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FFOZ Blogs

Timely updates, teaching, videos and inside information about what's happening at First Fruits, written by staff members and guest contributors.

From: Toby Janicki

 

Passover and the Death of James the Just

Tags:  stoned, stoning

In issue 94 of Messiah Magazine I discussed the yarzeit (anniversary of the death) of Simon Peter as it is recorded in rabbinic literature. Since then I have become interested in trying to discover yarzeit dates for the rest of the Apostles. Unfortunately, this is almost impossible to do for most Apostles because there are simply no records. One exception is Yaakov HaTzaddik (James the Just) the brother of...
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Asarah BeTevet: The Fast of the 10th of Tevet

The Fast of the 10th of Tevet is Thursday January 5th sunrise to sunset. The book of Zechariah mentions a fast that takes place in the tenth month. (Zechariah 8:19) Traditionally this is seen as a commemoration of the destruction of Jerusalem which began in the year 588 BCE: And the word of the LORD came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth of...
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The Ninth of Tevet: Simon Peter's Yahrzeit

Tuesday evening, January 3rd, begins the 9th of Tevet which, according to Jewish tradition, is the anniversary of the death of Simon Peter. Simon Peter holds a special place in the hearts of many believers. We find camaraderie and consolation in a man who could sail from the highest points of discipleship to the lows of denying his Master. His struggles are our struggles; his challenges are our challenges, and,...
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Is New Year's Pagan?

This time of year there is a lot of focus on Christmas and its pagan origins. There was even an article in a prominent Christian magazine entitled "Stealing Christmas" that admits that many popular Christmas traditions were borrowed from ancient pagan practices. It is surprising then that very little attention is given to New Year's Day. Judaism celebrates four different New Year's Days throughout the year, depending on what...
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Priestly Seal Discovered

According to legend, when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, they could find only one cruse of oil that still bore the priestly seal of purity--a quantity sufficient for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days until new ritually pure oil could be produced. Just in time for Chanukah, archaeologists in Jerusalem have announced the discovery of a first century, priestly seal from the Temple. The coin-sized seal found...
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Jeremiah 10 and the Christmas Tree

Last week I posted a blog entitled A Kosher Christmas Tree? which received quite the response on both the blog itself and Facebook. At First Fruits of Zion, we neither endorse nor condemn the Christian celebration of Christmas. As advocates of Messianic Judaism, a discussion about Christian Christmas tradition is outside of our purview. My family and I do not celebrate the holiday in our home. Nevertheless, there is an...
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A Kosher Christmas Tree?

Does a kosher Christmas tree really exist? Well, not exactly but a new trend is taking place across the globe of topping off Christmas trees with a Magen David ("star of David"). As oxymoronic as that sounds, thousands have been sold in the US, Canada, the UK, Austria, Ireland, Australia and Mexico. Not surprisingly, the holiday season can be a difficult time for interfaith families made up of Jews and...
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