Shelach - Day #4

Shelach שְׁלַח-לְךָ - Send For Yourself  

Torah Portion: Numbers 13:1-15:41

Numbers 14:26–15:7 

14:26 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, who complain against me. 28 Tell them, ‘As I live, says Hashem, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you. 29 Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were counted of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me, 30 surely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But I will bring in your little ones that you said should be captured or killed, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies are consumed in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you will know my alienation.’ 35 I, Hashem, have spoken. I will surely do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.”

36 The men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation to murmur against him by bringing up an evil report against the land, 37 even those men who brought up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Hashem. 38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.

39 Moses told these words to all the children of Israel, and the people mourned greatly. 40 They rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying, “Behold, we are here, and will go up to the place which Hashem has promised; for we have sinned.”

41 Moses said, “Why now do you disobey the commandment of Hashem, since it shall not prosper? 42 Don’t go up, for Hashem isn’t among you; that way you won’t be struck down before your enemies. 43 For there the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and you will fall by the sword because you turned back from following Hashem; therefore Hashem will not be with you.”

44 But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, the ark of Hashem’s covenant and Moses didn’t depart out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites who lived in that mountain, and struck them and beat them down even to Hormah.

15:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you, 3 and will make an offering by fire to Hashem—a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a free will offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Hashem, of the herd, or of the flock— 4 then he who offers his offering shall offer to Hashem a meal offering of one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of oil. 5 You shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.

6 “‘For a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil; 7 and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 14:42, we read “Hashem isn’t among you”. And they continued to conquer the land. They meet up with the enemy and are defeated. Even the ark of the testimony does not go with them. They probably panicked about their sin of doubt and wanted to make things right in their own flesh. Have you ever done that? When you do something really wrong, instead of repenting and asking Hashem to help you repair the damage, you try to fix it on your own, and it ends in disaster. You want Hashem “to be among you” in your life, especially for big decisions. And if you do sin in a horrible way or even a little way, don’t try to make it up to Hashem in your own way. Ask Him first what you should do.

Today’s Challenge:

In this Torah study, we learn that complaining actually caused ten men to lose their lives. And caused many more to be punished for entering the land. So, this tells us that Hashem does not like complaining. And at the time of writing this, I can honestly tell you that’s what I have been doing in my head all day long today. We are in the middle of trying to sell our house, and things are going very differently from what we expected. I am asking Hashem what we are doing wrong and trying to listen to Him to hear His answer. But in the meantime, I am super complaining that our house hasn't sold (unlike everyone else's). Then I repent and tell Hashem I am sorry for not having the faith needed to pull us through. Still, I am sure He is not happy about all of this. All I can say is, “I am so sorry, Hashem, please forgive me for complaining. Please show us, very clearly, how to sell our house. Help us to be patient and to have faith that You are in the middle of this.” I hope you can learn from my mistakes today. This is my challenge to you. (Update: Our house was sold shortly after I originally wrote this. Hashem was in the middle of it all. I am very grateful.)

Beha'alotcha - Day #4

Beha’alotcha בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ - In Your Uplifting  

Torah Portion: Numbers 8:1-12:16

Numbers 9:15–10:10

9:15 On the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the Tent of the Testimony. In the evening, it was over the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire, until morning. 16 So it was continually. The cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel traveled; and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel encamped. 18 At the commandment of Hashem, the children of Israel traveled, and at the commandment of Hashem they encamped. As long as the cloud remained on the tabernacle, they remained encamped. 19 When the cloud stayed on the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept Hashem’s command, and didn’t travel. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days on the tabernacle; then, according to the commandment of Hashem, they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Hashem, they traveled. 21 Sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they traveled; or by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they traveled. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled. 23 At the commandment of Hashem, they encamped, and at the commandment of Hashem, they traveled. They kept Hashem’s command, at the commandment of Hashem by Moses.

10:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two trumpets of silver. You shall make them of beaten work. You shall use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 When they blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 4 If they blow just one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall go forward. 6 When you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall go forward. They shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.

8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. This shall be to you for a statute forever throughout your generations. 9 When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets. Then you will be remembered before Hashem your Elohim, and you will be saved from your enemies.

10 “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your Elohim. I am Hashem, your Elohim.”

Today’s Meditation: 

What a clear message for the directions of His people. When the cloud moves, the people move. They only have to watch for it. When the cloud remained, the people stayed. Wouldn’t that be so wonderful for the decisions you are making in your life? Can you imagine yourself thinking about buying a new house in a new city? You look at the Tabernacle to see if the cloud is lifting. It is. So, you're moving to your new city. Maybe we could get to know Hashem so well that we could spiritually see His cloud moving. In other words, we would learn through prayer, worship, and listening where He was leading us and what He was leading us to do.

Today’s Challenge:

In chapter 10, we learn about the alerts of the trumpets. When the priests would blow them, you would know whether you were journeying or going to war. It was a sense of trusting authority and being in community for major direction on issues. Maybe you don’t have a community where authority can give you direction or warning. Perhaps it is time to pray to Hashem and ask for one. One that honors and worships the one true Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One that follows Torah. One that has trusted leadership. Pray and ask Hashem to lead you to this community. It will help you to be rooted and grounded. And knowing that sometimes leadership can and will make mistakes, but praying for them at all times.

Nasso - Day #4

Nasso נָשֹׂא - Elevate!  

Torah Portion: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Numbers 5:11–6:27

5:11 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him, 13 and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is defiled, there is no witness against her, and she isn’t taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she isn’t defiled; 15 then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring her offering for her: one tenth of an ephah of barley meal. He shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to memory. 16 The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Hashem. 17 The priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. 18 The priest shall set the woman before Hashem, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse. 

19 The priest shall cause her to take an oath and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse. 20 But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband—” 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Hashem make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Hashem allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell; 22 and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away.” The woman shall say, “Amen, Amen.”

23 “‘The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall wipe them into the water of bitterness. 24 He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter. 25 The priest shall take the meal offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal offering before Hashem, and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest shall take a handful of the meal offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away; and the woman will be a curse among her people. 28 If the woman isn’t defiled, but is clean, then she shall be free, and shall conceive offspring.

29 “‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled, 30 or when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before Hashem, and the priest shall execute on her all this law. 31 The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.’”

6:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to Hashem, 3 he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of fermented drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. 4 All the days of his separation, he shall eat nothing that is made of the grapevine, from the seeds even to the skins.

5 “‘All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall come on his head, until the days are fulfilled in which he separates himself to Hashem. He shall be holy. He shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long. 

6 “‘All the days that he separates himself to Hashem, he shall not go near a dead body. 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die, because his separation to Adonai is on his head. 8 All the days of his separation, he is holy to Hashem.

9 “‘If any man dies very suddenly beside him, and he defiles the head of his separation, then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing. On the seventh day, he shall shave it. 10 On the eighth day, he shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 11 The priest shall offer one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because he sinned by reason of the dead, and shall make his head holy that same day. 12 He shall separate to Hashem the days of his separation, and shall bring a male lamb a year old for a trespass offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.

13 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite: when the days of his separation are fulfilled, he shall be brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting, 14 and he shall offer his offering to Hashem: one male lamb a year old without defect for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without defect for a sin offering, one ram without defect for peace offerings, 15 a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil with their meal offering and their drink offerings. 16 The priest shall present them before Hashem, and shall offer his sin offering and his burnt offering. 17 He shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings to Hashem, with the basket of unleavened bread. The priest shall offer also its meal offering and its drink offering. 18 The Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the Tent of Meeting, take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings. 19 The priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved the head of his separation; 20 and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Hashem. They are holy for the priest, together with the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite who vows and of his offering to Hashem for his separation, in addition to that which he is able to afford. According to his vow, which he vows, so he must do after the law of his separation.’”

22 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘This is how you shall bless the children of Israel.’ You shall tell them,

24 ‘Hashem bless you, and keep you.

25  Hashem make His face to shine on you,

    and be gracious to you.

26 Hashem lift up His face toward you,

    and give you peace.’

27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

Today’s Meditation:

Hashem wants unity, trust, and honesty in a marriage. And if this is challenged, He provides a way to solve any issues regarding faithfulness. It sounds rather harsh, but the offense in itself is harsh. Doubt in a marriage can be very troublesome. It is better to get things out in the open and resolved. If you are married, make sure you have communicated everything you worry about to your spouse. Talk about things and bring them to the fore. Have an honest and truthful relationship with your partner. This honors Hashem.

Today’s Challenge:

In chapter 6, we learn about the Nazarite vow, which applies to both men and women. Apparently, it is a time to separate yourself from the things of the world and get closer to Hashem, even to become “holy”. Again, Hashem goes into great detail about this. Holiness is essential to Hashem. So, my challenge for you today is to look at your life and think about how you could set yourself apart from the world and separate yourself from it for Hashem. You could even pray about taking a Nazarite vow and follow these instructions. You may want to conduct a study on it to ensure you are following it appropriately. Think of the blessings that would follow as you grow closer to Hashem.

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.

Bamidbar - Day #4

Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר - In the Wilderness  

Torah Portion: Numbers 1:1-4:20

Numbers 3:1–13

3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Hashem spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before Hashem when they offered strange fire before Hashem in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron, their father.

5 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on behalf of the children of Israel. 10 You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

11 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 13, we learn that the firstborn of Israel, both man and animal, are holy to Hashem because of the loss of the firstborn of Egypt. Sometimes we reflect on Egypt and think that they were evil people. But in reality, Hashem loved them as He loved His people. The loss of the firstborn must have been very sad for Hashem. Now, in memory of them, He has the firstborn of His people dedicated to Him. With this dedication of the firstborn, all of mankind can remember the sadness and loss of the Egyptian firstborn. Forever. Let us never think that when an evil person dies, it is a good thing. Hashem loves everyone, and today’s reading shows this.

Today’s Challenge:

The Levites are Hashem’s. They are set apart and dedicated. How special that is. He has chosen them to take care of His House. To lead, prepare, and move. Hashem really does give all of us extraordinary callings. If you look at your own life, you can probably see where He has given you a special assignment. When you figure this out, you must carry it out with love and care, without grumbling. Sometimes the things He gives us to do are not easy. We do our best and honor Him. That is my challenge for you today. Do your best with what He has called you to do. If you have been messing up, start over today. Every day is a new day and a new chance to make things right.

Behar/Bechukotai - Day #4

 Behar/Bechukotai

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-27:34

Leviticus 25:39-26:9

25:39 “‘If your brother has grown poor among you, and sells himself to you, you shall not make him to serve as a slave. 40 As a hired servant, and as a temporary resident, he shall be with you; he shall serve with you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and shall return to his own family, and to the possession of his fathers. 42 For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. 43 You shall not rule over him with harshness, but shall fear your Elohim.

44 “‘As for your male and your female slaves, whom you may have from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45 Moreover, of the children of the aliens who live among you, of them you may buy, and of their families who are with you, which they have conceived in your land; and they will be your property. 46 You may make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession. Of them, you may take your slaves forever, but over your brothers, the children of Israel, you shall not rule, one over another, with harshness.

47 “‘If an alien or temporary resident with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him has grown poor, and sells himself to the stranger or foreigner living among you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, 48 after he is sold, he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him; 49 or his uncle, or his uncle’s son, may redeem him, or any who is a close relative to him of his family may redeem him; or if he has grown rich, he may redeem himself. 50 He shall reckon with him who bought him from the year that he sold himself to him to the Year of Jubilee. The price of his sale shall be according to the number of years; he shall be with him according to the time of a hired servant. 51 If there are yet many years, according to them, he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 If there remain but a few years to the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according to his years of service, he shall give back the price of his redemption. 53 As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him. He shall not rule with harshness over him in your sight. 54 If he isn’t redeemed by these means, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee: he and his children with him. 55 For to me the children of Israel are servants; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Hashem, your Elohim.

26:1 “‘You shall make for yourselves no idols, and you shall not raise up a carved image or a pillar, and you shall not place any figured stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am Hashem your Elohim.

2 “‘You shall keep My Sabbaths, and have reverence for My sanctuary. I am Hashem.

3 “‘If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and do them, 4 then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 Your threshing shall continue until the vintage, and the vintage shall continue until the sowing time. You shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.

6 “‘I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid. I will remove evil animals out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

Today’s Meditation:

In verses 26:3-5, we learn from Hashem that if we follow His commandments, even more blessings will come to us. We will have rain, crops growing and bearing fruit, and bread to eat. And in verses 6-8, we receive even more promises if we follow Torah. We will have peace in the Land, no animal attacks, and a special power over our enemies. What beautiful rewards Hashem has in store for us for simply following His instructions! Are these available today? I believe so. I can see a big difference when I am obedient. Things in life go so much easier. I feel His Presence around me, and good things happen to my family and me. And in the reverse, when I am disobedient, it seems like I am on my own. It’s lonely and sometimes scary. It is a negative feeling that only by repenting and obeying again do I feel peace. How about you?

Today’s Challenge:

In verses 26:1-2, we have a potent reminder about idols and Sabbaths. When the Israelites were going into their Land, they were going to meet up with a lot of false worship and other gods. Our God, Elohim, wanted to make sure this didn't happen. Because what happens when people worship idols and forget the Sabbath? They stray away from Hashem. They lose that strong Presence from Him. It only brings disaster. So my challenge for you today, in a very dark and scary world, is to remember who you worship. Remember, Hashem is your one and only Elohim. And He sets aside a special day for us to spend with Him, the Shabbat. So, you set aside that day for Him.

Emor - Day #4

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר  

Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1–24:23

Leviticus 23:1–22

23:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The set feasts of Hashem, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are My set feasts.

3 “‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to Hashem in all your dwellings.

4 “‘These are the set feasts of Hashem, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is Hashem’s Pesach. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to Hashem. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to Hashem seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.’”

9 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before Hashem, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath, the priest shall wave it. 12 On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without defect a year old for a burnt offering to Hashem. 13 The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Hashem for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. 14 You must not eat bread, or roasted grain, or fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your Elohim. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

           

15 “‘You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 The next day after the seventh Sabbath, you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to Hashem. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for the first fruits to Hashem. 18 You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect, a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to Hashem, with their meal offering and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to Hashem. 19 You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before Hashem, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Hashem for the priest. 21 You shall make a proclamation on the same day that there shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no regular work. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.

22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Hashem, your Elohim.’”