Our Rabbi Jesus

Dear Abby’s Secret Advice Formula

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Ever since I was a kid, a newspaper has plopped onto my doorstep each day with a Dear Abby (or Ann Landers) column waiting to be read. Day after day people pour out their frustrations, and Abby and Ann share their pithy answers. The letters typically have a similar format. First the writer complains about […]

Kindle Readers: Thanks for your Thoughts

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Lots of folks have told me that they are reading my books on an e-reader like a Nook or Kindle. I thought you might be interested in a recent Wall Street Journal article called “Your E-Book is Reading You.” It points out that electronic book devices send more data back to booksellers than people realize. […]

Worshiping Alone Together?

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In Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus I talked about Christian individualism. Our tradition greatly emphasizes the idea of isolating ourselves in order to experience God’s presence, whereas Judaism emphasizes community. Many Jewish prayers speak to God as “we” rather than “I.” Their daily morning prayers actually require a minyan, the presence of at […]

Sheep that REALLY Follow Their Shepherd

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“In many countries, sheep spend their lives in fenced-in pastures where they spend their time grazing and milling about. In Israel, however, where grass has difficulty growing in the arid soil, sheep must know their shepherd, following him obediently from pasture to pasture. There, shepherding is a much more active task. Some sheep come running […]

Biblical Laws for Kids Today (Humor)

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Years ago I received this in an email and I laughed so hard I nearly cried. It’s by Ian Frasier, from The Atlantic magazine (February 1, 1997). The original is at this link. Laws Concerning Food and Drink; Household Principles; Lamentations of the Father Of the beasts of the field, and of the fishes of […]

The Shema and the First Commandment

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Years ago I used to scratch my head at Jesus’ response to the question “What is the greatest commandment?” in Mark 12:28. Why does he start with the line “Hear O Israel, the Lord is Your God, the Lord alone” before stating the command: “Love the Lord your God…”? Why state a fact before giving […]

Hesed: Enduring, Eternal, Undeserved Love

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Hebrew has a word for life-long love that is richer and deeper than English has ever conceived of—hesed (HEH-sed). Based in a covenantal relationship, hesed is a steadfast, rock-solid faithfulness that endures to eternity: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love (hesed) for you will not be shaken” […]

Golden Bell from a Priest’s Robe Found

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I got a kick out of a recent archaeological finding in Jerusalem – a golden bell that was likely sown on the hem of a high official’s garment. Remember how God stipulated that the high priest’s robe was to have bells and pomegranates hanging from it (Exodus 28:34)? Well, they found a golden bell that […]