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, January 24, 2024
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:8-9) In continuing with the theme of internalizing God's Word for ourselves and teaching...
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, January 23, 2024
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:7) One of the greatest treasures in this life, perhaps the greatest, is our children....
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, January 22, 2024
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:6) In Jewish thinking, the statement above alludes to the notion that God's Words are to be upon our heart just as certainly as His Words were inscribed by His finger upon the two tablets...
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, January 21, 2024
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5-6) Yesterday, we addressed the fact that true followers of the Messiah should be...
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, January 20, 2024
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:5-6) In Judaism, the phrase “And you shall love” is known as the v’ahavta –-...
9 Shevat — The Highway of Holiness
It was on this day in 1980 that the border between Egypt and Israel was declared open, once again, allowing travelers to follow the ancient “King’s Highway” that connected these two nations. This was a very significant event in the maturing relations between Israel...
Daily Bread — Friday, January 19, 2024
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) In Hebrew, the word שמע Sh'ma ("hear") is written with the Hebrew letters ש shiyn, מ mem and ע...