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Monthly Archives: December 2009
The Question of God’s Absence in Our Need
I got a great question last night in a comment on the beliefs page here at Messianic Jewish Musings. Darvari asks: If you don’t mind me asking, I’d like to get an idea of how do Jews today deal with … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Theology
Tagged Elie Wiesel, Holocaust, Problem of Evil, Suffering
13 Comments
Why the Medieval Rabbis Were Not So Medieval
Medieval is sort of a bad word to many people. For me it never has been. Chalk it up to a childhood fascinated with Tolkien and Arthurian legend and the romantic side of the Middle Ages. The Renaissance festival was … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, History, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Gersonides, Ibn Ezra, Kimhi, Medieval Exegetes, Radak, Ramban, Rashbam, Rashi
5 Comments
Who Moved the Ladder? Biblical Archaeology Review
The latest issue of Biblical Archaeology Review has a fascinating and hilarious story of mystery. I’ve been to Israel eight times and I’ve seen the Holy Sepulchre church each time. I’ve heard my favorite tour guide (Itai) explain many times … Continue reading
Shemot: The ZIBBC on Exodus
You will hear from time to time about the ZIBBC on Messianic Jewish Musings. The ZIBBC is the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, edited by John Walton. This is a resource I recommend for Bible readers. The set for the … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeology, Bible, Book Reviews, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Bruce Wells, Exodus, ZIBBC
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RememberJerusalem.org
I don’t bring up my work with MJTI (mjti.com) on the blog very often. Not the least of reasons is that I sometimes get a little controversial here on Messianic Jewish Musings and I don’t hesitate to share my own … Continue reading
Posted in Mark Kinzer, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, MJTI
8 Comments
History and the Bible Story, Pt 1
Speaking of what he calls the “death of Biblical history,” Keith Whitelam has said: It is now time for Palestinian history to come of age and formally reject the agenda and constraints of “biblical history.” . . . It is … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeology, Bible, History, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Ian Provan, Keith Whitelam, T.L. Thompson, Tremper Longman, V. Philips Long
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The Center of the World
In Biblical theology, Jerusalem is the place where God chose for his name to dwell, forever hallowed (see Deut 12:5 for the origins of this doctrine which is fleshed out in the Psalms and prophets). In my work with MJTI … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Jerusalem, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
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A Place to Get MJ History Books
Cindy at the Caspari Center emailed to let me know that several of the books I recommend for your library on Messianic Jewish history are available from the online store at caspari.com/store. In particular, they carry Skarsaune’s Jewish Believers in … Continue reading
Posted in Messianic Jewish
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PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Yeshua as Messiah
The rationale for the Yeshua in Context podcast is getting back, in the limited ways this is possible, to viewing Yeshua’s life and message in the categories that were relevant for his own generation. So much water has gone under … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Adele Yarbro Collins, Podcast, Yeshua in Context
1 Comment
A Better Copy in PDF of Haggadah for the Birth of Messiah
Many thanks to diggindarren whose comment yesterday clued me in about how to generate a PDF from Mellel. This copy of the Haggadah will print beautifully. Incidentally, this Haggadah and the others I have produced are works in progress. I … Continue reading
Posted in Messianic Jewish
4 Comments
Haggadah for the Birth of Messiah
Calling on all Apple computer people . . . I have a little problem. I typed my Hagaddah into Mellel so I could mix Hebrew and English. Mellel does not have an option to save to PDF. Any ideas? …………………………. … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, Interfaith, Intermarried, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Birth of Messiah, Haggadah
5 Comments
How December 25 Came to be Thought of as the Date of Jesus’ Birth
I have pasted a link below to the most definitive article I have yet seen on the historical basis for December 25 as the day of Jesus’ birth. The answer will surprise you and you have to stick with the … Continue reading
Posted in Christian, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Christmas, December 25, Messiah's Birth, Sol Invictus
9 Comments
Yeshua and His Hanukkah Messages
The theme which seems to have been in Yeshua’s mind as he spoke to his generation gathered at the Temple for Hanukkah was the effect of false shepherds on Israel’s well-being. Yeshua’s messages are summarized in John 10, the whole … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Ezekiel, Fourth Gospel, Hanukkah, John
3 Comments
A Bissel of Hanukkah How-To’s and Inspiration, MJ Style
Hanukkah starts tonight! Time to run hot water over your menorahs to melt the colored wax from last year. Time to get ready for the smell of onions and potatoes frying in oil. Time to save up calories for jelly … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Hanukkah
1 Comment
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Yeshua as Prophet
There is a difference in the way Yeshua was viewed by his own generation and the way he has been viewed since then in church and Jewish tradition. Our image of Jesus the Christ of Christianity is different for many … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Prophets, Yeshua
Tagged Adele Yarbro Collins, Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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The Hanukkah Story, MJ Style
I call this version “MJ Style” because, true to Messianic Judaism, I see the Hanukkah story in terms of Yeshua’s work as the redeemer of Israel. Most of the story is familiar to you and I am going light on … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Hanukkah, Hasidei Yeshua
13 Comments
Hanukkah and the Prophet Daniel, Pt 2
Hanukkah is a holiday which post-dates the Hebrew Bible. So it would seem that we could say little or nothing about Hanukkah from the Hebrew Bible. Yet the sixth century B.C.E. prophet Daniel foretold events that would lead up to … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Daniel, Hanukkah
8 Comments
Intermarrieds, Hanukkah, Christmas
A little humor, but not completely unrealistic:
Posted in Intermarried
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Hanukkah and the Prophet Daniel, Pt 1
Hanukkah arrives Friday night and among other things (like reading the relevant chapters in H.H. Ben-Sasson’s A History of the Jewish People) my thoughts are turned toward the prophet Daniel. Let me say at the outset that I am not … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Daniel, Hanukkah, Iain Provan
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Robert Alter on Jacob’s Wrestling Till Dawn
I get so much every week out of following the cycle of Torah, reading commentators old and new, and seeing connections in ideas and events to the readings. If you are in the habit of reading, you know what I … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Torah
Tagged Genesis, Jacob, Robert Alter
5 Comments
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Yeshua as Teacher
One of the most helpful things we can do in getting back to the context of Yeshua’s life is to try and see him in the categories of the day. Yeshua was not a rabbi in the modern sense, someone … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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More About Christmas and the Haggadah
I wrote yesterday explaining what I see as some of the issues involved for intermarried families and the question of whether or not to celebrate Christmas. I think it is a tough issue and a tough decision for intermarried families. … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Holidays, Interfaith, Intermarried, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Christmas, Nimrod, Ninurta, Tammuz
18 Comments
Messianic Jewish Musings 
The ZIBBC, Ezekiel 8, and Tammuz
I am bringing together several topics of interest in this post. First, I recently reviewed the ZIBBC (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Encyclopedia) here and recommended it as a resource to everyone who loves study. The set on the Hebrew Bible is … Continue reading →