Yeshua Centered Judaism

Lag BaOmer

Besides being the day on which the plague affecting Rabbi Akiva’s students ceased, Lag BaOmer is traditionally observed as marking the commemoration of the death (Yahrzeit in Yiddish) of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai, a famous 1st-century Jewish sage in ancient Israel. After the death of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students, Rabbi Akiva taught five students, among…

ADV Parashat Emor

1 בס”ד אמור בס”ד The fifth week of sefira is Hod, of which the Zohar says- תערין פתיחין, which means that the gates are open. This is the away it will be in the future- – יתקע בשופר גדול ובא האובדים=1288=תערין פתיחין. טהרין פתיחין. On the first day of the fifth week, or חסד שבהוד…

Parashat Emor

0Take Time to Make Time Leviticus 23:2-5(2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: The appointed seasons of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My appointed seasons. (3) Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest,…

TO LOVE THE TORAH 4

CHAPTER 4EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO LEARNS TORAH ISCAPABLE OF GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS EVEN IF HE IS NOTPARTICULARLY GIFTED INTELLECTUALLY , OR BYNATURE NOT STUDIOUSLY INCLINED A common trait that people have is that they are prepared toinvest a great deal of time and effort in a task only if they knowthat they will make a success…

LESSON EIGHT: ROMANS

For I am not ashamed of the good news of Messiah, for it is the power of G-d unto redemption for everyone who trusts, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For in the good news, the righteousness of G-d is revealed by trusting Him, and in trusting Him; as it is written,…

Pesach Sheni

Pesach Sheni (Hebrew: שני פסח, trans. Second Passover) occurs every year on 14 Iyar. This is exactly one month after 14 Nisan, the day before Passover, which was the day prescribed for bringing the Korban Pesach (“Paschal offering”, i.e. Passover lamb) in anticipation of that holiday.[1] As described in the source text for this mitzvah…

Lag BaOmer – The Haircut Holiday

Is there really a holiday that we celebrate with haircuts?Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 493:1-2 (1) It is customary not to get married between Pesach and Shavuot, until Lag BaOmer (the 33rd day), because during that time, the students of Rabbi Akiva died. However, to do “erusin” and “kiddushin” (engagement and betrothal) is OK. And even…

ADV Parshas Acharei Mos Kedoshim

1 אחרי מות קדושים ים בס”ד During the ימי הספירה, the weather is warmer and the יצה”ר is in full bloom, and so we temper the יצה”ר by learning פרקי אבות. This learning also prepares us for מתן תורה by giving us tools to perfect our characters. PParshas אתרי מות is a continuation of מצורה…

One’s Wisdom

“When One’s Wisdom is Greater than One’s Deeds, One’s Wisdom Shall Not Last” The Mishnah in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 3, Mishnah 12) states: “When one’s deeds are greater than one’s wisdom, one’s wisdom shall last; when one’s wisdom is greater than one’s deeds, one’s wisdom shall not last.” The Tashbetz explains in his Sefer Magen…

Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim / פרשת אחרי מות־קדשים

The Value of Reverence Parshas Acharei Mos Kedoshim 1. The Value of ReverenceThe Torah states, “Every man: your father and mother shall you revere. My Sabbaths shall you observe – I am Hashem, your G’d.” Rashi cites the Gemara, which explains that there is a Torah obligation to revere one’s parents, therefore one may think…

ADV Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Parshas תזריע begins with a woman who gave birth. This is read in the appropriate time, since כלל ישראל was born as a nation on Pesach. If the woman gave birth to a son, there is a seven day טומאה period, similar to a Nida. Then the son has a Mila, her טומאה ends, and…

TO LOVE THE TORAH 3

When told about the spiritual value of learning Torah, thereaction of many students is to agree that it may well be true –“but we are on too low a spiritual level for it to apply for us,both because our learning standard is so low and because ourrelationship with Hashem is so poor.” They are sadly…