biblelifestudies

The Book of Death

One’s inscription in the Book of Life on Yom Kippur in reality is a cheat. The odds of death directly touching someone’s life in any given year is really not that great. After all, one’s demise is truly a once in a lifetime event. This year, however, personally there is no cheat. Rather, it isContinue reading “The Book of Death”

The Scriptural Root of Zionism: The New Year’s Second Day Haftarah

Arise, Let us ascend to Zion Jeremiah 31:5 Operation Solomon-a mass migration event- made history in 1991. Approximately 2400 years before this event, the Prophet Jeremiah recorded prophetic words which became part of the Hebrew Bible. Are these distant temporal events connected? Can an ancient Prophet be intimately tied to the 20th Century Beta IsraelContinue reading “The Scriptural Root of Zionism: The New Year’s Second Day Haftarah”

Going Postal In September: The AI Artist?

For some years, painting was my hobby. Sometimes, I was able to convert my brush stroke errors into the trappings of an attractive canvas piece. In recent years, blogging replaced my abstract art obsession. With blogging came new challenges like writing and…graphics. When entering into the blogging world, master bloggers hand down the following adviceContinue reading “Going Postal In September: The AI Artist?”

The Most Important Parental Advice? Rosh Hashonah’s First Day Reading

Is there one piece of parental advice that reigns over all others? The answer is emphatically “yes”. This masterful advice emanates from the Book of Genesis. The specific passage is part of the Torah portion read on the first day of the Jewish New Year. In it, the Jewish People’s first Matriarch, Sarah, initiates aContinue reading “The Most Important Parental Advice? Rosh Hashonah’s First Day Reading”

The Root of Zionism: Vayelech

If one sought out Zionism’s origins, they would be dismissive not to consider the Hebrew Bible as the authoritative source. Further scoping in on the topic, one would turn to the Torah and go to the Torah Portion Vayelech. There, they would discover how the Pentateuch explains how Zionism is a feature of Judaism. ForContinue reading “The Root of Zionism: Vayelech”

The Societal Literacy Project: Vayelech

Societal literacy? Is it possible to instill a nation’s rules, morals and values upon all residents? Why do it? The Torah Portion Vayelech offers insight into the how and why? The Setting Vayelech’s events occur while the Children of Israel camped out on the other side of the Jordan River. They are awaiting entry intoContinue reading “The Societal Literacy Project: Vayelech”

News Shaming?

Can someone consume news only to be shamed for recounting it? The legendary artist Janet Jackson may just be victim of such a scenario. Ms. Jackson ignited controversy in a Guardian publication interview. When she was prodded concerning presidential politics, she made an observation. She indicated that VP and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris was ofContinue reading “News Shaming?”

A Success Story: Ki Tavo

To get a good job, with a great starting salary Dean Van Horne, Accepted As the Pentateuch’s calendar year reading rapidly nears completion, the Torah Portion Ki Tavo answers an essential Ten Commandments’ question. While the Portion Ki Tavo is packed with a rich multitude of Decalogue topics, one passage answers a query which isContinue reading “A Success Story: Ki Tavo”

Triskaidekaphobia: The Art of Looking Smart

Today, I am embracing the absurd. Stepping outside of my limited vocabulary, I am publishing this post which includes very difficult word that is completely outside my element: Triskaidekaphobia. One may ask, “why take the chance?” As someone believes that every day is an opportunity to improve oneself, I view this a legitimate stretch asContinue reading “Triskaidekaphobia: The Art of Looking Smart”

Thou Shalt Not Be A Pig? Ki Tezieh

But if you try sometime, you’ll find that you get what you need Rolling Stones A two-sentence kerfuffle! Oh my! A particularly short Ki Tezieh Torah Portion passage presents with mind-bending complexity. While these two sentences yield a multitude of interpretations, the text contains a kernel that yields an undisputable consensus opinion: “Don’t be aContinue reading “Thou Shalt Not Be A Pig? Ki Tezieh”