Inner Circle

War with Amalek

Fighting Our Inner Amalek

Pharoah’s army is in a deadly pursuit of the Jewish people as they arrive at the sea.

Moshe tells the people, “Don’t be afraid… stand by and watch … God will do battle for you and you will be still.” (Exodus 14: 13-14)

God performs the miracle at the sea: the Egyptian army is drowned and the Jewish people are saved. The message for the world is to learn that there is no power in the world independent of God. There was no human intervention necessary to win the war.

Yet later, at the end of this week’s parsha, it is (more…)

By Shmuel, ago

Second Temple Burial Practices in Israel

Second Temple Burial Practices in Israel In the first century (Second Temple period), Jewish burial in Eretz Yisrael, especially around Yerushalayim, generally followed a two-stage process, as reflected in the Talmud and Mishna and strongly confirmed by archaeology. Stage 1: Primary Burial (Kevurat Ar’ii) The body was prepared with washing Read more

By Shmuel, ago