Monthly Archives: June 2011

The Humility of Our Fathers

Posted on June 30, 2011 by James

Be humble before every man -Ethics of Our Fathers, 4:10 Is there no one out there who is dumber, uglier or more selfish than yourself? Okay, discount the few dozen degrees of inferiority that are due to your ego-inflated self-perception. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Chabad, Christianity, disciple, Ethics of Our Fathers, God, humility, Jesus, Judaism, Moses, Pirkei Avot, Talmud, teacher, Torah | 3 Comments

When the Heart is Still

Posted on June 29, 2011 by James

It is well known that the laws of Yoreh Dei’ah, especially those of shechitah, are very complex. The Pri Megadim, zt”l, wished to write a comprehensive explanation of the first part of Yoreh Dei’ah, and to ensure that he had … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ayn Sof, Chabad, Chasidim, Christianity, God, Jesus, Judaism, Kabbalah, mystic, Talmud | Leave a comment

Arise

Posted on June 28, 2011 by James

Now Moses, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, drove the flock into the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire out … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Chabad, Chasidim, Christianity, daf yomi digest, faith, God, Jesus, Judaism, meditation, mitzvah, Moses, student, Talmud, teacher, Torah | 1 Comment

Book Review: The Holy Epistle to the Galatians

Posted on June 27, 2011 by James

The passage contrasts two types of proselytes: the legal proselyte and the spiritual proselyte. The one becomes part of Abraham’s family by conventional conversion, the other through faith in Messiah, the promised seed of Abraham, in whom all nations find … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, book review, Christianity, D Thomas Lancaster, FFOZ, Galatians, Judaism, learning, Torah | 8 Comments

The Tefillin and the Shoemaker

Posted on June 26, 2011 by James

And they (Korach and his following) converged upon Moses and Aaron and said to them: “Enough! Every one of the congregation is holy, and G-d is amongst them. Why do you raise yourself above the congregation of G-d?” -Numbers 16:3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Avot Pirkei, Bible, book review, Chabad, Chasidim, Christianity, D Thomas Lancaster, disciple, faith, FFOZ, Galatians, God, Jesus, Judaism, Korach, leader, leadership, rebuking, student, Talmud, teacher, Torah, Torah Portion, trust | 1 Comment

Intermediaries

Posted on June 25, 2011 by James

Any belief that an intermediary between man and God could be used, whether necessary or even optional, has traditionally been considered heretical. Maimonides writes “God is the only one we may serve and praise….We may not act in this way … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Christianity, D Thomas Lancaster, Galatians, God, High Priest, Holy Spirit, intermediary, Jesus, Judaism, Paul, Rambam, Talmud, The Chafetz Chayim, Torah | 1 Comment

Drawing Near

Posted on June 24, 2011 by James

The name of this week’s Torah reading, Korach, provokes an obvious question: It is written: “The name of the wicked shall rot,” and on this basis, our Sages state that a person should not be named after a wicked man. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, Chabad, Christianity, Ezekiel, God, Jesus, Judaism, Korach, learning, meditation, mitzvah, mystic, Parashah, paul philip levertoff, Revelation, searching, Talmud, Torah, Torah Portion, visions | Leave a comment

Knowing

Posted on June 23, 2011 by James

No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Avot Pirkei, Bible, book review, Chabad, Christianity, D Thomas Lancaster, FFOZ, Galatians, Isaiah, Jesus, Judaism, student, Talmud, teacher, Torah | 7 Comments

Soul on the Altar

Posted on June 22, 2011 by James

When a person presents an offering of meal to the Lord, his offering shall be of choice flour; he shall pour oil upon it, lay frankincense on it -Leviticus 2:1 (JPS Tanakh) The word “soul” is not used in reference … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged faithfulness, God, Jesus, mitzvah, Offering, student, Tabernacle, teacher, Torah | Leave a comment

Building Fellowship

Posted on June 21, 2011 by James

“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that [whether Jewish nor Gentile] a person is not justified by the works of the law [i.e., conversion, circumcision, etc.] but through faith in Jesus Christ, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bible, book review, Christianity, D Thomas Lancaster, FFOZ, Galatians, Jesus, Judaism, Paul, teacher, Torah | 9 Comments