Recent Publications
April 10, 2025
Honoring Jewish Heritage, Building Adventist Friendships
Honoring Jewish Heritage, Building Adventist Friendships As spring breathes new life into coastal Maryland and the iconic cherry blossoms bloom in soft splashes of pink and white, it is a time of new…
November 24, 2024
**Noah (נח) / Noah**
**Noah (נח) / Noah** (Genesis 6:9 – 11:32) This week's Torah portion is called "נח" (Noah) – the Hebrew name for the well-known biblical figure Noah. The remarkable story of the Flood is familiar to…
Bereshit (בראשית) / In the Beginning
Nov 12, 2024
**Bereshit (בראשית) / In the Beginning** (Genesis 1:1-6:8) The first weekly Torah portion is called בראשית (Bereshit), which means "in the beginning." These are the opening words of the Torah: "בראשית ברא אלהים את השמים ואת הארץ" (Bereshit bara…
Simchat Torah
Oct 24, 2024
Simchat Torah means "rejoicing of the Torah." Most likely of medieval origins, this holiday is observed by Jewish people on the last day of Sukkot. The overall theme of Simchat Torah is the foundational role of the Torah in Jewish religious life,…
SUKKOT
Oct 17, 2024
Each year on the 15th Day of Tishri, the weeklong Sukkot celebrations begin. These celebrations -- also known as the Feast of Booths, Harvest Festival, or Feast of Tabernacles -- begin five days after Yom Kippur, transitioning from one of the most…
Yom Kippur
Oct 11, 2024
Yom Kippur -- also known as Yom Ha-Kippurim, Shabbat Shabbaton, Sabbath of Solemn Rest, Sabbath of Sabbaths, or the Day of Atonement -- is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It occurs on Tishri 10, which is the tenth day of the seventh month on…
Fast of Gedaliah
Oct 01, 2024
A little-known fast traditionally occurs on the 3rd of Tishrei, the day after Rosh Hashanah (unless that day happens to fall on a Shabbat, in which case it is delayed until Sunday): Tzom Gedaliah, or the Fast of Gedaliah. Zechariah 8:19 describes…
Rosh Hashanah
Sep 26, 2024
Rosh Hashanah, translated as "head of the year" or "first of the year," is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. It occurs on the first and second days of Tishri, commencing Yamim Nora’im (the High Holidays). This is a day dedicated to prayer, to…
Shofars
Sep 19, 2024
"In this month (the seventh month of Tishrei), you shall amend your deeds. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: 'If you will amend your deeds, I shall become unto you like a horn (shofar). As the horn takes in the breath at one end and sends…
Teshuvah
Sep 10, 2024
Teshuvah ("returning") is the Jewish concept of repentance and returning to the path of righteousness after one has deviated, or returning to an original state of status quo prior to a transgression occurring. This concept applies whether one has…
More Publications
Shofars
"In this month (the seventh month of Tishrei), you shall amend your deeds. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: 'If you will amend your…
Teshuvah
Teshuvah ("returning") is the Jewish concept of repentance and returning to the path of righteousness after one has deviated, or returning to an…
Selichot
“O Lord, hear our voice in the morning; in the morning, we set them before You with hopeful expectation. Hear our voice." Originating as prayers for…
Hebrew Elul
“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin upon you this day; and…
The Lord's Prayer. Lecture 10
I often ask people, "How much of the Lord's Prayer is about our daily needs?" Surprisingly, many of the people I ask say, "It's a big part," or even…
Heavenly Sanctuary in Rabbinic Literature
Introduction The nature of the sanctuary represents a major fundamental issue that separates Seventh-day Adventist theology from the mainstream of…
Work for the Eternal Bread!
How big is my salary? How much do I earn? What is the most expensive thing I can buy with my debit card? What's the best way to spend my money? All…
Shavuot
Celebrated on the 50th day, or seven weeks after Passover, Shavuot is a one-day event in Israel and a two-day holiday in the Diaspora. The holiday…
Noble Moses
Often, a person asks God for one thing but does not receive exactly what is desired. However, after people analyze God’s answers to their prayers,…
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Yom Ha’atzmaut in Hebrew, or Israel’s Independence Day in English, is a festive day of jubilation commemorating Israeli independence from British…
Yom HaShoah
Yom HaShoah Ve-Hagevurah, often shortened to Yom HaShoah, is a day of remembrance observed globally by the Jewish people. In English, it is known as…
Gefilte Fish
Gefilte fish, which means “filled”or "stuffed” fish, is essentially any combination of seasoned carp, pike, whitefish, mullet, or perch-based…
Enjoy the Archives
Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel: Family
Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel has been spiritual leader of Congregation Rodfei Zedek in Chicago since 1988, after having been Rabbi of Congregation Beth…
Rabbi Brooks Susman: Abraham is the First Jew
Rabbi Brooks Susman was ordained at the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion in 1974 after receiving his bachelor’s degree at Ohio…
Rabbi Jonathan Tabachnikoff: Eating and Drinking
Rabbi Jonathan Tabachnikoff is a Reform Rabbi at the Temple Sinai of Glendale, California. He grew up in Miami, FL, as the son of a Reform Rabbi. He…
Interview With Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 1986. His Nobel citation reads, “Wiesel is a messenger to mankind. His…
Interview With Lee Spetner
Dr. Lee Spetner has been active for more than forty years in military systems development, including about 20 years with the Applied Physics…
Interview With Richard M. Davidson
Richard M. Davidson is an Andrews Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and chairperson of the Old Testament Department at the Seventh-day…
Daniel in Jewish Tradition
Considering the importance of the prophet-hakham Daniel, Shabbat Shalom has chosen to hear from several voices within Jewish tradition who not only…
Interview With Jay Henry Moses
Rabbi Jay Henry Moses got his start in Jewish leadership through NFTY, Reform Judaism’s youth movement. He graduated from the University of Michigan…
A House for All
Challenging reflections out of the Temple Mount Emmanuel Levinas Levinas, a French philosopher and Talmudic commentator, was born in Kaunas,…
Dr. Roberto D. Badenas
Is the antique Torah of Moses still valid for the modern Christian? Professor Roberto Badenas, a specialist in the law of Paul, challenges…
Interview With Larry L. Lichtenwalter
For the last fifteen years Larry Lichtenwalter has been the Senior Pastor of the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan.…
Interview With Rabbi Harvey H. Spivak
Rabbi Harvey H. Spivak works as a full-time rabbi at the Congregation of Moses, Kalamazoo, Michigan. He graduated from the Jewish Theological…
Yeshua and Moshe. Lecture 1
By watching this lecture, you can gain insights into the practical significance of the parallels between the Sermon on the Mount and the Mosaic Covenant.
Blessings of the Covenant. Lecture 2
Within the Mosaic Covenant, a multitude of blessings and curses are found as a continuation of its main provisions. In a similar fashion, the Sermon on the Mount, which…
Unlocking the Doors of Blessings. Lecture 14
Yeshua says, "Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7 TLV). Let us study this text together!
The Wide and Narrow. Lecture 15
The Teacher urges everyone to seek the narrow gate, representing a life of righteousness and spiritual growth that, though challenging to follow, ultimately leads to…
Divorce. Lecture 7
Very often, people say that Moses allowed divorce. Did he really allow that? What are the apodictic and casuistic types of law material? How does it influence our…
Everyone Who Looks. Lecture 6
The book of Sirach 9:8 reads, "Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman, and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another" (NRSV). Yeshua is even more radical; in Matthew…
Building on The Rock. Lecture 16
As the Teacher vividly describes the storms of life—rain, floods, and winds—His message resonates with everyone facing challenges and trials. By encouraging a life of…
Not to Abolish but to Fulfill. Lecture 4
In contemporary Christian belief, there is a widespread notion that the Law of Moses has been nullified or invalidated. However, Yeshua's assertion in Matthew 5:17…
In the Way You Judge. Lecture 13
Dive into the timeless teachings of Matthew 7:1-5 and explore the profound concept of non-judgment, learning to refrain from passing judgments on others. Discover the…
Commandments of the Teacher and My Life
We studied the commandments of the Teacher and found that they were part of the New Covenant. We talked about the relevance of the Torah, correct motivation, the Lord’s…
You Shall Not Murder. Lecture 5
Within this lecture, our focal point will be directed towards specific elements encompassing murder, the altar, one's brother, and offerings, all of which are found in…
Pagan Anxiety. Lecture 12
In Matthew 6:25, Yeshua says, “Do not worry about your life." Discover how trusting God enables us to overcome anxiety as we learn to prioritize life's true meaning…
Servants of the Covenant. Lecture 3
Yeshua employed a renowned symbol, salt, to make a comparison with His disciples. What spiritual insights can be gleaned from this analogy?
Beseech the Lord of the Harvest!
In the Gospel, there are the words of Yeshua, "Beseech the Lord of the Harvest!" Discover the deeper meaning behind this timeless teaching and explore its significance…
The Currency of Righteousness. Lecture 11
In this lecture, we will focus on Yeshua's message about the dangers of being consumed by material wealth. Yeshua imparts a powerful lesson, emphasizing that true…
Vows and Non-Resistance. Lecture 8
Yeshua prohibited vows. What does it mean? How do I practice that? What if the government wants me to do that? Why did Yeshua command us to be non-resistant?
The Lord's Prayer. Lecture 10
I often ask people, "How much of the Lord's Prayer is about our daily needs?" Surprisingly, many of the people I ask say, "It's a big part," or even "It's the most…
Secret Righteousness. Lecture 9
The desire for societal acceptance is a prevalent motive among individuals, stemming from various factors. It is expected that the righteousness exhibited by disciples…
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Upcoming Holidays in 2024
Shavuot
Evening of Tue, Jun 11
Evening of Thu, Jun 13
Rosh Hashanah
Evening of Wed, Oct 2
Evening of Fri, Oct 4
Yom Kippur
Evening of Fri, Oct 11
Evening of Sat, Oct 12
Editor's Choice
What Does “Kosher” Mean?
The story of the young Daniel’s insistence on eating only vegetables and water rather than the rich food from the king’s table is well known. The practice of eating only kosher foods is still an…
The Coming of the Messiah and the Temptation of Babel
The forces of Babel are in the way of the hope of Jerusalem. From all corners of the earth, the same clamor rises—the same stubborn frenzy to build the tower, the same excited desire to possess the…
Modern Messiahs
What is the meaning of this strange phenomenon? Hegel, looking at the state of the world, once said, “Only God can save us.”