6 Tevet — What Expresses Your Identity?
It was on this day in the year 1216 that, by order of Pope Innocent III, a special badge was to be worn by all Jews in Europe. This was the first time that this edict had been handed down in the Middle Ages, but it wasn’t a new thing. It was something used by the...
Daily Bread — Monday, January 6, 2025
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4) Several decades ago, I made my first visit to the Holy Land. One of the many interesting sights we visited...
5 Tevet — Prayer and Fasting
It was on this day in the year 586 B.C. that news of the destruction of the Temple reached the Prophet Ezekiel, who was then in Babylon. In commemoration of this event, Judaism regards today as a fast day in connection with the destruction of the Temple. Fasting...
Daily Bread — Sunday, January 5, 2025
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:2-3) Sometimes life is not all about lush, green pastures and clear running streams; sometimes...
4 Tevet — The Land Waiting For A People
In 1951, Israel Zangwill, wrote about the emergence of the state of Israel, which had occurred in 1948. He said: “The land without a people waited for the people without a land.” It’s very simple, profound and thought-provoking. In just a few words he said a...
Daily Bread — Saturday, January 4, 2025
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:2-3) In these verses, David continued to speak of the LORD as his (and our) shepherd and how,...
3 Tevet — Let’s Talk About Life
For all of those who live in the northern hemisphere, winter is upon us - a time of dead leaves and gloomy weather. Not surprisingly, during this time of year many people struggle with depression. Perhaps its because of the stark landscape and sunless skies or just...
Daily Bread — Friday, January 3, 2025
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) David makes a simple and profound statement; as long as God is our Shepherd, we will never lack in anything that is necessary to live and fulfill His purpose. On one level, David was addressing material...
2 Tevet — Fuel For The Light
Today is the second day of Tevet. As we approach the conclusion of Hanukkah, we find inspiration in the lighting of the menorah during this festive season. In fact, the imagery of the menorah with its branches producing light has a prophetic element to it. It...
Daily Bread — Thursday, January 2, 2025
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) In just these few words, so much is revealed to us about God Himself and what He looks for in His people. In temporal ways, what is more lowly and, some might argue, more degrading than a simple shepherd who...
1 Tevet — Hidden For A Purpose
Today is the first day of the month called Tevet which falls in the midst of the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah. It was on this day that a young Benjamite girl named Hadassah - better known as Esther - was presented to the king of Persia as recorded in Scripture....
Daily Bread — Wednesday, January 1, 2025
A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation, they will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has done this. (Psalm 22:30-31) As David concludes this psalm, he makes it clear that everything he...