Matot-Massei - Day #4

Matot-Massei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 32:20-33:49

32:20 Moses said to them: “If you will do this thing, if you will arm yourselves to go before Hashem to the war, 21 and every one of your armed men will pass over the Jordan before Hashem until he has driven out his enemies from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before Hashem; then afterward you shall return, and be clear of obligation to Hashem and to Israel. Then this land shall be your possession before Hashem.

23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against Hashem; and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.”

25 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, “Your servants will do as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock shall be there in the cities of Gilead; 27 but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before Hashem to battle, as my lord says.”

28 So Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’ households of the tribes of the children of Israel. 29 Moses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who is armed to battle before Hashem, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; 30 but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.”

31 The children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, “As Hashem has said to your servants, so will we do. 32We will pass over armed before Hashem into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us beyond the Jordan.”

33 Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan; the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land. 34 The children of Gad built Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran: fortified cities and folds for sheep. 37 The children of Reuben built Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, 38 Nebo, and Baal Meon (their names being changed), and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities which they built. 39 The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were therein. 40 Moses gave Gilead to Machir, the son of Manasseh, and he lived therein. 41 Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took its villages, and called them Havvoth Jair. 42 Nobah went and took Kenath and its villages, and called it Nobah, after his own name.

33:1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 Moses wrote the starting points of their journeys by the commandment of Hashem. These are their journeys according to their starting points. 3 They traveled from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians, 4 while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom Hashem had struck among them. Hashem also executed judgments on their gods. 5 The children of Israel traveled from Rameses and encamped in Succoth. 6 They traveled from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. 7 They traveled from Etham, and turned back to Pihahiroth, which is before Baal Zephon, and they encamped before Migdol. 8 They traveled from before Hahiroth, and crossed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah. 9 They traveled from Marah and came to Elim. In Elim, there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there. 10 They traveled from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. 11 They traveled from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin. 12 They traveled from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 They traveled from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush. 14 They traveled from Alush and encamped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. 15 They traveled from Rephidim and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai. 16 They traveled from the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in Kibroth Hattaavah. 17 They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah and encamped in Hazeroth. 18 They traveled from Hazeroth and encamped in Rithmah. 19 They traveled from Rithmah and encamped in Rimmon Perez. 20 They traveled from Rimmon Perez and encamped in Libnah. 21 They traveled from Libnah and encamped in Rissah. 22 They traveled from Rissah and encamped in Kehelathah. 23 They traveled from Kehelathah and encamped in Mount Shepher. 24 They traveled from Mount Shepher and encamped in Haradah. 25 They traveled from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth. 26 They traveled from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath. 27 They traveled from Tahath and encamped in Terah. 28 They traveled from Terah and encamped in Mithkah. 29 They traveled from Mithkah and encamped in Hashmonah. 30 They traveled from Hashmonah and encamped in Moseroth. 31 They traveled from Moseroth and encamped in Bene Jaakan. 32 They traveled from Bene Jaakan and encamped in Hor Haggidgad. 33 They traveled from Hor Haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah. 34 They traveled from Jotbathah and encamped in Abronah. 35 They traveled from Abronah and encamped in Ezion Geber. 36 They traveled from Ezion Geber, and encamped at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. 37 They traveled from Kadesh, and encamped in Mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 

38 Aaron the priest went up into Mount Hor at the commandment of Hashem and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. 39 Aaron was 123 years old when he died at Mount Hor. 40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41 They traveled from Mount Hor and encamped in Zalmonah. 42 They traveled from Zalmonah and encamped in Punon. 43 They traveled from Punon and encamped in Oboth. 44 They traveled from Oboth, and encamped in Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab. 45 They traveled from Iyim and encamped in Dibon Gad. 46 They traveled from Dibon Gad, and encamped in Almon Diblathaim. 47 They traveled from Almon Diblathaim and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. 48 They traveled from the mountains of Abarim and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 49 They encamped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth even to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.

Today’s Meditation:

Here is a summary of the Israelites' travels. A journey that would normally have taken a few weeks turned into forty years. Along the way, there were struggles and joys, miracles and punishments. Kind of like our lives. It is such a wonderful lesson to learn. If we follow Hashem and obey Him, our journey to success will be short. If we don’t follow and sin, our journey will be long. The miracle is that either way, He will be with us. Isn’t that something amazing to ponder?

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 23, we read, “If you will not do so, you have sinned against Hashem, and be sure your sin will find you out.” Isn’t this so true? We can’t hide anything from Hashem, including sin. We may think we have gotten away with something, but then “our sin finds us out”. Usually, when that happens, it is not a good thing. Haven’t you noticed, though, that the closer you get to Hashem, the more obvious temptations become. You will get a huge check in your spirit when you are about to do the wrong thing. My challenge to you today is to watch out for those “checks” and pay attention. Do not do what you were planning; it may come back to bite you. And the worst part is that it will separate you from Hashem. We don’t want that, do we?

Matot-Massei - Day #3

Matot-Massei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 32:1-19

32:1 Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead. Behold, the place was a place for livestock. 2 Then the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princes of the congregation, saying, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, 4 the land which Hashem struck before the congregation of Israel, is a land for livestock; and your servants have livestock.” 5 They said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Don’t bring us over the Jordan.”

6 Moses said to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which Hashem has given them? 8 Your fathers did so when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land. 9 For when they went up to the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which Hashem had given them. 10 Hashem’s anger burned in that day, and He swore, saying, 11 ‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed Hashem completely.’ 13 Hashem’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander back and forth in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation who had done evil in Hashem’s sight was consumed.

14 “Behold, you have risen up in your father’s place, an increase of sinful men, to increase the fierce anger of Hashem toward Israel. 15 For if you turn away from after Him, He will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and you will destroy all these people.”

16 They came near to him, and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. Our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our houses until the children of Israel have all received their inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan eastward.”

Today’s Meditation:

Today’s reading is about negotiations. Leaders from the tribes of Gad and Reuben come to Moses and ask permission to settle on land east of the Jordan. Moses expresses that they are like their ancestors, discouraging the Israelites from entering the land. However, the leaders agree to let their families stay, and they will go and fight for Israel. Moses agrees. Apparently, staying in this particular land was important to these two tribes. Importantly, they were willing to negotiate and be flexible. This is a really good lesson to learn from. If you have been told to do something but really feel there is a better plan, try to work something out with leadership. Be flexible and be willing to give and take. Look for Hashem’s solution through it all. And work together peacefully and with fairness.

Today’s Challenge:

In verses 11 and 12, we read, “Because they have not wholly followed Me, 12 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed Hashem completely.’” Moses is revisiting the reasons they ended up in the desert for so many years and why some people could not enter the land. Remember when the twelve spies returned, and only two supported Hashem’s vision to enter the land. In today’s reading, we see that it is because they did not “completely follow Hashem”. It makes me think. Am I completely following Hashem? Am I surrendering my plans and my life totally to His direction and following? Are you? That is my challenge for you and me today. Let us make sure we are completely following Hashem, without exception. That we are loving Him with our whole heart, soul, and strength.

Matot-Massei - Day #2

Matot-Massei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 31:13-54 

31:13 Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Hashem in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Hashem. 17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 “Encamp outside of the camp for seven days. Whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives. 20 You shall purify every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.”

21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, “This is the statute of the law which Hashem has commanded Moses. 22 However, the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless, it shall be purified with the water for impurity. All that doesn’t withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water. 24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. Afterward, you shall come into the camp.”

25 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 26 “Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation; 27 and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation. 28 Levy a tribute to Hashem of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks. 29 Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Hashem’s wave offering. 30 Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Hashem’s tabernacle.”

31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Hashem commanded Moses.

32 Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep, 33 seventy-two thousand head of cattle, 34 sixty-one thousand donkeys, 35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him. 36 The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep; 37 and Hashem’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five. 38 The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which Hashem’s tribute was seventy-two. 39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which Hashem’s tribute was sixty-one. 40 The persons were sixteen thousand, of whom Hashem’s tribute was thirty-two persons. 41 Moses gave the tribute, which was Hashem’s wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Hashem commanded Moses. 42 Of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided off from the men who fought 43 (now the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, 44 thirty-six thousand head of cattle, 45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys, 46 and sixteen thousand persons), 47 even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of Hashem’s tabernacle, as Hashem commanded Moses.

48 The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses. 49 They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us. 50 We have brought Hashem’s offering, what every man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Hashem.”

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels. 52 All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Hashem, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels. 53 The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting for a memorial for the children of Israel before Hashem.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we learn how to divide the plunder. What is so wonderful is that Hashem provides for the Levites, who did not go out to war. He takes care of everything for all His people. That is important to remember today. He provides for us every day. All we need is to trust in Him. 

Today’s Challenge:

It’s hard for us to understand war, as we have discussed before. This particular war is with the people who swayed the Israelites to sin with the prostitutes. This is the reason they go to war with the Midianites. We can only imagine how upset Hashem is with us when we sin in any area of our lives. He may not impose a plague on us, but He does allow us to suffer consequences. I can think of these times in my life, and they are not fun. My challenge today is to maybe review your life once again and fix your areas of sin. We want to be close to Hashem, not separated by sin. 

Matot-Masei - Day #1

Matot-Masei  

Torah Portion: Numbers 30:2-36:13

Numbers 30:2-31:12 

30:2 When a man vows a vow to Hashem, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

3 “Also, when a woman vows a vow to Hashem and binds herself by a pledge, being in her father’s house, in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and her pledge with which she has bound her soul, and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge with which she has bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father forbids her in the day that he hears, none of her vows or of her pledges with which she has bound her soul, shall stand. Hashem will forgive her because her father has forbidden her.

6 “If she has a husband, while her vows are on her, or the rash utterance of her lips with which she has bound her soul, 7 and her husband hears it, and says nothing to her in the day that he hears it; then her vows shall stand, and her pledges with which she has bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband forbids her in the day that he hears it, then he makes void her vow which is on her and the rash utterance of her lips, with which she has bound her soul. Hashem will forgive her.

9 “But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, everything with which she has bound her soul shall stand against her.

10 “If she vowed in her husband’s house or bound her soul by a bond with an oath, 11 and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her and didn’t disallow her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge with which she bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand. Her husband has made them void. Hashem will forgive her. 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. 14 But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges which are on her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if he makes them null and void after he has heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity.”

16 These are the statutes which Hashem commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father’s house.

31:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward, you shall be gathered to your people.”

3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Hashem’s vengeance on Midian. 4 You shall send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.” 5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6 Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. 7 They fought against Midian, as Hashem commanded Moses. They killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam, the son of Beor, with the sword. 9 The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder. 10 All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire. 11 They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal. 12 They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we learn about vows to Hashem and the husband's/father's role in all of this. Vows are very sacred to Hashem. We are not to say them without first considering their importance. Hashem, with all His grace and mercy, has made some considerations for women who make rash vows without thinking. A husband can actually release his wife from a vow, as can a father for a daughter. This shows Hashem's fairness and equity. But it also shows the seriousness of what words come out of our mouths. Let us be super careful about what we promise to others and what we vow to Hashem. Follow through on what you say. Your word stands before Hashem. 

Today’s Challenge:

A great war is fought between the Midianites and the Israelites. These are difficult passages to read. But we must remember this. The Midianites had enticed Israel to sin. Yes, Hashem’s people fell into the sin and could have resisted. But they did not. Hashem inflicted a plague on His people. Now, there must be punishment for the people who did this to Israel. Sin does not go forward without consequence. We might think we are getting away with something when we sin, but this is never the case. What we do affects our lives, other people’s lives, and our relationship with Hashem. Remember this the next time you are tempted to do something wrong or disobey Hashem. Try to repent quickly and make things right by making restitution. There will be consequences, but most likely not as severe as if you did not repent. As we know, sin separates us from Hashem. We do not want this, and neither does He. Let’s be careful about what we do and say.

Pinchas - Day #7

Pinchas פִּינְחָס - Phinehas  

Torah Portion: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

Shabbat: Numbers 29:12–30:1

29:12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Hashem seven days. 13 You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Hashem: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect; 14 and their meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil: three tenths for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each ram of the two rams, 15 and one tenth for every lamb of the fourteen lambs; 16 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

17 “‘On the second day you shall offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 18 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 19 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering and their drink offerings.

20 “‘On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 21 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance; 22 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

23 “‘On the fourth day, ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 24 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 25 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

26 “‘On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 27 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 28 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering, and its drink offering.

29 “‘On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 30 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 31 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and the drink offerings of it.

32 “‘On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without defect; 33 and their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance, 34 and one male goat for a sin offering; in addition to the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and its drink offering.

35 “‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall do no regular work; 36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, a pleasant aroma to Hashem: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without defect; 37 their meal offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance, 38 and one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering, with its meal offering, and its drink offering.

39 “‘You shall offer these to Hashem in your set feasts—in addition to your vows and your free will offerings—for your burnt offerings, your meal offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.’”

40 Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Hashem commanded Moses.

30:1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded.

Today’s Meditation:

Today, we are reading about the Feast of Tabernacles. In this Scripture, we are taught about the sacrifices. But in other parts of the Torah, we are told to live in booths for seven days, remembering the journey through the desert. It is also celebrating the end of the harvest year. As they traveled through the wilderness for forty years, the Israelites lived in fragile dwellings. We are to remember this. Also, think about the dependence the Israelites must have had on Hashem for food, water, and life. And with the many hundreds of people, they needed rules, organization, and strong leadership. All of this Hashem provided, in unique ways. Sometimes people would forget about Hashem’s faithfulness and challenge Him in difficult times. There were great consequences for doing this. Let’s remember this as we go through life’s ups and downs. Hashem will always be there for us. We must believe He has the perfect plan, no matter what.

Today’s Challenge:

This is another Feast for you to prepare and plan for. Now is a good time to think about the materials you will need to build your Sukkah this fall. You can find some building plans and ideas online. You can even order Sukkah kits. Or maybe you want to build your Sukkah from a tent. However you want to do it, start your planning now. That is today’s challenge for you.

This Week’s Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3

1:1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 Hashem’s word came to him in the days of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Now Hashem’s word came to me, saying,

5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

    Before you were born, I sanctified you.

    I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then I said, “Ah, Adonai Hashem! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

7 But Hashem said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem.

9 Then Hashem stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then Hashem said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11 Moreover, Hashem’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?”

I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”

12 Then Hashem said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over My word to perform it.”

13 Hashem's word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?”

I said, “I see a boiling cauldron, and it is tipping away from the north.”

14 Then Hashem said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For, behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says Hashem.

“They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.

16 I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness,

    in that they have forsaken Me,

    and have burned incense to other gods,

    and worshiped the works of their own hands.

17 “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them. 18 For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says Hashem, “to rescue you.”

2:1 Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hashem says,

“I remember for you the kindness of your youth,

    the love of your weddings;

how you went after Me in the wilderness,

    in a land that was not sown.

3 Israel was holiness to Hashem,

the first fruits of his increase.

All who devour him will be held guilty.

    Evil will come on them,” says Hashem.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

Hashem is giving directions to Jeremiah during a very turbulent time. He wants him to go out as His messenger to the people. In verse 7, we read, “But Hashem said to me, 'Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. 8 Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Hashem. Can you imagine the faith Jeremiah would need as Hashem tells him this? He has to go where He says and speak what He says. But this is given with a strong promise that Hashem will be with him and rescue him. Has Hashem ever told you to go and speak to someone about something? But maybe it was too scary or risky for you to do so? Repent right now if you did not do what He said, and you know what this is. And remember to obey Him next time. It is the only right thing to do.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

In Chapter 2:3, we read, “Israel was holiness to Hashem, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,” says Hashem. This is something to pay strong attention to. Hashem has special favor over the land of Israel. In troubled times, in good times, in obedience and disobedience, Hashem is faithful and loves His people and His land. If anyone, or any government, does evil to His people or His land, there will be strong repercussions. Remember this today, and we see terrorists and countries attacking Israel at different times. Remember to pray and give financially to help protect the land. This must be a number one priority. And if you are not doing this, start today. Search online for the many organizations that support Israel and its people.