Skip to content

Studies

Parshat Tazria-Metzora

Tazria-Metzora

Tazria-Metzora תַזְרִיעַ מְּצֹרָע is a double Torah reading this year. Parsha Tazia is the twenty-seventh and Metzora is the twenty-eighth readings in the annual Torah cycle.

Parsha Tazira discusses the purification process for a woman after birthing a child. Then it describes tzaraat (leprosy) and the requirement for the person to leave the camp. He/she is to be inspected by a priest.

Parsha Metzora discusses the purification process for a person with tzaraat (leprosy). It also tells us about the process for a house infected by tzaraat. It ends with the discussion about the impurity caused my bodily discharges.

For more information about parshat Tazria-Metzora click the button below.

Read More »Parshat Tazria-Metzora

Parsha Shemini

Parsha Shemini

Parsha Shemini is the twenty-sixth portion in the annual reading and the third in Leviticus (Vayikra) וַיִּקְרָא . Shemini is translated as “eighth”. I have found three ways to spell it – “Shemini”, “Sh’mini”, or “Shmini”. They are all correct.

Parsha Shemini Summary

For about a half of year, Israel as a whole, were constructing the tabernacle (mishkan).  In parsha Shemini, we pick up after the seven days of installing the priesthood; it is now the eighth day.  Therefore, it is time for Aaron and his sons to inaugurate the first service. We see the first offerings given. Then tragedy hits, Nadav and Avihu is struck down for offering an inappropriate gift. The next events deals with this issue and finishing and complete the “sin” offering.  The remainder section is dealing with the laws of animals that may be consumed by the children of Israel.

Shemini שְּׁמִינִ֔י is the third word and in the Hebrew text (see text below).

Read More »Parsha Shemini

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 8

Show Summary: In the eighth Facebook livestream on the “Hebraic Study of Romans” page we are discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Part 8 : Saul, Paul who art thou? VII”. We are discussing Paul’s mysticism and how to understand it in the 21st Century.

This eposide ends with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 8

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 7

Show Summary: In the seventh Facebook livestream onthe “Hebraic Study of Romans” page we are discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 7 : Saul, Paul who art thou? VI”. We are discussing Paul’s “writing” style called the diatrible. I reveal how I wreslted with understand this idea and what helped me to come to terms with a Hebrew using this Greek method of preaching.

This eposide ends with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 7

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 6

Show Summary: In the sixth Facebook livestream on the “Hebraic Study of Romans” page we are discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 6 : Saul, Paul who art thou? V”. We are discussing the “apostle” Paul. What does the word “apostle” mean in the minds of us today, the Jews of the 1st century, and in the mind of Paul.

This eposide ends with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 6

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 5

Saul, Paul Who art thou IV

Show Summary: This is the fifth Facebook livestream held on the “Hebraic Study of Romans” page. We continue discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 5: Saul, Paul who art thou? IV”.

First, we begin with a brief review of the last two weeks to set the tone for this episode. Afterwards, we discuss Alan F. Segal’s description of Paul. Following this we use Mark Nanos’ “Reading Corinthians and Philippians within Judaism” to revisit 1 Corinthians 9:13-23. We discover his answer to the often-asked question about Paul’s lifestyle among the Jews and Gentiles. Like all episodes, we conclude with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 5

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 4

Saul Paul who art thou?

Show Summary: This is the fourth Facebook livestream held on the “Hebraic Study of Romans” page. We continue discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Pt.4: Saul, Paul who art thou? III”.

First, we begin with a brief review of the last weeks’ episode where we discussed Paul’s “conversion”. Afterwards, we look at his zeal. We discover how James Dunn connects it to Phinehas and several other people inside and outside the Scriptures. Then we briefly discuss Paul’s connection to the Major Prophets. Using Galatians 1:13-16, we see into the mind of Paul and perhaps see whom he thinks he is connected to. This episode ends with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 4

Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 3

Saul, Paul How Art Thou? Pt 2

Show Summary: In the third Facebook livestream for the “A Hebraic Study of Romans” we are discussing “Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 3 : Saul, Paul who art thou? II” After a brief review of last week we discuss the conflict that I am having with Paul. I explain my original intent on the title and how that changed as i was preparing for this week. The real questions are: (1) Who was Paul? and (2) What was his agenda? Did is have a

This eposide ends with some housekeeping stuff.

Read More »Paul Inside of Judaism Pt. 3