5 Shevat — All Tribes Will Serve The King
Counting from the month of Aviv in the spring, Shevat is the eleventh month and is mentioned by name in in Zechariah 1:7. The name, “Shevat,” has some interesting connotations. The root word means “to control” or “to rule” and is often translated in the Bible as...
Daily Bread — Monday, February 3, 2025
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. (Psalm 27:1-3) When we are in distress and...
4 Shevat — Everything Has A Season
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)...
Daily Bread — Sunday, February 2, 2025
But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me. My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the Lord. (Psalm 26:11-12) As David concludes this prayer -- a prayer inviting God to judge, examine and prove him -- he...
3 Shevat — He Never Sleeps Nor Slumbers
It was on this day in 1933 that Adolph Hitler was appointed as Chancellor of Germany. Ironically, on the same day and in the same city where Hitler was appointed as German Chancellor, the Society for Youth Aliyah was established. Over time, this group would be...
Daily Bread — Saturday, February 1, 2025
I will wash my hands in innocence; so I will go about Your altar, O Lord, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. (Psalm 26:6-8) It...
2 Shevat — Out of the Horrific, Comes the Terrific
It was on this day in 1942 that the Nazi leader Reinhard Heydrich met with representatives of the German Police, the S.S. and leading Nazi Party officials to begin discussing the implementation of the so-called, “Final Solution” to the so-called “Jewish Problem.” What...
Daily Bread — Friday, January 31, 2025
For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes and I have walked in Your truth. (Psalm 26:3) Messiah charged His disciples to walk in obedience with this statement: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He was essentially challenging them to demonstrate...
1 Shevat — Be Careful To Represent the Almighty Faithfully
It was on this day that Moses was allowed to observe the Promised Land from the top of the mountain, but was told that he would not be permitted to cross over. Deuteronomy 3:27-28 reads: “Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the...
Daily Bread — Thursday, January 30, 2025
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. (Psalm 26:1-2) Focusing on David's words, “Examine me and prove me,” Jewish commentators explore an...
29 Tevet — Glory In Your Weakness
Long ago, David wrote these words: “I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) I used to think that that as David looked upon the hills that partially surround Jerusalem, he...
Daily Bread — Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. (Psalm 26:1-2) As we discussed in the previous devotion, testing is a certainty if we are going to...