A Torah Portion Balak’s impactful passage resonates in history. It was referenced as part of a historical event from antiquity. In the post-biblical Book of the Maccabees, the portion Balak is cited during a transformative event; an event that shaped present day history and theology. The Balak passage, however, due to its graphic and violentContinue reading “Scripture’s Impactful Reference in Antiquity: The Balak Passage That Changed History”
Tag Archives: maccabees
Should the Chanukah Candles Be On A Birthday Cake?
Yonatan Adler’s The Origins of Judaism, an Archeological-Historical Reappraisal asked the question as to when “strict adherence” to Torah practices first took place. His conclusion suggests that Chanukah could be the moment to celebrate the birth date of the widespread practice of Judaism. Professor Adlers’ archeological data suggests that the societal Torah adherence first occurredContinue reading “Should the Chanukah Candles Be On A Birthday Cake?”
… to the Sea
literary history may label “the second book of maccabees” as the worst book title ever. the book is not the “second” book of maccabees; the text is anything but a continuation of the tale of the hasmonean dynasty. even worse, the book admittedly is not an original text. second maccabees consists of two letters and along with aContinue reading “… to the Sea”