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

Torah PortionVayishlach(And He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43

Haftorah Reading Hosea 11:7-12:12

 

In our portion tonight we read of a pivotal event in the life of Ya’akov. To set the stage he was returning back to Israel after an extended stay in Haran where he had fled to escape his brother’s wrath. He had been gone for over 20 years. He now had four wives and eleven sons. He also had at least one daughter.

Vayetze (And He Went) B’resheet/Genesis 28:10-32:3

Torah PortionVayetze(And He Went) B’resheet/Genesis 28:10-32:3

Haftorah Reading Hosea 11:7-13:5

This Torah portion covers over 20 years of Ya’akov’s life. It starts with his escape from the wrath of his brother Esau and ends with him, along with his family, making the journey back to the Land of Promise. These verses cover many thought provoking points. However, I will concentrate on only two.

Lekh L’Kha (Get Out From Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis 12:1-17:27

Torah PortionLekh L’Kha (Get Yourself Out)-B’resheet/Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftorah Reading Isaiah 40:27-41:16

As we go over this Torah portion today I ask you all to contribute your thoughts on the man Avram, his motivations in life and his spiritual qualities that moved him to answer the call of G-d and go to a land not yet known to him. He left his old life behind and ventured out to follow the L-rd’s direction. As we discuss this portion let the Father speak to you about your own life and what He is calling you to do.

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

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

Haftorah Reading Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 40:1-26

This Torah portion covers a myriad of subjects and we could talk for hours about each one but I would like us to spend our time talking about two topics. However, as we begin I would like us to talk about our reading from Isaiah 40:1-26 that accompanies this Torah portion. If you are not familiar with this passage I would encourage you to take the time to read it. The beginning verse says, “Nahamu” which means comfort. This reading always follows the destruction of both temples on Tisha B’Av. This day of mourning was last Shabbat. These verses reminds us of our duty to comfort the people of G-d, the Jewish people. In Matthew 25:35-40 we read the words of Yeshua where He said the same thing. So, let us not take lightly our responsibility to Yeshua’s brothers and sisters, the Jewish people and by extension, all people.

Balak B’midbar(Numbers) 22:2-25:9

Torah Portion: Balak B’midbar(Numbers) 22:2-25:9

Haftorah Reading Micah 5:6-6:8

 

Our Torah portion today plays out a great drama of a pagan king, Balak, and his fear of the Israelites as they arrive at the border of his land. He engages the help of a seer by the name of Bilaam to come and curse the Israelites and in order to save his country.

T’rumah (Contribution ) Exodus Sh’mot 25-27

Torah Portion T’rumah (Contribution ) Sh’mot (Exodus) 25-27

Haftorah Reading I Kings 5:26-6:13

This week we read the first Torah section concerning the Mishkan or Tabernacle. Interestingly we read of this process for the next 13 chapters. In comparison, the creation story was covered in one chapter and the story of the actual exodus from Egypt only took up eleven chapters.

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.

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.

Ekev (Because) Deut 7:12-11:25

Torah Portion: Ekev (Because) Devarim (Deut.) 7:12-11:25

HafTorah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3

NT Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; James 5:7-11

Ekev: sometimes translated as “because.” Does anyone know where we have seen at least the root of this Hebrew word before? A hint: it is the root of the name of one of the Patriarchs. It is the name of Jacob. Why was he named Jacob? It is because he held his brother’s heel when they were born. So you could translate it as “on the heels of” or following. This opening verse this week really ties what follows from the last verse of last weeks section, Deut. 7:11, linking heart felt obedience to G-d’s blessing. Moses then goes on to point a beautiful picture of what will be the result of their obedience.

Naso (Take) Numbers 4:21-7:89

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

HafTorah: Judges 13:2-25

New Testament: John 7:53-8:11; Acts 21:17-32

Tonight we read the Parasha Naso. This Torah section is always read either on the Sabbath before or immediately following Shavuot. As we have mentioned before, Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah. In the New Testament we read where Yeshua was and is the embodiment of Torah. In fact in John I He is called the Word.