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”
Tag Archives: biblical literacy
The Icing On The Decalogue’s Cake: Shoftim
My wife loves to make up rules. While in scripture the laws often are preceded by “and the Lord spoke to Moses,” for me, the words “from now on…” often initiates a session of marital legislation at most likely an inopportune time. Who makes laws while struck driving on the 405! For me, matrimonial governmentContinue reading “The Icing On The Decalogue’s Cake: Shoftim”
Of Crossing Over? Re’eh
I walk the line Johnny Cash Life comes with beginnings: a new school, a new job, a new love of one’s life. With the new comes the unknown. While we may possess some rudimentary grasp of what is to become, the unknown remains an element with each and every new encounter. What will the newContinue reading “Of Crossing Over? Re’eh”
Who “Actually” Wrote The Bible: A Book Review
With Richard Elliott Friedman’s Who Wrote The Bible?, we explore the Hebrew Bible’s authorship. With Professor Jacob Wright’s Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins, we explore the goals and ambitions of the people[scribes]working behind the scenes to craft the Hebrew Bible. With William M. Schniederwind’s Who Really Wrote theContinue reading “Who “Actually” Wrote The Bible: A Book Review”
No To Recycling? Eikev
How is the human spirit tied to inanimate objects? And what does it have to do with recycling? The Torah Portion Eikev enlightens us on both queries. Eikev touches upon the interplay between idolatry, recycling and human thought. The human psyche is profoundly impacted by material objects; even something as simple as a glass ofContinue reading “No To Recycling? Eikev”
O. T. Gaslighting: D’varim
“And I said to you, “Don’t be scared and don’t be afraid of them. The Lord, your God, who is going in front of you, He will fight for you- like everything that he did with you in Egypt before your eyes.” Deuteronomy 1:29-30 Gaslighting is an ubiquitous phrase. Especially during this election year, everyContinue reading “O. T. Gaslighting: D’varim”
The Power of the Word- Matot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say, it’s only words and words are all I have Bee Gees Words are not equal. In the world of scripture, it is even possible to assert the word “equal” is not equal to itself! In antiquity, perhaps due to the combination literacy rate,Continue reading “The Power of the Word- Matot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Moments
The Torah Portion Pinchas is a study of the moment. With moments, we might wax poetically. After all, moments are the moments in which something special happens. This something special happens in time. Thus, it is a moment. We, however, does not have to engage in such frivolity to make a point. Rather, the eventsContinue reading “Moments”
Changing Narratives: Balak
Due to the attempted assassination of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, I thought it would be fruitless exercise to finish and post anything this weekend. An act of political violence which left one spectator killed and two others were seriously wounded certainly consumes a country’s psyche. With this event, the talking heads abound have come forwardContinue reading “Changing Narratives: Balak”
The Bible In Four Words
Hillel, the revered Talmudic figure, was once queried by a Roman concerning Judaism. The Roman asked the Rabbi to teach him Judaism while standing on one foot. Hillel told him “that which is hateful unto you, do not do unto your neighbor, that is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this- goContinue reading “The Bible In Four Words”
The Ten Commandments Project 