Red, Red Stuff

Jacob has a bad reputation for cheating Esau out of his birthright. Preachers scold Jacob as a deceiving trickster, but is that really the Torah's point? Let's examine this story more carefully.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Toldot (תולדות | Family history)

Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

Gospel: Luke 3:1-18

Jesus used known Rabbinic techniques for reasoning through Scripture

"And as he taught in the temple complex, Jesus began to ask, 'How is it that the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself said in the Holy Spirit:

"The LORD said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.'" [Psa 110:1]

David himself calls him "Lord," so in what sense is the Messiah [David's] son?' And the large crowd enjoyed listening to him" (Mark 12:35-37).

Blessed is HaShem, G-d of my master, Avraham

(Genesis 24:27)

Cheshvan 21, 5778/November 11, 2017

Chayei Sara, (The Life of Sara), this week's Torah reading, opens and closes with two of the most seminal and formative life events, not only for Avraham, Sara and Yitzchak, but for the entire nation of Israel, throughout all the generations. These are the death of Sara and her burial in the cave of Machpelah, purchased by Avraham from Ephron the Hittite, and, at parasha'send, the marriage of Yitzchak to Rivkah. These two events are unrivaled in their significance for the children of Avraham and Sara. They define who we are to this very day. Yet by far, the vast majority of the verses which make up Chayei Sara are dedicated to a man whose name is not mentioned once in the parasha; a man who is not a son of Avraham and who does not share in the inheritance of Avraham.

Jesus, the Scribe, and the Foremost Commandment

"One of the scribes came and heard [Jesus and some Sadducees] debating, and recognizing that [Jesus] had answered them well, asked him, 'What commandment is the foremost of all?' Jesus answered, 'The foremost is, "Hear O Israel! The LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD Your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength [Deu 6:4,5]" The second is this, "And you shall love your neighbor as yourself [Lev 19:18]" There is no other commandment more foremost than these.' The scribe said to him, 'Right, Teacher; You have stated truthfully that He "is one," and "There is no one else besides Him" [Deu 4:35]. And to "love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength," and to "love one's neighbor as himself," is much more than all "burnt offerings and sacrifices' [1Sam 15:22; Psa 40:6; Hos 6:6]” When Jesus saw that [the scribe] had answered intelligently, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that, no one would venture to ask [Jesus] any more questions" (Mar 12:28-34).

Bashert: The Real Soul Mate

In our culture, we believe that a person should marry whoever he or she falls in love with. This is a bad plan. It is possible to fall in love with the wrong person. It is possible to fall in love with many wrong persons.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Chayei Sarah (חיי שרה | Sarah's life)

Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18

Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

Gospel: Matthew 2:1-23

The Sin of Sodom

For what great sin did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayera (וירא | He appeared)

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

Gospel: Luke 2:1-38

HaShem will see

(Genesis 22:14)

Cheshvan 14, 5778/November 4, 2017

In last week's Torah reading we meet Avraham, a complete unknown, whom G-d calls upon to "Lech lecha," to leave Haran and head for Canaan, a land he's never been to to forge a relationship with and establish a covenant with G-d.

Slowly, we begin to get glimpses of who Avraham is, insights into his character, and an understanding of why G-d chose him to be the father of a future nation dedicated to the establishment of and the spreading of the knowledge of G-d's presence on earth.

Melchizedek's Banquet

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine"

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Lech Lecha (לך לך | Go forth)

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17

Fixing a Broken World

Why does God punish sin? Why does He care what we choose to do? Why should our personal choices be judged?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Noach (נח | Noah)

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Gospel: Luke 1:5-80

IS TITHING ONLY AN "OLD TESTAMENT" COMMANDMENT?

Tithing is not a "New Testament" commandment of God. And the early Jewish Christians did not tithe to their local congregations. Those Jewish Christians residing in the land of Israel did tithe. They gave of their produce to the Jerusalem temple (10%), Jerusalem city merchants (10% every first, second, fourth, and seventh year of a seven year cycle), and local charities (10% every third and sixth year of a seven year cycle). It was the law / Law. To not have done so would have been a sin.

WAS THE LAW GIVEN *ONLY* WITH THE GROSS SINNER IN MIND, TO *ONLY* DEFINE. EXPOSE, AND CONDEMN SIN?

 Please compare the following two passages from the same letter:

"... the Law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, kidnapping-enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine" (1Tim 1:9-11).

Then:

"Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses" (1Tim 5:19).

In the second passage, Paul was applying the Law of Moses within a Christian context:

Noach walked with G-d

                 (Genesis 6:9)

Tishrei 30, 5778/October 20, 2017

Noach was born into a most unpropitious moment in history. G-d was so discouraged by man's misdeeds and corrupt behavior that He was preparing to put an end to what He had hoped would become the jewel in the crown of creation: mankind. And along with mankind, G-d was intending to put an end to all land, air and sea-based creatures. Man's behavior had become so despicable that, simply by evil example, man had succeeded in defiling the animal kingdom. In short, G-d was ready to erase and delete the entire work of His sixth day of creation. But then, we are told in the final verse of last week's Torah reading, Bereshiet, "Noach found favor in the eyes of HaShem." (Genesis 6:8)