Having a Spiritual Shavuot

Having a Spiritual Shavuot

If you’re going to do Shavuot this upcoming Wednesday, May 15, 2013, why not do it right? (Don’t know much about Shavuot? See bottom of this post: “Basics of Shavuot”). So, first and foremost, because this requires preparation, you must…

Law and Spirit, Shavuot, Ruth

Law and Spirit, Shavuot, Ruth

For Messianic Jews, the fact that Ruth is the megillah for Shavuot is a bit of divine providence. Megillah means scroll and refers to the custom of studying certain biblical books on Jewish holidays. Shavuot is better known as Pentecost…

Passover: Karpas as an Awakening from God

Passover: Karpas as an Awakening from God

Karpas is a green vegetable. We have always used parsley in the Leman family and in Seders that I lead. This year I have learned a new way of thinking of the custom of dipping parsley in saltwater. Yes, I…

Aaron Eby on Passover’s Seven Biblical Goals

Fantastic article by Aaron Eby on the Biblical goals of the Passover Seder. Essential reading for MJ’s planning to make Seder tomorrow! 7 Biblical Goals of the Seder.

In case you want to really read up for Passover . . .

In case you want to really read up for Passover . . .

Links to plenty of Passover study goodness … What is in the Passover Haggadah? Maggid: The Story in the Passover Haggadah. Hidden Meaning in the Passover Haggadah. Where did the Haggadah come from? The Rabbis of the Passover Haggadah.

CLASSIC REPOST: Passover, Resurrection, Constantine

CLASSIC REPOST: Passover, Resurrection, Constantine

Back in 2008, I posted “Passover, Resurrection, and Constantine,” an exploration of the Passover calendar and how the Christian Easter came to differ from the Jewish Passover reckoning. It has been a much-searched for article at Musings, and I have…

CLASSIC REPRINT: Passover, 10 Lesser Known Factoids

CLASSIC REPRINT: Passover, 10 Lesser Known Factoids

From March 2012, this is an informative article and also has links to two other articles, “Hints of Rome in the Passover Haggadah” and “The First Passover.” I hope you’ll take the time to read all three as Passover (first…

The Birth of Messiah, An Idea for MJ Observance

The Birth of Messiah, An Idea for MJ Observance

We were driving back from havdalah with our congregation and the last night of lighting Hanukkah candles. My wife was giving me her annual speech about what a shame it is Messianic Judaism has no way to meaningfully observe the…

Daniel 8 and Hanukkah

Daniel 8 and Hanukkah

Hanukkah is arriving soon (first night and first candle is December 8, 2012). There are so many great things to read at Hanukkah. The book of 1 Maccabees, included in the apocrypha if you have a Bible that contains the…

Pre-Hanukkah Musings: Dedication to MJ’s Calling

Pre-Hanukkah Musings: Dedication to MJ’s Calling

If you don’t know the story of Hanukkah, here is a good place to get a spiritual perspective: http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102978/jewish/The-Story-of-Chanukah.htm The Hanukkah story should raise some questions for us. What were they so dedicated to, those Maccabees, and why? Why was…