H’azinu (Hear) D’Varim (Deut.) 32:1-52

H’azinu(Hear) D’Varim (Deut.) 32:1-52

Haftorah Reading: II Sam. 22:1-51

Today we look at the words of Moshe in this next to last chapter of Deuteronomy. In this chapter Moshe has words of rebuke and warning for the people. G-d calls heaven and earth as His witness to the words He is about to share with His people. These words have much to say to us in our present day as well.

Ki Tavo (When you come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26-29

Torah Portion: Ki Tavo(When you come) D’Varim (Deut.) 26:1-29:8

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 60:1-22

Messianic Scripture  Matthew 13:1-23; Luke 21:1-4; Acts 28:17-31

Today we read a Torah portion that takes place on the east bank of the Jordan river. It contains some of Moshe’s remark’s to the people that are meant to sustain them after they cross over the Jordan.  I believe all of us can take comfort in these words as we walk through our days.

I would like to begin with the words of Deut. 26:5-8, “And you shall declare before the L-rd your G-d, ‘A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous.And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. Then we cried to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers, and the L-rd heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And the L-rd brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders.”

Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 26:1-29:8

Torah PortionKi Tavo (When You Come) D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 26:1-29:8

Haftorah Reading Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 60:1-22

Tonight, we read the Torah portion Ki Tavo. This portion begins with the bringing of the First Fruits offering. This offering was to be distributed to the priests, Levites and the poor. You also might notice each person was to recite the words of D’Varim/Deut. 26:5-10. One effect of this declaration was to solidify in the minds of the people who they were and where their harvest came from. They were part of a people who stretched back to Avraham and G-d’s promises.

Ki Tavo(When You Come) D’Varim/Deut. 26:1-29:8

Torah Portion:  Ki Tavo(When You Come) D’Varim/Deut. 26:1-29:8

HafTorah: Isaiah 60:1-22

 

Today we read the Torah section Ki Tavo. This portion has much to say about the blessings and curses that follow obedience or disobedience to the Word of G-d.

Vayetze (He Went Out) B’Resheet (Gen) 28-32

Torah Portion: Vayetze (And He Went Out) B’Resheet (Gen.) 28-32

HafTorah:  Hosea 12:13-14:10

 Our Torah portion this week covers at least 20 years of the life of Jacob/Ya’acov. We see him literally running for his life from Esau his brother. He went to the land of Abraham and his uncle Laban.  He worked for Laban for twenty years. He was tricked into marrying not his first love Rachel, but her older sister Leah. This sets into motion a family struggle that would have many repercussions in Jacob’s life and his descendants. It is interesting to note that the unloved Leah actually birthed six sons to Jacob. Her sons formed the majority of the tribes of Israel. Rachel had two sons, Benjamin and Joseph.  Additionally it was Leah who was buried beside Jacob in the tomb in Hebron while Rachel was buried some distance away in Bethlehem. So we see a family in turmoil for a good bit of history, yet from this turmoil G-d brought forth the nation of Israel.

Shellac L’Kha (Send on Your Behalf) Numbers/B’Midbar 13-15

Torah Portion:  Shelach L’Kha (Send on Your Behalf) (Numbers) B’Midbar 13-15

Haftorah Reading: Joshua 2:1-24

This week we read the story of the scouts who Moshe sent to scout out the Land of Promise. In this story we can see so much that speaks to our own spiritual life. To illustrate I would like to begin with an archeological lesson. If you have been to Israel and toured the Land I am sure you would have noticed what looked like hills but look out of place with the topography of the land. These small, sometimes large hills are called tels. They actually are the remains of ancient cities built one on top of the other and over time rise above the surrounding area. If we take a cross section of one of these hills we would find layer upon layer of past cities, each built on the remains of earlier dreams and expectations. Some were destroyed because of war while others were destroyed by natural disasters or were simply abandoned. However, in every case the newer was built on the remains of the older, using some of the same ideas, some of the same material, each reaching higher than its predecessor.  Each one learning from the latter. In many ways our story of the scouts is similar. This episode ended in failure. However, the people moved on and in their search for and cleaving to the hope and promise of the Father, did not give up. They went on to more and more as they moved closer to the dream. So should we in our lives. We all miss the mark from time to time. But we should move on. We learn, we grow closer to the Father. We never give in to discouragement no matter how many times we stumble. We press ahead. We pick ourselves up and G-d leads us on. So it was here in our verses.

Vayelech (And He Went) D’Varim (Deut.) 31

Torah Portion:  Vayelech (And He Went) D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 31

HafTorah: Hosea 14:1-10, Micah 7:18-20, Joel 2:15-27

Today I want us to look at this chapter and see what it teaches us about “doing.” This Sabbath is called, “Shabbat Shura.” Shuvah is the word for repentance.  Moshe speaks here on the last day of his life to a people he has led for the last 40 years. These are his parting words. We have seen him over the course of this last book of Torah recount the forty years of wandering.  Here he is telling the people to come together every seven years and hear the story again.

D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 1-3

Torah Portion:  D’Varim (Deuteronomy) 1:1-3:22

HafTorah: Isaiah 1:1-27

This section begins with Moshe speaking to the people before they enter the Land. What do you think was the purpose of G-d freeing them from Egypt and bringing them here to claim their inheritance? Why did He reach out and bring us to Him? Here I think G-d brought the people of Israel for the purpose of being an example of how His people could live life as a G-dly people. A people who were concerned with righteousness and justice, a people who would be a light to the world around them, that it was/is possible to live life, work, marry, raise a family and still be a people who cared for the poor, the widow and orphan. He wanted them to be a people who treated everyone with respect and dignity, so is His wish for us. A people who were able to reflect their Father in the everyday life they lived.  I believe this is the purpose of Moshe’s speech to them.