Beit Or ~ The House Of Light

This is an open and wide ranging question because the answer can vary based on the perception of what people call being "Jewish". We are not specifically from the tribe of Judah, and most members do not have "Jewish" or better put Hebrew lineages in their families. Spiritually speaking, we are Hebrew (Jewish) as we keep Torah as the standard for living. But most of us do not have "Jewish" blood and we are not organized as other synagogues. Most people would label us as Messianic which unfortunately is not an adequate label either.

The Jewish custom of lighting two candles for Shabbat goes back thousands of years. Each one of the candles represents part of the breast plate of the high priest that he wore called the Urim ve Tumim, which stands for "lights and perfection".

Today we continue the tradition in many Jewish and non-Jewish homes as a symbol that God is still looking to communicate with his people and is eager to establish an intimate relationship with each one of us individually.

As published at the Jerusalem Post

A charter school has been ordered to temporarily suspend Hebrew classes while officials try to determine whether teachers are advocating the Jewish faith. Broward Schools Superintendent James Notter sent a letter to officials at the Ben Gamla Charter School in Hollywood on Wednesday advising them to halt Hebrew classes until the school board could further examine the curriculum.

Joshua writes...

Rabbi Levy,

You came and spoke at our church last year and led us through a typical Passover meal. Currently, I am going to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and taking a class in the History of Biblical Education. We have learned that the home is the center for education in the Jewish community as is seen in the Pentateuch and all of the Old Testament. My question is: Concerning the present-day educational practices in the home that were observed in biblical times, what changes, if any have been made?

I wait with great expectation to see how you can enlighten me in this area of Jewish History and present day Jewish life.

Faithfully Serving,