Author Archives: biblelifestudies

Prostrate Trouble: Esther’s Ten Commandments’ Moment

Prostration is central to Esther’s story.  Mordechai’s refusal to bow and prostrate himself before Haman served as the inspiration of Haman’s genocidal plot against the Jews.  Was Mordechai’s refusal a Ten Commandments’ moment?   Early in Esther’s story, Haman is promoted by King Ahasuerus to a top position.  Haman’s seat was to be above all theContinue reading “Prostrate Trouble: Esther’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”

The Outsider’s Ten Commandments? The Book of Ruth

“And also a great mixture had gone up with them.” Exodus 12:38 Exodus tells of others joining the Children of Israel in their departure from Egypt. Exodus 12:38. At Mt. Sinai, these outsiders stood alongside the descendants of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. While the others had no connection to the existing generational covenants, they wereContinue reading “The Outsider’s Ten Commandments? The Book of Ruth”

Past Vision vs. Future Vision

It wasn’t on my bingo card, but it happened. Unforeseen circumstances led to a close encounter with the Trek-world. Sadly, it was to occur at a life celebration. My invite to the event included the enticement of: “the lady from Star Trek” was going to be there. Who could it be? When I showed up,Continue reading “Past Vision vs. Future Vision”

Setting Things In Stone? Mishpatim

“And he took the scroll of the covenant and read in the people’s ears” Exodus 24:7 The Torah Portion Mishpatim illustrates the challenges of legal literacy. In antiquity, was it possible for a fledgling nation to disseminate the concepts of societal boundaries and affirmative duties upon its citizenry? If so, what methodology could be employedContinue reading “Setting Things In Stone? Mishpatim”

The Joy of a Broken Clock

Excitement is twice daily for broken clock owners. When their timekeeper aligns with the universe, everything is copacetic: joy and exultation times two. These brief instances of affirmation create resistance however. With their rightness validated, they hold onto their clock. They ignore the reality that it is time to move on to a more reliableContinue reading “The Joy of a Broken Clock”

The Secular Educational Value of The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments’ utility in secular educational is extensive. A discussion of the Decalogue’s historical value could constitute a semester’s long political science class. The Ten Commandments is one of the essential documents which has advanced both political philosophy and law. Understand modern governance would be replete without touching upon it. Prior to the TenContinue reading “The Secular Educational Value of The Ten Commandments”

The Top Ten? The Big Ten? Yitro

“As horrible as this is (especially in light the Aqedah), it conveys the seriousness of this commandment and of the principle that the Ten Commandments outweigh other laws.” Richard Elliott Friedman, Commentary on The Torah In legal systems, some laws override others. For example, the United States essentially has two forms of law- State andContinue reading “The Top Ten? The Big Ten? Yitro”

Going Postal In January: A Moment of Unhingement

At the Farmer’s Market this January, I stood looking westward. There, I witnessed the apocalyptic mushroom-like cloud hovering over the Pacific Palisades’ wildfire. The eclectic Los Angeles Market was safely located twenty miles from the disaster zone. I was one of the fortunate to not be impacted. As a result of power outages, however, IContinue reading “Going Postal In January: A Moment of Unhingement”

Universal Healthcare Is Not About Healthcare

A Progressive Leader, while confessing leftist sins, declared that “Universal Healthcare” was one of movement’s causes. Why? Power. Universal Health Care creates power. If someone other than an elected official controlled seventeen percent of the United States’ economy, what would you think? Currently, U.S. health care costs hover at around seventeen percent. Someone controlling aContinue reading “Universal Healthcare Is Not About Healthcare”