Yeshua, on the last day of the feast of Sukkot, declared these words (pictured above) from the Gospel of John, Chapter 7. As I studied more about the water libation ceremony on the Temple Institute's website (pictured below in this post from http://www.templeinstitute.org/sukkot.htm), I was so overjoyed to understand this ceremonial water came directly from the "foothills of Mount Moriah" and was the "original" source of water for the city of David.  This was the place where Abraham offered up his son Isaac, but YHVH instead provided the sacrifice that spared Isaac's life. (Bereshit/Genesis 22:8)


So too YHVH provided His Son like the ram caught in the thicket, or "sabak," samech/bet/kaf, which has a similar Hebrew root to "sukkah," samech/yod/kaf/hey, in that they are both linked by their woven attributes: the thicket or woven bushes and the sukkah or woven/entwined boughs.  Also, pictographically speaking, "sabak" portrays a leading (samech/staff) in (bet/house) by an open hand (kaf/open palm) while "sukkah" reveals a leading (samech/staff) by an arm (yod/work or deed) open (kaf/open palm of a hand) to behold (hey/surrender reverently).  Doesn't that hint to a shepherd leading his flock by his open hand?  Perhaps in deed by nail pierced hands?) As the ram was caught by the horns in the thicket and was YHVH's provision to spare Isaac's life, Yeshua dwelt in a sukkah of flesh (He was "woven" or "sakak" in His mother's womb, Psalm 139:13) and became our sacrifice to save our lives! And through this act of sacrifice, with Yeshua's outstretched hands, worked out our salvation and led us out of death and condemnation.  HalleluYah!


The prophet Isaiah (12:3) testifies to the waters of salvation (Yeshua), the Word raining down on this very mountain of provision (and collected for the water libation ceremony at its base). MoriYah (or "seen of Yah") provides testimony through this Temple ceremony to the living water of salvation but reminds us also of this account in the Torah.  Praise to YHVH and Yeshua for the continued source of life for us, the Mayim Chayim (Living Waters)!


I pray you, the Temple of the Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit, overflow with YHVH's Living Water this feast season as well as with everlasting joy! Yeshua is the ORIGINAL source of living water for Jerusalem that pours out to the four corners of the earth. YHVH has seen to it, as the mount's renaming by Abraham proclaims: YHVH joyfully beholds (YHVH Yirah)!!! (Bereshit/Genesis 22:14)  Perfectly named for this feast where we are commanded to be joyful:


"Perform the Festival of Booths for seven days after the ingathering from your threshing-floor and from your winepress, and you shall rejoice in your festival, you and your son and your daughter, and your male servant and your female servant, and the Lewite (Levite), and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates.  For seven days you shall observe a festival to YHVH your Elohim in the place which YHVH chooses, because YHVH your Elohim does bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be only rejoicing!"  Devarim/Deuteronomy 13-15 (ISR98)


Chag sameach!

If you have not read how the Day of Atonement went during the times when the Temple stood, please read it this year!  The Temple Institute has a wonderful, in-depth look into each part of the service on that day.  I especially appreciated the sukkot the priest could stop at if necessary during the leading of the scapegoat into the desert.  I am thankful no priest was reported breaking the fast!  Just seeing the provision there was enough to keep them determined to carry out their mitzvah!

May our studies help us learn more and more about the nature of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Yeshua, the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek. 

"where Yeshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Malkitsedeq."

Since He is our High Priest, it's a great thing to search out what that job looked like here!

Check out the carrying out of Day of Atonement according to the Temple Institute here: Yom Kippur Service.

(Photo courtesy of The Temple Institute.)

Do not forget that the Hebrew word "batach" (usually translated as "trust" in English) is really a word that depicts supreme protection. Batach's root letters are the "Bet" (a Hebrew picture of a house), "Tet" (a Hebrew picture of a basket surrounding the object and carrying it), and a "Chet" (a Hebrew picture of a wall). All three should again assert you that YOU are the contents inside the house, the basket and the wall. Abba will guard you, surround you, and protect you so that is why you should TRUST Him. He is affirming it in the word pictures, if you haven't experienced it enough personally and read all of His supernatural provisions for all of creation. (Can I get a Dayenu, please?!) He even triumphed over death, which was the worst and most certain thing in life (as Solomon spoke). You are hemmed in, safe and sound. So rest and trust in Him today!

(This diagram comes in handy for those of you digging deeper into the Hebrew Scriptures. Thank you to www.bridgesforpeace.com for posting it!)

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY I am getting a jumpstart on my Hebrew studies.  I am  super excited (I warn you in advance).  So, I decided I better share what I've come across since it has taken me a long while to get a grip on learning the  language.  If I can do it as a single mom with FIVE babies six years and younger, then you can too!  The one thing you can't replicate though, is my live teacher  at synagogue who helped bring all of this into greater clarity.  Sorry!  But I encourage you to find someone who knows the language to help you if you can.  It's time for all of us to learn more about Yeshua...our Aleph Tav!

Ok, first app...PocketTorah is an application that  will provide the user the ability  to learn the weekly Torah and Haftarah portion anywhere, at any time,  on any mobile device or computer for free.  Since there are seven aliyah portions per weekly torah portion, the kids and I listen to the daily portion each day of the week.  "Rise and shine, it's Torah time!"  It is great for homeschooling, as we play a game where the kids have to count how many times they hear certain Hebrew words (and on Shabbat during synagogue they are rewarded with a Burts Bees Honey Drop if they give me the correct count during the Torah readings) which is building their vocabulary.  We take those words and use them for their Hebrew copywork.  This program is fantastic!  Visit this link to download: PocketTorah.  Visually, I am becoming familiar with what certain words look like as well.  Can we say "sight words," all you teachers out there?  Then of course, we read the portion in English and use this next app to further our Hebrew study...

This is a free app that is a user friendly Strong's Concordance!  I use it to read aloud our current portion in English, and find it handy to click on the highlighted blue words that pique my interest in the portion for deeper learning.  VERY handy.  Honestly, I feel like the floodgates are opening with a downpour of YHVH's Holy Language these days. 

Here is the link for the lite version: Strong's Concordance Lite.  It is designed for both iPhone and iPad.

But if you are looking for a fast way to memorize the Aleph Bet (I learned all the letters in about 20 minutes, if that), you HAVE to check out this next cute app...

I don't know why (considering it's NOT an integral part of the app at all) but the cute little owl on this app is all the motivation I need to stay focused.  There are two modes for this app (you'll see what I mean when you download it): Study Mode and Test Mode.  Review the letters in Study Mode then switch to Test Mode and see how you do!  You will get a grade at the end of the test.  Don't worry, you can retake the test until you get an A+!  Just remember that the font is slightly different from the actual Torah but you'll adjust.  Here is the link for this app: Hebrew Alphabet Study Buddy.  (Yes, I am aware it is Aleph Bet, but that's how they named it.)  And then, as I found out in my synagogue's Hebrew class in clearer terms....we have...(drumroll please)

Our Aleph Bet with Vowel Points!  If you click on the Options button you can select which vowel types (ie. Patach Deck or Shva Deck) you want to review with the flash cards.  It will verbally say the proper pronunciation of each letter/vowel combination.  Practice makes perfect!  (I like the Western Wall in the background too. ::smiles::)  So here is the link so you can catch the Aleph Beis buzz: Aleph Beis Cards.  This one's compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. 



And homeschooling wouldn't be complete without a few fun Hebrew learning apps for kids!  Check this one out...

I can personally say, my kids, my kids' friends, and I all love this app!  Boy is it humbling as an adult to have to learn to write all over again.  (I want to duck in my Hebrew class as I'm taking notes and cover my paper!  lol)  But this app is fun, using a touch interface so you actually draw the letters with your fingers.  And you have a selection of colors to choose from as well.  This is a great app to get the kids (and adults, if applicable) excited to get their Scripture copywork done!  Their reward but my plot to mold young minds for Yah's glory.  Download here: Young Letters Hebrew

And for years now I have checked out the Pimsleur Institute's Hebrew DVDs for children (of course...for my babies' enjoyment...ehem...ok ok...well, mine too I confess).  Well, Little Pim Panda has an app for improving Hebrew vocabulary!  It is a talking coloring book.  Each page has a different word then the child colors the picture.  What will they come up with next?!  Here is the Little Pim Talking Coloring Book link.  I hope you love it too!

Well that's all folks!  Those are my favorites...please list yours in the Comments section if you have any others for us to post.  Enjoy your studies!

Yet another wonderful congregation out in LA that is shaking things up in the world one Jew and Gentile at a time!  Now, I am not on the same page with everything about this ministry (ie. using the Hillel calendar to observe the Feasts of YHVH or calling men "rabbi") but there is still a lot to glean from this ministry and the messages.  I ESPECIALLY love the Esther Ball they host each year.  What an extravagant affair!  The point is, though, to use the talents the Father has given us to manifest a major outpouring in all things for Him.  So check them out: Fusion Global.  Have fun and be inspired!

A few months back I heard about this amazing ministry of YHVH and I absolutely love the sermons!  A good friend of mine recommended this site and I have been ultra blessed by it.  I hope you are too!  Here's the link: Passion for Truth Ministries

Hope this video inspires you today in your walk.  I am thrilled to watch this new video series by Emet Ministries called "Fully Trained."  Let it challenge you today!  And don't forget to check out the Emet Ministries channel on YouTube for other Biblical topics... 

It has been a while since I have gotten to sit back and relax, but the family has caught a cold bug so today I have time to be still and rest.  So, I figured I would take this opportunity/season, and seek out sound teachings airing on the Hebraic Roots Network. 

This network, for those who aren't aware yet, is an online channel (and I think also broadcasting by radio, though I don't know how to do that yet) with great praise and worship in between sound teachings from the likes of Rico Cortes, Brad Scott, Bill Cloud, Hollisa Alewine, among others.  The programs are extremely uplifting to the body of Messiah.  Today I encountered a teacher, Ed Harris (whose program is called "Confrontnation") who hosted a show on prayer.  Sometimes I've seen us as believers become so knowledge minded, that we forget the practical applications in order to carry out Yah's mitzvot in the everyday.  So take some time and explore the vast amount of teachings on this channel.  This is a way to "dig into the Word" that is truly professional and sound teaching!

Please check out the link, I know you will be blessed by it: Hebraic Roots Network.

I know since I became a believer back in high school, the star called Wormwood in the book of Revelation always mystified me.  However, as I dug deeper into the word, I had found the references in Jeremiah and Deuteronomy relating to "wormwood."  I thought that the concept of wormwood was a New Testament/Brit Chadasha concept!  Boy was I blown away when I started seeing it pop in other spots in the Scriptures.  "The Torah ACTUALLY talks about wormwood?" I thought to myself.  "How come that is never preached in the pulpit?" I pondered.  Hmm...draw your own conclusions about that one.  But here is a video, full of Scripture, explaining biblically what wormwood is in context.  Enjoy!