Ozarks Hebrew Heritage Celebrating the Hebrew Roots of our Faith

As most of you know, I love Jewish traditional symbolism and gemmatria.  I believe The Almighty didn’t leave anything to chance and there is a reason and a purpose behind each and every letter and number of the Hebrew Alefbet.  This may seem a little off course but stay with me.  I hope when I […]

TISHA B  ’AV ~ THE NINTH OF AV Traditionally, it is a day of fasting and prayer as well as reading the (Say-fehr Ay-eek-hah) Sefer Eikhah/Book of Lamentations. Many tragedies in Jewish history have occurred at the time of Tisha B’Av, the ninth of the Hebrew month of Av. • The evil report of the […]

Shalom mishpachah veh chaverim! It’s almost Shabbat!!! In this week’s Torah portion, Tzav / Command (Vayikra / Leviticus 6:1 ~ 8:36), we learn about the Aish (fire) Tamid (always) or eternal flame. Tending to it was the first mitzvah of the day. The Holy One gives the priests instructions for keeping the fire burning on […]

FOR ROSH HASHANAH ~ SIN OFFERINGS On the Hebrew New Year, Yom Teruah/Rosh Hashanah, there is a ceremony called Tashlich. Traditionally one goes to the ocean or a stream or river to pray and throw bread crumbs into the water. Symbolically, the fish devour their sins. Occasionally, people ask what kind of bread crumbs should […]

Shalom mishpachah veh chaverim!!! This week’s Torah portion, (Key Tah-voe) Ki Tavo, means “when you come” or “when you have come”. Once again Moshe is encouraging B’nei Yisra’el/the Children of Israel Yehovah is giving them the land as their inheritance. They are to take possession of it and settle there. Next are the instructions about […]

Shalom, mishpachah veh chaverim! This is a very special time of the year for me and my forefathers. This is the month of Elul which means “search” in Hebrew. Elul is also a Hebrew acronym for “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li”, which means, “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine”, from the Song of […]

Shalom mishpachah veh chaverim! It’s almost Shabbat!!! I can feel it in my bones and I am SO ready!! This week’s Parashah (Key-Tates-zay) Ki Tetze, (D’varim/Deuteronomy 26:10 – 29:9) centers on some of the practical applications of Torah. The Hebrew word (hah-lah-khah) halakhah means, in its simplicity, the way in which to walk or the […]

Shalom mishpachah veh chaverim! Once again, it’s almost Shabbat!!!! This week’s Torah portion Shoftim / Judges is from D’varim / Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9. As I reread verse 18 in the Complete Jewish Bible, the word “gates” rang loud in my ears! Don’t ask me why, but Abba speaks to me in some weird ways […]

Shalom! It’s almost Shabbat!!!! Can ya tell I’m wired?!?!?!? Re’eh, meaning “see” or “look at” is the name of this week’s Torah portion from D’varim/Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17. I believe it was Moshe’s heartfelt plea for Israel to plainly SEE The Almighty was setting before them a choice . . . • To obey and […]

Shalom mishpachah veh chaverim! Our Torah portion this week is from D’varim/Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25 is (eh-kehv) Ekev, meaning “because” and also means “heel”. My first thought was, “Weird!!!” because my mind went to the back part of my foot, the heel, and it just didn’t seem to fit. When I started contemplating the word […]