17 Shevat — He Will Make Us A Great Nation
It was on this day in 1965 that Spanish officials met with Jewish representatives to discuss the legal status of the Jewish community in Spain. It was the first such meeting between Jews and the head of the Spanish government since the expulsion of Jews in the year...
Daily Bread — Saturday, February 15, 2025
The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance. Shepherd them also, and bear them up forever. (Psalm 28:8-9) In the previous devotion, we explored the notion that God is our source for strength...
16 Shevat — As Little Children
Messiah made it very clear that if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven, then we must do so with the heart of little children. This is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Then Yeshua called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I...
Daily Bread — Friday, February 14, 2025
Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. (Psalm 28:6-7) As was mentioned in the...
15 Shevat — Tu B’Shvat
Today, the 15th day of Shevat is also called Tu B’shvat, which is simply translated as the 15th of Shevat - the “tu” being the pronunciation of the Hebrew letters, טו tet and vav, that together have the value fifteen. Tu b’shvat is regarded as the new year for trees...
Daily Bread — Thursday, February 13, 2025
To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock. (Psalm 28:1) As is so often the case, interesting and provocative tidbits that would have been otherwise overlooked when reading Scripture in English, are brought to light when looking at the text in Hebrew. In this instance, let's...
14 Shevat — Being the Proper Priest of the Home
It was on this day in 1913 that the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods was formed. This was an American organization for Jewish women which departed, very dramatically, from the old ways of Judaism as had been practiced in Europe. At that time in history,...
Daily Bread — Wednesday, February 12, 2025
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14) Let me share something with you...
13 Shevat — How To Treat The Stranger
It was on this day in 1790 that the French National Assembly granted full equality and citizenship to Portuguese Jews who were living in France. France was one of the first nations to pass such liberal policies, allowing foreigners to have full rights along with...
Daily Bread — Tuesday, February 11, 2025
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14) As was related in the previous...
12 Shevat — Can These Bones Live?
On this day in 1945, the Russian Army liberated over 2,800 survivors of the Auschwitz extermination camps. All around Europe, other camps were being discovered and the survivors liberated, most of them Jews. But for millions more it was too late. The carnage was so...
Daily Bread — Monday, February 10, 2025
Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. (Psalm 27:11-12) It occurs to me that there are a couple of...