Tag Archives: bible

The Keys To Going Postal in February

Damn my keyboard! Software gremlins, spellcheck, auto-fill, failure to save, and utter carelessness enrages me. No matter what, every post is stained with a mistake, a typo, a missed word, or an inappropriate one. Sometimes you do things out of joy and not perfection. Bull puckey! “Keys” are needed to address the technological difficulties ofContinue reading “The Keys To Going Postal in February”

True Religion? Tetzaveh

“And Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once per year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once per year through your generations. It is holy of holies to the Lord.” Exodus 30:10 Atonement is a central aspect to many religions. Alexander Pope’s “to err isContinue reading “True Religion? Tetzaveh”

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”

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 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”

Sabbath Origins? Bechlach

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because He ceased from doing all his work, which God created Genesis 2:3 While the Sabbath was established at Creation’s completion, the day of rest was imposed upon the Children of Israel. After leaving Egypt, in the Torah Portion Bechlach, Sabbath rules commenced. Before Mt.Continue reading “Sabbath Origins? Bechlach”