Behar - Reading #2

Behar - On the mountain  בְּהַר

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Reading #2 -  Leviticus 25:14–18

My Thoughts:

Being fair to each other is really important to Hashem (verse 14). In all of our encounters – financial or any type of help. We are to be honest with all our dealings. Hashem had a special way to figure out all this according to the year of Jubilee.  He asks us to not wrong each other and to not do so because we fear Him. What does that mean? I believe it means that we are to respect and honor Him. After all He is the creator of EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY. It is the second most important commandment to love our neighbor more than ourselves. That includes in all business situations too! If you are not doing this, then change.

Challenge:

Hashem asks us to follow His commands so we can dwell safely (verse 18). Originally set for the people going into Israel. Think about it. They were coming out of slavery and taking over a country with lots of idolatry. They had to learn a way to leave peacefully, with respect for others and for Hashem. The Law is exactly what would show them how to do this. Remember it’s not a burden to follow the Law, it is LIFE. And to follow it gives you peace and joy. Remember this the next time someone challenges you about following Torah. Do your best to follow it. It will keep you safe.

Reading #2 -  Leviticus 25:14–18

Leviticus 25:14 “‘If you sell anything to your neighbor, or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. 15 According to the number of years after the Jubilee you shall buy from your neighbor. According to the number of years of the crops he shall sell to you. 16 According to the length of the years you shall increase its price, and according to the shortness of the years you shall diminish its price; for he is selling the number of the crops to you. 17 You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your Elohim; for I am Hashem your Elohim.

18 “‘Therefore you shall do My statutes, and keep My ordinances and do them; and you shall dwell in the land in safety.

Behar - Reading #1

Behar - On the mountain  בְּהַר
Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Reading #1 - Leviticus 25:1–13

My Thoughts:

Keeping a Sabbath the seventh year for the land. When we had a country home we noticed there were years the farmers would let the fields rest. It was so they would have better crops and the land would have a chance to rejuvenate. That is just how Hashem created the land. To produce and then in the seventh year to rest. That’s how He created us too! To work six days and rest on the seventh. So that we could produce more too! Think of how more fruitful your life would be – just like the land – if you took a Sabbath rest! 

Challenge:

We also learn about the year of Jubilee. After seven times seven years there will be a loud trumpet and in the fiftieth year special things happen. Property is returned and debts are canceled. Can you imagine? If you sold a piece of land and fifty years later it was returned to you? But, not really. Because what Hashem is teaching is that it all belongs to Him – not us! That’s what we should realize in today’s world and time. Really nothing totally belongs to us. In fact, when we die we can’t even take our clothes with us – let’s remember that. 

Reading #1 - Leviticus 25:1-13

25:1 Hashem said to Moses on Mount Sinai, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a Sabbath to Hashem. 3 You shall sow your field six years, and you shall prune your vineyard six years, and gather in its fruits; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to Hashem. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5 What grows of itself in your harvest you shall not reap, and you shall not gather the grapes of your undressed vine. It shall be a year of solemn rest for the land. 6 The Sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for yourself, for your servant, for your maid, for your hired servant, and for your stranger, who lives as a foreigner with you. 7 For your livestock also, and for the animals that are in your land, shall all its increase be for food.

8 “‘You shall count off seven Sabbaths of years, seven times seven years; and there shall be to you the days of seven Sabbaths of years, even forty-nine years. 9 Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. 10 You shall make the fiftieth year holy, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee to you; and each of you shall return to his own property, and each of you shall return to his family. 11 That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee to you. In it you shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself, nor gather from the undressed vines. 12 For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat of its increase out of the field.

13 “‘In this Year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property.”

Behar - Week #14

Behar - On the mountain  בְּהַר

Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27

Apostolic Writings: Luke 4:14-22

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 25:1–13

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 25:14–18

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 25:19–24

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 25:25–28

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 25:29–38

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 25:39–46

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 25:47–26:2

Kedoshim - Reading #7

Kedoshim - Holy  קְדשִׁים
Torah Portion: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27
Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15
Apostolic Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Reading #7 - Leviticus 20:23-27

My Thoughts:

Verse 24 includes a very important message,  “I am Hashem your Adonai who has separated you from the peoples.” Hashem has made His people set apart. This is for an obvious reason. If we were not set apart, we would be like the rest of the world - sinners at the least. Hashem desires worship and obedience, to do this we must not be like others who do not worship the one true Elohim. We must be different. And when we are not the same we will shine like a bright light. Many will be attracted to this light. This is a situation and lifestyle where it is very, very good to be different – to be set apart. Think about this, and act on it. Follow Hashem and do not follow man. Be different.

Challenge:

Verse 27 is about not following wizards – once again. It is really obvious that Hashem does not like playing around with magic. It is brought several times throughout Scripture. The Land they were going into was full of people and cultures who practiced sorcery. Hashem wanted His people to know this was not acceptable. Look at your life and think about what you do that is not acceptable to Hashem. Stop doing it and teshuvah. Turn around to do good. We must start becoming sensitive to sinful ways and what Hashem requires of us. Let’s start today. 

Reading #7 - Leviticus 20:23-27

23 You shall not walk in the customs of the nation which I am casting out before you; for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24 But I have said to you, “You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am Hashem your Adonai who has separated you from the peoples.

25 “‘You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean. You shall not make yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you. 26 You shall be holy to Me, for I, Hashem, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be Mine.

27 “‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones. Their blood shall be upon themselves.’”

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

The people of Israel have been dispersed. Hashem has let the enemy take the land over. This is because of sin. But there is hope. In verse 9 we read about a sifting, “I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve…”. This means He will sift out the sinners and return the righteous (those obeying Torah) back to Israel. It was a promise then and it is a promise now. He is in the process of returning His people to the Land. And there is a sifting. I want to be one of those who returns, not who is destroyed. How about you?

Challenge:

When the days come, of the olam haba, as written about today – Hashem’s chosen people will return to the Land. And with the promises of fruitfulness and prosperity. That will be wonderful. But, what will be truly the best will be that Hashem will reside with us. The Mashiach will rule from Jerusalem, and the glory of Hashem will fill the world. Every knee will bow to the King of Kings. Let’s get excited about this. Let’s study how this is going to happen. And let’s get ready!

Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15

7 Are you not like the children of the Ethiopians to me, children of Israel?” says Hashem. “Haven’t I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir? 8 Behold, the eyes of Hashem Adonai are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the surface of the earth; except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” says Hashem. 9 “For, behold, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve, yet not the least kernel will fall on the earth. 10 All the sinners of my people will die by the sword, who say, ‘Evil won’t overtake nor meet us.’ 11 In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old; 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations who are called by my name,” says Hashem who does this.

13 “Behold, the days come,” says Hashem,

    “that the plowman shall overtake the reaper,

    and the one treading grapes him who sows seed;

    and sweet wine will drip from the mountains,

    and flow from the hills.

14 I will bring my people Israel back from captivity,

    and they will rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them;

    and they will plant vineyards, and drink wine from them.

They shall also make gardens,

    and eat their fruit.

15 I will plant them on their land,

    and they will no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them,”

    Says Hashem your Adonai..

Apostolic Scriptures

My Thoughts:

Yeshua the Rabbi correctly answers the question of the scribes by saying the two greatest commandments are loving Hashem and love each other. If we could teach anything about Hashem to our friends it would be this. If people could understand this basic rule of law, the world would change. If we wrapped our actions and deeds around these two requirements  – everything would look different. Start spreading this information to those around you. Take away their doubts and fears. Make it easy for them. They will discover the rest later!

Challenge:

Yeshua says if you follow these two commands, to love Hashem and others, that you are not far from the Kingdom of Adonai. Don’t you want to be close to His kingdom? I do! At the surface these are simple commands, but when you live your life daily and try to follow them you may experience some challenges. How do you love someone who has hurt you badly? How do you treat them kindly? How do you love Hashem when you feel He wasn’t there for you (but He was). Ponder these things and change the things in your life that need changing. Start it all today. It will make the world such a better place!

Apostolic Scriptures: Mark 12:28-34

28 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that He had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29 Yeshua answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, Hashem our Adonai, Hashem is one: 30 you shall love the Hashem your Adonai with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that He is one, and there is none other but He, 33 and to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Yeshua saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from Adonai’s Kingdom.”

No one dared ask Him any question after that.

Kedoshim - Reading #6

Kedoshim - Holy  קְדשִׁים

Torah Portion: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27

Reading #6: Leviticus 20:8–22

My Thoughts:

Once again, Hashem is giving us some commands about avoiding sexual sin and exactly what sexual sin is. Some of the offenses have the death penalty as punishment. I think about how far we have strayed from these commandments. I was talking to a friend who was telling me how she stayed up and watched a movie last night. One that had some pretty brazen sex scenes. I asked her why she didn’t turn it off. And she just replied, “I knew it was wrong, but I tried to overlook the scenes because I wanted to know how it was going to turn out.” I could tell she did not feel very content or good about her decision. This is what all of us do. We “dabble” with sexual sin with movies, books, websites, conversation – and then we give what we think is a great “excuse” for our behavior. Well, according to today’s Torah portion reading, there is no excuse that Hashem tolerates. I would like to believe that repentance and teshuvah plays into all of this. I really hope so. And I hope we learn to obey Hashem and His commandments and take them more seriously. Amen.

Challenge:

I find verse 27 to be quite curious, “‘You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out.” What does Hashem mean that the land will vomit out the sinner? Some commentators believe that the land will actually (and has) rebel against a nation who sins. This may happen through natural catastrophe and/or lack of productivity in the land. And if you think about it this makes sense. If you are abusing Hashem’s laws, and not following Him - then we are likely not to be taking very good care of others things in our life – including the land. If we don’t respect Hashem our creator, then maybe we are not respecting His creation either. I look at the side of the road sometimes and all the trash and wonder why people are so careless. My challenge to you today is to think about taking better care of our land. Whatever community you live in. Pick up garbage when you walk by it and tend to your personal gardens or community gardens with care. And most importantly – follow Hashem and His commands more diligently. Maybe the result of this would be a more prosperous land and community! Instead of being “vomited” from not taking care of it!

Reading #6 - Leviticus 20:8–22

Leviticus 8 You shall keep My statutes, and do them. I am Hashem who sanctifies you.

9 “‘For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be upon himself.

10 “‘The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

11 “‘The man who lies with his father’s wife has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon themselves.

12 “‘If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood shall be upon themselves.

13 “‘If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon themselves.

14 “‘If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you.

15 “‘If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.

16 “‘If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.

17 “‘If a man takes his sister—his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter—and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.

18 “‘If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness, he has made her fountain naked, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood. Both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

19 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, nor of your father’s sister, for he has made his close relative naked. They shall bear their iniquity. 20 If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered his uncle’s nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.

21 “‘If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an impurity. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless.

22 “‘You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to dwell may not vomit you out.

Kedoshim - Reading #5

Kedoshim - Holy  קְדשִׁים

Torah Portion: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27

Reading #5 -  Leviticus 20:1–7

My Thoughts:

Again we are learning about Hashem’s extreme disregard for child sacrifice. The penalties for this are death itself to the person committing the crime. So, what has changed if we look at today? We “sacrifice” pre-born babies (children) to the gods of convenience, selfishness, fear, abuse, economics, etc. through abortion. Our country (the United States) and other countries (even Israel) have been torn apart regarding this controversial issue of life. But, why is it controversial? Why do people defend the right to “choice” – the legal right to abort (kill) your developing baby? I’m afraid the root of all this is very deep. And the consequences go far and wide. If you have had an abortion or helped someone to get one, now is the time to go earnestly before Hashem to ask for forgiveness. From my understanding, He will forgive you. And then make a strong effort to support women around you who do get pregnant unexpectedly – help them not to make the same mistake. It’s time for all of us to change and get on Hashem’s path of life. Amen.

Challenge:

Again we learn about not following or seeking mediums and wizards. Here is the question I have about this. If we watch shows about magic, mediums, the darker side of the world – is that disobedience? We may not be performing the task, but we are watching someone else do so. And when you watch a movie/TV show – aren’t you participating in this somehow? If you buy products, games, and apparel that are produced by companies that promote magic (mediums, wizards, etc.) – isn’t that the same as participating in the act itself? We all need to take a hard look at what we do with magic. We need to repent, turn away and change. Today.

20:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone that person with stones. 3 I also will set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given of his offspring to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane My holy name. 4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person when he gives of his offspring to Molech, and don’t put him to death, 5 then I will set my face against that man and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.

6 “‘The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.

7 “‘Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Hashem your Adonai.

Kedoshim - Reading #4

Kedoshim - Holy  קְדשִׁים
Torah Portion: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27

Reading #4 - Leviticus 19:33–37

My Thoughts:

Verse 33 we learn that Hashem is believing that a stranger that lives as a foreigner is to be the same as a fellow Jew. This is the most amazing thing about Hashem – He loves us all. He loves His chosen people, the Jews, and He loves those who are not Jews. He wants them all to join together and be as one. He loves community and unity. Can we please remember this? He has a special place in His heart for all of us, whether Jew or non-Jew. And someday we will see this for real. In the Olam Haba (world to come) we will all be bowing our knees to the King of Kings. Serving and worshiping the one true Elohim. Amen!

Challenge:

In verse 35 we learn about balances and weights and keeping honest. If your butcher asked you how much the steak you were buying weighed (and trusted you) and you told him a lesser weight to get a deal – then you would be in violation of this commandment. But, at the heart of this commandment is being “fair” in all things. Are you “cheating” anyone, on anything? Examine your heart about this. It could be in your words or in your deeds. It could be materially or non-materially. Make sure you are being truthful and honest. Giving people what they deserve. A simple example of this would be when you tip a waiter/waitress. Give her/him what they are worth. Do not come up short and walk away. This is the challenge.

Leviticus 19:33 “‘If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Hashem your Adonai..

35 “‘You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity. 36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Hashem your Adonai, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

37 “‘You shall observe all my statutes and all my ordinances, and do them. I am Hashem.’”