B’shallach(After he had let go)Ex./Sh’mot 13:17-17:16
Torah Portion: B’shallach(After he had let go)Ex./Sh’mot 13:17-17:16 Haftorah Reading: Judges 4:4-5:31 To begin tonight I have a question for you. In our Torah portion in Exodus 15:23 we see the second place the children of Israel stopped was at a place called Marah and they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. An […]
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.
Kedoshim (Holy People) Vayikra/Leviticus 19-20
Torah Portion: Kedoshim (Holy People) (Leviticus) Vayikra 19-20
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 20:2-20
Today I want us to talk for a bit about holiness. Here in our opening verse the Father says to Moshe call all of Israel together and share with them these words of how they should live and conduct their lives to be holy, for I am holy. Right away this verse puts the question to us, “What is holy, what does it mean and how does it impact our lives as people of G-d.”
Tzav (Give an order) Lev.6-8
Torah Portion: Tzav (Give an Order) Leviticus 6:1-8:36
HafTorah: Jeremiah 7:21-9:24
In our Torah portion today we continue with the instructions to the priests on what to do and how to do it when kindling the fire on the altar and how to prepare the offerings brought by the people to the Mishkan and later to the Temple. In my last question for this week I asked you to compare Vayikra (Leviticus) 6:28 and II Corinthians 4:7 to see if you could see any connection between the two and any spiritual implications for us today.
Tetzaveh (You are to order) Ex 27-30
Torah Portion: Tetzaveh (You are to order) Exodus 27-30
HafTorah: Ezekiel 43:10-27
This week’s Torah portion begins by giving instructions about the oil to be used in lighting the Ner Tamid or the eternal flame, and then the next chapter speaks of the clothing for Aaron and his sons as they minister to G-d in the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
T’rumah (Contribution) Ex 25-27
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Contribution) Exodus 25-27
HafTorah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
Tonight we read and study G-d’s instructions for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Notice these are very exact instructions. The word approximate, is never used. Everything fits exactly together, every part was important. The mundane items were of equal importance as the more flashy or ornate. Questions arise from these verses. Where did all the material come from? Remember G-d told the people to plunder the Egyptians when they went out of Egypt. What was the purpose of this plundering? Was it to be a treasure for each person to hold on to or was it to be used for the Mishkan? I believe it was for this purpose of building the Mishkan but even here G-d only wanted those items that people were willing to give. I think wrapped up in this is an important lesson for us all. Did G-d really need a house – a holy place? Of course not. The building of the Mishkan was important because it gave the people an opportunity to give back to G-d. G-d was interested in dwelling in His people. This required an act on their part to have a heart that was ready for that indwelling. Having a gracious giving heart is an integral part of being ready. As soon as a people begin to see life as only an opportunity for taking they are not capable of seeing clearly that all they have is really only on loan from Him and not to be guarded so closely that we miss, or worse, are not interested in returning or giving back when we have the opportunity. The very word T’rumah means at its root to offer to life up. So here, when the people returned to G-d what He had given them with a willing heart are they united and lifted up. This is G-d’s point in this whole process. When they, the people, came to the Mishkan they were of one heart and mind. They were a part of its building. T’rumah can be much more than money. All we have comes form our Father, our talent, our wisdom, everything is to be used to serve the purpose of allowing G-d to indwell whatever or whoever we are.