Shoftim - Day #4

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 18:6–13

18:6 If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Hashem shall choose, 7 then he shall minister in the name of Hashem his Elohim, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Hashem. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of their family possessions.

9 When you have come into the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem. Because of these abominations, Hashem your Elohim drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless with Hashem your Elohim.

Today’s Meditation: 

Today, we learn that Hashem says, “You shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations.” (verse 9) How would they learn to imitate? If they stayed in their own communities and celebrated, worshiped, and worked together, there would be no chance of imitation. It only happened when they left their community. Isn’t that what happens to us? If we go outside the circle of our close friends and family and hang out with others, we are super susceptible to being influenced by others’ behavior. When I was young, and I hung out with a certain crowd, I did things I would never do with the people close to me. I was imitating others’ bad habits. How do we avoid this happening to us? Stay close to your own community, and only venture out if you have a purpose and a plan (like helping someone for a short time). Yes, we are to love our neighbors, serve them, and be a light to them. But be careful about who you choose as friends in the world, and what you do with them. Guard your heart and keep your eyes on Hashem.

Today’s Challenge: 

A long time ago, I was on a road trip with my sister. She didn’t have a formal belief system, but I do believe that, even back then, she knew Hashem. We were talking about her going to a fortune teller. I told her that Hashem says that by doing this, she was an abomination to G-d. She was shocked and wanted to know where in the Bible this was said. I read these verses in today’s portion: “One who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Hashem.” (Verses 10-12) When she heard me quote Torah, she immediately reacted and said, “Well, I didn’t know that. I will never go again!” And to my knowledge, she never has. The written Word of Elohim is powerful. It spoke right into her heart and immediately changed her mind. My challenge to you today is to do what I did. If you know of someone who is involved with any of these kinds of people, refer them to these verses. You never know; it may literally change their lives. And their relationship with Hashem.

Shoftim - Day #3

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 18:1–5

18:1 The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of Hashem made by fire and His portion. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Hashem is their inheritance, as He has spoken to them. 3 This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts. 4 You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep. 5 For Hashem your Elohim has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in Hashem’s name, him and his sons forever.

Today’s Meditation: 

Think about this. The only inheritance the Levites receive is Hashem (verse 2) and serving and loving Him. Can you imagine this in your life? Not needing land, or houses, or worrying about purchasing food. Your job would be to serve Hashem in the Temple. And everything else would be provided. And the very best part is that He would be all that you need. Isn’t that true for us today? Isn’t He all that we need? Yes, we need jobs to make money and houses to live in. But truly, when it comes down to it all, Hashem is sovereign.

Today’s Challenge: 

With today’s reading, we should be thinking about those people around us who spend their lives serving Hashem. Whether they are Jewish or another religion, they are doing what Hashem has called them to do, and they should be financially supported. My challenge to you today is to think about who in your life or community is serving Hashem full-time. A rabbi or other spiritual leader may need your support. It might be good to pray and ask Hashem who you should support. 

Shoftim - Day #2

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 16:18-21

Deuteronomy 17:14–20

17:14 When you have come to the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, “I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,” 15 you shall surely set him whom Hashem your Elohim chooses as king over yourselves. You shall set as king over you one from among your brothers. You may not put a foreigner over you who is not your brother. 16 Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because Hashem has said to you, “You shall not go back that way again.” 17 He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

18 It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Levitical priests. 19 It shall be with him, and he shall read from it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear Hashem his Elohim to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; 20 that his heart not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he not turn away from the commandment to the right hand, or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the middle of Israel.

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem knew Israel would want a human king over their land. So, Hashem gives them the instructions for doing so. Particularly, that the king would not be able to send them back to Egypt. That’s a promise. And that is the same Hashem we serve today. He has delivered us from a past of hurt and sin (our Egypt), and He does not want anyone taking us back there. There is only one requirement from Him that we acknowledge: to fear Him and follow His Torah. This message is repeated all throughout Torah. That is how important it is. 

Today’s Challenge: 

The king is required to read the Torah every day of his life. He is even challenged to copy it! Here is a different kind of challenge for you today. As we approach a new Torah cycle in a few weeks, buy yourself a little notebook. Then, every day, record something from the Torah portion reading. Pick out something that really strikes you as important. Copy the Torah. Maybe not the whole thing, but let’s start with a verse or two every day or even every week. It seems like this would really bless us beyond belief. Get ready to do this in the new Torah reading year. It will happen right after Sukkot. Let us choose to bless Hashem by writing down His Torah.

Shoftim - Day #1

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 16:18–17:13

16:18 You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Hashem your Elohim gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you. 21 You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside Hashem your Elohim’s altar, which you shall make for yourselves. 22 Neither shall you set yourself up a sacred stone which Hashem your Elohim hates.

17:1 You shall not sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim an ox or a sheep in which is a defect or anything evil; for that is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim

2 If there is found among you, within any of your gates which Hashem your Elohim gives you, a man or woman who does that which is evil in Hashem your Elohim’s sight in transgressing His covenant, 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the stars of the sky, which I have not commanded, 4 and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such an abomination is done in Israel, 5 then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil thing to your gates, even that same man or woman; and you shall stone them to death with stones. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness, he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Hashem your Elohim chooses. 9 You shall come to the priests who are Levites and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the verdict. 10 You shall do according to the decisions of the verdict which they shall give you from that place which Hashem chooses. You shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you. 11 According to the decisions of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do. You shall not turn away from the sentence which they announce to you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 The man who does presumptuously in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Hashem your Elohim, or to the judge, even that man shall die. You shall put away the evil from Israel. 13 All the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Today’s Meditation:

Today is all about the Israeli judicial court system. They were to go to the priests and the judge, listen to them, and do what they say. There must be at least two witnesses to an offense. It’s all about fairness. We may think it super harsh to enforce the death penalty, but remember, they are entering a land filled with paganism. Hashem wants to protect them against this. And to set an example. It is His decision to do things this way. At the time, life and death were handled quite differently from how they are today. His desire has always been, and will always be, that people follow Him, not false gods. And that is what we also desire to do.

Today’s Challenge: 

We are told in verse 19, “You shall not pervert justice.” Taking bribes or favors to help a guilty person be freed is not allowed. It is not allowed in our United States judicial system.  However, that does not mean that it is not happening. Look at our lobbyists who so influence our lawmakers. Money and promises during election years determine support for potential candidates. Our justice system is perverted every day. In our system, if the accused (defendant) in a case has money and influence, they are likely to win. The less advantaged person without money will face a very different type of trial and is likely to be sentenced, whether guilty or not. In the USA, our judicial system has its roots in Judeo-Christian teachings, but what really happens when someone goes to court can be a different story. 

My challenge to you today is to do your part in defending the defenseless. Hashem will show you who they are and how you can help them. And if you can help bring justice to our court system, I pray that Hashem will help you do so. Let’s each do what Hashem enables us to do to ensure people are treated fairly and that our constitutional rights are protected.

Re'eh - Day #7

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

Shabbat: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17

15:19 You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before  Hashem your Elohim year by year in the place which Hashem shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to  Hashem your Elohim. 22 You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.

16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Hashem your Elohim; for in the month of Abib Hashem your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall sacrifice the Passover to Hashem your Elohim of the flock and the herd, in the place which Hashem shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste) that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 No yeast shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days; neither shall any of the meat, which you sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which Hashem your Elohim gives you; 6 but at the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. 7 You shall roast and eat it in the place which Hashem your Elohim chooses. In the morning, you shall return to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work.

9 You shall count for yourselves seven weeks. From the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain, you shall begin to count seven weeks. 10 You shall keep the feast of weeks to Hashem your Elohim with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Hashem your Elohim blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, in the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.

13 You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. 14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. 15 You shall keep a feast to Hashem your Elohim seven days in the place which Hashem chooses, because Hashem your Elohim will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful. 16 Three times in a year, all of your males shall appear before Hashem your Elohim in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim, blessing which he has given you.

Today’s Meditation:

When we come to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the Feasts, and in verses 16:16-17, we read not to come empty-handed: “They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim blessing which He has given you.” So, here is the point. We are giving our tithes only because we have tithes to give. And it all comes from Hashem. Every perfect gift from heaven comes from Him. And we are to share a portion of that gift with others. The incredible part is that when we do this, we will be even further blessed. How perfect and wonderful is Hashem. He gives, we give, and all the time we are blessed.

Today’s Challenge:

We do not have a Temple to visit for all three Feasts during the year, but we can still celebrate them. And we must celebrate/remember them. If you are not already honoring these Feasts, then start planning today. They are spaced out so nicely. One in the spring, early summer, and fall. Read and study them, then make preparations. Especially Pesach, which requires a lot of planning: cleaning your house to get rid of the bread (leavening) and a very special, long dinner. Shavuot is pretty simple; it can be mostly a Bible study. And Sukkot is really fun: making a Sukkah (booth), having meals in it, or living in it for seven days. You will be so blessed, and you will learn and remember how Hashem blessed His people and how He continues to bless us today.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

54:11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,

    behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors,

    and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,

    your gates of sparkling jewels,

    and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your children will be taught by Hashem;

    and your children’s peace will be great.

14 You will be established in righteousness.

    You will be far from oppression,

    for you will not be afraid,

    and far from terror,

    for it shall not come near you.

15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by Me.

    Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.

16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame,

    and forges a weapon for his work;

    and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail;

    and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants,

    and their righteousness is of Me,” says Hashem.

55:1 “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters!

    Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat!

    Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy?

Listen diligently to Me, and eat that which is good,

    and let your soul delight itself in richness.

3 Turn your ear, and come to Me.

    Hear, and your soul will live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples,

    a leader and commander of the people.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know;

    and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you,

    because of Hashem your Elohim

    and for the Holy One of Israel;

    for He has glorified you.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In verse 17, we read about a promise that is often quoted: “No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants.” It is a good verse to memorize. Hashem is promising us that as His servants, we are defended against the enemy. No weapon the enemy throws at us will prevail. It may hit us, but it will not accomplish anything it intends. And that the judgment of your enemies against you will be condemned. To me, this is a very comforting verse. It makes me realize that Hashem does protect me, and I don’t need to worry or be anxious about an enemy attack. It will be short-lived. And His grace and mercy and love will be long-lived.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

Verses 55:3 is another wonderful verse about life given to us: “Turn your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” What are the requirements to have everlasting life with Hashem? By listening to Him (His Torah, His Words) and by coming (following) to Him. When we do this, He will establish an eternal covenant with us. That’s today's challenge. Once again, I encourage you to study and follow His Torah. Make the necessary changes in your life to obey all you are able. Listen to what He tells you to do throughout the day. You will be blessed forever.