Category Archives: Basic

Exodus 21 – Law and Grace

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

Exodus 21 – Law and Grace The literary setup of the book of Exodus is pretty straightforward. It begins with the experience of the Jewish people in Egypt. The book describes the miraculous deliverance from slavery. We move from there … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic, Judaism | 11 Comments

Eternal Covenant

Posted on December 15, 2011 by

Eternal Covenant “When you are in distress and all these things have befallen you, at the end of days, you will return to the Lord your God, and hearken to His voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful … Continue reading →

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Comfort and Assurance

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

Comfort and Assurance   “I have said: my strength is lost and my hope from the Lord… “The Lord is my portion”, says my soul, therefore I will hope to Him.” (Lamentations 3:18:24)   There are times when all seems … Continue reading →

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Isaiah 1:18

Posted on July 31, 2011 by

Isaiah 1:18 On the Sabbath before Tish’a B’Av, the day that is designated as a commemoration for the destruction of the Temple, we read from the first passage in Isaiah (1:1 – 1:27). This passage teaches us why we are … Continue reading →

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Ramifications of Shema III – Isaiah 2:5

Posted on July 28, 2011 by

Ramifications of Shema III – Isaiah 2:5 In the previous article (“Ramifications of Shema II – Psalm 63:4) we spoke of the joy that is inherent in obedience to God. How obedience comes with the recognition that God chose me … Continue reading →

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Ramifications of Shema II – Psalm 63:4

Posted on July 27, 2011 by

Ramifications of Shema II – Psalm 63:4 In my article entitled “Ramifications of Shema”, I presented the concept that with the knowledge that God is the only power firmly planted into our hearts, we come to the realization that we … Continue reading →

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Ramifications of Shema

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

Ramifications of the Shema In the previous article we explained the second phrase in the Shema as: “we recognize that the Lord is the only power – and that we pledge to live our lives in light of that recognition”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic, Judaism, The Ultimate Truth | 3 Comments

The Shema

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

The Shema “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Generally, we tend to focus on the last point of the passage: the oneness of God. I want to call attention to the second … Continue reading →

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Jeremiah 22:16 – I

Posted on July 5, 2011 by

Jeremiah 22:16 We are born with the capability of total surrender. It is possible for a person to give themselves over completely, body and soul, to anyone or anything.   Many people go through life without exercising this capability. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Do Not Do Unto Others

Posted on March 31, 2011 by

Do Not Do Unto Others The Talmud recounts that a Gentile once approached Hillel with the request that Hillel convert him to Judaism. This Gentile did not want to go through a lengthy regimen of learning, so he told Hillel; … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic, Judaism | 2 Comments