Kedoshim or holy ones, is the title of this week’s parsha. For many, this concept is hard to attain. We try our best to be holy, but yet find ourselves lacking due to our sinful human nature and DNA. So why even try to be holy? The obvious response to this question is very practical. For instance,…
Author: MVF Silverton
True Holy Ones
Kedoshim, Holy Ones Vayiqra (Lev) 19:1 – 20:27 Amos 9:7-15; Ezekiel 20:2-20 Matthew 5:33-48, 15:1-11; Luke 10:25-39; I Peter 1:13-25 The pagan roots of Christianity and the evil origins of rabbinic Judaism are subjects many well-intended theologians and intellectuals like to study. Why? Is it to expose where others may be falling short in the…
Covering Nakedness
Acharei Mot, After the Death Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16:1 – 18:30 Ezekiel 22:1-19 Romans 3:19-28; 9:30 – 10:13 Galatians 3:10-14 The Torah forbids the uncovering of nakedness outside of the undefiled marriage bed. Yet where in the world do people uncover nakedness more than any other? 43% of all internet users view pornographic material online 75%…
Are We in Need or What?
The instructions found in this week’s Torah study, including Ezekiel, and portions from Romans, Hebrews, and Galatians are rich in their instruction and understanding. At first glance, I was thinking, “Where can we possibly begin?” One would need a few months to dig deep into Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. But in their meaning of “after…
Matza Musings
Exodus 33:12 – 34:26; Numbers 28:16-31 Ezekiel 36:37 – 37:14 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 Whenever you have kept the festival of unleavened bread or are now keeping it, what did you think of when you ate matzah? What does it mean to digest, to internalize unleavened bread? As the tzi-tzi reminds us to obey the commandments…
Partake in the Name
The feast week of Unleavened is my favorite time of the year. I always look forward to my wife’s flatbread, made with freshly ground wheat, white beans, oil, water, salt, honey, and a few herbs. I love to toast it, then spread it with butter and salt. Baking flatbread with my favorite pizza toppings is…
Power in the Blood?
Metzora, Cleansing the Leper Vayiqra (Leviticus) 14:1 – 15:33 Melekim Bet (II Kings) 7:3-20 MattitYahu (Matthew) 9:20-26, 11:2-6; Mark 5:21-34; Luke 5:24-34; 8:42-48; 9:51 – 10:42; Kefa Alef (Peter) 1:13-16; Romans 5:6-21, 6:17-23; Ivriym (Hebrews) 13:1-5 A Hebrew Roots leader once told me he did not believe that there is ‘power in the blood.’ He…
Promises From the Master Teacher
For many of us, The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened season is a time of reflection. We repeat the story of preparing for the Exodus, protecting our homes with the blood of the Lamb, giving our leaven a rest, and partaking in the Body of Messiah. We remind ourselves what this time is about…
The Leprosy of Fear, Stumbling Blocks, and Power
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” I John 4:18 How often do we think of fear being the concept of losing control? In our sinful state, loss of control means loss of power or control. Sometimes fear is…
A Radical Change
The disease was killing me. It wasn’t a virus that ran its course, nor was it an infection that antibiotics could kill. There was no natural cure. No doctor on earth had a remedy. It was destroying me. It was destroying my ability to think straight and talk coherently. It was robbing me of ambition,…