Shavuot/Pentecost, the Feast of Weeks
Counting 50 days (inclusive) from the day after the Sabbath following Passover, seven complete Sabbaths and one day, brings us to the Feasts of Weeks.
Be Holy – Torah Portion Kedoshim
It has been the practice of the Jewish people to read through the Torah – the first five books of Scripture – on either a one-year or three-year schedule.
Jehu’s Revival or Real Revival?
Jehu became the tenth king of the northern tribes of the divided kingdom of Israel. He claimed to have a “zeal for the LORD” and his actions seem to confirm it.
Why I Hang Out With Criminals
You probably do as well. In fact, you may be one. The majority of us have, at one time or another, transgressed the laws of the land. Sometimes we get caught.
Questions On the Book of Esther
Recently I received a letter from a prison inmate who has been reading the book of Esther before Purim. Here are his questions and my responses.
Chazaq Chazaq v’Nitchazeq
After concluding each book of the Torah, it is traditional to recite the phrase “Chazaq! Chazaq! v’Nitchazeq! – Be strong! Be strong! And let us be strengthened!”
A Sabbath Song – Psalm 92
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night
The Prayers of the Saints – Psalm 141
In Torah portion Tetzaveh we read the instructions for tending the Menorah and the altar of incense. These were probably on David’s mind as he composed this Psalm.
The Ark, the Mercy Seat and the Restoration – Psalm 80
After bringing His people out of Egypt to Mount Sinai, Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave Moses the instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
Esther and the Decree of the King
The Greek version of Esther in the Apocrypha includes a letter – an “Executive Order” – from King Artaxerxes. Read it substituting the names of current political figures.