Biblical Heritage Center Blog

Nearly three decades after Israel began airlifting Ethiopia's ancient Jewish community out of the Horn of Africa, Israel's rabbis are now working to phase out the community's white-turbaned clergy, the kessoch, whose unusual religious practices are at odds with the rabbinate's Orthodox Judaism. Descendants of the lost Israelite tribe of Dan, according to Jewish lore, Ethiopian Jews spent millennia isolated from the rest of the Jewish world. In most Jewish communities, the priesthood of the Bible was replaced by rabbis who emphasized text study and prayer. Ethiopia's Jewish kessoch continued the traditions of Biblical-era priests, sacrificing animals and collecting the first fruits of the harvest. The two traditions diverged so much that the first trickle of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel were asked to undergo a quickened conversion ceremony to appease rabbis who were dubious about their religious pedigree. Read complete article at – http://news.yahoo.com/i...

To ring in the New Year, CNN's Belief Blog asked experts in religion, faith leaders, and a secular humanist about how the forces of faith and faithlessness will shape the world in 2012. Here's what they told us: 1. The Republican Party will tap Mitt Romney as its presidential nominee, and America will finally have its "Mormon moment."  2. Despite all of the lessons that could have been learned from Y2K and Harold Camping, people will still rally around the idea that apocalyptic events are on the calendar for 2012.  3. Continuing revolutions across the Arab world will raise alarming questions about the fate of the remaining Christians in the region, and will put the issue of religious persecution squarely on the political agenda.  4. The year will see an increase in the number of people "coming out" as nonbelievers. 5. "All-American Muslim" will become a bigger hit than "Jersey Shore" ever was. Obsessed fans worldwide, regardless of ...

This is the final day to make a donation for 2011. You must make your donation online for it to be received in 2011. You may send your donation by mail if you do not need for it to be a deduction in 2011.   Every gift helps BHC produce and distribute educational materials that raise the awareness of and provide information about the origin and historical development of our biblical heritages – beliefs, doctrines, rituals and organizations. We have exciting new projects planned for 2012. We are very grateful and thankful for your interest and your support – you make BHC’s work possible. For information and links to make your donation click on -- http://www.biblicalheritage.org/BHC/donate.htm   We wish you a very happy & healthy New Year! Shalom,  Jim Myers  Biblical Heritage Center, Inc. 

Every gift, large or small,   supports BHC's work of raising the awareness of and providing information about the origin and historical development of our biblical heritages – beliefs, doctrines, rituals and organizations.                              We are very grateful and thankful for your prayers and your support.  You may make a donation online to make sure it is received in 2011 or you may send it by mail if you do not need it to be a deduction in 2011.  For information and links to make your donation click on -- http://www.biblicalheritage.org/BHC/donate.htm We sincerely thank you for your interest in our work and encourage you to share it with others. Shalom, Jim Myers Biblical Heritage Center, Inc.

George Washington shared his hopes for the new nation, but also warned of a great danger that could bring the new nation to its end in his “Farwell Address.” The underlines have been added for emphases. “ The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize . But as it is easy to foresee that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth ; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed , it is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national...

Do you find the information that Biblical Heritage Center makes available on its website, Google Group, Blog, Twitter, Facebook or Discovering the Bible helpful? How about the audio and videos found on the pages of Dr. Ike Tennison or Rabbi Jeffry Leynor? We understand the difficult economic pressures that many face today and that is why we provide access to the above BHC resources without charge. We have found that many times the people who need this information the most are not able to pay for it. We appreciate those who have contributed to our work that make everything available for so many others.BHC is completely funded by the gifts we receive from individuals. It is not associated with or funded by any religious institution. Please consider making a special year end donation that will help fund our work in the coming year. If our resources are helpful for you, and you are able to help financially, you contribution will make a big difference and help BHC. If you have never dona...

Every year millions of people hear the Christmas story. Many of us played different roles in school plays. The typical story goes like this: “It’s about 2000 years ago, the evening of December 25. Mary rides into Bethlehem on a donkey, urgently needing to deliver her baby. Although it’s an emergency, all the innkeepers turn them away. So they deliver baby Jesus in a stable. Then angels sing to the shepherds. Afterwards, they all join three kings with camels in worshipping the quiet, newborn.” The problem is, this story may be almost entirely wrong. Discover what the Gospels actually say and what has been added to the story that is not in the Bible at -- http://www.christiananswers.net/christmas/mythsaboutchristmas.html