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The 1st Commandment’s Alef (א): Increase your understanding of God’s Word!
“I am ADONAI your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Ex. 20:2 אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים: לֹא-יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים, עַל-פָּנָי. Learning just 1 Hebrew letter (at a time!) can greatly increase your understanding of God’s Word The Hebrew language is very rich and full of depth of meaning. Sadly, for most native English speakers, Semitic languages like Hebrew are quite a challenge because the way the language functions is very different than English. The best way to begin is by mastering the Hebrew alphabet (the Alef-bet).…
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Boundaries and Breakthroughs: Parashat Yitro
The boundary set at Mount Sinai Shemot/Exodus 19 describes the awe-inspiring events at Mount Sinai leading up to the giving of the renowned Ten Words, or better known as the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. The holiness of Adonai, the Eternal One, is such that specific boundaries are given so that the people would not go up onto the mountain or even so much as touch its border. The consequence wasn’t minuscule: anyone who dared to touch the mountain in disobedience would be killed. Exodus 19:13, “Not a hand is to touch it, but he will surely be stoned or shot through. Whether it is an animal or a man,…
