Musing – How much Hebrew do you already know?

Hebraic Musing – How much Hebrew do you already know?

 We are into the Jewish High Holy days – the Fall feasts of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Tabernacles. This might be a good time to find that you already know more Hebrew than you realize!

·         Hallelujah    Hallel = praise; Jah = short name for God

·         Adonai         Lord

·         Messiah       Coming Savior, or Christ (Greek) or “the Anointed One"

Jehovah       The highest and most revered name of God from Yod, Hei, Vav, Hei; or  hwhy

·         Elohim         Pluralized Name of God—a lesson of its own re names of God

Frequently used words to help your ear for Hebrew:

·         Barukh        Blessed, as in Barukh atah Adonai

·         Melech         King

·         Eloheynu     Elohim, Our God

·         Olam            Forever or everything

And now you understand Barukh Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech Ha-Olam, the start of many prayers in Hebrew.   In English: “Blessed are You, Lord, Our God, King of the Universe.”

The most favorite prayer of the Jews is the “Shema” from Deut. 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” NIV   This is typically recited at least three times a day and is also in the mezuzah affixed to the doorpost. Identifying Jewish children in orphanages after World War II was easy. They simply recited Sh’ma Y’srael, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai Echad. The children who remembered their mother’s prayers would cry, thus easily identified as Jewish.

Hebrew offers you many ways to say Hello:   (accent on italicized syllable)

·         Hello; peace.  Shalom (shah-lohm)

And when you have to leave, use one of these phrases to say Good-Bye:

·         Peace.              Shalom (shah-lohm)

·         Be Well.          Kol Tuv (kohl toov)

·         See you soon. L'hitraot (leh-hee-trah-oht)

Finally, a few more familiar Hebrew words:

·         Sabbath          Seventh day of the week, commanded to rest with Him

·         Abba               Affectionate title for “father”, more like “daddy”

·         Amein             Amen

·         Shabbat Shalom (shah-baht shah-lohm) Have peaceful Sabbath.    
                        A greeting for all day Friday and during the Sabbath (Saturday)

·         L’chaim          To Life; made popular by Tevye singing in Fiddler on the Roof

·         Mazel tov!      Congratulations.  Lit.: good luck or "a good sign"

Point to Ponder

Maybe we will all need these greetings at the ‘Pearly Gate’?

Shalom Aleichem (shah-lohm a-Lech-im; Peace to you)     Response – Aleichem Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                               September 30, 2014
Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings” 

Twitter  @YosefBrusherd
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing - Is the Christian Gospel preached in Torah?

Hebraic Musing - Is the Christian Gospel preached in Torah?

Let us look at the very opening word in the Torah.  In English it is three words “In the beginning”; but in Hebrew it is one word, “B’reishit” which is spelled   t y v a r b   (Hebrew reads right to left). The Hebrew letters and their symbolic meanings are:

b.   Bet            Tent or House
r   Resh         Man’s head or Highest
a   Aleph       Ox, strong or God
v   Shin         Teeth or Destroyed
y    Vav           Hand
t   Tav           Seal, covenant or Cross

So we have – the House(Temple) of the Highest God will be Destroyed by His own Hand on the Cross.  Doesn’t that sound like the Gospel message?

Now let’s look at the word “Torah”.  In Hebrew it is spelled h r w t.  The Hebrew letters and their symbolic meanings are: . 

T   Tav           Cross
W   Vav           Nail
R  Resh          Highest
H  Hei             Open window or Breath (or word of God)  How did John open his gospel? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”  John 1:1-2

So we have -- the Head of the  Highest was Nailed to the Cross

Or we could say – On the Cross was Nailed the Highest   Word of God (Yeshua)

Some have said that the first foreshadowing of Messiah in the Bible was the covering of Adam and Eve with animal skin which required bloodshed. But maybe we have a Christian or Messianic message in the first word in Torah?  And in the word Torah? 

Point to ponder

I wonder how many more treasures are in the original Biblical Hebrew?
(Let me know if you want more)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                            September 23, 2014                     

Books author “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”
Twitter  @YosefBrusherd
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com

Musing – What does it mean to “Keep Torah”?

Hebraic Musing – What does it mean to “Keep Torah”?

My e-friend, Johanna Hocker, sent this out.  Do you agree?  It reminded me of the musing of July 8^th - How many times have you heard “Father knows best”? My response to Johanna was – “My sentiments exactly.”  I have nothing to add to Johanna’s views; but would love to hear your thoughts and response.   Here are her exact words:

Torah & Grace   by Johanna Hocker   8/4/14 –  “When people learn that I keep the Torah, the first thing they do is accuse me of works righteousness.  This makes no sense to me as my salvation has been a done deal for at least 50 years.  I wasn't accused of works righteousness when I spent more time and energy in a little country church doing just about everything but preach, so why does keeping Torah elicit such a response.  Shaul (Paul) repeatedly tells us that he keeps the Torah, yet proclaims Yeshua.

“I wonder if people know what it means to keep Torah?  A big part of keeping Torah is to follow Yehovah's Calendar; this is divided into weekly, spring and fall.  We are commanded to rest on the Sabbath (7th day of the week) and by resting we are to trust Yehovah in all things.  Most of us gather for Bible study, prayer and praise.  We commemorate the spring Appointed times as Yeshua fulfilled them with his death, burial and resurrection in accordance with Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits.  Everyone is "right on" in celebrating Pentecost or Shavuot, but most people assume it began after Yeshua's ascension.  It actually started in the wilderness when the Torah was given to the Israelites.  The Fall Appointed times are yet to be fulfilled but Yom Kippur is for all times, as the day of repentance for sin.  We celebrate Yeshua's birth at Tabernacles when he came to tabernacle with us and for the future when we will tabernacle with Him.

“The dietary guidelines are to prevent us from eating the animals Yehovah created as scavengers to clean up the planet.  No thanks, I prefer healthy meat.

“In Hebrews 11:5-6, we are told, ‘Grace is central in Yehovah’ s actions and it has nothing to do with keeping the Torah.’  The Bible tells in Deuteronomy that keeping Torah results in blessings.  Those who keep Torah are being obedient to Yehovah.”

Point to ponder

Does this make sense to you?   Your thoughts?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             September 16, 2014    

Books author “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”
Twitter  @YosefBrusherd
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com