The Holy Half-Shekel

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 13, 2022 | Adar, Community, Israel, Ki Tisa, Temple

In the beginning of the Torah portion of Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35), God commands the Children of Israel to take a census by collecting a silver half-shekel from every male over the age of 20. What is the meaning of half shekel in the Bible? The half shekel is a...

The Incense Altar: Linking the Physical and the Spiritual

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 8, 2022 | Israel, Temple, Tetzaveh

After instructing the Children of Israel about the priestly garments, God then describes the golden altar for offering incense. Similar to the Ark of the Covenant, the altar for the incense was made of acacia wood covered in gold. Rings were set in its corners and...

The Tabernacle: Making God Our Neighbor

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 31, 2022 | God, Holiness, Israel, Marriage and Relationships, Temple, Terumah

In the book of Exodus, God gives Israel a commandment that seems decidedly undivine; to build Him a house to live in. The Israel Bible explains why the verse says to build God a house so that he may “dwell among them,” the people, and not that he may...

What Does it Mean to Observe Shemittah?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 24, 2022 | Faith, Holiness, Israel, Messiah, Mishpatim, Shabbat

The Shemittah comes every seven years, making it a form of Sabbath that occurs on a yearly, rather than a weekly, cycle. Observing the Shemittah acknowledges that the land of Israel belongs to the God of Israel. We work the land for six years, and on the seventh, we...

What is Tu B’Shevat?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 16, 2022 | Hebrew Language, Israel, Kedoshim, Tu B'shvat

Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for the Trees, is considered a minor festival in Judaism. There is no reference to the holiday of Tu B’Shevat in the Bible, but the Mishna (Rosh Hashana 1:1) notes that there are four distinctive New Years in the Jewish calendar:...

A Land Flowing With Milk and Honey

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 12, 2022 | Exodus, Israel

As the Hebrews prepare to leave Egypt, Moses reassures them that God will take them to a “land flowing with milk and honey.” This phrase is immensely important, appearing 14 times between Exodus and Deuteronomy, another time in Joshua, twice in Jeremiah, and once in...