Shavuot Week - Day #4

Shavout Week - Day #4

Main Reading: Ruth 3:1-18

3:1 Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he will be winnowing barley tonight on the threshing floor. 3 Therefore, wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor; but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”

5 She said to her, “All that you say, I will do.” 6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did everything that her mother-in-law told her. 7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 He said, “Who are you?”

She answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Therefore, spread the corner of your garment over your servant, for you are a near kinsman.”

10 He said, “You are blessed by Hashem, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, because you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich. 11 Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people knows that you are a worthy woman. 12 Now it is true that I am a near kinsman. However, there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Stay this night, and in the morning, if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, good. Let him do the kinsman’s duty. But if he will not do the duty of a kinsman for you, then I will do the duty of a kinsman for you, as Hashem lives. Lie down until the morning.”

14 She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her; then he went into the city.

16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?”

She told her all that the man had done for her. 17 She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’”

18 Then she said, “Wait, my daughter, until you know what will happen; for the man will not rest until he has settled this today.”

Today’s Meditation:

Boaz certainly seems to be carrying out the rules of his people. He respects Ruth's actions and reputation. He also follows the traditions for a kinsman to a widow. She honors his requests, does what he says, and returns to her Naomi the next day. Another example of when people are following Hashem’s Torah is when everyone benefits. Everyone is blessed. Now she waits to see what the future holds.

Shavuot Week - Day #3

Shavout Week - Day #3

Main Reading: Ruth 2:14-23

2:14 She sat beside the reapers, and they passed her parched grain. She ate, was satisfied, and left some of it. 15 When she had risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and don’t reproach her. 16 Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”

17 So she gleaned in the field until evening; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah[a] of barley. 18 She took it up and went into the city. Then her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned, and she brought out and gave to her that which she had left after she had had enough.

19 Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where have you gleaned today? Where have you worked? Blessed be he who noticed you.”

She told her mother-in-law, with whom she had worked, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by Hashem, who has not abandoned his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Naomi said to her, “The man is a close relative to us, one of our near kinsmen.”

21 Ruth the Moabitess said, “Yes, he said to me, ‘You shall stay close to my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’”

22 Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maidens, and that they not meet you in any other field.” 23 So she stayed close to the maidens of Boaz, to glean to the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she lived with her mother-in-law.

Today’s Meditation:

In this story, we are continuing to learn that people are watching out for Ruth. Boaz seems to be keeping her in his field, with trusted workers and also maidens there for her to associate with. It seems like this is a reward for her faithfulness to Naomi, her mother-in-law. Ruth has developed a reputation for being dedicated and hard-working. The community around her respects her for this. Notably, we should be the same.

The whole story of Ruth reflects Hashem’s commandments coming alive in His people and in those who want to be part of Israel. The instructions Hashem has given through the Torah, and the way to live, are evident in the characters. This is an example of how Hashem wants us to live, and the reason He has given us His rules for doing so. We must be aware and attentive.

Shavuot Week - Day #2

Shavout Week - Day #2

Main Reading: Ruth 2:1-14

2:1 Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I find favor.”

She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 She went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.

4 Behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “May Hashem be with you.”

They answered him, “May Hashem bless you.”

5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was set over the reapers, “Whose young lady is this?”

6 The servant who was set over the reapers answered, “It is the Moabite lady who came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came, and has continued even from the morning until now, except that she rested a little in the house.”

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go to glean in another field, and don’t go from here, but stay here close to my maidens. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they reap, and go after them. Haven’t I commanded the young men not to touch you? When you are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink from that which the young men have drawn.”

10 Then she fell on her face and bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take knowledge of me, since I am a foreigner?”

11 Boaz answered her, “I have been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father, your mother, and the land of your birth, and have come to a people that you didn’t know before. 12 May Hashem repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Hashem, the Elohim of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

13 Then she said, “Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, because you have comforted me, and because you have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not as one of your servants.”

14 At meal time, Boaz said to her, “Come here, and eat some bread, and dip your morsel in the vinegar.”

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 3, we read that Ruth “gleaned” the field after the reapers. She was able to do this because, in Judaism, particularly in the Torah, we have three commandments to leave the edges of the field for the poor (a practice called Peah). The main commandment for this is from Leviticus 23:22: "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am Adonai your Elohim”.

The story of Ruth is proof of how much Hashem cares for everyone, including the poor. Boaz seems to be knowledgeable and very obedient to this commandment. Because of his relationship to Naomi, he decides to undertake protection and provision for Ruth. He serves as a model to us of faith and integrity. A good one to replicate. 

Shavuot Week - Day #1

Shavuot Week - Day #1

Main Reading: Ruth 1:1-13

1:1 In the days when the judges judged, there was a famine in the land. A certain man of Bethlehem Judah went to live in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. They came into the country of Moab and lived there. 3 Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves wives of the women of Moab. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there for about ten years. 5 Mahlon and Chilion both died, and the woman was bereaved of her two children and of her husband. 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how Hashem had visited his people in giving them bread. 7 She went out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her. They went on their way to return to the land of Judah. 8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May Hashem deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 May Hashem grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband.”

Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 They said to her, “No, but we will return with you to your people.”

11 Naomi said, “Go back, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Go back, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, ‘I have hope,’ if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons, 13 would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from having husbands? No, my daughters, for it grieves me seriously for your sakes, for Hashem’s hand has gone out against me.”

14 They lifted up their voices and wept again; then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth stayed with her. 15 She said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law.”

16 Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your Elohim my Elohim. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Hashem do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”

18 When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. When they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was excited about them, and they asked, “Is this Naomi?”

20 She said to them, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and Hashem has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since Hashem has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Today’s Meditation:

Ruth is such a wonderful example of dedication to another human being. She loves her mother-in-law so much that she will go wherever her mother-in-law goes and stay with her even unto death. But, most importantly, she commits her faith to the Elohim of Naomi. Somehow, Ruth has witnessed Hashem's power and presence through her. We all need to be a reflection of Ruth. Recognizing the one true Elohim and making an eternal commitment to follow Him.

Shavuot - Introduction

This week, you are finishing up the counting of the Omer and preparing for the first day of Shavuot, sometimes referred to as the “Giving of the Torah”. In Judaism, we remember that the Ten Commandments (Asseret ha-Dibrot) and the Torah were given to Moses on this special Feast. In Christianity, they call it Pentecost, where there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. For both religions, it is a very special day. Maybe spend some time reflecting on the first Shavuot, when Moses and the people witnessed thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud. Because the people first heard Hashem's voice on this day, it is tradition to study the Torah all night.

Shavuot begins Thursday evening, May 21st, and concludes at sundown this Shabbat, May 23.  There are special readings for those two days. To fill in the rest of the week, we will be reading from the book of Ruth. We will only have meditations this week (no challenges). Please take time to reflect on the story of Ruth each day and ponder how you can change your life to be more dedicated and faithful like hers. 

Have a blessed week with the celebration of this awesome Feast of Hashem. May He give you fresh revelation in your life.

Bamidbar - Day #7

Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר - In the Wilderness  

Torah Portion: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22

Shabbat: Numbers 4:1–20

4:1 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 3 from thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

4 “This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, regarding the most holy things. 5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in with his sons; and they shall take down the veil of the screen, cover the ark of the Testimony with it, 6 put a covering of sealskin on it, spread a blue cloth over it, and put in its poles.

7 “On the table of show bread, they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it. 8 They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

9 “They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lamp stand of the light, its lamps, its snuffers, its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it. 10 They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.

11 “On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

12 “They shall take all the vessels of ministry with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.

13 “They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it. 14 They shall put on it all its vessels with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the meat hooks, the shovels, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.

15 “When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward, after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. The sons of Kohath shall carry these things belonging to the Tent of Meeting.

16 “The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings.”

17 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 “Don’t cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; 19 but do this to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint everyone to his service and to his burden; 20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.”

Today’s Meditation:

This reading is about coverings. When they are ready to move on and pack up the Tabernacle, Hashem has instructed them to place coverings over the holy items. He does not want the sons of Kohath touching anything holy. He wants everything to remain sacred. He is a caring and merciful Elohim. He wants things taken care of properly in order. We forget how holy and special the Tabernacle and all its contents are, including the Holy of Holies. The presence of Hashem is so wonderful and glorious that much care must be given in the way this will occur.

We have no idea how incredible Hashem's presence is. We weren’t there. But Hashem gives special instructions, in case we forget. And when the Temple returns, and the glory of Adonai fills the Temple, we must be ready for His special procedures and careful preparation.

Today’s Challenge:

When you think of coverings, you may think of the Kippah, the hat that Jewish men wear. It is done to honor Elohim and not to be like the gentiles. I had heard that it is a covering that covers you from the presence of angels above. Whatever the reason, it is a symbol of being covered to maintain Elohim’s holiness, just like the articles of the Tabernacle. 

Today, think about your own life. What kind of coverings do you have that protect you? We use umbrellas in the rain, blankets at night, and hats in the sun (and sports games). But what do we do spiritually? Do we cover ourselves with purity, righteousness, peace, and love? This type of spiritual covering could maintain holiness with Hashem in our lives. Anger, hate, lying, cheating, any sin, will keep us uncovered and naked, not preparing us to be in the presence of the holiness of Hashem. Try to prepare yourself for Hashem's holiness. Cover yourself with holy things, not evil. All so you can enjoy His presence.

This Week’s Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22 

2:1 “Say to your brothers, ‘My people!’

    and to your sisters, ‘My loved one!’

2 Contend with your mother!

    Contend, for she is not my wife,

    neither am I her husband;

and let her put away her prostitution from her face,

    and her adulteries from between her breasts;

3 Lest I strip her naked,

    and make her bare as in the day that she was born,

    and make her like a wilderness,

    and set her like a dry land,

    and kill her with thirst.

4 Indeed, on her children I will have no mercy;

    for they are children of unfaithfulness;

5 For their mother has played the prostitute.

    She who conceived them has done shamefully;

for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,

    who gives me my bread and my water,

    my wool and my flax,

    my oil and my drink.’

6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up your way with thorns,

    and I will build a wall against her,

    that she can’t find her way.

7 She will follow after her lovers,

    but she won’t overtake them

and she will seek them,

    but won’t find them.

Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband;

    for then it was better with me than now.’

8 For she didn’t know that I gave her the grain, the new wine, and the oil,

    and multiplied to her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.

9 Therefore, I will take back my grain in its time,

    and my new wine in its season,

    and will pluck away my wool and my flax, which should have covered her nakedness.

10 Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers,

    and no one will deliver her out of my hand.

11 I will also cause all her celebrations to cease:

    her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths, and all her solemn assemblies.

12 I will lay waste to her vines and her fig trees,

    about which she has said, ‘These are my wages that my lovers have given me;

and I will make them a forest,’

    and the animals of the field shall eat them.

13 I will visit on her the days of the Baals,

    to which she burned incense,

when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels,

    and went after her lovers,

    and forgot Me,” says Hashem.

14 “Therefore behold, I will allure her,

    and bring her into the wilderness,

    and speak tenderly to her.

15 I will give her vineyards from there,

    and the valley of Achor for a door of hope;

and she will respond there,

    as in the days of her youth,

    and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

16 It will be in that day,” says Hashem,

    “that you will call me ‘my husband,’

    and no longer call me ‘my master.’

17 For I will take away the names of the Baals out of her mouth,

    and they will no longer be mentioned by name.

18 In that day, I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field,

    and with the birds of the sky,

    and with the creeping things of the ground.

I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land,

    and will make them lie down safely.

19 I will betroth you to me forever.

  Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in loving kindness, and in compassion.

20 I will even betroth you to me in faithfulness;

    and you shall know Hashem.

21 It will happen on that day, I will respond,” says Hashem,

    “I will respond to the heavens,

    and they will respond to the earth;

22 and the earth will respond to the grain, and the new wine, and the oil;

    and they will respond to Jezreel.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

Wonderful last verse in 18 “In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, and with the birds of the sky, and with the creeping things of the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land, and will make them lie down safely.” After all that mankind will do to Hashem, ignore Him, forget Him, disobey Him, He will restore us. He has an unconditional love for us that exceeds anything we know on this planet. Imagine if we treated others like He treats us. There would be no war, no fighting, no starvation, abuse, etc. Because no matter what we do, He still loves us and will redeem us. Love Adonai with your whole heart, soul, and strength. And try to do good.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In verse 13, we read that they forgot Him. They went after other gods, did their own thing, disobeyed, and literally forgot about Adonai. We can read this and think, “How could they do this?” And yet we do it too. Every time we disobey Torah, we are forgetting Hashem. We are forgetting His unconditional love, forgiveness, and His faithfulness to us every day. I notice that the closer I try to get to Hashem, the more severe even the smallest rebellion appears. I can hardly stand it anymore when I disobey. My challenge to you today is to think about the disobedience in your life. Correct what you find and do it immediately. Sin separates us from Hashem. But, thankfully, He will always bring us back.