What do we celebrate on Shavuot?

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?”

Is 2022 the year that changes everything?

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?”

The Blessing And The Curse

 “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”

Purim (פּוּרִים)

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)”

The Final Solution

“The Final Solution or the Final Solution to the Jewish Question (Endlösung der Judenfrage) was a Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews during World War II. It was the official code name for the murder of all Jews within reach, which was not restricted to the European continent.This policy was formulated in January 1942 at the Wannsee Conference held near Berlin.It culminated in  the murder of 90% of Polish Jews, and two-thirdsContinue reading “The Final Solution”

Migdal Eder (The tower of the flock)

Migdal Eder (מגדל־עדר‎ )was a tower mentioned in the biblical book of Genesis 35:21, in the context of the death of Jacob‘s wife, Rachel. The biblical record locates it near the present-day city of Bethlehem. With the establishment of Temple worship in Jerusalem, the fields outside of Bethlehem became the place where a special group of shepherds raisedContinue reading “Migdal Eder (The tower of the flock)”