Midrash
The Jewish tradition tells us something profound and fascinating: when a sacrifice was brought with the proper intent, fire from above would descend and consume it in the shape of a lion. Majestic. Elevated. Spiritually-aligned.
New Testament Insights
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
Why does the tradition seem to be silent on the ending of Parasha Vayigash? Why does the Torah tell us about Joseph's interactions with the people of Egypt? Is there a Messianic hint in these passages for us to explore?
New Testament Insights
I'd like to introduce you to Ty Nichols, guest author on the Hidden Orchard Project. Some of you may already know Ty from his work in this space. He is the author of the book, "Jesus IS Jewish"; he is a national speaker and a fervent leader in his community.
Torah
After having conducted a 40-day retrospective of our year, ultimately repenting for our mistakes on Yom Kippur - we are provided a moment to look forward to the year ahead. This is why Sukkot represents a kind of fresh start, the beginning of a new paradigm in our spiritual growth.
Thoughts
A little-known prohibition in the Torah remains a timeless and valuable ethic for developing our spiritual awareness. This is known as Bal Tashchit, the prohibition against destroying things that serve a purpose.
Thoughts
It has been 1-year since the launch of The Hidden Orchard Project! 🎉
Thoughts
When you are on a spiritual journey, it is easy to look back on past memories and resurrect old feelings of guilt for decisions you made at an earlier stage of development. In this space, one might invest time, overthinking how they might have acted differently today, given the same situation.
Mysticism and Spirituality
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...
Thoughts
The Temple, the centerpiece of the Chanukkah story represented a form of defiance to the overreach and technological progress of the surrounding pagan nations.
Thoughts
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
Context matters. We hear this often, but seldom recognize the collateral damage of failing to get it right. Centuries of misunderstanding and decontextualized interpretations of the New Testament have fueled, (even endorsed) violence, hatred, and the loss of Jewish life. From the early church fathers to present day America, this