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Articles by Motteleh Schusterman
What is Ruach Hakodesh?
“Ruach hakodesh” (רוח הקודש), literally translated as the "Spirit of Holiness," is an important part of Jewish tradition. While the term is often translated as "the Holy Spirit," it is completely distinct from the similarly named concept found in other faiths; in Judaism, it represents the specific mechanism through which the Infinite communicates with the finite.
Who Was Nimrod? - The evil rebel king and conqueror
Nimrod, a great-grandson of Noah, was a powerful king in the era following the Great Flood. He was known as a powerful hunter and one of the first kings in history. In Midrashic literature, he is identified as the instigator of the ill-fated project to build the great Tower of Babel, as the rival of Abraham (whom he tried to kill on multiple occasions), and as one of the kings in the four-king alliance that conquered large sections of the Fertile Crescent.
What Is the Seal of Solomon?
Is it a real thing? Does it have real power? Is it a Jewish idea? And where does the concept come from? Medieval Usage: Six- or Five-Pointed Star In Medieval writings (both Jewish and non-Jewish), the “Seal of Solomon” is a mystical symbol, a six-pointed star (also known as a hexagram, and later given the name “Star of David”) or a five-pointed star (aka a pentagram), said to have spiritual powers.
The Origin and Meaning Behind the Ana Bekoach Prayer
The Piyut Ana Bekoach is a beautiful piyut (liturgical poem) beseeching G‑d to guard and purify those who follow Him. The piyut is made up of seven lines of six words. The first letter of each word combined makes up the 42-letter name of G‑d. In many prayerbooks, the acrostic is printed alongside the text. Each line also has a unique significance, corresponding to one of the seven emotional sefirot. The poem ends with “Baruch Shem,” the traditional blessing recited after saying G‑d’s name.
Is Abracadabra a Jewish Expression?
You’ve probably heard the quintessential magical spell, abracadabra. But have you ever wondered what it actually means and where it comes from? Although the actual origins and meaning of the word are shrouded in mystery, the first recorded appearance of the word abracadabra is in the 2nd century CE in the Liber Medicinalis by the Roman physician Serenus Sammonicus. He prescribed an amulet involving the word as a cure for fever.
Why Do Kosher Restaurants Keep Bits of Bread Near the Sink?
You’ve just finished with the bathroom at a bustling kosher pizzeria or wedding hall. You're at the sink washing up, but your eye catches something puzzling. There, perched on the edge of the sink or resting on a small shelf nearby, is a basket filled with small pieces of bread. While it may look like misplaced catering, this arrangement is actually a practical solution to a specific requirement in Jewish law.
Vaykhel-Pekudei
The Unique Place By Adin Even-Israel (Steinsaltz) Why was the Tabernacle erected in the wilderness, a seemingly inopportune time and setting for such an endeavor? With whom did G-d consult (when He said "Let us make man")? He consulted with the souls of the righteous Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit 8:7
How Old Was Solomon When He Became King?
The verses in the Book of Samuel and the Book of Kings that detail Solomon’s rise to the throne do not tell us his exact age. All we know is that in Kings, Solomon tells G‑d, “I am a young lad.” The verses also provide a rough chronology from Solomon’s birth to the passing of his father, King David, whose reign he succeeded.
What Did Queen Esther Look Like?
“And the maiden was of beautiful form and of beautiful appearance.” We know Esther was beautiful, but we don’t have a visual description of the features that so captivated King Ahasuerus, ruler of the entire Persian empire. Nevertheless, we can glean some fascinating details about her appearance from the rich Midrashic and Aggadic literature. The nature of her beauty. Ibn Ezra explains that “beautiful form” means that all of her features were perfectly proportionate.
What is a Kezayit?
Kezayit literally means “like an olive,” but is used as a noun, meaning “an olive-bulk.” Essentially, it is a semi-standardized measurement of volume that has been passed down through the generations, all the way since Moses on Mount Sinai. A kezayit is considered a substantial amount of food. “‘Eating’ is not less than an olive-size,” the Midrash rules. This means that mitzvahs related to eating usually require a kezayit to be considered substantial.
Top 30 Jewish Quotes
Here are my top 30 Jewish quotes, sampling from different parts of our rich tradition. The list includes life advice, instructions, deep insights into the human psyche, and important Jewish values. 1. I have set before you life and death ... and you shall choose life. The Torah lays out the principle of free choice and urges us to choose well. 2. The L‑rd sees into the heart. G‑d reminds the Prophet Samuel to always look beyond superficialities. 3. The footsteps of humans are directed by G‑d.
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