Torah
She’ol, Hades & Gehenna: Mapping the Biblical Underworld
What is She'ol? Korach's descent into the earth opens a study of the Jewish concept of the underworld, its gates, chambers, and appearances of this tradition in the New Testament.
The Hidden Orchard Project
The Hidden Orchard Project
The Hidden Orchard | Exploring Jewish Mysticism, Spirituality, and Rediscovering the New Testament Through the Wisdom of Kabbalah
Latest Articles
Gospels
The Cursing of the Fig Tree as Midrash: Has Israel Been Replaced?
New Testament Insights
Did the Rabbis Hijack "Biblical" Judaism?
Was Rabbinic Judaism a corruption of Biblical faith, or the reason Judaism survived? Explore the Pharisees, the destruction of the Temple, and the historical roots of Rabbinic tradition, and why many have gotten this wrong.
Second Temple Judaism
Moses Is Preached In Every City: The Missing Key to The Jerusalem Decree
The outcome of the Jerusalem Council wasn't simply a welcome letter to the Gentiles; it was a framework for ongoing growth. And without the venue, the synagogue, the letter's guidance falls apart.
New Testament Insights
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New Testament Insights
First Fruits of Zion Repost: Is the Church Israel 2.0?
I had the opportunity to work with First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ) on a piece related to my personal experiences with Replacement Theology.
New Testament Insights
New Book: Reading The Beatitudes Through the Jewish Mussar Tradition
A new book available on Amazon.com
New Testament Insights
The Shaliach: Agency and Representation in Jewish Tradition
Can someone speak, act, forgive, heal, or even claim unity with G_D without collapsing the boundary between the human and Divine? Is there a precedent in the Torah that helps us understand this idea?
New Testament Insights
Was Thomas a Doubter? The Pharisees' Tradition and the Resurrection.
Thomas's refusal to believe in the resurrection without seeing Jesus's wounds is typically read as a failure of faith. But against the backdrop of rabbinic tradition, the Gospel of John affirms details of the Pharisaic tradition of the Resurrection of the Dead.
Mysticism and Spirituality
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New Testament Insights
The Shaliach: Agency and Representation in Jewish Tradition
Can someone speak, act, forgive, heal, or even claim unity with G_D without collapsing the boundary between the human and Divine? Is there a precedent in the Torah that helps us understand this idea?
Mysticism and Spirituality
The Way of the Chasid Rediscovering the Ancient Path of Spiritual Growth
Long before Chasidic Judaism, the Bible and the sages spoke of the chasid, one who serves the Creator with love, humility, and holy intention. In this article, we begin an exploration of this concept and examine how it may have shaped the spiritual worldview of Jesus.
Mysticism and Spirituality
Nephilim, Azazel, and the Backstory of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Behind Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur lies a hidden tradition of the Nephilim, the angels who fell, the giants who corrupted the earth, and the restoration of creation that shapes the meaning of the High Holy Days.
New Testament Insights
Is the Messiah Divine? Unpacking the Controversy in Light of Jewish Thought
In this series, we will explore one of the most controversial ideas—one that has sparked massive conflict between Judaism and Christianity over the past 1,900 years. We will look at the idea of the 'Divinity of Messiah' in Jewish thought.
Torah
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New Testament Insights
Is the Messiah Divine? Unpacking the Controversy in Light of Jewish Thought
In this series, we will explore one of the most controversial ideas—one that has sparked massive conflict between Judaism and Christianity over the past 1,900 years. We will look at the idea of the 'Divinity of Messiah' in Jewish thought.
New Testament Insights
Misreading the Gospels: Understanding Jesus Within Rabbinic Judaism
For nearly two thousand years, the world has viewed Jewish tradition—and especially the rabbis of the Apostolic era—through a distorted lens. This distortion is derived from various disputes in the New Testament, but the picture is not complete. There is a deeper context that has been overlooked.
New Testament Insights
The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim: Exploring the Legends of Fallen Angels and Giants
People have been captivated by the Bible's mention of rebellious Angels, their giant offspring known as the Nefilim/Nephilim, and the various implications of these ideas.
In this work, we explore the hidden tradition of the Nephilim, and its implications on humankind.
Torah
Mitzvot and Misconceptions: Understanding the Biblical Commandments
When it comes to understanding the Biblical commandments, it seems the overwhelming majority of Bible readers have developed their perspective solely through the [often polemic] lens of Christian thought. In this work, we'll take a look at what the Jewish tradition has to say about Mitzvot.
Featured
Gospels
The Cursing of the Fig Tree as Midrash: Has Israel Been Replaced?
New Testament Insights
First Fruits of Zion Repost: Is the Church Israel 2.0?
I had the opportunity to work with First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ) on a piece related to my personal experiences with Replacement Theology.
Mysticism and Spirituality
Aliens, Idols, Demons, and Angels
What does the Jewish tradition say about phenomena like Aliens, or extra-terrestrial beings? And, is there any overlap with the broader categories of Angels and demons?
New Testament Insights
New Book: Reading The Beatitudes Through the Jewish Mussar Tradition
A new book available on Amazon.com
New Testament Insights
The Shaliach: Agency and Representation in Jewish Tradition
Can someone speak, act, forgive, heal, or even claim unity with G_D without collapsing the boundary between the human and Divine? Is there a precedent in the Torah that helps us understand this idea?
New Testament Insights
Was Thomas a Doubter? The Pharisees' Tradition and the Resurrection.
Thomas's refusal to believe in the resurrection without seeing Jesus's wounds is typically read as a failure of faith. But against the backdrop of rabbinic tradition, the Gospel of John affirms details of the Pharisaic tradition of the Resurrection of the Dead.
Mysticism and Spirituality
The Way of the Chasid Rediscovering the Ancient Path of Spiritual Growth
Long before Chasidic Judaism, the Bible and the sages spoke of the chasid, one who serves the Creator with love, humility, and holy intention. In this article, we begin an exploration of this concept and examine how it may have shaped the spiritual worldview of Jesus.
New Testament Insights
The Accidental Apostle: The Story of Pseudo-Dionysius
What if one of the most influential thinkers in church history turned out to be a case of mistaken identity? We'll look at how an anonymous Neoplatonic writer slipped into the stream of Apostolic tradition and shaped the Church's understanding of heaven, hell, angels, and salvation.
New Testament Insights
The Crucifixion of Isaac
Years ago, I heard a lecture by an Orthodox Rabbi who shared some deeper insights about the event known in the Torah as the "Akeidah", the "Binding" of Isaac. I found incredible parallels in this story that match the Gospel narrative of Jesus's crucifixion and teachings.
Mysticism and Spirituality
Nephilim, Azazel, and the Backstory of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Behind Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur lies a hidden tradition of the Nephilim, the angels who fell, the giants who corrupted the earth, and the restoration of creation that shapes the meaning of the High Holy Days.