בס״ד
Books Available for Purchase Here
“Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisra᾽el, and with the house of Yehuda… but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra᾽el after those days, says the L-rd; I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-d, and they shall be my people…”
-Jeremiah 31:31, 33
“Rabbi Elazar says: Be diligent in learning Torah, and know what to respond to one who denigrates the Torah. Know before Whom you labor–the Master of your work is trustworthy to pay you the wage for your activity.”
-Pirkei Avos 2:14
“While writing this commentary of the New Testament, I had no other goal, as I have said in the first volume, but to reconcile these two enemy sisters: The Church and the Synagogue… to show everyone that the New Testament only comes to show that the root of existence is in the unity of G–d (ahdut ha-Bore) … and also to strengthen the law of Moses (Torat Moshe)… I publish this commentary (to Matthew) in Hebrew for Jews, to introduce them to the New Testament who, until now, have not recognized its beauty (eynam makirim ’et yofya)… Notwithstanding the contrary misconception, the New Testament is in no manner contrary to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) or to the Talmud.“
-Rabbi Eliyahu Tzvi Soloveitchik, Kol Kore
Waykeeper Principles #6 & #8
6. The Jewish writings called, “the New Testament,” are not equal, but are subordinate to the Torah given by G-d at Sinai (and therefore not a Halachic authority).
8. We do not yet have a kosher translation of the “New Testament,” but its general teachings align especially with Hasidic Judaism (e.g. serving G-d with and beyond ‘the letter’).
Based on the Weekly NT Schedule…
Sunday (1):
John 19:17 → John 19:37 (21)
The Crucifixion
17 They took Yeshua, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha.
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Yeshua in the middle.
19 And Pilate wrote an inscription and placed it on the cross. It was written: “Yeshua the Nazarene, the King of the Judeans.”
20 Therefore many of the Judeans read this inscription, because the place where Yeshua was crucified was near the City; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
21 So the chief priests of the Judeans were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Judeans,’ but that he said, ‘I am King of the Judeans.’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
Division of Garments
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Yeshua, took his garments and made four parts, a part to each soldier, and also the tunic; but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be.” This happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled:
“They divided my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
Therefore the soldiers did these things.
The Women and the Beloved Disciple
25 But standing by the cross of Yeshua were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Miriam the wife of Clopas, and Miriam from Magdala.
26 So when Yeshua saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.”
27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
The Death of Yeshua
28 After this, Yeshua, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”
29 A vessel full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and brought it to his mouth.
30 Therefore when Yeshua had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Piercing of His Side
31 Then the Judeans, because it was the Day of Preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a great day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.
32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with him;
33 but coming to Yeshua, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And the one who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may trust.
36 For these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones shall be broken.”
37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look upon the one whom they pierced.”
Monday (2):
John 19:38 → John 20:18 (23)
The Burial
38 After these things Joseph from Ramatayim, being a disciple of Yeshua but secretly for fear of the Judeans, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Yeshua; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away his body.
39 Nakdimon also came—the one who had first come to him at night—bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred litrai.
40 So they took the body of Yeshua and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom among the Judeans.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 Therefore because of the Judean Day of Preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Yeshua there.
Chapter 20
The Empty Tomb
1 Now on the first day of the week, Miriam from Magdala came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and came to Shimon Peter and to the other disciple whom Yeshua loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
3 Then Peter and the other disciple went out and were going to the tomb.
4 The two were running together, but the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came first to the tomb,
5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.
6 Then Shimon Peter also came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and trusted.
9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Yeshua Appears to Miriam
11 But Miriam was standing outside the tomb, weeping; and as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had been lying.
13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Master, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing there, and did not know that it was Yeshua.
15 Yeshua said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?”
Thinking that he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16 Yeshua said to her, “Miriam.”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Yeshua said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my G-d and your G-d.’”
18 Miriam from Magdala came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Master,” and that he had said these things to her.
Tuesday (3):
John 20:19 → John 21:6 (19)
Yeshua Appears to the Disciples
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Master.
21 So Yeshua said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain them, they are retained.”
Thomas’ Doubt
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Yeshua came.
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Master!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not trust.”
26 After eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. The doors having been shut, Yeshua came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and see my hands; and bring your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Master and my Ruler!”
29 Yeshua said to him, “Because you have seen me, have you trusted? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have trusted.”
Purpose of the Account
30 Therefore many other signs Yeshua also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the son of G-d, and that by trusting you may have life in his name.
Wednesday (4):
John 21:7 → John 21:25 (19)
7 Therefore that disciple whom Yeshua loved said to Peter, “It is the Master.”
So when Shimon Peter heard that it was the Master, he tied his outer garment around himself (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the small boat, for they were not far from the land, about two hundred cubits away, dragging the net full of fish.
Breakfast on the Shore
9 So when they got out onto the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread.
10 Yeshua said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
11 Shimon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.
12 Yeshua said to them, “Come, eat breakfast.”
None of the disciples dared to question him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Master.
13 Yeshua came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.
14 This was now the third time that Yeshua was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Yeshua and Peter
15 So when they had finished breakfast, Yeshua said to Shimon Peter, “Shimon son of Yohanan, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Master; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Shimon son of Yohanan, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Master; you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Shimon son of Yohanan, do you love me?”
Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”
And he said to him, “Master, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Amen, amen, I say to you: when you were younger, you would dress yourself and walk where you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not wish to go.”
19 Now he said this, indicating by what kind of death he would glorify G-d. And after saying this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
The Beloved Disciple
20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Yeshua loved following them—the one who also had leaned back on his chest at the supper and said, “Master, who is the one betraying you?”
21 So Peter, seeing him, said to Yeshua, “Master, and what about this man?”
22 Yeshua said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.”
23 So this saying went out among the brothers, that that disciple would not die; yet Yeshua did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
Closing Testimony
24 This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things and who wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Yeshua did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Thursday (5):
Acts 1:1 → Acts 1:20 (20)
Acts — Chapter 1 (Translation with Jewish Context Emphasis)
1
The first account I composed, O Theophilus, concerned all that Yeshua began both to do and to teach,
2
until the day he was taken up, after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the emissaries (sheluḥim) whom he had chosen,
3
to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering, with many proofs, appearing to them for forty days and speaking concerning the Kingdom of G-d.
4
And while eating together with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, “which you heard from me;
5
for Yoḥanan immersed in water, but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6
So when they had come together, they asked him, saying:
“Master, is it at this time that you restore the Kingdom to Israel?”
7
He said to them:
“It is not for you to know times or appointed seasons which the Father has set by His own authority.
8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the ends of the Earth.”
9
And after saying these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him from their sight.
10
And while they were gazing intently into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white garments,
11
who also said:
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Yeshua, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same manner as you saw him go.”
Appointment of a Replacement for Yehudah (Judas)
12
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey.
13
And when they entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying:
Kefa, Yoḥanan, Ya‘akov, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bar-Talmai, Mattai, Ya‘akov son of Ḥalfai, Shim‘on the Zealot, and Yehudah son of Ya‘akov.
14
All these were devoting themselves with one accord to prayer, together with the women, and Miriam the mother of Yeshua, and his brothers.
Kefa Speaks — Scriptural Interpretation (Midrashic Framing)
15
In those days Kefa stood up in the midst of the brothers (about one hundred and twenty persons together), and said:
16
“Men, brothers—
it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Yehudah, who became a guide to those who arrested Yeshua.
17
For he was numbered among us and received a share in this service.”
18
(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of unrighteousness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his inward parts spilled out.
19
And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Hakel Dama—that is, Field of Blood.)
20
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his habitation become desolate,
and let there be none dwelling in it,’
and,
‘Let another take his oversight.’”
Friday (6):
Acts 1:21 → Acts 2:13 (19)
Qualification for Witnesses
21
“Therefore, it is necessary that from the men who accompanied us during all the time that the Master Yeshua went in and out among us,
22
beginning from the immersion of Yoḥanan until the day he was taken up from us—
one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23
And they put forward two: Yosef called Barsabba (who was also called Justus), and Mattityahu.
24
And they prayed and said:
“You, Lord, knower of the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
25
to take the place in this service and emissary-role from which Yehudah turned aside to go to his own place.”
26
And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell upon Mattityahu, and he was numbered with the eleven emissaries.
Acts — Chapter 2 (Shavuot / Festival Context)
The Day of Shavuot — Outpouring of the Spirit
1
And when the day of Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) had fully arrived, they were all together in one place.
2
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3
And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, being divided, and it rested upon each one of them.
“You find that when the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the Torah, it was entirely of fire, as it is said: At His right hand was a fiery law unto them (Deut. 33:2). Our sages stated: The law was of fire, the parchment was of fire, its writings were of fire, the thread was of fire, as it is said: At His right hand was a fiery law. The face of the agent (Moses) became fiery, as is said: And they were afraid to come nigh him (Exod. 34:30). The angels who descended with it were of fire, as it is said: Who makes winds Thy messengers (Ps. 104:4). The mountain burned with fire (Deut. 4:11), and it was given within a fire consuming fire, as it is said: For the Lord thy God is a devouring fire (ibid. 4:24). And upon the earth He made thee to see His great fire (ibid., v. 36). The Divine Word also came forth from the midst of fire.”
-Midrash Tanchuma, Yitro 16:2
“He opened and said: “The wise person has eyes in his head,” etc. (Kohelet 2:14). And in what place should a person’s eyes be, other than his head? Perhaps in his body or his limbs, such that it would specify a wise person more than all other people? Rather, the verse certainly relates to that which was taught: A person should not walk four cubits with his head uncovered. For what reason? Because Shekhinah dwells on his head. And every wise person’s eyes and words are on “his head,” on the One who dwells and stands above his head.
And when his eyes are there, he should know that that flame that is lit above his head needs oil, for the body of a person is itself a wick, and a flame is lit above. And King Solomon shouted and said,”do not lack oil upon your head” (Ecclesiastes 9:8). For the flame that is above his head requires oil, and this represents good deeds. And for this reason, the wise person’s eyes are above their head, and not in another place.”
-Zohar, Balak 6:43-44
4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Pilgrims from the Diaspora
5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews—devout men—from every nation under heaven.
6
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confounded, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
7
And they were amazed and marveled, saying:
“Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8
And how is it that we each hear in our own native language?
9
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome—both Jews and proselytes—
11 Cretans and Arabians—
we hear them declaring in our own tongues the mighty deeds of G-d.”
12
And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying one to another:
“What does this mean?”
13
But others mocking said:
“They are full of new wine.”
Shabbat (7):
Acts 2:14 → Acts 2:36 (23)
Kefa’s Address — Prophetic Interpretation (Yoel)
14
But Kefa, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke to them:
“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
15
For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is the third hour of the day.
16
Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17
‘And it shall be in the last days, says G-d,
that I will pour out from My Spirit upon all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your elders shall dream dreams.
18
Even upon My servants and upon My maidservants in those days
I will pour out from My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19
And I will give wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20
The sun shall be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood,
before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the L-rd.
21
And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the Name of the L-rd shall be saved.’”
Yeshua in Israel’s Story
22
“Men of Israel, hear these words:
Yeshua the Nazarene—a man attested to you by G-d with deeds of power, wonders, and signs which G-d did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
23
this one, delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of G-d, you took and, by the hands of lawless men, nailed and killed.
24
But G-d raised him up, having released the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Tehillim (Psalms 16)
25
For David says concerning him:
‘I saw the L-rd always before me,
because He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26
Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted;
even my flesh will dwell in hope.
27
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
nor will You allow Your holy one to see corruption.
28
You have made known to me the paths of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
Argument from David’s Tomb
29
“Men, brothers—
I may speak to you openly concerning the patriarch David: that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30
Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that G-d had sworn to him with an oath to seat one from the fruit of his loins upon his throne,
31
he foresaw and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: that he was neither abandoned to Sheol, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32
This Yeshua G-d raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
Exaltation and the Spirit — Psalm 110
33
Being therefore exalted to the right hand of G-d, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you both see and hear.
34
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:
‘The L-rd said to my Master:
Sit at My right hand,
35
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’”
Conclusion and Call to Teshuvah
36
“Therefore let all the House of Israel know with certainty that G-d has made him both Master and Messiah—this Yeshua whom you crucified.”
Eye To Zion 