Posts by Julia Blum

Years ago, when I first began writing about the “Hidden Messiah” in Jewish thought, I didn’t yet realize how deep and wide this motif would run through the texts of the Second Temple period. The idea that the Messiah might be concealed, unrecognized, or even rejected—while still fulfilling his divinely appointed mission—runs counter to many […]

Years ago, when I first began writing on this blog, I started with a series about the Hidden Messiah. Even then, it felt like a deep and urgent theme. Since then, years have passed. Much has changed in the world, in Israel, and in me. I’ve rethought many things, and wrestled with old questions in […]

My readers know that I love showing how much our understanding of the New Testament can be enriched when we read it through the Tanach.  I hope that this post will help you see the continuity between the Testaments – and maybe, also help you understand some details of the Gospels in a much fuller […]

  In the New Testament, we see different people who either knew Jesus personally or followed Him after His resurrection. The names of some of these people are well known, others are somehow overlooked, but all of them were real people, with their own stories, challenges and decisions. Today, we will try to see some […]

It’s April and it’s also Nisan, the first month of the Biblical calendar, the month of Israel’s exodus from Egypt. As I think of Christians celebrating Easter, and of Israel celebrating Passover, I am reminded of the Parable of Long Spoons:  a man asked God to show him Heaven and Hell, and God showed him […]

Shabbat Zachor This year, when we entered the month of March, we entered the last month of the Hebrew calendar as well – Chodesh Adar, the month of Purim. In Adar, we have one of those Special Shabbatot that are referred to by a special name: “Shabbat Zachor”. Shabbat Zachor (“Sabbath [of] remembrance שבת זכור) is […]

MIZRAIM – MORE THAN JUST A NAME We are still discussing Biblical names, and we are now in the book of Exodus. As you know, the very title of this book refers to Exodus from Egypt (…bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt)[1] – therefore, it is crucially important for us to […]

JOSEPH’S NEW NAME Readers who have been following this blog for a while know that I love series. It made more sense, to do a series when I was able to publish a new post every week, – but even now, within this current format, I am still happy to proceed with the series we […]

  My dear readers! Last time, we started a new series, RECLAIMING THE BIBLICAL NAMES, and I promised to comment here on the names from the four weekly Torah portions we read each month. Last month, we discussed the names of the primeval history—the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis. As you all […]

My dear readers! My heart breaks when I think of the simple fact that usually at this time of the year, around Simchat Torah, I would write about the Joy of a New Beginning – the Joy of rolling back the Torah scrolls, of dancing with the Torah, of beginning anew the Torah reading cycle. […]