Vayeishev (He settled) Gen 37-40
Torah Portion: Vayeishev ( He settled) Genesis 37:1-40:23
HafTorah: Amos 2:6-3:8
Tonight we cover a large part of Joseph’s life from his seventh year until he is in an Egypt prison sentenced for something he did not do. We follow him from a somewhat difficult teenager to when he has had more than his share of difficulties in his life.
I want us to look at his story from the aspect of Kidush Hashem (sanctify the Name) and see what we can see that might help us in our daily walk with the L-rd. How do we translate Kidush HaShem? Sanctifying G-d’s name is kidush HaShem. What does that mean? Kidush is from the same root as Kadosh or holy. Holy means to set apart, as for us to be set apart. How can we set apart G-d’s name? Let’s see how Joseph did or did not do this in his life.
Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s life) Genesis 23-25
Torah Portion: Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s life) Genesis 23-25
HafTorah: I Kings 1:1-31
This week we look at a Parasha filled with verses covering the death of both Abraham and Sarah., yet it is titled, The life of Sarah. Why do you think that is? It might seem more accurate to call it the death of Sarah. This is a subject I want us to look at in some depth this week. I think it has so much to teach each of us in our world today.
Lech L’kha (Go to Yourself) Genesis 12-17
Torah Portion: Lekh L’kha (Go to Yourself) Genesis 12-17
HafTorah: Isaiah 4o:27-41:16
This week we read about the call of Abraham. This Parasha has been pivotal in my own life for over 40 years. I can truly say it started my journey to Israel.
Tonight I want us to look at these verses and let G-d apply them to your own life and situation. I want us to be open to what the Father says to us in the next few minutes. I believe He has more for us than we have ever imagined.
Chukat (Regulations) Numbers 19-22
Torah Portion: Chukat (Regulation) Numbers 19-22
HafTorah: Judges 11:1-33
NT John 3:9-21, 4:3-30, 12:27-50
In this Torah section we cover many things that will give us the opportunity to grow in our spiritual understanding. We see the death of two people who were two of only a few still left alive from the original ones who left Egypt. One of those who died was Moses’ sister Miriam. In D’Varim (Deut) 24:9 we read a curious statement concerning her, “remember what G-d did to her on the way from Egypt.” This is one of only six things Torah commands us to remember each day. So what did G-d do to her? She complained about Moses and G-d struck her with leprosy. So what was her sin? Her sin was lashon harah or gossip. This should tell us something of how the Father sees this sin. If we remember it daily it should impress us and remind us how G-d sees a loose tongue. Even her punishment is connected with the sin. Leprosy is looked at as a slow death. When we speak evil of someone it can have the same effect. It can slowly destroy them. When we gossip it usually does not stop with the person with whom we shared our story. It takes on a life of its own and like a disease, spreads from person to person infecting them all with the words we spoke. I pray each of us remember Miriam each day and with G-d’s help we will not be a part of this sin of lashon harah.
B’Shallach Sh’mot (Exodus) 13
Torah Portion: B’Shallach Sh’mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16
HafTorah: Judges 4:4-5:31
I want us to look mainly at the Exodus and see what we can learn that might give us insight into our own lives spiritually. I want to start by looking at the last question I sent you this week. In Sh’mot 13:17, in Hebrew, it is written that Pharaoh sent the people out, in Sh’mot 14:5 he is told that the people have fled and finally in Sh’mot 14:8 it says the people went out with an up raised arm. So which is true?
Vayetzei (He Went Out) Genesis 28
Torah Portion: Vayetzei (He Went Out) Genesis 28:10-32:3
HafTorah: Hosea 11:7-12:12
John 1:19-51
Tonight I would like to start with a look at Genesis 29:1. In this verse in English it is translated as Jacob “went on his journey.” However the Hebrew is more like “he lifted his feet and went on his way.” Do we really need to know “he lifted his feet?” What is the Torah telling us with these words? Many times we look at our circumstances and resign ourselves to our situation. Jacob was in a pretty bad place. He left his home under a threat from his brother to kill him. Yet what did he do? He took control of his feet and went with purpose. He didn’t sit and think, “Woe is me.” Rather he set his feet to go where G-d was leading him. He rose above his situation and went on his way. He set his feet on the right road – as we must do in the situations we find ourselves in.
Korach Numbers 16:1
Weekly Torah Section: Korach Numbers 16:1-18:32, HafTorah: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Tonight I want us to mainly look at the Torah portion, but I do have a few things to say about the Haftorah. In I Samuel we see the greatest of Israel’s judges turning over the nation to their first king – King Saul. What connection do you see between Samuel and the Torah section in Numbers. There are at least two things. Both contain a miraculous sign. In Numbers the earth opens and swallows up 250 people. In Samuel a fierce thunderstorm occurs. Why is the thunderstorm a miraculous sign? When does this thunderstorm occur – during the wheat harvest. So what time of year was that? Near the holiday of Shavuot, which means it was the time of year when rain does not fall in Israel. The other connection was both Moses and Samuel said they had taken nothing from the people. (Numbers 16:15 and I Samuel 12:3)
Sh’mini (The Eighth)
Sh’mini (The Eighth) Leviticus 9:1-11:47 and II Samuel 6:1-7:17
I would like us to look first at II Samuel and then move to the Torah portion for tonight. First a touch of background: the Philistines had captured the ark from Israel in battle and took it to their territory. However, pretty quickly they saw that was not working out for them so they took it from Gath and returned it to Beith Shemesh. In I Samuel 6:19 it tells us the people of Beth Shemesh opened the ark and because of that 50,070 people died. Then they sent it on to Kirjath Jearim where it stayed in the house of Abinadab for twenty years.