TL;DR: The tribe of Dan is mysteriously absent from the list of 144,000 sealed servants in Revelation 7, and this post explores traditional explanations—primarily idolatry—before offering a Hebrew-language perspective on why that omission is theologically intentional. TRADITIONAL EXPLANATIONS—AND A HEBREW REFLECTION ON JUDGMENT AND MERCY After my previous post on the tribes of Israel, one […]
As we were entering a new year, I found myself thinking about unity. Our people have suffered deeply, and how urgently we need that ancient togetherness that has carried Israel through generations. Israel has never been the most numerous people. We didn’t survive because we were the strongest militarily or the wealthiest economically. We survived […]
There are moments when Scripture does not merely speak about life — it speaks into it. Moments when God’s words suddenly feel closer than breath, more truthful than any explanation we might offer. In recent days, I found myself standing beside my mother’s hospital bed, holding her hand, knowing that her journey in this world […]
My dear readers, as we enter the month of December, we will take a brief pause from our journey through the Book of Genesis. I promise that right after the holidays we will return to Bereishit and continue unearthing its hidden treasures together. But now, as winter deepens and the lights of Chanukkah and Christmas […]
TL;DR: The creation of humanity in Genesis is the climax and purpose of all creation, with Jewish tradition and Scripture both emphasizing that the universe only becomes fully meaningful when human beings appear. My dear readers, last time we started anew to read the Torah, and as we begin again from the very beginning, we […]
Each year, as we finish reading the Torah and immediately begin again with Bereshit, we are reminded that the study of God’s Word is a never-ending circle. On Simchat Torah, we celebrate this remarkable rhythm: no sooner do we complete the last verses of Devarim than we return joyfully to the first words of Genesis—“Bereshit […]
Zman simchateynu—“the season of our joy” In Israel, we have just finished celebrating Sukkot—the Feast of Tabernacles. The streets of Jerusalem were filled with pilgrims, families gathered in their sukkot decorated with fruits and lights, and prayers for rain rose up from every congregation. As always, there was a sense of joy, renewal, and anticipation […]
The Sound of the Shofar The Torah does not tell us explicitly why we are commanded to blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. Over the centuries, countless explanations have been offered. Some say: “On Rosh Hashanah we acknowledge God as King of the world. The shofar’s call heralds this majestic event.” Others point to Sinai: […]
Shalom and Chag Sameach, dear friends! You probably know that here in Israel, we are entering a season called Chagim: Feasts, or Holidays. And the first Holiday is Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. What is Rosh HaShanah? Biblical Background Rosh Hashanah is a two-day celebration, which begins on the first day of the Jewish month […]
From Reflections to the Image My dear readers, we continue with the “Hidden Messiah” theme —a theme that, to me, has always felt like a secret thread woven through both Jewish and Christian thought. Much has changed since my first interest in the Hidden Messiah, but this mystery hasn’t gone away. In fact, as I […]
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