Road to Zion

Category: Teachings 5782

Vayeishev (And He Settled) B’resheet/Genesis 37:1-40:23

Vayeishev(And He Settled) B’resheet/Genesis 37:1-40:23
Haftorah Reading: Amos 2:6-3:8
 
As I read this Torah portion and studied it this week I must say I was convicted in my own life by Joseph’s example.  I sometimes have a tendency to be pessimistic. (You probably never noticed this) I read these verses and see a man who never gave into hopelessness, feeling like he was cursed or the feeling he was constantly swimming upstream. 

Vayishlach (He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43

Vayishlach(He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43

Haftorah Reading: Hosea 11:7-12:12

Today we study a Torah portion with many twists and turns. We read of Jacob’s return to the land after being gone more than 20 years. We also read of the death of Rachel and her burial. I would first like us to start our discussion talking about Rachel.

Vayetze (History) B’resheet/Genesis 28:10-32:3

Torah Portion: Vayetze(History) B’resheet/Genesis 28:10-32:3

Haftorah Reading: Hosea 11:7-13:5

Today we look at a Torah portion that covers a long span of the life of Jacob. It begins when he is leaving the land of Israel and continues until twenty years later when he is returning home from Haran. He left with only the clothes on his back and returned a wealthy man with many cattle, sheep,11 sons and one daughter. Our Torah portion reveals many details of the 20 years he was in exile.  He left Israel after a prophetic dream in which G-d promised to protect him and bring him back home to the land. (Genesis 28:13)

Tol’dot (History or Generations) B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9

Tol’dot(History)B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftorah Reading: Malachi 1:1-2:7

 

This week we study a Torah portion that is filled with intrigue and suspense. It also raises spiritual issues that are very important to each of us. Perhaps it would be best to start with the most difficult first. Who do you sympathize with when you read this portion? Who do you see as the person most at fault when you read these verses?

 

Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet/Genesis 23:1-25:18

Hayei Sarah(Sarah’s Life) B’resheet/Genesis 23:1-25:18
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 1:1-31
 
Tonight we read of two important events in this Torah portion. The first one deals with the purchase by Avraham, of a field and cave to bury his wife Sarah. The second subject deals with a mission to find a wife for his son Isaac. What is important here, and in other places in Torah, is the extent scripture goes to to give us the details of these two events. Usually when this happens scripture is alerting us to the fact that these events have something important to tell us. Remember the very word Torah speaks of teaching. These two occurrences here are in such detail to teach us an important lesson.

Vayera (He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis18:1-22:24

Torah Portion: Vayera(He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis18:1-22:24

Haftorah Reading: II Kings 4:1-37

This week we read a very challenging portion, In my question for the week I used the word challenge to frame the meeting between G-d and Avraham. My purpose was to get us all to consider those times when we have an encounter with the Father concerning some issue we may be facing. I got some good responses to my question and appreciate them very much.

Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis12:1-17:27

Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis12:1-17:27

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

This week we read a portion that should speak to each of us in our spiritual walk. This portion starts in Genesis 12:1 with the word of G-d coming to Abraham telling him to, “Go to yourself.” Oddly, Avraham had already left his home of origin when his father Terah took his family, including Avraham, Sarah and Lot, from Ur of the Chaldeans and traveled to Haran. It is interesting that scripture points out that Terah was headed for Canaan but stopped in Haran and stayed there until his death. (Genesis 11:31-32) There is no mention of Terah hearing from G-d or that being a factor in his decision to leave Ur.

Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Torah Portion: Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Today we read the second portion from the book of Genesis. In this portion there are many subjects we can cover. I will try to pick two or three for our time together.

To begin, I want to look at Genesis 7:2, 8. In these two verses we see Noah is commanded by G-d to take seven pairs of clean beasts and one pair of unclean beasts. What are we to make of this? Why did G-d specifically tell him to bring seven pairs of clean animals and only one pair of unclean? Remember, this is 400 years before we will see this again appear in Torah in Leviticus chapter 11. In Leviticus the scripture goes into more detail about what animals are clean and which ones are unclean.  

B’resheet/Genesis (In the Beginning) 1:1-6:8

Torah Portion: B’resheet/Genesis (In the Beginning) 1:1-6:8
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 42:5-43:10
 
Today we begin the cycle of reading the Torah again with our reading in Genesis. In our reading we are faced with several issues that are extremely important to us all as we go through our days given to us by the Father.
 
I would like to  begin with two verses in Genesis 3:8-9. “They heard the sound of the L-rd G-d walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the L-rd G-d among the trees of the garden.” In verse nine, “And the L-rd G-d called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? This question has echoed through time. It speaks to us today. Where are we? It is important to remember here that man was the one hiding from G-d, not the other way around. Have you ever heard G-d ask you that question? Where are you? Why have you forgotten me? Sometime when we are struggling we ask G-d where is He. The real question is where are we.