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 Mystery of Wine & Wisdom: Emptying Our Vessel
A strange encounter between a Rabbi and the daughter of the Roman emperor opens the door to a deeper mystery about humility, the soul, hidden wisdom, and the meaning behind Jesus’s teaching about “new wine.”
Video: Mussar Study: Pirke Avot - Week 2
In this session, we walk through the timeless wisdom of Pirke Avot, also known as the Ethics of the Fathers.
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 Book: Reading The Beatitudes Through the Jewish Mussar Tradition
A new book available on Amazon.com
Video: Mussar Study: Pirke Avot - Week 1
In this session, we walk through the timeless wisdom of Pirke Avot, also known as the Ethics of the Fathers.
The Power to Bind and Loose Assur and Mutar in Jewish Law
In this article, we continue to look at the legal context of New Testament saying. We will explore "binding and loosing," their role in legal rule-making, and how these terms have been misinterpreted through time.
Proofs of Oral Torah: "Salvation is from the Jews.”
One of the most direct critiques of Replacement Theology came from Jesus himself. And while commentators have spent centuries softening his words, Jesus's statement, "Salvation is from the Jews," makes a strong endorsement for the Oral Torah.
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?
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.
Counting the Omer: A Downloadable Daily Guide
Get our free guide to Counting the Omer. 49 days of short Mussar reflections to inspire growth through the 7 weeks.
Video: Passover, a Festival of Freedom | Part 2
In this session, we look at the transition from the Passover Seder into the Counting of the Omer, and how the Torah has provided a model for spiritual transformation.
Video: Passover, a Festival of Freedom | Part 1
In this session, we look at some of the deeper insights in the Exodus story, from the Egyptian beliefs of the afterlife, how the plagues undermined specific Egyptian gods, and some key insights about the holiday of Pesach.