Articles
It is quite common for people to think of Paul as a Christian. After all, so much of what is called Christian is based on his teachings, which are a part of the Scriptures all Christians recognize. But surprisingly, though he had many opportunities to do so, Paul did not
Articles
The Synagogue of Freedmen (sunagogeh ton libertinon; συναγωγή των Λιβερτίνων) is mentioned in Acts 6:9. The Greek term "Freedmen" (Libertinos; Λιβερτῖνος) is unfamiliar to many modern people. But it is a loanword from Latin libertini, and designates those who were "freed slaves." In the Roman
Articles
For some, prayer is free-flowing, meandering from one topic to another, like a summer breeze, a living dialogue, or a musical improvisation. For others, prayer is something more formal, organized, and structured with care. It's not that one approach is superior to another, but there is room for
Articles
During the winter of 2017, archaeologists working in a Jerusalem suburb, discovered the foundations of a Roman structure dating to the 1st century B.C.E. What they found was building remnants and a part of a common round column. The exciting part is that the column had writing on
Video
I wanted to share with you a Morning Prayer and, more specifically, a musical piece I created based on it. The words of this song are inspired by the words of the traditional morning blessings found in the Siddur (Jewish Prayer Book). The person who is praying in the early
Articles
During the Second Temple Period, many Jews lived outside of Israel. And the city of Cyrene in Northern Africa was one of the major Jewish Diaspora centers. You may not have heard much about this city because its glory has disappeared from the pages of history, and it stands in
Articles
There is no Passover without Matzah. If you're not familiar with it, it's what Jews call the unleavened bread, a tradition dating back to the days of Moses. Every year, Passover is commemorated by eating this simple bread - Matzah (מַצָּה) and also by
Articles
A few years back, the Gospel Herald reported that according to a BBC poll, 25 % of Christians in Great Britain said, “Jesus’ resurrection was not real.” It turns out that according to the survey results, one in four of those who considered themselves Christians in Great Britain do not truly
Articles
The resurrection of the dead techiyat hametim (תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים) has always been a belief that some embraced and some rejected. Historically, while some Jews were very optimistic about such prospects, others were doubtful of them. Pagans for the most part have not seen resurrection
Articles
A new Tzur Natan neighborhood construction in central Israel was preceded by a dig. The excavation unearthed a rare written record. It points to a Samaritan business from 1600 years ago. The Greek inscription mentions a wealthy landowner, ‘Master Adios’. In the 5th century, the heartland of Israel was populated
Articles
The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus or Ben Sira, is a Jewish wisdom text from the Second Temple period, written by Jesus ben Sira around 180-175 BCE in Jerusalem. It is part of the Apocrypha in many Christian traditions and is included in the Septuagint, though it is
Articles
The books of Enoch preserve many curious visions. At times, they present ideas not mentioned by anyone else. And what always amazes me personally are all the rich details that Enoch texts include. Take this seemingly typical scene where Enoch describes what he saw in heaven, "I saw a