Euros

nothing but a man

In last week's Torah reading (Shoftim), Moses defined an extensive system of justice for the Israelites and pointed to the coming Messiah who would be the rightful King of Israel: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers -- it is to him you shall listen" (Deut. 18:15).  In this week's portion (i.e., parashat Ki Teitzei: כי־תצא), Moses returns to the immediate concern of life in the promised land by providing additional laws to be enforced regarding civil life in Israel. In fact, Jewish tradition (following Maimonides) identifies no less than 74 of the Torah's 613 commandments in this portion (more than any other), covering a wide assortment of rules related to ethical warfare, family life, burial of the deceased, property laws, the humane treatment of animals, fair labor practices, and honest economic transactions.

Of particular interest to us is the law regarding capital offenses and the instruction that one who was executed and “hanged on a tree” (עַל־עֵץ) is under the curse of God (Deut. 21:22-23).  According to the Talmud (Nezakim: Sanhedrin 6:4:3), the Great Sanhedrin (סַנְהֶדְרִין גְדוֹלָה) decided that “a man must be hanged with his face towards the spectators” upon a wooden stake, with his arms slung over a horizontal beam. It should be noted that while this is technically not the same thing as the gruesome practice of Roman crucifixion, the reasoning based on this verse was apparently used to justify the execution of Yeshua (Mark 15:9-15; John 19:5-7; 15). The exposed body was required to be buried before sundown to keep the land from being defiled. Besides the shame of this manner of death, the one so executed would be unable to fall to their knees as a final act of repentance before God, thereby implying that they were under the irrevocable curse of God (קִלְלַת אֱלהִים). 

For more information see:
https://hebrew4christians.com

Torah

Parashat Ki-Teitzei - Elul

BAYC Yuga Labs

conflict

Dojo

battlestar galactica

Happy Go Lucky

absolute quiet

Good Juice

Disparate

Nihat'la Muhabbet (30 Nisan 2024)

In our Torah for this week (i.e., parashat Va'era), the LORD told Moses that He was about to fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob by giving the Israelites the land of Canaan, and that he had heard the "groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians held as slaves" (Exod. 6:5). The showdown between the LORD (יהוה) and the so-called gods of Egypt was imminent, and God therefore encouraged the people with precious promises: "I AM the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה) and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgment; and I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God" (these are the “four expressions of redemption” we recite during the Passover Seder every year). 

Despite these wonderful promises, however, the people were unable to listen because of their “shortness of breath” (מִקּצֶר רוּחַ) on account of their harsh slavery. The LORD then told Moses: “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land,” and the great showdown between the LORD and the gods of Egypt began. However, even after  repeatedly witnessing the series of miraculous plagues issued in the Name of the LORD, the despot remained proud and unmoved, thereby setting the stage for the final devastating plagues upon the land of Egypt and the great Passover redemption of Israel.

For more see: https://hebrew4christians.com

Sefer Shemot - Hebrew for Christians

Parashat Vaera

Shavuah Tov for parashat Va'era

Our Torah portion for this week, parashat Bamidbar (בְּמִדְבַּר), begins the Book of Numbers, where the narrative begins precisely where the Book of Exodus left off, with the glory of the LORD hovering over the Mishkan (Tabernacle) as the Israelites were stationed at Sinai. On the first day of the thirteenth month following the Exodus from Egypt – exactly thirty days after the Tabernacle was first consecrated – God commanded Moses to take a census of all Israelite males over 20 years of age who would bear arms. Moses and the heads of each tribe recorded the results, with 603,550 men in all. This number did not include the Levites, however, since they were designated to take care of the Tabernacle and its furnishings during the journeys.

In addition to an overview of the Book of Numbers, this audio discusses the holiday of Shavuot ("Pentecost") and our journey of faith through the desert of this world...

As always, for more information visit www.hebrew4christians.com.

Shavuah Tov for parashat Bamidbar

An overview of the Ten Commandments of the Torah (Aseret Hadibrot) and how they are to be understood in light of the New Covenant of the Messiah Yeshua as "ten matters of heart."  In addition, the basic chronology of the Sinai experience is examined and how key events were enshrined in the holidays of Shavuot (Pentecost) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).

Ten Matters of Heart - further thoughts on the Ten Commandments

Shavuah tov, chaverim!  Our Torah portion for this week is Vayikra ("and he called"), the very first section from the Book of Leviticus. In Jewish tradition, Leviticus is sometimes called the "Book of Sacrifices" since it deals largely with the various sacrificial offerings brought to the altar at the Mishkan (i.e., Tabernacle). Indeed, over 40 percent of all the Torah's commandments are found in this central book of the Scriptures, highlighting that blood atonement is essential to the Torah. After all, since the revelation of the Tabernacle was the climax of the revelation given at Sinai, the Book of Leviticus serves as its ritual expression, as it is written: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement (kapparah) by the life" (Lev. 17:11).

In this audio broadcast I discuss the Torah's calendar Shabbat Zakhor and preparing for the festive holiday of Purim.  I also discuss the nature of the Torah's sacrificial system, the "korban principle" and the healing and restoration we are given in Yeshua the great Lamb of God and Savior of the world.

Chag Purim Sameach, chaverim!  For more, see https://hebrew4christians.com

Hebrew for Christians

Shavuah Tov for Parashat Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor)

This site lists some of the Hebrew for Christians podcasts from over the years.  It is updated according to the Jewish calendar and holiday cycle.

Shavuah Tov for Parashat Vayikra (Shabbat Zakhor)

Hebrew for Christians

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