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 […]
Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis12:1-17:27
Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis12:1-17:27
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
This week we read a portion that should speak to each of us in our spiritual walk. This portion starts in Genesis 12:1 with the word of G-d coming to Abraham telling him to, “Go to yourself.” Oddly, Avraham had already left his home of origin when his father Terah took his family, including Avraham, Sarah and Lot, from Ur of the Chaldeans and traveled to Haran. It is interesting that scripture points out that Terah was headed for Canaan but stopped in Haran and stayed there until his death. (Genesis 11:31-32) There is no mention of Terah hearing from G-d or that being a factor in his decision to leave Ur.
Ki Tetze (When you go out) D’Varim (Deut.) 21-25
Vayishlach (And He Sent) B’resheet/Gen. 32:4-36:43
: Vayishlach(And He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftorah Readings: Hosea 11:7-12:12
This week we read of Jacob’s return to Israel and his struggle with an angel (G-d). After this struggle we read where G-d changed his name and gave him a limp that he had for the rest of his life. I want to take a few moments and look at this encounter. What differences do we see in Jacob’s life after this encounter? I want to thank you for your thoughts on my questions each week. It helps me and encourages me as I write and send you teaching each week.
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.
Sh’mot (Names) Exodus (Sh’mot) 1:1-6:1
Torah Portion: Sh’mot (Names) Exodus (Sh’mot) 1:1-6:1
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Tonight, we begin a new book of Torah. The name of this first portion is Sh’mot in Hebrew. If you translate this word to English it is, “Names” but the book, in English is called Exodus. This book begins by listing the names of the Israelites who went down to Egypt.
Vayishlach(And He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43
Torah Portion: Vayishlach(And He Sent) B’resheet/Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftorah Reading Hosea 11:7-12:12
In our portion tonight we read of a pivotal event in the life of Ya’akov. To set the stage he was returning back to Israel after an extended stay in Haran where he had fled to escape his brother’s wrath. He had been gone for over 20 years. He now had four wives and eleven sons. He also had at least one daughter.
B’resheet (In the beginning) B’resheet/Gen. 1:1-6:8
Torah Portion: B’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’era ( I Appeared) Exodus 6-9
Torah Portion: Va’era (I Appeared) Exodus 6:2-9:35
HafTorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
Tonight we read about the beginning of the process of Pharaoh coming to the decision of letting G-d’s people go. We read of seven of the 10 plagues and maybe most importantly, about the revelation of G-d’s Holy Name.
Va’era (I appeared) Exodus 6-6:35
Torah Portion: Va’era (I appeared) Exodus 6:2-9:35
HafTorah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21
This week we see Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh to demand he let the people go. As the verses progress we read of the increasing severity of the plagues yet Pharaoh does not relent.
If you remember last week in Exodus 5:2 we read where Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh the first time and Pharaoh says, “Who is the L-rd? I do not know the L-rd.” In this verse Pharaoh uses the Holy name of G-d, so apparently he had never heard of this name and so there was no reason to obey the command of the G-d who he had no knowledge.