Spiritual Awareness
In Joshua, we learn why a Canaanite prostitute saved the lives of Israelite spies. She saw something many Israelites did not see about themselves. In Joshua 2:9, she said, Ki natan ADONAI lekhem et ha-arretz “Hashem gave you
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Encounter Baruch's Oracles!
The themes of ruin and restoration are at the core of the Jewish apocalyptic genre. Even the most bitter laments are accompanied by hope when one is tethered to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is precisely what you will find in The Books of Baruch. This edition
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Study the Three Visions of Enoch!
Over the years of teaching, I have often referred my students to the books of Enoch. But most of the time, I did so with some reservations. I knew that the broadly distributed copies they would likely come across would be littered with archaic and hard-to-digest language. Finally,
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All Books by Pinchas Shir
If you like perusing Pshir.com, then what are the odds you might enjoy my books? I invite you to consider the titles I highlight below in print, in digital format, or as audiobooks. Paid Subscribers can flip through full digital versions of all these titles inside the READ section.
The Struggle of Darkness and Light (~ 1.5h)
This teaching delves into the ongoing human struggle between the choice to serve God wholeheartedly and the temptation to serve personal ambitions. We follow the story of the Hasmonaean priestly family that led an uprising against Hellenistic oppression in the
Hearing Distant Echoes
I recently published a new book that has been "in the works" for a couple of years. I sat on it for a while because I kept making editorial changes that altered its overall flow. Those who know
Four Rivers and Four Kingdoms
For anyone who follows Middle Eastern politics and history even a little, the cycles of aggression and conflict between different groups in the region never end. Frankly, that is not new. It has been this way ever since the beginning.
Come Render Praise to ADONAI
I want to share my recent musical reworking of Psalm 95. It's meant to be a meditative call to worship that is built solidly on the message of this ancient psalm that moves from Hebrew to English and
Stop Running
Do you ever feel stressed or pressured, feel like running away? It's a common response to encountering stress. The world we live in is not for the faint of heart. For people of faith, for those who look
What is Kosher? by BimBam
This is a very simple introduction to kosher for everyone. Learn why people keep kosher, the basic rules, how to get started, or how to be thoughtful as a guest in a kosher home. A great intro to the topic
What Kinds of Fish Were Eaten in Ancient Jerusalem?
Over the past century and a half, archaeologists have excavated a variety of sites in Jerusalem, bringing to light many aspects of everyday life in the biblical city. The examination of ceramic vessels for cooking and serving, as well as
Synagogues and the Spread of Christian Beliefs
What do Synagogues have to do with the spread of Christian beliefs? If you are asking yourself this question, then you probably need to reread the Book of Acts. Early believers in Jesus were all members of synagogues, and wherever
One's Own Enemy
The Book of Ovadyah, or Obadiah, is very short. Only one chapter. The prophet's entire message is about Esau, or Edom, as he is also known. And since the Torah reading with which it corresponds is all about
New Wind in the Early Jewish Church
A while back, I had an opportunity to develop a course for the institution where I teach, entitled "The Stories of the Jewish Church." The title was intended to be somewhat provocative, designed to emphasize that the early
Multiple Heavens in the Bible and Three Books of Enoch
The corpus of texts attributed to the biblical figure Enoch represents some of the most significant apocalyptic literature from the Second Temple period. Named after the seventh patriarch from Adam, who, according to Genesis 5:24, “walked with God; then