How is everyone doing with the recent weather events, if it affected you? Power went out for several days and just came back on. My furnace is working over time to get the house warmed up (it was down to 47 degrees) and I finally got out of the house today. Was going stir crazy!

I have begun to understand written modern hebrew.i want to buy some books to improve my reading.but i need that the books have vowels.which books do you recommend me?

Shalom,

I wanted to ask if I could read the christian old testament as a Jew. Or is it too different, or something else - which I really hope it isn't because that would mean that I can't read the Tanakh. 

I have no way of reading the Tanakh, because it doesn't exist in my language and the only way would be to read the christian bible - which is available in my language. It would be a protestant bible, but I could get another one if necessary. I know I can read the tanakh online. however, it is then only in English and I am not so capable of the English language, that I could read it "normally" and understand it (Translator isn't really an option because that would mean that I have to look up almost every third word or so, unfortunately).



Thank you very much in advance!

Niv

As we get older most start thinking more about life, what it is and what it means.

So here is what I came up with so far, 4 different things. They aren't necessarily biblical and I'm not trying to bring anything from the bible into the conversation.

Just interested for now in what you think, to see if I can add anything to my own personal thoughts.

1 - Survival

We probably take a lot for granted nowadays since most things are much easier than in days of long ago. We really don't have to worry as much about shelter, where our food is going to come from and if we can recover from many illnesses since we have modern medicine and science.

But in my opinion, we are still always in survival mode from the minute we wake up. We need to nourish our bodies with food and water. We need to have shelter that provides some sort of comfort during the extremes, whether it be in the winter or summer. We need to clothe ourselves, or at least protect our bodies from the elements. It used to be a much harder task to do these what we might think are simple everyday things but long ago it basically took up a good part if not all of the day.

2 - Adaptation

So, to keep it simple, we must adapt! Or we should be looking how to because life we always be changing. Yes, some things remain the same but as time goes on many things change. It’s nice to remember how things were if they were good, but whether we like it or not, life throws us unexpected and unwanted things that we may need to adapt to. I think a good example may be all of the things we had to adapt to just during this past year! Do we adapt to keep moving forward and live our lives? Some do and unfortunately, some don't.
 
3 – Use of our Talents

We are all unique and have certain talents. I think we need to try and find out what it is we do best or at least do good and use it to help ourselves while also finding a way to help others. It is in my opinion what makes life progress. I need what you can provide and you may need what I have to contribute.
 
4 – Pleasure

Yes, we all need to feel good! Of course in moral ways. There is so much in this world that can give us pleasure, we just need to realize what it may be and for lack of a better term, “suck it in”. Some may find pleasure in music, others in the beauty of nature, some with science, others with arts, literature or history. Whatever it is, there is enough out there and probably more to be discovered for us to find something that gives us pleasure. That is, without hurting ourselves or hurting others.


So what are your thoughts on what we are doing here on this earth?

Remember, I know there are many religious views on this, but I’m trying to keep away from that for now.
 
Thanks!

What exactly does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain?

Thanks.

Hi. I am a senior at Evans High School in Columbia County, Georgia, and I am working on my project for my AP Research class. My project involves interviewing members of my local Jewish community about their experiences growing up in the Deep South. If anyone is interested in participating in my study, I'd love to hear from you.

This popped up on my FB feed. Normally I don't click on that stuff, but I did for this. Glad I did. Cool song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR0eMJZgZHTmwUpGhZ2ryhQINi5qcGxV0lhcKfqefWotAYxBrIpj228A7OM&v=YXONm-fXWe8&feature=youtu.be

I noticed a similar pattern with a distant relative of King David and with King Solomon's mother.

How many Tribes of Israel are there and who are they? In Genesis 48 Jacob says to Joseph: Your two sons... are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.
Without Joseph but with his two sons, there are 13 heirs of Jacob. 

Exodus 28: You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel... in the order of their birth. - These are the 12 sons of Jacob without Ephraim and Manasse

Later in Numbers 7: ... the chiefs of Israel, heads of their father's houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes... brought their offerings. - These were those 12: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, Manasse, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, Naphtali. 

Chapter 8: And I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel.

Does this mean that Levi isn't counted as a tribe and Ephraim and Manasse count in place of Joseph? Why are Ephraim and Manasse not on the onyx stones?

Hi!

I'm LB and I am happy to be here. I reside in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been looking for a good Jewish forum to join and finally found this place. Excited to be here!