Author Archives: mevaeret

The sounding of the shofar is a wake-up call to his people. What does the sound DO to us physically? It certainly shocks. It causes us to pause. But what makes this sound so unique? The first shofar blast occurred on Shavuot at the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16,19). ThisContinue reading “The Sound of the Shofar”

Last weekend we witnessed Palestinian militants firing rockets from Gaza into Israel. Islamic Jihad, the smaller of the two militant groups in Gaza, shot around 1175 rockets towards Israel. After two days of violence, a ceasefire took place. According to the IDF, more than 100 of these rockets fell short in Gaza, killing at leastContinue reading “Who is behind the attacks on Israel?”

Shavuot (Hebrew) or Pentecost (Greek) was originally an agricultural holiday that marked the wheat harvest in the Land of Israel. (Exodus 34:22) The word Shavuot means “weeks”, and it marks the conclusion of the counting of the Omer, 49 days (7 weeks) after the Exodus from ancient Egypt. It is also referred to as Pentecost due to its timing after Passover,Continue reading “What do we celebrate on Shavuot?”

The Jubilee ( יובל ) is the year at the end of seven cycles of (Sabbatical years) or Shemitah. According to the Bible, it had a special impact on the ownership and management of land in the Land of Israel. The Book of Leviticus tells us that The Year of the Jubilee was a yearContinue reading “Is 2022 the year that changes everything?”

Most people will tell you that the modern State of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. But is really a democracy? Let’s look at the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel. It reads: “Accordingly we, members of the People’s Council, representatives of the Jewish community of the Land ofContinue reading “Is Israel a Democracy?”

Spring Cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the coming seasons of spring and summer. This tradition originates in an ancient Jewish custom of thoroughly cleaning the house in preparation for the springtime feast of Passover.   Many wives love this time of the yearContinue reading “Spring Cleaning”

The Latin words “Novus Ordo Seclorum” appear on the reverse side of the great seal of the United States and on the back of the U.S. one-dollar bill. Translated they mean “New Order of the Ages”. This Latin motto was suggested in 1782 by Charles Thomson, a founding father – chosen by Congress – toContinue reading “The New World Order”

 “I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you: and by you all the families of the earth shall be blessed”. (Genesis 12:3) In Hebrew, the word for curse is arur or אָ רַ ר. This word carries with it a sense of divinely imposed bad luck or misfortune. The unfortunate circumstance that befalls you could be the result of the LordContinue reading “The Blessing And The Curse”

The word “pur”means a single “lot”; “purim” is the plural form of “pur” and means “lots”. Casting lots was a method used by the Hebrews to determine the will of God. Lots could be sticks with markings, or stones with symbols, which were thrown into a small area, and then the result was interpreted. “The lotContinue reading “Purim (פּוּרִים)”

Leviticus Chapter 23 וַיִּקְרָא “1. Adonai said to Moshe: 2. Tell the people of Israel: The appointed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as holy convocations (מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ ), are My appointed times (מוֹעֲדָי )  3 . Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a Shabbat of complete rest,Continue reading “What are Moedim?”