TRUE B’RIT
 
       In Lev. 12:3, we read, “ On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” The ceremony of circumcision, also called the B'rit, continues to this day. A mohel is the individual who is authorized to perform a circumcision. A mohel might be a Rabbi, cantor, doctor or layperson, but they will be trained in this procedure. My husband and I have a friend who is a radiologist but also is trained to be a...

SILENT SHABBAT
 
What shall we now do? We were there standing in the shadows during the death of Yeshua.
 
We saw His suffering
We saw His agony
We saw His compassion to the others on their crucifixion stakes
We saw the gambling
We saw the darkness
We stood by, doing nothing
We heard strange sounds
We saw His blood.
We heard His cries
We heard His forsaken cry
We heard the final gasp for breath
Surrender.
 
Death.
 
Shock
Tears
Anguish
Disbelief
How could this be?
We saw His lifeless body taken from the stake
We saw His body prepared for burial.
 
Now...

PLATES
My father grew up in a Kosher home. His mother was sure to have four different sets of plates. She had a cupboard for plates that could hold milk products; another cupboard for plates that could hold meat products. Then for Passover, she had two separate cupboards, one set of plates for milk Passover, one for meat Passover. She only had one stove. I never got into arguments or discussions as to why only one stove, why only one pan...

STEALTH
     Have Blue was the code name of Lockheed's first stealth aircraft.  Up to this point in airplane history, airplanes had only been designed according to aerodynamic qualities.  Have Blue was designed according to electrical engineering features. The airplane was designed in a way to deflect electro-magnetic waves, thus allowing it to be invisible to radar.  
     Have Blue was the predecessor to the F-117A stealth fighter. It is named the Nighthawk as it is only used for night-time missions.  It operates only in the...

STEALTH
     Have Blue was the code name of Lockheed's first stealth aircraft.  Up to this point in airplane history, airplanes had only been designed according to aerodynamic qualities.  Have Blue was designed according to electrical engineering features. The airplane was designed in a way to deflect electro-magnetic waves, thus allowing it to be invisible to radar.  
     Have Blue was the predecessor to the F-117A stealth fighter. It is named the Nighthawk as it is only used for night-time missions.  It operates only in the...

TU B’SHVAT
    Tu B’Shvat is not a typing mistake. If you live or visit Israel, you might attend an event celebrating Tu B'Shvat, the New Year of Trees. Tu is the Hebrew word for the number fifteen. We are in the Hebrew month of Sh’vat.
     Before you go searching through the Scriptures, please note that you will NOT find this holiday in any Bible. It is found only in the Mishnah. There are two different schools of thought on this holiday....

IN HIS EMBRACE
 
Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
In His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom;
He will gently lead the nursing ewes. 
Isa. 40:11
     The Hebrew word for bosom is khaykh, and in Greek, it is kolpos.   It is a masculine noun that indicates the upper part of a person's body where objects and persons of love are embraced.  The person, item or animal that is carried or embraced here is dearly cherished. ...

ZOAN - A WONDERFUL PLACE 
by Barri Cae Seif
Marvelous things He did in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
~ Psalm 78:12 ~
How many times have we read a verse, especially a Psalm, and not fully comprehended the worth of the words? Where is Zoan? Why should this matter? The Jewish encyclopedia notes that it was an important city in Egypt, noting that it could have been the residence of Pharaoh. John Bright,...

HEAR!
 
     If you spend any time in a Jewish congregation, whether it be Orthodox, Reform, Conservative or Messianic, you will hear the watchword of the Jewish faith, Deuteronomy 6:4, Hear, O Israel, the LORD your God, the LORD is one. For many individuals who only hear this declaration, because the word “Hear” is a homophone for Here. Misunderstanding can arise if one believes that the word is Here, O Israel. The word that God notes is HEAR, שְׁמַע as if...

LET YOUR SHORESHIM GO DEEP
 
Tonight, Monday night, is Tu B'shvat, the eve of the New Year of Trees. This is one holiday that is not listed in the Bible, but only in the Mishnah.There were two different schools of thought about this holiday.  There were two Rabbi's - Shammai and Hillel.  Along with their disputes on many things, they did agree on one thing, that there should be a New Years for trees, maybe to celebrate new life after the winter. ...

                                                                                  HAPPY B’RIT DAY!
     With the New Year almost here, I like to remember  former New Year’s Eve celebrations. My favorite still was 1999 New Year's Eve celebration.  As the New Year unfolded worldwide. Paris, London, New York - every...

GOD’S LAGNIAPPE
     For over seven years, I lived in Shreveport, Louisiana. Although at times, living there was a challenge, there were certain elements that made Louisiana unique. The people were wonderful and sweet. I made a few special friends there. There were those Louisianans who lived south of Alexandria, LA, who had a language and culture all their own. I remember walking into a little store and seeing a sign on the outside “Tongue on Sale Today.” Having grown up in...

 
 
THE HEAVENLY ANCHOR
 
Then he said to me, 
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. 
"What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of
“Grace, grace to it!”’”
(Zech. 4:6-7)
 
     In light of this week’s parsha, we focus on the Haftorah passage from Zechariah. Parallel to Numbers 8 בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ. B’Ha’alosecha (when you step up…) and the...

 
Antoon Claeissens The Judgement of Solomon
 
FACE-TIME WITH MOMMY
 
Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said,
“Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.”
1 Kings 3:26
 
     One of the most provocative stories in the Bible involves the judgment decision of King Solomon between two women. Both women were prostitutes; they lived in the same home; they had no husband; they both gave birth...

 
                                     
 
THOUGH I WALK IN DARKNESS
 
Who is among you that feareth the LORD, That obeyeth the voice of His servant?
 Though he walketh in darkness, And hath no light,
Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Isaiah 50:20 JPS
 
      If we live long enough, each of us will encounter a “suddenly” in our life.  It could be...