Jun 11, 2008
Posted on Jun 11, 2008 in Events, FFOZ, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Shavuot | 0 comments
Yesterday brought to an end First Fruits of Zion’s Shabbat Shalom Shavuot Conference in Hudson, Wisconsin. Today, we are driving back towards Arkansas pondering the events, teachings and new relationships with which we are bringing back with us. Thinking back over the events of the conference, probably the most significant factor of the conference for our family was being a part of the Beth Immanuel community. Shabbat was exceptionally nice, with the ability to have several homes a park and a playground within walking distance from the shul. During the conference we were able to spend time at the homes of Justin Johnson and his family, as well as Brian Tebbitt and his family. It was hard to leave these good friends. In regard to other aspects of the Beth Immanuel community, it was both very encouraging and very depressing to see how advanced their community has become. It was encouraging to see what Hashem is doing, but yet disheartening at the same time to realize the wide chasm between where we are as a community in relationship to Beth Immanuel and the long journey that was still ahead of us.
The theme of conference this year was “Shabbat Shalom.” And although there were lectures on the topic of Shabbat, from my point of view it could have just as easily been called the “Pray In The Spirit Extended Remix” conference. It seemed the primary focus of the conference was prayer and the introduction of the highly anticipated siddur project. And for all those who are anxiously awaiting the new siddur, here’s the scoop:
We were hoping to bring back the Shabbat siddur, but it is still incomplete. In defense of First Fruits, the main reason this has not been completed is because of their deep understanding of their responsibility of creating a resource such as this with excellence. (They compared it to trying to edit Shakespeare without it being obvious – a great analogy. I will explain more about this later.) We were, however, able to experience the first fruits of their labor in draft form in our day to day services during the conference. I plan on sharing more on this later, but need to cover my bases as to what is “shareable” or not. Keep your eyes peeled for more info on this in the next few days…
May 18, 2008
Posted on May 18, 2008 in Feasts & Holy Days, Prayer | 2 comments
I taught this past Shabbat at our first community Shabbat meeting in Central Arkansas. We plan on having these once a month. If are in the Central Arkansas area (or want to travel!) be sure to find out when our meetings are.
This is sort of repeat material, but a little different approach. If you haven’t discovered Hashem’s missing moed…well, your missing out!
Right-click (pc) or Control-click (mac!) to download:
Apr 28, 2008
Posted on Apr 28, 2008 in Mishnah, Pirkei Avot | 1 comment
I just want to remind people who are studying Pirkei Avot between Chag HaMatzot and Shavuot that I have the full text of Pirkei Avot available online (along with a scarce bit of commentary) here:
Read the full text of Pirkei Avot (‘Ethics of the Fathers’) online
Today is eight days, which are one week and one day, of the Omer.
Apr 24, 2008
Posted on Apr 24, 2008 in Pesach, Pirkei Avot | 0 comments
As many of you know, I’ve been going through a series of books called A Daily Dose of Torah for the past year or so. Here’s something I recently came across:
“Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (in Mesillas Yesharim Chapter 1) explains that Hashem placed man in a world that is full of situations that can distance him from maintaining a close relationship with Hashem. Even things that seem to be good are tests for a person, to see if he will withstand temptation and use what seems to be an obstacle as a stepping-stone to come closer to Hashem”
(vol 14, p. 31).
It then sites the example from Proverbs 30:8 & 9, which states:
“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD ?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
The commentary notes that both poverty and wealth can be a test of one’s service of Hashem. This reminds me of a passage in Pirkei Avot (which we study from now until Shavuot – Pentecost), which says:
Rabbi Yonatan said: He who fulfills the Torah in poverty shall in the end fulfill it in wealth. He who disregards the Torah in wealth shall in the end disregard it in poverty. (Avot 4:11)
Also, Hillel (the grandfather of Paul’s teacher Gamliel) said, “Say not: When I have time I will study, because you may never have the time” (Avot 2:5).
The time to study and live Torah is now. The spirit of Elijah is calling us to return to Torah and live it, not merely theorize about it. If you haven’t cleared the leaven from your home, please do so today. We only have three days left of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and we must purge ourselves from both the physical and spiritual leaven in order to be obedient to Torah and our Messiah. Otherwise, we are denying the validity of Torah and Messiah in our lives and deceiving ourselves, being merely “hearers of the Word” rather than “doers of the Word.”
Apr 16, 2008
Posted on Apr 16, 2008 in Apostolic Midrash, Apostolic Writings, Pesach | 0 comments
Got your attention? I hope to have this article finished by late today or tomorrow. Keep your eyes peeled…
