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Ruminations from PaRDeSRumination 42:Avraham AvinuRumination #42: Why is it important for the followers of Messiah to identify not only with Abraham, but with Isaac and Jacob as well?
All stripes of the followers of Messiah, identify with Abraham; especially those who are from Gentile stock. Because of the promise of Genesis 12, and Paul's commentary in Romans 4, it is easy for us all to see Abraham as "our father." The difficulties enter when we identify with Isaac and Jacob. Are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob "our fathers"? Of course much of Judaism has said "no" when Gentiles ask the question. Jacob o...
2023-07-2636 min
Ruminations from PaRDeSLikutey Mohoran Pt1 #71. Likutey Moharan #7. Rebbe Nachman had a vision in which his great-grandfather, the Baal Shem Tov, came to him and said, "When people spoil things in the Land of Israel, they fall into exile. This is alluded to in the verse (Genesis 49:24), And from there the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel." Rebbe Nachman explains this vision here and again in Lesson #9. Both teachings were given during the winter of 5563 (1802-03). See Tzaddik # 129; Until the Mashiach, p.93.
This lesson opens with the first verse of the Torah portion Mishpatim (Laws). Rebbe Nachman quotes both a Talmudic passage and a...
2023-07-2028 minRuminations from PaRDeSRuminations 40 & 41 Repentance and Love of GodWhy is repentance/Teshuvah so important? Why are we commanded to love HaShem our G-d? In this episode we explore what it means to live in obedience to HaShem's revealed will, the Torah. What does it mean to love HaShem, how does the Torah define love.
In Kabbalah the words אהבה and אחד have the same numerical value of 13 which indicates that we are in unity with HaShem when we are obedient to his mitzvot.
2023-07-1951 minRuminations from PaRDeSBetween The TroublesA special episode on Bein HaMetzarim/Between The Troubles. I read from:
Seasons Of The Soul by Rabbi Aryeh Trugman
The Months Of Tammuz and Av: Embracing Brokenness by DovBer Pinson
The Darkness and the Dawn by Daniel Glatstein.
From these books we have good starting point to rectification of this time of calamity and to bring about the final redemption.
2023-07-0434 minRuminations from PaRDeSLikutey Moharan Pt 1 #61. Likutey Moharan #6. Rebbe Nachman taught this lesson on Shabbat Shuvah, 6 Tishrei 5563 (October 2, 1802). It was shortly after Reb Noson had joined the Rebbe's following and, in a sense, the lesson can be seen as Rebbe Nachman personally initiating him into the role Reb Noson would one day fill as the Rebbe's leading disciple (cf. Lesson #S, n. 1). Indeed, Reb Noson himself testifies that he drew a lifetime of encouragement from this teaching (see Through Fire and Water, Chapter 8). Through section 7 (see n. 156) of the lesson's text is leshon Rabbeinu (this terminology has been explained at the end of the first note...
2023-06-2949 minRuminations from PaRDeSRuminations #37 & 38: Why does Scripture categorize the commandments? Why would anyone be cursed?In this episode we’ll explore the dichotomy between the man made categories and the Torah’s self categories such as: Chokim/Decrees, Mitzvot/Instructions, and Mishpatim/Judgements.
2023-06-2828 minRuminations from PaRDeSLikutey Moharan Pt1 #5.1. Likutey Moharan #5. Rebbe Nachman taught this lesson on Monday, Rosh HaShanah 5563 (September 27, 1802), shortly after he had taken up residence in the city of Breslov. On Sunday of the previous week (September 19), the man who was to become Rebbe Nachman's closest follower and scribe, Reb Noson, met the Rebbe for the very first time. The text of the lesson is leshon Rabbeinu z'l (see end of first note to Lesson #2 where this terminology has been explained. From the Rebbe's own testimony we know that within its sections are concealed the mystical intentions relating to tefilin (see Likutey Moharan I, 38:end, in...
2023-06-2234 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 36: Where did the idea that, a “pastor” or a “messianic rabbi” come from? Not the Bible.Rumination #36: Where did the idea that congregations need a "pastor" or a "messianic rabbi" come from? Not the Bible.
The Protestant Reformation failed in many ways, but one particular way it failed may have led to all its other failures. It is this: the Protestant Reformation failed to declare once and for all that the single leader model ultimately negates the leadership of Messiah.
Just as Korach's rebellion was to replace Moses, so too the one-man-show in pulpits and bimahs usurps the very leadership of Messiah. There is one Head of the Congregation of HaShem - it is Yeshua alone.
...
2023-06-2142 minRuminations from PaRDeSLikutey Moharan Pt 1 #41. Likutey Moharan #4. This lesson was given on Shavuot 5561 (May 17, 1801), in Zlatipolia (Until the Mashiach, p.65). The text is leshon Rabbeinu z'l (see end of first note to Lesson #2 where this terminology has been explained). The main themes of the lesson are: recognizing God in all circumstances; confession in the presence of the tzaddik; humility, especially that of the tzaddik; and the three steps in attachment to tzaddikim.
2023-06-1444 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination #35: If there is One King, how can there be two standards, or two laws?There are teachers say that the Torah is abolished. They have played games with the Scriptures and created elaborate theologies to distinguish between "moral law, civil law, and ritual law." They do this for one reason: to separate Jew and Gentile (aka "Christian"). This 1,900 year old heresy uses "dispensations" or "covenants" as theological methods to make it quite clear that the followers of "Jesus" are not to be confused with Jews. Yes, it all boils down to just that.
There are teachers that say that the Torah is abolished for Gentiles. They use new language and phrases such as, "inviting"...
2023-06-141h 16Ruminations from PaRDeSLikutey Mohoran Part One #3Behold! when someone listens to the singing of a singer who is wicked, it is detrimental to his serving the Creator. But when he listens to a singer who is virtuous and worthy, it helps him, as will be explained.
Likutey Mohoran #3. This lesson was given on Shabbat, 7 Elul 5562 (September 4, 1802), in Ladizin, a town some 19 miles from Breslov.
2023-06-0915 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination #34: What identifies the disciples of Messiah? Is it a creed, a bumper sticker, a membership?Over the centuries, there have been numerous ways that so-called "true believers" of Jesus have identified themselves. Creeds and statements of "I believe" as well as tie pins, necklaces, and bumper stickers are like secret handshakes between fellow members. But what is the real way to identify a disciple of Messiah?
Of course, any child of the 1970s "Jesus Movement" can tell you, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love." The popular camp song is derived from Yeshua's statement about His followers:
By this all will know that you are...
2023-06-0943 minRuminations from PaRDeSRuminations 33 & 34:The focus of redemption is not individuals, but community. The presence of light reveals flaws.What does it mean to be in a community? What are my responsibilities in that community? How does the Torah describe this community? These are important questions to ask. As you listen to this episode, keep these questions in mind as well as the fact that, the answers are not necessarily definitive.
We also have the understanding that, the Torah is likened to light that reveals flaws in our nature, but is this the purpose for light? Is the Torah's purpose to reveal sin? Again these are questions to be explored and kept in...
2023-06-051h 13Ruminations from PaRDeSLikutey Mohoran Part One Lesson #21. Likutey Moharan #2. This lesson was given on a Shabbat in the winter of 5561 (1801), in the town of Zlatipolia. Rebbe Nachman lived there from just prior to Rosh HaShanah 5561 until he moved to Breslov almost two years to the day, in 5563 (see Until the Mashiach, p.60).
When the Terhovitza Magid (Reb Yekusiel, d.1811), a prominent Chassidic leader in his own right, later saw the lesson in writing, he remarked, "What can I say about this teaching? That it is Zohar? It's loftier than the Zohar! That it is Tikkuney Zohar? It's loftier than the Tikkuney Zohar!" (Aveneha Barzel...
2023-05-1123 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination #31: Without the physical Land of Israel, there is no such thing as the New Covenant.While it is certainly understandable for Replacement Theology (aka "Supercessionism", aka "Covenant Theology") to try and substitute the Land of Israel for the ethereal "heaven"; it is nonetheless as faulty as so many of their substitutions. The Scriptures are replete with the mention of the Land of Israel as central to the redemption plan of the Almighty. Like the entire inheritance of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, these notable (and ignoble) theologians, by negating the inheritance of the Land undercut their own theologies of redemption. They may have study Bibles that include their names in the titles… bu...
2023-05-1044 minRuminations from PaRDeSLikutey Mohoran Part One Lesson #1Beginning with this episode I'll be reading one lesson a week from Likutey Mohoran, the magnum opus of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, the great grandson of the Ba'al Shem Tov of blessed memory.
Ashrei T'mimei Darekh (Happy are those whose way is perfect), who walk with the Torah of God.
Know! by means of the Torah, all the prayers and all the requests that we request and pray are accepted. The grace and importance of the Jewish people are thus enhanced and elevated in the estimation of all of...
2023-05-0322 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 30: My love is measured by how well I listen. How well I listen is measured by how I respond.In its modern usage, love is rarely spoken of in relationship to listening.
In the Bible, love is different. It speaks of husband and wife; of parent and child; and of HaShem and His people. It is there that we learn what real love is - and it always involves listening. If we were speaking Hebrew, that might be enough to make the point - but English makes listening passive. Love is not passive, and it does not simply "go in one ear and out the other." In Hebrew, to sh'ma is to respond. It is not mer...
2023-05-0237 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 29:How can we be holy, as he is holy?To the biblical mind, "being" cannot be distinct from "doing." In Hebrew, unlike English and other European languages, there is less emphasis on being and more emphasis on doing. We could read the multitude of verses that command us to "be holy" as saying something like: "do these holy things." Despite the wrong-headed theology that says that G-d proves our depravity by commanding the impossible, the Almighty never commands us to do something that He does not enable us to do. Read that again. When the Creator tells His people to be holy as He is holy, He is commanding us to...
2023-04-2857 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 28: He is the leper Messiah. He identifies and care for those afflicted with death.There is profound misunderstanding in many circles concerning the issues of "clean" and "unclean" - and out of that misunderstanding comes many false theologies. The fact that Yeshua "put on flesh" and became subject to death is seen not only in His atoning work, but also in His life, both then and now. "Leprosy" is seen as the ultimate expression of the frailty of humanity – stopping just short of death. It is the "walking death" – the nearly the worst in "clean" versus "unclean" with only death itself being more defiling. And yet Yeshua identifies with the leper. He touches him...
2023-04-191h 32Ruminations from PaRDeSRumination #27: Eating is always an act of worship - worshipping the Almighty, or worshipping yourself.The "faith community" is not immune to the fads of the world at large. At times, the health food mindset finds a comfortable place at the table of a teacher or a ministry. Often times it is focused on fear of some ingredients, or some processes. What is surprising to me is not that some find proper eating important - what is surprising is that rarely does it go beyond the latest societal trends. How often do these teachers reach back into the "Old Testament" for their inspiration? If they do, it is for "health reasons" - not because...
2023-04-1350 minRuminations from PaRDeSRuminiation 26 and PesachRumination #26: Without the Holy Temple, there is no pesach lamb. Without the pesach lamb, we cannot keep Passover. So, how can we celebrate Passover without the pesach lamb? We remember the Lamb.Ever since the destruction of the Holy Temple in 70 CE, there has been no place for the Passover offering. As the Torah instructs us:
You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which HaShem your G-d gives you; but at the Place where HaShem your G-d chooses to make His Name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at twilight...
2023-04-0532 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination #25: People who refuse to say 'Yes' to the Almighty's commands, can never expect to truly know His will.Every time an important decision is presented to a follower of Messiah, we of course want to know what HaShem's will is. The problem with that approach is that it is often that we forget that HaShem has revealed His ultimate will to us already. It seems somewhat trivial when we consider the Commandments of the Almighty as His will - but the Commandments of Scripture comprise the most precise and fullest measure of His will that we can know. His instructions are loving instructions for our good - that much must be clearly seen. But, often those who...
2023-03-291h 25Ruminations from PaRDeSRumination 24 RevistedRumination #24: If He called, would you know His voice? The account of Samuel in chapter three of 1Samuel makes a nice children's story. Of course, Samuel lived in quiet times. Quiet times with regard to HaShem speaking that is. He lived in the days of the Judges, when each man did what was right in his own eyes. It was in those dark days that Samuel first heard HaShem speak. At first he did not know HaShem's Voice. After the third trip to Eli, the elderly priest helped Samuel understand that it was HaShem Himself speaking to the y...
2023-03-221h 26Ruminations from PaRDeSBiblical Judaism is not merely monotheistic/HaShem Is One; He has one people, and it is Israel.It is not enough to believe in "one G-d." It is not even enough to say you believe in the "G-d of the Bible" - after all, a long line of anti-Semites claim the Bible as their own and call themselves "the true Israel" (and yet despise all things Jewish). No, our faith is not shared by those opposed to Israel. The only G-d is the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, the G-d of Jacob.
2023-03-141h 18
Ruminations from PaRDeSRumination 21:Light is not the absence of DarknessLight is not the absence of darkness - likewise righteousness is not merely the absence of sin. Righteousness is active, not passive.
2023-03-0622 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 20When the Bible becomes theology, the Tabernacle a mere picture, and works the antithesis of faith - then the ethereal will replace the real. Thus empty religion is lacking in real faith.
2023-02-2812 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 19Legalism is what closet legalists accuse everyone else of. When love inspires obedience, how can it be called legalism. In the discussion segment of the show I along my special guest Emet Collins aka Shomer Man, discuss the definition of the word “Legalism” and the dichotomy between man made religious system of does and don’ts and, Torah mitzvot.
2023-02-222h 06Ruminations from PaRDeSWhich is greater, lip service or obedience?It is odd the theological machinations that some go through in order to avoid saying that all the commandments of HaShem are his express will for his people.
2023-02-142h 01Ruminations from PaRDeSOhr HaChaim’s explanation on Ex 20:1Ohr HaChaim explains with what attributes the Torah was given i.e in the attribute of Hased/Grace and Gevurah/Strict Judgement.
2023-02-0908 minRuminations from PaRDeSThe mystical dimensions of the “Ten Words.”The four lettered Ineffable Name י-ה-ו-ה is the Name which symbolizes G’d’s Essence. All other names are somehow derived from this four lettered Name.
2023-02-0912 minRuminations from PaRDeSTorah commentary The Inner Dimension by HaRav Yitzhak Ginsburg on YitroParashat Yitro:Lights And Mitzvot. Now, in Parashat Yitro, we experience the greatest miracle of all. At the Revelation at Mt. Sinai, the entire Jewish People attained the level of prophecy. "All the people see the sounds." There, God removed the veil of nature that hides His Divine light and revealed Himself to us by giving us His essence the Torah.
2023-02-0914 minRuminations from PaRDeSTu B’ Shevat New Year Of The TreesTHE HOLIDAYS THAT OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR should be understood as specific times set aside for each of us to experience and put into practice the theoretical and spiritual teachings of the Torah related to each month as revealed by the Sages.
2023-02-0708 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 17: Exactly what are the “Ten Words”Everyone seems to know about a portion of Scripture they call the “Ten Commandments.” They were written on tablets of stone; and they supposedly represent the baseline morality for two religions: Judaism and Christianity. But what exactly are they?
2023-02-0605 min2023-02-0100 minRuminations from PaRDeSReading from the book The Month Of Shevat:Elevating Eating & Tu b’ShevatEach month’s representative Torah verse is connected to its unique Divine signature.
2023-02-0104 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 16: why did HaShem reveal the Shabbat before the Sinai revelation?When was the Shabbat revealed and when was it’s observance mandated. In this episode we will learn how and why.
2023-02-0106 minRuminations from PaRDeSRumination 24:if He called, would you know his voice. Pt 1Many people claim to hear God speaking to them, but is this really the case?
2022-03-1159 min