the holy land

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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 . . .

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

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

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

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???

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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

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”)

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

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

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?

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.