Did giants once roam the Earth? Where did they come from, and what do they have to do with the Canaanite nations? How did the Canaanites settle the Holy Land? Who were the great giant kings Og and Sihon, and was Goliath actually King David’s cousin? Find out in this eye-opening class where we also explore mysteries surrounding the Great Flood and the family of Noah, fallen angels and Enoch, Nimrod and Hammurabi, Mashiach, and lots more.
Tag Archives: Genesis
How to Pronounce God’s Name
This week’s parasha, Va’etchanan, contains a second reading of the Ten Commandments. The third commandment is the prohibition to take the name of God in vain. Some people mistakenly believe that this means we are not allowed to ever pronounce the Tetragrammaton, יהוה, commonly transliterated as YHVH or YHWH. This is not true at all, though it is true that later in history the Sages instituted using other words to be used instead of the Tetragrammaton (such as “Adonai” or “Hashem”) so that people do not accidentally take the name of God in vain, or misuse this powerful name of God. Since the Tetragrammaton is so sacred, it was thought too holy to invoke on a regular basis. Today, no one invokes the proper name at all. It’s gone so far that many believe we have forgotten how to properly pronounce the name. This is false. How can we be God’s people if we don’t even know His name? Continue reading
Understanding Noahide Laws (for Christians)
What are the “Noahide Laws”, and where do they really come from? Find out in this class as we take a deep dive into the poorly-understood Noahide Laws and dispel the many myths and misconceptions about them. Plus: understanding the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, the “Oral Torah”, and the global Jewish organization Chabad; demystifying gematria (Jewish numerology), and exploring the role of Jews in the founding of America.
This class was delivered back in July of 2025 at the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center. This is a yearly event started by Rev. George Balasko to promote interfaith dialogue and help Christians learn more about Jews. Past speakers have included Rabbi Benjamin Blech and Professor Lawrence H. Schiffman. For a more detailed analysis of the Noahide Laws and a derivation and explanation of all thirty sub-points, see the three-part series of videos here.