Aish HaTorah

Sorry about that. Mitzvah = Commandment, Mitzvot = Commandments

Whew! I am safe, then. I know I personally fulfill all 613 mitzvot given to Jews (honest ). You goyim only have the seven given to Noah to keep. Thank you for your answer; I appreciate it.

I love challenges. And I am certainly no expert, I assure you. I do know Hebrew very well. Certainly well enough to know that your last paragraph is spot on. I would even take it a step further and add that it goes beyond "each word" and is often as specific as "each letter." When you throw in the numerical value of the letters, anything can happen.

It does explain it, thank you. But it also raises a few more questions, if I may. What is the determinating factor for "some principles and commandments that are eternal and will always be true and correct?" Why do you believe that different covenants would be necessary instead of one covenant for all people? What terms have changed over the millennia to make a people "covenant People," and where do Jews stand within the Abrahamic covenant today? Is it no longer relevant to Jews, specifically, and to all of G-d's children in general? Finally, are there specific "covenants" or mitzvot (commandments) that are no longer relevant today for anyone, in your belief? For example, and please correct me if I am mistaken in this, but it is widely believed (based upon his own writings as well as those of others) that the Paul of the New Testament continued to live, in essence, as a Jew, even after his "conversion" to Christianity and a professed faith in Yeshua. (Paul is a topic that could probably have its own separate thread. He was a fascinating man, in my opinion.) How is this to be explained? (I am NOT trying to be contentious. I am simply trying to wrap my head around your view as a Mormon.) Thank you for indulging me!

Only Moon Cheese.

Wait! The earth is round?

I was sitting here wondering where everyone was, and then it occurred to me. CHURCH! Does everyone go to church at the same time? It is always on Sundays?

Would you say this is the general belief of your fellow believers? (Sorry to ask you to speak for everyone. )

It gets its fill of cheese and sleeps contentedly.

Without question, the fear of running out of gummy bears has me sitting up in bed, restless, covered in a sheen of sweat, and biting my fingernails. I shudder at the thought even in the pleasant warmth of the afternoon sun.

A poster started a thread in the Advice section that got me to thinking. Within your belief system, is questioning your faith considered a fruitful thing or something best avoided? Are there boundaries? I guess I am asking if you feel there is any gain to be had in openly questioning what you believe and if you are stronger (or more faithful) for doing so, or if it is a damaging endeavor. Sorry if I am not asking clearly.

It is a derivative of Shalom - peace - indeed. I am glad you have your explanation broom to fix my assumptions! (And I am not being sarcastic...at least not in this instance.)

When you tell a Jew a joke, he says, "I've heard it before, and I can tell it better!"

I know this thread was started back around the time of King Shlomo, and that you most very likely not see this, but I wanted to say that I have wondered this very thing on many sleepless and back pain filled nights. Shalom Aleikhem to you!

That is a shanda. Do you know if they are translated into biblical or modern Hebrew?

Is there a Hebrew or Aramaic translation of the Book of Mormon?

That is a distinct possibility. They certainly come with: 1) Unwavering (and often ridiculous) opinions 2) A litany of stories of a life-time of suffering at the hands of everyone with whom they've ever made contact 3) A conversation with *sighing* being a prerequisite 4) Jokes that you don't know are supposed to be jokes and aren't funny anyway edit: Oh, and bunions

Thank you!

I realize that Pesach (Passover) is not a part of your regular liturgical year, but I'd like to wish each of you a very happy and fruitful week. Pesach isn't for another week (18 minutes to sundown in Friday the 22nd), but I am so excited that I couldn't wait! This week prior to Pesach will be a time for us to clean our homes as well as our lives. To reflect on the past and honor our ancestors. To walk with the people through all ages who are on the same journey with us. The week of Pesach is a time for us to remember the endless effort which freedom demands from all those who desire to be free. It keeps us from forgetting that the ugly fetters of slavery come in many forms, enveloping the spirit as well as the body. As in every generation from Adam and Eve to this, we too must invite all children of G-d to share the journey with us. To help one another, to serve one another, and to open our doors so that all may rejoice in freedom. I wish all of you a very happy and fruitful Passover season.

My apologies, tess, I just noticed your post. To your first question, you are correct. In general, Jewish ethnicity is traced through the matrilineal line. I say generally, because this has not always been the case. Take Ruth for example. She is the ancestor of King David, the greatest of all Jewish kings, and she was most definitely NOT Jewish. Many Jewish scholars attempt to say that she converted, but I have seen little evidence to back up this claim or dismiss it. Currently, the State of Israel recognizes children born to Jewish mothers and not Jewish fathers as Jewish. This has religious, political, and ethnic implications. As for your second question, I have not heard of this. Do some Christians make this claim? We certainly do not accept the Yeshua of Christianity to be the Mashiach (Messiah) for whom we are waiting. We do not recognize his divinity, but we certainly recognize his historicity.

Thank you for sharing that. I am so glad she brought you haroset and not maror!

Thank you for that. I know that we cannot dwell in the past, but neither should we forget it.

You are more than welcome. And "rhino hide"...I am pretty sure they have a cream for that. Just saying.

If I give you my Jewish grandmother, will that help?

Got it. I hope you don't think I was trying to give you a hard time. I am honored that you would have a desire to learn Hebrew. Israel, in Hebrew, is spelled with five letters: YOD (which makes a "y" sound), SHIN/SIN (which makes an "s" sound), RESH (which makes an "r" sound), ALEPH (which makes no sound by itself), and LAMED (which makes an "l" sound). Sarah in Hebrew is spelled with three letters: SHIN/SIN (which makes an "s" sound), RESH (which makes an "r" sound), and HAY (which makes an "h" sound normally. The HAY in this case is all but silent. Sarah does indeed mean noble woman or princess as you said.