Ekev (Because) D’Varim (Deut.) 7:12-11:25

Torah Portion: Ekev (Because)D’Varim(Deut.) 7:12-11:25

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Today I want us to look at Deut. 11:7. This verse reads, “Because your eyes are the ones seeing all the great works of the L-rd that He has done.” In the first nine verses of chapter 11 Moshe was speaking directly to the current generation of the children of Israel. They were the ones about to cross over the Jordan to enter the land of Israel. Earlier he had stressed to the people how important it was that they follow  G-d’s word, His commandments as they crossed the Jordan.  

Vayikra (And He called) Vayikra/Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Vayikra(And He called)Vayikra/Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 43:21-44:23

Today we will talk about a Torah portion that on its face seems to have little to say to us in our modern world, but that is not correct. It begins with the duties of the priests in the offering of animal sacrifices for a variety of issues. In Leviticus 2:13 we read, “and all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Why did G-d make this stipulation? The Torah went so far as to require this rule concerning every offering. Salt and sometimes the absence of leaven were used to avoid corruption and to keep the holy things in an imperishable state. We could say these two requirements represented a never ending covenant relationship.

B’resheet/Genesis (In the Beginning) 1:1-6:8

Torah Portion: B’resheet/Genesis (In the Beginning) 1:1-6:8
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 42:5-43:10
 
Today we begin the cycle of reading the Torah again with our reading in Genesis. In our reading we are faced with several issues that are extremely important to us all as we go through our days given to us by the Father.
 
I would like to  begin with two verses in Genesis 3:8-9. “They heard the sound of the L-rd G-d walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the L-rd G-d among the trees of the garden.” In verse nine, “And the L-rd G-d called to Adam and said to him, Where are you? This question has echoed through time. It speaks to us today. Where are we? It is important to remember here that man was the one hiding from G-d, not the other way around. Have you ever heard G-d ask you that question? Where are you? Why have you forgotten me? Sometime when we are struggling we ask G-d where is He. The real question is where are we.

Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet (Genesis) 23-25

Torah Portion:  Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet (Genesis) 23-25

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 1:1-31

Tonight we read a Torah portion dealing with death in that the passing of both Sarah and Avraham are covered. However, we also read of the purchase of the first plot of the land of Promise and of the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. These sequences of events bring up a question that each of us must deal with in our life. To help us I would like to look at the life of Avraham and see how he dealt with what could have been crippling disappointment.

Bo (Come) Sh’mot Exodus 10-13

Torah Portion: Sh’mot Exodus 10-13 Bo (Come)

HafTorah:  Jeremiah 46:13-28

Tonight we read the conclusion of the ten plagues and the institution of Passover, a yearly celebration of freedom from slavery and oppression. We also read of the yearly religious calendar. In this portion we read of the setting of the month of Aviv, now know as Nissan.

Emor (Say) Lev 21-24

Torah Portion: Emor, Say,Vayikra Lev. 21:1-24:23

HafTorah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

This week we read first about the commandments to the priests, the high priests and their service in the Mishkan or Temple. We see again that they were held to a higher level of holiness than the average person. This should cause us again to think of ourselves as priests. As the New Testament says in I Peter 1:16, “Be holy for I am holy.” This brings me to my last question I sent out this week. In the verses 22:32 the Torah tells us to not profane the name of G-d, but He should be sanctified in our midst. In the L-rd’s prayer in Matt. 6:9 we read , “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.” What does this phrase hallowed be Your Name mean to us and what do we have to do with it?

Chol HaMo’ed Sukkot Exodus 33

 

Torah Portion: Chol Ha Mo’ed Sukkot Exodus 33:12-34:26

Today is the Shabbat that falls in the intermediate days of Sukkot. In this section of scripture two things tie it to the holiday of Sukkot.  In Exodus 34:22 the holiday is mentioned in the list of appointed times. In Chapter 33 G-d appears to Moses.  In I Kings during the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the presence of G-d appears in the temple. As a result the priests could not minister or even go into the temple.