An Honest Question from the Talmud
While exploring the book “Treasures of the Talmud,” I encountered a question from one of Israel’s great sages: “Rabbi Yohanan says, 'Woe to the Gentiles! for they are losers and know not what they have lost! As long as the Temple
Hidden Treasures in 2026
The land of Israel is filled with hidden treasures, ancient deposits left by past generations, now being uncovered by their children’s children. But what if God has also placed a hidden treasure within you, waiting for just the right moment to
The Mystery of the Almah
Imagine a citizenship interview in which the questioner asks, “Do you believe in the virgin birth?” This week, a Jewish-believing friend told me that this was one of thirteen questions asked on their citizenship application. Those are incredibly high stakes for
Who Moved the Stone
“And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother…Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock…Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept.” (Genesis
Elul: Month of Amends
Elul, which began last Monday, is the last month on the Jewish calendar. It precedes the High Holy Days of the first month of Tishri: The Day of Trumpets, Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The four Hebrew letters of the
The Cost of Color
“Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn." Exodus 26:1 The colors mentioned throughout the Bible span a spectrum from earthy rust to regal blue. Notably, the colors chosen for the Tabernacle's curtains
Broken Beauty and Betrayed Bonds
And I took my staff, Beauty, and cut it in two, that I might break the covenant which I had made with all the peoples. So it was broken on that day. Thus the poor of the flock, who were
The Mystery of Messiah in the Esther Scroll
The Scroll of Esther, composed around 450 B.C., is one of the most remarkable books of Scripture. Written at the close of the Hebrew Canon, it hyperlinks into the rich redemption narrative beginning with the book of Genesis. It faithfully relays
With Our Hands Lifted High
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” And Moses built an altar and
The Proselyte of Pentecost
The story of the widow Ruth, leaving all she knew to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, the house of bread, is forever linked to Pentecost. Pentecost in Greek means fifty, while Shavuot in Hebrew means weeks. Both names represent a marked journey