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Every object is created with a purpose and each one is given its own character trait. Specifically, in regards to Passover, there is a particular intention behind many of the foods we eat, when we eat it, how we eat it and, most importantly, why we eat it. For example, we eat bitter herbs to remind us of the bitter days of slavery. And, when we drink the four cups of wine, we recline to demonstrate the freedom after the exodus and our ability to sit like kings. Throughout Passover, we refrain from eating Chametz means leavened grain — any...

Denver, Colo., Apr 9, 2017 / 04:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In 1970, there was one priest for every 800 Catholics in the United States.Today, that number has more than doubled, with one priest for every 1,800 Catholics.Globally, the situation is worse. The number of Catholics per priest increased from 1,895 in 1980 to 3,126 in 2012, according to a report from CARA at Georgetown University. The Catholic Church in many parts of the world is experiencing what is being called a “priest shortage” or a “priest crisis.”Last month, Pope Francis answered a question about the priest shortage in a...

Parashat Vayikra / פרשת ויקרא Next read in the Diaspora on 01 April 2017. Parashat Vayikra is the 24th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26Next week: Parashat Tzav / פרשת צו Next read in the Diaspora on 08 April 2017. Parashat Tzav is the 25th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36

Bennett Greenspan - Are Modern Jews Descended from the Biblical Israelites?

The Trinity What Trinity? The Trinity is not the correct model of The Godhead. Yes there are three beings, The Father, Son and the Ruach Hakodesh but itÂ’s missing one. Isaiah 16:19 O YHVH, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. 20 Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? 16:21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know,...

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei / פרשת ויקהל־פקודי Next read in the Diaspora on 25 March 2017. Torah Portion: Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 This concludes our Shemos (Exodus) -- The Book of Redemption -- readings for the year 5777.

Parashat Ki Tisa / פרשת כי תשא Next read in the Diaspora on 18 March 2017. Parashat Ki Tisa is the 21st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11 - 34:35Next week: Parashat Vayakhel / פרשת ויקהל Next read in the Diaspora on 25 March 2017. Parashat Vayakhel is the 22nd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 35:1 - 38:20

An Italian rabbi has raised a protest against the topic of a conference to be held by the Italian Bibilical Association: “Israel, people of a jealous God. Consistencies and ambiguities of an elitist religion.”Rabbi Giuseppe Laras said that the conference topic—which had been approved by the Italian bishops’ conference—reflected the influence of Marcionism. (Marcionism, a heresy that arose in the 2nd century, rejected the Old Testament and claimed that the stern God of the Hebrews was not the merciful God of the New Testament.) Rabbi Laras went on to lament that Pope Francis has frequently emphasized the same ideas. He...

I would like to share with all of you readers, the history and lesson behind the upcoming Jewish holiday. Jewish people around the globe will be celebrating the holiday of Purim from nightfall on March 11 until after the March 12. The story in short: In the year 364 BCE, Haman, one of the king’s top advisors, plotted with the King to annihilate and destroy all the Jews. The king decided to make a feast for all his constituents, hoping this would lead the Jews to sin which in turn would give him the upper hand. At the party, the...

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In this week's Torah video, Reb Chaim Kramer discusses the weekly portion, Tetzaveh through the lens of Breslov Chassidut. Learn about the pure oil of the menorah, and the connection regarding the midrash on the nature of the Jewish people which is like an olive tree and olive oil, and more. Reb Chaim explains the problem of assimilation, the many wars against and attacks on the Jews over time, and how the Jewish people miraculously rebuilt themselves again and again. We learn about the kohanim and their special begadim (clothing) and the spiritual correction each item of clothing effected as...

Parashat Terumah / פרשת תרומה Next read in the Diaspora on 04 March 2017. Parashat Terumah is the 19th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 25:1 - 27:19Next week:Parashat Tetzaveh / פרשת תצוה Next read in the Diaspora on 11 March 2017. Parashat Tetzaveh is the 20th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 27:20 - 30:10

Csanád Szegedi grew up in a mildly racist milieu in Miskolc, a midsized town in northeastern Hungary. His father was the scion of an old noble family of Magyars, a point of pride for the young Szegedi, who was born in 1982 and came of age in the chaotic years following the fall of the Soviet-influenced Hungarian People’s Republic. Although the city had a large, crumbling synagogue in its center, like most of his peers, Szegedi chose to ignore it. For them, it served as a fading manifestation of the city’s Jews, many of whom had met their deaths in...

An ancient legend which holds that the Temple menorah is hidden away in the depths of the Vatican is coming to light again with the announcement of an upcoming exhibit jointly hosted by the Papal seat and Rome’s ancient Jewish community. Intended to showcase the growing Jewish-Vatican relationship, the theme of the exhibit actually brings this sore subject to the forefront, raising suspicions that despite a long tradition of Vatican protests, the rumors persist for good reason. Arnold Nesselrath, a Vatican Museums official, announced the theme of the upcoming exhibit on Monday, noting that the connection between the Vatican and...

Rabbi Aaron Dovid Poston YIBONEH Midrashiah in Baka, Jerusalem (Video Length: 42m) Ex 21:1 "And these are the judgments that you shall place before them." Parashat Mishpatim / פרשת משפטים Next read in the Diaspora on 25 February 2017. Parashat Mishpatim is the 18th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 21:1 - 24:18Next week: Parashat Terumah / פרשת תרומה Next read in the Diaspora on 04 March 2017. Parashat Terumah is the 19th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 25:1 - 27:19

The Prince of Persia apocalyptic Syllabification: a·poc·a·lyp·tic Pronunciation: əˌpäkəˈliptik Definition of apocalyptic in English: ADJECTIVE 1 Describing or prophesying the complete destruction of the world: the apocalyptic visions of ecologists 1.1 Resembling the end of the world; momentous or catastrophic: the struggle between the two countries is assuming apocalyptic proportions 1.2 Of or resembling the biblical Apocalypse: apocalyptic imagery The books of Daniel and Yohannan's Revelation are called 'Apocalyptic' books for good reason. Together they total 34 chapters so get busy, read them through three or four (40-50) times and you'll notice the patterns. For example, the beast that rises...

They like me, they really like me! A poll released by the Pew Research Center on February 15 reveals that Americans' attitudes toward people of faith have improved in just three years – and that Jews and Catholics are especially well regarded by people of all faiths. Pew's survey of U.S. adults – titled “Americans Express Increasingly Warm Feelings Toward Religious Groups” – was conducted on January 9-23, 2017. The American Trends Panel's survey participants included both Republicans and Democrats, men and women, younger and older Americans. The respondents were asked to rate various religious groups on a “feeling thermometer,”...

A Jewish Orthodox scholar is proposing an Old Testament ceremony, the redemption of the firstborn, to return Jesus of Nazareth to the Jewish fold and then hold a retrial at which he could be acquitted. The first trial, two millennia ago, resulted in Jesus’ condemnation by the high priests for blasphemy, his crucifixion by the Roman conquerors and his resurrection through which Christians worldwide believe they can receive salvation and life eternal. The Jewish authorities, however, have been libeled ever since as “Christ-killers” and more. One scholar, Ariel Cohen Alloro, while not “an official rabbi,” is a student of one...

Parashat Bo / פרשת בא Next read in the Diaspora on 04 February 2017. Parashat Bo is the 15th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 Next: Parashat Beshalach / פרשת בשלח Next read in the Diaspora on 11 February 2017. Parashat Beshalach is the 16th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 13:17 - 17:16

The Age of the Universe The '6' Days of Creation For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of YHVH as the waters cover the seabed. Habakkuk 2, 14 & Isaiah 11, 9 In the six hundredth year of the sixth [millennium], the gateways of heavenly wisdom and the fountains of lower wisdom will be opened, and the world will be uplifted to prepare for the ascension of the seventh [millennium]... Zohar I, 117a The formula for calculating the age of the universe was written by Moses and it's recorded in Tehillim 90 (Psalm). Tehillim Chapter...