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Etz Hayim—"Tree of Life" exists to promote Christian-Jewish relations and dialogue, and a joint biblical, spiritual and liturgical self-consciousness and cooperation.
As Christians, we cannot consider Judaism as a foreign religion; nor do we include the Jews among those called to turn from idols and to serve the true God (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). With them, we believe in the one God who acts in history, and with them we accept his revealed word...
—Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium
24 Nov. 2013. Read the Document HERE
JEWISH and CHRISTIAN
LITURGICAL READINGS
The readings list provided by Etz Hayim—"Tree of Life" follows the Torah Portion of the Week (Parashat Hashavuah) read by Jews every Sabbath, and the readings for Masses and Sunday liturgies used throughout the Christian world.
APPROACHING WEEKS’ LITURGICAL CYCLES...
[JEWISH CYCLE]
18 January / Tevet 21 / Parashat Shemot
25 January / Tevet 28 / Parashat Vaera
01 February / Shevat 06 / Parashat Bo
08 February / Shevat 13 / Parashat Beshalach
10 February / Shevat 15 / Tu B'Shvat
15 February / Shevat 20 / Parashat Yitro
22 February / Shevat 27 / Parashat Mishpatim
29 February / Adar I 4 / Parashat Terumah
07 March / Adar I 11 / Parashat Tetzaveh
09 March / Adar I 13 / Ta'anit Esther
[Read a commentary on this week’s parashah (Torah potion) from Institute Saint Pierre de Sion-Ratisbonne, Bat Kol-Christian Center for Jewish Studies.]
[ROMAN RITE]
12 January / The Baptism of the Lord
19 January / 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
26 January / 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
02 February / The Presentation of the Lord
09 February / 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
16 February / 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
23 February / 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
26 February / Ash Wednesday
01 March / 1st Sunday of Lent
08 March / 2nd Sunday of Lent
[Read a commentary on the gospel from Institute Saint Pierre de Sion-Ratisbonne, Bat Kol-Christian Center for Jewish Studies.]
[RCL]
12 January / Baptism of the Lord
19 January / 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
26 January / 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
02 February / 4th Sunday after Epiphany
02 February / The Presentation of the Lord
09 February / 5th Sunday after Epiphany
16 February / 6th Sunday after Epiphany
23 February / Transfiguration Sunday
26 February / Ash Wednesday
01 March / 1st Sunday of Lent
08 March / 2nd Sunday of Lent
[LINK HERE to Liturgical Readings citations
for the dates above.]
 
The Hebrew Bible: A Translation with Commentary by Robert Alter.
[PAID LINKS - follow LINKS for detailed book information at Amazon]
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Scripture through Torah
Resources for Christians from
Ancients texts, through fresh eyes,
alive for today.
Light of Torah provides weekly insights on the Torah in an easy to use format for parish study groups and individuals.
A subscription to Light of Torah is free.
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9 MARCH 2020 | ADAR I 13
TA'ANIT ESTHER
תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר
תענית
= "fast" ;
אסתר
= Esther
Ta'anit Esther [trans. Fast of Esther] observed on the 13th day of Adar, the day preceding Purim, commemorates the three day fast observed by Queen Esther and the Jewish people prior to Esther pleading the cause of the Jews before King Ahasuerus [when threatened with death by the evil Haman.] The Fast of Esther is followed by the celebratory festival of Purim.
Ta'anit Esther is a fast which appears to be of late origin being mentioned in halakhic literature only in the 8th Century. Rabbinic notes suggest the fast was at one time held in Nisan soon after the time when Haman cast lots.
Ta'anit Esther is a counterbalance in Rabbinic literature to the celebratory nature of the holiday of Purim. |
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Date:
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE...
JEWISH and CHRISTIAN
LITURGICAL CALENDARS
(FOR 2019–2020 5780–5781)
ENGLISH VERSION
CALENDÁRIO LITÚRGICO JUDAICO—CRISTÃO
A VERSÃO EM PORTUGUÊS (DO BRASIL)
Weekly Readings
for Christians and Jews
this 16 month interfaith calendar covers
Jewish Year 5780 & Christian Cycle:
Advent 2019–Advent 2020... 
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FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION
OF THE LORD - 2 FEBRUARY
The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated forty days after the Nativity (Christmas). The celebration recalls the presentation of the child at the Temple according to the Law. Jesus is welcomed at the Temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the prophetess, Anna, both of whom, beholding the child, praised God for the redemption of Israel.
The feast has a second dimension, the purification ceremony for Mary after having given birth. ...Read more
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Simeon's Song of Praise (detail) — Aert de Gelder
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15TH OF THE MONTH OF SHEVAT
NEW YEAR FOR TREES
Tu B’Shevat is one of four Jewish “New Years.” The holiday is connected to the practice of tithing and the establishment of the “legal” age of a tree in order to determine when the fruit should be tithed and when one could eat the produce. Read more...
“And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten. And in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto the LORD. But in the fifth year may ye eat of the fruit thereof...” (Leviticus 19:23-25)
Tu B'Shevat (the word Tu is “15” written in Hebrew “טו”) falls near the beginning of spring after the bulk of the winter rains have fallen and trees are in bud with new growth and fertility.
The holiday is celebrated is different ways.
* Many eat fruit of the land, especially that of the “seven species” grown in Israel.
* New year for trees is also a time to focus on planting trees or raising money to plant trees, especially in Israel.
* In the 17th Century the Kaballists of Safed established a special seder which focused on the esoteric meaning to be found in the biblical statement, “Man is like the tree in the field” (Deut. 20:19). The practice spread among Sephardim and later to Ashkenazim who may celebrate a special seder modelled on the Passover seder on Tu B'Shevat.
Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in the Torah but is found in the Mishnah in the context of establishing the correct date.
“There are four ‘new year’ days... the First of Shevat is the new year for trees, according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel, says, the fifteenth of that month.” (Mishnah. Rosh Hashanah 1:1)
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