I was recently a guest on Ari Lieberman’s Sparks of History podcast, and we discussed the “classical era” of Jewish history, including the Second Temple, Cyrus the Great, the last prophets of Israel; the Samaritans, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes; Herod and the Hasmoneans, as well as Second Temple era messianism and what it means for us today.
Tag Archives: Mashiach
Ten Divine Songs
In this week’s parasha, Beshalach, the Israelites safely traverse the Red Sea and erupt in joyous song. This song, Shirat haYam, the “Song of the Sea”, is so important that it was included in our daily prayers. The Zohar (II, 131a) describes it as a song of redemption, and one that causes Israel to be “crowned” when we sing it, which is why it is the very climax of Pesukei d’Zimra, right before going into the Shema and Amidah at the height of our prayers. The Zohar says one who sings Shirat haYam with full kavanah will merit to see the coming of Mashiach. At the same time, Midrash Shir haShirim Zuta lists it among history’s ten special divine songs. What are these ten unique songs and how do they parallel Creation and the Ten Sefirot? Continue reading
Understanding Edom #5: Gog & Mashiach
Who is the mysterious “Gog” of Ezekiel’s Gog & Magog prophecy? Does he have a connection to the Lost Tribes of Israel? Did the prophet Ovadiah foresee October 7 and recent global events? What might Putin, Trump, and Obama have to do with it? And why is Mashiach described as hailing from Edom? Find out in this final installment of the “Understanding Edom” series. Plus: What are the true origins of Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews? Who were the “Canaanite Jews” and the Khazars? And what will happen at the Mount of Olives at the End of Days?
For the essay on Mashiach’s Ancestry, see here.
For Parts 1 to 4 of this series, see here.