Yom Kippur: The Day of Repentance, Prayer, and Fasting

"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you:  On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work ... because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you.  Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.  It is a Sabbath of rest [Shabbat Shabbaton], and you must deny yourselves."  (Leviticus 16:29–31)

The holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year begins tonight: Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement).

This day is so important that the Torah calls it the Shabbat Shabbaton(Sabbath of Sabbaths).

Heaven and Earth; Rain and Dew

The Torah is like water which begins in a high place and descends to a low place.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Ha'azinu (האזינו | Listen)

Torah: Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Gospel: John 20:26-21:25

Write for yourselves this song

(Deuteronomy 31:19)
Tishrei 12, 5776/September 25, 2015

"And now, write for yourselves this song, and teach it to the children of Israel."(Deuteronomy 31:19) Thus, writing a song was commanded by G-d to be Moshe's final act on earth before blessing his people and being gathered up unto his fathers. This beautiful commandment, and the "swan song" it inspired, are an amazing testimony to the depth and perfection of the Torah G-d gifted to Israel.

Shana Tova uMatuka - Blessings for a Good and Sweet New Year!

Pax Christi Campus Ministry and Chi Alpha Omega extends to all our friends and loyal supporters, to all those who long for and work toward reaching the Campus Community and the Out-of-School (Children, Youths and Adults), to the entire Archipelago of the Philippines and to all G-d fearing people around the world, our wishes for a good and sweet year of blessings and plenty, health and happiness.

Elul 29, 5775/September 13, 2015

"And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no manner of servile work; it is a day of blowing the horn unto you. And you shall prepare a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto HaShem: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs of the first year without blemish; and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth part for the ram, and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs; and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you; beside the burnt-offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering thereof, and the continual burnt-offering and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings, according unto their ordinance, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto HaShem." (Numbers 29:1-6)

Never Will I Leave You

The high holidays are a time of strict judgment in the court of heaven, but we need not fear. The frightening judge on the throne of glory is still our Father in heaven.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayelech (וילך | He went)

Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30

Haftarah: Isaiah 55:6-56:8

Gospel: Luke 24:13-43

A special portion for Shabbat Shuvah is read this Shabbat!

Shabbat Shuvah (שבת שובה | Shabbat of Return)

Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27

And Moshe went...

(Deuteronomy 31:1)
Tishrei 5, 5776/September 18, 2015

"And Moshe went... " (Deuteronomy 31:1) To where did Moshe go? Torah does not provide us with this information, and the sages of Israel have expressed different opinions as to Moshe's intended destination. We read this Torah selection, parashat Vayelech("And he went") this Shabbat which falls between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. This unique Shabbat, known as Shabbat Shuva, the Sabbath of Repentance, presents us all with an expanded and enhanced opportunity to do teshuva - to return to ourselves and draw nearer to G-d , as well as the challenge to rise above ourselves and draw nearer to our fellow human beings. It's all part of the month long build up to the Days of Awe - Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur - and the cosmic opening up of G-d's arms, as it were, to receive His returning children.

The Greatness of Repentance

There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Nitzavim (נצבים | Standing)

Torah: Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Gospel: Luke 24:1-12

Behold, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil.

(Deuteronomy 30:15)
Elul 27, 5775/September 11, 2015

"Behold, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil." (Deut. 30:15)

"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse." (ibid 30:19)

In his final day on this earth, Moshe rabbenu (Moses our master) is summarizing for his people the entire breadth and depth of Torah, the entirety of its message and teaching in a few short but immensely profound words and phrases. The children of Israel are about to enter the promised land of Canaan. This is their ancestral homeland, the land ofAvraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. Moshe, who won't be joining his people in crossing the river, wants to be certain that they have a clear understanding of the undertaking that lies before them. Not merely the conquest and settling of the land, but, more importantly, the establishment of a Torah society, a civilization whose compass and centerpoint, whose lodestone and north star is the holy Torah whose words Israel embraced and swore allegiance to even as they heard the very first "I am HaShem your G-d" thunder forth at Sinai. (Exodus 24:7)