Torah as a Song of Unity and Tension

“The Torah is G-d’s libretto, and we, the Jewish people, are His choir, the performers of His choral symphony. And though, when Jews speak they often argue, when they sing, they sing in harmony, as the Israelites did at the Red Sea, because music is the language of the soul, and at the level of [...]

Role Confusion and Commandment 612

Over the past few weeks the topic of role confusion and role appropriateness has inundated my thinking, due to the recent Divine Invitation theological shift announced by First Fruits of Zion.  I, like many others, have been challenged to consider what role among G-d’s people as a Gentile believer I am really suited for.  I [...]

Something Missing

With only two more weeks remaining in the month of Elul I have taken some time to read about the topic of repentance based on various rabbinic sources.  This endeavor has proved to be a bit frustrating, for there are numerous opinions and methods regarding repentance presented by various authors and commentators.  Each method is [...]

Up On the Roof

Many years ago I had opportunity to travel with some friends to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  An essential part of touring the city included a trip to the famous CN Tower, which at the time was the tallest freestanding structure in the world.  After enjoying dinner and spectacular views from the revolving 360 Restaurant atop the [...]

The Realities of War

In celebrating my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary recently I had the delightful opportunity to “walk down memory lane” through a PowerPoint presentation that my sister had prepared for the occasion.  Among the many photographs chronicling my parent’s upbringing, courtship, marriage, and family life were a couple of photos of my father in full army uniform. [...]

The Test of a False Prophet

During the three weeks between 17th Tammuz and Tisha b’Av this year I decided to consider the synoptic accounts of Yeshua’s prophecy surrounding the destruction of the second Temple and the end of the age.  Taking Matthew 24:6-25:13, Mark 13:1-37, and Luke 21:5-36 divided into 21 short readings.  Interestingly, of the eleven occurrences of the [...]

Discoveries on the Towpath Trail

Approximately an hour’s drive south and west of where I live is the only National Park in the state of Ohio.  Within this park is contained a 20 mile stretch of the former Ohio and Erie Canal system.  The original towpath upon which mules and horses pulled the canal boats more than 150 years ago [...]

Talking to the Moon

 May it be the will before You, HaShem my G-d and the G-d of my forefathers to fill the flaw of the moon, that it not be diminished in any way. And may the light of the moon be like the light of the sun and like the light of the seven days of Creation [...]

When a Break-Up is a Blessing

This past Shabbat as I sat at my desk and looked up from the Chumash I was reading, my eyes were drawn to the small calendar sitting on the window sill in front of me. Written on the date of June 20th were the words “Lisa’s Wedding”.  My heart grew heavy as I was reminded of [...]

Being Mindful of the Shema

Last Sunday at 9:00 pm I was sitting in an airplane looking upon a most beautiful sight from the window seat I occupied.  As the plane traveled from the north, toward the direction of the airport to the south, the blue waters of Lake Erie were visible and the shoreline of Northeastern Ohio stretched out in [...]