Nasso - Day #2

Nasso נָשֹׂא - Elevate!  

Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Numbers 4:38–49

4:38 Those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, 39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting, 40 even those who were counted of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty. 41 These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of Hashem.

42 Those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, 43 from thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old—everyone who entered into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting, 44 even those who were counted of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of Hashem by Moses.

46 All those who were counted of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers’ houses, 47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting, 48 even those who were counted of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty. 49 According to the commandment of Hashem, they were counted by Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his burden. Thus, they were counted by him, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Today’s Meditation:

Thousands of people between the ages of 30 and 50 are available to help take care of the Tabernacle and its surroundings. It just dawned on me that there were so many, many men available. Obviously, they must have been on some sort of rotation. And even then, the work must have been done quickly, given the many available hands. Can you imagine why Hashem would appoint so many thousands of men for this task? To ensure there were plenty of people available during times of war, sickness, change, and other circumstances. It makes me think that being prepared (the Boy Scout motto) was Hashem’s motto first. So, shouldn’t we always be prepared?

Today’s Challenge:

Hashem commanded Moses, and he counted. I’m sure he did not ask Hashem why He was doing things the way He was. Again, it is about authority. And this is the highest authority in the universe. Hashem asks Moses to do something, and he does it. And we will learn later, when Moses begins to question, that the penalty is severe (hitting the rock instead of speaking to it). 

Do we question our authority? Do we do what they ask without offering our own suggestions? Sharing ideas is important, but there is a time and place for it. My challenge to you today is to review how you are responding to those in authority in your life. Are you quickly obeying? You may need a minor adjustment in this area. Today is the day to make that adjustment, especially if it concerns your attitude.

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. 

Bamidbar - Day #2

Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר - In the Wilderness  

Torah Portion: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Numbers 1:20–54

1:20 The children of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 21 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred.

22 Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those who were counted of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 23 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

24 Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 25 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.

26 Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 27 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Judah, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

28 Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 29 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

30 Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 31 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

32 Of the children of Joseph: of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 33 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred.

34 Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 35 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

36 Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 37 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

38 Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 39 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

40 Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 41 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred.

42 Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 43 those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

44 These are those who were counted, whom Moses and Aaron counted, and the twelve men who were princes of Israel, each one for his father’s house. 45 So all those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war in Israel— 46 all those who were counted were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 47 But the Levites, after the tribe of their fathers, were not counted among them. 48 For Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not count, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50 but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it. 51 When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death. 52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions. 53 But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel. The Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54 Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Hashem commanded Moses, so they did.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we are reading about all the tribes and their princes being counted for possible war. And we learn that the Levites are not counted but set aside to take care of the Tabernacle. They are the only ones who can pack up, carry, and set up the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Hashem has set them apart to do this work. It makes me think about our spiritual leaders today. Our rabbis and our pastors, whose job it is to take care of their family of believers. And even the buildings they meet in. Hashem has called them into this service, just like He did with the Levites so many years before. We should respect them and help provide for them. Do you have a rabbi or pastor in your life?

Today’s Challenge:

Why all the organizing of the tribes? Why does Hashem divide His people into tribes? Maybe so that each person living with their family would feel part of a bigger community. They would be loyal to the larger group and defend their families. Hashem always knows the very best way to motivate and protect His people. And this is the way He chose. 

Sometimes we have authority over us that will direct us in specific ways. If they are not part of our family (for example, our boss), are we obligated to obey them? Of course we are. Do a check on yourself and your authority. Make sure you are following them and obeying their requests (unless they are illegal or immoral). Remember, they are in charge and have been appointed to be the authority. We should respect them.

Behar/Bechukotai - Day #2

Behar/Bechukotai

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-27:34

Leviticus 25:19-28

25:19 The land shall yield its fruit, and you shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20 If you said, “What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase;” 21 then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it shall bear fruit for the three years. 22 You shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the fruits from the old store until the ninth year. Until its fruits come in, you shall eat the old store.

23 “‘The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and live as foreigners with me. 24 In all the land of your possession, you shall grant a redemption for the land.

25 “‘If your brother becomes poor, and sells some of his possessions, then his kinsman who is next to him shall come, and redeem that which his brother has sold. 26 If a man has no one to redeem it, and he becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to redeem it, 27 then let him reckon the years since its sale, and restore the surplus to the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return to his property. 28 But if he isn’t able to get it back for himself, then what he has sold shall remain in the hand of him who has bought it until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, it shall be released, and he shall return to his property.

Today’s Meditation:

What an excellent, fair, and just Elohim we serve. He tells His people not to plant in the seventh year, and He knows they are thinking, “What shall we eat in the seventh year?” So, He provides abundantly. His provision is so generous that it allows for enough fruit for three years. Until they can replant the 8th year and sow the 9th year, you cannot be fairer and juster than that. It shows us that He will not ask us anything unless it is fair and righteous. He does not want us to starve or fail. What He really wants is that we will love Him with our whole heart, soul, and strength. And to follow His commandments. If we do, we have life and liberty forever.

Today’s Challenge:

I heard it discussed that the Year of Jubilee and the return of the Land to original owners really teach us that nothing is really ours. That the Land actually belongs to Hashem in the end. People are leasing it from Him in a sense. It makes you think. Is anything really ours? When we die, we die alone, naked, and without any possessions. So, did we really ever own anything? We must appreciate our lives every day, be grateful for what we have, work hard, serve Adonai, love and worship Him, and follow His commands. My challenge for you today is to think about how Hashem owns it all.

Emor - Day #2

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1–24:23

Leviticus 21:16–22:16

21:16 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Say to Aaron, ‘None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect may approach to offer the bread of his Elohim. 18 For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity, 19 or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand, 20 or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of Hashem made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his Elohim. 22 He shall eat the bread of his Elohim, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane My sanctuaries, for I am Hashem who sanctifies them.’”

24 So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.

22:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to Me, and that they not profane My holy name. I am Hashem.

3 “Tell them, ‘If anyone of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to Hashem, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am Hashem.

4 “‘Whoever of the offspring of Aaron is a leper or has a discharge shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man who has a seminal emission, 5 or whoever touches any creeping thing whereby he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has— 6 the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bathes his body in water. 7 When the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread. 8 He shall not eat that which dies of itself or is torn by animals, defiling himself by it. I am Hashem.

9 “‘They shall therefore follow My commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am Hashem, who sanctifies them.

10 “‘No stranger shall eat of the holy thing: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and those who are born in his house shall eat of his bread. 12 If a priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things. 13 But if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s bread; but no stranger shall eat any of it.

14 “‘If a man eats something holy unwittingly, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the holy thing to the priest. 15 The priests shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to Hashem, 16 and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt when they eat their holy things; for I am Hashem who sanctifies them.’”

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we read about more priestly rules. Hashem does not want animals with defects to be sacrificed, but, interestingly, He doesn’t like humans with defects either, even a person with a flat nose (verse 18). Hashem wants the best, the purest, even the most physically perfect. I don’t think He does this to hurt anyone’s feelings. I believe He requires it to show that we must be holy and perfect before serving Him. It is an example. Of course, He loves people of all shapes and sizes, with unique qualities. It’s just when we enter the presence that He asks us to be the best we can be. And that is for today. Only our defects are sin and an unrepentant heart. He does not want us to go before Him in prayer or worship with sin in our hearts. We must repent, do teshuvah, and come clean. Then we can enter His presence. This all teaches us what is right and what He needs.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 9, we see that the penalty for disobedience is death once again. “They shall therefore follow My commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am Hashem who sanctifies them.” We are not to take Hashem’s commandments lightly. They are required for our lives. Not to follow them brings death (in many ways). If you believe these commandments were erased in any way, I challenge you to study this. Torah says they are eternal. They always were, and they always will be. You can not “subtract or add” to them. Of course, some of them we are unable to follow. If we are not priests, and there is no Temple, or if we are not in the Land, but here is the heart of Torah. Please do your best and do what you can. He asks us this for a reason, because He loves us and wants to be with us. Torah is life. 

Acharei Mot/Kedoshim - Day #2

ACHAREI MOT/KEDOSHIM

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-20:27

  

Leviticus 16:25 - 17:7

16:25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

26 “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Hashem. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

34 “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”

It was done as Hashem commanded Moses.

17:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which Hashem has commanded: 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to Hashem before Hashem’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Hashem, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Hashem. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Hashem’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’

Today’s Meditation:

 

In verse 34, we read that this atonement will be made annually to cleanse Israel of their sins. It is necessary to clean the nation, and not only the person. Think about this today. Is the nation you live in considered clean? There is no Temple to do sacrifices in to atone for the country, but is there ever a type of national repentance that you can remember? Not unless you are connected to a special prayer group. So, what you can do is remember and honor this particular Moadim, Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Take the day off from work, fast all day, and try to get in the presence of Hashem. Please do it for your nation, do it for Hashem.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 29, we read that even the stranger who lives as a foreigner and the native-born are to be included in this Feast. When Hashem speaks of the nation of Israel and its atonement, He includes strangers. Apparently, He wants everyone to be cleansed and forgiven. My challenge to you is to think about this today. Look at your unfaithful neighbors and friends. Do you exclude them or include them? If we serve an Elohim who cares about the stranger and the outsider, we would be best to include those around us in our lives. Pray for them and help them in any way possible, whether it's in the little things or the big things. Let your light from Hashem shine through all you do so that your friends and strangers around you may be drawn in to Him. Be a conduit and a representative for how Hashem works in the world.

Tazria/Metzora - Day #2

Tazria-Metzora  

She will conceive/Leper — תַזְרִיעַ־מְּצֹרָע

Torah Portion: Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33

Leviticus 13:24-39 

13:24 “Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, 25 then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 27 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.

29 “When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, 30 then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch. It is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days. 32 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch. Then the priest shall isolate the one who has the itch for seven more days. 34 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.

38 “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots, 39 then the priest shall examine them. Behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash. It has broken out in the skin. He is clean.

Today’s Meditation:

This week’s Torah portions primarily focus on leprosy and various diseases, as well as how to manage and care for them. And how to involve the priests at the Temple. They did not have doctors in those days, and Hashem had to explain to them how to take care of themselves—and, importantly, how to prevent others from contracting their disease or infectious condition. If you look at the history books, there are many times when there were plagues that killed thousands of people. Yet, the Jewish communities would have a relatively low death rate. Of course, this made others suspicious of them. In reality, they were following Hashem’s laws regarding disease/infections. That is why it is so important to be obedient and study His Laws. And follow them. They give life and save lives.

Today’s Challenge:

We don't have a priest to turn to when we get sick. But we do have Hashem to go to and His Torah. If we study and follow Torah to the best of our abilities, we will be healthier and happier people. My challenge to you today is to read the Torah daily. Pray and ask Hashem how it applies to your life.