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...
11 Shevat — The Pursuit of Knowledge
It was on this day in 1601 that all Hebrew documents, manuscripts and books were confiscated by the Catholic Church and burned. This was a feeble attempt to rid the world of what the Church disagreed with. It could be argued that some of the confiscated commentary and...
Daily Bread — Sunday, February 9, 2025
Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. (Psalm 27:9-10) There is a hint of sadness in David's words in that he conveyed a sense of feeling totally alone were it not for the...
10 Shevat — You Are My God
On this day in 1939, Adolf Hitler announced his intention to exterminate all Jews in the event of a war. By this time, however, Hitler had already determined there was going to be a war and that he was going to destroy Europe’s Jews. We know that he already had their...
Daily Bread — Saturday, February 8, 2025
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help. (Psalm 27:8-9) We live in a day when communication has become extremely convenient, and...