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...

 
Moses' Birthday and Death DayAdar 7 in the Jewish calendar was Moses' birth day and death day(Deut. 32:48-52, Tractate Megilah). Moses was born byfaith, hid by faith, lived by faith and died by faith. In honor ofMoses, some facts follow of his birth day and death day.Moses was born by faith. Pharaoh issued an...

THE AMBER DOT
And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire engulfing itself,
and a brightness was about it, and out of its midst as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire .
Ezekiel 1:4
     There are times in our lives in which we find ourselves engulfed by a whirlwind. It seems as though the pressures of life overwhelm us. We can find ourselves, as Jacob did,...

ADONAI RO’EE
 
     Some years ago, while working in an Atlanta office, the day began as any other day, until my boss asked us employees to come to the conference room. Something was up. No one looked happy.
 
     My boss, Allan, asked us if we had heard about Anie over the weekend. We said no. Allan then told us that Anie had been killed in an auto accident. However, not only Anie had been killed, but also her aunt and...

ADONAI RO’EE
 
     Some years ago, while working in an Atlanta office, the day began as any other day, until my boss asked us employees to come to the conference room. Something was up. No one looked happy. 
 
     My boss, Allan, asked us if we had heard about Anie over the weekend. We said no. Allan then told us that Anie had been killed in an auto accident. However, not only Anie had been killed, but also her aunt and her cousin....

MOORED IN THE HARBOR
 
     Having grown up in Kansas, I find fascination in flying over cities that include ports. Kansas is a land-locked state and I love being near the water. Recently on a flight to Philadelphia, as our plane was descending, I noticed several ships dry-docked. Some looked rusty and old; others looked in good condition. I wondered if the ships were in a state of disrepair or were just dry-docked for the winter. If someone grew up in...

ETERNAL LIFE
“I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live.”     John 11:25 TLV
     If we live long enough, we will eventually see our loved ones and friends die. Death is the great leveler as everyone must pass through death’s door. Just as it is exciting to see the birth of a newborn baby, it is sorrow beyond words to sit at the bedside of one who is dying. Often, there are no words...

KEEP LOOKIN' UP!
 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Phil.4:5
     Why are we a people of such extremes? Why is it that I can have a full dinner, then have ice cream for dessert? But no, I do not want just ONE scoop; I want three scoops! Why is it that I can have a closet full of clothes, then see an item and desire it? Aristotle made famous the idea of the Golden Mean, the desirable mid-point...

Adar 7 in the Jewish Calendar
by Barri Cae Seif
Tomorrow is Adar 7 according to the Jewish calendar. This date was Moses' birth day and death day (Deut. 32:48-52, Tractate Megilah). As this year is a leap year, there are two Adar months, Adar I and Adar II. Moses was born by faith, hid by faith, lived by faith and died by faith. In honor of Moses, some facts follow of his birth day and death day.
Moses was born by faith....