I Turned Down A Ticket To Heaven

I Turned Down A Ticket To Heaven

I Turned Down A Ticket To Heaven While attending college, a fellow student offered me a ticket to heaven. All I had to do was “believe in Jesus,” and if not, I would go to hell. I turned down his offer and explained that Judaism requires that we believe in God and follow the commandments. King Solomon affirms this principle when he says the bottom line of Judaism is to “Be in awe of God and keep His commandments for that is the whole person” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Despite Solomon’s powerful wo
Torah portion Lech Lecha faith and works
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
What Skeptics and Believers Can Learn From Noah

What Skeptics and Believers Can Learn From Noah

What Skeptics and Believers Can Learn From Noah Most people are familiar with the Torah’s story of Noah and the Ark. Whether skeptic or believer, it is interesting to know that many cultures have flood stories. One account inscribed in Sumerian on clay tablets dates to the late third millennium — B.C.E. Dozens of movies portray the story of Noah’s Ark, and some explorers claim they have discovered the ark’s remains in present-day Turkey. There is even a $100 million Christian theme park in K
Torah portion Noah noahide
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
God Is ONE — Not Two or Three

God Is ONE — Not Two or Three

God Is ONE — Not Two or Three During the long years of exile, the Jewish people lost the Land of Israel, the Temple, the priesthood, the Davidic kingship, and sacrifices. We survived despite these temporary losses because we never abandoned the Torah with its moral, legal, and spiritual teachings. The word Torah means more than just “the law” or “Bible.” The root of the word Torah is “horah,” which means “instruction.” As it says, “to instruct [להורת–l’horot] the children of Israel”(Leviticus
Torah portion Bereishis Genesis 1:26
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
The War of Armageddon Is Not The Apocalypse

The War of Armageddon Is Not The Apocalypse

Sukkot and Simchat Torah The War of Armageddon Is Not The Apocalypse The Jewish High Holidays, known as the Days of Awe, constitute a spiritual progression. On Rosh Hashanah, we coronate God as our King, on Yom Kippur, we receive God’s forgiveness; and on Sukkot [the Festival of Booths], we rise to another level. Sukkot is a time to demonstrate our trust in God by moving from the safety of our homes to the temporary and less-secure dwelling known as the sukkah. In this tiny hut with its ro
Zechariah 12:10
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

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Yom Kippur Should Be Uplifting, Not Boring

Yom Kippur Should Be Uplifting, Not Boring

Yom Kippur Should Be Uplifting, Not Boring When I was growing up, my family attended synagogue and fasted on Yom Kippur. Although the day was holy, the all-day service was tedious and I did not feel spiritual. As my relationship with God and Judaism grew, Yom Kippur became more spiritual and significant to me. I finally understood why it is the holiest day of the year. We start our preparation for Yom Kippur ten days earlier, on Rosh Hashanah. On this day we proclaim, Avinu Malkeinu, God is o
children of God
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Israeli Girl Brought Back to Life

Israeli Girl Brought Back to Life

Israeli Girl Brought Back to Life On a sweltering summer day in Israel, my wife and I witnessed a horrible accident. A 14-year-old Israeli girl was hit by a car, thrown into the air, and crashed down on her head. There is an expression, “Heroes are made, not born.” In my case, years of training as a police chaplain prepared me for this moment. While others froze, I ran to this girl’s side, and after determining that she was not breathing and had no pulse, I started CPR and brought her back to
Torah portion Vayigash divine providence
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
How To Experience A Revelation Of God

How To Experience A Revelation Of God

How To Experience A Revelation Of God The prophet Isaiah mentions someone who will experience a Godly revelation when he prophetically and rhetorically asked, “to whom has the arm of God been revealed?”(Isaiah 53:1). To understand this verse and its spiritual lesson, we must examine the context and meaning of the term “arm of God.” In this week’s Torah portion Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1–29:8), we are reminded that the Jewish people cried out to God concerning their affliction. In response, God
Torah portion Ki Tavo revelation
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Myth Busting the Virgin Birth

Myth Busting the Virgin Birth

Myth Busting the Virgin Birth This week’s Torah portion Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19), describes a marriage when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity and claims she was not a virgin. The Hebrew word for virgin is “betulah” and refers to a woman of any age “who was never intimate with a man” (Genesis 19:8). Therefore, the Torah describes hymenal bleeding as “evidence of her virginity” (Deuteronomy 22:20). Similarly, God wants us to demonstrate our spiritual fidelity with unfalterin
Torah portion Ki Teitzei Isaiah 7:14
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

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