blood


Demystifying the Paradox of Animal Sacrifices

Demystifying the Paradox of Animal Sacrifices

Demystifying the Paradox of Animal Sacrifices I often recall the stories my father and grandfather told me about fighting in the World Wars. Their experiences taught me that “sacrifice” means the willingness to put your life on the line to help others. To this day, I adhere to this belief and salute their bravery. However, when I discuss the Bible, the word “sacrifice” has a different connotation, one I never thought about when I was young. I knew Judaism rejected human sacrifices. That was s


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

She Cried When He Said Her Parents Are in Hell

She Cried When He Said Her Parents Are in Hell

She Cried When He Said Her Parents Are in Hell Sarah grew up in Brooklyn, surrounded by Jewish friends and family. Her parents were highly educated, and, although the family was not religious, they were proud Jews. When Sarah encountered a Jew who believed in Jesus, she was skeptical at first, but she was drawn to the love and acceptance her new friend provided. For years, she read the Bible, attended church, and considered herself more Jewish than the religious Jews from her old neighborhood


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Passover, Deprogramming, and a Deli Sandwich

Passover, Deprogramming, and a Deli Sandwich

Passover, Deprogramming, and a Deli Sandwich Growing up in New York our family looked forward to celebrating Passover.  I fondly recall my mother preparing matzah with butter for my lunch and my non-Jewish friends asking me to share it with them. At our Passover seder, we ate matzah to recall the bread of affliction and ate bitter herbs [maror] to remind us of the bitterness of slavery. In the time of the Temple, Jews were also required to partake of the roasted paschal lamb.  In fulfillment


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Chapter 11a - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Chapter 11a - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Continued from Chapter 10b (Leviticus 17:11) Fulfilling the Torah’s requirements Christians argue that the multiplicity of biblical laws makes it impossible for one to have a proper relationship with God based on those laws because no one person could possibly fulfill all of the Torah’s requirements. But, this conclusion involves a misunderstanding as to the goal of the Torah. In its entirety, it is addressed not to the individual but to the community. The individual is expected to carry out


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Chapter 11e - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Chapter 11e - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Continued from Chapter 11d Sacrificial blood loss Biblically, sacrificial death must be directly attributable to the loss of blood and this shed blood is essential for achieving atonement. When the sinner sees what happens to the animal he is moved to consider that were it not for God’s mercy he, himself, would suffer the punishment. The sin-offering is a dramatic enactment of the severest punishment and has the effect of making the sinner aware of how great his sin is. With this awareness,


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Chapter 11h - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Chapter 11h - THE ATONEMENT PROCESS

Continued from Chapter 11g Not by blood alone There is historical precedent from Jewish history to guide us as to the biblically prescribed manner by which to obtain atonement today. Jewish history, prior to the Common Era, shows that the absence of a blood sacrifice does not prevent one from gaining atonement for his/her sins. If this were not so, Manasseh would not have been able to repent while in Assyrian imprisonment and receive the forgiveness necessary for his subsequent restoration t


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Chapter 22n - blood atonement for sin

Chapter 22n - blood atonement for sin

Continued from Chapter 22m Where is the Christian’s blood atonement for sin? Hebrews 9:22 states that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. It does not say: “Without a broken heart, there is no forgiveness of sins.” If Jesus died in any way other than by the shedding of blood, he could not be the savior that is preached in Christian doctrine (Acts 13:38-39, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Accordingly, the sins of those who believe in Jesus as their atonement for sin remain unfo


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz

Chapter 22o - Isaiah 53:6

Chapter 22o - Isaiah 53:6

Continued from Chapter 22n 53:6: “the Lord has visited upon him the iniquity of us all” The pre-Gospel church and its developing christology The pre-Gospel church developed its christology by utilizing biblical passages. The phrase “the Lord has visited upon him the iniquity of us all” found in Isaiah 53:6 was a significant source for the christological belief that Jesus died for the sins of the world. This unverifiable contention is belied by Jesus’ non-fulfillment of the sum total of Isai


Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz