Noach - Day #1

Noach נֹחַ - Rest  

Torah Portion: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Genesis 6:9-22                

6:9 This is the history of the generations of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with Elohim. 10 Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth was corrupt before Elohim, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 Elohim saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

13 Elohim said to Noah, “I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth. 14 Make a ship of gopher wood. You shall make rooms in the ship, and shall seal it inside and outside with pitch. 15 This is how you shall make it. The length of the ship shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a roof in the ship, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. You shall set the door of the ship on its side. You shall make it with the lower, second, and third levels. 17 I, even I, will bring the flood of waters on this earth, to destroy all flesh having the breath of life from under the sky. Everything that is in the earth will die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you. You shall come into the ship, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 Of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ship, to keep them alive with you. 

They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds after their kind, of the livestock after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you, to keep them alive. 21 Take with you some of all food that is eaten, and gather it to yourself; and it will be for food for you, and for them.” 22 Thus Noah did. He did all that Elohim commanded him.

Today’s Meditation:

What does it mean to walk with G-d (v. 9)? The word walk in Hebrew is “halakh”. It means to be in a relationship and fellowship. For Noah, in a time when corruption seemed rampant, it meant he was in a good relationship with Hashem. He wasn’t going with the mainstream; he was instead walking closely with Hashem.

I imagine that Noah paid a price to be walking with Hashem. Perhaps some people disliked him for that reason, leading them to shun or mock him. And consider the criticism he faced when he began building a gigantic boat. The laughter and jeers were most likely unbearable. It didn’t matter. He still walked with G-d. Because of his righteousness, Hashem saved him and his family from destruction. And He preserved the lineage for the future Mashiach (Messiah).

Today’s Challenge: 

Today, consider how you can walk a little closer to Hashem. Imagine you are taking Him everywhere you go. Would that make a difference?

B'reisheet - Day #1

B'reisheet בְּרֵאשִׁית - In the Beginning   

Torah Portion: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Genesis 1:1-2:3

1:1 In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep, and Elohim’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Elohim said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 Elohim saw the light, and saw that it was good. Elohim divided the light from the darkness. 5 Elohim called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening, and there was morning, the first day.

6 Elohim said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Elohim made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 Elohim called the expanse “sky”. There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.

9 Elohim said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so. 10 Elohim called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. Elohim saw that it was good. 11 Elohim said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth;” and it was so. 12 The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and Elohim saw that it was good. 13 There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

14 Elohim said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so. 

16 Elohim made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 Elohim set them in the expanse of the sky to give light to the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. Elohim saw that it was good. 19 There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.

20 Elohim said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the sky.” 21 Elohim created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 22 Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.

24 Elohim said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so. 25 Elohim made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good.

26 Elohim said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 Elohim created man in His own image. In Elohim’s image He created him; male and female he created them. 28 Elohim blessed them. Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 Elohim said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. 30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.

31 Elohim saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day.

2:1 The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. 2 On the seventh day, Elohim finished His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Elohim blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because He rested in it from all His work of creation which He had done.

Today’s Meditation: 

Hashem essentially created the entire universe, including His planet Earth, in six days. The question asked over the centuries is: Why? Some think that He wanted companionship. Others believe He wanted to be worshiped. I speculate He wanted both. 

During His creation, He made stars for us to enjoy at night. A beautiful sun to warm us during the day. Water to drink, and plants to eat. And the best part was to be walking with Him, the Almighty, together in a wonderful place. Worshiping and loving Him every minute of the day. He created a place to love, to expand His love. He created us so that we would reside in His presence and worship Him with all our hearts, souls, and strength. Only we messed it all up. We disobeyed Him, got selfish, and were removed from His presence.

Now we have His planet, but it is bruised and damaged. We can catch glimpses of His presence only through prayer, His Word, and worship. But in the end, we will walk with Him again. And once again, we will be surrounded by His perfect creation. Let's start planning for that day.

Today’s Challenge: 

In verse 3, Elohim creates light. You may want to think about your own life. Are you a light, a representative of Hashem’s love for others? When people look at you, do they see the Spirit of Hashem lighting up your life? Make some changes today and try to be a mirror of Hashem's presence in your life. When people perceive you as religious or spiritual, they tend to watch you more closely. If you make a mistake, admit it and try to rectify the situation. That will teach them about Hashem’s grace and forgiveness, rather than making you appear hypocritical. 

V'Zot HaBerachah - Day #1

V'Zot HaBerachah וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה -   

And this is the blessing

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12

Deuteronomy 33:1-7

33:1 This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of Elohim, blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 He said,

“Hashem came from Sinai,

    and rose from Seir to them.

He shone from Mount Paran.

    He came from the ten thousand holy ones.

    At His right hand was a fiery law for them.

3 Yes, He loves the people.

    All His saints are in Your hand.

    They sat down at Your feet.

    Each receives your words.

4 Moses commanded us a law,

    an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.

5 He was king in Jeshurun,

    when the heads of the people were gathered,

    all the tribes of Israel together.

6 “Let Reuben live, and not die;

    Nor let his men be few.”

7 This is for Judah. He said,

“Hear, Hashem, the voice of Judah.

    Bring him in to his people.

With his hands, he contended for himself.

    You shall be a help against his adversaries.”

Today’s Meditation:

We assume the “holy ones” in Verse 33:2 are angels. The verse reads, “He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones.” Can you imagine this? Moses is telling the story of the receiving of the Law, and in quite a passionate way. It would make sense that Hashem would surround Himself with His angels, wherever He goes. We have no concept of what it would have been like on Mt. Sinai, that very special day. Clouds, fire, and a majestic, powerful voice. A time when the Holy Word on how to live our lives and serve the only true Elohim goes forth. What a beautiful experience that would have been. We weren’t there, but we can study and read about it in Torah every year and try to imagine what it was like to be there. And when we do that, we can relive His glory surrounding this event. Pray and ask Hashem for a fresh revelation about all of this. 

Today’s Challenge:

This week’s portion contains a blessing for each tribe as they are about to enter the Holy Land. Some blessings are more intense than others. Each has a different message. It makes me think about which tribe I would belong to. Have you ever thought of that? Perhaps we have a blood lineage to one of these tribes, which is why we have such an intense interest in the Torah and in following it. That’s my challenge to you: to read through these blessings and pray. Ask Hashem if there is a tribe that you are descended from. 

Ha'Azinu - Day #1

Ha'Azinu הַאֲזִינוּ - Listen!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52

Deuteronomy 32:1–6

32:1 Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak.

    Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

2 My doctrine will drop as the rain.

    My speech will condense as the dew,

    as the misty rain on the tender grass,

    as the showers on the herb.

3 For I will proclaim Hashem’s name.

    Ascribe greatness to our Elohim!

4 The Rock: His work is perfect,

    for all His ways are just.

    An Elohim of faithfulness who does no wrong,

    just and right is He.

5 They have dealt corruptly with Him.

    They are not His children because of their defect.

    They are a perverse and crooked generation.

6 Is this the way you repay Hashem,

    foolish and unwise people?

Isn’t He your father who has bought you?

    He has made you and established you.

Today’s Meditation:

The first part of this song praises Hashem. In verse 3, we read, “For I will proclaim Hashem’s name. Ascribe greatness to our Elohim!” As Moses prepares to die and gives this prophetic song to the people, he must give all glory to Hashem. That is also the case for us. At the beginning of each day, at every special event, we must give praise and honor to Hashem. We must tell others about His greatness. He is the reason for everything. We must try to remember this daily.

Today's Challenge:

Verse 32:4 is explaining the perfection of Elohim, “The Rock: His work is perfect, for all His ways are just. An Elohim of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is He.” If He is perfect and does no wrong (as we know to be true), then why do we have so many different denominations, churches, synagogues, and sects of Judaism, etc.? In other words, if we simply read what Hashem says in the Torah and believe it, we could all gather in groups and worship Him in essentially the same way. We could keep it so simple. However, for some reason, Hashem created us to be uniquely different, and along with this comes a variety of opinions and styles. My challenge to you today is to be neutral about your faith with others. Instead of arguing doctrine or the Bible, look at what you have in common. Seek to find what you share, not what you don’t agree upon. Seek to serve the perfect Elohim perfectly, without disagreement, but with love and worship. We all love the same Elohim. Let's stop debating in unhealthy ways and instead join in harmony with our love for Him.

Nitzavim/Vayelech - Day #1

Nitzavim - Vayelech  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

Deuteronomy 29:9-28

29:9 Therefore, keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10 All of you stand today in the presence of Hashem your Elohim: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the foreigners who are in the middle of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 that you may enter into the covenant of Hashem your Elohim, and into his oath, which Hashem your Elohim makes with you today, 13 that He may establish you today as His people, and that He may be your Elohim, as He spoke to you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 Neither do I make this covenant and this oath with you only, 15 but with those who stand here with us today before Hashem our Elohim, and also with those who are not here with us today 16 (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the middle of the nations through which you passed; 17 and you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them); 18 lest there should be among you man, woman, family, or tribe whose heart turns away today from Hashem your Elohim, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that produces bitter poison; 19 and it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, “I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,” to destroy the moist with the dry. 20 Hashem will not pardon him, but then Hashem’s anger and His jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book will fall on him, and Hashem will blot out his name from under the sky. 21 Hashem will set him apart for evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law.

22 The generation to come—your children who will rise up after you, and the foreigner who will come from a far land—will say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses with which Hashem has made it sick, 23 that all of its land is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, doesn’t produce, nor does any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which Hashem overthrew in His anger, and in His wrath. 24 Even all the nations will say, “Why has Hashem done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?”

25 Then men will say, “Because they abandoned the covenant of Hashem, the Elohim of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods that they didn’t know and that He had not given to them. 27 Therefore, Hashem’s anger burned against this land, to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book. 28 Hashem rooted them out of their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and thrust them into another land, as it is today.”

Today’s Meditation:

Verse 9 reads, “Keep the words of this Covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” What does it mean to keep? Can we keep the Temple and priestly laws? No. But we can keep the rest, to the best of our ability. We can avoid unclean foods. We can honor and remember the Feasts. We can protect the Sabbath. And we can follow the rest. When we do this, Hashem does know our hearts. We have the blessing of prosperity. That does not necessarily mean money. It could be wonderful children, a wonderful job, and a wonderful house/car. It could also mean the best friendships and relationships. Most of all, it could mean we are prosperous in our relationship with Hashem. That we could really get to know Him and His Torah. True prosperity is in the heart.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 10, we read, “All of you stand today in the presence of Hashem your Elohim.” Were they really visibly seeing Hashem at this time? I don’t think so. But because Moses was speaking for Hashem and the community of the people standing together, I believe Hashem was in their presence, by His Spirit. So my challenge today is this. Maybe we could also be in His presence. Take a minute to think about what this would look like. Maybe through your worship, your prayer, your obedience, or just taking a moment to be silent and talk to Him. You will get to know and become familiar with him when He is there. And when that happens, you will want to be with Him more. We are just getting ready on this planet for a time when we will be with Him always in the Olam Haba. Practice this now. Get to know Him now. Ask Him to come and visit you, walk with you, and show you His ways.

Ki Tavo - Day #1

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Deuteronomy 26:1–11

26:1 It shall be, when you have come in to the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, possess it, and dwell in it, 2 that you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you shall bring in from your land that Hashem your Elohim gives you. You shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. 3 You shall come to the priest who shall be in those days, and tell him, “I profess today to Hashem your Elohim that I have come to the land which Hashem swore to our fathers to give us.” 4 The priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before Hashem your Elohim’s altar. 5 You shall answer and say before Hashem your Elohim, “My father was a Syrian ready to perish. He went down into Egypt and lived there, few in number. There, he became a great, mighty, and populous nation. 6 The Egyptians mistreated us, afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. 7 Then we cried to Hashem, the Elohim of our fathers. Hashem heard our voice, and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 Hashem brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs, and with wonders; 9 and He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 Now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, Hashem, have given me.” You shall set it down before Hashem your Elohim and worship before Hashem your Elohim. 11 You shall rejoice in all the good which Hashem your Elohim has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.

Today's Meditation:

Your testimony/story is so important. When you have a story about how incredible Hashem has been in your life, you need to tell others. Today, we learn that when they come into the land, the Israelite is to bring their first fruits to the Tabernacle. When he brings it in, he is to give the testimony to the priest. The story of redemption and being freed from slavery in Egypt. It is a beautiful and incredible testimony of the greatness of Elohim. As we read it today, let us remember how we were all once slaves and delivered into freedom through Hashem and His Torah.

Today’s Challenge:

After you share your personal testimony, we are to praise Him. In verse 11, we read, “You shall rejoice in all the good which Hashem your Elohim has given to you, and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.” Hashem wants to be happy and praised for all He does and provides, not only to us but also to those around us. My challenge for you today is to take some time to tell Hashem how much you love Him. Thank Him for your family, friends, dwelling place, and all you have. Thank Him that you are so privileged to know Him and to know and follow His Torah. He gives us life. Without Him and all He is, we have nothing. That is a lot to be grateful for.