Category Archives: Jewish Culture & Religion
Understanding the ways of Judaism
The Crown – Purim – Feb. 26
The first day of Purim in 2021 is on Friday, February 26. Although Purim is not included in the official list of the Appointed Times of the LORD (Lev. 23), it is a special celebration of remembering the sovereignty of God and the protection of His people as recorded in the book of Esther. To […]
Continue readingThe Next Chapter – Nov. 2020
The US elections of 2020 have brought much joy and pain, depending on what side of the political fence one finds him or herself. President Trump has been a polarizing figure over the past four years and he continues to do so in the November elections. Just when we thought it was over it seems […]
Continue readingShavuot – The Feast of Weeks
Three times a year the Israelites were commanded by God to ascend to Jerusalem and observe His appointed times. The Feasts of the LORD were to be observed and celebrated just as God commanded. Each feast would have prophetic significance regarding the plan of God for the salvation of mankind and the establishment of God’s […]
Continue readingObtaining The Blessing – Vezot Habracha
The final Torah Portion of the yearly Jewish cycle of reading through the Torah is called “וזאת הברכה” – “ve’zot ha’bracha” – “And this is the blessing…” (Deut. 33:1). Since it is the final reading of the Torah, it is not read according to the regular Sabbath reading cycle, but rather, it is read on a […]
Continue readingThe Eighth Day & Simchat Torah – Shemini Atzeret
The festival of Sukkot comes to an end on the seventh day, “Hoshanah Rabba,” or “The Great Salvation,” the greatest day of the feast (Friday, Oct. 9, 2020). Then there is The Eighth Day (Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020). The Eighth Day, counting from the first day of Sukkot, is considered a special celebration day of its own. It […]
Continue readingYom Kippur & The Days of Awe
There is a period of ten days between Rosh HaShanah (The Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) which are called the “Days of Awe.” The Sabbath day which falls during this ten-day period is called “The Sabbath of Returning” or “The Sabbath of Repentance.” This year, “The Sabbath of Returning” will fall […]
Continue readingSukkot – The Reason For Our Joy!
The Feast of Sukkot is commonly known in English as “The Feast of Booths” or “Tabernacles.” The Hebrew word “סוכות” – “sukkot” is the plural form of the word “סוכה” – “sukkah,” which simply means a tabernacle, a booth, or a temporary shelter. The Feast of Sukkot is first and foremost a festival of rejoicing (Lev. 23:40 & Deut. 16:14-15). […]
Continue readingRosh HaShanah! – Feast of Trumpets
“Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.” Psalm 81:3-4 There are seven main holidays (appointed times) on the biblical calendar: Passover, First Fruits, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), Rosh HaShanah (The Feast of […]
Continue readingPassover – The Festival of Matzot – Pesach
The feasts of the Bible are also called “מועדי יהוה” – “Moedei Adonai” – “The Appointed Times of the LORD.” God has established appointed times which have historical, agricultural, national, spiritual, and prophetic significance (Lev. 23). The “Appointed Times of the LORD” were given to the nation of Israel with the intent of Israel being […]
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