Israel's Divisive Politics: It seems that the Lord wants the Children of Israel to learn and accept their true leader. Yet, surrounded by other peoples with governments of "men," Israel lost the vision of a Lord's government. "Following Solomon's death, dissension and rebellion broke out in Israel. Rehoboam, Solomon's son and heir to the throne, was unable to maintain the unity of the kingdom and the northern section seceded as…

Black Ethiopian Jews: "In Ethiopia, members of this group refer to themselves as Beta Israel . . . They practice an early form of Judaism . . . According to their tradition, their ancestors were Jerusalem notables who came with Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, when he returned home." "They said that he brought Judaic customs and civil law to Ethiopia." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)…

Scriptures–Important Part of Jewish Life: Every congregation, whether Orthodox, Conservative or Reform reads the same Torah section on Mondays, Thursdays and Sabbaths (Saturdays). There are additional readings on High Days such as Yom Kippur, Passover, Sukkoth, Rosh Hannah, Shavuot, etc. In addition, readings from the "Neviim," the Prophets, and the "Ketuvim," their writings, are added. Over the years, these additional readings have been added to assist in explaining the Torah…

Good Similarities Extend to Latter-day David: Jews expect a "latter-day" David who would be similar to the former David in that he would be militarily, politically and spiritually capable. However, Jews choose to reflect on David's good characteristics rather than on his grievous mistakes. His repentance is recognized. Yet, we feel that the results of his immorality and murderous conspiracy extends into times unknown to us. Comparing Paul with David:…

Sources of Davidic History: Most of what we know about David, Saul, and his son Jonathan, comes from the Holy Scriptures. Some creative works have been produced, fired by imagination and legends. The only non biblical text ever discovered that includes the name of David with a time reference that connects it to his time was a stone used in a walkway leading to the entrance of "Tel Dan" in…

Imbalance of Faith and Works: In Judaism, "belief" is super ceded by "doing." Hence the 613 commandments (365 do not's and 248 do's) have preeminence over faith. "The biblical word emunah (and its other forms) which is often translated as "belief" really means "trust" or "confidence," which is something quite different." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) Choosing of a New King: After Saul, choosing a new King was to become a spiritual…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Israel Conquests[/caption] CONQUESTS The land of Israel is really quite small. The biblical borders of the "Jordan River to the Mediterranean" and "Dan to Beersheba" are about 65-miles wide and about 200-miles long, with virtually no natural resources, (there is no gold or silver or metal deposits). Even Golda Meir, former Prime Minister of Israel, humorously chided Moses when she said, "He travelled the wilderness for forty years and…

Samuel Means Dedicated to the Lord: Hannah, the wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel, is a devout woman who made an annual pilgrimage to the Temple in Shiloh. Anguished at her barrenness and vowing to dedicate any son born to her to the service of God, the high priest Eli heard her and added his blessing to her pleas. (1 Samuel 1:11) First fruits and first…

Few Women Revered in Jewish Thought: Ruth is one of them. A woman convert to Judaism is given or "takes upon herself" a "New Name," usually that of Ruth or another of the righteous women of the Bible. "The sages regarded Ruth as the prototype of the righteous convert. They taught that Elimelech and his sons were punished for going to Moab during the famine in Judah. They should have…

[caption align="aligncenter"]The Nativity Church In Bethlehem[/caption] THE NATIVITY CHURCH The traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus is in a grotto located under the Church of Nativity. This is not inconceivable, in the sense that stables were usually on the ground floor or underneath the inn rooms. The tradition, however, only begins 175 years after the birth of Jesus. Three Christian churches, Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic, hold separate services here and…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Wild Oregano[/caption] LIFE GOES ON No matter the economic hardships one may encounter, this I know, life goes on. This family of Elimelech, with two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, settled in Moab for several years. Mahlon and Chilion took Moabite women to wife. Eventually, Elimelech died along with his two sons Mahlon and Chilion (whose names in Hebrew actually mean sickness and death). All that was left of Elimelech’s…

Defense Minister, Mr. Lightning: Barak ("lightning" in Hebrew), the military leader of Israel, was hesitant to follow Deborah's prophetic instruction to engage the enemy. He acquiesced after she agreed to accompany him. (There may have been fewer wars if presidents and prime ministers had accompanied their young soldiers to battle.) Kenites: Modern archaeology has discovered Kenite temples identical to Israelite temples. Jael, Heber's wife, of the Kenite people, apparently may…

"Prophet in Waiting:" The selection of Joshua to replace Moses was anticipated by the Israelites. There was (and still is) a system that God established that there would always be a worthy "Prophet in waiting." Known examples include Joseph for Jacob, Joshua for Moses, Nephi for Lehi and presently the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. These prophets were and are still led by the Lord. History some times…

How Are You Using Your Anchors? The Children of Israel did so poorly in keeping a "spiritual" standard that Moses endeavored to give them a more "physical" standard. The advantage of having physical items as "anchors" to keep reminding us of spiritual goals is evident and useful. However, to many people like the Children of Israel, the physical aspects became more important than what they should be reminders of. The…

What Do Jews Think of Balaam? The collection of Jewish traditions about Balaam are mostly negative and confusing. First of all, he is considered a "gentile prophet." What makes this of interest is the acknowledgment, or at least the inference, that there were prophets outside of ethnic Israel. Unfortunately, the same Jewish tradition distrusts "gentile" prophets. In the same breath, it diminishes the importance of the positive Biblical accounts of…

True Concept of God–Revelation, Lost: For Judaism, "looking to God" and "revelation" are almost figurative and in modern times have become unexplainable. "There is no specific term corresponding to "revelation" . . . appearances are described by a series of anthropomorphic (i.e., human) expressions and concrete images . . . Thus, various phrases are used when describing appearances of the Divine, for example kavod ("glory") or shekhinah (. . .…

Manna, the “Bread” That Kept Israelites Alive: ". . . it was the special duty of the housewife to bake the bread for the Sabbath . . . Two such loaves are placed on the festive Sabbath table as a symbol for the double portion of manna which the Israelites in the wilderness received every Friday . . ." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) Israel Complained–not Enough Water: In the exodus, Moses…

[caption align="aligncenter"]The Hula Valley[/caption] THE HULA VALLEY The challenge to drain the ancient, stinking swamps called the Hula, was met by new Jewish immigrants in the 1940's and 50's. The land is now fruitful. Many of the returning Lebanese visitors are surprised to see the new landscape which has changed considerably since they last saw it almost forty years ago. New settlements and development towns like Kiryat Shemona dot the…

Extermination Order–Deliverer: Baby Moses being saved during an extermination order by the Pharaoh parallels the account of the baby Jesus being saved during an extermination order by King Herod. Moses becomes a "type" of the deliverer. Jesus is the real deliverer. Jesus Was Born on Passover: According to the biblical calendar, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830. It was Passover that year!…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Mount of Olives[/caption] MOUNT OF OLIVES In the Judean hills, the Mount of Olives looks over Jerusalem. It is about 2700 feet above sea level and is the highest of the several hills in the immediate area of the Holy City. This mount is sacred as a place for the dead as well as for its biblically renowned orchards and vineyards. The graveyard has been the hallowed resting spot…

Ancient Joseph Learned a Profound Lesson in Becoming a Slave: He simply became the very best slave or servant he could be. "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant . . ." (Matthew 23:11-12) "He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all." (Doctrine & Covenants 50:26) Hiding…

Joseph, Known and Unknown: The account of ancient Joseph is truly a chiasmas paralleled by the modern story of Joseph. It is a prefiguring of the Savior's mission. In slavery, his identity is really unknown, yet he serves and saves those around him. Later, he serves and saves his brothers before identifying himself. Latter-day Messiah Preceded by a Joseph Messiah? "According to the Talmud, the Messiah will be a descendant…

Modern Finds Give Insights to Biblical Culture: The Biblical area of Haran may have been discovered in modern Iraq. Writings found in an ancient town of Nuzi give some insight to the culture of Biblical times: "NUZI is an ancient city in northeastern Iraq . . . discovered thousands of tablet-documents dating from the 15th-14th centuries B.C.E. . . . when deciphered, turned out to be extremely valuable . .…

Promise Kept: Isaac was a miracle child, born of Sarah who was ninety-years old and barren. One could ask, "what did the neighbors say?" Isaac in Hebrew means laughter, humor, amusing or delightful. Abraham and Sarah were delighted. A human impossibility became a God-given fulfillment. In the Lord's own plan, he kept his promises! A Chosen Birth Date: "According to the aggadah, Isaac was born to Sarah on the first…

Dead Sea Scroll People Move to the "Great Salt Lake": The Dead Sea Scrolls people moved away from wickedness to establish a singular community of righteousness. Their leader was called the "Teacher of Righteousness" and he had two assistants. There was also a council of "Twelve Overseers." They had an order following the 'righteous king', which is said in Hebrew, "Melech Zedek." The Dead Sea sect shunned others, and probably…

Abrahamic Covenant Before Abraham? It can be considered that the "Abrahamic covenant" was in existence before Abraham's time. The honor bestowed on this faithful dispensation leader was to have the covenant that eternally binds God and man named after him. A few others have been honored similarly, such as in "The Law of Moses" and the "Sign of the Prophet Jonah." New Name: It is a common practice among religious…

Jew's View of a Law Preceding Moses: "Noachide Laws, seven laws which were supposed by the rabbis to have been binding on all mankind even before the revelation at Sinai . . . Exegetically derived from statements made by God to Adam and to Noah, six of them are negative: not to 1) worship idols; 2) blaspheme the name of God; 3) kill; 4) commit adultery; 5) rob; 6) eat…

References to Enoch: "Enoch" appears in several apocryphal works. The Ethiopian Jews who claim to be descendants of King Solomon (and the Queen of Sheba) have brought their holy books from Ethiopia to Israel. Although they are recent in terms of age (less than two-thousand years old), they do contain two apocryphal books, one of which is the Book of Enoch. "Probably the most important work in pseudepigraphical literature deals…

Who Remembers the "Fall of Adam" Anymore?: The fall of Adam is one of the faded doctrines of Judaism. Discovery of ancient scriptures (The Pearl of Great Price) and the restoration of temples in modern times have restored understanding that was on the earth before. Following is a collection of Jewish thought on Adam, Eve and sin. Literal or Allegorical? "For most of the medieval Jewish thinkers, the biblical story…

Texts Before the Bible was Written: Before the Bible as we know it was written there were written correspondences between peoples in the Middle East. The oldest known writing may be the Ebla Tablets found in today's Syria. Approximately eighteen thousand ceramic plates were found. They even contained a language that had never been known before. Even more astounding was a set of plates that contained a sort of dictionary…

Pre-earth Life Exists Before New Testament: At the time of Jesus a Society of Jews that many call the Essenes lived at the Dead Sea. Their writings included inferences of "pre-existence." This seems evident because their scribes referred to the Messiah they expected as known by previous prophets and sages. Doctrine Changed: Again, the eighth century Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, eliminated references to a pre-earth life. Various writing of sages prior…

True Nature Of God Known in Antiquity: The anthropomorphic nature of God was known to the Jews at the time of Jesus. The Old Testament, as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls contain several references to God in 'human terms'. As the true nature of God is seen to diminish in history, true religion fades away. When Jewish Belief in God Changed: By the time the Crusaders were approaching the…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Turkey Tom[/caption] The Thanksgiving symbol of plenty, a horned basket, resembles the Jewish shofar, and of course, both Sukkot and Thanksgiving feature bountiful amounts of delicious, seasonally-inspired foods. Perhaps, most enjoyable part of Sukkot is the food. Okay, the traditional American Thanksgiving food is turkey, So, how is it that Israelis now consume more turkey per capita than anyone in the world, even counting American thanksgiving, so ubiquitous that…

Two Zions: As there are two gatherings, one spiritual and another physical, there are also two definitions of Zion, one in the heart and another in the place. What the Jews may not realize is that there are two chosen people that will have two Zion headquarters. Presently, there are two dedicated centers in the two "Zions" in the two "Tops of the Mountains," Jerusalem and Salt Lake City. The…

Family Importance for Jews and Latter-day Saints: Even with most theological differences, family is one of Joseph's and Judah's strongest similarities. The Bible appears to be more concerned with social and family relations than with individual ones, and thus puts more emphasis on being a good neighbor than it does on friendship. The Bible also warns against false friendship, saying that people might be attracted to a person solely because…

Two Reasons for Involvement: One of the traditional aspects of Judaism is to be involved in community and governmental affairs. This may have a two-fold purpose, one to serve the community and another to preserve its own rights and identity. Ethics: Whether establishing themselves within or part of a community, Jewish ethics and hospitality are an important life style. "Ethics are the principles by which man can live a good…

Modern Jewish Attitude on Sexuality and Morality: ". . . man must serve God with his soul and his body. A person's soul is that part of him that loves God and His goodness and wants to be like Him, and a person's body is the physical container of his soul on earth. Nearly all the mitzvot which God gave are to be performed with the body. Thus the physical…

Without Present-day Revelation: The Jews have turned to revere the scripture scrolls. The scroll cabinet, the "Ark," is said to contain the "presence of God," meaning the word of God. Visions Contain Pictures, Sounds: Reading the past scriptural event of Peter's Vision of the Sheet in New Testament times, can help us understand the value of present day revelation. During his prayers, Peter saw a sheet with knitted or knotted…

Religious Rights in Israel: The two legal systems, secular and religious allow religious people to take disputes or legal processes to their own judges. They include the Orthodox Jews, Moslems, Greek Orthodox, Armenians, Catholics, Syrian Orthodox and the Bahais. The Bahai religious courts are the only ones established after the State of Israel was recognized. Jewish Proselytizing: There is some Proselytizing done by the Jews to bring more Jews to…

Saviors on Mount Zion: On April 6, 1890, President Wilford Woodruff said, "We are called upon, as saviors on Mount Zion . . . to go forth and redeem our dead. I do not want to go into the spirit world to meet these people and have them say . . . 'You had power to enter into these Temples to get redemption for me, but you have not done…

Specific Seat for Elijah: The ancient eating arrangement at the Passover meal (Seder) was "U" shaped. The oldest was in the second seat with one of the youngest of his choice seated at his right hand, in the first seat. At the other end of the "U" shaped seating arrangement was an empty chair for Elijah, directly opposite the youngest and the oldest, symbolic–if you-please of Elijah turning the hearts…

Original Meaning of Faith Includes Works: The Hebrew word for faith is emunah probably derived from the word imun which means practice, procedure or work. Inherent in the word emunah is faith and works. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17) The three attributes of God-fearing people are faith (emunah), hope (tikvah) and charity (zedakah) or (hesed). Judaism has, however, evolved to the…

Torah–Word of God: The Bible is holy to Jews because it represents the Word of God. ". . . the Torah . . . is . . . God's direct statement. The halakhah, or Jewish law, which is the authoritative guide for a Jew's life, is mainly based on the Torah. “The custom of reading the Torah publicly . . . originat(es) with Ezra in the fifth-fourth centuries B.C.E. At…

The greatest deliverance of the Children of Israel was from the adversities and hardships in Egypt. It was a learning experience where a complete generation had to die and only the next generation was the one to enter the promised land to prosper there. "O Judah, and . . . Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD . . . believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." (2 Chronicles 20) Lehi, Nephi,…

Jehovah is His name. Salvation is what He provides. Jehovah means "I Am." In Hebrew, the expression is so sacred that it is not repeated; Hebrew does not have an "I am." The shortened version of Jehovah is "Jeho." Connected to "shua." The abbreviation of "salvation" it is pronounced Jeho-shua. By the time Jeho-shua was transliterated into Greek, Latin and English, it became pronounced as Jesus. He is the "I…

When nations begin to "gather," there evolves a certain culture. First, the spirit of commitment is challenged by hardships and rejection long before the new society begins to mature and be accepted by others. Secondly, because of true faith in the Lord, the Children of Israel, anciently and in modern times did not, and do not let the hardships and the sometimes, violent rejection get in the way of pursuing…

To the mob, the martyrdom of Joseph Smith was thought to be the end of "Mormonism." However, a biblical system of succession had been restored. It was the system God gave in ancient times. The similarity of the mission of Joseph Smith can be compared to Moses. The mission of Brigham Young could also be likened to Joshua. "And again, the duty of the President of the office of the…

Past Prophet's persecutions and martyrdoms reflect the past or show the future and teach us something about the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord. These prophets were models of their Master, the Savior, who would prophesy against the corrupt part of the Jewish government and the people who followed their wickedness. "And . . . he shall be led . . . as a sheep before the shearer is dumb. .…

Last Jewish Prophets Testified of Restoration: "Zechariah continued in the same task as Haggai; he too encouraged the Jews to rebuild the Temple. Zechariah reminded Israel that before God returned to the Temple the people must return to God through righteousness, justice, and mercy . . . Zechariah prophesied of the Golden Age of the Messiah when God's Kingdom would be established on earth." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) Precise Day Elijah…

Zion Building, Then and Now: Joseph Smith, the Prophet, was given the vision of settling a Zion, building a society and establishing communities that would bless and renew the land. He carried out this heaven-inspired yearning wherever he went or was forced to go. This is a pattern reflected in Jewish history. "Ever since the time of the first Babylonian exile over 2,000 years ago, Jews of the world have…

"Sinking to New Heights:" A phrase comes to mind that may help explain the apparent helplessness of many of God's choicest leaders, it is "sinking to new heights." The Savior's exquisite atonement for us has been somewhat foreshadowed or mirrored in the depths to which Job, Jonah, Nephi, Alma, Peter, Joseph Smith and many others, sank. How Does God Allow This? "If God is all-powerful and good, as Judaism claims…

Scattering and Gathering, Being Tempered and Taught: The early saints paralleled the experiences of the Children of Israel in Biblical times. It is also part of a pattern teaching us the plan of life where we leave Father's presence, come to this earth to by tried, tempered and taught and then have the opportunity to return to Father's presence. Joseph Smith's Role Is Summarized in Parable: After the destruction of…

The Word of the Lord Is for All People: Jews feel there are different laws for Gentiles and Jews. "Seven laws which were supposed by the rabbis to have been binding on all mankind even before the revelation at Sinai. They are referred to as 'Noachide' . . . since the whole human race . . . descended from the three sons of Noah, who alone survived the flood." (Encyclopedia…

Covenant, a Name of the Lord: The restored priesthoods are covenants between God and man. One of the many names that describe the Lord is "covenant." He is the Messenger ". . . the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant . . . " (Malachi 3:1) Attempts to Return to Original Organization: The Dead Sea Scrolls describe the Essenes organization…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Garden Tomb Israel[/caption] Similarly, at the Mount of Beatitudes, (Daniel) took us to a place below the church built on the top of the mount. There at the side of the mountain, looking down upon the Sea of Galilee . . . at the top of an untouched meadow . . . I felt strongly that the Savior had been there and had taught there. . . The experience…

Building a Security Wall: My Father's example taught me, "Never let what you cannot do, get in the way of what you can do." I'll add, "Never let what you do not know get in the way of what you do know." Hold fast to the truths that have already built part of a solid wall of security, without excuses! Dealing with a Gap in the Wall: In building terrace…

Key to Learning: The preface to these lesson supplements includes the first two verses of the Book of Mormon. Nephi gave the key to understanding the scriptures, the "learning of the Jews" along with the "knowledge of the mysteries of God." World of Words: The Old Testament only has about 8,900 different words (English has more tha 1,000,000), yet the illustrative capacity of the prophets is expressed through the images…

The First Word of Wisdom: In the Garden of Eden, there was a law of health, things you should and should not eat. The Lord gave the Children of Israel a law of health. The Jews call it the correct way, Kashrut or being kosher. The Kashrut has been modified throughout the ages, yet basics still remain from Mount Sinai. What is Kosher: Some Jews will not eat meat because…

[caption align="aligncenter"]Happy Family[/caption] The first thing he thought about, was: where can he and his family travel to in the next two weeks? He thought about travel first, not because of what he does professionally, but because of the power it has, to open a family's eyes to the beauty all around. Like Mark, I often think of the beauty of a loving family, the calming effects of a warm…

Jewish Rituals Look Forward to the "Great Day:" Religious Jews still practice many forms of ancient rites and rituals whose meanings have become distorted or lost over many years. With the restoration of priesthood, we are privileged to comprehend how the "New Covenant" restores the true doctrine. Old rituals contain signs of the "Great Day of the Lord to Come." Remembrance and Looking Forward: Although "wine and bread" are partaken…

"Heaven and Hell:" Even though there is little discussion of after life among the Jews, heaven and hell appear in much Jewish commentary. "The souls of the righteous enter paradise . . . 'there is no eating or drinking . . . no envy, hatred or competition . . . the souls of the wicked enter hell . . . where they undergo purification before they too can enter paradise…

True Nature of God Diminished: By the time the Crusaders approached the Holy Land, a prominent Jewish philosopher, Moses Maimonides, began collecting writings and interpretations of other Jewish sages to codify and centralize them. He included 'Thirteen Articles of Faith.' The first three declared that God cannot be explained, thus eliminating reference to the anthropomorphic nature of God. Meaning Lost on Resurrection/Death: The Jewish interpretation that God has no .…

Entire Encampment of Israel Was a "City Temple:" (Apparently it will be that way again when the Lord returns to Jerusalem): "In pre-Temple times . . . anyone who was tameh (unclean) was forced to go outside the marked boundaries and was forbidden to return until he had completed the purification ritual." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) Washing and Temples: The call to go to the temple includes, "He that hath clean…