Peter’s vision in Acts 10 is often interpreted as evidence of the nullification of the Torah’s dietary laws. Yet a closer reading reveals a different story. Further, this episode reads like a Midrash on Gentile inclusion, shaped by Biblical imagery and a distinctly Rabbinic style of storytelling.   For more information and sources, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/peters-vision-is-acts-10-about-dietary-law/  

Long before Chasidic Judaism, the Bible and the sages spoke of the chasid, one who serves the Creator with love, humility, and holy intention. In this episode, we begin an exploration of this concept and examine how it may have shaped the spiritual worldview of Jesus.   For more information and citations, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-way-of-the-chasid-rediscovering-the-ancient-path/  

What if one of the most influential thinkers in church history turned out to be a case of mistaken identity? We'll look at how an anonymous Neoplatonic writer slipped into the stream of Apostolic tradition and shaped the Church's understanding of heaven, hell, angels, and salvation.   For more information, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-accidental-apostle-the-story-of-psuedo-dionysius/  

One of the most common and troubling concepts associated with the Bible has to be the idea of "eternal punishment." But when we dig through the layers of Greek-to-Hebrew translations, we find a different picture of the afterlife. For more information on this topic, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/eternal-punishment/  

Did Jesus celebrate Chanukkah? When we look closely at the elements in John, chapter 10, familiar themes from the prophets emerge, giving us a clue to the messianic tradition behind this winter holiday.   To subscribe, or learn more - visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-good-shepherd-and-the-chanukkah-connection/  

Did Jesus reject Jewish dietary laws, declaring all foods clean? In this episode, we unpack the discussion in Mark 7 to challenge the popular tradition that Jesus abolished Torah-given commandments, showing instead how ‘traditions vs. commandments’ reflects a misreading of first-century Judaism.   Learn more: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/traditions-and-commandments/    

Materialistic science emptied the heavens of meaning, but Scripture and Jewish tradition insist the cosmos is alive, conscious, and populated by angelic beings, like the Nephilim and Divine Council, as numerous as the stars.   For more information on this topic, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-living-heavens-angels-stars-and-biblical-cosmology/  

There is one practice of character development that can radically transform your spiritual development, yet it may be one of the more challenging to correct. Fortunately, we have an ancient tradition with tools and tricks to help us judge others favorably. "Dan L'kaf Zechut" (דָּן לְכַף זְכוּת) translates to "Judging others favorably." This ancient ethic instructs us to give others the benefit of the doubt:   For more info, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/soul-refinement-judging-others-favorably/      

Are all religions connected to an original source? In this article, we explore the surprising parallels between Jewish and Eastern traditions, the surprising path to redemption, and Abraham’s lasting legacy.   For more information: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-children-of-the-east-the-connection-between-eastern-religions-and-abraham/  

When Jesus said, “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” he wasn’t only sidestepping a political trap, he tapped into a rabbinic debate on coins bearing idolatrous images. But beneath the surface lies a deeper theme: coins as symbols of the soul, each human being stamped with the Divine image that connects with the creation narrative.   For more information: www.thehiddenorchard.com/render-unto-caesar-the-rabbinic-discourse-on-idolatrous-coins/      

What did Jesus mean when he mentioned the "living water" during the festival of Sukkot? What is Hoshana Rabbah? Discover how this final day of Sukkot connects ancient Jewish rituals, the pouring of living water, and Jesus’s words in John 7.   For more info, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/hoshana-rabbah-and-the-living-water-jesus-teaching-during-sukkot/  

In this article, we explore John 4 through the lens of Rabbinic Midrash and its links to Ezekiel 16 and 2 Kings 17. Is the Samaritan woman a creative representation of Ezekiel's prophetic narrative, and if so, how does this change the way we read the Gospels?   For More Information: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-woman-at-the-well-johns-midrash-on-ezekiel-and-2-kings/  

When most readers of the New Testament think about biblical holidays, Passover and Shavuot usually come to mind first. In this article, we'll see how Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur may be the most important for understanding the context of the Gospel message.   Visit:https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/rosh-hashanah-the-kingdom-uncovering-the-context-of-the-gospel-message/  

Is the New Testament antisemitic? Scholars like Amy Jill-Levine would argue, though it wasn't intended, the texts have been read to that conclusion. Who is to blame? Is it the authors for leaving out clarifying information? Is it the interpreters who have failed to communicate the cultural, linguistic, and theological context? To answer these questions, we must be willing to confront our knowledge gaps and maybe some underlying assumptions.   For More information, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/antisemitism-in-the-new-testament/

Thank you! First, I want to thank everyone for their support as The Hidden Orchard Project turns 3!   Online Study Opportunity Also, sign up to take part in an online study, beginning August 10th, 2-3 PM Eastern. We will study "The Journey of the Soul". What happens to the soul before and after life on Earth Where souls go when they leave The idea of soul groups and collective mission(s) Parallels between modern science and the Jewish mystical traditions Accounts of people who've experienced NDEs, and the fascinating insights they've gained and much more... To sign up, Visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/live-online-study-the-journey-of-the-soul/  

In this article, we explore the deeper insights into the Hebrew word for truth, Emet. With help from the Breslov tradition, we find that truth is a state of living built with honesty before ourselves, others, and G_D.   For more information, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/living-truth-in-a-world-of-lies/  

For nearly two thousand years, the world has viewed Jewish tradition—and especially the rabbis of the Apostolic era—through a distorted lens. This distortion is derived from various disputes in the New Testament, but the picture is not complete. There is a deeper context that has been overlooked.   For Citations and Sources: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/misreading-the-gospels-understanding-jesus-within-rabbinic-judaism/   Watch the Two-Part series on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIu16isWs81kTnTtz5SrKSjtl7psdcOr8      

“If it’s not in the Bible, it’s not authoritative.” “The rabbis rejected Jesus—why should we listen to them?” What did Paul mean when he said all scripture is inspired, or G_D-breathed?   For more info, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/where-does-the-bible-say-that-understanding-scripture-and-inspired-writings/

is Jesus literally God? Can someone speak, act, forgive, heal, or even claim unity with G_D without collapsing the boundary between the human and Divine? Or Is there a precedent in the Torah that helps us understand this idea?Sign up for more on this topic   https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/the-shaliach-agency-and-representation-in-jewish-tradition/      

Paul's teachings are seen as a break from Judaism, but what if his ideas on Jewish and Gentile identity are not a rejection of Rabbinic thought, but deeply rooted in it? How does that change how we read a pivotal verse in 1 Corinthians? For More Information, visit: https://www.thehiddenorchard.com/pauls-rule-and-the-conversion-controversy/