Yeshua came as the very antithesis of what the people of Israel were looking and hoping for in a Messiah. In John 13, he is sharing with his disciples some of his final words before his death. He did not preach the overthrow of the Romans. He did not preach a prosperity gospel. He taught … Continue reading John 13 – Chesed
As we read John 5 today, we are confronted with how the quest for holiness and doing things "right" can go terribly wrong. In Judaism, we are taught that it is permissible to break a commandment to save a life. A doctor can work on the Shabbat to heal someone who is dying, because saving … Continue reading John 5 – When holiness goes wrong
Are you struggling to live the abundant life that Yeshua came to give us? Does the daily grind and the stress of life leave you feeling depleted? Do you long to feel closer to G-d and want to know him more? Jennifer Caracelo has given a teaching called Creating a Sanctuary: Setting Yourself Up for … Continue reading Creating a Sanctuary
As we approach the month of Elul we traditionally get ready to search our hearts and to turn to our G-d. When we look at the word "Elul," it is similar to the root of the verb "search" in Aramaic. The Rabbis usually connect "Elul" to the idea of searching our hearts and preparing ourselves … Continue reading The Search by Diana Levine
Have you heard the term "hiddur mitzvah"? It means Beautify or Enhance the Mitzvah - we should go above and beyond as we seek to fulfill a commandment of G-d. That is why we have such gorgeous objects in our synagogues and homes that we use to fulfill G-d's commandments surrounding our observance. The sages' … Continue reading Hiddur Mitzvah
Last week, a friend posted the link to an interview with Rachel Denhollander, the first to come forward with her story of abuse by Larry Nassar, the USA Gymnastics team doctor convicted of seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct who was sentenced just recently. Her interview sheds light on a problem that plagues the … Continue reading The Least of These
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