Like the Stars of Heaven

Though the hosts of Israel might seem innumerable as the stars, God knows each person individually. With God, no person is inconsequential. He knows each of us by name.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Devarim (דברים | Words)

Torah: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27

Gospel: Mark 14:1-16

A special portion for Shabbat Chazon is read this Shabbat!

Shabbat Chazon (שבת חזון | Vision)

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27

The Land of Israel

Every disciple should endeavor to make pilgrimage to visit the land of Israel at least once in his or her lifetime.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Mattot-Massei (מטות-מסעי | Tribes-Journeys)

Torah: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-39/Matthew 24:1-25:46

Time to Wake Up: Make the Dream a Reality!

Tammuz 27, 5777/July 21, 2017 This week's double Torah reading, Matot-Masei, with which the book of Numbers concludes, brings the children of Israel right up to the doorstep of the land of Israel. Encamped just east of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho, the children of Israel, pumped and primed to enter the land, will have to wait for new leadership to take them across. Moshe, the man who took them out of Egypt, across the Sea of Reeds, to the foot of Mount Sinai, and now to the fields of Moav, will address Israel one last time before passing from this world, and handing the mantle of leadership to Yehoshua bin Nun, the leader whom will orchestrate the conquest of the land of Canaan.

How goodly are your tents, O Ya'akov, your dwelling places, O Israel!

(Numbers 24:5)

Tammuz 13, 5777/July 7, 2017

"He said to him, I won't go, for I will go to my land and to my birthplace."(Numbers 10:30)

"Bilaam arose, went, and returned to his place, and Balak went on his way." (ibid 24:25)

The first verse quoted above records the words of Yitro, the Midianite priest, one of the most beloved figures in Torah. The second verse quoted reflects the actions of Bilaam, the heathen prophet of Midian, among Torah's most reviled characters, and the equally pathetic Balak, king of Moav.

The Man for the Job

If a person desires wisdom, he should spend time with the wise. If he desires to develop in righteousness, he should spend time with righteous people.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Pinchas (פנחס | Phinehas)

Torah: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:46-19:21

Gospel: Mark 11:27-12:37

My covenant of peace

(Numbers 25:12)

Tammuz 20, 5777/July 14, 2017

The story of Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aharon, after whom this week's parasha, (Torah reading), is named, actually began at the conclusion of last week's reading. This division of the parashot is unique in this way, being the only time throughout the yearly reading of the five books of Torah that a narrative is begun one week and is only concluded the following week. It seems that our sages, of blessed memory, who determined the division of the weekly Torah readings, really wanted to keep us in suspense, as last week's reading of Balak closed with a real cliffhanger:

Life's Little Interruptions

It is easy to become impatient and upset with the things and people that get in the way of what we are trying to accomplish. We should learn a lesson from Balaam.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Balak (בלק | Balak)

Torah: Numbers 22:2-25:9

Haftarah: Micah 5:6-6:8

Gospel: Mark 11:12-26