Ki Tisa - Day #1

Ki Tisa  כִּי תִשָּׂא - When You Elevate  

Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35

Exodus 30:11–31:17

30:11 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “When you take a census of the children of Israel, according to those who are counted among them, then each man shall give a ransom for his soul to Hashem when you count them, that there be no plague among them when you count them. 13 They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs); half a shekel for an offering to Hashem. 14 Everyone who passes over to those who are counted, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering to Hashem. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Hashem, to make atonement for your souls. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the Tent of Meeting; that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Hashem, to make atonement for your souls.”

17 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its base of bronze, in which to wash. You shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. 19 Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in it. 20 When they go into the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water, that they not die; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to Hashem. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they not die. This shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations.”

22 Moreover, Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Also take fine spices: of liquid myrrh, five hundred shekels; and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, even two hundred and fifty; and of fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty; 24 and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; and a hin of olive oil. 25 You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 You shall use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, 27 the table and all its articles, the lamp stand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its base. 29 You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. 31 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on man’s flesh, and do not make any like it, according to its composition. It is holy. It shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it, or whoever puts any of it on a stranger, he shall be cut off from his people.’”

34 Hashem said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum: sweet spices with pure frankincense. There shall be an equal weight of each. 35 You shall make incense of it, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. 36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the covenant in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be to you most holy. 37 You shall not make this incense, according to its composition, for yourselves: it shall be to you holy for Hashem. 38 Whoever shall make any like that, to smell of it, he shall be cut off from his people.”

31 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4 to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, 5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6 Behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, 8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, 10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

12 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep My Sabbaths; for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Hashem who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Hashem. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days Hashem made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’”

Today’s Meditation:

Interesting in today’s reading that atonement for souls (verse 30:16) is a money offering. We always think of shedding blood to make atonement. But here we see a different type of offering, a half-shekel. Maybe it was important for Hashem to see their commitment because money is such a huge part of our lives. If we have to give away our money, then we are giving up something important to us. Money is imperative for living—food, housing, clothing, etc. To give some of it away to Hashem shows trust and dedication.

In this instance, the whole Tabernacle and priesthood are being established. So, it makes sense that money is needed to sustain the building and materials (although, as we read, many materials were donated). We also learn that money is used to redeem the firstborn. Money is just a part of our lives now as it was back then. In Biblical times, your livelihood also included livestock and land. Our sacrifice and privilege, now and then, is to give just as Hashem directs us.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 31:16, we read that the Shabbat is to be a perpetual covenant. Never to end. It is a sign between Hashem and His people. What about that do we not understand? Why have believers in Hashem chosen to say this is no longer in effect? Who are we, or anyone, able to change a covenant with Hashem, or change His Law? In fact, we are told in Torah to never add or subtract from the Law. Observing and guarding Shabbat is required. It is mentioned many, many times. And clearly we see in verse 31:17 that this adherence to the Shabbat Commandment comes with the gift of refreshment. Don’t you feel refreshed after spending time with Hashem in prayer and worship?

My challenge to you today is this. Observe and honor the Shabbat starting this week. Take from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday to rest, read Scripture, study Torah, spend time with family, and pray. It will totally refresh you for the week to come. 

Tetzaveh - Day #7

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus:27:20-30:10

Haltarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

Shabbat: Exodus 30:1–10

30 “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. 2 Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it. 4 You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides, you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. 8 When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Hashem throughout your generations. 9 You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and you shall pour no drink offering on it. 10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year, he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation:

If you do some research on the altar of incense, you will find some varying opinions. We know that Hashem required that it fill the Holy Place with smoke, that it ascended, and it was to be enforced day and night. Most likely, it was a display of obedience by the Priests to Hashem in following the Laws. Whatever reason Hashem chose for the burning of incense, it must have made it very special to the senses of smell and sight. Maybe there was even an association that, when you were in the Tabernacle and smelled the special spices burning, reminded you of Hashem’s presence. Again, everything in the Tabernacle was special and for a specific purpose.

Today’s Challenge:

Some people believe that the incense in the Tabernacle represents our prayers. As incense smoke ascends upward, so should our prayers to Hashem. Some of the prophets in Scripture liken the incense to prayers ascending to the heavenly altar. This is a good reminder to us that Hashem does acknowledge our prayers —maybe sees them as incense. So we must present them to Him daily. This does not necessarily mean prayers of requests, but prayers of praise and honor to Hashem for all He does in our lives. Praising and thanking Him should be natural, and often, our very existence on the planet is because of Him. Thank you, Hashem, for all you do in our lives and those whom we love.

This Week’s Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

43:10 “You, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, and its fashion, and its exits, and its entrances, and all its forms, and all its ordinances, and all its forms, and all its laws; and write it in their sight; that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.

12 “This is the law of the house. On top of the mountain the whole limit around it shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 13 “These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand width): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the width a cubit, and its border around its edge a span; and this shall be the base of the altar. 14 From the bottom on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the width one cubit; and from the lesser ledge to the greater ledge shall be four cubits, and the width a cubit. 15 The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns. 16 The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides. 17 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and its bottom shall be a cubit around; and its steps shall look toward the east.”

18 He said to me, “Son of man, Hashem says: ‘These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it. 19 You shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the offspring of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me,’ says Hashem, ‘a young bull for a sin offering. 20 You shall take of its blood, and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around. You shall cleanse it and make atonement for it that way. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside of the sanctuary.

22 “On the second day, you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. 23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without defect, and a ram out of the flock without defect. 24 You shall bring them near to Hashem, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Hashem.

25 “Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin offering. They shall also prepare a young bull, and a ram out of the flock, without defect. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it. So shall they consecrate it. 27 When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings. Then I will accept you,’ says Hashem.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In Ezekiel's reading today, we learn more about the building of a sacrificial altar for burnt offerings. Many people believe that these instructions are for a future Temple. Isaiah and others have similar references to a future Temple. Some people think that when the last Temple was destroyed, that marked the end of the Temple era. However, Scripture, as seen in Ezekiel, defines the opposite. That there will be another Temple, and we need to prepare for it. The future Mashiach will reside there, and the glory of Hashem will dominate it. Let us look forward to this day when the world will be made right again.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

I have previously challenged you to conduct some Temple studies. There isn't much teaching available that supports the prophecies of the Third Temple. But, I believe with my whole heart that there will be a Temple prepared for the return of the Mashiach, where He will rule and reign for eternity. It only makes sense. But I recommend you study it on your own.

Tetzaveh - Day #6

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus:27:20-30:10

Exodus 29:38–46

29:38 “Now this is that which you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually. 39 The one lamb you shall offer in the morning; and the other lamb you shall offer at evening; 40 and with the one lamb a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 The other lamb you shall offer at evening, and shall do to it according to the meal offering of the morning and according to its drink offering, for a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Hashem. 42 It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the Tent of Meeting before Hashem, where I will meet with you, to speak there to you. 43 There I will meet with the children of Israel, and the place shall be sanctified by My glory. 44 I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar. I will also sanctify Aaron and his sons to minister to me in the priest’s office. 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their Elohim. 46 They shall know that I am Hashem their Elohim, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Hashem their Elohim.

Today’s Meditation:

The glory of Hashem sanctifies the Tabernacle; how wonderful is that? Can we even imagine what Hashem’s glory would be like? Would it light up the area? Would it bring you to your knees? Would you lie prostrate? Would you be totally consumed by His love? Maybe it’s good to think once in a while what it would be like to be exposed to the glory of Hashem. It is something we could yearn for and pray about. For the Temple to be rebuilt and for His presence, His glory to return. Let’s get ready for this. Let’s be living our lives in such a way that when His glory returns, we are ready to present our lives to Him. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will praise Him.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 46, Hashem tells His people why He brought them out of Egypt, “that I might dwell among them. I am Hashem their Elohim.” He wants to dwell with us. But He needs a house to dwell in. Just like we do, and that house is the Temple in Jerusalem. I have mentioned this before. Please pray for the Temple to be built so we have a place for the glory of Hashem. We should do this daily. How exciting it will be when He comes to dwell there.

Tetzaveh - Day #5

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus: 27:20-30:10

Exodus 29:19–37

29:19 “You shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot; and sprinkle the blood around on the altar. 21 You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be made holy, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him. 22 Also you shall take some of the ram’s fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of consecration), 23 and one loaf of bread, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before Hashem. 24 You shall put all of this in Aaron’s hands, and in his sons’ hands, and shall wave them for a wave offering before Hashem. 25 You shall take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar on the burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma before Hashem: it is an offering made by fire to Hashem.

26 “You shall take the breast of Aaron’s ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before Hashem. It shall be your portion. 27 You shall sanctify the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the wave offering, which is waved, and which is raised up, of the ram of consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons. 28 It shall be for Aaron and his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel; for it is a wave offering. It shall be a wave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, even their wave offering to Hashem. 29 “The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them. 30 Seven days shall the son who is priest in his place put them on, when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in the holy place.

31 “You shall take the ram of consecration and boil its meat in a holy place. 32 Aaron and his sons shall eat the meat of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 33 They shall eat those things with which atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them; but a stranger shall not eat of it, because they are holy. 34 If anything of the meat of the consecration, or of the bread, remains to the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire. It shall not be eaten, because it is holy.

35 “You shall do so to Aaron and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. You shall consecrate them seven days. 36 Every day you shall offer the bull of sin offering for atonement. You shall cleanse the altar when you make atonement for it. You shall anoint it to sanctify it. 37 Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar shall be holy.

Today’s Mediation:

Hashem is getting His priests ready for the Tabernacle. It is essential to anoint the ears (so they may hear clearly), the thumb (so that their actions will be good), and the foot (to anoint the path of wherever they go). Everything Hashem does is intentional and not random. Sacrifices and clothing are essential for preparing to serve Hashem. That is why all these instructions are given, so that this very special place has people who are prepared in special ways to approach Hashem. It is a very privileged time to be in the Tabernacle. And as we will soon see, if the priests do not follow instructions, they will not be allowed to enter. Same for our lives. If we do not follow His instructions (Laws), we will not be able to enter eternal life.

Today’s Challenge:

They spend seven days atoning at the altar and getting it ready (verse 37). They are preparing the altar and making it holy for sacrifice. We pray as a sacrifice, and in the space we pray. Is it a sacred space? In other words, is it set apart and special for your prayer time? I have a place in my house where I like to pray every morning. It’s comfortable, and I study there too. Perhaps you could consider making your prayer space a special place. Add a picture, a candle, worship music, or anything else that makes it special. We don’t have the Temple right now, but we can still have a special place to meet with Hashem. Try it, you will really love your morning devotional time.

Tetzaveh - Day #4

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus:27:20-30:10

Exodus 29:1–18

29:1 “This is the thing that you shall do to them to make them holy, to minister to me in the priest’s office: take one young bull and two rams without defect, 2 unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil. You shall make them of fine wheat flour. 3 You shall put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bull and the two rams. 4 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water. 5 You shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastplate, and clothe him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. 6 You shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban. 7 Then you shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head, and anoint him. 8 You shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them. 9 You shall clothe them with belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind headbands on them. They shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute. You shall consecrate Aaron and his sons.

10 “You shall bring the bull before the Tent of Meeting; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull. 11 You shall kill the bull before Hashem at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 12 You shall take of the blood of the bull, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar. 13 You shall take all the fat that covers the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But the meat of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside of the camp. It is a sin offering.

15 “You shall also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. 16 You shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar. 17 You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head. 18 You shall burn the whole ram on the altar: it is a burnt offering to Hashem; it is a pleasant aroma, an offering made by fire to Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 11, Elohim says, “Kill the bull before Hashem.” You may visualize that they are just taking offerings to the altar and killing them. But, honestly, they are doing it all before Hashem. It’s like He watches the whole thing and is very pleased. If you think about it, most everything we do is right “before Hashem”. In a way that can be scary. Do we do things that are pleasing to Hashem? Or are we doing questionable things that we are not proud to do in front of Hashem? Give this some thought. Really, everything we do is before Hashem. It’s time to correct our lives if we are not doing good for Him.

Today’s Challenge:

When Aaron and his sons approach Hashem in the Tabernacle, they are first washed with water. Then they each put on special garments and ornaments. They wear headbands and belts. They are preparing to enter the Tabernacle. It is essential to be dressed in a special way. Can you imagine entering Hashem's presence and preparing yourself? Putting on special clothes and extras? It would undoubtedly be an exciting time.

That’s what we should think about every day. We are in the presence of Hashem when we pray. Are we ready to do so? Are we clothed in a special way—maybe spiritually and mentally? We need to be prepared to approach Hashem with pure and sincere thoughts. We need to wear special attire and be ready to approach Him in prayer. Let’s try to do that today for Him.