The Story of Dama ben Netinah
Who was Dama ben Netinah? Explore the famous Talmudic story of the Gentile merchant who refused a fortune to honor his father, the reward of the Red Heifer, and the deeper rabbinic symbolism behind his life.
Latest
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 Cursing of the Fig Tree as Midrash: Has Israel Been Replaced?
Learn how the Cursing of the Fig Tree, though taught as a pillar of Replacement Theology, might actually be a Midrash on two well-known prophetic passages.
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.
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.
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.
Where The Worm Won't Die: Understanding A Puzzling Saying in The Bible
What is meant by the phrase that their 'worm will not die'? In this work, we explore this puzzling phrase, its hidden meaning, and its connection to the soul's journey.
The Watchers and the Teli: Ancient Tradition In Light of UAP Disclosure
Time will tell what will come of the Department of War's UAP disclosure. Some people are hopeful, some suspicious of limited hangouts, and others may be completely blindsided by a crisis of faith. In this work, we explore some of the lesser-known aspects of the tradition that might be helpful.
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
Mussar
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.
New Testament Insights
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.
New Testament Insights
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.
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.
Holidays and Festivals
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.
Holidays and Festivals
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.
Holidays and Festivals
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.
Holidays and Festivals
Aaru & The Field of Reeds Reversal: Egypt’s Afterlife Symbol in the Exodus Story
In Egyptian belief, the soul’s final paradise was called Aaru, which means “Reeds.” But in the Exodus story, the "Sea of Reeds" becomes the place where Pharaoh’s army is swallowed, an ironic reversal of Egypt’s vision of the eternal.
Midrash
Video: Reading Acts 10 as a Midrash on Zechariah 8:23
In a previous article, we explored how Peter’s vision was not intended to collapse the Biblical dietary laws. In this, we go deeper and look at how this story may actually be a creative Midrash on Zechariah's prophecy of the Messianic kingdom.
Mysticism and Spirituality
When a Soul Goes Home: The Neshamah’s Journey Beyond Life
As life draws to a close, the boundary between worlds begins to thin, and loved ones who have passed may come to guide the soul home. Ancient accounts from the Rabbinic literature seem to reflect modern end-of-life research, affirming the belief that no soul makes the journey alone.
Torah
The Hardening of Pharoah's Heart and the Egyptian Heart-Weighing Ceremony
Ancient Egyptians believed the soul was judged by the weight of the heart, and the Torah uses similar language for Pharaoh. Coincidence? Did God harden Pharaoh's heart, or, as Rabbi Jonathan Sacks suggests, is there another story in the text that modern readers have missed?