Ki Tavo - Day #5

Ki Tavo כִּי-תָבוֹא - When You Enter In  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Deuteronomy 27:11–28:6

27:11 Moses commanded the people the same day, saying, 12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 These shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 With a loud voice, the Levites shall say to all the men of Israel, 15 ‘Cursed is the man who makes an engraved or molten image, an abomination to Hashem, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’

All the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen.’

16 ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

17 ‘Cursed is he who removes his neighbor’s landmark.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

18 ‘Cursed is he who leads the blind astray on the road.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

20 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he dishonors his father’s bed.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

21 ‘Cursed is he who lies with any kind of animal.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

22 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

23 ‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother-in-law.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

24 ‘Cursed is he who secretly kills his neighbor.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

25 ‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

26 ‘Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.’

All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

28:1 It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all His commandments which I command you today, that Hashem your Elohim will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice. 3 You shall be blessed in the city, and you shall be blessed in the field. 4 You shall be blessed in the fruit of your body, the fruit of your ground, the fruit of your animals, the increase of your livestock, and the young of your flock. 5 Your basket and your kneading trough shall be blessed. 6 You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out.

Today’s Meditation:

Here are some commandments from Hashem. And following them comes a very special blessing in 28:2: “All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice.” Isn’t that so amazing? That not only will you be blessed, but the blessings will also overtake you. That’s a lot of blessings. Have you ever been overtaken by anything? This is being taken by something really good: Hashem’s blessings. 

Today’s Challenge:

Verse 27:26 tells us what happens if we do not follow Hashem’s commandments: “Cursed is he who doesn’t uphold the words of this law by doing them.” Simply said, if you don’t do what He has told us to do, you will be cursed. Do we really understand the weight of these words? Do we really understand what being cursed means? Continuing on in Chapter 28, we will see. The results of the curse are explained. My point is this: do we really want to be cursed? Or even this: do we believe that we will? I guess if you don’t believe in the one true Elohim, then you don’t think that you can be cursed. I live in a country that, for the most part, is ruled by godless people. People who do not believe or honor Hashem in any way, shape, or form. And because of this, our country is a total mess. 

My challenge to you today is to consider what actions you can take about this. How can you help your country, government, and people return to Hashem? We could try to be a light to His truth. And pray that the people in your country will return their hearts to Hashem, that they will start following and obeying Him. Then pray that He will return to us. Be a part of changing hearts by being a light to His truth. See how following the Torah blesses you.

Ki Teitzei - Day #5

Ki Teitzei כִּי-תֵצֵא - When You Go Out  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Deuteronomy 23:25–24:4

23:25 When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck the ears with your hand; but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

24:1 When a man takes a wife and marries her, then it shall be, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a certificate of divorce, put it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 When she has departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 If the latter husband hates her, and write her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the latter husband dies, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife after she is defiled; for that would be an abomination to Hashem. You shall not cause the land to sin, which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance.

Today’s Meditation:

In this week's Torah portion, we learn that it is okay to pick corn or grapes from our neighbor's property if we happen to be walking through it. No trespassing laws, in fact, are an invitation to help yourself. But, of course, only for what you need at the moment. Not to gather bushels full. It is very kind and generous of Hashem to allow such trust and sharing. He also has rules for your harvest and the poor. Hashem makes it clear that He does not want the poor to starve and that He is interested in sharing our blessings. Let us try to remember that in our daily lives.

Today’s Challenge:

Today, we read some interesting rules about divorce and remarriage. It seems like Hashem is allowing divorce, but not remarrying that person again (if she has married someone else and they have died). In fact, He says it is an abomination to do this. And that we do not cause the land to sin. It concerns his wife being defiled. We may not fully understand this, but we do know that He does not want us to sin. 

Your challenge today is to look over your life, pay attention to the areas where you know you are sinning or disobeying Hashem’s commands. Do not pretend that you are perfect. Because as soon as you reflect on how you are living, sin will be revealed. Even what you may think is a small sin, like gossiping. Gossiping is no small sin. It affects people and can ripple through your community, ultimately affecting parts of the world. It gets into the land. Get rid of sin in your life today. If it is a habit, then ask Hashem to help you. It may be hard to change, but He can help you.

Shoftim - Day #5

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 18:14–19:13

18:14 For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Hashem your Elohim has not allowed you so to do. 15 Hashem your Elohim will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you desired of Hashem your Elohim in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Hashem my Elohim’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”

17 Hashem said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 It shall happen that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”

21 You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Hashem has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in Hashem’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Hashem has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.

19:1 When Hashem your Elohim cuts off the nations whose land Hashem your Elohim gives you, and you succeed them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, 2 you shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the middle of your land, which Hashem your Elohim gives you to possess. 3 You shall prepare the way, and divide the borders of your land, which Hashem your Elohim causes you to inherit into three parts, that every man slayer may flee there. 4 This is the case of the man slayer who shall flee there and live: Whoever kills his neighbor unintentionally, and didn’t hate him in time past— 5 as when a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to chop wood and his hand swings the ax to cut down the tree, and the head slips from the handle and hits his neighbor so that he dies—he shall flee to one of these cities and live. 6 Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the man slayer while hot anger is in his heart and overtake him, because the way is long, and strike him mortally, even though he was not worthy of death, because he didn’t hate him in time past. 7 Therefore, I command you to set apart three cities for yourselves. 8 If Hashem enlarges your border, as He has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land which He promised to give to your fathers; 9 and if you keep all this commandment to do it, which I command you today, to love Hashem your Elohim, and to walk ever in His ways, then you shall add three cities more for yourselves, in addition to these three. 10 This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you. 11 But if any man hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, strikes him mortally so that he dies, and he flees into one of these cities; 12 then the elders of his city shall send and bring him there, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 13 Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall purge the innocent blood from Israel that it may go well with you.

Today’s Meditation:

In verses 18 and 19, we read about Hashem telling Moses there will be another prophet like him: “I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.  It shall happen that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” Who is this prophet? Has he arrived? Christianity believes Jesus is this prophet, and Islam believes Mohammed to be him. Others believe in their prophets, such as Joseph Smith. Hashem tests the prophets. See if the prophets' words have come to pass. If not, they are false prophets. Who do you believe is the prophet that Hashem is speaking about?

Today’s Challenge: 

In verse 10, we read, “This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you.” Killing innocent people brings blood on the land and blood guilt. You may think you support abortion in your community, but you may want to look at it more seriously. Abortion literally takes the life of an innocent preborn child. Aborted babies are either flushed down toilets, ground up in garbage disposals, or buried in landfills (except for those who are sold for experimentation or to pharmaceutical companies). Does that mean our land has bloodguilt for this? My challenge to you today is to spend some time contemplating this. If you believe as I do, I suggest you look into helping to end abortion in your community and assisting young women who are in an unplanned pregnancy.

Re'eh - Day #5

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Deuteronomy 14:22–29

14:22 You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes out of the field year by year. 23 You shall eat before Hashem your Elohim, in the place which He chooses to cause His name to dwell, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always. 24 If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it because the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose to set His name there is too far from you, when Hashem your Elohim, blesses you, 25 then you shall turn it into money, bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Hashem your Elohim, shall choose. 26 You shall trade the money for whatever your soul desires: for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you. You shall eat there before Hashem your Elohim, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years, you shall bring all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall store it within your gates. 29 The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Today’s Meditation:

We are learning about tithing what we have. And then bringing it to the Temple in Jerusalem. He gives us really good instructions for all of this. Even if you are living far away. And you do all this in verse 23 so that “That you may learn to fear Hashem your Elohim, always”. It is all about learning how to serve and love Hashem in all we do. We need to learn how to fear Hashem. The fear is the possibility of not having Him in our lives. The fear is punishment and separation. The fear is about respect, and it is followed by a love for Him so great that we would do anything to please and honor Him.

Today’s Challenge: 

Verse 29 is all about taking care of people, “The Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, as well as the foreigner living among you, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Hashem your Elohim, may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” It is about sharing the tithe of your land after three years and then supplying food for those less fortunate. Here is today’s challenge. Always have your “spiritual antennas” up looking for ways in which you may be able to help the poor. Ask Hashem to show you, and He will. And when He presents an opportunity, take it. Help out someone or a family. Even a smile or hello can change someone’s day. Let’s try to be givers and not takers.

Ekev - Day #5

Ekev עֵקֶב - As a Result  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Deuteronomy 10:12–11:9

10:12 Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good? 14 Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth, with all that is therein. 15 Only Hashem had a delight in your fathers to love them, and He chose their offspring after them, even you above all peoples, as it is today. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked. 17 For Hashem your Elohim, He is Elohim of gods and L-rd of lords, the great G-d, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and widow and loves the foreigner in giving him food and clothing. 19 Therefore, love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear Hashem your Elohim. You shall serve Him. You shall cling to him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 He is your praise, and He is your Elohim, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Hashem your Elohim has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.

11:1 Therefore you shall love Hashem your Elohim, and keep His instructions, His statutes, His ordinances, and His commandments, always. 2 Know this day—for I don’t speak with your children who have not known, and who have not seen the chastisement of Hashem your Elohim, His greatness, His mighty hand, His outstretched arm, 3 His signs, and His works, which He did in the middle of Egypt to Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to all His land; 4 and what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, and to their chariots; how He made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued you, and how Hashem has destroyed them to this day; 5 and what He did to you in the wilderness until you came to this place; 6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel; 7 but your eyes have seen all of Hashem’s great work which He did.

8 Therefore, you shall keep the entire commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land that you go over to possess; 9 and that you may prolong your days in the land which Hashem swore to your fathers to give to them and to their offspring, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Today’s Meditation:

If you are wondering what Hashem requires of you to be in His presence, the answer is clearly written today in verse 10:12 “Now, Israel, what does Hashem your Elohim require of you, but to fear Hashem your Elohim to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve Hashem your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, to keep Hashem’s commandments and statutes, which I command you today for your good?” Walk, love, serve, and keep His commandments. That’s it. Do this, and you will be in His presence. Don’t do it, and you will not. I love this portion today. It answers so many questions.

Today’s Challenge:

There are not too many verses on heaven, but here is one today in verse 10:14, “Behold, to Hashem your Elohim belongs heaven, the heaven of heavens, and the earth with all that is therein.” Our Elohim is master over heaven and earth. What we want is to be with Him forever. If you read the verses above, then you will know what is required of you. Your challenge today is to think about heaven. Do some studying on it (I have challenged you to do this before). Figure out how you get your name in the Book of Life. It will give you a lot of peace.

Va'etchanan - Day #5

Va'etchanan וָאֶתְחַנַּן - Pleaded  

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Deuteronomy 5:23–6:3

5:23 When you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 and you said, “Behold, Hashem our Elohim has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen today that Elohim does speak with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear Hashem our Elohim’s voice any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and hear all that Hashem our Elohim shall say, and tell us all that Hashem our Elohim tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.”

28 Hashem heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me; and Hashem said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

30 “Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’ 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.”

32 You shall observe to do therefore as Hashem your Elohim has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left. 

33 You shall walk in all the way which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.

6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Hashem your Elohim commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land that you go over to possess; 2 that you might fear Hashem your Elohim, to keep all His statutes and his commandments, which I command you—you, your son, and your son’s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it, that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Hashem, the Elohim of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Today’s Meditation:

In regard to obedience, verse 32 sums it up well, “You shall observe to do therefore as Hashem your Elohim has commanded you. You shall not turn away to the right hand or to the left.” A simple command. Do what He says and don’t deviate (to the left or right). I am finding that when I do “deviate” or sin, it feels awful for days. Last night, I came home to find my husband working on a project that really upset me. Instead of talking it out, I got really, really angry. It’s like I lost control. I said things I never should have said. And even when I’m spouting off, I say to Hashem, “Please forgive me”. But, I was going to say them anyway. I spent the night repenting, and even today I feel horrible about it all. It just wasn’t worth it. I should have stayed quiet or spoken calmly, and I didn’t. I deviated, and now I feel the consequences. Whether I was justified or not, it was wrong. Maybe you can relate to this.

Today’s Challenge:

We have an eternal promise in verse 33, “You shall walk in all the way which Hashem your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.” We may not live in the land (yet), but His promise is still the same today. If we obey Him and His commandments, we will live, things will be good, and we will serve Him with a long life. My challenge to you today is to once again review if you are following Him and Torah. It only makes sense that if we are obeying Him, we have life, and if we don’t, we have death. It is said that sin will separate us from Hashem”. And if you ever sin (like I do), then you know this is true. I would rather have life. It would be good and right to obey and follow Him in everything we do.