Emor - Reading #5

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

Reading #5 - Leviticus 23:23–32

My Thoughts:

Today we learn about celebration and honoring the “Feast of Trumpets” (Yom Teruah). On this day we blow the shofar and have a holy convocation.  Some believe this is the day that the Mashiach will return. That we will look up and see Him coming in the clouds. Coming to earth to gather His people to Jerusalem where He will rule and reign forever. Whatever happens that day we know it will be divine and like no other. If you don’t already pray for the Mashiach to come, then I ask you to start praying. Our world is upside down. Right is wrong and wrong is right. Only Hashem can straighten this out. Pray for Him to come.

Challenge:

Once a year we remember the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). In verse 27 we read, “You shall afflict yourselves.” We are to do this to remember the sin we have committed. Sin is far reaching. It affects those around us and the world we live in. Here is a day where Hashem has laid it aside so that we can pray and fast (afflict ourselves) and be forgiven. Isn’t it amazing that we serve an Elohim that is so full of grace and mercy and that He forgives us for our disobedience? When there is a Temple there is a procedure for forgiving the Nation. For right now, we go to Him and for ten days preceding this Feast we ask Him and others to forgive us. It purifies us and helps to repair the world. This Yom Kippur I challenge you to plan ahead for. Study it through Scripture and find out what you are to do. Think about it in advance. And start going to the people that you need to restore relationships with. Maybe if we all did this, and prayed for His return, He would come sooner than later. You think?

Reading #5 - Leviticus 23:23–32

23:23 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a solemn rest for you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall do no regular work. You shall offer an offering made by fire to Hashem.’”

26 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall afflict yourselves and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Hashem. 28 You shall do no kind of work in that same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Hashem your Adonai. 29 For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day shall be cut off from his people. 30 Whoever does any kind of work in that same day, I will destroy that person from among his people. 31 You shall do no kind of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.”

Emor - Reading #4

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

Reading #4 - Leviticus 23:1–22

My Thoughts:

Today we are looking at some of the annual feasts. Starting off with mentioning the weekly Sabbath. Interesting that the Sabbath is mentioned at the first feast. That’s how important it is to Hashem. And there is a reason. Not only to remember and encourage our relationship with Hashem – but so that our bodies and minds can actually rest. Who do you know that actually takes off one day a week to rest? To not mow the lawn or grocery shop or do laundry? A day where you meet with family and friends, pray and study Torah? This day of rest makes it possible for us to be fruitful the rest of the week. This is how Hashem has planned it. All we have to do is obey.

Challenge:

In verse 22 Hashem tells us to leave the “gleanings” of the field for the poor. It is important to Hashem that those who are less fortunate are cared for. And so must we continue this today. We may not all be farmers that can do this, but we all have resources that we can share with those around us who need help. Are you doing that? If you don’t know anyone who needs help then take a moment to ask Hashem to show you who does. When He shows you then act on it and help them. You will be blessed and so will they. Amen.

Reading #4 - Leviticus 23:1–22

23 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. In 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 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 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.’”

Emor - Reading #3

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

Reading #3 -  Leviticus 22:17–33

My Thoughts:

We are learning about animal sacrifice. Just as Hashem wants people to be unblemished who are serving in the Temple, so also does He want the animals as perfect as possible. The requirements are listed. But, think of this. If you have to give up a really good animal, worth more money than a “damaged” animal – wouldn’t this mean more to you? Which is harder for you to do, give $10 to your congregation or $1,000? Hashem requires our best and we should be willing to give it to Him! In all areas of our life!

Challenge:

Verse 31 reads, “...keep My commandments and do them…”. So, is keeping different then doing? To me, “keeping” means you are willing to obey what Hashem tells you to do. And of course, “doing” is actually following them. Here is the question – are you simply keeping the commandments or are you doing them also? I try to “keep” the Sabbath, but am I really doing all that it requires? Am I truly resting and not working, or am I “slipping” some tasks into my Sabbath day that I shouldn’t be? Time to reevaluate and take a hard look. He wants to “keep” and “do”. That’s really important to think about. 

Reading #3 -  Leviticus 22:17–33

22:17 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘Whoever is of the house of Israel, or of the foreigners in Israel, who offers his offering, whether it is any of their vows or any of their free will offerings, which they offer to Hashem for a burnt offering: 19 that you may be accepted, you shall offer a male without defect, of the bulls, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But you shall not offer whatever has a defect, for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to Hashem to accomplish a vow, or for a free will offering of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted. It shall have no defect. 22 You shall not offer what is blind, is injured, is maimed, has a wart, is festering, or has a running sore to Hashem, nor make an offering by fire of them on the altar to Hashem. 23 Either a bull or a lamb that has any deformity or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a free will offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 You must not offer to Hashem that which has its testicles bruised, crushed, broken, or cut. You must not do this in your land. 25 You must not offer any of these as the bread of your Adonai from the hand of a foreigner, because their corruption is in them. There is a defect in them. They shall not be accepted for you.’”

26 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 27 “When a bull, a sheep, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother. From the eighth day on it shall be accepted for the offering of an offering made by fire to Hashem. 28 Whether it is a cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day.

29 “When you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Hashem, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. 30 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until the morning. I am Hashem.

31 “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and do them. I am Hashem.. 32 You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am Hashem who makes you holy, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your Adonai. I am Hashem.”

Emor - Reading #2

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

My Thoughts:

Today we read about more priestly rules. Hashem does not want animals with defects to be sacrificed, but interestingly enough He doesn’t want humans with defects either! Even a person with a flat nose (verse 18). Hashem is wanting 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 stepping into service for Him. It is an example. Of course He loves people of all shapes, sizes and unique qualities. It’s just when we go into His presence 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 heart. We must repent and teshuvah - come clean. Then we can enter His presence. This all teaches us what is right and what He needs. Amen.

Challenge:

In verse 9 we see once again the penalty for disobedience – death, “‘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 and they are life to us. 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 not a Temple, or if we are not in the Land – but here is the heart of Torah. Do what you can and do it the best you can. He asks us this for a reason - because He loves us and wants to be with us. Torah is life. 

Reading #2 - Leviticus 21:16–22:16

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 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.’”

Emor - Reading #1

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

My Thoughts:

Today we read about the priests obligations regarding marrying and being around dead people. Hashem sets very high standards for holiness and purity. In order for the priest to perform service before Adonai – he must be as holy as possible. We don’t have the issue of being around dead people very much. We pay funeral homes to take care of preparing bodies. But, this is just not so in the times of the Bible. Hashem makes it clear that this is not the work of a priest, in fact, he is to stay away from the dead body so that he is not defiled. Same with the marriage requirements. He is to marry a virgin, a pure woman. I really think we have no idea what holiness is. One day we will. When we are in the olam haba, in the presence of the Holy One, we will begin to understand His holiness and prostrate ourselves before him.

Challenge:

In verse 12 we read about the “crown” upon the priest, “...for the crown of the anointing oil of his Elohim is upon him.” This is why a priest had to follow all the rules about remaining holy while in the Temple area. He was sanctified with the oil of the Temple, which permitted him to do service before Hashem. To come in contact with anything of the “world” would take away this anointing. How does this relate to us today? We obviously don’t have a Temple, but we do try to step into the “presence” of Hashem through prayer and worship and sometimes just our daily living. Today’s challenge is to look at yourself and see how close you come to being “holy”. Are  you following Torah, repenting and doing teshuvah? Let’s try each day (and throughout the day and evening) to constantly review our thoughts and actions. Make sure that they are pure. So, that when we come “before” Hashem we are holy as He is holy.

Reading #1 - Leviticus 21:1–15

21 Hashem said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, ‘A priest shall not defile himself for the dead among his people, 2 except for his relatives that are near to him: for his mother, for his father, for his son, for his daughter, for his brother, 3 and for his virgin sister who is near to him, who has had no husband; for her he may defile himself. 4 He shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.

5 “‘They shall not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards or make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy to their Elohim, and not profane the name of their Elohim, for they offer the offerings of Hashem made by fire, the bread of their Elohim. Therefore they shall be holy.

7 “‘They shall not marry a woman who is a prostitute, or profane. A priest shall not marry a woman divorced from her husband; for he is holy to his Elohim. 8 Therefore you shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I Hashem, who sanctify you, am holy.

9 “‘The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by playing the prostitute, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire.

10 “‘He who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, or tear his clothes. 11 He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother. 12 He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his Elohim; for the crown of the anointing oil of his Elohim is upon him. I am Hashem.

13 “‘He shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 He shall not marry a widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute. He shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife. 15 He shall not profane his offspring among his people, for I am Hashem who sanctifies him.’”

Emor - Week #10

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

Haftarah - Ezekiel 44:15-31

Apostolic Writings - Matthew 26:59-66

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 21:1–15

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 21:16–22:16

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 22:17–33

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 23:1–22

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 23:23–32

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 23:33–44

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 24:1–23

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.