In the wilderness of Sinai

(Numbers 1:1)

Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 5777/May 26, 2017

"HaShem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the exodus from the land of Egypt... " (Numbers 1:1)

Thus begins the book of Numbers, the fourth of the 'Five Books of Moses,' which we read this Shabbat. We recall that last week we concluded the book of Leviticus with the words, "These are the commandments that HaShem commanded Moshe to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai." (Leviticus 27:34) The children of Israel haven't yet moved their encampment in the interim between the two verses. Mount Sinai and the wilderness of Sinai are one and the same. Only the perspective has changed. The period of Torah transmission has concluded and the physical journey to the promised land is about to commence. Moshe is commanded by G-d to take a census of the children of Israel, after which the twelve tribes are organized into four flanks, surrounding the Tabernacle to the east, the west, the south and the north, each flank comprising three tribal encampments. The Tabernacle, which dwells in the center of the Israelite encampments, is surrounded by the family encampments of the Levites, who are responsible for the assembly, disassembly and transport of the Tabernacle from destination to destination. The nation is ready to move toward its final destination of the land of Canaan, the land of Israel.

The Hosts Above and the Hosts Below

The unseen spiritual world above casts a reflection onto the surface of the material world. Sometimes we find that which is above in some other form down here below.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Bamidbar (במדבר | In the wilderness)

Torah: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22

Gospel: Luke 16:1-17:10

Your pleasant fragrances

(Leviticus 26:31)

Iyar 23, 5777/May 19, 2017

Parashat Bechukotai, the final Torah reading of the book of Leviticus, and the second of this week's double parashah, Behar-Bechukotai, devotes twenty nine verses to a vivid and painful description of the negative ramifications that will hound and pursue Israel, should she stray from following G-d's statutes and observing and performing His commandments. This laundry list of horrors is preceded by thirteen comforting and uplifting verses describing the abundant blessings which will be Israel's should she faithfully "follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them." (ibid 26:3)

Study to Learn – Learn to Do!

In Jewish thought, the purpose for studying is not the acquisition of knowledge. We study to learn and we learn to do.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Behar-Bechukotai (בהר/בחקותי | On the mountain/In my statutes)

Torah: Leviticus 25:1-27:34

Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14

Gospel: Luke 13:1-33/John 10:22-42/Luke 14:1-15:32

The Shofar and the Fall Festivals

The Messiah’s shofar will announce his arrival, the inauguration of His kingdom, and His coronation.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Emor (אמור | Say)

Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Gospel: Luke 11:1-12:59

Count for yourselves

(Leviticus 23:15)

Iyar 16, 5777/May 12, 2017

In this week's Torah reading, Emor, following a series of commandments describing the required physical prerequisites for kohanim (Temple priests) and for the animals being brought as offerings, the Torah turns its attention to setting out the annual calendar of holy days and appointed seasons. We are told what day to bring the Passover offering (the 14th of Nisan), what day to begin the seven day festival of Passover (the 15th of Nisan), what day to celebrate Rosh HaShana, (described here as a day of "rememberance and shofar blasts"), as well as the date assigned for Yom Kippur, the day for beginning of the seven day festival of Sukkot and the one day observance of Shemini Atzeret. Only one of the three pilgrimage festivals and two holy days is not assigned a specific calendar date for its observance: Shavuot - the festival commemorating the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai. Why?

The Holy One of God

All of the commandments of Torah, in some aspect or another, reveal the holiness of Messiah.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim (אחרי מות/קדושים | After the death/Holy)

Torah: Leviticus 16:1-20:27

Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19

Gospel: John 7:1-52/John 7:53-10:21

You shall be holy, for I, HaShem, your G-d, am holy

(Leviticus19:2)

Iyar 9, 5777/May 5, 2017

The book of Leviticus, which literally begins with a whisper, progresses slowly from an intense focus on the inner workings of the desert Tabernacle, into a wider view of the laws of ritual purity and their application to the entire community of Israel, and then spreads its wings, introducing the concept of attaining holiness, which ultimately crescendos into a confirmation of the holiness of the very land of Israel itself. We need bear in mind that once the Tabernacle was completed and the service of the Kohanim (Temple priests) initiated, the nation of Israel was ready and poised to enter the land of Israel and to begin its life as a free people in its own land. Toward this end, the book of Leviticus was much more than a book of rules about offerings and priestly conduct. It was a comprehensive Torah for the building of the new nation.

"You shall be holy, for I, HaShem, your G-d, am holy," (Leviticus 19:2) the opening commandment of the second of the double Torah portion we read this Shabbat, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim, is truly a puzzler. G-d is holy because He is, well, G-d. How are we mere mortals supposed to achieve this? And how does the commandment to be holy fit into the scheme of nation-building that Leviticus is unfolding before us?