in comparing apples to oranges, lawyers employ the “straight face” test. if you can argue a point with a straight face, you go for it! when successful lawyers employ their mental swiss army knife of arguments, even the toothpick must be able to draw blood! the torah portion vaysishlach’s events offer fruitful comparisons to bothContinue reading “The Exodus In Genesis? Vayishlach; A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Author Archives: biblelifestudies
Vayishlach’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
with my mother being a hebrew school teacher, bible story books were a household fixture. with her sometimes working as a substitute, our bookshelf was filled with text books for all ages and grades. most repeated the same stories with varying levels of english and artwork. my entertainment time often was spent eitehr watching tvContinue reading “Vayishlach’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Vayetze’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
the torah states that after the birth of leah’s four sons “rachel saw that she had not given birth for jacob, and rachel was jealous of her sister, and she said to jacob, ‘give me children. and if not i’m dying!’” genesis 30:1. in response, “jacob’s anger flared at rachel, and he said, ‘am iContinue reading “Vayetze’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Disco Hit Song Explaining Zionism?
the word “zionism”, with the current middle east crisis, has been tossed around like a pigskin during a two minute football drive with the offense needing to drive all the way down the field and score a touchdown. despite “zionism” plastered across mainstream media, discussed in social media posts and podcasts, sharpied on protests signsContinue reading “The Disco Hit Song Explaining Zionism?”
A Thanksgiving Tale: Vayetze
of all biblical figures, the matriarch leah would be the best invite to thanksgiving. she was the unwanted one. while having nice eyes, she was not the attractive sibling with the beautiful looks and the nice body. she was the one who entered an unhappy marriage based upon her father’s deceitful act. her situation wasContinue reading “A Thanksgiving Tale: Vayetze”
The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: Bel & The Dragon
bel & the dragon, an apocryphal text most likely authored during the persian exilic period, is a three part fictional story serving up ten commandments’ entertainment and propaganda. bel & the dragon’s context appears to be during the period around second temple judaism. this diaspora piece addresses the challenges of living in a foreign landContinue reading “The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: Bel & The Dragon”
Blessings In Perspective; Toldot
the controversy surrounding jacob’s theft of esau’s blessing from isaac should not be taken in isolation. generational blessing controversies tell us much about the character of those making the blessings. in chayeih sarah, there is the first generational blessing genesis 25:5 has abraham giving all of his possessions to isaac. abraham also gave gifts toContinue reading “Blessings In Perspective; Toldot”
Toldot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
the ten commandments didn’t drop down from mt. sinai as a totally unique set of laws. other ancient societies possessed value systems. the torah portion toldot offers a moment of shared societal values. toldot also sheds light on two puzzling passages in genesis. prior to the portion toldot, abraham and sarah-while in egypt- represented themselvesContinue reading “Toldot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
The Jewish Apocrypha & The Ten Commandments: The Book of Judith
scholars date the book of judith’s authorship to approximately 100 bce. the jewish annotated apocrypha, new revised standard edition. despite judith being fictional and excluded from the bible, the text, however, may provide insight into the ten commandments’ reception during this particular period at which the macabees ruled and the temple in jerusalem was operational.Continue reading “The Jewish Apocrypha & The Ten Commandments: The Book of Judith”
Chayeh Sarah, A Ten Commandments’ Teaching Moment
You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain, for the Lord will not hold blameless anyone who takes His name in vain. exodus 20:7 the prohibition of using god’s name in vain is one of the most puzzling of the ten commandments. the torah portion chayeh sarah, however, may assistContinue reading “Chayeh Sarah, A Ten Commandments’ Teaching Moment”
The Ten Commandments Project 