Posts by tag: Judaism

By Mark D. Nanos Shema Israel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” The Shema Israel has arguably been the most important ideological claim of Judaism since early Israelite history. This call to listen to God is followed by the injunction to love God, that is, […]

The mealtime customs depicted in ancient biblical texts are still practiced by many people living in the lands the Bible describes. In this region of the world meals are not utilitarian and mealtime customs can express social, cultural, deeply symbolic and spiritual ideas. Sharing meals often expresses the universal Near Eastern value of hospitality (Gen […]