will – Road to Zion

Va’era (I Appeared) Exodus/Sh’mot 6:2-9:35

Va’era(I Appeared)Exodus/Sh’mot 6:2-9:35

Tonight we are studying a Torah portion that has so much to say about our life in this world. I want to start with the verse I asked each of you to look at and see where G-d takes us. Our verse in Exodus 8:18 says, “And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, to the end that you may know that I am the L-rd in the midst of the earth.”

Vayechi (And He Lived) B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26

Vayechi(And He Lived)B’resheet/Genesis 47:28-50:26

Today I would like us to look at the last Torah portion of Genesis. In this portion we read of the death of both Jacob and Joseph. This portion, like Chayai Sarah in Genesis 23:1, follows an interesting thought. Even though both are called by a name meaning life, they include the death of the main character.

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.

Nitzavim (Standing) D’Varim (Deut.) 29:9-30:20

Nitzavim(Standing) D’Varim (Deut.) 29:9-30:20

Haftorah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

I read a very interesting essay about our Torah portion this week. I would like to share with you some of the thoughts that arose from this reading.

What do you believe is the point of our faith? Is it life on earth or death and being in heaven? There is a famous quote from a book about Sherlock Holmes that might help us find an answer to my question. “I draw your attention”, he said to Dr. Watson, “to the curious incident of the dog at night.” “But the dog did nothing at night,” said Watson. “That,” said Holmes, “is the curious incident.” Sometimes to know what a book is about you need to focus on what it does not say, not just on what it does say.

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.

Noah B’resheet/Genesis 6:9-11:32