Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11

Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11

Haftorah Readings: Isaiah (Yesh’yahu) 40:1-26

Bless each of you today. I would like to begin with a verse from the Prophet Isaiah. The Prophet reading for this Sabbath begins with Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort ye comfort ye My people! says your G-d.” Because of this verse this Sabbath is known as the Sabbath Nachamu or the Sabbath of comfort. This is not talking about physical comfort but more a spiritual and emotional comfort. The important point being made to each of us is to comfort the Jewish people. G-d is directing us to comfort His people.

D’Varim (Words) (Deut.) 1:1-3:22

: D’Varim (Words) (Deut.) 1:1-3:22

Haftorah Readings: Isaiah (Yesh’yahu) 1:1-27

Tonight we begin the final book of Torah. In Hebrew this book is named “D’Varim.” In English this word is “Words.” This word is found in the first verse of the first chapter. Here we read, “These are the words which Moshe spoke to all Israel.” This book consists mainly of a teaching given by Moshe over a month’s time on the East bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho. It is also mainly written with Moshe speaking in the first person.

Mattot (Tribes) and Masa’ei (Stages) B’midbar (Numbers) 30:2-36:13

Mattot (Tribes) and Masa’ei (Stages) B’midbar (Numbers) 30:2-36:13  Haftorah Readings: Jeremiah 1:1-2:28

Today I would like to cover two topics from our double Torah readings. Both of these topics have bearing on our life today as G-d’s people and the world in which we live. I would like to start with my question of the week. In Numbers 32:1-5 we read the account of the two tribes of Reuben and Gad who came to Moshe and told him they would rather stay on the east bank of the Jordan River rather than enter the Promised Land with the rest of Israel. Later, they were joined in their request by the half tribe of Menashe.

Pinchas B’midbar (Numbers) 25:10-30:1

Torah Portion: Pinchas B’midbar (Numbers) 25:10-30:1

Haftorah Readings: I Kings 18:46-19:21

Today we cover the Torah portion Pinchas. This portion is named for the man who stopped the plague that had already killed 24,000 people. The plague was a result of Israel’s sin. However, I want to begin with the story of the five daughters of Zelophehad and their request they brought to Moshe.

I would like us to look first at verse 27:4. This verse reads, “Give us a possession in the midst of the brothers of our father.” Remember, at this time in Israel’s history any inheritance a man left when he died went to his sons. If he had no sons then it went to his closest male relative. In effect, if he had no sons, his inheritance would be lost and any daughters he might have would have no inheritance.

Chukat (Statute) B’midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22:1; Balak (Numbers) 22:2-25:9

Torah Portion: Chukat (Statute) B’midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22:1; Balak (Numbers) 22:2-25:9

Haftorah Readings: Judges 11:1-33, Micah 5:6-6:8

Last week we read and studied the Torah portion Korach. Tonight, we look at Chukat and Balak. What is easily overlooked is the time passing between Korach and Chukat. Korach occurred about two years after the crossing of the Reed Sea. Now, here in Chukat, we see the people standing at the doorway to the Promised Land. So our Torah portion takes place 38 years after we last read of the incident of Korach. These people are the children, who are now adults, of the people we last read about. However, as we read this portion we see they had not changed much. Here in our portion we read of the death of Aaron and again of the lack of water. We see a people who rebelled and rose up against Moshe and were punished by the venomous snakes that G-d brought among them. We also see G-d’s provision for them when He instructed Moshe to make a bronze snake. He held the bronze snake up before the people and whomever was bitten could look upon it and be saved. We also see the snake mentioned in John 3:14-15, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life.” Just as the serpent in the desert brought physical salvation from death, whomever looks upon the Messiah and believes in Him receives eternal salvation.

Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32

Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32

Haftorah Readings: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Today we look at a Torah portion that covers an incident that takes place following the report of the 12 men sent to check out the Land. As a result of their negative report G-d sent Israel back into the desert and everyone over 20 years old were told they would not enter the Land. Only their children would receive the promise of G-d.

Shelach (Send) B’midbar (Numbers) 13:1-15:41

Torah Portion: Shelach (Send) B’midbar (Numbers) 13:1-15:41

Haftorah Readings: Joshua 2:1-24

 

Today we read one of the most perplexing Torah portions of the year. In this portion we see G-d instructing Moshe to send twelve men to go up and check out the Land of Promise, the Land He had promised Avraham. This is the dream that had been before the people for hundreds of years and now here is the fulfillment of that dream.

Naso (Take) B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-7:89

Torah Portion: Naso (Take) B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-7:89

Haftorah Readings: Judges 13:2-25

Tonight we read and study the longest Torah portion of the year. It contains many subjects we could spend hours studying. However, tonight we will only look at two or three topics that I think will give all of us a deeper insight into spiritual principles that can help us in our life.

First, I want to start with Numbers 5:6-7. In these verses we read the process to be taken when we have sinned. In verse 7 we read, “Then they shall confess their sin which they have done.” Let’s talk about this for a moment. We are to speak out loud our confession to G-d. Why do we have to verbalize our words of remorse and confession of guilt before G-d? He knows our every thought and action. So why are we to speak it out loud? Maybe the point of speaking our confession out loud is for our own benefit. When we speak the words out loud they become more real to us, more intense. The sin is no long just in our memory but the words have been spoken. I believe when we speak the words out it cannot be easily swept under the rug. We can’t pretend it didn’t happen. The sin becomes more real to us. It causes us to consider just how we could have done such a thing. Our actions are out in the light. We can look at our actions more clearly.

Becha’alotcha (When You Set Up) B’midbar (Numbers) 8:1-12:16

Torah Portion: Becha’alotcha (When You Set Up) B’midbar (Numbers) 8:1-12:16

Haftorah Readings: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Tonight, we read the Torah portion that speaks of the Israelites celebrating their first Passover after leaving Egypt. They are about to begin the second part of their journey. No longer are they escaping from Egypt, they are going toward the Promised Land.

Shavuot 2020

The promise of the Holy Spirit Tonight will be a bit different in that we will have no Torah section to read. However, we will use this time to look at the holiday we are currently celebrating, the holiday of Shavuot. To begin, I want to take a few minutes to share some personal thoughts […]