Emor (Speak) Vayikra/Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Torah Portion: Emor(Speak)Vayikra/Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 44:15-31
Today we read a very important section of Torah. This portion begins in chapter 21 of Leviticus. Here we read verses about the requirements for a priest of G-d as he lives out his life in the service of G-d. We also have a listing of the holidays celebrated by the people dedicated to G-d.
Counting the Omer Leviticus 23:1-16
Eighth Day of Passover
Counting the Omer Leviticus 23:1-16
Today we will take a closer look at the period we are now in in G-d’s calendar. We will look at what the counting of the Omer can teach us about our spiritual life.
Bo (Come) Exodus/Sh’mot 10:1-13:16
Bo(Come)Exodus/Sh’mot 10:1-13:16
Today we study what may be the most important Torah portion of the year. In the very first verse we read where G-d told Moshe to, “Come” to Pharaoh. Here Moshe was to relate to Pharaoh G-d’s final three plagues, locust, darkness and death of the first born. Sh’mot 10:1 reads, “And the L-rd said to Moshe, Come to Pharaoh.” In all other times G-d told Moshe to go to Pharaoh. Why was the word “come” used here? I believe this gives all of us an important clues to the character of the Father. G-d was telling Moshe that no matter what we face G-d will be with us. He will already be there before us. Our faith should be strengthened by the use of this small word in this verse.
Emor (Speak) Lev.21:1-24:23
Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26:1-29:8
: Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26:1-29:8
Haftorah Readings: Isaiah (Yesh’yahu) 60:1-22
This Shabbat marks exactly one week until Rosh Hashana, which begins next Friday evening at sundown. Our portion today begins with Moshe instructing the people concerning the bringing of first fruits to the temple in Jerusalem. As you may remember, G-d’s calendar begins with Passover, next comes First Fruits, followed by Rosh Hashana next week, then Yom Kippur and ending with Sukkot. I pray all of you take the time to study these coming holidays and see how they apply to your daily life and how they give an order to the year every year. Take the time to listen to what the Father is saying to each of you concerning these holidays.
Emor(Speak) Lev. (Vayikra) 21-24
Torah Portion Emor(Speak) Leviticus (Vayikra) 21-24
Haftorah Reading Ezekiel 44:15-31
Tonight we read a parasha that covers a variety of subjects. It covers commandments pertaining to the priests and how they are to live, who they are to marry and how they go about their duties. One entire chapter covers the appointed times set by the Father. It is here where I want us to spend a bit of our time tonight. I also want us to talk about the commandments covering the leaving of the edges of your crops and why G-d repeats this commandment when it was covered in last week’s scripture.
B’midbar (In the desert) Numbers 1-4
Torah Portion: B’midbar (In the desert) Numbers 1-4:20
HafTorah: Hosea 1:10-2:20
This Sabbath we read the first portion of the fourth book of Torah-B’midbar. Also tonight when Sabbath ends the Appointed Time of Shavuot begins. This holiday is the second of three times on G-d’s calendar when Jews were to go to Jerusalem to celebrate one of G-d’s appointed times. In traditional Judaism this holiday commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Therefore we can grasp somewhat what is happening in Acts 2 when the Jews from all over the world were gathered in Jerusalem. As the early believers were gathered together and praying a great wind and fire appeared and touched each of them. What should interest us is basically the same scene played out thousands of years earlier at Sinai. There, G-d imparted His word. Here G-d gave His word and everyone understood it. So as we celebrate this holiday of Shavuot we are able to thank the Father for His steadfastness and that He has included us in this, His story of faithfulness.
Vayak’hel and P’kudei Ex 35-40
Torah Portion: Vayak’hel (He Assembled) P’Kudei (Accounts) Sh’mot (Exodus) 35:1-40:38
HafTorah: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
To begin with tonight I want to talk about something I saw this week that really caught my attention. In Sh’mot 38:21 we read, “The tabernacle, the tabernacle of testimony.” Usually when the Torah makes double use of a word it is making a deeper point. The Talmud picks up on this and states that here the point is that Torah is speaking of the earthly Tabernacle as being a shadow of the heavenly. This sounds really similar to Hebrews chapters 8-9, Hebrews 8:4 and 9:24. This brings us to the common argument used by many to say the Torah is finished and of little value to us as believers.
Emor (Speak) Vayikra (Lev) 21
Torah Portion: Emor (Speak) Vayikra (Leviticus) 21:1-24:23 HafTorah: Ezekiel 44:15-31 New Testament: Matthew 5:38-42; Gal. 3:26-29 Tonight I want us to look especially at Chapter 23 of Leviticus. In this chapter we read a listing of G-d’s calendar. The word used in Hebrew is Mo’ed. Think about your phone or computer where you put your […]
Sh’mini (Eighth) Vayikra (Lev) 9
Torah Portion: Sh’mini (Eighth) Vayikra (Leviticus) 9:1-11:47
HafTorah: II Samuel 6:1-7:17
New Testament: Mark 7:1-23, Acts 5:1-11; 10:1-35; II Corinthians 6:14-7:1;
Galatians 2:11-16; I Peter 1:14-16
Tonight marks the end of Passover. Passover is actually two holidays that over time have become a single unit. The first day being Passover and the remaining seven days being the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These eight days make up the holiday we now celebrate. So G-d’s spiritual calendar begins with an 8 day time and ends with Succoth in the fall which is also an eight day holiday. Tell me, what is the significance of eight in the spiritual realm? Why is this important in G-d’s calendar?