Hebraic Studies Main Index – with Rabbi Reuven ben-Avaraham.
Doctorates are as follows:
1. of Literature, 2. of Philosophy, 3. of Hebrew Literature/Letters.
4. of Hebrew Studies. 5. of Hebrew (Jewish) Studies.
Please do NOT visit this or
any site on Shabbat or on a Yom Tov (Feasts)!
- Y-H-V-H, blessed be His Sanctified Name, which we usually
pronounce as “Adonai” or “HaShem” prior
the destruction of the Second Temple.
However,
please note that in general throughout the site I use a version based on the “Jewish
Publication Society” (JPS) of the Torah/Tanakh
(Law/writings & the Prophets).
Please Note: Some verse numbers may vary in some version’s of non Jewish Bibles.
Hebraic Studies Main Index
With
On this site I will mostly use a version based on the “Jewish Publication Society” Tanakh (JPS)
“Behold, the days come, saith (the Lord), that I
will send a FAMINE (a Hunger) in the land, NOT a FAMINE of
bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of
” Amnos - Amos 8:11 (JPS).
1. The How to & Assist Guides:
Light the Sabbath Candles … A guide to commencing the blessed Shabbat, and lighting the Sabbath lights (Candles) complete with prayers, etc.
Daily Prayers & Kiddush … A comprehensive guide covering almost every aspect of daily prayers and blessings the Sabbath Kiddush, various foods, wine, and so much more.
How
to lay Tefillin … For those who just may be interested in laying
Tefillin, here is everything you need to know, complete with images of how to
place the straps on your left arm, etc. Of course prayers, etc are all included.
Mi-Sheberach
… The
“Jewish Prayer for the Sick” - On this page you will find the
prayer “Mi Sheberach” which is found in
every Siddur, but here it is in English, a Hebrew Transliteration, and of course
in Ivrit - Hebrew. It is important that we pray for those we know who need
healing, be it for health, or even spiritually!
Dates for Yom Tovim & more … A wonderful page that shows you all the dates for the Yom Tovim for 2023 to 2024. As well as the Yom Tovim and the Weekly Parashah. This is because I have added pages that show both a regular and Hebrew calendars with all details clearly shown weekly and with the Yom Tovim clearly marked. PS: This page may Not be suitable for Mobiles or Tablets?
Weekly-Parashah … This
page covers a complete listing of the annual Weekly Sabbath, Torah
& Haftarah Readings. However for the
3. New Studies:
I-Believe
… As
soon as you will enter online you will read in this special study; “Can
we Say in Faith “I Believe”. You see, my dear ones the truth is that:
Faith is life
lived in the Light of His Love!
Shamar … Who would have though that the
following verse had such powerful teaching? “And Elohim took
the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it”, be
assured there is much more to this verse than meets the eye!
Blessing for The Czar … We all know that much loved Play “Fiddler on the Roof” abnd the question asked of the rabbi of Anatevka; “Rabbi is there a blessing for the Czar?” of course, there is a blessing” … “May Elohim bless and keep the Czar (short pause - with a fast finish) far away from us!” But there is much more to this study than the Czar or even Tevye singing “If I was a rich man.”
Who
is God … This may be a strange question, but
what you will discover is quite remarkable, Our
beloved Heavenly Father is so much greater that we sometimes are aware off, for
He is Great, and He is Echad!
Who
is our Saviour … “Yet
I am thy Elohim from the
I
Believe … This
is a profound study about our beloved faith and how we live it. “Ani Ma’amin”
- I believe to say what we as Jews should believe.
Keep the Commandments … Law is a tremendous blessing and we should understand of course that living within or as close as possible to our beloved Torah Mitzvot is a key to well-being and a life of happiness.
Why we Read the Torah … Or – “Why do we Read the Torah on a Yearly Cycle”. This study provides the answer, as well as providing an interesting short additional short study, which is obviously also Torah related!
A Gem found in Amos … There is are wonderful gems to be found in a single verse in Amnos - Amos chapter 4, verse 13, which I am sure you will also will find simply amazing!
Love Thy Neighbour … We know this verse well from Vayikra - Leviticus 19:18, but there is so much more to this study then what we learn from this verse, for it takes us back to a Shul in Poland a long time ago and a wonderful elderly Reba who said something most remarkable. You really should read what he said!
We Are
Not Alone … Is
life tough and are things are not going well, I am well aware that there are
some who are have troubled times and need help. This study is for you, for
believe me, no matter what we may think you are never alone, even though we may
feel that no one cares. Please read this, and pray when you have, things will
change!
He Who Heals … A short, but a very interesting study based on Shemot – Exodus 15;26.
4. Studies & Articles:
The Mitzvot Study … This
study covers that there are not just the “Aseret Hadibrot” –
the “10 Commandments” but Yirmyahu - Jeremiah there are 613 Mitzvot. These
two pages contain a great deal of information, and of course there are a good
number of the 613 that are currently not applicable for the most obvious of
reasons, and this is all explained in these two studies!
Why Learn Torah … In Judaism the very heart is the wonderful mitzvah of being able to the study of our beloved Torah, for obviously it is more than just the Law, for it contains so much detail of our very beginning, when Elohim, blessed be He, gave the land to Avram and there is so much more!
Reward for Torah Study … The Torah is the touchstone of our people and we are often called “the people of the Book.” There is no doubt that Torah study sweetens our lives. To emphasize this sweetness and in children especially, it was found that in Eastern Europe children used to begin their study of Hebrew with letters that had been written in honey. Keeping and studying Torah will reward us richly!
Tehillim-Psalms 1 … This very first Tehillim seems to have been placed at the very beginning is for a special purpose, the truth is if you cannot pass the first three verses, well just do not bother going on, for you would be in trouble, as the next two verses contains certain things that might be extremely challenging. The last verse sums things up. But, it is one of the best Tehillim possible to bring us back to their senses!
Tehillim-Psalms
105 … This
study covers a very powerful statement found in Tehillim - Psalm 105 verses 7
and 8, and the feature word is “Olam” being of course
“forever”. However, be assured there is so much more to the
statement we have been given there than meets the eye.
Tsephanyah Chapter 3 … Here is a new and a powerful study of chapter three of Tsephanyah - Zephaniah which contains so much and will be fulfilling. You will find that I may cover things that we are generally not told, and we need to know the facts re our wonderful faith! The point is simply this, the more Torah, the more Life!
Eliyahu - Elijah … This is a four page study featuring one of the most powerful stories found in the Tanakh, of how the prophet Eliyahu - Elijah was used so powerfully by Elohim, blessed be He, to punish the evil king Ahab, by removing all rain and dew, and placing the country in great hunger and thirst. But there is so much more in the powerful story, for something occurs in Study Two, which in all of the Torah and Tanakh had never happened before, a powerful miracle occurs in Zarephath, Zidon (Sidonia) were he was sent after his stay at the Brook of Cherith, where he was fed by ravens. This is a study, I pray, that will move and bless you!
Esther ... In
Megillat Hadassah - Esther it may not have contained
the Sanctified Name of Elohim, but it contains a story of great faith, and we
know this as Hadassah - Esther and Mordecai and the faithful of Israel
“fasted and prayed for three days” chapter 4, verse 16 (JPS version
of the Tanakh). And what was Haman’s “ten
thousand talents of silver”
all about? This is something that may shock you, for it contained a prediction
to more recent times!
Miryam’s Song … We know that Moshe and the men sang the song first, and then Miryam and the ladies followed and their song became something so much more. Let us look into this interesting event and what really occurred?
Who is Israel … This study asks the question; “Are the Ten Tribes of Israel
Lost?” There are4 groups, including one known as “British
Israel” who believe they are the true Israel today, this also includes
many other Christians. However, in this study I will show directly from the
Tanakh that countless Israelites went to live in
Lost Objects … A very special study that is directly connected to two very similar verses found in Devarim - Deuteronomy 22:1 and Shemot - Exodus 23:4. One speaks about “thy brother’s” lost animal and the other about “thine enemy’s” lost animal. And yet all this could well be related to what it says, or even to ourselves, for there are some who may have somehow strayed and lost our way? A very interesting study and worth checking out!
How
to Pray … I
am sure that this study will encourage you to pray unto our beloved Creator,
and it will be a guide that will assist you.
Birkat Kohanim ... This covers The
Priestly Blessing and a vital part which is generally missed when it is
used. When it is used and said correctly the blessings will be far greater that
you will have ever experienced it before. Art the end of Birkat Kohanim, in Be’midbar - Numbers chapter 6; in verse 27
Elohim clearly tells us that the blessings would be based on a certain factor,
which has been missing for thousands of years!
Learn Hebrew Online … Although we can pray in the language of the countries we live in, but if you wish to learn Ivrit (Hebrew) here is a guide. However, there are two links to pages online that will assist you in learning Ivrit, that is if you wish to do so.
Are You Dieting … Let me just say, “You are what you eat”. Now put that in our life of faith, what could this be all about? This a somewhat light-hearted study, but with a decisive message.
HaShem-The Name … Is
the word “Elohim” a name? No it is not, for it is a word, and it is
the “Attribute” of who our beloved heavenly Father is! Also covered
is the four letter *“Memorial Name
- (Y-H-V-H) the Tetragrammaton.
. *“This is My Name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.” Shemot - Exodus 3:15.
Zechariah’s Message … The people had arrived back in
Obadiah … Obadiah - Ovadyah may have written a small book as it contains just a single chapter and there are just 21 verses (in the Hebrew - English version of the JPS). However, I can tell you that it is a big book as it contains a great deal and it also has an amazing prophecy. The entire book is directly related to two brothers who were born way back in Ovadyah’s history.
Crooked Eyesight … (Updated) This is a feature is based on a Parable that speaks of a man that had “Crooked Eyesight”! The question is of course, “How is your eyesight”? The study does cover a great deal of facts regarding some rather sad things occurring in the world today that seems to be in turmoil, but sadly within certain parts of our Jewish world there seems to be some Crooked Eyesight. This is a must read study.
Ushpizin &
Other Customs … This is not
the kind of study I desired to write, but it is one that I had to! Sadly
certain customs were introduced by these ‘mystical
Kabbalists’ in the 16th century into our beautiful faith that are
far from pure. In fact some are, I am sorry to say are completely
“pagan” and also introduced was “necromancy”. Read
this study and check the Torah and you will find what it states about these
things.
Nephesh-Soul … This all about your
Nephesh, or your Soul and interesting study asks the questions do you have one,
and “Does
the Soul Control the Body, or the Body the Soul?” But
there is much more to this study than you may think!
The Ten Commandments … One of my favourite Torah portions is “Yitro” where we received “Aseret Ha-Dibrot - the “Ten Commandments”. But there is so much more in these commandments than what we tend to think, although we all know what the commands contain, but have you ever thought about the way it was made up and is there anything special hidden in there? My answer is - Yes there certainly is!
5. Special Studies & Items:
Let-My-People-Go … Here is the grand story from Sefer Shemot -
Exodus as Moshe and Acharon face the opposing Pharaoh, Elohim has sent them to
proclaim “Let My People Go”, and we all know what happens. However
this study contains so much more than just what happened, it goes through every
single pagan Egyptian god that was completely humiliated. Something that is
sadly not taught a great deal. There is a powerful message to be taken from it!
The
Letter Hei & the 2-Temples … This is a study that will
provide a powerful revelation, why the from the word “glorified”
which is
“kabad” in Ivrit. Also there is a surprising
revelation regarding the “
Knowledge and Wisdom … A most comprehensive study based on Yeshayahu – Isaiah 43:10
that contains three powerful words; “Know”, “Believe” and “Understand”
and continues with … “that I am
He; before Me there was no Elohim (G-d) formed, neither shall any be after Me’” (JPS). The three words are the basis of what is a
comprehensive study covering several important subjects that are related to our
blessed Jewish faith!
That Tragic Calf … What can we learn from a calf at a certain mountain in the wilderness, well a great deal I would thing, this will cover some interesting facts!
An evil
book by Martin Luther … This is about a book that was written back in 1543 CE by
6. Parashah & Haftarah’s:
Bereshit - Genesis.
Parashat Bereshit … A short but a delightful look at this Parashat with a question, why did Elohim say “And on the seventh day Elohim finished His work which He had made.” Should it not have said that He completed His work on the sixth day? I will cover that!
Parashat Lech-Lecha … In this powerful study we find that Avram finally departs after Elohim, blessed be He commands him “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee” Bereshit - Genesis 12:1 (JPS version of the Torah). And we will follow his journey to Shechem where Elohim, appears and speaks to him and Avram builds an altar unto Him there. But there is much more!
Parashat Vayera … In the previous Parashat “Lech Lecha” we read about Avram at the age of ninety that he had his name changed with the addition of the letter “He” becoming Avraham, as he would be “the father of many”. (Bereshit 17:4-5), and then he was circumcised. (Bereshit 17:24-27). Then in “Vayera” he is visited by three “Malachim - Angels” and his hospitality is something to behold, and we can learn so much from how he spends his time with them!
Parashat Chayei Sarah … A
fulfilling Study that makes sense of a difficult situation and I pray that it
will also bring some healing in our thoughts. We
should not forget that it was Islam protected us form being killed back when we
were in
Parashat Toldos … This study focuses mainly on focuses on Yitzchak - Isaac and we learn that he is very different to his father Avraham, yet in many ways we can see something of Yitzchak in each and every one of us!
Parashat Vayeishev … A very special study that looks at something that is generally never even thought about, and we bring that into our lives today, for the message is really very clear, our wonderful Elohim, blessed be He, is really in charge of everything! And He cares what we do today!
Parashat Vayigash … This powerful Torah portion contains the dramatic reunion of Yoseyf - Joseph and his brothers, a story of forgiveness and love!
Shemot - Exodus.
Parashat Yitro … The Torah reminds us that all the earth is Elohim’s, but asserts that our community has a special role. For we are told that we are to be “mamlechet kohanim v’goy kadosh - a kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. What does this really mean?
Parashat Terumah … The very word
“Terumah” is so powerful and this is well covered, but in this the
Parsha we also find this; “And let them make Me a Sanctuary”
but for who is it? We will look at this aspect as well. A very interesting and
a touching parashat!
Parashat Pekudei … An amazing story of a most faithful servant who constructed the Mishkan - Tabernacle as Elohim, blessed be He had called on Moshe and have Bezalel build the Mishkan – Tabernacle, the Ark and all the vessels, etc. Contained herein is a wonderful story of a very special man who knew how to behave to his leader and master, even when Moshe made an error at one stage. Just a very wonderful lesson to all of us to learn!
Vayikra - Leviticus.
Parashat Kedoshim (2) … This
Parsha is based on the words; And spoke unto Moshe, saying: Speak unto all
the congregation of the children of
your
Elohim am holy” Vayikra -
Leviticus 19:1-2. But there is so much more to
this study.
Parashat Emor … Although this study came after the Haftarah study, but it looks at a completely different aspect of the priesthood, and how it can apply to us today in how we should behave in the world, for as Elohim said “Ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests” Shemot - Exodus 19:6 (JPS).
Parashat Emor (2) … The second Emor study and it is very different indeed. Enjoy it!
Parashat Behar … This is a Parsha where I deviate to its interesting and its powerful Haphtarah and we will see what a Jew of great faith does when in a time of real strife, does he give up or does he do the impossible?
Parashat Bechukosai … This
parashat very much covers what happens if
Be’midbar - Numbers.
Parashat Shelach … This study is subtitled “Overcoming Obstacles” – and it is of course the story of Yahushua - Joshua and Kalev – Caleb and ten other leaders of tribes heading into the Promised Land to see if it is as good as was promised, etc, but it was that they came back with that iut was indeed good, but the 10 men caused chaos with their details regarding what they saw!
Parashat Korach … This is such a powerful study when a hard and difficult situation occurred. For us today, there is a powerful lesson to be learned and I pray we get it?
Parashat Chukas … Having
been in a number of battles and won them all, but suddenly we find in In a short statement found in Be’midbar – Numbers chapter 21,
we find the following; “And they turned
and went up by the way of Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went
out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And said unto Moshe: ‘Fear him not’” verses 33-34 (JPS). Somehow, Elohim, blessed be He, knew
Moshe’s heart at that moment and thus that statement. We all need to
remember that we should take note of this, for He is always with us!
Parashat Mattos … This Parashat should touch us all, for it will teach us that words are very important! What we say may and can well change lives!
Parashat Pinchas - No 2 … Another look at the same study but in a different way!
Devarim - Deuteronomy.
Parashat Davarim - Words … This Parsha has a title “These are the Words” and we compare these with Moshe’s earlier word at Sinai when Elohim, blessed be He, spoke with him and gave him his great task to go and speak to Pharaoh, etc and Moshe said that “I am a man not of words”. Now he is the complete opposite. The next word we hear him speaking is to an evil king Sihon and the are “Words of peace”.
Parashat Vaeschanan … This Parsha covers our most beloved verse The “Shema Yisrael” and associated verses and how it affects our lives for the good. It is a wonderful Parsha!
Parashat Ki Teitzei … Here is the full reading from the Torah and the Haphtarah reading for Shabbat August 20, 2021 - Elul 12, 5781.
Parashat Ki Tavo … Here is the full reading from the Torah and the Haphtarah reading for Shabbat August 27, 2021 - Elul 19, 5781.
Parashat Vayelech … This Parashat is between ‘Rosh Hashanah’ and
‘Yom Kippur’ and it is one of a few Sabbath’s each year that
has a special name. This will be ‘Shabbat Shuvah’, the
‘Shabbat of Return’. The Parsha is a
powerful one dealing with Moshe’s final day’s
and his working with the people and Yahushua -
Joshua’s role as the new leader, etc.
Parashat Ha’azinu … Parashat Ha'azinu covers Devarim - Deuteronomy chapter 32 and I gave it the subject of “Be Strong and of Good Courage”.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE STUDIES & ARTICLES TO COME!
And remember our motto seen on the logo at the
top of this page: “The More Torah, the More
Life”, for Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, is the one who gave us our
Life!”
Rabbi Reuven Ben-Avraham.
Return to the Main Page, use one of the link’s below
-hebraicstudies.com-
Although the Rabbi does not believe in having to copyright any of the studies, but there have been occasions where there parts
of the studies have been copied in part and quoted out of complete context under his name, and thus he has been misquoted by
those who have their own reasons for doing so. Thus, it is only for this reason these works
are covered under © copyright restrictions.