Yitro (Jethro) Exodus (Sh’mot) 18-20
Torah Portion: Sh’mot Exodus 18-20 Yitro (Jethro)
HafTorah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Tonight we read a Torah portion that is rare in its name. Why? It is named for a non-Jew and it isn’t just any Torah portion, but it is the one containing the Ten Commandments, the Covenant G-d made with Israel. Yet, it is named after a pagan, a priest of false gods. The Ten Commandments were also not given in the Land of Israel but in a non-descript mountain in the middle of nowhere, a place without a name. It would seem Jethro was a pagan who wanted more. He had been touched by what G-d had done with Israel. In the opening verse of our section is where it says, Jethro had heard what G-d had done for Moshe and the people. This had moved him to the point he wanted to be part of it. He recognized that G-d was G-d and everything else paled before that. He was touched and changed by what he knew. Which causes us to think about our own lives. We can go through our lives and not be touched by anything. We can remain unmoved and uninvolved. We can lose ourselves in our own limited existence. Things such as Facebook, TV and other modern technologies can allow us the ability to live a life of solitude. But is that what G-d wants? I heard an interesting parable this week. We can be like a wheel on the chariot of the King but that would require us to go where He goes. Or we can be our own wheel stuck in our own rut.
B’Shallach (He Sent) Sh’mot (Exodus) 10-13
Torah Portion: Sh’mot Exodus 10-13 B’shallach (He Sent)
HafTorah: Judges 4:4-5:31
Tonight we read about the crossing of the Reed Sea, the provision of manna and the attack of the Amalikites. I believe G-d has much to say to us about faith and how to live that faith out everyday of our lives.
Maybe it would be good to start with my second question of the week. What is the connection between manna and Sabbath, if anything? We will end with my first question, How do we glorify G-d? As we look at the connection between manna and the Sabbath, remember the people had been slaves for hundreds of years. Their lives had been lived in a strange land far from the fulfillment of G-d’s promises. So, as they left Egypt, we wonder, what did they know if anything about who they were and what connection did they have with the promises of G-d to Avraham, Yitzak and Ya’acove?
Bo (Come) Sh’mot Exodus 10-13
Torah Portion: Sh’mot Exodus 10-13 Bo (Come)
HafTorah: Jeremiah 46:13-28
Tonight we read the conclusion of the ten plagues and the institution of Passover, a yearly celebration of freedom from slavery and oppression. We also read of the yearly religious calendar. In this portion we read of the setting of the month of Aviv, now know as Nissan.
Sh’mot Exodus 6-9 Va’era (And I Appeared)
Torah Portion: Sh’mot Exodus 6-9 Va’era (I Appeared)
HafTorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Again there is much to talk about tonight. In this Torah portion we read about the first seven of the ten plagues G-d brought upon Egypt. We read about Pharaoh’s reaction to the slow destruction of his country and we always come back to “why” did he not recognize against whom he battled? What does this say to us in our life as well? What do we do when facing G-d’s will for our lives? Sometimes we battle against G-d when we think we are in charge instead of Him.
Sh’mot, Names Exodus 1-6
Torah Portion: Sh’mot(Names) Exodus 1-6
HafTorah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Tonight we read the beginning of the redemption of the people from slavery. We read of the birth of Moshe and the first years of his life. This portion is filled with many spiritual lessons for us and I would like to cover a few of them. I believe these will speak to us about who we are and how we are to live as G-d’s people in today’s world.
Vayechi (And He Lived) B’Resheet (Gen) 47-50
Torah Portion: Vayechi (And He Lived) B’Resheet (Gen.) 47-50
HafTorah: I Kings 2:1-12
This Torah portion is the last of the book of Genesis. Interestingly, it is named “And He Lived” while included in this portion we read of the death of both Jacob and Joseph. This brings me to the first point I would like to talk about. Why would a Torah portion named, “He Lived” devote much of its time to the death of these two men? I think it has to do with the way scripture looks at time. For example the Greeks looked at time as cyclical, never reaching an ending point but always starting over again, there will always be another tomorrow. The Jews, and I believe we would be the same, look at time as covenantal. For example, here in Genesis in chapter 12 we read of G-d’s promise to Avraham that his descendants will be as the stars in the heavens. He would be given a Land for his people. Yet by the end of Deut./D’Varim the people have not crossed into the Land. The people did not despair, the promise was always before them.
Vayigash (And He Approached) Gen 44-47
Torah Portion: Vayigash (And He Approached) B’Resheet (Gen.) 44-47
HafTorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28
This week we read the Torah portion that covers the reunion of Joseph and his brothers and their settling in Egypt. In Genesis 46:1 we read the account of Ya’acov’s vision when G-d called him and Ya’acov used the familiar phrase, “Here am I.” This is the third time G-d appeared to him. Like the first time, this vision occurred as Ya’acov was about to leave the Land. (chapter 29) The other vision happened when he returned to the Land in chapter 32 of Genesis. Here in our verses today we see Ya’acov near the end of his days.
Vayeishev (And He Settled) B’Resheet (Gen) 37-40
Torah Portion: Vayeishev (And He Settled) B’Resheet (Gen.) 37-40
HafTorah: Amos 2:6-3:8
This Torah portion is taken almost completely with the life of Joseph and his struggles until he become the second in power in the land of Egypt. There are several points that can be made from these verses about how Joseph dealt with his misfortunes. One amazing observation is how he was able to hold onto G-d’s purpose in his life, to not give up, or become discouraged. This trait speaks to me and I hope to each of you.
Vayishlach (He Sent) B’Resheet (Gen) 32-36
Torah Portion: Vayishlach (He Sent) B’Resheet (Gen.) 32-36
HafTorah: Hosea 11:7-12:12
This week we read of the return of Jacob to the Land, his first meeting with his brother Esau in over twenty years and the death of their father Isaac and his burial along side Abraham. We also read of his constant struggles. At every stage he encounters things that test his resolve to go on in his life. There are several points that I would like to cover in his life which I think have a special message to each of us in our own walk with the Father.
Vayetze (He Went Out) B’Resheet (Gen) 28-32
Torah Portion: Vayetze (And He Went Out) B’Resheet (Gen.) 28-32
HafTorah: Hosea 12:13-14:10
Our Torah portion this week covers at least 20 years of the life of Jacob/Ya’acov. We see him literally running for his life from Esau his brother. He went to the land of Abraham and his uncle Laban. He worked for Laban for twenty years. He was tricked into marrying not his first love Rachel, but her older sister Leah. This sets into motion a family struggle that would have many repercussions in Jacob’s life and his descendants. It is interesting to note that the unloved Leah actually birthed six sons to Jacob. Her sons formed the majority of the tribes of Israel. Rachel had two sons, Benjamin and Joseph. Additionally it was Leah who was buried beside Jacob in the tomb in Hebron while Rachel was buried some distance away in Bethlehem. So we see a family in turmoil for a good bit of history, yet from this turmoil G-d brought forth the nation of Israel.