Tisha b’Av, the annual day of Jewish mourning and fasting, falls this year on July 26-27. With Israel facing a possible civil war and existential war with Iran, Tisha b’Av 5783/2023 summons us to facedown sobriety before God. Tisha b’Av literally means “9th of Av,” referring to the 9th day…...
Yeshua’s Hanukkah Sermon: 8 Meditations for 8 Days – by Sandra Teplinsky
Did you know Yeshua preached the most electrifying Hanukkah sermon ever and the Bible records it for us? Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication) is celebrated annually on the 25th day of Kislev, the 9th month of the biblical calendar. This year the holiday overlaps with Christmas, starting the evening of December…...
What Really is Lag b’Omer?
Tomorrow, May18-19, 2022, the annual holiday of Lag b’Omer will be celebrated in Israel. Lag b’Omer, which is neither directly nor indirectly referenced in the Bible, literally means the 33rd day of counting the omer. According to Jewish tradition, this minor festival commemorates an ancient mystical sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and…...
COUNTING THE OMER: Israel’s Independence Day and Memorial Day
Blessings of the season to you as we commemorate an often overlooked, minor festival on God’s biblical calendar, Counting the Omer. Counting the Omer (in Hebrew, “Sefirat HaOmer”) lasts 49 days, beginning with the Sabbath of Passover. The 50th day is celebrated as the Feast of Weeks (in Hebrew, “Shavuot.”) During…...