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

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

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:1-26

Today we read an epic Torah portion. We read again the Shema and the Ten Commandments. We also read a brief passage with high implications for the way we are to live a moral life in our day.

To begin with, I want us to look at Deut. 5:30. This verse tells us, “In all the way that the L-rd you G-d has commanded you, you shall walk.” I want to use this verse as a jumping off place for our study tonight. What does this verse say to us about our daily walk?

Mishpatim (Judgements) Exodus/Sh’mot 21:1-24:18

Know G-d’s Word as well as you know your name Mishpatim (Judgements) Exodus/Sh’mot 21:1-24:18   Most of us reading this Torah portion today may feel these laws set out here were for a different time and have little to teach us in our modern world. Some may even consider these verses as only applying to […]

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

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

Haftorah Readings: Malachi 1:1-2:7

I would like to begin today with a verse that has no connection to my question of the week. However, I believe it has so much to tell us I couldn’t let it go. Look at Genesis 26:28. In this verse we read, “And they said, we have surely seen that the L-rd has been with you.” This verse recounts the words of Avimelech, king of the Philistines in Gerar. They came to Isaac where he was encamped at Beer Sheva.

Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Not my will Torah Portion: Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32 Haftorah Reading Isaiah 54:1-55:5   Tonight, I want us to look at this Torah portion from a couple of directions. We will look at what happened and what Noah’s role was in the events. We will also look a little deeper at the spiritual powers at play.    […]

B’resheet (In the beginning) B’resheet/Gen. 1:1-6:8

Torah PortionB’resheet (In the beginning) B’resheet/Genesis 1:1-6:8

Haftorah Reading Isaiah 42:5-43:10

 

Tonight, we begin our Torah cycle readings with this section on the story of the creation of the world and the beginning of humans in G-d’s world. To emphasize an important grammatical difference between Hebrew and English, I want to read the first five words in our section. In English we read, “In the beginning G-d created…” In Hebrew a word for word translation would be, “In the beginning created G-d.” You will notice there is a difference. In Hebrew the verb comes first before you read who performed the action. This shows us an important rule for all of us to remember. What we do, how we live, our actions are of supreme importance. How we spend the time G-d grants us on this earth matters. How we go through our days speaks volumes to the world around us.

Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) Devarim (Deut) 3-7

Torah Portion:  Va’etchanan D’varim(Deut.) 3-7

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:1-26

Tonight we read a Torah portion that starts with great sadness. Moshe recounts how he pleaded with G-d to allow him to enter the Land. He uses a word that conveys intense emotion – pleaded, beseeched and yet to no avail. G-d did not allow him to cross over to see that good land.

As I considered this verse this week I thought of how our lives each day are not something to be taken lightly. Our actions have consequences. Life is not a game and we get no do over. G-d is a G-d of mercy and compassion but also a G-d of justice. How we live has results that sometimes carry a heavy price. Our prayers for forgiveness for sure are heard but there may also be a price to be paid. King David is one example. G-d loved him and forgave him but there was still a result from his sin. Here in our portion we see the importance of our actions.  Life is not a game but is for us to be perfected and bring us to maturity so that we can come to that place of living each moment to its spiritual fullness, that we can be G-d’s agents of showing a world His goodness, mercy and love.

Why Do We Sin? – Naso(Take) B’midbar (Num) 4:21-7:89

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

HafTorah: Judges 13:2-25

This week we read the longest Torah portion of the year. It starts by finishing up the counting and setting apart of the tribe of Levi for service in the Mishkan and ends with the offerings of all the Princes of Israel.  Between these two subjects we read of many other groups or individuals such as the Nazarite, the woman suspected of adultery and people who were unclean.

Mishpatim (Rulings) Exodus 21-24

Torah Portion:  Mishpatim (Rulings) Exodus 21-24

HafTorah: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26

This week we read a Torah portion that covers the way Israel was to deal with many relationship issues that arose in their daily life. Since some of these no longer concern us we are tempted to skim over them and see them as unrelated to our present life.  For this reason I would like us to look at several judgments and see what Torah is saying to us on a deeper spiritual level. What are we to learn from these judgments that will affect how we live our lives as believers?

Mishpatim (Ordinances) Ex 21-24

Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Rulings) Exodus 21-24

HafTorah: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26

After the lofty highs of last week’s Parasha of Yitro, this week we are given the details of how G-d expects us to operate in our day to day life. Here we see the connection of Heaven and earth spiritually in how to put into our lives those things that will bring G-d into this world daily.

Hukath (Regulation) Num. 19:1-22:1

Torah Portion: Hukath (Regulation) Numbers (B’Midbar) 19:1-22:1

HafTorah: Judges 11:1-33

New Testament: John 3:9-21; 4:3-30; 12:27-50

Tonight we look at one of the harder things in Torah to understand. The Red Heifer here in the opening verse we read hukath Torah – The decree of the Torah. It is as if the Torah is saying “This is the point of the whole Torah.” A verse in the New Testament, Mark 12:30-31, reflects the same kind of idea. Here Yeshua gives an answer to a question that was meant to trip Him up. Love G-d and love your neighbor. What do the two have to do with each other?