Shelach - Day #1

Shelach שְׁלַy to ח-לְךָ - Send For Yourself  

Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

Numbers 13:1–20

13:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel. Of every tribe of their fathers, you shall send a man, every one a prince among them.”

3 Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Hashem. All of them were men who were heads of the children of Israel. 4 These were their names:

Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.

5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.

6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh.

7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.

8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.

9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.

10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.

11 Of the tribe of Joseph, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.

12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.

13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur, the son of Michael.

14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.

15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16 These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. Moses called Hoshea, the son of Nun, Joshua. 17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country. 18 See the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; 19 and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; 20 and what the land is, whether it is fertile or poor, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.

Today's Meditation:

This was a simple request. Go and check out the land. This is the land the people of Hashem had waited for centuries to acquire. Now was the time. But it had to be looked at first, so they knew what to expect. Except there is a turn of events. Something totally unexpected happens. The tribal heads go, and they get scared. The land, the people living there, and its protection are too much. It must have seemed impossible, because 10 of the leaders came back with a bad report. This event will change everything for them, but they don’t know it yet. A simple command: go and spy out the land. Only it becomes very, very complicated. We will shortly see.

Today’s Challenge:

Have you made a simple request of yourself into something complicated? Has someone asked you to do something, and you make it into something more? Maybe, just maybe, we can learn from today’s reading. Let’s try to keep things simple. Let’s follow the request and not make it more than it is. For instance, if you are looking for a new home. And your spouse wants something small and easy to take care of. But you start looking at big luxurious homes. You really haven’t listened to his/her desires. And now you have made it complicated. Suppose your boss tells you to do a report. Do it the way he/she asked you. Try to do the good things in your life in a simple, easy way. The world is complex enough as it is.

Beha'alotcha - Day #1

Beha’alotcha בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ - In Your Uplifting  

Torah Portion: Numbers 8:1-12:16

Numbers 8:1–14

8:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lamp stand.’”

3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lamp stand, as Hashem commanded Moses. 4 This was the workmanship of the lamp stand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work. He made the lampstand according to the pattern which Hashem had shown Moses.

5 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 You shall do this to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them take a young bull and its meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering. 9 You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting. You shall assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel. 10 You shall present the Levites before Hashem. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Hashem for a wave offering on behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of Hashem.

12 “The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to Hashem, to make atonement for the Levites. 13 You shall set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Hashem. 14 Thus, you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we are reading about the Levites' dedication to Temple service. What an incredible privilege this would be for them. Hashem made sure to get the rest of the people involved in the “laying on of hands”. The position of caring for the Temple was probably the highest position that you could serve Hashem. However, with all of Hashem’s mercy and grace, He still saw all His people as equal. Maybe people's service was different, but all hearts were viewed the same way. Just as He views our hearts, however, we must be set apart from the rest of the world so that we can be His special people also.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 14, we read that “the Levites are Mine”. Of course, we are all His. But this special group of people was dedicated to a very special service unto Hashem. I would like us all to think about what special service we could do for Hashem today. We don’t have a Temple, and we are not Levites (maybe some of us are and don’t know it), so what can we do for Him today? Open up your eyes and look around. Perhaps a lady at the grocery store needs some help. Or someone is stopped at the side of the road trying to change a flat. Or your son or daughter needs help with homework. Look and see how you can serve Hashem today. And do it.

Nasso - Day #1

Nasso נָשֹׂא - Elevate! 

Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Numbers 4:21–37

4:21 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 22 “Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families; 23 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old: all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.

24 “This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens: 25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, the covering of sealskin that is on it, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, 26 the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the gate of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. They shall serve in there. 27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting. Their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall count them by their families, by their fathers’ houses; 30 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old—everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting. 31 This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service. You shall appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden to them by name. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 35 from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting. 36 Those who were counted of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty. 37 These are those who were counted of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of Hashem by Moses.

Today’s Meditation:

The special sons of Aaron and the Levites had the privilege of caring for the Tabernacle. They were to take care of the place where Hashem would place His glory. What an honor. For some reason, Hashem picks this particular group and tribe. It makes me think. What has He asked us to take care of?

Today’s Challenge:

Continuing with the thought above, I am pondering what Hashem has asked me to take care of. He has given me so much. Family, a home, careers, and friends. How do I take care of them? By being kind, giving, peaceful, and righteous. By being an example and a light to those around me. And the physical things He has given me, like my house and car, must be maintained (and with joy). If something breaks on my car, I need to be expedient and take care of it. If something in my house needs repair, I need to fix it right away. If you don’t, I guarantee it will start piling up. That is why we work six days a week and rest on the seventh. So that we can be good stewards of what Hashem has given us. Believe me, it is a witness to others around us. My challenge to you today is to look at the repairs on your home and car. Start fixing them today.

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.

Bamidbar - Day #1

Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר - In the Wilderness  

Numbers 1:1-4:20

Torah Portion: Numbers 1:1-19

1:1 Hashem spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one, 3 from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall count them by their divisions. 4 With you there shall be a man of every tribe, each one head of his father’s house. 5 These are the names of the men who shall stand with you:

Of Reuben: Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

6 Of Simeon: Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

7 Of Judah: Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

8 Of Issachar: Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

9 Of Zebulun: Eliab, the son of Helon.

10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

11 Of Benjamin: Abidan, the son of Gideoni.

12 Of Dan: Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.

13 Of Asher: Pagiel, the son of Ochran.

14 Of Gad: Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.

15 Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.”

16 These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name. 18 They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their ancestry by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, one by one. 19 As Hashem commanded Moses, so he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Today’s Meditation:

In the Book of Numbers, we read about organization and leadership. This vast group of Hebrew people and mixed multitude will travel through some challenging territory to reach the Promised Land of Israel. They will need to be organized, demonstrate strong leadership, and follow orders. As we already know, the story is that some of the leadership fail, and some of the soldiers fail. Nonetheless, the structure is in place. Hashem, in all His perfect Wisdom, is starting to reveal His plan for success. And that is how it is today. He picks leaders for us to serve under, and through this, we are to follow His instructions. A thought for today is that we must respect the leaders Hashem appoints, whether we like them or not. We pray for them that they will hear from Adonai at all times. Remember, everything we do we do in service to Hashem.

Today’s Challenge:

Think about the leaders you have in your life. Are you respecting them? Are you following their instructions without grumbling or objection? Yes, if you have valuable input to offer, it is good to share it. But if, in the end, your leader chooses to go a different way (unless it violates Torah), you are to go with him/her. I am thinking about someone in leadership in my life whom I have not been respecting very well lately. I challenge myself to do better. And I challenge you to do the same.

Emor - Day #1

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1–24:23

Leviticus 21:1–15

21:1 Hashem said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, 2 except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, 3 and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself. 4 He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5 “‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy to their Elohim, and not profane the name of their Elohim, for they offer the offerings of Hashem made by fire, the bread of their Elohim. Therefore, they shall be holy.

7 “‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. A priest shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his Elohim. 8 Therefore, you shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, Hashem, who sanctify you, am holy.

9 “‘The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.

10 “‘He who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, or tear his clothes. 11 He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother. 12 He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his Elohim; for the crown of the anointing oil of his Elohim is upon him. I am Hashem.

13 “‘He shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 He shall not marry a widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute. He shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife. 15 He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Hashem who sanctifies him.’”

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we read about the priest's obligations regarding marrying and being around dead people. Hashem sets very high standards for holiness and purity. For the priest to perform service before Adonai, he must be as holy as possible. We don’t have the issue of being around dead people very much. We pay funeral homes to prepare bodies. However, this is not the case in the times of the Bible. Hashem makes it clear that this is not the work of a priest; in fact, he is to stay away from the dead body so that he is not defiled. Same with the marriage requirements. He is to marry a virgin, a pure woman. I really think we have no idea what holiness is. One day we will. When we are in the Olam Haba, in the presence of the Holy One, we will begin to understand His holiness and prostrate ourselves before him.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 12, we read about the crown upon the priest, “for the crown of the anointing oil of his Elohim is upon him.” This is why a priest had to follow all the rules regarding purity while in the Temple area. He was sanctified with the oil of the Temple, which permitted him to do service before Hashem. Coming into contact with anything in the world would take away this anointing. How does this relate to us today? We obviously don’t have a Temple, but we do try to step into the presence of Hashem through prayer and worship, as well as our daily living. Today’s challenge is to look at yourself and see how close you come to being holy. Are you following Torah, repenting, and doing teshuvah? Let’s make sure that our thoughts and actions are pure. So, that when we come before Hashem, we are holy as He is holy.

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim - Day #1

ACHAREI MOT/KEDOSHIM  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-20:27

Leviticus 16:1-24

16:1 Hashem spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Hashem, and died; 2 and Hashem said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.

3 “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. 5 He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Hashem at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Hashem, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Hashem, and offer him for a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Hashem, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

11 “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. 12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Hashem, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. 13 He shall put the incense on the fire before Hashem, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die. 14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat, he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. 17 No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

18 “He shall go out to the altar that is before Hashem and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. 22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.

23 “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.

Today’s Meditation:

Aaron is making atonement for himself, his family, and his people. That’s a lot of atonement and sacrifices. As I read this, I thought about the responsibility Aaron must have felt, being so sad after his sons were lost, and then having to make special sacrifices and atone for the Tabernacle and all. In verse 17, Hashem says you can not enter the Holy Place until this atonement is made. So Hashem wants everyone and everything surrounding Him to be clean and atoned for. Why? Because He is perfect. He must not want any contamination, sin, uncleanliness, or unrighteousness in the area of His presence. What does this say about today? Has anything changed? No. He requests us to be clean. Let’s work on this. We want to be as close to Him as we can, even without a Temple.

Today’s Challenge:

Here is a thought. Is Aaron grieving the loss of his sons? But, he must make atonement for this incident. He must clean house for Hashem. Can you think of something that has happened to you or your family that you need to make some restitution for? Something that went wrong. And now you have to make it right? Or maybe you haven’t made it right yet? Repent to the Father and make it right. Prepare your home once again so that you can be in Hashem’s remarkable presence during prayer, worship, mitzvah, Scripture study, and all that you do during the day. You will want to do this now.