Beha’alotcha (When You Set Up) B’midbar/Numbers 8:1-12:16
Torah Portion: Beha’alotcha(When You Set Up)B’midbar/Numbers 8:1-12:16
Haftorah Reading: Zechariah 2:14-4:7
Today we are studying a portion of scripture that has so much to say to us in our daily walk with the Father. I have several topics to cover, all of which I believe will speak to us. The first has to do with Moses. In this portion we read of the people’s complaints of having only manna to eat. They reminisced about the variety of food they had in Egypt. G-d told Moses He would supply the Israelites with enough meat for a month. In Numbers 11:22 Moshe shared with G-d his doubts that that was possible. G-d’s responded to Moses by asking if the L-rd’s power was limited? In Hebrew, Numbers 11:23 is expressed well, “Has the hand of the L-rd become shortened?” In effect He is reminding Moses how He delivered the people from Egypt, split the sea for them to cross on to dry land, brought them water from a rock and brought mana down each day.
Emor (Speak) Vayikra/Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Torah Portion: Emor(Speak)Vayikra/Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 44:15-31
Today we read a very important section of Torah. This portion begins in chapter 21 of Leviticus. Here we read verses about the requirements for a priest of G-d as he lives out his life in the service of G-d. We also have a listing of the holidays celebrated by the people dedicated to G-d.
Tzav (Command) Vayikra/Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Tzav(Command)Vayikra/Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 7:21-9:24
Today we will look at the Torah portion Tzav or Command. I would like us to pay special attention to Leviticus 8:19 where it speaks of the setting apart of Aaron and his sons. Aaron was High Priest and his sons were priests to the L-rd. They were to serve as the priests in the Tabernacle and later their descendants as priests in the temple in Jerusalem.
Shemini (Eighth) Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Torah Portion: Shemini (Eighth) Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Haftorah Reading: II Sam 6:1-7:17
Messianic Scripture II Cor. 6:14-7:1, Galatians 2:11-16
In our portion this week we see the name given to this section of Leviticus, “Shemini.” It is translated as the eighth day. This was the day when the Tabernacle was to be commissioned as G-d’s house among the people. In chapter 8:35 we read where Aaron and his sons had been preparing for this event for the previous seven days. In Lev. 8:36 we read, “Aaron and his sons did all things which the L-rd had commanded by the hand of Moshe.”
Metzora(Leper) Leviticus/Vayikra 14:1-15:33
Torah Portion: Metzora(Leper) Leviticus/Vayikra 14:1-15:33
Haftorah Reading II Kings 7:3-20
Tonight, we continue our study of leprosy by looking at the process by which a person, house or clothing could be cleaned from leprosy. To begin, I would like us to look at several scriptures in the Messianic writings that speak of this problem in the time of Yeshua.
In Luke 17:11-19 we read of Yeshua meeting 10 lepers on His way to Jerusalem. They asked Him to heal them from this disease. He told them to go and show themselves to the priest in Jerusalem. As they went, they were cleansed. Yeshua did exactly what our Torah portion explained had to be done to be considered clean again. The lepers were told to go before the priest in Jerusalem to confirm their healing.
Naso (Take) Numbers (B’Midbar) 4-7
Torah Portion: Naso(Take) (Numbers) B’Midbar 4-7
Haftorah Reading: Judges 13:2-25
This Torah portion is the largest section we read during the year totaling 176 verses. In it we read of the census taken of the Levites, the woman suspected of being unfaithful to her husband, the Nazirite Vow, the priestly blessing and the confession of sin.
I emailed a paper to all of you here tonight written by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks entitled, “The Blessing of Love.” This article deals with the priestly blessing. I emailed the article to you to give you time to think about how it might apply spiritually to us in our lives today. I want us to take a few minutes to talk about this paper. The priestly blessing is found in Numbers 6:24-26. This is the blessing said by father’s over their children at the beginning of the Sabbath each week and one of the oldest prayers in scripture. In each line the second word used is the intimate holy name of G-d. In the first part of each line we read of action by G-d, bless, make His Face shine, and turn His face toward. The second part of each verse speaks of the effect of that action, giving us protection, grace and peace. These effects also go deeper as we progress.
Tzav (Command) Vayikra (Lev) 6-8
Torah Portion: Tzav (Leviticus) Vayikra 6:1-8:36
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 7:21-44:23
Tonight we will look at the sacrifices again. Why do you think G-d has us go back over these for the second time? What is different in this portion from the one last week? This week we look at the sacrifices from the perspective of the priest who is taking the offering from the person and going through the process of presenting it on the altar. Last week we read about the person bringing the offering.
Mikketz (At the End)(B’resheet) Gen 41-44
Torah Portion: Mikketz (At The End) (B’resheet) Genesis 41-44
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 3:15-4:1
Tonight we read the Torah portion Mikketz and we celebrate the seventh night of Chanukkah. I would like to explore the connection between the two by using a Hebrew word, “bitachon,” which means trust. But first a few words about the holiday. Chanukkah does not appear in the Hebrew scriptures. The events that serve as the foundation of the holiday take place in the 160’s BCE. The Greek king Antiochus ruled over Israel at the time. He suffered defeat in a war against Egypt and as a result dealt severely with Israel on his way back home.
Ki Tisa (When You Take) Shemot (Exodus) 30
Torah Portion: Ki Tisa (When You Take) Shemot (Exodus) 30:11-34:35
HafTorah: I Kings 18:1-39
New Testament: Luke 11:14-20, Acts 7:35-8:1, I Cor. 10:1-13, II Cor. 3:1-18
This portion of scripture is full of verses to guide us in our lives. We will cover a few which I pray will guide us along the way. To start lets look at Shemot 30:18 where we are told of the bronze laver. What is a laver? It is basically a water container with faucets around it for washing. It was put between the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the altar. Here the priests, on their way to the altar, would stop to wash their feet and hands before approaching the altar. Why would they do this? Part of their daily ritual was to bathe in the mikvah to cleanse themselves. So why would they have to stop again to rewash their feet and hands? Yeshua gives us a clue in John 13:8 where He tells Peter, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in Me.” In the next verse Peter responds with asking Yeshua to wash not only his feet but also his head and hands. Yeshua’s answer to this gives us our answer.
Entering, Possessing, Dwelling – Ki Tavo (When You Come) Deut 26
Torah Portion: Ki Tavo (When You Come) Deut. 26:1-29:8
HafTorah: Isaiah 60:1-22
In the days of the Temple farmers were to set aside the first of the seven things mentioned in Torah in Deut. 8:8. How did they do this? The farmer went out into the fields at the first sign of blossoms or heads of grain and marked them with a ribbon on the stems. When they reached maturity he would harvest them and take them to the Temple in Jerusalem during Shavuot. He would give them to the priest and recite the words of Deut 26:5-11. What was the purpose of this ritual to the farmer? It kept it in his mind and spirit that all things come from the Father, and gave him an opportunity to show his gratitude for G-d’s provisions.