New Testament Insights

Who Killed Jesus?

There is a perennial tension in the Jewish community that emerges around the time of Easter. In past centuries, the yearly retelling of the "Passion" would spark fiery pogroms and blood libels throughout Europe, as Christians sought to avenge the death of Jesus,

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Chaya - Soul Series pt. 4

Chaya means "life", and is often associated with a more holistic span of life energy than the previous levels of the soul. The first appearance of this word is seen upon the creation of humankind.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Battling Doubt - At War with Amalek

As a descendant of Esau, Amalek had a natural predisposition against the nation of Israel. In the Midrash¹, we are told that [Amalek] was one of the counselors of Pharoah who advocated for the persecution and destruction of the Jewish people.

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News

Understanding the Sefirot

You may have come across the idea, or perhaps an image of the Sefirot. In a sense, they can be described as a sort of 'theory of everything' for the Jewish Sage-Mystics. Understanding them can be incredibly useful, though it may require a commitment of time.

Torah

Parts of a Whole - Parasha Tetzaveh

In this excellent podcast episode, Abigail True explains the juxtaposition of the holidays on the Jewish calendar, and how each one corresponds to the one across the calendar from it.

Mysticism and Spirituality

The Dough Offered as Firstfruits

Obscured amid the detailed instructions for the building of the Tabernacle, there is a fundamental key to the service of G_D. Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved. - Exodus 25:2

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New Testament Insights Featured

Pharisees

As a child growing up in the church, admittedly, I had acquired a negative view of the Pharisees. The dark villains of many Sunday school stories and their combative portrayal in the Gospel readings, it seemed the word ‘Pharisee’ was an acceptable form of a curse word. However, I recall

Wellness

The Connection Between Forgiveness and Health

Modern life can be merciless at times. Technology, access to information, and increasingly complex human relationships can bring a steady assault on both our physical and spiritual health. Perhaps this is why over 50 million Americans are fighting depression and other mental illnesses

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New Testament Insights

The Missing Context of the New Testament - pt. 2

As part of the greater Jewish community, the Apostolic leaders struggled with these particular issues more acutely. The sudden influx of Gentiles leaving paganism to join the diasporic Jewish communities made this a primary issue for them...

Mysticism and Spirituality

Divine Providence, Punishment, and Hard Times

It probably doesn't take much effort to observe that our world today is in a condition of judgment. This is the result of many centuries of fighting, selfishness, confusion, and accelerated division. Somewhere along the way, we have ...

Mysticism and Spirituality

Science vs Religion

Historically, scientific theories and revelations would challenge religious tradition, or completely topple age-old beliefs systems, giving the popular impression that Religion and Science are conceptual enemies. A prophecy made in the Zohar gives us insight...

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Neshamah - Soul Series pt. 3

New Testament Insights

Original Sin

Growing up in the Catholic church, the idea of Original Sin was a concept deeply embedded into my psyche at a very young age. In fact, I never questioned it, nor really stopped to re-evaluate this idea until much later in life.

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New Testament Insights

The Children of Hell

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert), and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.”‭- ‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬ ‭

Torah Featured

The Evil Inclination - Yetzer Hara

No matter how old you are, or with how much zeal you pursue spiritual development, every one of us has an inner battle that we are engaged in on a daily basis. Believe it or not, the human experience has been more or less designed this way.

New Testament Insights

The Torn Veil

“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, Truly this man was the Son of G_D!” - Mark 15:38-39 Traditional interpretations have often

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Reincarnation According to Jewish Tradition - Video

In this video, Rabbi Dovber Pinson shares some insights to understand the complexity of the Soul according to Rabbinic tradition.

New Testament Insights

But You Are Not To Be Called "Rabbi"

From a literalist read of the Gospels, it appears that Jesus gives a clear prohibition against the use of religious titles, in particular, the title of "Rabbi".

Thoughts

The Light That Defies Darkness

The Temple, the centerpiece of the Chanukkah story represented a form of defiance to the overreach and technological progress of the surrounding pagan nations.

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Mysticism and Spirituality Featured

The Soul is a Flame

In the Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua leverages many ideas from the Midrash that expound upon the deeper concepts in the Torah. ... many of them find their closest parallels to the works of the Kabbalah - texts like the Zohar, the writings of the ARIzal, and the Tanya.

New Testament Insights

A New Commandment

Did Jesus teach a new and separate commandment apart from the commandments of the Torah?

New Testament Insights Featured

Keys to Understanding the Book of Hebrews

Over the last 50-60 years, Physicists have come to the idea that our universe is the result of a terrifying collapse from a 10-dimensional universe to the 4 dimensions we are familiar with. The kabbalah and science share common, both indicating that there is more to our existence than we can see.

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Thoughts

If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say...

There is a principle that anything containing immense potential for holiness is commensurately susceptible to corruption. One example is physical intimacy, and speech is another.

New Testament Insights

Who Were the Judaizers?

Despite its ubiquitous usage in the church, the word "Judaizer" is only found once in the New Testament, in Galatians 2:14. In its broadest sense, a "Judaizer" is a pejorative label given to someone who influences others to observe some form of Jewish religious lifestyle.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Resonance, Vibration, and Health

If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration. - Nikola Tesla