The Truth In Context? A Ten Commandments’ Moment in Vayeshev

vayeshev in the “adult” version of the torah offers a mature ten commandments’ moment. while an unfitting tale for a young scholars’ bible story books, the lesson concerning the truth is not. truth telling is not as easy as one thinks; the truth, also, does not always set one free. acknowledging the truth can beContinue reading “The Truth In Context? A Ten Commandments’ Moment in Vayeshev”

Yes Virginia, There is a Chanukah

put on your yarmulke here comes chanukkah adam sandler yes virginia. there is a chanukah. in antiquity, long before the north american colony of virginia, before the birth of the prophet mohammed and the establishment of the islamic religion, before christianity, and before the time when the holy land was re-named palestine by the romans,Continue reading “Yes Virginia, There is a Chanukah”

Love To Hate; Vayeshev

i would manufacture things to make me mad dick butkus we hate. a base emotion has positives; hatred can be the expresso shot “pick me up” or the injection of adrenalin to drive one into a battle on the gridiron in the national football league. given those benefits, we must admit, we love to hate.Continue reading “Love To Hate; Vayeshev”

The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: The Book Of Jubilees

in some ancient circles, the apocryphal book of jubilees was popular. in qumran, the sect famous for the dead sea scrolls, fifteen copies of jubilees were found. the book of jubilees is believed to have been authored prior to the early first century bce. jewish annotated apocrypha. while excluded from the hebrew bible, the textContinue reading “The Ten Commandments & Apocryphal Texts: The Book Of Jubilees”

The Exodus In Genesis? Vayishlach; A Ten Commandments’ Tale

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”

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”