Stein Atle Vere. ©2011. Brakha, "Stones of Heavens". brakha.blogspot.com.
The entries of my title “Stones of Heaven” אבני שמים investigate the archeology of ancient gems.
This title spins off from the title “Word of Tora” מלת תורה. I initiate these investigations to clarify the identity of certain Hebrew gem names. The task proves extensive.
These precious stones so entwine with ancient spirituality, they deserve their own space where people can explore them. The Tanakh (Jewish Bible) evokes gems to communicate the bliss, power, joy, enlightenment, and desirability that their visions of God know. Kabala (Jewish mysticism) celebrates the gemmy discussion.
Gems resonate an archetype. The stones are raw physical reality that humans transform by great effort and ingenuity into ideals of power and pleasure. Even immortality. I choose to call the title the “Stones of Heaven” rather than the “Gems of Heaven”. First, it is accurate enough. The Tanakh simply calls gems “stones” אבנים . Yet the juxtaposition of the “Stone” of “Heavens” emphasizes the archetype of the mundane reality becoming absolute ideal without ever ceasing to be real. It is Heaven and Earth becoming one. The fulfillment of unceasing desire.
I focus on the gems that flow thru the Land of Yisrael, but its traderoutes link the edges of the known world to places like todays Spain and India. Where curious, I note the way cultures use gems, and the semantic meanings that these gems communicate.
There is a language of stones.
2011-03-01
2011-02-28
Word of Tora
Stein Atle Vere. ©2011. Brakha, "Word of Tora". brakha.blogspot.com.
When translating an ancient text, I often investigate the precise meanings of certain Hebrew words and their equivalents in other languages. The words are significant because they define central concepts or else are of uncertain meaning, or sometimes both. These excursions distract me from the task at hand, but fascinate. I document them under “Word of Tora” מלת תורה . Later, I hope to systemize these entries.
When translating an ancient text, I often investigate the precise meanings of certain Hebrew words and their equivalents in other languages. The words are significant because they define central concepts or else are of uncertain meaning, or sometimes both. These excursions distract me from the task at hand, but fascinate. I document them under “Word of Tora” מלת תורה . Later, I hope to systemize these entries.
2011-02-09
Welcome to Brakha.Blogspot.Com
Stein Atle Vere. ©2011. "Welcome to Brakha.Blogspot.Com". brakha.blogspot.com.
Brakha ברכה is the Hebrew word for 'blessing'.
May this blog be for you for a blessing.
Christians say, 'Believe in Jesus'. But what does Jesus believe in? Jesus is a Jew and believes in Judaism.
Ultimately the word 'Judaism' means the same thing as 'Tora'. The Hebrew word Tora תורה means "instruction" and refers to the first five books of the Jewish Bible. These five books are the legal code of the ancient tribes of Yisrael, that also incorporate the tribal stories as the context of these laws. They also go by the name, Books of Moshe. The ancients identify Moshe משה as the author of this legal tradition, who God inspires to make these tribes holy by means of these laws. By extension, the word Tora can mean all explications and applications of this legal tradition, thus 'Judaism'.
This blog explores the ancient Jewish beliefs of a certain man called Yhoshua יהושע. The Greeks call him Yesous, and the Romans Jesus.
This ancient human is a Jew. And a mystic. It shouldnt surprise us. Yhoshua teaches Jewish mysticism.
Eventually Jews come to call this mystical tradition, Kabala קבלה , literally the 'reception' of wisdom, but earlier, Yhoshua calls this same tradition, 'the mysteries of the kingship of the heavens' סודיות מלכות השמים . This spirituality explores the deeper meanings of the laws of the Tora.
The Tanakh (Jewish Bible) has difficulties, including conflicting statements, obscure words, and so on. However, ancient Jews understand, the Tanakh is the words of God, especially its first five books, the Tora. These divine Hebrew words transcend and organize space and time. Thus these difficulties are actually clues about the unknowns of reality itself. Explaining them requires a deeper understanding of the text, thereby deeper insight into reality - how the infinity of God creates reality, how the infinity of human consciousness experiences reality, and how the levels of reality interface. Ancient Jews solve these mysteries while they explain the cryptic texts.
This is what Yhoshua means when he refers to the 'mysteries of the kingship of the heavens' סודות מלכות השמים : the data that the Tanakh encrypts. These arent the kind of mysteries that mystify, but are the kind of mysteries that humans must solve. Riddles. Kabala engages precise and useful insights. Even our modern sensibilities can find much of Kabala relevant.
In this blog, Brakha, I will focus on the archeological context of Yhoshua ('Historical Jesus') and on the meaning of his teachings in its context of Kabala (Jewish spirituality). Kabala continues to evolve, more systematic, comprehensive, and referencing its established principles. Yet it is clear: The instruction of Yhoshua expresses an earlier specimen of Kabala, still emerging from the Tanakhi text. Both his technical terms and his organizing paradigms are peculiar to Kabala. Yhoshua is one among many teachers of the proto-rabbinic stream of Judaism that eventually produces Kabala. The New Testament itself is evidence of the antiquity of Kabala.
Since the Renaissance Period, Christians occasionally misuse Kabala texts to 'prove' Christianity is 'true'. In a way, this blog does the opposite. It uses the New Testament to 'prove' Judaism is 'true'. Yhoshua believes in Judaism. It is impossible to explain his ancient teachings with any precision unless one understands the Judaism that he understands. Unfortunately, his later Nonjewish students are too often unfamiliar with the Jewish context, thus may misunderstand him. This blog strives to illuminate that darkness.
Visit Brakha every Sunday. I hope this exploration fascinates you as much as it does me.
Every good,
Stein
Brakha ברכה is the Hebrew word for 'blessing'.
May this blog be for you for a blessing.
Christians say, 'Believe in Jesus'. But what does Jesus believe in? Jesus is a Jew and believes in Judaism.
Ultimately the word 'Judaism' means the same thing as 'Tora'. The Hebrew word Tora תורה means "instruction" and refers to the first five books of the Jewish Bible. These five books are the legal code of the ancient tribes of Yisrael, that also incorporate the tribal stories as the context of these laws. They also go by the name, Books of Moshe. The ancients identify Moshe משה as the author of this legal tradition, who God inspires to make these tribes holy by means of these laws. By extension, the word Tora can mean all explications and applications of this legal tradition, thus 'Judaism'.
This blog explores the ancient Jewish beliefs of a certain man called Yhoshua יהושע. The Greeks call him Yesous, and the Romans Jesus.
This ancient human is a Jew. And a mystic. It shouldnt surprise us. Yhoshua teaches Jewish mysticism.
Eventually Jews come to call this mystical tradition, Kabala קבלה , literally the 'reception' of wisdom, but earlier, Yhoshua calls this same tradition, 'the mysteries of the kingship of the heavens' סודיות מלכות השמים . This spirituality explores the deeper meanings of the laws of the Tora.
The Tanakh (Jewish Bible) has difficulties, including conflicting statements, obscure words, and so on. However, ancient Jews understand, the Tanakh is the words of God, especially its first five books, the Tora. These divine Hebrew words transcend and organize space and time. Thus these difficulties are actually clues about the unknowns of reality itself. Explaining them requires a deeper understanding of the text, thereby deeper insight into reality - how the infinity of God creates reality, how the infinity of human consciousness experiences reality, and how the levels of reality interface. Ancient Jews solve these mysteries while they explain the cryptic texts.
This is what Yhoshua means when he refers to the 'mysteries of the kingship of the heavens' סודות מלכות השמים : the data that the Tanakh encrypts. These arent the kind of mysteries that mystify, but are the kind of mysteries that humans must solve. Riddles. Kabala engages precise and useful insights. Even our modern sensibilities can find much of Kabala relevant.
In this blog, Brakha, I will focus on the archeological context of Yhoshua ('Historical Jesus') and on the meaning of his teachings in its context of Kabala (Jewish spirituality). Kabala continues to evolve, more systematic, comprehensive, and referencing its established principles. Yet it is clear: The instruction of Yhoshua expresses an earlier specimen of Kabala, still emerging from the Tanakhi text. Both his technical terms and his organizing paradigms are peculiar to Kabala. Yhoshua is one among many teachers of the proto-rabbinic stream of Judaism that eventually produces Kabala. The New Testament itself is evidence of the antiquity of Kabala.
Since the Renaissance Period, Christians occasionally misuse Kabala texts to 'prove' Christianity is 'true'. In a way, this blog does the opposite. It uses the New Testament to 'prove' Judaism is 'true'. Yhoshua believes in Judaism. It is impossible to explain his ancient teachings with any precision unless one understands the Judaism that he understands. Unfortunately, his later Nonjewish students are too often unfamiliar with the Jewish context, thus may misunderstand him. This blog strives to illuminate that darkness.
Visit Brakha every Sunday. I hope this exploration fascinates you as much as it does me.
Every good,
Stein
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