Footsteps of the Messiah

What is this prayer "AL HA NISIM"?  What does that mean and where does it come from?  And what is read for Chanukah when Chanukah doesn't exactly show up in the Bible, especially in the Hebrew Bible?  We'll look at the Torah portion for Day two and the translation of Al HaNisim.

So what do you know about Hanukah?  Well what does it mean, what is some of the more obscure history and why is it celebrated by Jews all over the world?  Let's find out lots of fun facts...13 to be exact and an aside on when Yeshua celebrated CHANNUKAH! And why do I spell it differently every time I type it??? Well I'll answer that one tomorrow!  Chag Hannukkah Sameach!

So David Melech has his title, and Avraham Avinu has his.  Mosheh Rabbeinu is Moses our great teacher or rabbi...where do the sages get the right to call Yosef The Tzaddik or Joseph the Righteous? There is a hidden code in the Haftarah for this week in the book of Amos HaNavi, Amos the Prophet.  We look at the connection to the Parashat HaShavua, the portion of the week from the Torah......

 So, in the parashah, Genesis 32-36, Esav and Ya'akov meet again after decades of separation. Prior to that, Ya'akov meets a mysterious un-named entity which could have been an angel, G-d himself or some believe the Messiah...there are lots of ideas about this, but what we will cover is the connection between Israel & Esav.  The man and the people of Esav are also known as Edom. &nbs...

So many questions to ponder that we know there are answers for but so little time!  So in the Prophets portion for Parashat Vayetzei, Hoshea mentions 2 things Ya'akov did which is why this portion was matched with the Torah portion. 1-Jacob's flight from home to "the field of Aram" & 2-the mention of Yerushalayim, when Hoshea says that The Almighty says I am in your midst and I will not enter a ci...

This week I ran out of time to write an original summary so here's one from MyJewishLearning.com/article/haftarah-for-toldot/ God's expectations for the Israelites and the priests.  Much of the haftarah is written in a back and forth style as an  argument between God and the people of Israel. This is unique to the  book of Malakhi. In many ways it points away from the traditional &n...

Parashat Chayei Sarah is coupled with 1 Kings 1 which connects in several ways, though not readily obvious.  There was not a lot in the way of commentaries or articles so this proves to be an enigmatic and elusive Haftarah portion to dissect...but join us and see what we find and discover about the life [and death] of King David and how it connects to the end of Avraham Avinu's life and...

2 Kings 4: 1-37  covers three miracles done by Elisha, the successor of Eliyahu/Elijah.  But why is this section from the N'vi'im / Prophets [in Hebrew] read for this week connecting to Parashat Vayera?   The phrase "vay-eira" is two words meaning "And G-d, The Almighty, was SEEN" and thereby we get the translation "appeared" in Genesis 18:1.  The additional portion, "haftarah"...

The third reading from the book of Genesis is named Lech Lecha . It means "go forth."  The additional portion [haftarah in Hebrew] from the Prophet Isaiah is 40:27-41:16. This name is given to both the Torah portion and the Haftarah because the first verse of the parasha in Genesis 12 says,  "Now the LORD said to Abram, 'Go forth ( lech lecha, לֶךְ־לְךָ) from your country.'" Parashat Lec...

מי־נח, "Mei-Noach" which translates "waters of Noach", are referred to in this Haftarah. Uniquely, this Haftarah is read twice during the year (again during the week of KiTeitze in the summer, during the period of consolation, after Tishah b'Av) as well as in the EXACT month that the flood took place, this very month of Cheshvan! I don't believe in coincidences! HaShem planned this and it is obvio...

What do Genesis 1-2 and Isaiah 42-43 have in common?  Why was this portion from the Nevi'im selected for this first week of the new year and matched with the story of Creation?   We see connections between Adam the first Man, also called Adam Rishon and Yeshua is called the Second Adam.  We also see connections between Creation and the Day of the Lord, the Day that is All Sabbath, the Day of all R...

In this special episode we interview Bethany Janzen, one of the co-founders of Pro-Life Global, a non-profit organization whose vision is to eliminate abortion worldwide! LEARN MORE AT Pro-LifeGlobal.org Talk about building the Malchut Shamayim! So related to this but not in the podcast, there is a phrase in Hebrew for placing preservation of life above all other things:  פקוח נפש In Hebrew it is...

David Melech celebrates his Yeshua (salvation), calls on The Rock and his King. We cover the additional (Haftarah) section of the weekly parasha and connect it to its counterpart in Deuteronomy. Why is it read and how did the Sages pick this section? What if it falls between Rosh HaShana & Yom Kippur, also called Shabbat Shuvah?

So in Hebrew, the word "haftarah" is NOT related grammatically to "Torah" and is certainly not "half of the Torah" as could be easily assumed.  Sounds the same BUT IT'S NOT friends!  Here's the definition:  Haftarah: (lit. "concluding portion"); reading from the Prophets at the conclusion of the weekly Torah reading.  So it's quite an underutilized and often unacknowledged part of the Shabbat serv...

It is Season 2 as the 2nd week of 5783 begins chevre!  Friends, we review and augment our previous episode of Nitzavim's haftarah and give it our FULL ATTENTION as this was something HaShem put on my heart to go back to this portion to focus on.  We also cover how it turns into the High Holiday season and moves us into the BRIDAL SEASON of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret as HaShem welcomes and greets a...

[Season 2, #1] There is a special custom for the month of Elul through Yom Kippur at the conclusion of the Biblical High Holidays!   The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur! On Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms!  In this episode we continue a summary of ea...

[#38] Day 29 in the 29 Days of Elul: We wanted to explore Psalms on this last day of Elul with you chevre [friends]! It's now Day 29 in the 29 Days of Elul mini-series! An Elul practice is to read through the Psalms in 40 days, finishing on Yom Kippur. In Jewish understanding, Psalms are said to be a great medicine for anger, impatience, lust, fear, sadness and whatever are the opposites of the 9...

How many days is RHS?  When does it start and when does it end?  What is Tashlich and when do you do it?  What Bible verses is it based on?  As a matter of fact, is the correct name for this holiday Rosh HaShana or is it Yom T'ruah???  What gives?  Let's answer these questions together and maybe create more for you to explore on your own!  L'SHANA TOVA U'M'TUKAH!  [oh my gosh, what does that mean?...

So what if you witness a crime [G-d forbid]?  Or what if you need to warn someone or a group about another person, based on their actions or reputation or heresay?  When would it be permissible according to Biblical standards to speak anything at all? Let's find out together as we look at articles and Scriptures as well as other Jewish writings.

What do you do if you find yourself tempted to speak about another...even if IT IS TRUE, what you are about to say?  Is it okay according to the Bible?  What do you do if you are in the middle of a discussion and it turns ugly and slanderous toward another?  When is it slander? Let's find out together in the 3rd part of this series on gossip and slander...let's get rid of lashon hara and become th...

What does it mean the the Torah is not too baffling to us or that it is not so far that we need to go up to Heaven to get it...or down to the depths of the ocean to find it?  Let's look together at the Etz Chayim Chumash commentary and find out more...PLUS, we take a second look at the Haftarah from Isaiah 61-62 and a little of 63 and why this points us to the final redemption, the coming of the L...

Nitzavim is very interesting in that the Torah portion in Deuteronomy is actually shorter than the haftarah in Isaiah!  We introduce the Torah portion and then jump into the haftarah in Isaiah 60 with the comparison of a bride and groom and the excitement of a newly married, never before married couple!  How does this relate to Israel's redemption?  Listen and find out as we learn together!

ELUL 20-21:  So in Hebrew the word for "excuse me" is "sli'cha"!  S'lichot is plural in Hebrew. It also is used for an apology but literally means "forgiveness".  But this is the name of a special service said in synagogues all around the world prior to Rosh HaShana!  Why?  Aren't we going to be there for TWO days of Rosh HaShana services soon enough?  Ever heard of a...

What is slander and how did/do the rabbis and Judaism view it?  Was it punishable?  What entails slander?  Can you tell the truth about someone even if it hurts their name and reputation?  Should you?

I have been putting off this topic for many months if not years, but I get caught up in it some way or somehow or it is done around me or to me way too often...what is LASHON HARAH?  Well, as for me and my house we will serve the LORD!  So let's start by what does, OR DOES NOT, come out of my mouth! There may be enough on this topic to carry us all the way through to Rosh HaShana!  It is only 13 d...