Loyalty is rewarded  By Sonja Haisma On the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) we read in the synagogue, the book of Ruth. This young Moabite woman marries Mahlon, a Jewish man who moved away from his country with his family because of a famine. It is the period of the Judges, the 13th century BCE, not...
(Continue reading)

By Cisca Mudde   Hellenism had a strong influence in the world during the time of Alexander the Great. Sexuality and the genders became more important and the new ideas of the Greek culture about the genders were the cause of negative remarks in speech and writings. This we find in Jewish and Christian literature.The...
(Continue reading)

by Elze Erwteman This is the story of a wealthy Shunammite woman that appears in the life of the prophet Elisha in a time of great poverty.We read this story in 2 Kings 4 :8-37 of the woman who lives in Shunem. Her name is not mentioned once, and when this happens we can assume...
(Continue reading)

During Shavuot the book of Ruth is read Ruth is the only woman who is called a: woman of valor. The only place where we find the more specific characteristics of a woman of valor is in Proverbs 31:10-31. This beautiful song is read or sang on erev Shabbat, that is Friday evening when the...
(Continue reading)

Dinah grew up in the family of Jacob. The text of Genesis 34:1-4 says that she was the daughter of Leah. Leah was a full-status woman born free, not in slavery. Dinah’s position is called daughter of Jacob and sister of her brothers. Dinah has a protected place within her family. Verse 1 says that...
(Continue reading)

  An introduction I was born in Surinam as the youngest of five girls. At a very early age I was already aware of my talents. It appeared as a fact to me that I would become a writer and a dancer in the future. My parents, teachers and others stimulated me to pursue that...
(Continue reading)

  This month we celebrate Purim. It seems that every year it becomes more important in our days to celebrate Purim. The stress and pressure that Israel must endure is growing every day. From three sides is the pressure coming: from Syria at the northern border, where Hezbollah is a tool to threat. From Gaza...
(Continue reading)

One of our examples in the Bible where we read about dance and music is in Ex.15: 20. Here Miriam leads the women in a round dance with singing, with the women using tambourines and drums as instruments. Jewish commentators have been asking themselves why should the women have thought about taking drums and tambourines...
(Continue reading)

  One of the most fascinating midrashiem about women in the Talmud  for me is the midrash about the copper mirrors of the women. A midrash is a story that can give an explanation and insight in a text from the bible. The midrash about the copper mirrors of the women is a story that...
(Continue reading)

In the world believers in Messiah Yeshua are waking up for the Tora that was given through Moses to Israël. Believers wrestle with the difference between what they are hearing from the most teachers of the Bible and what they themselves are reading in the Bible. Many have heard the same things for years or...
(Continue reading)