Category Archives: Prophets | נְבִיאִים

So natural phenomena are assigned to godly powers, which are instituted against the invasion of Gog’s troops: 38:18 “On that day when Gog attacks the land of Israel, the heat of my rage will boil over…..  I declare there shall … Continue reading →

Posted on September 21, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

You may look at those old texts of inspiration.  Little of that can be said of the passages in this weeks parasha, truly troublesome passages, which are showing clear bias and intolerance of others.  What’s more a licence to murder … Continue reading →

Posted on August 2, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

Not surprising, following the former chapters, even the biblical characters question Moses.  Korah, Abiram  and Dathan went to Moses and said:  You have gone too far!  We are all holy, why do you raise yourself above anyone else? “We will … Continue reading →

Posted on June 4, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

Emissaries are sent into the promised land by Moses to inspect it. After the emissaries return from their inspection of the promised land the message is mixed.  The first message is that the people who live there (Nephilim, Anakites) are … Continue reading →

Posted on June 4, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

B’Haalot’cha Numeri 8:1 – 12:16 בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ

Posted on May 21, 2013 by jewhu

Complaints and Moses the Man:  I’d rather go home!  At the beginning Moses’ father Law Reuel the (Sudan) is saying he is not coming along Moses and the Israelites, but rather returns to his country (Artzi) and birth-land (Moladeti).  This … Continue reading →

Posted in B'Midbar (Numeri) | בְּמִדְבַּר, Zechariah | זְכַרְיָה | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

  It is refreshing that after all the laws and prescriptions the first chapters of B’Midbar bring us back to more mundane matters, namely the counting of the men of fighting age.  Very interesting is the interpretation of the word … Continue reading →

Posted on May 7, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

These sections include laws on redeeming land and property, as well as prescribing that each 7th and each 50th year be a rest year for the fields.  We read that Jewish people are allowed to purchase slaves and own them, … Continue reading →

Posted on April 30, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

Within The Jewhu Blog considerations are made to the usefulness of the Torah texts in their applicability to contemporary society, examining many claims to metaphysical intervention to more sober examination of how passages may be explained from an anthropological, sociological … Continue reading →

Posted on April 14, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

On dietary:
“Philo of Alexandria and Maimonides both have indicated centuries ago that the reason behind these is for two reasons, self-restraint and health. The first is to teach in a physical way that there should be limits to one’s desire, and to accept both that certain animals are off limits in terns of purity and secondly that one is to eat special foods during certain times.”
On Nadab and Abihu
“By mocking or fooling around with this, they put the cult’s credibility under threat, based on the fear of people from metaphysical forces. Given such immense threat and the investment of Moses into building the cult, mocking it and fooling around with the basis of its source of authority (god in the smoke and fire pillars), are very serious, especially if others had noticed it. Sacrificing people as close to Moses as Aarons.” Continue reading →

Posted on March 24, 2013 by jewhu | Leave a comment

Vayikra – Lev. 1:1-5:26 and Tzav Lev. 6:1- 8:36

Posted on March 10, 2013 by jewhu

Animal sacrifice to please god and excuse short comings. Human heritage has almost universally included animal sacrifices in all cultures.  The Israelite ritual slaughter for God ended over 2000 years ago with the destruction of the temple. I find nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Jeremiah | יִרְמְיָהוּ, Leviticus | וַיִּקְרָא | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment