holy – Road to Zion

Mishpatim(Rulings)Ex./Sh’mot 21:1-24:18

Torah Portion: Mishpatim(Rulings)Ex./Sh’mot 21:1-24:18 Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 34:8-22 In our time together tonight we will be looking at the Torah portion that follows Yitro. In Yitro we read the 10 Words or Commandments. This week’s portion is often looked at as rather anti-climactic after the fire and smoke coming down on Mt. Sinai in last week’s portion. […]

Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32

Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32

Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Today we are looking at a very important Torah portion. I realize I say that quite often but in this portion I believe we are looking at verses that speak directly to our times today.

Let me begin by looking at another verse that has Hebrew – English translation issues. In Numbers 16:1 we read in English, “Korah took men.” However in Hebrew the word men does not appear. It reads, “Korach took.” This leaves us with an interesting question, what did Korach take?

Kedoshim (Holy People) Vayikra/Leviticus 19:1-20:27

Kedoshim(Holy People)Vayikra/Leviticus 19:1-20:27

Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 20:2-20

Today we look at a Torah portion that by most accounts is the most important section of Torah. This Torah portion actually tells us in practical terms what it means to be holy. Our world has improved in many ways since Adam and Eve. Humanity has grown in number. There are many new inventions to make life easier. There are new and easier to use tools that are supposed to help us cope better with the challenges of life. These advances are to make our lives more pleasant and profitable.

Shemini (Eighth) Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Shemini(Eighth)Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Haftorah Reading: II Samuel 6:1-7:17

Tonight I want us to look at our portion and search for new revelation and connections to our faith. Let’s look at Leviticus 10:17 and see how it relates to us. To do this we will later look at Isaiah 25:8 and I Corinthians 15:52, 54.

To begin, let us examine Leviticus 10:17 from our Torah portion. This verse covers the rebuke of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar by Moshe. The verse reads, “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of holiness, for it is the holy of the holies, and He gave her to you to take away the sin of the congregation.” Remember this rebuke came immediately after Nadav and Avihu had perished after bringing strange fire before the L-rd. Their death was caused by them being overcome with zeal. This action caused the fire of G-d to come forth and kill both boys. This in its self teaches us an important lesson. Zeal for G-d is a good thing unless it causes us to lose sight of the holiness of G-d and as a result lose respect for His word. Even in our zeal there are boundaries not to be crossed.

Acharei Mot (After the Death) Lev. 16:1-18:30 Kedoshim (Holy People) Lev.19:1-20:27

Torah Portion: Acharei Mot (After the Death) Lev. 16:1-18:30 Kedoshim (Holy People) Lev.19:1-20:27

Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 22:1-19, Ezekiel 20:2-20

Messianic Scripture Galatians 3:10-14, Hebrews 7:23-10:25, Matt. 5;33-37, Romans 13:8-10

This week we again look at two Torah portions. The first portion is called Acharei Mot and deals with a long list of things G-d warns the people not to do when they cross over into the Land. Remember, they came out of Egypt where, for the last four hundred years, they were surrounded by a pagan culture. Now they would be entering the Promised Land and again would be encountering pagan people.

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) Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Torah Portion: Emor (Speak) Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Our Torah portion today is Emor. When we read it, I would expect our initial feeling might be that theses verses have little to do with us in today’s world. However, I want to take a few minutes to see if that is an accurate way to interpret these words. I would like to do this by looking specifically at a few verses.

Shemini (Eighth) Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Torah Portion: Shemini (Eighth) Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Haftorah Reading: II Samuel 6:1-7:17

Today, we look at the third Torah section of Leviticus or Vayikra. Over the last weeks we have read seven Torah sections about the gathering of supplies, building, and now consecrating the Tabernacle or Mishkan. This section brings us to the inauguration of the Tabernacle as a place where G-d’s Presence would meet the people. The last step in this process was for the priests to set everything in order as far as making sure all the objects and priests taking part in this ceremony would be ritually clean and holy. Nothing that was profane could be in the Presence of G-d Almighty.

Vayak’hel (And He Assembled) Exodus (Sh’mot) 35:1-38:20 and P’Kudei (Accounts) Exodus (Sh’mot) 38:21-40:38

Torah Portion: Vayak’hel (And He Assembled) Exodus (Sh’mot) 35:1-38:20 and P’Kudei (Accounts) Exodus (Sh’mot) 38:21-40:38

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 7:13-26, 7:40-8:21

Today we finish the book of Exodus by reading the last two portions of the book. Both of these books have a great deal to say to us in our life today as G-d’s people. These Torah portions are especially important to us in light of the world events that either has or will affect us all in one way or the other.

I would like to start with my thoughts on the first section of Vayak’hel. This word, Vayak’hel, can mean either “gather” or “assemble.” Interestingly we also saw this same word in our section last week. In Exodus/Sh’mot 32:1 we read where the people assembled around Aaron and demanded he make them gods to go before them since Moshe was absent. Today, in our opening verse of Vayak’hel, we read this word. Here we read where Moshe assembled the people to contribute to and take part in the construction of the building of the Mishkan or Tabernacle.

Kedoshim (Holy People) Leviticus/Vayikra 19:1-20:27

Torah Portion Kedoshim (Holy People) Leviticus/Vayikra 19:1-20:27

Haftorah Reading Ezekiel 20:2-20

Tonight, we study, by most accounts, the most important Torah portion. The reason is very simple. Parashat Kedoshim actually tells us in practical terms what it means to be holy.