I have never been able to figure out the whole idea of Mashiach (Messiah). It just doesn’t sit well with me at all. Who is this redeemer dude that we’re all waiting for? What is supposed to be so great about the time of Mashiach? I have always felt guilty to admit out loud that [...]
Archive for the ‘Terminology’ Category
The idea of Mashiach never sits right with me
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Spirituality, Terminology, tagged beit hamikdash, jerusalem, judaism, mashiach, messiah, the jewish temple on September 23, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Am I Jewish if I don’t believe in God? What does it mean to believe?
Posted in Assimilation, Deena Levenstein, Guest writer, Spirituality, Terminology, tagged ask the rabbi, emunah, faith, G-d, god, jewish, judaism, judaism and faith on September 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I co-wrote an article with Rabbi Shmulik Yeshayahu of the Kollel in Vancouver. It’s part of an “Ask the Rabbi” column in the Jewish Independent in B.C. Canada.
I heard it’s considered “brilliant” so I hope you’ll give it a try!
Use the soul to discover faith
Rebbecca, the Jehovah’s witness and me, the “chosen people”
Posted in Anti-Semitism, Deena Levenstein, Holidays, Terminology, tagged jehovah's witnesses, missionizing, mount sinai, shavuot, the chosen people on May 28, 2009 | 14 Comments »
I suddenly was hit with an epiphany.
I think that a lot of us more “modern,” “progressive” Jews cringe at least a little when we think about the idea of us being the chosen people. It doesn’t seem very fair and it does seem a little haughty. I’ve always had a little bit of an issue [...]
A very cool matza idea
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Holidays, Mitzvot/Mitzvas, Terminology, tagged jewish idea, judaism, lechem oni, matza, matzo, Passover, the four questions on April 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Wow, it’s always excited to hear an idea that I’ve never heard before.
This very cool idea (which I read in the Washington Post – On Faith) points out that matza is called lechem oni לחם עוני which means the bread of poverty but the word oni has the same letters as the word o’ne עונה [...]
And I wanna be free
Posted in Deena Levenstein, Holidays, Terminology, tagged free falling, freedom, judaism, queen, tom petty, true freedom on March 30, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Pessach, the holiday of freedom. FREEDOM! What a dream.
When you imagine yourself absolutely free, what are you picturing? I doubt you’re at work with your boss looking over your shoulder. I also doubt you’re bathing your children as they splash water all over the bathroom that you just cleaned. I’d be surprised if you’re lifting [...]
Asking the right questions
Posted in Payam Refaeilzadeh, Spirituality, Terminology, tagged creation, god, good and evil, judaism, legitimate questions on March 23, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Is G-d good? My answer would be “of course!” If I was aked to justify my answer, I would have to say: “… because he created me.” Simplistic? yes. But it works for me – it always has.
We are taught that G-d is one, eternal, all-powerful, non-corporeal creative entity, the full comprehension of which is [...]
Representin’ the People
Posted in Michael T. Pullen, Terminology, Tradition and customs, tagged being Jewish, kiddush hashem on March 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Kiddush Hashem? The advantages of not growing up Jewish is that I never encountered the Jewish version of this. However, my father made it very clear that there was a family version of this.
One day I came home from grade school with my books. When I entered the house I dropped the books on the [...]
