SECOND CHANCES
Introduction This year Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) falls on July 22-23. It is the culmination of a Three Week period that we get the expression “dire straights” from. Tisha B’Av (“the Ninth of Av”) is the saddest day in the Jewish year, commemorating the anniversary date of destruction of […]
ETERNITY – לְעוֹלָם
In Psalm 119:89, the psalmist declares: לְעוֹלָם יְהוָה– דְּבָרְךָ, נִצָּב בַּשָּׁמָיִם “Forever, O LORD, Thy word standeth fast in heaven.” This verse, which opens the letter לְ Lamedh stanzas, uses the Hebrew word l’olam (לְעוֹלָם), which means ‘eternity’ to affirm that God’s word is permanently fixed in the heavens, unshaken by time or circumstance. l’olam (לְעוֹלָם) […]
HAMOTZI: WHO BRINGS FORTH
“Blessed Be the One Who Brings Forth Bread.” בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who brings forth bread from the earth. HaMotzi (הַמּוֹצִיא) is the Hebrew blessing recited over bread in Judaism before a meal. It translates to “Who brings forth.” It […]
THE AGRICULTURAL CYCLE REVEALS SPIRITUAL PATTERNS
I dedicate this blog post to Michael Hargraves who passed away on Thursday. See epilogue* This past Thursday marked the beginning of both Shavuot and Pentecost—a timing that has been on my mind as I reflect on how Hashem’s appointed times reveal the way, the truth and the tree of life. On Shavuot, Israel stood […]