In the early part of the 15th Century, if you asked a scientist about the world, he would have told you it was flat. In the 18th Century if you asked a doctor how to cure diseases he would have told you to bleed the patient. In the 19th Century,
As usual, there is just so much here. I took an entire course just about the symbolic nature of the spices used for the incense and anointing oils. There’s also how God can use humans to achieve His goals, in the way that he gave all this knowledge and understanding
This is one of the happiest festivals we have. Fairs, games, reading the book of Esther (Hadassah) with groggers and shouting. For those that don’t know the way we read this book in the Synagogue, groggers (noisemakers) are handed out to everyone, adults and children. When we read the book (it’s
Do you recall what happened when Joshua first attacked Ai? They had just come from a great triumph at Jericho, defeating the fortified town and destroying all the people and all the booty, just as God commanded. Oh, but wait! Someone didn’t destroy all the booty, did he? Achan kept
There are 5 Covenants that God made with us. The first was the Noahide Covenant, then the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Davidic. Finally, there is the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31). The usual Christian teaching is that the New Covenant did away with most of the previous 4 covenants, leaving only what
To the person who said always follow your dreams, I say,”Bah!! Humbug!!” I have had a beard, and a nice one, too, for about 18 years. My wife likes it, I like it, and I have been complimented on it. Occasionally I have this nightmare where I am really tired,
This parashah describes the way the priestly robes are to be manufactured, and the process for the anointment and consecration of the priests (Aaron and his sons), as well as the rules for their share of the sacrifice, and about the incense. In the description of the breastplate, the Urim
Yesterday we talked about how just because something seems to be alright or feels “right”, that doesn’t make it right. We need to know what God tells us is right, and what God tells us is wrong. I do believe that “going with your gut feeling” is often the right thing
Some days I wonder what I will write about. This was one of those mornings. I am doing the crosswords and word jumbles (can’t start the day without waking up the brain with coffee and puzzles) and wondering what I should write about, and hoping that either Dear Abby or Ask
I am that guy you call when the computer you work with proves it is smarter than you are. And sometimes, not too often but sometimes, it is smarter than I am, also. Many people complain and/or joke about the fact that when they call tech support they are first asked,