Love and Marriage

Falling in love with someone is a bad reason to get married, but upon what should a marriage be based? The story of Isaac and Rebekah holds the secret.

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: John 4:3-14

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

(Genesis 24:27)

Marcheshvan 24, 5779/November 2, 2018

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.

Abraham's Great Test

Life is full of tests, but tests are easier to pass when you already know the answers. Abraham knew the answers before he took the test.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayera (וירא | He appeared)

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

Gospel: Luke 17:28-37

The Place

(Genesis 22:4)

Marcheshvan 17, 5779/October 26, 2018

This week's Torah reading, Vayera, comes to a close with the final and most dramatic of Avraham's ten trials, the binding of Yitzchak, known in Hebrew as the akeidah. When G-d commanded Avraham, "Take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Yitzchak, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you,"(Genesis 22:2) didn't G-d know that he was asking the impossible of Avraham? The very son that G-d promised Avraham, repeatedly telling Avraham to be patient, for Sara would indeed give birth to a son, G-d is now asking Avrahamto make an offering of? The very son who G-d promised Avraham would be the beginning of a great nation which would span the generations to the end of time, G-d is now telling Avraham to slaughter as an offering leaving not a single descendent to carry on the line? What was G-d thinking?

Abraham's Great Reward

Life will place us in situations where we stand to make a profit by sacrificing our principles. The person who refuses to compromise his values may lose out financially, but his ultimate reward is God Himself.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Lech Lecha (לך לך | Go forth)

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Gospel: John 8:51-58

Go forth!

(Genesis 12:1)

Marcheshvan 10, 5779/October 19, 2018

"Lech lecha - Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) These are the very first words that G-d says to Avraham (still known as Avram). Lech lecha - go forth, but also, literally, go for yourself, go to yourself, pursue your true self, or as Shakespeare worded it, "To thine own self be true."

Left Behind

Afraid of being "left behind" when the rapture comes? Study the story of Noah and find out why you might prefer to be left behind after all.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Noach (נח | Noah)

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Gospel: Luke 17:20-27

And G-d remembered Noach

(Genesis 8:1)

Marcheshvan 3, 5779/October 12, 2018

The Torah reading of Noach opens as a long dark cloud descends upon all of creation. Gravely disappointed by the downward moral turn that man has taken, G-d has declared of the sons and daughters of the crown of His creation, that "I regret that I made them," (Genesis 6:7) and has set out to destroy all living things, save for Noach and his family, and the animals that Noach is instructed to lead onto the Ark that G-d has commanded him to make. Noach follows G-d's instructions precisely and soon finds himself, his wife and sons, and their wives, and the animals that he brought aboard, adrift upon an angry sea in a ceaselessly raging rainstorm. G-d's oral communication with Noach ended the day that the rains began, and for one hundred and fifty days Noach has heard nothing but the pounding rain upon the deck of the ark, the roar of the waves which rock the ark, and, of course, the ceaseless sounds of the animals on board. But not a word from G-d. The waters rose to fifteen cubits above the earth and the sun was hidden behind thick rain clouds. Din and darkness defined G-d's world.

The Day that is Entirely Sabbath

The weekly Sabbath celebrates the coming of the Messiah. The Sabbath offers a weekly foretaste of the era of peace and rest when Messiah will rule the earth.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

B'reisheet (בראשית | In the beginning)

Torah: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

Gospel: John 1:1-17

In the beginning

(Genesis 1:1)

Tishrei 26, 5779/October 5, 2018

"In the beginning... " A lot of things happened in six days. Between "chaos and void" to "be fruitful and multiply," an entire world came into being.

"In the beginning," or to be more true to the exact Hebrew grammar employed, "In the beginning of... " In the beginning of what, we are not told.

Did Eve Come from Adam’s “Rib”?

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser, Professor of Hebrew Bible

Most English translations of Genesis 2:21-22 read, “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its place. And the rib that the Lord God took from the man he built into a woman.”

And this is the blessing with which Moshe, the man of G-d, blessed the children of Israel

                   (Deuteronomy 33:1)

Tishrei 19, 5779/September 28, 2018

"And this is the blessing with which Moshe, the man of G-d, blessed the children of Israel just before his death." (Deuteronmy 33:1)

Thus begins the final Torah reading of the Five Books of Moses, known as V'zot Habrachah, which we will be reading in synagogues throughout the world on Monday morning, which is the holiday of Shmini Atzeret, also known as Simchat Torah. (In diaspora communities Simchat Torah will be celebrated on Tuesday.)

This Shabbat, which falls on the sixth day of the seven day Sukkot festival, we will be reading Torah selections which are relevant to Sukkot. Nevertheless, the Torah reading of V'zot Habrachah is very much a part of the message of Sukkot. V'zot Habrachah records the final act of Moshe, just before he ascends Mount Nevo, where he peers into the promised land that he will never enter into, breathes his last breath, and is buried in the valley below, in an unknown grave.

And you shall rejoice in your Festival!

(Deuteronomy 16:14) Tishrei 14, 5779/September 23, 2018 "Seven days you shall celebrate the Festival to HaShem, your G-d, in the place which HaShem shall choose, because HaShem, your G-d, will bless you in all your produce, and in all the work of your hands, and you will only be happy."(Deuteronomy 16:15) Can G-d really command us to "only be happy?" Yes He can! Can we fulfill this commandment? Being happy isn't a given, and being only happy is an even greater challenge. But we can surely do it!

Watering our Souls

Many believers behave like the foolish gardener. They espouse faith in Messiah and find relationship with God, but they do not nurture that faith and relationship by regularly watering it with the study of the Word.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Ha'azinu (האזינו | Listen)

Torah: Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Gospel: John 6:26-35

Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!

                     (Deuteronomy 32:1)

Tishrei 12, 5779/September 21, 2018

"Listen, O heavens, and I will speak! And let the earth hear the words of my mouth!" (Deuteronomy 32:1)

We all have our favorite song. The song that lifts us up. The song that makes us dance. The song that makes us cry. Couples have their song. The one that was playing when their eyes first met, when their hearts first met. Old friends have favorite songs from back in the day. Families share favorite songs. Nations have national song lists. We all have songs that get inside our heads and just won't go away. What all these songs share is ownership. We make songs our own. They describe us. They are part of us. We hum tunes and quote lyrics as a way of expressing ourselves, as a way of life. Songs touch our souls.

A beautiful woman

                   (Deuteronomy 21:11)

Elul 13, 5778/August 24, 2018

This week's Torah reading of Ki Teitzei opens with the words "When you go out to war against your enemies... " (Deuteronomy 21:10) and closes, 109 verses later, with the words "you shall obliterate the remembrance of Amalek from beneath the heavens. You shall not forget!" (ibid 25:19) Sandwiched between these two calls to war is a rich compendium of commandments regulating various aspects of our personal lives. Yet, while parashat Ki Teitzei is literally teeming with life, it nonetheless begins and concludes rather ominously, with references to war, and in war there are winners and losers.

Love and War

A soldier in a heathen army would have no compunction over taking, raping, and disposing of a captive woman. Not so in the army of the LORD.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Ki Tetze (כי תצא | When you go forth)

Torah: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10

Gospel: Matthew 24:29-42

From among your brothers

                   (Deuteronomy 17:15)

Elul 6, 5778/August 17, 2018

It has been quite a journey for Moshe and the children of Israel. A shepherd in exile, chosen by G-d to lead his people to freedom, who tried to argue with G-d his way out of the assignment which he felt he was very under-qualified for, Moshe not only brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage by bringing the world's most powerful nation to its knees, but, once out of Egypt and squarely in the middle of nowhere, he turned his ragtag band of runaway slaves, who left Egypt at midnight with all their belongings slung over their shoulders, into a people: a people who lived peacefully together by a covenant they signed with G-d, traveling through the wilderness with the G-d of Israel, through ecstatic highs and catastrophic lows, and are now encamped upon the eastern bank of the Jordan River, receiving their final marching orders from Moshe, who won't be joining them on the other side.

The King's Copy and the Rule of Law

If Yeshua is the king of the Jews, then the laws that pertain to Jewish kings apply to Him. Even the Messiah is not above the rule of law.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shoftim (שופטים | Judges)

Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12

Gospel: John 14:9-20

The place which HaShem your G-d shall choose

                   (Deuteronomy 12:5)

Av 29, 5778/August 10, 2018

This week's Torah reading, Re'eh, opens with a challenge and a riddle:

"Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse. The blessing, that you will heed the commandments of HaSHem your G-d, which I command you today; and the curse, if you will not heed the commandments of HaSHem your G-d, but turn away from the way I command you this day, to follow other gods, which you did not know." (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

Twinkling of an Eye

Don't blink! You might miss it. When the redemption comes, things will change in the blink of an eye.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Re'eh (ראה | See)

Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5 (Shabbat Rosh Chodesh: Isaiah 66:1 - 66:24)

Gospel: John 6:35-51

Bless HaShem, your G-d, for the good land He has given you

                     (Deuteronomy 8:10)

Av 22, 5778/August 3, 2018

"And it will be, because you will heed these ordinances and keep them and perform them, that HaShem, your G-d, will keep for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers." (Deuteronomy 7:12) Anyone familiar with the Hebrew original, knows that the word translated into English as "heed" is actually "heel," (eikev, in Hebrew). Our sages provide different insights into Torah's unusual usage of the word eikev - heel - in this instance, but one thing is for certain: when discussing Israel's relationship to the land of Israel, the mention of the bottom of the foot is (surprisingly perhaps), sublimely appropriate. Our heels are our constant point of contact and connection to the land of Israel, about which G-d told Avraham, "Rise, walk in the land, to its length and to its breadth, for I will give it to you." (Genesis 13:17) Walk the land! Make it yours! This is the message of this week's Torah reading, Eikev - Heel: walk the land, possess the land, inherit the land. Every aspect of our being takes an active part in our bond with our land, the land promised to us, the children of Israel, by G-d. Even the lowest, literally most base portion of our body, our heels, play an integral part in our love and fidelity to our land. It is our heels that allow us to be upright, and it is upon the blessed land of Israel that they stand.

Behold, a people that rises like a lioness

(Numbers 23:24)

Tammuz 16, 5778/June 29, 2018

There was a certain sense of deja vu this week as Britian's Prince William ascended the Temple Mount in the company of the Muslim Mufti. We've all been through this before, some four thousand years ago, plus/minus, when the evil Balak, king of Moav led the Midianite prophet Bilaam from high place to high place, trying desperately to elicit from him a curse against the nation of Israel. It is a loose analogy, to be sure - Prince William is no Bilaam. But the intentions of the Mufti of Jerusalem were no doubt identical to those of Balak, a spiritual body blow to be delivered to the Israelite tribes.

Shout of the King

Although we do not yet hear the shofar announcing the coming fo the Messiah, the unseen world of spiritual darkness certainly does.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Balak (בלק | Balak)

Torah: Numbers 22:2-25:9

Haftarah: Micah 5:6-6:8

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

This is the statute of the Torah

(Numbers 19:2)

Tammuz 9, 5778/June 22, 2018

This week's Torah reading, Chukat, poignantly describes the changing of the generations in the desert. The generation that witnessed the miracles in Egypt, the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and the receiving of Torah at Mount Sinai, is on the way out. The generation that only knew slavery and then experienced the instant blast of freedom, but which never fully became free of its old fears and limitations, is now dying out. They were nourished by manna, bread from heaven, were watered by the miraculous well of Miriam, and were embraced each day by the clouds of glory, yet they never quite overcame their cravings for the most basic of foodstuffs which had been parsimoniously provided to them by their taskmasters in Egypt. Ultimately, as amazing as their journey was, as incredible as were the heights they achieved and the direct nurturing they received from G-d, they suffered the same fate we all do: they were human and they were mortal.

The Purity Paradox

Sprinkling of the ashes of the red heifer purified the unclean, but preparing and handling those same ashes made a person unclean. How does that make any sense?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Chukat (חוקת | Statute)

Torah: Numbers 19:1-22:1

Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33

Gospel: John 19:38-42

The entire congregation are all holy

(Numbers 16:3)

Tammuz 2, 5778/June 15, 2018

Korach, the wanna-be king of the Israelites and self proclaimed 'man of the people,' who led a brazen challenge to Moshe's leadership under G-d's Divine sovereignty, has been 'honored' with an entire Torah reading named after him. His short lived rebellion garnered only two hundred and fifty followers, a minuscule proportion of the Israelite encampment, and both Korach and his shameless followers were swiftly eliminated by Moshe, who, on G-d's behalf, displayed zero tolerance for Korach's outrageous claims and audacious demagoguery. Like countless two-bit pretenders who have made the headlines one day only to disappear off the face of the earth the next day, Korach came, he claimed and he was soundly defeated and deleted. So why has his infamous legacy endured?

A very, very good land

(Numbers 14:7)

Sivan 25, 5778/June 8, 2018

The need to "send out for yourself men who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel" (Numbers 13:2) is shrouded in mystery and immersed in speculation to this day. In fact, it would appear that from the very inception of the idea it was beset by question marks. It sounds like a command from G-d, yet our sages inform us that the initiative originated with the people, and that G-d's instructions to Moshe were simply an expression of His acquiescence to the will of the people. This is a tragedy that nobody wants to own, but own it we do, to this day, and its devastating repercussions have been felt in every generation to this very day.

One Law and the Gentiles

There is only one law for both Jews and Gentiles, but that one law has many commandments, and not all of the commandments apply to everyone equally.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shelach (שלח | Send)

Torah: Numbers 13:1-15:41

Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24

Gospel: Matthew 10:1-14

Make yourself two silver trumpets

(Numbers 10:1)

Sivan 18, 5778/June 1, 2018

"HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: 'Make yourself two silver trumpets; you shall make them from a beaten form; they shall be used by you to summon the congregation and to announce the departure of the camps.'" (Numbers 10:1-2) With these words transmitted from G-d to Moshe, the construction of Temple/Tabernacle related vessels and implements comes to a conclusion. What began with the command to build the Ark of the Covenant, as we read in Exodus, chapter 25, now draws to a close with G-d's instruction to Moshe to personally create two silver trumpets to be given over to the kohanim (Temple priests).

The Punishment of Abundance

Prosperity and success are great, but sometimes too much can be too much. The disciple of Yeshua asks only for his daily allotment.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Beha'alotcha (בהעלותך | When you set up)

Torah: Numbers 8:1-12:15

Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7

Gospel: Matthew 14:14-21

May HaShem bless you and watch over you

(Numbers 6:24)

Sivan 11, 5778/May 26, 2018

Halfway through this week's Torah reading of Naso, nestled between descriptions of the Temple-based resolution of the matter of the sotah, a woman accused of infidelity to her husband, and the nazir, a nazirite who makes a vow to temporarily adopt certain restrictions upon him or her self, and the offerings that are required to be brought at the conclusion of the prescribed period, and a recounting of the gifts brought by the twelve tribal leaders to the Tabernacle, as part of the initial dedication of the Tabernacle, appear these verses:

"HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying: This is how you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them: 'May HaShem bless you and watch over you. May HaShem cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you. May HaShem raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.' They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel, so that I will bless them." (Numbers 6:22-27)

Confession, Repentance, Restitution

It's never easy to apologize, but the Torah requires us to confess our sins and then make restitution when we have wronged another.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Nasso (נשא | Take up)

Torah: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Haftarah: Judges 13:2-5

Gospel: Luke 1:11-20

The World Was Created for Me

From HaShem's perspective, every single human being is a rare treasure, a completely unique creation, and something to be cherished and admired.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Bamidbar (במדבר | In the wilderness)

Torah: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-17

I will walk among you and be your G-d

(Leviticus 26:12)

Iyar 26, 5778/May 11, 2018

The book of Leviticus concludes this week (parashat Bechukotai) with a dramatic and terrifying crescendo. The nation of Israel is scheduled to enter into the land of Israel in the very near future. The Torah has been transmitted to the people, the Tabernacle has been built, the Divine service within the Tabernacle has begun, and the very next and final step in the preparations for entering, conquering and settling the land of Israel, will be the formation of an army, which, as we will see, is described in the opening chapters of the book of Numbers. This why the Torah, at this portentous moment in the nation's progress, presents a long list of dire ramifications should the nation fail to fulfill its commitments in the covenant it made with G-d at Mount Sinai.

Shalom in the Land

The most effective measure that the modern state of Israel could take to improve the security situation is to turn back to the Torah and place hope in the Messiah.

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 4:14-22; Matthew 16:20-28

The Sabbath of the Land

(Leviticus25:6)

Iyar 18, 5778/May 3, 2018

This week's Torah reading, Behar, (here in the land of Israel), takes a sharp turn. Up until this point the entire book of Leviticus has been focused on the work of the kohanim (Temple priests) and related issues of ritual purity. Suddenly, in parashat Behar, Israel is presented with a set of commandments devoted to the land of Israel. These are the commandments concerning the sabbatical (shemittah) years and the Jubilee (Yovel) year. There are two reasons for this new focus, one thematic and one historical. Thematically, Torah has been stressing that Israel is a holy nation, and it will remain a holy nation as long as it remains true to G-d's commandments. Now that concept of holiness is being applied to the land of Israel, the land that the children of Israel are about to enter into. And that is the second, historical reason for the introduction of the far away land of Israel at this juncture: it is not far away at all!

God's Day Planner

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Emor (אמור | Say)

Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Gospel: Matthew 26:59-66

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

(Leviticus19:2)

Iyar 4, 5778/April 19, 2018

This year, once again, the double Torah readings of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, which will be read this Shabbat, coincide with this week's observance of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzma'ut, Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day, respectively. This "coincidence" is always particularly poignant, as the name of the first of the two Torah readings, Acharei Mot, literally means, "After the death of" . (The verse in full reads, "And HaShem spoke to Moshe after the death of Aharon's two sons, when they drew near before HaShem, and they died."Leviticus 16:1) The name of the second of the two Torah readings, Kedoshim, means holy ones. When read together, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim literally means, "after the death of the holy ones," and when read in proximity of Israel Memorial Day, as it is this year, our thoughts go naturally to the 23,646 soldiers who have fallen in Israel's wars of independence and freedom, as well as the thousands of victims of terror in our land. The fallen are indeed holy, for they gave of themselves so that we, the living, may live free in our land, the land G-d promised our forefathers, the land of Israel. G-d promises, and our holy ones fall in battle to make that promise a reality. This is not spoken ironically. It is an expression of the eternal covenant between G-d and His people Israel. We work together to make promises happen, to make dreams come true.

Leprosy in the Gospels

Why is leprosy associated with uncleanness, and why was the healing of lepers such a central concern in the ministry of the Master?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Tazria-Metzora (תזריע/מצורע | She will conceive/Leper)

Torah: Leviticus 12:1-15:33

Haftarah: 2 Kings 7:3-20

Gospel: Luke 2:22-35; Mark 1:35-45