22 Tevet — The Fence Around the Torah
Back in 1969 my Dad took our family to a drive-in theater to see Walt Disney’s animated feature, 101 Dalmatians. Besides the excitement of seeing the movie on the big screen and eating popcorn in the car, the memory that lingers in my mind about that particular...
Daily Bread — Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. (Psalm 25:8-9) In these first few words, David reaffirms a truth: in everything He does, the Creator is always good and upright....
21 Tevet — The Significance of the Insignificant
Tradition says that it was on this day that Simeon, the son of Jacob and Leah was born: “Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, ‘Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.’ And she called his name Simeon.”...
Daily Bread — Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. (Psalm 25:6-7) With so much suffering and...
20 Tevet — “I Am The Door”
It was on this day in the year 1204 that Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides or the Rambam, died. To this day Maimonides is considered to be one of the most esteemed, perhaps the premier sage of rabbinical Judaism. He was a noted Talmudist, a codifier, a...
Daily Bread — Monday, January 20, 2025
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5) As Messiah taught us, the way (path) that leads to life is narrow and, very often, troublesome....
19 Tevet — What Do You Believe?
We read in the Scripture that when Messiah was brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor asked Him, “What is truth?” The irony of the question is that Truth was standing right in front of Pilate. He was staring at Truth but he would not, or could not, recognize...
Daily Bread — Sunday, January 19, 2025
Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:4-5) In Hebrew, God is sometimes referred to as Ein Sof -- "There is no end" -- in order to describe the One...
18 Tevet — The God of “Right Now”
When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness of Sinai, He descended upon the mountain and said: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” He didn’t say, “I am the Lord your God who...
Daily Bread — Saturday, January 18, 2025
To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed. (Psalm 25:1-3) In the days when Israel had a Sanctuary, if someone sinned there were sacrifices that...
17 Tevet — Taking It To The Streets
In Judaism, this day commemorates the death of two prominent 18th century rabbis, who were also regarded as maggidim or “preachers.” A maggid, or preacher, is distinguished from a typical rabbi in that a rabbi’s audience tends to be scholars and students. A...
Daily Bread — Friday, January 17, 2025
Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors and the...