GIMEL - 3

"The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord" 

Isaiah 60:6

Let's Take a Ride On A Gamal ...

The Hebrew letter Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is derived from the word "gamal," meaning "camel." The letter's design resembles a man in motion. 

The Gimel is said to illustrate a rich man running to help a poor man, the next letter (Dalet). Thus Gimel reflects the idea of generosity and support. Therefore, the Gimel symbolizes a benefactor, representing the act of giving, particularly in charity. 

The Hebrew Root of the Word "gamal" (גמל) 

The letter gimel and the word gamal meaning "camel" are derived from a three letter root ג-מ-ל which encompasses meanings such as to invest, to wean, to ripen, or to treat someone well or ill. The verb gamal is used to describe the completion of a growth period or transition, often involving an infusion of something beneficial or transformative.

Judaism's Mystical Insights into Gimel

Gimel's mystical significance links the concepts of nourishment and weaning, as camels can sustain themselves on long journeys.

In gematria, gimel represents the number three. It is written like a Vav with a Yud as a "foot." Again an image of a man in motion. The Vav, which is the 6th letter in the Hebrew aleph-beyt is pictured as a nail and representing a person who stands upright. 

Gimel as Three

Gimel (ג) is the third letter of the alphabet and it's numeric value is 3.  Three represents the Torah, which was given to the Jewish people in the third month of the year (Sivan), to our teacher Moses (the third of three children), on the third day of separation between husband and wife (the prohibition of mari­tal relations, as instructed by G‑d). The Torah was issued to a people of three groups: the Kohens, Levites, and Israel­ites. Finally, the Tanakh itself is divided into three segments: the Five Books of Moses, the Prophets and the Scriptures.

Meaning of Gimel Through Three Ancient Stories 

Gimel has several meanings. The following three stories illustrate three meanings of gimel:

1. Nourish Until Ripe -- After Korah rebelled against Moses and Aaron, G‑d told Moses, “Take a staff from Aaron and from all the other tribes of Israel. Then place the staves in the Holy of Holies [and see which one sprouts fruit].” The next morning, Moses brought out the staves from the Holy of Holies, and all of Israel saw that the staff of Aaron produced (vayigmal) completely ripened almonds. Thus the word vayigmal—ויגמל—is made up of the same letters as גימל—gimel.

2. To Be Weaned -- “The child [Isaac] grew and was weaned (vayigamal).” At first glance, the concepts of being weaned and nourished until ripe seem con­tradictory. When you’re nourishing, you are giving. When you’re weaning, you are ceasing to give. In essence, however, they are consistent, because if you nourish until ripe, you no longer have to give.

3. Camel -- Gimel is also called gamal, or camel. The camel itself embodies the process of weaning and nourishing, as it is able to sustain itself on journeys of vast distances after being sufficiently hydrated. We also note that gimel is similar to the word gomel, which means to be kind or benevolent. The camel is able to help the sojourner survive the harsh desert sun by carrying him to his destination. The word gimel in Aramaic is gamla, or bridge. One can say that the bridge is the hump of the camel itself, which provides the means and structure to bring people where they need to go.

A Christian Dimension - the Holy Spirit 

Gimel (3) also symbolizes the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son. The progression from Aleph to Bet to Gimel can be seen as a journey from the divine source (Aleph), through the creation and establishment of the world with a house (bet) for Adam, to the active engagement in acts of kindness and spiritual growth (Gimel). 

Camel Talk

Here are three notable New Testament verses that each feature a camel. Perhaps they can be appreciated in someway in light of a better understanding of the letter Gimel.

Matthew 3:4 -- "Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey." 

Matthew 19:24 -- "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God"

Matthew 23:24 -- "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!" 

 

Did You Know? 

Here is an interesting fact about the Israelites journey in desert during the Exodus.  The Israelites did not travel with camels during the Exodus. While camels are mentioned in the Bible in connection with the patriarchs like Abraham and Jacob, they are not mentioned as part of the Israelite possessions during the Exodus from Egypt. The biblical narrative does not include camels among the livestock or means of transport used by the Israelites during their journey out of Egypt. 

Significant Hebrew Words Beginning with Gimel:

Gamal (גמל): Meaning "camel," this word is directly associated with the letter Gimel, which is thought to resemble a camel in shape.

Gomel (גומל): This word means "benefactor" or someone who gives to others, reflecting the concept of generosity and kindness.

Gmul (גמול): This word can mean both "compensation" and "nourishment," illustrating the dual nature of giving and receiving.

Gan (גן): Meaning "garden," often used in the context of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden).

Geulah (גאולה): Meaning "redemption," a central concept in Jewish theology referring to the ultimate redemption and liberation of the Jewish people.

Gadol (גדול): Meaning "great" or "large," often used to describe greatness or importance.

Gilgul (גלגול): Meaning "cycle" or "reincarnation," a concept in Jewish mysticism referring to the transmigration of souls.

Gevurah (גבורה): Meaning "strength" or "might," one of the ten sefirot in Kabbalistic teachings, representing discipline and judgment.

Goral (גורל): Meaning "lot" or "fate," often used in the context of casting lots or determining destiny.

In closing, the rabbis say "gimel signifies the connection between the poor and the wealthy person, so does it represent the merger, the bridge, between the material world and the reality of G‑d."

MY SOUL UNDERSTANDS

Sometimes I understand something in my soul that I doubt I could explain to someone else.  When I experience an understanding in my soul I know my prayers and meditations are connected to Hashem. 

I had such an moment while reading the following linked article on Malchut and the humility of kingship this morning and understanding it in the context of Salvation. 

This type of experience happens most often when I am in a completely dark and quiet room at a very early hour in the morning, before sunrise. Just after I open my eyes, but well before I have any intention of getting up, it is not uncommon for me to hear a small voice. It is not audible. It is heard by listening in the spirit. I follow it. This is also when I love to journal the most, capturing revelations along the way. Such is the basis for this blog post. 

My conscious self is often observing during this interaction between my soul and the small voice. I find myself drifting back to sleep. In my slumber the conversation continues, un-encumbered by reality and the dominance that comes from an awake and active mind.  For that reason I allow myself to freely drift back to sleep, sometimes it is for twenty minutes and sometimes for twenty seconds. I don't make any attempt to stay awake. 

Because I am dreaming at times during this process (for lack of a better word to call it), I have to discern the meaning of my dreams. I have to separate what the brain is doing from what the small voice is saying. 

Once the sun comes up and natural light starts to enter my room I shift my focus. If I have been journaling I try to wrap up my entry.  Sometimes I will follow up with research. It all depends. 

I cherish these moments.  My prayer is that the understanding I recieve during them will guide me in my daily life. Sadly, I often fall short from the correction I desire. Perhaps part of the reason I fall short from the achieving what I feel is a sufficient correction is that I am not as clear as I need to be in my asking.  Either way, I am certain that this process is never complete until we stand before Adonai. "Rinse and repeat" is a colloquial expression that comes to mind for the pattern of repeating this process day-after-day.

The world has it's ways of distracting me from applying the understanding that comes to my soul during prayer and meditation to how I operate during my day. Maintaining mindfulness of Hashem is a challenge. 

Starting my day in the Word is good. But I want to do a better job of charging myself with an intention and setting reminders that help me to keep on track. 

As I have gotten older I have learned to embrace the journey and to be more gentle with myself as I navigate the balance between the better self I desire and the self I am. By the same token, there is an increasing sense of urgency.  I don't know if this sense of urgency is due to my aging or the world's aging, or both. 

I appreciate if all this sounds a bit like crazy talk. If you think it does I would suggest you read the article that inspired this blog post -- Malchut and the humility of kingship and draw your own connection to Hashem however you do.

Proverbs 20:12 -- "The ear that hears and the eye that sees—the LORD has made them both" 

שָׁׁלוֹם שָׁׁלוֹם -- Shalom Shalom - Perfect Peace 

HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO BLASHPEMY?

3rd Commandment: 

לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹקיךָ לַשָּׁוְא כִּי לֹא יְנַקֶּה ה' אֵת אֲשֶׁר יִשָּׂא אֶת שְׁמוֹ לַשָּׁוְא

You shall not take the name of the L‑rd your G‑d in vain; for the L‑rd will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. 

What does blasphemy mean? 

The commandment not to use God's name in vain is found in the Third Commandment for Protestants and Jews, and the Second Commandment for Catholics. It instructs believers not to misuse the name of God, which includes using it in a manner that is empty, worthless, or for false purposes. This can involve making false oaths, blasphemy, or using God's name to justify wrongful actions. The commandment emphasizes the importance of treating God's name with reverence and not using it to advance personal agendas or trivialize its significance.

You can appreciate why some think of blasphemy as the same as profaning God or desecrating God.

The terms "profane" and "desecrate" have distinct meanings. "Profane" refers to treating something sacred with irreverence or disrespect, often by using it in a secular or inappropriate context. "Desecrate," on the other hand, specifically involves the act of violating or damaging something sacred, often through destructive, blasphemous, or sacrilegious actions. While both involve disrespect towards the sacred, desecration is a more active and damaging violation. It involves taking possession of something holy and sacred and damaging it by using it for something evil and detestable to Adonai.

לְחַלֵל (leḥalel) is desecrate in Hebrew. The root of the Hebrew word לְחַלֵל (leḥalel) is ח-ל-ל (ḥ-l-l). The word חִילּוּל (ḥillul), meaning desecration or defilement, is built off that root. That root is in the Hebrew for blasphemy -- חִלוּל הַשֵׁם. Leḥalel (לְחַלֵל) appears in the Old Testament and is often translated as "to profane" or "to desecrate." 

Here are examples of desecration and blasphemy.  The first is the "Abomination of desolation" found in the Book of Daniel.  

Daniel 5:1-4 --Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 

While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his [a]father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 

Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone

We know how that worked out for Belshazzar and the Babylonian kingdom.

Another is found in the Book(s) of Maccabees, which is an Apocryphal writing not in the Tenach. Maccabees I & II describe the pagan sacrifices which the 2nd century BC Greek king Antiochus IV Epiphanes performed when he replaced the daily temple offering with a pig. This is where the holiday of Hanukkah comes from.

Here are two other stories in the Tanakh related to desecration:

In Ezekiel 22 the Temple is desecrated by King Manasseh through idolatrous practices. Ezekiel 22.26 reads - "Her priests robbed My Torah and profaned My holy things;

In 2 Chronicles we find an example of taking Adonai's name and using it without authority.

2 Chronicles 33:4-6 -- He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

In the New Testament, in John 10, Jesus is accused of blasphemy by Jewish leaders when Jesus attended the Festival of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, as described in John 10:22. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Greek Hellenistic king who ruled the Seleucid Empire. Jesus used the occasion to declare His identity as the Messiah and the Son of God.

John 10:32-36 -- The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

It is interesting to me personally how the Bible relates the concepts of "Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit," knowing one by his fruit and the sign of Jonah.

Here are verses I am referring to:

Matthew 12:22-42 --

²² Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ²⁵ Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶ And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. ³¹ Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

For what it's worth...I was taught very little about blasphemy in my temple. I don't remember a discussion or sermon specifically on blasphemy. Here is something from a credible Jewish source on the subject of Blasphemy:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/blasphemy-in-judaism/

There is something VERY interesting in that explanation concerning the Tetragrammaton and a puzzling definition for blasphemy given in the Mishnah (Sanhedrin 7: 5). The penalty of stoning for the blasphemer applies only where he used the Tetragrammaton with which to curse God by this name: “Let the Tetragrammaton curse the Tetragrammaton.” This would make the whole offense impossible in practice, to say nothing of the extreme psychological difficulty involved in the whole idea of requesting God to curse Himself.

That explanation reminds me of a well known debate concerning Jesus in the New Testament. The Jewish leaders debated about Jesus concerning a "house divided" in Mark 3:23-30. In this passage, Jesus was accused by the Jewish leaders of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Jesus responded with a parable, stating that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, implying that if Satan were casting out Satan, his kingdom would be divided and unable to stand. This argument was used by Jesus to refute the claim that His power came from an evil source.

The Ultimate Desecration/Blasphemy To Come

The ultimate desecration will come about as Daniel prophesied. The "abomination of desolation" is a prophetic concept mentioned in the Book of Daniel and referenced by Jesus in the New Testament. Daniel's prophecy (Daniel 11:31) describes a future desecration of the temple, like that was historically fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 B.C. when he erected a statue of Zeus in the Jerusalem temple and offered swine on the altar, defiling the holy place. Jesus later referred to this prophecy as a future event in Matthew 24:15, suggesting a similar desecration would occur, which some interpret as the Roman destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

In the New Testament, Jesus references the "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15 during the Olivet Discourse. He mentions the prophecy spoken of by the prophet Daniel, indicating a future event where something highly detestable would stand in the holy place, signaling those in Judea to flee to the mountains. This event is associated with "End-times."

Matthew 24:15-21 -- “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!  Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 the Apostle Paul writes of this desecration performed by the "man of sin" or "lawlessness" who will oppose and exalt himself above all that is called God or is worshiped, and will sit in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. This aligns with the prophetic theme of the "abomination of desolation," which Jesus also mentions in Matthew 24:15, referring to a future desecration of the holy place.

When the ultimate evil, the anti-Messiah, performs the ultimate desecration of the temple in Jerusalem and declares himself Adonai, the world has big problems ahead, like we have never seen before! Of course in order for this to happen there needs to be a third temple!  

The act of desecration of Adonai's Holy Place can't happen in a way that Jews will be decieved without the temple that Jews believe will be built with the coming of the Messiah AS Jews believe. That being the case, surely Satan would use all his methods to keep Jews from reading and understanding the New Testament. Satan wouldn't want Jews to be forewarned about his plans of deception and the real blasphemy Satan has in store for the world in the third temple that Jews are so looking forward to.

While Jews do believe in the Messiah's coming, and many religious Jews think that it will be sooner than later based on the times and what we see in the world, they don't see the story ending this way. 

Sadly, tragically, according to the New Testament, the Jews won't recognize the blaspheming Antichrist and stone him. They will accept him. Then, they will come to know him by his fruits!  Woe to the people on earth! In the meantime, it's best to keep ALL THE 10 Commandments including #3!

Conclusion
My personal sense of blasphemy is that it is worse than profanity. It is the most extreme case of desecration.  In addition, it involves an action, an act, of "taking" (robbing) something very holy to Hashem, such as His name or Temple, and using without authorization for a purpose that is "in vane."  In other words, for a purpose that is detestable to Adonai. 

Proverbs 6:16-19 list seven things that are detestable to Adonai:

1. Haughty eyes: A feeling of pride and looking down on others
2. A lying tongue: Speaking falsehoods with the intention to deceive others
3. Hands that shed innocent blood: Cold-blooded murder
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes: Thinking or conceiving evil against any individual or group for personal benefit or other misguided objectives
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil: Enjoying evil
6. A false witness who pours out lies: Perjury
7. A person who stirs up conflict in the community: Dissension among brothers

Doing any of these detestable things in and of themselves would not constitute "Blasphemy," in my opinion. By the same token, if one where to do them in Adonai's name by claiming His authority to do them, that would constitute Blasphemy.  

YOU MAY BE A ZIONIST

Biblical Israel showing the 12 Tribes

You do NOT need to be a Jew to be a Zionist! 

Our nation's founding fathers were Zionist. Martin Luther King Jr was a Zionist. Anyone who prays to the One God of Israel is a Zionist. Believing Christians are Zionist.  I think a lot of people are "Zionists" and they don't even know it.

A ZIONIST SIMPLY BELIEVES IN ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST AS A NATION IN PEACE.  

Zion is Jerusalem. It is the hill on which the City of David was built approximately 3000 years ago on land King David purchased.

Palestinian leader Abbas says all of Jerusalem belongs to the Muslims. They will settle for nothing less!!  

Clearly Hamas is willing to let EVERY SINGLE Palestinian die and every school, Mosque, and hospital be destroyed rather than surrender their weapons and live peacefully with Israel. The Muslim leaders in Iran, Yemen, Syria, Turkey and Gaza do NOT want peace. They want ALL of Israel -- "From the River to the Sea!"

THE SEA MAKES SENSE

The ancient Philistines occupied the southern coast where Gaza is today more than 3,000 years ago. The Philistines are believed to have come from the island of Caphtor, which may have been Crete.  The Philistines are believed to have been part of the group known as the "Sea Peoples" that migrated from the Aegean region to the southern coast of Canaan around 1175 BC.  

The Palestinian's are not modern day Palestinians! 

The Philistines were enemies of the ancient Israelites.  They were portrayed in the Bible as a crude and warlike race. Even today it is considered an insult to call somebody a "Philistine."

Goliath was a Philistine. Goliath is the infamous giant and “champion of the Philistines,” who first appears in the Bible in 1 Samuel 17:4.  The boy David slew Goliath when Philistines had come up to make war against King Saul in the 11th Century BCE.

ISRAEL IS THE ORIGINAL JEWISH HOMELAND

Israel is the one and only Jewish homeland in a vast region of Muslim countries. 

Here is a map during King David's period prior to the Romans conquering the region. The Jews controlled a region that was much larger than present day Israel. 

Virtually every nation in the world today is the result of battles fought and won. Nations are created with the blood of men. No peoples fought harder than the Sons of Jacob. No nation that exists today fought those battles as long ago as Israel. No nation that exists today has their battles documented in the ancient texts of the Bible and the Book of Jasher. 

Click on map to enlarge.
Then pinch to zoom. 

Joshua and the sons of Jacob, the Israelites, defeated several peoples during their conquest of the Lands' Adonia promised Abraham and Moses that are described in the bible. The primary groups mentioned include the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Notably, they defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, who were among the last of the Rephaites. 

The Children of Israel suffered horrible defeats too. They were overrun by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Romans and eventually the Ottoman Empire which was the Turkish. The Ottoman Empire controlled all the territory that we know as Israel, Judea and Samaria until WWII. 

Perhaps the most well know battle fought by Israel is the one against the Seleucids.  People don't remember the Seleucids, they remember who defeated them -- the Maccabees!  That's how we got the Feast of Dedication -- Hanukkah!! 

The Seleucids were a Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled the Seleucid Empire during the Hellenistic period, from 312 BC to 64 BC. Founded by Seleucus I Nicator, a general under Alexander the Great, the empire included territories in modern-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, and parts of Turkey and Central Asia. 

No body in their right mind would say that Israel today belongs to any of ancient empires. Those empires are dead, but Israel is alive!!

Notice their wasn't one ancient battle with the King of Palestine. Notice their wasn't a Palestinian Empire. How is that? 

After the Maccabees re-dedicated the temple in 156 BCE, Israel enjoyed a prosperous period.  That ended when the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 CE and drove the Jews out of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. 

Check out my blog about the Maccabees 

After a series of Jewish-Roman wars between 66 and 136 CE including the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 CE) which left Jerusalem in ruins and Jews scattered around the world, the Romans renamed the region to "Syria-Palaestina” as a reference to the Jew's arch enemies the Assyrians and the Philistines. The Romans also renamed Jerusalem to Aelia Capitolina. This was part of Emperor Hadrian's efforts to Romanize the city and erase its Jewish identity. 

The Romans are long gone, but Israel lives!!

ISRAEL HAD THE DEED LONG BEFORE THE ROMANS!

The Israelites own the deed to Jerusalem!! It is in the bible. 

1 Chronicles 21:18-28 (ESV) -- David Builds an Altar: 

Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 

So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 

Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 

As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 

And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 

Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.”

But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site. 

And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 

Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.

EVEN BEFORE THAT ...

Way back in the time of Moses, God told the people of Israel that he had already chosen a place for his dwelling place in the Promised Land, mount Moriah, long before they’d even got there:

“You are to seek only the place Adonai your God chooses from all your tribes to put His Name to dwell—there you will come.” (Deuteronomy 12:5)

God marked out Zion in the BIBLE in Genesis 22 when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah.

THAT SPOT WHERE GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO SACRAFICE ISAAC IS THE TEMPLE MOUNT TODAY!!! 

Conversely, Jerusalem (Zion) is not mentioned even one time in the Quran which was written some 3600+ years later in ~610 C.  The Al-Aqsa Mosque was built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 685 and 715 CE. 

By the way, the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been destroyed by earthquakes multiple times and rebuilt: 

1. 714 CE: The eastern part of the mosque was destroyed by an earthquake but was rebuilt. 
2. 746 CE: A large portion of the mosque was destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 758. 
3. 1033: The mosque was destroyed by another earthquake and rebuilt shortly after.

Various empires, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and eventually the Islamic Caliphate and the Ottoman Empire each controlled the region for a time. 

It was conquered by the Ottoman Turks who invaded and occupied it for 402 years (1516-1918). The Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I in October 1918. Great Britain took over Jerusalem after World War I.

This map shows the MUCH larger area that was going to be established again as Israel. 

The Balfour Declaration was a statement issued by the British government in 1917 that expressed support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland. The declaration was sent in a letter from British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, on November 2, 1917. The letter was intended to be passed on to the Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, and the declaration was published in the press on November 9, 1917.  

No nation has as great a claim to Israel, Judea and Samaria as the Jews do today! 

SO I ASK YOU: ARE YOU A ZIONIST?

THE MAN IN THE SHROUD

Believe what you will but this video shows the unveiling of the man that was wrapped in the Shroud of Turin.  

Above is a "hyper-realistic" model of the man pictured on a white linen burial shroud ~2000 years ago.

Below is an image of the "man on the shroud" based on the actual data of that "man."

Actual Shroud beside a photo-negative

On Oct 13, 2022 at Salamanca Cathedral in northwestern Spain an exhibit opened which ended the mystery of what the man in the Shroud looked like. The exhibition features a physiologically and anatomically correct, life-sized model of a tortured and crucified 33-year-old man based on the image's captured by the burial cloth known as the Shroud of Turin. 

The Shroud is said to have wrapped the body of Jesus after he was taken down off the cross he was crucified on and placed in a tomb, It is by far the world’s most widely studied relic. It continues to be the object of scientific debate.

The exhibition is called The Mystery Man, but for Alvaro Blanco, the curator of the exhibit, there is no mystery about who the man is.  Who do you think it is? 

What remains a mystery is how the Shroud was created. That is the miracle of the shroud!

I have written several other blog posts concerning this amazing artifact. Below are links to my previous posts:

A Love Letter From Yeshua 

The Perfector 

The Keter on the Shroud 

Asking Questions About the Image on the Shroud 

Credible Witnesses 

Have You Seen Him?

CLICK HERE to visit the official site and more details on "The Mystery Man" exhibition.

This video is a very good summary of evidence about the Shroud. 

Other items found on the image:

LAMED - 12

I have been gradually working through doing a deep dive into the 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet. This post is a continuation of that. What makes this post different is that it was precipitated by a Christian pastor who recently asked me to tell him about the number 12 in the Old Testament.  He motivated me to examine the letter Lamed.  Please allow me to explain.  

The letter Lamed (ל) is the 12th Letter in the 22 letter Hebrew aleph-beyt. Lamed (ל) represents the sound "L".  It has a numerical/gematria value of 30. 

Here you see two forms/shapes for the letter. The modern Hebrew used in the Torah is on top. Below that is the more ancient form. Both shapes look like a shepherd's crook.

Lamed (ל) is derived from the root meaning "to learn" or "to teach." It's shape, which resembles a shepherd's staff, indicates guidance and direction in learning. The shepherd's staff is also associated with a journey.  

The height of the letter is associated with spiritual elevation through knowledge. Reaching upward with a Yod (י) at the top signifies the heart's aspiration to connect with divine insight. 

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Lamed (ל) is the tallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, symbolizing royalty. 

Lamed is significant in Kabbalah, representing the heart (לב, lev). In Kabbalah, the heart symbolizes the center of emotions and spiritual connection. The concept of the "point in the heart" is significant in Kabbalah representing a spiritual awakening or a desire for a deeper connection with the divine. The "point in the heart" is considered the beginning of one's spiritual journey, leading to the discovery of life's meaning and purpose.

The לב, lev (heart) is also associated with love and unity, emphasizing the importance of connecting heart-to-heart with others to achieve spiritual fulfillment. This connection is seen as essential for transcending the material world and attaining spiritual enlightenment.

Sheep and Love Come Together In a Major Bible Story

Themes of a shepherd/sheep and love run all through the Bible. One of the most important moments in the bible links a Lamb and Love to together. It is the very first time the word love is used in the Bible. In the famous story of the "Binding of Isaac," known in Hebrew as the Akedah, Abraham's son Isaac asks his father, where the sacrifice is. Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide the Lamb. 

Genesis 22.1-2 -- After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, ...

Exploring Lamed/12 in the Bible

Lamed has a gematria value of 30 as well as an integer value of 12.  Genesis 12 and Exodus 12 each have a relationship to the meaning of the letter Lamed. Both chapters open with the start of a journey by people in need of guidance and direction. 

Sheep in Need of a Shepherd.  

Genesis 12:1-3 -- 

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Exodus (Shemot) chapter 12 is about the start of the Israelites Exodus journey, beginning with the story of the first Passover and the Korban Lamb.

Authority Over Sheep: 

The Lamed symbolizes authority, particularly that of a shepherd over sheep, emphasizing guidance and protection.

Psalm 119

Like all the Hebrew letters, Psalm 119 has verses dedicated to Lamed. 

Psalm 119 is structured as an acrostic poem with 176 verses divided into 22 stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  30 being Lamed's gematria value, the verses related to Lamed begin with the 30th verse.  Psalm 119:30-39 relate to our path/journey and the need for guidance.  

30 I chose the way of faith; Your judgments I have set [before me].

31 I clung to Your testimonies; O Lord; put me not to shame.

32 [In] the way of Your commandments I shall run, for You will broaden my understanding.

33 Instruct me, O Lord, [in] the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it at every step.

34 Enable me to understand and I shall keep Your Torah, and I shall keep it wholeheartedly.

35 Lead me in the path of Your commandments for I desired it.

36 Extend my heart to Your testimonies and not to monetary gain.

37 Turn away my eyes from seeing vanity; with Your ways sustain me.

38 Fulfill for Your servant Your word that is for Your fear.

39 Remove my disgrace, which I feared, for Your judgments are good.

Other Meaningful Associations to 12

The most obvious is Jacob's 12 sons -- the future Tribes of Israel. (Di’nah is the 13th child, the only daughter.)

Jewish Mysticism 

There is an amazing Jewish story about a Rabbi who wrote one of the greatest works in Judaism which became the seminal text in Jewish Mysticism called The Zohar. 

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Elazar lived in a cave for 12 years + 12 months, a total of thirteen years. Initially, they spent twelve years there, studying Torah and surviving on carobs and water. After being informed by the prophet Elijah that it was safe to leave, they emerged but quickly returned to the cave for an additional twelve months after expressing disdain for the people working the land. They finally left the cave again with a changed perspective on life and the importance of worldly engagement.

To this day, Chassidic Jews celebrate a holiday called Lag B'Omer in remembrance of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who at the time was thought to possibly be the Messiah.  

Astrology 

Many cultures and religions view the stars as a manifestation of the divine. This perspective suggests that the vastness of the universe reflects a higher power or intelligence. In various traditions, the positions of celestial bodies are believed to influence human affairs and destinies. This became the constellations we know as the Zodiac and the practice we know as Astology. 

The Mazalot (מַזָּלוֹת) - The Jewish Zodiac 

Philosophers find a sense of wonder and awe in the cosmos, which can evoke feelings of spirituality. The study of the universe can inspire a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves, prompting existential questions about our place in the cosmos.  

There are 12 zodiac signs, each occupying 30° of the ecliptic, which is the circle that represents the sun's yearly path across the sky. The last sign is Pisces (the fish), a water sign. 

The Jewish Zodiac 

The 12 tribes bear a relation to the Jewish zodiac, known as "mazalot." The 12 aligns the twelve Hebrew months with twelve constellations, each connected to a tribe of Israel and specific spiritual attributes. Here are the correlations:

1. Nissan (Aries): Yehudah, symbolizing leadership and renewal. (The month of Passover) 
2. Iyar (Taurus): Issachar, representing strength and truth.
3. Sivan (Gemini): Zebulun, associated with communication and travel.
4. Tammuz (Cancer): Reuben, linked to vision and introspection.
5. Av (Leo): Shimon, reflecting courage and transformation.
6. Elul (Virgo): Gad, emphasizing action and service.
7. Tishrei (Libra): Ephraim, symbolizing balance and justice. (Yom Kippur)
8. Cheshvan (Scorpio): Menashe, associated with resilience and healing.
9. Kislev (Sagittarius): Benjamin, representing faith and aspiration.
10. Tevet (Capricorn): Dan, linked to judgment and discipline.
11. Shvat (Aquarius): Asher, symbolizing abundance and blessing.
12. Adar (Pisces): Naftali, reflecting joy and hidden potential.

These associations integrate spiritual growth with the cycles of the 12 lunar months in the Jewish year.

The expression "Mazel Tov" is derived from the Mazalot (מַזָּלוֹת), the name of the Jewish Zodiac. The word "mazalot" (מַזָּלוֹת) originates from the Hebrew term "mazal" (מַזָּל), which means "constellation" or "astrological sign." This term is derived from the root נ-ז-ל, meaning "to flow down," reflecting the ancient belief that the constellations influence human destiny by "flowing" their effects down to Earth. The plural form "mazalot" refers to the constellations collectively, often associated with the zodiac signs in Jewish tradition.

For more on this here is a link to a blog post that I wrote called "Luck for Thanksgiving."

In the Wars of the Jews (4, 5) by Flavius Josephus, he also mentions that the 12 shewbreads in the Temple represented the zodiac. 

Twelve in the New Testament

The inspiration to write this post about the twelfth letter, Lamed, was triggered when a young pastor wanted my input. 

This pastor was preparing to do a teaching on verses from the book of Luke. In the passages he was curious about the number 12 which appears two times near one another but in connection with two different incidents. There seemed to be a deeper meaning for that so the pastor said to me, "Tell me about the number 12 in the Old Testament." 

Here are the verses the pastor was referring to:

Luke 8:40-44 --

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 

41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 

42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 

43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 

44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

Again, the pastor was looking for an understanding of the number 12 because it appears twice.  He was not asking me for the meaning of the verses. But as I dove into the meaning of 12 from a Jewish perspective and considered the verses he was referring to, an understanding emerged which I hadn't heard before.  

I haven't studied out "12" in the Gospels but I do know that after feeding 5000 on just 5 loaves there were 12 baskets of bread left over.  Yeshua says something intriguing to me that I see as a clue to this riddle about the number 12.

Yeshua Himself asks them plainly in Mark 8:19-21:

“When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”

“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” 

Clearly Jesus expects His apostles and us by extension to make an [obvious] conclusion about these numbers. 

Rolling All Of This Into To Luke 8:40-44

In the broadest sense, Twelve symbolizes God’s people. Twelve tribes, twelve patriarchs, and finally the twelve apostles, the patriarchs of the New Israel gathering up the remnants of a feast that will be the new covenant meal of God’s new people, the celebration of their deliverance, the new food for the journey to the true promised land, heaven. 

The woman with blood for 12 years reached for the "fringe on his garment represents."  The tseet-tseet or TSIT-sis) are the strings, or fringes, tied to each of the four corners of a tallit, or prayer shawl. They are widely considered a reminder, not unlike a string around one's finger, to think of God at all times. 

The Tassels were worn by the Jews then and now on the four corners of their garments as reminders of "all the commandments of Yahweh," in accordance with the law set out in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12.  

The woman with blood was reaching out for a new relationship with the Messiah and a new understanding of the Commandments. She was seeking a healing through the power of Jesus who was doing the will of his Father. Jesus was her only hope.  He was the hope of Israel.  

It is written in the New Testament that Jesus came to "perfect our faith." The woman with blood had perfect faith, so she was instantly healed. 

CONCLUSION:

The 12 is symbolic of the old and new covenant! The blood is symbolic of the old temple system of sacrifices that is dying like the "daughter," who represents Jerusalem.  The woman's blood ceases like the blood of the animal sacrifices that will cease and no longer make Atonement going forward. 

Jairus is symbolic of the ruling class in the Temple who will lose his power when the temple is destroyed. This story foreshadows the destruction of the Temple and the "Good News" to come. 

The New Jerusalem

In the Old Testament, the phrase "Daughter of Zion" is a reference to Jerusalem. In Luke 8.42, the only daughter of 12 years is dying.  In the New Jerusalem, the woman with blood for 12 years won't need blood sacrifices to be healed. 

The Hebrew Mazalot

Twelve also symbolizes that Adonai is the Alpha and the Omega, knowing the end from the beginning.  He laid out the Heavens.

Job 38:31-33 -- Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth* in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

* A Mazzaroth is a particular "sign" on the Mazalot, the Hebrew Zodiac. Mazalot is the plural.

This whole story of the bible was in the Mazalot (the Constellations) from the beginning.  Elohim knows the end from beginning and the Lord has been our Shepherd on this long journey from In the Beginning (Bereshit). 

According to Kabbalah, each month is aligned with a letter of the aleph-bet. Kabbalah teaches us that "G‑d created that month with the spiritual energy of that letter." The Jewish mystics associated the month of Tishrei with the Hebrew letter Lamed.  

The zodiac of Tishrei is Libra, those famous scales. It reminds us about the ever-so-valuable balance—the balance we must all find between heady spirituality and physical reality.

Tishrei is famously known as a time of deep introspection and connection to Adonai. The shape of Lamed, soaring into the air, also has a horizontal line going across, a line is a reminder that we can transform our life and soul. Tishrei is the month of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. 

The New Millennium 

In Revelation 21 (12 backwards) the heavenly city is described with multiple references to the number 12, including 12 gates, 12 angels, and 12 foundations, echoing the 12 tribes and 12 apostles.

The 144,000 Sealed in Revelation 7:4-8, are based on 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. After Revelation the New Millennium begins. The New Millennium is 1000 years.  (12 x 12) x 1000 = 144,000. 

I will close with this from the Book of John:

The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 

Phony Kamala

 

Lying, Rambling, Cackling Race Hustler

By Steve Gruber - August 7, 2024

Regardless of what she wants, no matter what she says, Phony Kamala is just that: insincere.

Willie Brown’s ex, Kamala Harris, wants to head the executive branch. This rambling, cackling race hustler wants to be commander in chief. She wants to do a lot of things, none of them good, because she heads the Democrat ticket. Regardless of what she wants, no matter what she says, Phony Kamala is just that: insincere. Nothing she says is intelligible. Nothing she says about herself is true. Nothing she says about America or America’s place in the world is intelligent, because she knows nothing about domestic or foreign policy.

Things only worsen when she goes off script, when she has no lines to memorize or words to guide her. When she has no aides to prompt her or is without a teleprompter, when she has no help whatsoever, Phony Kamala makes Joe Biden sound smart. Nothing Democrats say on Harris’s behalf can make her sound credible. Nothing Democrats say against President Trump, no matter how incredible, can make voters believe Harris is capable. And yet Democrats will nonetheless try to convince us that Harris is sound, that she has the judgment to do what is right or the will to fight what is wrong.

No one should even try to convince us that Kamala Harris is worthy of the job of president. No one, after all, believes the White House should be a career center for Democrats. Or rather, no one who is not a Democrat believes Harris should be in the White House—because the presidency does not exist to serve the unhirable. The Oval Office is not WeWork for unemployable Democrats.

Democrats know this too, because this is not Harris’s first unsuccessful run for the presidency. She ran in 2020 without winning a single caucus or primary. She pulled out before she could be thrown out. She ran away, in spite of her attempt to sound like Lincoln. Her three-word campaign slogan, For the People, was not enough to fool even some of the people into voting for her.

No one was fooled when Harris announced her candidacy on January 21, 2019. She used Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a photo-op. She went on “Good Morning America,” and pretended to be African American. The act was an insult to the memory of Dr. King, who was shot and killed—who was murdered—because of the color of his skin. The act was also an insult to the content of the nation’s character.

By treating race as a fashion accessory, Kamala Harris insulted all races. She revealed herself to be both ignorant and superficial. Are we to believe she has changed for the better, that she is conversant in the history of the civil rights movement or fluent in the language of natural rights? Are we to believe she no longer panders to blacks or pretends she is black? Are we to believe she no longer panders to the worst among us, when she sounds no different than before?

Remember, too, that Harris believed the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax. She was for the hoax until she wasn’t, calling it a “modern-day lynching.” She was quick to believe the unbelievable, that a biracial, C-list celebrity—a guy who wouldn’t have lasted 15 minutes on The Celebrity Apprentice—was the victim of a hate crime. So much for Harris’s purported wisdom and experience.

Harris believed Smollett because she wanted to, regardless of the facts. That there were no facts, that Smollett’s attempt at race-baiting was like Harris’s exploitation of race, was irrelevant. So much for Harris’s purported insight as a lawyer or her skill as a prosecutor, or her tenure as attorney general of California.

The only other explanation is that Harris knew Smollett was lying but didn’t care. Either way, she is a horrible liar. Not for nothing does President Trump call her Phony Kamala. Were the stakes not so high, were the fate of the country not at stake, we could laugh at Harris and Smollett. But because so many Democrat prosecutors mistake talking points for truths, because they believe the lies they tell about President Trump, the stakes are high indeed.

If Democrats replace someone who is incompetent with someone who is incoherent, the result will be four more years of misery. If Harris wins, her words will suffice for truth. If she gets any worse, we will need to learn a new language.

Because leadership requires the ability to communicate, we expect presidents to be good communicators. Because we know a great president must also be a great communicator, we know why we support President Trump. In turn, we know Kamala Harris does not have what it takes to lead. She does not have what it takes to be president of anything, least of all president of the United States.

We refuse to pretend Phony Kamala is the best politician in the Democrat Party. We refuse to pretend she is smart or sound, or black once a year. We refuse to believe she is the heir to Roosevelt or Truman or Kennedy. We especially refuse to believe she speaks well.

Harris is not an orator. She is no Obama; Michelle Obama, that is. She is not Barack Obama at his worst either, because she shows no interest in the power of words or the principles of rhetoric. She shows no interest in democracy because she has no interest in winning her party’s nomination on her own.

Better for Democrats to accept Harris for who she is. Better for Democrats to accept the truth, because a candidate this phony—a politician this bad—is no good.

Better for the truth to prevail, because Phony Kamala is like Sleepy Joe Biden: an embarrassment.

Steve Gruber is the host of America’s Voice Live, which airs daily on Real America’s Voice TV