Mishnah Snapshots

Volume 2: Holidays

How is Torah study like dying cloth in a vat? Yeshua saying "the Father" sounds kind of stiff...is that how he said it? Do you light Shabbat candles? Here are some starter tips. That "frontlets on your forehead" thing is literal, here's proof How did the sages feel about packing a piece?

#25 ✡ Shabbat 1:4-6:5

  • How is Torah study like dying cloth in a vat?
  • Yeshua saying "the Father" sounds kind of stiff...is that how he said it?
  • Do you light Shabbat candles? Here are some starter tips. 
  • That "frontlets on your forehead" thing is literal, here's proof
  • How did the sages feel about packing a piece?
The Hebrew term for "preparing the bride" will blow your mind Why did Jewish people carry a nail from a cross for healing? Flutes at funerals, and oil and wine on wounds, in the ancient Middle East Kids playing with grasshoppers and fighting over dessert is nothing new The Hebrew words for midwife, sandal, prayershawl, and pee are interesting

#26 ✡ Shabbat 6:2-23:4

  • The Hebrew term for "preparing the bride" will blow your mind
  • Why did Jewish people carry a nail from a cross for healing?
  • Flutes at funerals, and oil and wine on wounds, in the ancient Middle East
  • Kids playing with grasshoppers and fighting over dessert is nothing new
  • The Hebrew words for midwife, sandal, prayershawl, and pee are interesting
"Roll away the stone" means something that will take your breath away What does "Rebekah" mean? The Bible doesn't say, but Mishnah does How is a cistern of water like you when you're meditating on Torah? The way you measure people is a reflection of YOUR character, here's how How are evil spirits talked about in ancient Jewish writings?

#27 ✡ Eruvin 1:7-5:4

  • "Roll away the stone" means something that will take your breath away
  • What does "Rebekah" mean? The Bible doesn't say, but Mishnah does
  • How is a cistern of water like you when you're meditating on Torah?
  • The way you measure people is a reflection of YOUR character, here's how
  • How are evil spirits talked about in ancient Jewish writings?
If I'm a Messianic Jew should I leave my non-Messianic synagogue? "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord", is that a formula? What if your spirit's outside and your body's inside instead of vice versa? In Jewish law you become one through wine or bread, sound familiar? "Light and heavy" in Jewish hermeneutics and in the New Testament

#28 ✡ Eruvin 5:6-10:14

  • If I'm a Messianic Jew should I leave my non-Messianic synagogue?
  • "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord", is that a formula?
  • What if your spirit's outside and your body's inside instead of vice versa?
  • In Jewish law you become one through wine or bread, sound familiar?
  • "Light and heavy" in Jewish hermeneutics and in the New Testament
The Jewish euphemism for the night of Passover will chill you What was Israel doing during the Last Supper and Crucifixion? The Jewish nickname for Yeshua means "undecided" and "suspense"...WHY? What's the difference between yeast and leaven? How about symbolically? What did a Passover Seder look like 2000 years ago?

#29 ✡ Pesachim 1:1-2:8 

  • The Jewish euphemism for the night of Passover will chill you
  • What was Israel doing during the Last Supper and Crucifixion? 
  • The Jewish nickname for Yeshua means "undecided" and "suspense"...WHY? 
  • What's the difference between yeast and leaven? How about symbolically? 
  • What did a Passover Seder look like 2000 years ago?
Wasn't Passover on the 15th? What was Yeshua eating on the 14th? What does the relationship between a rabbi and disciple look like? The Passover sacrificial procedures were a graphic picture of Christ's passion Charming story about a Dad getting his sons to race to Jerusalem Why are there mysterious dots over some letters in the Torah?

#30 ✡ Pesachim 4:5-9:3

  • Wasn't Passover on the 15th? What was Yeshua eating on the 14th?
  • What does the relationship between a rabbi and disciple look like?
  • The Passover sacrificial procedures were a graphic picture of Christ's passion
  • Charming story about a Dad getting his sons to race to Jerusalem
  • Why are there mysterious dots over some letters in the Torah?
Why are there four cups in a Passover seder, and how old is that tradition? Why is there a fifth cup for Elijah, and how Messianic is that? Jesus is coming to take us...where? (brace yourself) What was the hymn Yeshua and his disciples sang after their seder? How many of the prayers in the Siddur go back 2000 years?

#31 ✡ Pesachim 9:3-10:7

  • Why are there four cups in a Passover seder, and how old is that tradition?
  • Why is there a fifth cup for Elijah, and how Messianic is that?
  • Jesus is coming to take us...where? (brace yourself)
  • What was the hymn Yeshua and his disciples sang after their seder?
  • How many of the prayers in the Siddur go back 2000 years?
The Hebrew word for the salty parsley is so beautiful it'll bring tears to your eyes Here's how we know that much of the Seder is from the time of Jesus Passover teaches us to tell our whole stories - the good, bad, and ugly Do you know which of the Passover elements isn't actually commanded? Afikoman is so messianic it will blow your mind...and it's a tradition of men!

#32 ✡ Pesachim 10:1-10:7

  • The Hebrew word for salty parsley is so beautiful it'll bring tears to your eyes
  • Here's how we know that much of the Seder is from the time of Jesus
  • Passover teaches us to tell our whole stories - the good, bad, and ugly
  • Do you know which of the Passover elements isn't actually commanded?
  • Afikoman is so messianic it will blow your mind...and it's a tradition of men!
Have you seen the images on the holy half-shekel coins? Did they celebrate Purim in the time of Jesus? Why is the "two-drachma tax" story Izzy's favourite? Did you know having the upper hand is a Hebrew expression? Why are non-Greek words like "mammon" in the Greek NT?

#33 ✡ Shekalim 1:1-5:2

  • Have you seen the images on the holy half-shekel coins?
  • Did they celebrate Purim in the time of Jesus?
  • Why is the "two-drachma tax" story Izzy's favourite?
  • Did you know having the upper hand is a Hebrew expression?
  • Why are non-Greek words like "mammon" in the Greek NT?
The Jerusalem Temple and Messianic Community both had seven "deacons" The Second Temple had a room for "giving in secret"...sound familiar? A Priest found the Ark and died before he could tell anyone! Example of how the "takanot and ma'asim of the Rabbis" aren't evil Holiness is all about accomplishing your mission in concrete ways

#34 ✡ Shekalim 5:2-6:4 

  • The Jerusalem Temple and Messianic Community both had seven "deacons"
  • The Second Temple had a room for "giving in secret"...sound familiar?
  • A Priest found the Ark and died before he could tell anyone!
  • Example of how the "takanot and ma'asim of the Rabbis" aren't evil
  • Holiness is all about accomplishing your mission in concrete ways
Why do Jews call God "Hashem"? How old is that tradition? Are non-Jewish believers Gentiles, or is that a dirty word? The "takanot" of the Rabbis are "tikkun" olam and aren't all evil. Hit rock bottom? You're in the best place of your life if you do this. You're not going to believe what happened to the Sanhedrin in 30 A.D! Did they still bring stuff to Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed?

#35 ✡ Shekalim 6:6-8:8

  • Why do Jews call God "Hashem"? How old is that tradition? 
  • Are non-Jewish believers Gentiles, or is that a dirty word?
  • The "takanot" of the Rabbis are "tikkun" olam and aren't all evil.
  • Hit rock bottom? You're in the best place of your life if you do this.
  • You're not going to believe what happened to the Sanhedrin in 30 A.D!
  • Did they still bring stuff to Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed?
Count with me the many ways that a man's wife is his home Is Yeshua 100% spiritual or 100% physical, or both? Single and married are both good gifts from God and have pros and cons You don't have agree with the Mishnah for it to have historical value New to the Jewish prayerbook? Here's the best tour guide to the Siddur.

#36 ✡ Yoma 1:1-1:3

  • Count with me the many ways that a man's wife is his home
  • Is Yeshua 100% spiritual or 100% physical, or both?
  • Single and married are both good gifts from God and have pros and cons
  • You don't have agree with the Mishnah for it to have historical value
  • New to the Jewish prayerbook? Here's the best tour guide to the Siddur.

#37 ✡ Yoma 1:5-5:2

  • Where did Jesus get the idea of apostles from...was that Jewish?
  • Peter's nickname meant Rock in Greek and Runaway in Hebrew. Coincidence?
  • What was the high priest doing on the night of Yom Kippur? 
  • Three people who inspired me when I first starting teaching Hebrew
  • If the ark wasn't in the Second Temple, where was the presence of God?
Where was God during the "silent years" between Malachi and Matthew? Multiplication of loaves under Shimon HaTzadik's ministry, sound familiar? Alexander the Great shocked everyone by bowing to the Kohen Gadol, here's the story 3 miracles stopped happening in the Temple starting in 30 AD...why? Sometimes Christian evangelism of Jews comes across as an uninformed attack

#38 ✡ Yoma 6:8

  • Where was God during the "silent years" between Malachi and Matthew?
  • Multiplication of loaves under Shimon HaTzadik's ministry, sound familiar?
  • Alexander the Great shocked everyone by bowing to the Kohen Gadol, here's the story
  • 3 miracles stopped happening in the Temple starting in 30 AD...why?
  • Sometimes Christian evangelism of Jews comes across as an uninformed attack
Why is God's name "ineffable" and what does that actually mean? The Jewish prayerbook is full of echoes from the time of Messiah Is God's kingdom a geographical political entity, or is it even bigger? Yom Kippur doesn't work in these two situations Beautiful midrash from a word meaning "hope" and "baptismal tank"

#39 ✡ Yoma 3:8-8:9

  • Why is God's name "ineffable" and what does that actually mean?
  • The Jewish prayerbook is full of echoes from the time of Messiah
  • Is God's kingdom a geographical political entity, or is it even bigger?
  • Yom Kippur doesn't work in these two situations
  • Beautiful midrash from a word meaning "hope" and "baptismal tank"
How do you know what a Sukkah is...and isn't? Why were the disciples sleeping under the Rabbi's bed? Why did Shammai the sage tear a hole in his in-law's roof? Was Yeshua the only Hebrew guru who told parables? The Jewish holiday when they shake it...like shake the lulav.

#40 ✡ Sukkah 1:4-3:12

  • How do you know what a Sukkah is...and isn't?
  • Why were the disciples sleeping under the Rabbi's bed?
  • Why did Shammai the sage tear a hole in his in-law's roof?
  • Was Yeshua the only Hebrew guru who told parables?
  • The Jewish holiday when they shake it...like shake the lulav.
Why didn't Jared Kushner's romantic bouquet have any flowers? Dr. John Gill's Hebraic Bible commentary is gorgeous and FREE Why did John specify which day Yeshua said "If anyone is thirsty"? This "takanot of the Rabbis" literally kept people from losing an eye The commandments are the seeds of Kingdom culture, that's so positive!

#41 ✡ Sukkah 3:13-4:7

  • Why didn't Jared Kushner's romantic bouquet have any flowers?
  • Dr. John Gill's Hebraic Bible commentary is gorgeous and FREE
  • Why did John specify which day Yeshua said "If anyone is thirsty"?
  • This "takanot of the Rabbis" literally kept people from losing an eye
  • The commandments are the seeds of Kingdom culture, that's so positive!
What was happening on "the last day, the great day of the feast"? Here's how I came to grips with commandments that aren't in the written Torah The Mishnah displays internal evidence of historical accuracy The lost meaning of "Siloam" charges the old story with new power They're doing the ancient Water Libation ceremony in Jerusalem again!

#42 ✡ Sukkah 4:1-5:4 

  • What was happening on "the last day, the great day of the feast"?
  • Here's how I came to grips with commandments that aren't in the written Torah
  • The Mishnah displays internal evidence of historical accuracy
  • The lost meaning of "Siloam" charges the old story with new power
  • They're doing the ancient Water Libation ceremony in Jerusalem again!
Why is Abraham's bosom the Hebrew version of "happily ever after"? The real Hillel sandwich was two Gamliels between three Shimons Sometimes the Jewish religious leaders followed Rabbi Yeshua's teachings! One of the 1050 NT commandments is...do everything in Yeshua's name. "Many bodies physically, one soul spiritually" explains God, Messiah, and us

#43 ✡ Beitzah 1:8-4:5

  • Why is Abraham's bosom the Hebrew version of "happily ever after"?
  • The real Hillel sandwich was two Gamliels between three Shimons
  • Sometimes the Jewish religious leaders followed Rabbi Yeshua's teachings!
  • One of the 1050 NT commandments is...do everything in Yeshua's name.
  • "Many bodies physically, one soul spiritually" explains God, Messiah, and us
What's better for relationships, you in judging mode or perceiving mode? The "if this, then how much more that" equation in Jewish logic What's pictured by snowflakes, olive oil, crystal, and frankincense resin? The Jewish concept of the merit of the righteous in a Messianic context How is "worthy" compatible with "by grace through faith"?

#44 ✡ Beitzah 5:2-5:7

  • What's better for relationships, you in judging mode or perceiving mode?
  • The "if this, then how much more that" equation in Jewish logic
  • What's pictured by snowflakes, olive oil, crystal, and frankincense resin?
  • The Jewish concept of the merit of the righteous in a Messianic context
  • How is "worthy" compatible with "by grace through faith"?
If Nisan's the first month why is the new year in Tishrei? The Torah calls it "Yom Teruah" so where did "Rosh Hashanah" come from? Upon which dates is it believed that God decides for food, water, and physical life? Women, gamblers, and traffickers couldn't testify, what did Yeshua think? Imagine carrying a staff to fight thugs en route to Jerusalem! How were the Lubavitch Rebbe's emissaries similar to Yeshua's apostles?

#45 ✡ Rosh Hashanah 1:1-2:2

  • If Nisan's the first month why is the new year in Tishrei?
  • The Torah calls it "Yom Teruah" so where did "Rosh Hashanah" come from?
  • Upon which dates is it believed that God decides for food, water, and physical life?
  • Women, gamblers, and traffickers couldn't testify, what did Yeshua think?
  • Imagine carrying a staff to fight thugs en route to Jerusalem!
  • How were the Lubavitch Rebbe's emissaries similar to Yeshua's apostles?

#46 ✡ Rosh Hashanah 2:2-2:4

  • How did New Moon signal fires foretell the spread of Yeshua's movement?
  • Why does Judaism expect two Messiahs, sons of Joseph and David?
  • How does rough rope symbolize who Yeshua is and what he does?
  • Did you know "serpent" and "Messiah" have the same numerical value?
  • These year-long performances will inspire you to view your life as art.
The nickname for the Mount of Olives pointed to Yeshua in startling ways Setting the NT in its Semitic context is hard work! Here's an example. Which directions can you go in the fifth dimension you can't in the four? Here's how the title "midwife" is one of Hebrew's highest compliments. John the Baptist's most cryptic statement was Hebrew wordplay, that's why. Why is Ramadan at a different time every year but Passover isn't?

#47 ✡ Rosh Hashanah 2:4-7

  • The nickname for the Mount of Olives pointed to Yeshua in startling ways
  • Setting the NT in its Semitic context is hard work! Here's an example.
  • Which directions can you go in the fifth dimension you can't in the four?
  • Here's how the title "midwife" is one of Hebrew's highest compliments.
  • John the Baptist's most cryptic statement was Hebrew wordplay, that's why.
  • Why is Ramadan at a different time every year but Passover isn't?
Fights about the calendar are nothing new, so what did the sages do? A beautiful story about the relationship between rabbi and disciple Why does the Hebrew word for Torah-observance also means Exodus? "Our Father who art in Heaven", is that a Christian or a Jewish prayer? How much of the synagogue service is from Yeshua's time and WWJD?

#48 ✡ Rosh Hashanah 2:8-4:9

  • Fights about the calendar are nothing new, so what did the sages do?
  • A beautiful story about the relationship between rabbi and disciple
  • Why does the Hebrew word for Torah-observance also means Exodus?
  • "Our Father who art in Heaven", is that a Christian or a Jewish prayer?
  • How much of the synagogue service is from Yeshua's time and WWJD?
Did you know Israel gets about as much rain as Sudan? When are the "early and latter rains", anyway? Why do Jews pray for rain in the blessing of the resurrection? How long did it take to hike from Babylon to Israel? Why did Yeshua say to anoint yourself when fasting? The bittersweet experience of walking the spiritual path

#49 ✡ Ta'anit 1:1-1:7

  • Did you know Israel gets about as much rain as Sudan?
  • When are the "early and latter rains", anyway?
  • Why do Jews pray for rain in the blessing of the resurrection?
  • How long did it take to hike from Babylon to Israel?
  • Why did Yeshua say to anoint yourself when fasting?
  • The bittersweet experience of walking the spiritual path
Why were the people of Nazareth putting ashes on their heads? How does the Holy Spirit feel about liturgy and orders of service? Is it ok to call the books of Joshua to Revelation "Torah" or not? Some words from the heart if you're empty or angry What can you learn from the Jewish practice of praying Scripture? What's different about Mondays and Thursdays for Jews?

#50 ✡ Ta'anit 2:1-2:10 

  • Why were the people of Nazareth putting ashes on their heads?
  • How does the Holy Spirit feel about liturgy and orders of service?
  • Is it ok to call the books of Joshua to Revelation "Torah" or not?
  • Some words from the heart if you're empty or angry
  • What can you learn from the Jewish practice of praying Scripture?
  • What's different about Mondays and Thursdays for Jews?
Why did people blow shofars in ancient times? Is there internal evidence the Mishnah is historically accurate? Here's how helpmeet means "Hero" and not "Hamburger Helper" What do the Hebrew letters on Izzy's fingers spell? The story of Choni who wouldn't leave his prayer circle until… If the Hallel is Psalms 113 to 118, what's the Great Hallel?

#51 ✡ Ta'anit 3:3-3:9

  • Why did people blow shofars in ancient times?
  • Is there internal evidence the Mishnah is historically accurate?
  • Here's how helpmeet means "Hero" and not "Hamburger Helper"
  • What do the Hebrew letters on Izzy's fingers spell?
  • The story of Choni who wouldn't leave his prayer circle until…
  • If the Hallel is Psalms 113 to 118, what's the Great Hallel?
If synagogues aren't commanded in Torah, where did they come from? How can you prove that the Jews are really Jews? How old are Jewish liturgical rites like Mussaf and Neilah? What do the events of 4.17 and 5.9 tell you about the Hebrew calendar? Why is it incredible the families of David and Jonadab were still around? Why remember "family over beauty" when watching dancing girls?

#52 ✡ Ta'anit 4:1-4:8 

  • If synagogues aren't commanded in Torah, where did they come from?
  • How can you prove that the Jews are really Jews?
  • How old are Jewish liturgical rites like Mussaf and Neilah?
  • What do the events of 4.17 and 5.9 tell you about the Hebrew calendar?
  • Why is it incredible the families of David and Jonadab were still around?
  • Why remember "family over beauty" when watching dancing girls?
How are the names and themes of the Esther and Apocalypse scrolls related? Why is the Hebrew font called Assyrian, and how was that different from Phoenician? Why did the Hanukkah heroes call Greek language and culture "mud"? In Mishnaic Hebrew you'd say "Yeshua ha'MASHUACH" but should you? If the Ceremonial Law is "obsolete" why do the prophets say we'll be doing it in the future? Are synagogues holy places? How about the Temple Mount? Picture time!

#53 ✡ Megillah 1:8-3:3

  • How are the names and themes of the Esther and Apocalypse scrolls related?
  • Why is the Hebrew font called Assyrian, and how was that different from Phoenician?
  • Why did the Hanukkah heroes call Greek language and culture "mud"?
  • In Mishnaic Hebrew you'd say "Yeshua ha'MASHUACH" but should you?
  • If the Ceremonial Law is "obsolete" why do the prophets say we'll be doing it in the future?
  • Are synagogues holy places? How about the Temple Mount? Picture time!
Why is the whole week called the Sabbath in Hebrew? Why is the story of Amalek read for the festival of Purim? Here's why it's hard for empaths to read R-rated Bible stories If Decem is 10 why isn't December the 10th month anymore? How many people read from the Torah on Mondays and Thursdays? Did the authors of the New Testament do the synagogue prayers? How do you prove to Black Hebrew Israelites that the Jews are really Jews?

#54 ✡ Megillah 3:4-4:1

  • Why is the whole week called the Sabbath in Hebrew?
  • Why is the story of Amalek read for the festival of Purim? 
  • Here's why it's hard for empaths to read R-rated Bible stories
  • If Decem is 10 why isn't December the 10th month anymore?
  • How many people read from the Torah on Mondays and Thursdays?
  • Did the authors of the New Testament do the synagogue prayers?
  • How do you prove to Black Hebrew Israelites that the Jews are really Jews?
Are the middle days of Passover and Tabernacles holy or "profane"? Did Paul get his analogy of irrigated versus naturally watered fields from the Mishnah? Are you spiritually mature? How about your congregation? Here's how to tell. This Greek word used in Mishnah, Peshitta, and Delitzsch NT is spelled four different ways. What does Jewish law do with people whose gender is both, neither, or unknown? See the boy riding on his Abba's shoulders and going up to the Temple? Adorbs.

#57 ✡ Moed Katan & Chagigah 1:1

  • Are the middle days of Passover and Tabernacles holy or "profane"?
  • Did Paul get his analogy of irrigated versus naturally watered fields from the Mishnah?
  • Are you spiritually mature? How about your congregation? Here's how to tell.
  • This Greek word used in Mishnah, Peshitta, and Delitzsch NT is spelled four different ways.
  • What does Jewish law do with people whose gender is both, neither, or unknown?
  • See the boy riding on his Abba's shoulders and going up to the Temple? Adorbs.
Do you know what the Hebrew word "Pharisee" literally mean? Why do Jewish people say their mission is "Tikkun Olam" and where's that in Scripture? Are Yeshua's "greatest/least commandments" and "weighty matters of the Law" in Mishnah also? What did the sages do with the 'literal six days' and 'conflicting creation accounts' controversies? Let's get romantic and talk about hearing Yeshua's voice and seeing his face in...Rabbinic writings! What can the Jewish institution of discipleship teach us about our relationship with the Master? How did the centuries-old leadership structure in Israel change around 30 A.D., and why? Did you hear about the old Essene named Menachem and his prophecy to boy Herod?

#58 ✡ Chagigah 1:7-2:2

  • Do you know what the Hebrew word "Pharisee" literally mean?
  • Why do Jewish people say their mission is "Tikkun Olam" and where's that in Scripture?
  • Are Yeshua's "greatest/least commandments" and "weighty matters of the Law" in Mishnah also?
  • What did the sages do with the 'literal six days' and 'conflicting creation accounts' controversies?
  • Let's get romantic and talk about hearing Yeshua's voice and seeing his face in...Rabbinic writings!
  • What can the Jewish institution of discipleship teach us about our relationship with the Master?
  • How did the centuries-old leadership structure in Israel change around 30 A.D., and why?
  • Did you hear about the old Essene named Menachem and his prophecy to boy Herod?