Michael Gonzales

Michael Gonzales

The Last Days of Yeshua’s Earthly Ministry

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.” – John 20:1

Last night as the sun set, the 3rd Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread began along with the 2nd Day of the Omer Count. According the Biblical account, this is the day on which Messiah Yeshua rose from the grave very early in the morning. It is also the 17th Day of Nisan which, this year, falls on Shabbat.

The Beginning of Months​

This Shabbat, at sunset, is Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the “Head of the New Month (or Moon) of Nisan”.

When Spring arrives, it brings with it new life and new beginnings. One of these new beginnings is a new cycle of the Festivals of God, starting with Passover on the evening of the 14th day of Nisan, the first month in the Biblical calendar.

More Purim Music!

More Purim Music!

Here are some more traditional songs that are sung during Purim, the Festival of Lots.​ In these videos you can hear the songs and follow along with the transliterated Hebrew lyrics. Below each video are the English translations.

Haman Hangs at the Purim Party

Detail of the Scroll of Esther with an image of Haman hanging from the gallows.

The scroll of Esther is usually decorated with ornate drawings that depict notable scenes from the story. Nobody has a problem with the images of Haman and his sons hanging from the gallows that are found in the scroll.

Altogether Joyful

In this brief look at Torah Portion R’eih (see), found in the traditional one year Torah Reading Schedule, Michael David Gonzales examines the word “alien” in Deuteronomy 14:21. Can the non-native born—the “alien” who lives with Israel and worships the God of Israel—eat the flesh of an animal that has died? Are non-Jewish disciples of Yeshua required to keep the dietary laws?