The Biblical story of the destruction of the Middle Eastern cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is well known. Divine fire consumed them as punishment for horrific attitudes and behavior by their populations. Lot, a relative of Abraham, and his family were spared this fate and told to leave without looking back. Lot’s wife did lookContinue reading “LOT, THE PILLAR OF SALT, AND REGRET”
Category Archives: 3. My Sinai
THE SPIES AND THE CAREFREE DAYS OF INFANCY
In the section of the Torah titled “Shelach Lecha,” men are sent into Canaan to spy out the challenges that the Children of Israel will face in their upcoming campaign to inhabit the land. Will this Holy Land support them and furnish their needs? Will they be able to overcome the impediments of people, terrain,Continue reading “THE SPIES AND THE CAREFREE DAYS OF INFANCY”
YOU WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME
One of the ten commandments given at Mt. Sinai to the Children of Israel admonishes against worshiping other gods. What are “other” gods? Idols. The people should not bow down to, serve, or give devotion to any deity, object, or idea that can be described. God of the bible is not of the earthly world.Continue reading “YOU WILL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME”
MEDITATION FOR SOUL AND BODY
We live in a material world. Upon leaving the womb, we begin to explore all the wonders of this new life. An infant commences this journey with highly focused awareness of those aspects of the physical realm that impact it most strongly. Novel cognitive adventures thrill, stimulate, fashion, and guide the developing child’s mind. BrainContinue reading “MEDITATION FOR SOUL AND BODY”
WHY WERE THERE TEN PLAGUES IN EGYPT?
(Reposted because of changes I made) In the Torah, in the book of Shemot (Exodus), in the parashahs of “Va’eira” and “Bo,” the ten plagues are documented. These are often seen as punishments upon the Egyptians for their having enslaved and mistreated the Children of Israel. But commentators have noted that it could have beenContinue reading “WHY WERE THERE TEN PLAGUES IN EGYPT?”
WHY WERE THERE TEN PLAGUES IN EGYPT?
In the Torah, in the book of Shemot (Exodus), in the parashahs of “Va’eira” and “Bo,” the ten plagues occur. These are often seen as punishments upon the Egyptians for their having enslaved and mistreated the Children of Israel. But commentators have noted that it could have been a much quicker and just as effectiveContinue reading “WHY WERE THERE TEN PLAGUES IN EGYPT?”
DO NOT WANDER WITH YOUR HEART OR YOUR MIND
The Shema is a prayer in three paragraphs considered to be the definitive declaration of faith in God. (See my blog: “Hear, O Israel” of June 4, 2020). The third paragraph is taken from the Torah, the book of Numbers, the section called “Shelach. An important exhortation in this paragraph is to not be distractedContinue reading “DO NOT WANDER WITH YOUR HEART OR YOUR MIND”
JACOB WRESTLES WITH SOMEONE
In the Book of Exodus, Parashah Vayishlach 32:25 the story of Jacob continues after his long absence from the Holy Land. Jacob returns to Canaan with his wives and children. He brings with him his accumulated wealth and many servants. But he is afraid of his brother Esau, whom he had deceived in order toContinue reading “JACOB WRESTLES WITH SOMEONE”
I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT
The Children of Israel, Jacob’s family, came to Egypt and lived there to cope with a famine. They dwelled in the Land of Goshen and expanded with great fecundity. The Torah tells us these people were enslaved by Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. hundreds of years later, supported by God’s interventions, they escaped from theirContinue reading “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD WHO TOOK YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT”
I AM HERE – THE ESSENCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
When God first called Moses from the burning bush, Moses answered by uttering the Hebrew word “Hineini.” (hee-nay-nee) This means “I Am Here.” This word appears 23 times in the Torah. There are several compelling examples of the use of the word “Hineini” in this Biblical text. When God called upon Abraham to killContinue reading “I AM HERE – THE ESSENCE OF ENLIGHTENMENT”
Health and Spirit by Dr. Jack Zoldan 