Today, January 23, 2021, we read the Bible portion named “Bo” (“Go”). The portion covers the immediate period of time before the Jewish people departed from slavery in Egypt—negotiation with Pharoah as well as preparation. Rabbi Akiva Belk notes the Gematria 113 in this portion as we encounter a word that looks like this in Hebrew: ויחזק …
To Neutralize The Pagan Energy
Before the Jewish people can leave Egypt, God commands each and every one of them (Exodus 12:3) to obtain a sheep “without blemish” (Verse 5). The people are specifically told that they shall “keep watch over it” (Verse 6) for days, until they finally slaughter the lamb, eat it, and smear the blood on their doorposts (Verses …
Exodus: Slaves, Trapped By False Speech
Today is January 9, 2021 (Hebrew date 25 Tevet 5781). This week in synagogue we read the Bible portion called "Shemot", meaning "names," located in Exodus 1:1-6:1. For the supplemental reading: Ashkenazim read Isaiah 27:6 - 28:13; 29:22 - 29:23; Sephardim read Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3. (Source: HebCal.com). This week's Bible portion has a lot …
Parshas Vayechi, the Messiah, and the Great Awakening
Starting again. This week's Bible portion is Vayechi, meaning "and he lived."The primary reading is Genesis 47:28–50:26.chabad.org/parshah/articl…The supplemental reading is I Kings 2:1 - 2:12. This Bible portion tells us that:* Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt before he passed.* He desired to tell his children the End of Days but was prevented.* He gave final …
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Bible Study 12/19/2020: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel
Shabbat Shalom! It’s Torah Study time! Woo hoo! If you’re following this thread, sit back and relax because I haven’t done one of these in a while and intend to dig 😊 The Bible portion this week is called “Miketz,” which literally means “from the end of.”Genesis 41:1-44:17Supplemental: I Kings 3:15 - 4:1hebcal.com/sedrot/miketzWhy would a Bible portion …
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Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech: When You Start Walking, God Helps You Cross The Finish Line
I wanted to make a correction to last Friday's Periscope where I talked about the weekly Torah portion, Nitzavim-Vayeilech (Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:30; Isaiah 61:10 - 63:9). If you recall, I was looking in the text for where God tells the Jewish people that they're going to sin in the future, and will repent; was …
Parshas Ki Tavo: Put God First
On September 5, 2020, the Sabbath Torah reading was Parsha (Torah portion) was Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8. Moshe tells the Jewish people that when they enter the Land of Israel, they should give God the first-ripened fruits. And this is one of those ideas, commandments passages, that's always been very kind of remote to me, …
Parshas Re’eh: False Prophets, Free Speech and the Totalitarian Left
The Torah portion for Shabbos, August 15, 2020 was Parshas Re'eh. Primary reading - Deuteronomy (Devarim): 11:26 - 16:17 Supplemental reading (Haftorah) - Isaiah 54:11 - 55:5 This Torah portion prescribes capital punishment for a false prophet. Deuteronomy Chapter 13 "2 If there will arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, …
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Parshas Va’Etchanan: Determinism and Detachment
Bible study time! Parshas Vaetchanan Deut. 3:23 - 7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26 August 1 2020 hebcal.com/sedrot/vaetcha… Vaetchanan Text-Based Learning - Va'etchanan - Parshahhttps://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2497349/jewish/Text-Based-Learning.htm Free photo by mnplatypus pixabay.com/images/id-8962… OK. Was just reading over the portion a bit. I take no credit for the following question, which was posed by a family member. How do we understand that …
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Let God Fight For You
There's fighting words. And then there's fighting actions. There are times when you have to really get ready to fight. And this is something, as you know, many don't really understand what that was like, because we're so modernized. But in Biblical times, this was very real. This week’s Torah (Bible) portion, Devarim (Deuteronomy), ends …