LIGHT OF MENORAH

This is the time of our joy.  In Hebrew (זְמַן שִׂמְחָתֵנוּ) "Z'man Simchateinu" (pronounced - sim ka tay noo).  This means the "season of our JOY."  If there was an argument to convince the "church" to begin to do services on God's feasts, His mo'edem, His appointed times, these three lessons might convince you - at least for Sukkot.  And, even if your pastor doesn't agree since he/she is stuck i...

Some people think that the word "fornication" means sex outside of marriage. Some say that this is what it means in the Bible.  NOPE.  Sorry folks.  God never states specifically that pre-marital sex or sex outside of marriage is a sin.  But it is.  How does God teach us this in His Torah, His "instruction?"  How did He get this across to His chosen people the Hebrews coming out of Egypt?  How did...

Once again we come to text of the Bible that is taken out of its historical context.  Once again we are surrounded by childish ideas of the Scapegoat and what the term עֲזָאזֵל Azazel means.  It is not a name.  And Jewish scholars agree that the scapegoat is NOT a sacrifice.  It does nothing for the person -  does not forgive sin - at all.  So what is it? On top of that Jesus says in John 5:39 the...

Awhile back a pastor I knew did a lesson on Yom Kipppureem.  In his sermon he connected Yom Kippureem to Passover for us who were Christians.  I never heard this before and it was interesting.  Over the years this has stayed with me and I think there is something here to be considered.  Let's take a look. 1) Yom Kippureem totally involved the high priest.  He alone was involved in all the sacrific...

In this second lesson on the most holiest day for the religious Jewish people, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ - the day of Atonements יום הכיפורים‎ -  we wonder if the Hebrews did this "feast" during the 40 years in the Sinai?  Did they do it in David's day, Solomon's, or Hezekiah's?   In Jesus' day Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ was devoutly practiced and it was called "The Great Day" or "The Day" or s...

Ten days after Yom Teruah יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎ (rabbinic name is Rosh HaShana) we come to the most holiest day for the religious Jewish people, Yom Kippureem יום הכיפורים‎ - the day of Atonements.  Already we see that when we call it Yom Kippur we are incorrect.  God calls it Yom Kippureem, atonements is plural.  In this first of the three lessons on this feast (not a feast but an "appointed time" or m...

  From Abraham Cohen’s excellent scholarly work, “Everymans’ Talmud,” we read that in Judaism today and in the days of Jesus, one’s death was more important than one’s birth.  Jews will rejoice at a person’s death if they were righteous and live a life living according to the ways of the Lord.  Don’t rejoice at a person’ birth.  One being born is just beginning their life.  Will they live righteou...

Our focus in lesson 31 is on two verses.  The first is Exod. 11:2 and the second is Exod. 11:5.  "Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold." (Exo 11:2) “… and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn...

ROSH HASHANA EPISODE 4 (ROYALTY FREE IMAGE AT WWW.KINGPNG.COM ) In lesson 4 we seem to get at the primary connection between this feast of the Lord, this "appointed time" commanded by Him, His מוֹעֲדִ mo'ed and Yeshua HaMaschiach, Jesus the Messiah, the Christ.  Jesus said (John 5:39) that SCRIPTURE testifies of Him.  So, this feast in Torah likely testifies of Him. We will focus on those coming o...

I have heard the excuse of many in the "church" of why we do not do the Biblical feasts.  One will say they are the Jewish feasts.  And we are not Jewish.  Right, you are not Jewish, but you are also wrong.  Lev. 23:1-2 tells us that these feasts - actually in Hebrew they are the מועדים mow-ed-deem (H4140) or the appointed times) - belong to the Lord, belong to  יהוה Yahvay.  They are not only for...

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES The Fall Feasts of the Lord Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39) How do we "see" Jesus in Rosh HaShana?  This feast of the Lord is in the Torah, the main books of the Bible in Jesus' day when He said the words found John 5:39.  It i...

SPECIAL PODCAST SERIES The Fall Feasts of the Lord Once again we return to Jesus' words in John 5:39 ... "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me." (Joh 5:39) He said this sometime between 24-30 A.D. and scripture then was the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament).  The primary books of the Hebrew scriptures is the To...

From Abraham Cohen’s excellent scholarly work, “Everymans’ Talmud,” we read that in the days of Jesus one’s death was more important than one’s birth.  Rabbi Cohen presents a parable that shows the views of Second Temple Judaism then and Rabbinic Judaism today on this concept.  There were two ships and one was leaving the harbor and the other was coming in after a long voyage.  Many on the docks c...

In Exodus 34:6-7 Adonai, the Lord our God, teaches Moses on Sinai what He is like.  Among the rabbis these verses are called the 13 Attributes of Adonai.   Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression...

Recently an associate of mine asked me about the Parable of the Talents in Matthew's Gospel in chapter 25.  There are some who say that God is teaching us concepts regarding investing our money.  This is highly doubtful once we consider the textual context (the words before and even after the parable) and the historical context.  A highly credible archaeologist, Dr. Ben Witherington III (an Americ...

Did you know that there is no prohibition in the Old Testament or New Testament against abortion or premarital sex?  In the Old Testament there is NO law against abortion.  There is no statement that sex before marriage is a sin.  Yet, as followers of Jesus, as Christians, and His disciples, we all agree that abortion is murder, a terrible sin, and premarital sex is immoral and a sin.  Even Joseph...

  Truth Nugget 4 Part 2 The name of God is so special and so holy (kadosh קדוש) - meaning set apart, special, distinct.  The rabbis in Jesus' day and even before even made up a new law - don't say God's name so you won't break the commandment that says do not take HIS name in vain.  Therefore, in Jesus' day the tetragrammaton, yud hay vav hay יהוה, was not said.  Other words were substituted like...

As we continue in Genesis 24 we ask ourselves the question, is Rebecca also one who the Lord uses to teach us about our walk with the Lord now in the future?  In other words is she too part of the Biblical concept we saw in lesson 54 - מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים or transliterated, "Ma-ahsay Ahvot Ceenam Leh'Bahneem."  It means the events in the life of the fathers are signs or omens for the...

This podcast is broken into two separate parts.  Part 1 sets up the historical context and part 2 applies it to a special verse about Jesus. The name of God is so special and so holy (kadosh קדוש) - meaning set apart, special, distinct.  The rabbis in Jesus' day and even before even made up a new law - don't say God's name so you won't break the commandment that says do not take HIS name in vain. ...

In the 9th plague God brings darkness upon all Egypt for three days.  It is a darkness that the Torah says can be "felt" and it was a "thick" darkness.  It was so awesome that people did not even move or seemingly travel around for the three days.  What is going on? Some say it was a dust storm from Arabia.  They try and make it a natural occurrence.  Many try and make the plagues something that c...

In this lesson we study Genesis chapter 24, the longest chapter in Genesis.  It seems like something big is about to happen.  It is.  Abraham sends his servant, his servant who is un-named in chapter 24 (could Eliezer but it can’t be proven), and this servant goes in the name of his master, to find a bride for the father's most beloved son, Isaac, the child of promise.  Hmmm.  This sounds like som...

This is part 2 of lesson 28.  As we conclude we ask the question does God want us to understand Egypt and Pharaoh as a picture of God's plan for the future?  Is it possible as God brought destruction and chaos on this one nation who followed the one man who said he was god, will He also do the same when many will follow the one man, the Beast, as the ruler of all the earth and who likened himself...

"Truth Nuggets" - these are short Bible studies in their historical context.  Our goal is to "walk those ancient streets and paths" with those ancient believers to reconnect to their day and their circumstances.  In this way we can hear what they heard and see what they say and come to grasp with what God originally meant in His word written to them 2000 and 3000 years ago. In this episode, "Truth...

Welcome to the new podcast series from Light of Menorah.  These podcasts entitled, "Truth Nuggets," are short Bible studies focusing on the archaeology, history, geography, customs, culture, and the ancient languages of the ancient Near East.  Our attempt is to put the Bible into its historical context and "walk on those ancient streets and roadways" with those ancient believers. We want to try an...