on. God showed His Shekhinah to the Israelites in a cloud over the tent of meeting and it was this cloud that directed them on their journey:

Exodus 13:21 "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; that they might go by day and by night: 22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people." (JPS)

This "cloud" occurs a number of times throughout Scripture.

Matthew 17:1 "Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4Peter said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' 5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, 'This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!'"(NASB)

Compared to the Israelites, Moses had a much more intimate and personal encounter with the Shekhinah. When he came down from the mountain, Moses had to veil his face because it glowed so brightly. Thereafter whenever he returned from being with the Lord he veiled his face for the Israelites were afraid:

Exodus 34:30 "And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face sent forth beams; and they were afraid to come nigh him."

Have you ever noticed a person who has an unexplainable glow? Maybe he's in love? If it's a woman, maybe she's pregnant? Did you ever consider he or she may have just been in the presence of the Lord? If it happened a few thousand years ago, it happens today.

written on hearts of stone

2008-02-25T10:43:00.005-05:00

In Exodus 20 the Israelites hear God speak the 10 commandments. And then after the 10th commandment is spoken:

Exodus 20:18 "When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "'Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.'"

20 Moses said to the people, "'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.'"

And so Moses goes off to talk with God alone. Imagine what that would be like! And the first thing God says:
Exodus 20: 22 "Then the LORD said to Moses, "'Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.'"

Moses returns to the people after talking with God:
Exodus 24:3 "When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "'Everything the LORD has said we will do.'" 4 Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said."

And then the LORD said to Moses: Exodus 24:12 "'Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction.'"

Moses receives more details about the commandments, which simply put is a Godly way of life, as well as specifics as to how to build the tabernacle. And then...

Exodus 31:18 "When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God."

But...
Exodus 32:1 "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "'Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'"

2 Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."

How quickly they forgot their agreement in Exodus 24:3 and Exodus 24:7. (How quickly do I forget my holy proclamations? "Yes of course I will do that or won't do that, God.")

Exodus 32:7 "Then the LORD said to Moses, "'Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ''These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.''

9 "'I have seen these people,'" the LORD said to Moses, "'and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.'"

And then
Exodus32:19 "When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it."

And after Moses' continued repenting for the people and offering his own life for the Israelites' salvation, God told Moses to return to the mountain to receive the commandments again.

Exodus 34:4 "So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands."

And there Moses received the second set of commandments, written on stone, front and back. Interesting that while Moses is with God receiving the first tablets, the people, having hearts of stone, or as God refers to them: a stiff-necked people, beg Aaron to make for them a god that they might worship. And still God gave His people a second chance. and more than that, He promises to write His Word on our hearts, our very own hearts of stone that are only truly softened and made whole by His love and mercy and grace.

Jeremiah 31:33 "'This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,' declares the LORD. 'I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.'"

Hebrews 10:16 "'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.'17Then he adds: 'Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.'"

Much of these details are found in last week's torah portion: Ki Tisa
Exodus 30:11-34:35. Read the story of Moses receiving the Commandments: Exodus chapters 20-35

Parashat Ki Tisa: Shabbat Shalom

2008-02-22T10:40:00.002-05:00

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Tisa, the Lord reaffirms the gift of the Sabbath: and clarifies that it is a covenant that God's people will keep...forever.

Exodus 31:12 "And the LORD said to Moses, 13'You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, "Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. 14You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."'" (ESV)

Put to death? Confusing to some degree. But when you think about it spiritually, keeping the Sabbath is the only ritual that God included in the 10 Commandments. Not keeping the Sabbath to the Lord could be considered a type of idolatry--putting other things above the One, True God--another commandment. And so not guarding and keeping the Sabbath would be breaking two commandments: the one that says "you shall have no other gods but Me." But above all, the Lord is merciful and just and works with each individual in His way and timing. And when He calls, celebrating the Sabbath is an amazing blessing.

from aish.com
"When you observe Shabbat," continues the Chofetz Chaim, "you testify that the Almighty created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. By keeping Shabbat you proclaim that you have this awareness. A person who fails to keep Shabbat removes this sign. This is the reason for the importance of Shabbat."

Shabbat Shalom! / Sabbath Peace!

Ki Tisa: Shekels

2008-02-21T20:39:00.002-05:00

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Tisa, God commands the Israelites to give 1/2 shekel for the service of the tabernacle. Incidentally, this is the first mention of a 1/2 shekel in the Bible.

Exodus 30 - 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary--the shekel is twenty gerahs--half a shekel for an offering to the LORD. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering of the LORD. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for your souls'" (JPS).

Today(2/21/2008) 1 Israeli shekel = 0.27777 U.S. dollars : Exchange rate for the Israeli shekel

The shekel was the predominant silver coin, weighing about 1/5 of an ounce of silver. But there were also gold, brass, and iron shekels. A shekel was the standard form of currency, like the American dollar or the Japanese yen.

The first mention of shekels in the Bible is in Genesis 20 where Sarah earned Abraham quite a take:

Genesis 20:16
To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated."
Genesis 20:15-17 (in Context) Genesis 20 (Whole Chapter)

But in this Torah portion, God asked for 1/2 shekel--no more, no less. So today, Americans would give 50 cents. Or I guess 13.9 cents if we base it on the current shekel value.

Timeline of the shekel

Half-Shekel introduced by Moses		1289 B.C.E.
Reintroduced by King Yoash		800 B.C.E.
Halted by Nebuchanezer		586 B.C.E.
Reintroduced by Nehemiah		445 B.C.E.
Halted by Titus		70 C.E.
Banned by Hadrian		135 C.E.
Reintroduced after 1,863 years		1998 C.E.

Israeli Shekel to Become Globally Convertible, February 14, 2008

shekel background--above taken from Begedivri.com

shekels in wikipedia

Parashat Ki Tisa - "when you take"

2008-02-21T20:12:00.008-05:00

This week's Torah portion is Parashat Ki Tisa. Summary of this portion.

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.

Torah portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35 - which begins:

11"The LORD said to Moses, 12 'When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.'" (ESV)

Messianic reading of Ki Tisa.

Haftarah and Haftarah blessings
Haftarah: 1Kings 18:1-39

Brit Chadashah: 2Cor 3:1-18

Blessing after Torah study: Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who
gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

Why bother?

Parashat Tetzaveh (“you shall command”)

2008-02-12T13:57:00.000-05:00

Parashat Tetzaveh
Tetzaveh means to command (mitzvah), and this reading begins with God telling Moses to command the children of Israel to use pure olive oil to keep the seven lamps of the menorah constantly burning. The priestly garments, worn by the Kohanim (priests) while serving in the Holy Place and the altar of incense are also described in this Torah portion.

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.
Torrah portion:Ex. 27:20-30:10

Haftarah and Haftarah blessings
Haftarah: Ezek. 43:10-27

Brit Chadashah: Heb. 13:10-7

Blessing after Torah study: Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who
gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

Why bother?

Rock, Paper, Scissors

2008-02-11T09:01:00.000-05:00

I never played the Rock, Paper, Scissors game as a kid, but I have played it a few times oddly enough as an adult because I felt that it was an unfortunate omission from my childhood, as was Sesame Street , Chutes & Ladders, and Candy Land. But I am not bitter. Did I mention 3-2-1 Contact? The Electric Company?

Anyway, this game popped into my head yesterday morning and it seemed an apt way to describe Adonai.

Paper: God gave us His Word;

Scissors: We violate that Word (over and over again) and should be permanently cut-off from Him;

Rock: But God, in His never-ending mercy gives us Himself, Yeshua which literally means "God Saves," as the Rock of our salvation, our covering.

Back to my childhood: amongst other TV memories, I do remember watching Romper Room and Davey & Goliath quite a bit. In the first, I learned to walk on those cups with the plastic, stretchy ropes that you hold onto--cup stilts, I guess. Imagine that, they are called cup-stilts! In the second program, I remember a small character who learned a lot of good lessons and who had a very wise dog, oddly named Goliath...but the metaphor still works. This same Davey, who as an adult I learned, was David who killed Goliath, a giant of a man, with a slingshot and a rock by trusting in the Rock of His Salvation.

Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in Him I take refuge; my shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower" (JPS)

Shavua Tov! - - Good Week!

The Book Thief

2008-02-10T07:42:00.000-05:00

The Book Thief is a 2005 best-selling novel by Markus Zusak. The setting is World War II Germany and the narrator is Death. The actual "book thief" is 9 year old Liesel Meminger, sent to live with a foster family, the Hubermanns in Germany, where they end up harboring a Jew named Max who spends some of his time in the basement creating something of a graphic novel for Liesel. The line drawings are a nice addition to the book, rather poigant. Some themes: the power of words, the hope and power of reading, the power of love and truth. Interesting exploration into a different lens of the Holocaust. Worth the read!

Shabbat Shalom - Sabbath Peace

2008-02-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

The command to celebrate the Sabbath has its foundation in Genesis 2:2-3:

2 "And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made." (JPS)

We have to do a lot of things every day: show up for work on time, stop at red lights and stop signs, obey the speed limit, get dressed, treat your spouse nicely, discipline our children, eat (our stomach commands that!), and on and on...but has anyone commanded you to celebrate and so that you can truly enjoy the day?

There is freedom when we realize that God tells us to rest on the Sabbath. And there is freedom in knowing that we can enter Sabbath rest every day by trusting in the Lord, praising His name, reveling in all His creation. But if not every day begin with one and follow His beautiful invitation found in Exodus 20: 8-11 ~

8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; 11 for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (JPS)

God lovingly instructed that all should rest: Jews & Gentiles, male & female, adults & children, servants & the free, cattle & donkeys, strangers & friends.

The sabbath was not some ordinance that God created and then said to us, "Now keep it." No the sabbath was created for us and for our benefit.

Mark 2:27 ~ "Then he [Yeshua] said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'" (NIV)

So this Saturday rest and take a few moments to sing, dance, praise the Holy name of the Lord and enjoy the day. It was created FOR YOU!

Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Terumah - Contribution

2008-02-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

This week's Torah Reading is Parashat Terumah which means "Contribution." Typically the names of the weekly readings come from the first or second line of the passage, sometimes the first word.

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.

This week's Torah portion begins in Exodus 25: 1 - "And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 'Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for Me an offering; of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take My offering.'" (JPS) So "terumah" means offering or contribution. It's important to realize that Adonai only wants offerings from those who are willing, who are giving with freedom and joy.

Be prepared, this section of Scripture is one you might call boring and so you'd be apt to skim or skip it completely because it contains an abundance of measurements and materials for building the tabernacle, also called mishkahn, that would be God's dwelling place with the people.

But if the scales of "the Torah isn't for me" mentality have fallen from our eyes, this portion of Scripture will be fascinating because we now realize that every detail that God has included in His Word has significance on many levels. And believe it or not every detail has significance in our lives today.

Caution: I would recommend reading 1 chapter per sitting and rereading it. (Actually in any book of the Bible, to really know His Word we should read 1 verse at a time and let that sink in before moving on.)

However you read it, let your heart absorb the details of the tabernacle because now...that tabernacle is you!

Torah portion: Exodus 25-27 (JPS-Jewish Publication Society version-you have to move from chapter to chapter)
Summary of Parashat Terumah

The next part of the weekly reading is the Haftarah which is a passage from Nevi'im which is the section of the Tanakh referred to as the Prophets, e.g. Isaiah, Kings 1. More about Haftarah and Haftarah blessings.

Haftarah portion: 1Kings 5:12-6:13

Brit Chadashah: 2Cor 9:1-15; Matt 5:33-37

Blessing after Torah study: Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who
gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

Why bother?

Rosh Chodesh Adar Aleph

2008-02-06T14:57:00.000-05:00

Today is the New Moon for Adar 1 or Rosh Chodesh Adar Aleph (aleph is the first letter of the alphabet and represents number 1 in Hebrew). This year there are 2 Adars because it is a Jewish leap year (the Jewish leap year does not always coincide with the Gregorian leap year, though this year it does).

[the image was created from Jewish Heritage Online Magazine where you will find great information on adar and all the wonderful things that are part of this month.] >>>>

Here's a short, interesting article: What is the New Moon?

And a little excerpt from the above:

"For believers, the celebration of the new moons carries great significance. Not only are they calendar events, but also the cycle of the moons speaks to the new birth and recreation which is ours in Messiah. Just as the moon is born again, we are renewed in Messiah. It is the festival of the born again."

Scripture references:
"The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down." (Psalm 104:19)

"'it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me,' says the LORD." (Isaiah 66:23)

The New Moon in the Hebrew Bible

Rosh Chodesh Blessing
May it be Thy will, LORD, our God and God of our fathers, that You begin for us this month for good and for blessing. May You give to us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of physical health, a life in which there is fear of heaven and fear of sin, a life in which there is no shame or humiliation; a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we love Torah and fear God; a life in which the LORD fulfills the requests of our hearts for good. Amen. Selah.

Rosh Chodesh Blessing

Chodesh Tov!

Wake Up!!

2008-02-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

In trying to encourage someone else's walk with God, I realized that I have been sleeping lately--so big yawn..........waking up. Here is what I said to that person but now realize it was for me:

Your heart is alive with the Spirit of God--sometimes our heart takes a nap--but God says:

"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."(NIV) (Ephesians 5:14 - New Testament)

and He first said this in Isaiah 60:1 (Tanakh) :

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you." (NIV)

So the first point is WAKE UP! - the Spirit of the Lord lives in us.

The second point is the verse in Ephesians is simply a repeat of the original verse in the book of Isaiah which was written about 2700 years ago but is clearly about the same Messiah of the "New" Testament," Yeshua Hamashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

This song speaks of Yeshua being brought into the temple to be dedicated 40 days after his birth as instructed by the Torah.

Now That I've Held Him In My Arms by Michael Card

Now That I've Held Him In My Arms

by Michael Card

That old man in the temple
Waiting in the court
Waiting for the answer to a promise
And all at once he sees them
In the morning sunshine
A couple come and carry in a baby
Chorus
Now that I've held Him in my arms
My life can now come to an end
Let Your servant now depart in peace
Cause I've seen Your salvation
He's the Light of the Gentiles
And the glory of His people Israel
Marry and the baby come
And in her hand five shekels
The price to redeem her baby boy
The baby softly cooing
Nestled in her arms
Simeon takes the boy and starts to sing

Chorus
Now's the time to take Him in your arms
Your life will never come to an end
He's the only way that you'll find peace
He'll give you salvation cause
He's the Light of the Gentiles
And the glory of His people Israel

Worship songs, guitar chords

2008-01-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

I was searching for the lyrics for "Moving with the Lamb" and found a site I'd never seen before. It has many great worships songs with lyrics and/or chords. Enjoy!
PW Archive

Search for a song or artist or browse the complete list.

Moving with the Lamb lyrics and chords

Amazing Grace (my chains are gone) lyrics & chords, Chris Tomlin

from the movie, Amazing Grace

Parashat Bo - "Enter"

2008-01-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

This week's Torah Reading is Parashat Bo which means "Enter." Typically the names of the weekly readings come from the first line of the passage, sometimes the first word.

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.

This week's Torah portion begins in Exodus 10:1 "Then the LORD said to Moses, "'Go to Pharaoh...'" Since "Go" is the main idea or action being expressed, the name of the portion, "Enter," reflects that.

Torah portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16
discussion of above passage

The next part of the weekly reading is the Haftarah which is a passage from Nevi'im which is the section of the Tanakh referred to as the Prophets, e.g. Isaiah, Kings 1. More about Haftarah and Haftarah blessings.

Haftarah portion: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Brit Chadashah: Luke 22:7-30; 1 Corinthians 11:20-34

Blessing after Torah study: Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who
gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

Rosh Chodesh Shevat

2008-01-07T13:47:00.000-05:00

Rosh Chodesh literally means "head of the month." Rosh Chodesh is also callled "New Moon" because the moon wanes to a point where it is no longer visible and on the 1st or 2nd of the month, a tiny sliver appears. It's kind of like the moon is "reborn" each month. So today at sunset Rosh Chodesh begins as we usher in the month of Shevat, the 11th month in the Jewish calendar.

It was on Shevat 1, 2488 that Moses, inspired by God, began reciting the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim) to the Jewish people. Moses died 37 days later.

Deuteronomy 1-3 "These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the desert east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. (It takes eleven days to go from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by the Mount Seir road.) In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them" (NIV).

Devarim means "words" and is the final book of the Torah; the fifth book of the Bible. In this book Moses basically recounts where the Israelites have been these past 40 years, what they've encounterned, what God has brought them through, and what He commands and promises. Devarim also contains the most definitive statement of Jewish identity: the Shema.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 "'Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates'" (NIV).

Chodesh Tov! / Good Month!

Last night, I prayed for Danny Bonaduce

2008-01-06T12:19:00.000-05:00

So I was in the falling asleep stage last night but began to reawaken before sleep took over and I overheard my mind trying to decide which show Danny Bonaduce was on: the Brady Bunch or the Partridge Family. So while Bobby and Danny were both saying, "I am the real Danny Bonaduce," I regained consciousness and wondered why in the world Danny Bonaduce had popped into my brain. I never liked the Patridge Family and I haven't seen his face on TV or even seen his name in a while. So I did what I should always do when in doubt: pray. I prayed for Danny Bonaduce. Nothing in particular, nothing long and drawn out. Just a simple prayer that Danny would know that God loves him.

So I don't know why I thought of Danny, but in relation to this, our rabbi asked a question last week that has gotten my husband and me praying for people who not only wouldn't we have thought to pray for, but people we might have thought: "they don't even deserve prayer." How unbelievably ignorant, elitest, un-God-like of us. So since then we've prayed for Rod Stewart, Fergie, Will I Am of the Black-eyed Peas, Mike Tyson . . . and now I will include Danny Bonaduce and whoever pops into my mind regardless of my state of consciousness. Whether I know them doesn't matter. Whether I think they are talented doesn't matter. Whether I dislike their style of music or acting ability doesn't matter. Whether I think they are "good people" doesn't matter. What they "deserve" according to anyone's standards doesn't matter. What matters is that God loves them no less than the "pious do-gooders" who may even think they are doing God a favor by praying for those "less fortunate" than they.

Holocaust museum

2008-01-03T09:58:00.000-05:00

Last week, I visited the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, embarrassed to say it was my first visit to a Holocaust museum. It was moving, horrific, sobering, informative, and of course, profoundly disturbing.

The picture to the right (from the Florida Holocaust Museum) is an actual boxcar (#1130695-5), which transported 100 or more Jews (and other prisoners) at a time to Auschwitz, Dachau, or Treblinka to face death. Those squeezed and stacked into these cars remained there for hours and even days. There was little air, no light, and no sanitation. Many died in this car and other cars like this one before even getting to the death camp.

The poem below was on a wall in the hallway of the museum. James E. Tokley Sr. wrote and presented it in 1997 during the dedication of the boxcar at the museum.

The Box Car, James E. Tokley Sr.

Aboard a train of no deliverance
Winding through the bitter cold
Shivering masses...hopeless waiting
Savage words that freeze the soul.

A Nazi train, apocalyptic
Bound for an unholy land
Where smokestacks belch their strange emetic.
Clouds of death rain human sand.

Inside a boxcar cut for cattle
Slave ship timber, all the same.
An alphabet of Jewish letters
Fingernailed into the grain.

You question why we should remember
Such a monumental sin.
And we reply,
To seek forever
That it happens never again.

Parashat Va’eira (“and I appeared”)

2008-01-02T16:35:00.000-05:00

Torah Reading for January 5, 2007 /
Tevet 27, 5768

Parashat Va’eira (“and I appeared”)

Va’eira

Ex. 6:2-9:35
Ezek 28:25-29:21
Rom 9:14-33

the holy land

2007-12-21T17:38:00.000-05:00

Today I went to the holy land...in Orlando, Florida. Tacky? Surprisingly not. The attractions, shows, and replications are really well-done, interesting, and informative. They do a fairly good job at weaving Judaism with Christianity.

Photos from today's visit

The Holy Land Experience

The Forgotten People, The Chosen People

2007-12-20T07:08:00.000-05:00

This video is shocking, important, chilling, sobering, eerie. The most frightening part is: it could happen again...about halfway through the video a German pastor (translated into English) is speaking about the holocaust in April 2007 at the March of Life.

Song: "The Forgotten People," Ted Pearce

More about "For Zion's Sake, I Will Not be Silent"
More about Ted Pearce

Song: "I Will not be Silent," Ted Pearce - March of Life

Drowning out God

2007-12-19T10:40:00.000-05:00

We live in an active world where we have to struggle to block out man-made distraction in order to see and hear God's creation.

Think about it: lights, especially in cities, dim the stars. On a clear night where I live I am amazed at the number of stars. But I know that in the middle of nowhere the number of stars that can be seen is shocking. They literally dot the sky.

Buildings block the natural landscape, the rising and setting of the sun; hilly terrain is flattened to allow for "expansion;" billboards trim roads and highways, even buildings; rivers are moved and lakes are dug and filled with water to "beautify" the earth...

How about sounds? The cacophony of engines and other man-made noises distorts or at times silences natural melodies: the birds' chirping, water splashing, insects buzzing, feet crunching on gravel and sticks, leaves flapping against each other in the wind. Sure we hear all those sounds to some degree but other times, the sounds that were intended to fill the world are deadened. God created a world full of music; we've made it a world of noise.

Not only do we miss a lot of the creation that God gave us to marvel at and enjoy, but in nature we can actually see God and and it is one way that we can know that He is:

Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (NIV).

And because of all these distractions, it can be hard to see or hear God. God doesn't usually shout at us--if I He does, watch out! But God speaks in a whisper:

1 Kings19:11-12 ~ "Then He said, 'Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.' And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice" (NKJV).

One way to really hear creation is to simply remember that God created it. And if you are inclined, worship Him in it. Psalm 8 is a great reminder of the Creator's creation:

Psalm 8: God's Creation (NIV)
1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise ^[b] because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ^[c] and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

God of Wonders, Third Day

More about the song

Parashat Vayechi ("and he lived") / Why Read Torah?

2007-12-18T19:51:00.000-05:00

This week's Torah portion:

Parashat Vayechi - ויחי : “And he lived”
Torah : Genesis 47:28–50:26
Haftarah : 1 Kings 2:1–12
Brit HaDasha / Apostolic Scriptures: 1Peter 1:3-9

Is there Resurrection in the Torah or is that just a New Testament thing?

Why read the Torah? Simple answer: the foundation of both the Jewish and Christian faith is found there. We cannot understand the Apostolic Writing (which begin in approximately the year 1 CE) without having an understanding of the 3000 or so years that preceded the birth of Yeshua. But as Christians we tend to read the Hebrew Scriptures in a detached, piece-mealish manner and in doing so, we miss the basis of our Christian faith, truly we miss a huge part of our faith.

I think about it like this: if you are 60, maybe you'd like to erase the first 40 years of your life. But what would that accomplish? At 60 you would live as if you began life at 40 with no knowledge having been acquired over your youth or adulthood- 40 years as if they never existed. If the idea is to grow wiser as we age, having 60 years of mistakes and successes, loves and hurts shapes us, hopefully informs us, as we make decisions for our remaining years. So in a way, those years are a foundation for our next 1, 10 0r 20+ years of decisions.

And so if it doesn't make sense to erase 40 years of your life (and don't be fooled that we wouldn't make the same mistakes), then it doesn't make sense to ignore the 3,000 or so years that preceded Christ. It's never to late to build the foundation upon which our relationship with God is built and I have found that reading the Torah portions is a great way to start or continue to strengthen the foundation that you have.

Muslim Aids Jews

2007-12-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

If you haven't heard about this story, it's worth reading:
Muslim Aids Jews attacked on NY Subway

nutshell: some young people (10 were arrested) feeling oh so Christian-like were shouting "Merry Christmas!" and 4 young Jewish folks responded with "Happy Chanukah!" In response one of the Christians bared his arm to show a tattoo of Jesus, (more than likely the blond-haired, blue-eyed version), and then voiced the ridiculously ignorant accusation about Jews killing Jesus, and even more ignorantly, he added, "they did it during Chanukah." Not quite, on either count. (If you read a post from a few weeks ago, I killed Jesus.) Anyway, while a Jewish man was being pummeled, a young Muslim guy stepped in to help the Jewish man. And so the Jew and the Muslim went to dinner (albeit with cuts, bruises, and black eyes) and the Christians went to jail. They pleaded not guilty but may be charged with hate crimes. We can only hope.

Messianic Praise Guitar Chords

2007-12-14T16:06:00.000-05:00

Shabbat Shalom!

There are a lot of guitar tab sites out there for Christian music (ChristianGuitar.org for one; here's another: worship music guitar chords), but I have spent a good amount of time looking for guitar notation specifically for Messianic music and can't find much. Here are a few Paul Wilbur songs. If you have links to add, please post a comment. The great thing about the site these songs are on is you can click a different key to transcribe to also, if you hover over a chord, a box will pop to show you the fingering.

Shema

http://www.e-chords.com/guitartab.asp?idmusica=93039

El Elyon

http://www.e-chords.com/guitartab.asp?idmusica=93020

Kadosh

http://www.e-chords.com/guitartab.asp?idmusica=64902

Adonai

http://www.e-chords.com/tab.asp?idMusica=93019&tipo=T

For Your Name is Holy (in Em)

Parashat Vayigash

2007-12-13T15:25:00.000-05:00

Torah portion for 6 Tivet, 5786 / December 15, 2007
Parashat Vayigash - "and he drew near"

Gen 44:18-47:27
Ezekiel 37:15-37:28
Eph 2:1-10

Hanukkah Day 8: The Real Story of Hanukkah

2007-12-12T18:52:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah Day 8
Torah Reading: Numbers 7:54 - 8:4

The traditions of Hanukkah are great; the menorah, the dreidel, the food--but they are just that: traditions. The story about the oil burning for 8 days instead of 1 is found in the Talmud; it is legend. Believed by some, questioned by others.

This doesn't mean those traditions should be abandoned. They are wonderful traditions that are used to celebrate the awesome power of God.

And that just makes the real reason for Hanukkah even more evident. Hanukkah is about the commitment of the Jewish people to worship the One True God as He desires to be worshiped. Hanukkah is about the light that shines so brightly from His chosen people. Hanukkah was about re-dedicating the temple to the Lord. It is now about those who love Him re-dedicating their temple, their body to Him. We should desire to worship the Lord with the zealousness of the Maccabees and all Jewish people during Antiochus' persecution (or during any of the many persecutions aimed at Jews throughout history) who were willing to give everything (and many gave much, even their lives) for one reason: to worship the King of the Universe.

Jews pray the Shema twice per day and it seems fitting to close with that (the short version) as Hanukkah has now come to a close:
Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be His Name, His glorious kingdom is forever and ever.

Hanukkah Day 7: Abomination of Desolation

2007-12-10T18:11:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah Day 7
Readings: Numbers 28:1 -15 and Numbers 7:42-47

In the Book of Matthew, Yeshua speaks of the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, referring to Antiochus defiling the temple by sacrificing a pig and forcing Jews to eat the meat or have their tongue cut from their mouth. It is due to Antiochus' persecution of the Jews and ultimate defeat of Antiochus by the Jewish people, led by the Maccabees, that we celebrate Hanukkah. Daniel is believed to have lived in the 6th century BCE (in the 500s BCE) and received this prophecy around 551 BCE . Antiochus reigned 175-164 BCE and so Daniel wrote about this event over 300 hundred years prior to it happening. In the book of Daniel there are 3 references to the abomination of desolation: Daniel 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.

Matthew 24:15-25 - "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,'^[b] spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." (NIV)

And so what are we to make of Yeshua's reference to the abomination of desolation of 165 BCE since it had already happened? First of all, nearly 40 years after Yeshua's death and resurrection, the temple was destroyed in 70 CE. (We know Yeshua celebrated Hanukkah.) Antiochus Epiphanes means God made manifest. So Antiochus was a type of anti-christ and many believe that in Matthew (above), Yeshua is referring not only to the destruction of 70 CE but also to the future anti-christ who is yet to come, spoken of as the Beast in the Book of Revelation--who will once again defile the temple and attempt to destroy God's perfect plan.

Revelation 13:14 - "Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived" (NIV).

Satan has failed to thwart the plan of God over and over for over 3,000 years. As he fought to prevent the birth of Messiah, He fights to destroy the people of God (both Jews and Gentiles) still today. And he will fight in the final days, only to fail again when our Messiah, Yeshua, returns in all His glory.

Revelation 19: 11-16 - "'I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."^[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS'" (NIV).

So there's a lot in this non-Biblical holiday they call Hanukkah, eh? But then again it is Biblical since there is one reference to Hanukkah in the Bible found in John 10:22. But that's the New Testament! Exactly.

A Messianic Perspective of Hanukkah

Hanukkah Day 6 & Rosh Chodesh & Historical readings

2007-12-09T14:45:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah Day 6
Torah Readings: Numbers 28:1-15 and Numbers 7:42-47
Audio of Hebrew/English blessings and Hanukkah songs

The Hanukkah story can be found in the 1 Maccabees Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. The books of Maccabees are are considered deuterocanonical books: books that are believed to be historically accurate and valuable but not divinely inspired. In addition, Josephus, a first century historian is a great resource. Josephus' recounting of Hanukkah can be found in Jewish Antiquities, Book 12 Chapter 5 through Book 13 Chapter 7. Below are these documents in their entirety.

1 Maccabees

2 Maccabees

Josephus

Today we also celebrate Rosh Chodesh (New Moon) which ushers in the month : Tevet (טבת)

What is the New Moon?

Chodesh Tov!
Good Month!

Hanukkah Day 5: Re-dedicate your temple

2007-12-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah Day 5
Lighting the menorah and blessings
Torah reading: Numbers 7:36 - 7:47

The word "Hanukkah" means dedication. And at this time we can think of the re-dedication of the temple in 165 BC and Yeshua's dedication of Himself as the true Temple of God. Then the Word of God says that each person's body is a temple:

1 Cor. 6:19-20 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (NIV).

Each person is a temple of the Living God. The God of all creation no longer dwells in a man-made tabernacle, He dwells inside His God-made people. So Hanukkah is not only a time to celebrate the history of the Maccabees, it's a time to celebrate God in your life and re-dedicate His temple: you. Me. I will take some time before Hanukkah ends and re-dedicate myself to the Lord. Will you?

Hanukkah Day 4: Jesus & the Shamash

2007-12-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah day 4: Lighting the menorah and blessings

Torah Portion: Numbers 7:30 - 7:41

Since I never thought much about Hanukkah (previous post), I never wondered if Jesus celebrated this festival. Come to find out, not only did He celebrate it, but He revealed Himself as Messiah during Hanukkah, which is referred to below as the Feast of Dedication.

John 10: 22-30 "Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

So Jesus reveals Himself as Messiah during the feast where He, as a Jew, is celebrating the re-dedication of the temple of God. And in this passage, Christ, speaking to Jews and, more than likely, some Gentiles, is the true Temple of God. Interesting to note: John 10:22 is the only reference to Hanukkah in the entire Bible. So it's a holiday celebrated by the Jews only and only mentioned in the New Testament? Anyway . . .

John 2:18-19 "Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days'" (NIV).

He dedicates Himself to the world so that through His death for sin, all would be saved. Yeshua is the fulfillment of Hanukkah--as He is the true Temple of God.

John 10:36 "do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?" (NASB)

The word "sanctified" above means dedicated, which in Hebrew would be translated Hanukkah.

And taking this comparison a step further: John 8:12 - "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'" (NIV).

Yeshua can be likened to the light of the menorah; in fact, He is the shamash, the servant candle. Matthew 20:28 "'just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'" (NIV). The King of the universe left His throne behind and came to this earth to serve US.

So who should celebrate Hanukkah? Are you celebrating Hanukkah?

Hanukkah day 3 lighting, Torah reading, Parashat Miketz

2007-12-06T06:36:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah Day 3 Torah Portion: Numbers 7:24 - 7:35

Lighting the menorah and blessings

And the weekly torah portion for this Shabbat is Parashat Miketz (“at the end of”)

Dec 8, 2007 Kislev 28, 5768 Chanukah

Miketz
Gen 41:1-44:17
1Kings 3:15-4:1
Rom 10:1-13

This is my first year celebrating Hanukkah and so far I have learned so much. I never knew the origin of Hanukkah; truthfully, I never thought it mattered to me. Honestly, I might have rolled my eyes at Hanukkah being paralleled with Christmas. I didn't see any personal connection to the Jewish people as a non-Jew and I saw no collective connection as a believer in Christ. And some ignorant part of me thought the Jews should wisen up and just celebrate Christmas! But now as I am beginning to understand and embrace our Hebraic roots, I confess my ignorance. Now, I do feel that connection, moreso a need and a purpose for a connection.

The Jewish people are a light to the world, a light God called to glorify Him, that all nations would come to Him. The Jewish people have preserved our (1) Scriptures, (2) the way God directed them to live in the Torah and (3) the festivals God-ordained (and Hanukkah which was not commanded by God, but set apart for Him).

Though Christianity's ways, so to speak, differ, these "ways" would be without any resemblance to the One, True God without the commitment, loving devotion, and determination of the Jewish people. Over the centuries, millions of Jews have given their lives to preserve the Holiness of God and all that that entails and to bring forth Yeshua the Messiah, a descendant of Abraham, the first Hebrew. So to them, His chosen people, I am forever grateful.

Hanukkah: the second candle & reading

2007-12-05T08:50:00.000-05:00

On the second night of Hanukkah two candles are placed on the far right-side of the menorah and the after the shamash is lit, the other candles are lit from left to right. The blessings are recited.

And then also after one candle has been kindled, the Haneirot Hallalu may be recited, tonight and for the remaining nights, while lighting the other candle(s):

We kindle these lights (to commemorate) the miracles and wonders and the saving acts that You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, by Your holy priests. And all throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are holy, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to behold them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvation.

Hebrew transliteration: Haneirot hallalu anachnu madlikin al hanissim ve'al hanifla'ot, ve'al hateshu’ot, ve’al hamilchamot, she'asita la'avoteinu bayamim hahem, bazeman hazeh al yedei kohanekha hakedoshim. Vekhol sh'monat yemei Chanukah Haneirot hallalu kodesh hem. Ve'ein lanu reshut lihishtamesh bahem ela lir'otam bilvad kedei lehodot ulhallel lishimkha hagadol al nisekha ve'al nifle'otecha ve'al yeshuatekha.

Reading: Torah Portion: Numbers 7:18 - 7:29

Hanukkah: the first menorah candle & reading

2007-12-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah begins 25 Kislev or this year December 4 and so today is the eve of Hanukkah which means the first menorah candle is lit. So in the picture to the right, the shamash (the one in the middle) is lit first, then that one is used to light the other.

Here are the blessings to say each night while lighting the candles. Below each is the Hebrew transliteration:

1)Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who sanctifies us with Thy commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Chanukah.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav, vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel chanukah.

2)Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who performed miracles for our fathers in those days at this time.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha-olam, she’asah nissim la’avoteinu bayamim hahem, ba-zeman hazzeh.

On the first night add this blessing is also traditional
Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time.

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, she-hecheyanu v’ki-yemanu v’higianu lazeman hazeh.

Messianic blessing
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Anokhi ‘or ha-olam, ha-holeikh acharai, lo yeileikh ba-choshekh, ki-lo ‘or ha-chayim.

Reading

Torah Portion: Numbers 7:1 - 7:17

1: Numbers 7:1-11
2: Numbers 7:12-14
3: Numbers 7:15-17

More about Blessings & Readings
http://www.hoshanarabbah.org/pdfs/chan_candle_bless.pdf
Berachot Chanukah - Blessings said during Chanukah
Eight Devotions for Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah: what's cooking?

2007-12-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

Traditionally, fried food and dairy foods are eaten during Hanukkah.

Fried food signifies the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem.

Dairy is often eaten during Hanukkah to remind us of the story of the Jewish heroine, Yehudit (Judith) who saved her village when they were being persecuted by the Syrians who were trying to starve the Jews so they would surrender. She brought cheese and wine to the Syrian leader. After he was drunk, he passed out and she beheaded him. The next morning the Jews attacked the Syrians, who had no idea their leader was dead until they ran to find. Judith had saved her people.

Soofganiot (doughnuts) and latkes or livivot (potato pancakes) are popular Hanukkah treats. Below are links to recipes that celebrate Hanukkah. Challah is kind of like a Portuguese sweet bread, usually braided but can be found in different forms and with different ingredients. This bread is enjoyed on Sabbaths and holidays and is often used in the breaking of the bread that begins these traditional meals.

Food Network Hanukkah recipes

Allrecipes.com Hanukkah recipes

BusyCooks aboutus.com Hanukkah recipes

in 2007 Hanukkah begins . . .

2007-12-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

Hanukkah begins each year on the 25th of Kislev which first of all, is the day that the components were completed for the portable sanctuary or "Tabernacle" ordered by God and built under Moses' direction to house the Lord during the Israelites' journeys through the desert. That was the year 2449 from creation (1312 BCE). The Mishkan (Tabernacle) was assembled 3 months later, when, beginning on Adar 25 of that year, it was erected and taken down daily for a 7-day "training" period prior to its dedication on the 1st of Nissan.

Even more interesting than that, 12 centuries later on Kislev 25 (164 BCE), the Maccabees re-dedicated the Holy Temple after defeating Antiochus. It was on this day that the priest lit the Menorah in the Temple, the oil that miraculously continued to burn for 8 days. The Jewish people had not been able to perform Temple service for over 3 years. So to once again worship God in the Temple was an awesome thing.

And so this year (2007), 25 Kislev (Hebrew calendar) is December 5 (Julian calendar). But since God instructed that the day begins at sundown, the first Hannukah candle is lit the evening of December 4. The day itself is determined according to the moon.

Hanukkah dreidel

2007-11-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

According to legend, when Antiochus outlawed study of Torah, Jews studied with a dreidel next to them so that if they had to hide what they were doing, they could pretend they were playing a harmless spinning game.

The dreidel is marked with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hei and Shin. These letters stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham", a great miracle happened there, referring to the miracle of the oil when rededicating the Temple which led to instituting Hanukkah. And so the dreidel has become one of the symbols of Hanukkah.

Before each spin, each player places one token (or however many you decide) into the pot. For tokens, you can use beans, raisins, candy, pretzel sticks. The first player spins and then must do whatever the letter indicates.

NUN - nothing happens - next player spins the dreidel
GIMEL - player takes all tokens in the pot
HEY - player takes half of the pot
SHIN - player must put one token into the pot

The Hebrew language is amazingly simple and complex (much like God, incidentally). Hebrew letters have numerical equivalents that lend to Biblical understanding and interpretation. The letters are the dreidel when summed equal 358 which is the same numerical value for the word, Mashiach or Messiah, a descendent of the tribe of Judah. As the dreidel "saved" the Jewish people, the Messiah, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach lived and died to save all.

More information
A New Spin on the Dreidel

The World is Like a Dreidel

The Dreidel Letters and their Numerical Value

Shabbat Shalom!

Hanukkah: lighting the menorah

2007-11-29T08:45:00.000-05:00

The menorah or Hanukkiah has 8 candles in a row and one candle usually above the 8, called the shamash (also called servant candle), which is lit first every night and used to light the others. Candles are lit at nightfall, preferably after everyone arrives home so all can celebrate. On the first night (this year: 5768, 25 Kislev/Dec 4, 2007), place a candle in the shamash holder and one in the far right holder. Light the shamash first, then with the shamash, light the far right one; the second night replace the first right candle, add a candle to the left of that, light the shamash, then the light other two. Begin lighting from the left-most one and proceed to the right. Repeat through Day 8. The tradition is to let the candles burn for at least 30 minutes (most Hanukkah candles burn for about an hour).

ehow: How to light the Menorah

Candle-lighting blessings:

Judaism 101: Chanukkah Candle Lighting Blessings

Chanukkah Blessings with a Messianic perspective

After the candles are lit and blessings are recited or sung, it is common to sing: Haneirot-Halalus song which means "These Lights We Light." The song in English:
We kindle these lights [to commemorate] the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy priests. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvations.

More audio files of Chanukah songs and blessings

Hanukkah menorah

2007-11-28T07:14:00.000-05:00

In Exodus, God commands that a 6 branch candelabrum be constructed. The Priest or Kohein lit the menorah every evening then cleaned it in the morning, replaced wicks and refilled the cups with olive oil.

Exodus 25:31-40
"Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold.

"Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain" (NIV).

The original 6 branch menorah is part of the Israeli Emblem created in 1949 shortly after Israel gained statehood. The 8 branch Hanukkah menorah was created to commemorate the miracle of the one day's worth of oil that lasted 8 days when rededicating the Temple.

Isaiah 42:6-7 “I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house" (NKJV).

God appoints the Jews to be the "light to the Gentiles" or the "light of the world" to direct us all to the road that leads to salvation. After all, "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22) and the menorah is one visible representation and reminder of His plan and call to the Jewish people.

Then of course there is THE Light of the World (John 8:12), Yeshua, the Messiah. Hmmmm...He was a Jew, wasn't He? Isn't He?

Annapolis Conference: what in the world are we doing???

2007-11-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

The talks are underway in Annapolis, Maryland, to further divide the land of Israel, in the guise of creating peace. Peace sounds nice, but no peace will be found in dividing Israel.

God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants to give them this land:

Genesis 15:17-18 "When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates'" (NIV).

God promised judgment on those who would come against and seek to divide Israel:

Joel 3:2 "I will gather all nations
and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will enter into judgment against them
concerning my inheritance, my people Israel,
for they scattered my people among the nations
and divided up my land" (NIV).

Is the United States among those nations who God will bring down for leading in this roadmap to division?

God keeps His promises: Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (NKJV).

Continuously updating google news: Annapolis Conference

Rabbis warn Bush: Annapolis will bring destruction to US

photo above: Jerusalem Temple Western Wailing Wall On Passover

Vayeshev - And he dwelt

2007-11-27T08:41:00.000-05:00

Torah Reading for December 1 / 20 Kislev:

Parashat Vayeshev –
וישב

And he dwelt--read the amazing of Joseph and the pit and the coat and God's grace . . . Parshah in a Nutshell

Torah : Genesis 37:1–40:23
Haftarah : Amos 2:6–3:8

Apostolic Scriptures: Matthew 1:1-6, 16-25

Hanukkah hammerer

2007-11-26T08:10:00.000-05:00

A priest named Mattathias in the village of Modi'in, led revolt against Antiochus' persecution of the Jews. He refused to offer sacrifice to idols and killed the officer who told him the king's orders. It was his and his supporters strict obedience to the Torah that led them to victory. Mattathais' son Judas Maccabaeus, "the hammerer," led this revolt, defeated the Greeks, and gave us Hanukkah.

The Hanukkah story is not in the Bible but is alluded to in the book of Daniel and the Gospels--more on that later. We can find the story in the Book of Maccabees, which is not a book of the Hebrew Bible nor most Bibles, but is considered reliable history.

More about the Maccabees

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees
http://www.swedenborgdigitallibrary.org/sower/pr/Mac71.htm

Hanukkah: pigs in the Temple

2007-11-25T20:56:00.000-05:00

Since Hanukkah, also spelled Chanukkah, begins at sundown December 4 or 25 Kislev, I figured I should try to understand it better. So here's what I've learned:

Hanukkah was not a festival appointed by God like Sukkot, Passover, and the other appointed times. The origin: Antiochus IV a successor of Alexander the Great, oppressed and killed Jews; he banned Jews from celebrating the Sabbath and festivals, reading the Torah, circumcising their sons, and other Jewish practices. Antiochus also desecrated the Temple, requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar. With much determination, the Jewish people led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, revolted and succeeded to overthrow the government on 25 Kislev, 164 BCE.

Now the Temple needed to be rededicated. For centuries, the menorah (candelabrum) was lit in the Temple every day and was supposed to burn throughout the night, every night. Because the Jews were had won this battle, they could now rededicate the Temple, resume daily practice, and once again light the menorah, but there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks.

The Hanukkah miracle: there was only enough oil to burn for one day, but it burned for eight days. The eight day Hanukkah festival, also called Festival of Lights, was declared to commemorate this miracle.

Important note: the holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple and the the miracle of the oil, not the military victory: Jews do not glorify war.

More information:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

Am I thankful?

2007-11-22T10:40:00.000-05:00

Here's the test: do I follow these 3 short verses not just on the day Americans have labeled Thanksgiving, but EVERY day?

1 Thessalonains 5:16-18 "16^(AJ)Rejoice always; ^(AK)pray without ceasing; in everything ^(AL)give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus " (NASB).

My continual thankfulness for EVERYTHING, of which some I may perceive as good and some bad, is my indicator of my love for and trust in God.

More than that, GOD's WILL for me is that I: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything. Hmmm seems I've just given myself a lot to think about . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vayishlach--and he sent

2007-11-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

Torah Reading for Week of November 18-24, 2007 - Kislev 8-14 5768

Parshah Vayishlach

Genesis 32:3-36:43
Obadiah 1:1-21
Heb 11:11-20, Matt 26:36-46

Blessing before Torah study: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has made us holy through His commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah.

kiss, love--kislev

2007-11-19T18:15:00.000-05:00

This is the ninth month, the month of Kislev and this is the month that Yeshua was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Miriam. Kislev usually coincides with December and hence the confusion with Christmas, "Jesus' Christian birthday."

There are historical reasons that prove that Yeshua was conceived during Kislev, more specifically during Chanukkah, and born during Sukkot, which falls in September/October each year.

It's all based on the cycle of priestly service, which was very strict and precise. The abbreviated version: (1) Zacharias' time of temple service was the 2nd month, which is Sivan or May/June. (2) He is the father of John the Baptist; Elizabeth is John's mother and Miriam's cousin. (3) John the Baptist is conceived shortly after Zacharias' service. (4) In the 6th month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Miriam conceives Yeshua. (4) Yeshua is born 9 months later.

Complete story-very interesting.

One Rabbi's paraphrase: Kislev is the month that the Lord kissed and loved Mary and blessed her with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of the World. Yeshua means salvation.

Have you seen Evan Almighty?

2007-11-17T06:53:00.000-05:00

Evan Almighty is one of my top 5 movies now that I've scene it twice--funny, silly, ok-a little hokey (but in a cute way), and it's a pretty Biblically accurate depiction of a modern day Noah and his family--absolutely worth seeing! Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman make this movie very fun.

Evan Almighty is a sequel to Bruce Almighty starring Jim Carrey and Morgan Freeman, another funny, feel-goodish movie.

I am Sam, completely unrelated to Noah, is also in my top 5 movies: Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning--so much of the acting seems improvisational and I believe some of it is.

Freedom in Shabbat?

2007-11-16T07:26:00.000-05:00

Shabbat Shalom means Sabbath peace, peaceful Sabbath, good Sabbath. Shabbos is another word for Sabbath. Shabbat comes from the Hebrew word rest.

God set the Sabbath apart and clearly stated it was the last day of the week, which was discussed in a previous post.

Exodus 20:11 - "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy" (NIV).

First of all, keeping the Sabbath cannot be viewed as a means to salvation. Yeshua is our Salvation. When we do what God commanded and what Yeshua did when He walked this earth, we do so to be made more like Him. So the idea of the Sabbath is to cease from work, as God did, and spend time in His presence--studying His Word, worshipping Him, fellowshipping with family and friends in the Lord, and if the need arises, going out and finding that lost sheep, healing the sick.

We can misinterpret what God instructs us to do as bondage or see His Word as Truth and realize it as freedom. The Sabbath is a day of refreshing, renewal and it's one of those things, that you won't know if it "works" until you try it. Can we accept that the Creator actually knows what's good for us? Or do we know better?

Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (NIV).

It is customary to light two candles no later than 18 minutes before sunset on Friday evening because Shabbat begins at sunset. This week's time is 4:07 pm (EST) today--find the time in your area. The two candles symbolize the two commands God gives in the 4th commandment: to remember and keep or guard this day as holy unto Him.

For believers in Yeshua, the candles also represent Yeshua as the Light of the world. And there is a blessing that incorporates Yeshua in the traditional Hebrew custom, which is said after you light the candles: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to be a light to the nations and who gave us Jesus, our Messiah, the Light of the world." - from Lighting the Sabbath Candles

Restful Sabbath, in the name of Jesus, the Messiah!
Shabbat Shalom, BaShem Yeshua HaMashiach!

EXTRA EXTRA Jewish news

2007-11-15T07:23:00.000-05:00

If you know anything about prophecy in the Bible--not the kooky prophecies that the world will end on "this day in this year" . . . but the prophecies of Israel, the Jewish people, their enemies, then you will be fascinated by current happenings in Israel and anything related to the Jewish people around the world. And if you aren't familiar with trustworthy prophecy or don't buy into it yet, the news is still interesting. So here are a few sites to keep up on current events:

Arutz Sheva - IsraelNationalNews: subscribe to a daily news headlines email
Arutz Sheva Radio
The Jerusalem Post
Israeli News Now
Haaretz

If you are interested in news and its relation to the Bible, in a non-kooky way:
Israel Today
Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
Joel Rosenberg's Blog
Moaz Israel Ministry

Parashat Vayetzei (“and he went out”)

2007-11-14T08:50:00.000-05:00

Torah Portion for November 17, 2007 -- 7 Kislev 5768

Vayetzei

Genesis 28:10-32:3
Hosea 12:13-14:10
John 1:19-51

Jews all over the world are reading this Torah portion this week--and it will be read in synagogue on Shabbat. I began the Torah cycle in July and the understanding I have received is amazing. The Torah is truly alive, as alive as the Gospels.

Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

if it feels funny, post it

2007-11-13T07:45:00.000-05:00

The Power of Prayer
During Sabbath services the Rabbi kneels and puts his forehead to the floor and says, "Before you oh Lord, I am nothing."

The Cantor looks at him, thinks it couldn't hurt, and kneels, puts his forehead to the floor, and says, "Before you oh Lord, I am nothing."

Ben Shapiro in the fifth row is watching this and thinking that it was a pretty good idea, so he goes in the middle of the aisle, kneels and puts his forehead to the floor and says, "Before you oh Lord, I am nothing."

The Rabbi nudges the Cantor. "Look who thinks he's nothing!"

"Power from Prayer" Jewhoo

Good Night, Moon

2007-11-12T14:36:00.000-05:00

All God-appointed feast days are on a specific day of the month and just like we use our paper calendar, computer, watch, PDA, cell phone ... to figure out when an important date is, the Hebrew people used the moon and only the moon.

The New Moon might seem like an odd feast--more pagan than Godly. But God's call to celebrate the New Moon each month is to honor Him as Creator of time and as Maintainer of all things for the month to come.

I Samuel 20:1-29 proves that New Moons were celebrated in King David's day. David avoided a New Moon feast with King Saul because he feared Saul would kill him.

I Sam 24-27: "So David hid in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan rose up and Abner sat down by Saul's side, but ^(U)David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he thought, 'It is an accident, ^(V)he is not clean, surely he is not clean.' It came about the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David's place was empty; so Saul said to Jonathan his son, 'Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?'" (NASB)

One day we will all worship on these days--in fact we will worship on all God's appointed times--whether we like it or not.

Isaiah 66:23 "'And it shall be from ^(BG)new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to ^(BH)bow down before Me,' says the LORD" (NASB).

Current moon phase

Bark at the moon?

2007-11-11T18:24:00.002-05:00

On the fourth day God said, "'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years'" (Genesis1:14 NIV).

God set up our moon-driven calendar system on the fourth day of Creation, which Jewish history deduces was approximately 5768 years ago, as that is the current Jewish year. So the Jewish people have maintained the Hebrew calendar system, while the world saw fit to revise this method--in order of development: Roman Calendar, Julian Calendar, and the now widely used, Gregorian Calendar.

While the Gregorian calendar is ruled by time alone, the Hebrew month is calculated by the phases of the moon.

So the beginning of each month (there are 12 months, 13 during leap year) is a new moon or Rosh Chodesh. The appointed holidays, for example, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, fall on the same day of the month every year as calculated by the moon. Yom Kippur, for instance, falls on the 10th day of Tishri (the 7th month) every year and Passover occurs on the 15th day of Nissan (the 1st month). But that has nothing to do with our secular calendar and so Yom Kippur can occur in September or October and Passover or Pesach can occur in March or April.

If you celebrate Easter, did you ever wonder why it could be early March one year and late April another? As Christian holidays are uncannily related to Jewish holidays, so their dates often coincide, as Christianity is really based on Judaism, right?

Wikipedia: Lunar Phase
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary-Calendar

In the northern hemisphere, the crescent moon is visible on the right side of the moon on the 1st or 2nd day of the Hebrew month, then waxes to the left as the month progresses; in the southern hemisphere, the crescent is on the left, then waxes to the right. View the Current Moon phase--northern hemisphere.

The full moon is the middle of the month which is the 15th of the month. God appointed certain festivals where His people were to travel to Jerusalem to be on the 15th--Passover and the 1st day of Sukkot--so that the full moon would remind them it was time and the light would guide their pilgrimage.

So bark at the moon if you like--but don't sneeze at it (sorry, pathetically poor pun). God may have called it the "lesser light"(Genesis 1:16) but He gave it incredible power: to light the night, guide the time, determine His appointed times, control the tides. Non-sequitur alert: that reminds me that our bodies are 50-70% water.

Rosh Chodesh Kislev

2007-11-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

November 11, 2007 or according to the Hebrew calendar 1st Kislev, the year 5768, is the New Moon, Rosh Chodesh. According to the Bible, days begin in the evening (repeated 6 times in Genesis 1 for instance: "So the evening and the morning were the first day" NKJV). And so the New Moon Festival begins at sunset November 10. There will be no moon visible until the moonrise of November 11 or 12 and that will be a tiny crescent.

New Moon in the Bible
Numbers 10:10 "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, ^[a] and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God"(NIV).

Isaiah 66:22 "'As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,' declares the LORD, "so will your name and descendants endure" (NIV).

Psalm 81:3-5 "'Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand'" (NKJV).

Psalm 104:19 "He appointed the moon for seasons; The sun knows its going down"(NKJV).

And it all began here:
Genesis 1:14-15 "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth'; and it was so" (NKJV).

Rosh Chodesh Blessing

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!
Sabbath Peace and Good Month!

water, water everywhere

2007-11-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about the importance of water: the earth and our bodies are composed of 50-80% of water; a baby in a womb is surrounded by water; we can live for over 40 days without food--but less than a week without water. With water, we are baptized, cleansed, cooled, quenched, hydrated. Dehydration can kill you--obvious, I know, but still profound when you think of water Biblically-speaking.

Yeshua calls Himself the "living water" when He spoke to the woman at the well:

John 4: 10-14 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (NKJV)

and in the Tanakh Isaiah 55 from the (Jewish Publication Society Tanakh 1917)
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye for water, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your gain for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

3 Incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

There are many more "water" references throughout the Bible. Here are a few others: Yeshua turns water into wine at a wedding; tells blind man to wash in Pool of Siloam after making mud and applying it to his eyes; water and blood flow from His side on the cross.

And of course water can damage and even kill--previous posts about Noah & the flood.

How many times is water mentioned in the Bible? According to this article: 722.

Interesting to note that water in Israel is precious because there is so little of it as Israel is largely desert.

Water Bible Study

So when Yeshua says He is the Living Water, what is He saying to His followers? Simply put, He seems to be saying "Drink Me," perhaps meaning drink in His character, His direction, His example, His Word--as He is the Word. I guess this question follows: What percentage of our spirit is Living Water?

Where did that New Testament come from?

2007-11-07T14:50:00.000-05:00

Answer: the Old Testament, which as mentioned in the previous post, was preserved by the Jewish people. If we cross out every direct quote and allusion to books of the Old Testament in the New Testament, we wouldn't have much of a New Testament left.

image: Khaburis Manuscript, copy of a 2nd century New Testament (source)

The following findings and quote are from New Testament use of the Old Testament by Roger Nicole

Researchers' findings in New Testament
C. H. Toy lists 613 O.T. references.
Wilhelm Dittmar lists O.T. 1640 reference.
Eugen Huehn indicates 4105 passages in New Testament reminiscent of Old Testament Scripture.

"If we limit ourselves to the specific quotations and direct allusions which form the basis of our previous reckoning, we shall note that 278 different Old Testament verses are cited in the New Testament: 94 from the Pentateuch, 99 from the Prophets, and 85 from the Writings. Out of the 22 books in the Hebrew reckoning of the Canon only six (Judges-Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Ezra-Nehemlah, Chronicles) are not explicitly referred to. The more extensive lists of Dittmar and Huehn show passages reminiscent of all Old Testament books without exception." << source

Table of Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament
The Importance of the Old Testament to New Testament Christians
Old Testament God vs. New Testament God

Toldot - Generations

2007-11-06T20:59:00.000-05:00

Torah Portion for Nov 10, 2007
Cheshvan 29, 5768

Toldot

Gen 25:19-28:9
Malachi 1:1-2:7
Rom 9:1-31

image called: "Isaac blesses Jacob" from Congregation B’nai Jeshurun