You Shall Dwell in Booths – The Feast of Sukkot
The Feast of Sukkot is the last of the three “pilgrim” feasts that require the men of Israel to go up to Jerusalem and to appear before YHWH. “Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year . . . the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field. Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before YHWH ELOHIM.” Read Full Article.
Our FAQ page writings are done by Glenn McWilliams. For more information on Glenn view our Weekly Torah Study area. To contact Glenn directly for Torah/Scripture Questions email Glenn at hachamor@comcast.net.
Head Coverings
One of the most frequently asked questions involves the practice of head coverings for both men and women. I would like to address this question on two levels. First we will look at the issue of authority, and then we will look at the actual practice of wearing a physical head covering. Read Full Article. Russian Translation | Spanish Translation
Clearly, without any doubt, hands down, and without exception – the question I am asked most frequently is about the tithe; therefore in the interest of everyone who has ever wrestled with this somewhat confusing and complex issue, I have decided to devote this study to the topic of the tithe. I must confess from the start that as a result of this study, I have come to a new and somewhat different understanding of the tithe from when I first began. I pray that the information shared in this study will indeed help you to formulate your own position on this matter. Now, let us turn our attention to the subject of the tithe. Read Full Article. Spanish Translation
The Sabbath
The purpose of this calendar was to help the children of Israel “walk” with YHWH. By following the Creator’s calendar, the children of Israel would find their lives coming into step with the Creator’s prophetic timing. By observing the Creator’s calendar, the children of Israel would become part of the visible proclamation of YHWH’S plan of redemption and restoration of all creation. This divine revelation is proclaimed and made visible through the shadow pictures contained in the various sacrifices, fasts, feasts, rehearsals, and appointed times contained in the Creator’s calendar of events. Now, let us turn our attention to the subject of the tithe. Read Full Article. Icelandic Translation
The kippah (skull cap), tallit (prayer shawl), tzitziot (fringes), and tefillin are among the most notable and recognizable symbols of rabbinic Judaism. The tefillin are two black boxes that are bound to the head and arm by long leather straps. The little box worn on the head is divided into four compartments and contains four strips of parchment with verses from the Torah written on them. The box worn upon the arm contains one compartment and one parchment containing the same Torah verses. At present, the boxes contain the four proof texts from the Torah for wearing tefillin. Read Full Article.
The Tzitzit
Twice in the Torah the children of Israel are commanded to place fringes upon the corners of their garments as a reminder of the commandments of YHWH. The word “fringes” in these two passages is actually translating two different Hebrew words. In the first reference, the word “fringes” is translating the Hebrew word tzitzit (tsade, yud, tsade, yud, tav), which may be translated as “floral or wing-like projection,” “a forelock of hair,” “fringe,” or “tassel.” The exact etymology of this word is debatable. It is possible that the root of the word tzitzit is the word tzitz (tsade, yud, tsade), which means “bloom” or “flower.” From this we may understand that the tzitzit were to be a form of ornamentation or decoration. Read Full Article.
A Resource Guide - Passover and Chag Matz
As new believers desire to embrace a Torah-observant lifestyle, they are often filled with questions as to where to begin and how to keep the Torah. Read Full Article.
The Unity of the Commandments
In this new resource THE UNITY OF THE COMMANMENTS, the various relationships between all the commandments is explained. The TORAH, including the commandments, statutes, ordinances and laws are the revelation of YHWH. If YHWH is ONE, as the TORAH reveals, then we should expect to see that the laws, statutes, judgments, ordinances, and commandments are likewise ONE. Read Full Article.
Messiah and Sacrifice - Yom Kippur
One of the greatest stumbling blocks for Christian brethren, when it comes to keeping the Torah, is the issue of the Altar service of the Temple with all of its sacrifices, as it relates to the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua. The challenge often begins with the Church’s erroneous interpretation of Yeshua’s statement. Read Full Article.
Counting the Omer and the Feast of Shavuot
During the Counting of the Omer, culminating in the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai, It is hoped that we will build upon each day, utilizing it as Moses prayed, "to apply our hearts to wisdom"...Read Full Article.
Traditions - Traditions!
By Rood Crew Commentator, Glenn McWilliams
One of the most precious memories from my childhood is that of the occasional family slide show. Every now and then on a quiet winter night, when the sky grew dark, my father would dig to the back of the cramped coat closet like a pirate digging for buried treasure. After several minutes of muffled complaint, out he would come with the old slide projector, retractable screen, a little TV dinner tray, and some boxes of old slides. Instantly our living room would be transformed into a miniature theater. Emerging from the kitchen were the smell of popcorn and the sound of exploding kernels ricocheting off of the aluminum sides of the electric popcorn popper. Soon, the lights would be turned off, the Hi-Fi turned down, and - with the flip of a switch - we would all be staring in anticipation at the bright light reflecting off of the white blank screen. For hours we would all marvel at my father’s slides from Japan, where he spent two years of his life in the Army before my brother and I were born. We would view family pictures of times, events, pets, and loved ones long lost to memory. We would relive family vacations, graduations, birthdays, holiday gatherings, and an occasional spectacular sunset, snowfall, or some other creative act of God captured on film. In between episodes, my brother and I would jump to place our contorted hands before the intense beam of light being cast upon the empty screen: each twist and turn of our fingers casting shadow pictures of dogs, rabbits, camels, birds, butterflies, monsters, funny faces, and anything else our over-active imaginations could conceive. Read Full Article.
By Rood Crew Commentator, Glenn McWilliams
One of the most precious memories from my childhood is that of the occasional family slide show. Every now and then on a quiet winter night, when the sky grew dark, my father would dig to the back of the cramped coat closet like a pirate digging for buried treasure. After several minutes of muffled complaint, out he would come with the old slide projector, retractable screen, a little TV dinner tray, and some boxes of old slides. Instantly our living room would be transformed into a miniature theater. Emerging from the kitchen were the smell of popcorn and the sound of exploding kernels ricocheting off of the aluminum sides of the electric popcorn popper. Soon, the lights would be turned off, the Hi-Fi turned down, and - with the flip of a switch - we would all be staring in anticipation at the bright light reflecting off of the white blank screen. For hours we would all marvel at my father’s slides from Japan, where he spent two years of his life in the Army before my brother and I were born. We would view family pictures of times, events, pets, and loved ones long lost to memory. We would relive family vacations, graduations, birthdays, holiday gatherings, and an occasional spectacular sunset, snowfall, or some other creative act of God captured on film. In between episodes, my brother and I would jump to place our contorted hands before the intense beam of light being cast upon the empty screen: each twist and turn of our fingers casting shadow pictures of dogs, rabbits, camels, birds, butterflies, monsters, funny faces, and anything else our over-active imaginations could conceive. Read Full Article.
Torah and Our Diet
By Rood Crew Commentator, Glenn McWilliams
There is great debate concerning what the Torah teaches about the Believer’s diet. With careful study I believe that we can unravel some of the mystery and settle much of the controversy concerning this vital issue. The first diet mentioned in the Torah is found as part of the creation narrative. Realize that what is recorded in these opening verses of the book of Genesis concern not only the Believer, but all of mankind. Just as the Sabbath was instituted at creation and therefore applies to all of creation, so too does this teaching about man’s diet. Genesis 1:29-30 teaches that the first diet was a vegetarian diet. “And God said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat.” (Genesis 1:29-20).
For clarity, please understand that the word “meat” in the King James Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Hebrew word “oklah” (Aleph, Kof, Lamed, Hey) which simply means food . . . Read Full Article
Transliterated Hebrew Names of Tenach
View the Books of the Tanach in Hebrew with English. This page gives the meanings of each Book from the ancient language. Click here to view the chart.
Why We Did Not Use the Panel
This article is written solely for the purpose of clarification and explanation and not as a hand-grenade lobbed into an enemy’s camp. This letter is not intended to invoke or inflame anyone’s anger or wrath. Nor is this article intended to cast aspersions upon anyone’s reputation. Nor do I desire to hurt or alienate any of my brethren. I neither desire to make anyone my unnecessary adversary nor to burn any bridges. This article is written simply to explain why I agreed not to utilize the “goodwill” gesture of the brethren serving as a panel of judgment in the dispute between Jamie Louis and Michael Rood. I want to be clear from the start that very early on in this conflict we had offered to employ a PROFESSIONAL mediation group to mediate an amicable solution to this controversy. This offer was repeatedly rejected and ignored. Instead of a PROFESSIONAL mediator or arbitrator being enlisted, the present panel constituted themselves and presented themselves to us as the ONLY and FINAL solution to the conflict. Read Full Article
