Yeshua Centered Judaism

Parashat Shmini / פרשת שמיני

Torah Reading: Parshas SHEMINI, Leviticus 9:1-11:47 THE EIGHTH DAY The “eighth day” with which our parshah of SHEMINI opens was the first day of the month of Nissan, one year since the Exodus from Egypt. This was the day marked out for the final inauguration of the Sanctuary following seven days of consecration of Aaron…

Mishneh Torah commentaries:

We’ve added the following 35 Mishneh Torah commentaries: Even Ha’azel, Ohr Sameach, Benei Ahuvah, Benei Binyamin, Birkat Avraham, Divrei Shaul Edut BeYosef, Haggahot Kevod Melakhim, Har HaMoriyah, Chiddushei Rabbi Akiva Eiger, Annotations of R’ Yeshaya Berlin, Binah LeIttim, Chemdat Yisrael, Cheshek Shlomo, Yekhahen Pe’er, Yitzchak Yeranen, Lechem Shamayim, Maharam of Padua, Ma’asai LaMelekh, Seder Mishnah,…

Maimonides on Life

[Law 5] And among them (i.e., the twenty-four factors which interfere with repentance listed in this chapter) are five things which one will be drawn after constantly and which are difficult to desist from. Therefore, one must be vigilant regarding them lest he becomes attached to them. All of them are particularly bad behavioral patterns…

Praying with Tears

Psalm 100 is said on weekday mornings as part of Pesukei D’Zimra, the preliminary blessings and psalms. This translation is reprinted from Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s anthology of sayings about prayer, A Call to the Infinite, It is written, “Serve God with gladness, come before Him with the song” (Psalms 100:2). No sadness may be shown. What if a…

The Apostle Paul Lived and Died as a Dedicated Jew

But what about Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles? It’s generally accepted that Paul was the true founder of a new religion called Christianity. Biblical scholar Gerd Ludemann, author of several books about Jesus and Paul including “Paul: Founder of Christianity,” affirms that “Without Paul there would be no church and no Christianity.” Ludemann adds,…

History of Conversion

The history of conversion reflects the ebb and flow in the relationship between the Jewish people and the cultures in which they have lived. There is some evidence that when Jews have felt strong and self-confident, a universalistic impulse — which holds that the Jewish people has a religious obligation to offer Judaism to the…

The Amidah 13 BLESSINGS

The Amidah (Hebrew: תפילת העמידה, Tefilat HaAmidah, “The Standing Prayer”), also called the Shemoneh Esreh ( שמנה עשרה), is the central prayer of the Jewish liturgy. This prayer, among others, is found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book. The Amidah prayer is the place for this receiving, for the meeting of our human yearnings and God’s life-giving…

Who Is Moshiach?

WHO IS MOSHIACH?Moshiach is Mogen Yisheinu,the Shield of our Salvation Shmuel Bais 22:36 Moshiach is Ben DovidMelech Gibbor, Son of Davidthe Mighty King, MelachimAlef 2:12 Moshiach is MelechHamelachim, Melachim Bais 18:5 Moshiach is Zera Dovid,the Seed of David, DivreyHaYamim Alef 17:11 Moshiach is Boneh BeisHamikdash, the Builder of theBeis Hamikdash, DivreiHaYamim Bais 2:5 Moshiach is…

THE PURIM MIRACLE 1

HaShem Saves BS”D KNOW YOUR BIBLE: Esther 1-2 Study Notes by Avraham ben Yaakov ESTHER CHAPTER 1 In the public reading of the Torah in the synagogue, only one person at a time may read aloud to the congregation, because hearing more than one voice would be distracting to the listeners. However, so beloved is…

Sending Mishloach Manot to a Diabetic

Question: If one sends sweets to one’s friend as Mishloach Manot and the recipient does not partake of these sweets since he is a diabetic and abstains from eating foods containing sugar, has the sender fulfilled his obligation of Mishloach Manot? Answer: Let us introduce this topic by saying that there is a disagreement among the Poskim regarding whether or…

T’TZAVEH (CHAPTER 27:20–30:10)

LET’S STUDY ONKELOSA Guide for Rabbis, Teachers and Torah Students to Study and Teach the ParashatHashavua through the Eyes of its Most Important TranslatorBy Stanley M. Wagner and Israel DrazinBased on the five volume, Onkelos on the Torah (Genesis-Deuteronomy), Understanding theBible Text, by Israel Drazin and Stanley M. Wagner, published by Gefen Publishing House,Jerusalem/New York,…