Shoftim - Day #1

Shoftim שֹׁפְטִים - Judges  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Deuteronomy 16:18–17:13

16:18 You shall make judges and officers in all your gates, which Hashem your Elohim gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality. You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. 20 You shall follow that which is altogether just, that you may live and inherit the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you. 21 You shall not plant for yourselves an Asherah of any kind of tree beside Hashem your Elohim’s altar, which you shall make for yourselves. 22 Neither shall you set yourself up a sacred stone which Hashem your Elohim hates.

17:1 You shall not sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim an ox or a sheep in which is a defect or anything evil; for that is an abomination to Hashem your Elohim

2 If there is found among you, within any of your gates which Hashem your Elohim gives you, a man or woman who does that which is evil in Hashem your Elohim’s sight in transgressing His covenant, 3 and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the stars of the sky, which I have not commanded, 4 and you are told, and you have heard of it, then you shall inquire diligently. Behold, if it is true, and the thing certain, that such an abomination is done in Israel, 5 then you shall bring out that man or that woman who has done this evil thing to your gates, even that same man or woman; and you shall stone them to death with stones. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death. At the mouth of one witness, he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

8 If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Hashem your Elohim chooses. 9 You shall come to the priests who are Levites and to the judge who shall be in those days. You shall inquire, and they shall give you the verdict. 10 You shall do according to the decisions of the verdict which they shall give you from that place which Hashem chooses. You shall observe to do according to all that they shall teach you. 11 According to the decisions of the law which they shall teach you, and according to the judgment which they shall tell you, you shall do. You shall not turn away from the sentence which they announce to you, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 The man who does presumptuously in not listening to the priest who stands to minister there before Hashem your Elohim, or to the judge, even that man shall die. You shall put away the evil from Israel. 13 All the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

Today’s Meditation:

Today is all about the Israeli judicial court system. They were to go to the priests and the judge, listen to them, and do what they say. There must be at least two witnesses to an offense. It’s all about fairness. We may think it super harsh to enforce the death penalty, but remember, they are entering a land filled with paganism. Hashem wants to protect them against this. And to set an example. It is His decision to do things this way. At the time, life and death were handled quite differently from how they are today. His desire has always been, and will always be, that people follow Him, not false gods. And that is what we also desire to do.

Today’s Challenge: 

We are told in verse 19, “You shall not pervert justice.” Taking bribes or favors to help a guilty person be freed is not allowed. It is not allowed in our United States judicial system.  However, that does not mean that it is not happening. Look at our lobbyists who so influence our lawmakers. Money and promises during election years determine support for potential candidates. Our justice system is perverted every day. In our system, if the accused (defendant) in a case has money and influence, they are likely to win. The less advantaged person without money will face a very different type of trial and is likely to be sentenced, whether guilty or not. In the USA, our judicial system has its roots in Judeo-Christian teachings, but what really happens when someone goes to court can be a different story. 

My challenge to you today is to do your part in defending the defenseless. Hashem will show you who they are and how you can help them. And if you can help bring justice to our court system, I pray that Hashem will help you do so. Let’s each do what Hashem enables us to do to ensure people are treated fairly and that our constitutional rights are protected.

Re'eh - Day #7

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

Shabbat: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17

15:19 You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before  Hashem your Elohim year by year in the place which Hashem shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it has any defect—is lame or blind, or has any defect whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to  Hashem your Elohim. 22 You shall eat it within your gates. The unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle and as the deer. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood. You shall pour it out on the ground like water.

16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to Hashem your Elohim; for in the month of Abib Hashem your Elohim brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall sacrifice the Passover to Hashem your Elohim of the flock and the herd, in the place which Hashem shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. 3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it. You shall eat unleavened bread with it seven days, even the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste) that you may remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. 4 No yeast shall be seen with you in all your borders seven days; neither shall any of the meat, which you sacrifice the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning. 5 You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which Hashem your Elohim gives you; 6 but at the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Passover at evening, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came out of Egypt. 7 You shall roast and eat it in the place which Hashem your Elohim chooses. In the morning, you shall return to your tents. 8 Six days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Hashem your Elohim. You shall do no work.

9 You shall count for yourselves seven weeks. From the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain, you shall begin to count seven weeks. 10 You shall keep the feast of weeks to Hashem your Elohim with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Hashem your Elohim blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before Hashem your Elohim you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, in the place which Hashem your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt. You shall observe and do these statutes.

13 You shall keep the feast of booths seven days, after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. 14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates. 15 You shall keep a feast to Hashem your Elohim seven days in the place which Hashem chooses, because Hashem your Elohim will bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be altogether joyful. 16 Three times in a year, all of your males shall appear before Hashem your Elohim in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim, blessing which he has given you.

Today’s Meditation:

When we come to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the Feasts, and in verses 16:16-17, we read not to come empty-handed: “They shall not appear before Hashem empty. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to Hashem your Elohim blessing which He has given you.” So, here is the point. We are giving our tithes only because we have tithes to give. And it all comes from Hashem. Every perfect gift from heaven comes from Him. And we are to share a portion of that gift with others. The incredible part is that when we do this, we will be even further blessed. How perfect and wonderful is Hashem. He gives, we give, and all the time we are blessed.

Today’s Challenge:

We do not have a Temple to visit for all three Feasts during the year, but we can still celebrate them. And we must celebrate/remember them. If you are not already honoring these Feasts, then start planning today. They are spaced out so nicely. One in the spring, early summer, and fall. Read and study them, then make preparations. Especially Pesach, which requires a lot of planning: cleaning your house to get rid of the bread (leavening) and a very special, long dinner. Shavuot is pretty simple; it can be mostly a Bible study. And Sukkot is really fun: making a Sukkah (booth), having meals in it, or living in it for seven days. You will be so blessed, and you will learn and remember how Hashem blessed His people and how He continues to bless us today.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

54:11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,

    behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors,

    and lay your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,

    your gates of sparkling jewels,

    and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your children will be taught by Hashem;

    and your children’s peace will be great.

14 You will be established in righteousness.

    You will be far from oppression,

    for you will not be afraid,

    and far from terror,

    for it shall not come near you.

15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by Me.

    Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.

16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame,

    and forges a weapon for his work;

    and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail;

    and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants,

    and their righteousness is of Me,” says Hashem.

55:1 “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters!

    Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat!

    Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy?

Listen diligently to Me, and eat that which is good,

    and let your soul delight itself in richness.

3 Turn your ear, and come to Me.

    Hear, and your soul will live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples,

    a leader and commander of the people.

5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know;

    and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you,

    because of Hashem your Elohim

    and for the Holy One of Israel;

    for He has glorified you.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In verse 17, we read about a promise that is often quoted: “No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of Hashem’s servants.” It is a good verse to memorize. Hashem is promising us that as His servants, we are defended against the enemy. No weapon the enemy throws at us will prevail. It may hit us, but it will not accomplish anything it intends. And that the judgment of your enemies against you will be condemned. To me, this is a very comforting verse. It makes me realize that Hashem does protect me, and I don’t need to worry or be anxious about an enemy attack. It will be short-lived. And His grace and mercy and love will be long-lived.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

Verses 55:3 is another wonderful verse about life given to us: “Turn your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” What are the requirements to have everlasting life with Hashem? By listening to Him (His Torah, His Words) and by coming (following) to Him. When we do this, He will establish an eternal covenant with us. That’s today's challenge. Once again, I encourage you to study and follow His Torah. Make the necessary changes in your life to obey all you are able. Listen to what He tells you to do throughout the day. You will be blessed forever. 

Re'eh - Day #6

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion: 

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Deuteronomy 15:1–18

15:1 At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts. 2 This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother, because Hashem’s release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner, you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release. 4 However, there will be no poor with you (for Hashem will surely bless you in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you for an inheritance to possess) 5 if only you diligently listen to Hashem your Elohim’s voice, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you today. 6 For Hashem your Elohim will bless you, as He promised you. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. 7 If a poor man, one of your brothers, is with you within any of your gates in your land which Hashem your Elohim gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, which he lacks. 9 Beware that there not be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, “The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,” and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing; and he cry to Hashem against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because it is for this thing Hashem your Elohim will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore, I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. 12 If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. 14 You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As Hashem your Elohim has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Hashem your Elohim redeemed you. Therefore, I command you this thing today. 16 It shall be, if he tells you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you, 17 then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also, to your female servant, you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you when you let him go free from you, for he has been double the value of a hired hand as he served you six years. Hashem, your Elohim, will bless you in all that you do.

Today’s Meditation:

 

Fairness in slavery? That seems odd to us today. Slavery, the way Hashem describes it, is far from what has happened in Europe and America and the atrocities they inflicted upon others. What Hashem is saying is that at the end of seven years, a slave has a choice to stay or leave. What we need to think about is that the slave was probably bought because he/she was in poverty. It was like securing a live-in job. I’m sure there were difficult, harsh taskmasters, but that is why Hashem is telling His people to treat people fairly. And give the slaves an opportunity to go free after seven years. I wonder how many slaves were treated so fairly that they decided to stay on permanently. When we are following Hashem’s commands to love Him and to love others, the world literally changes.

Today’s Challenge:

In verse 4, Hashem is telling us that if we follow Him in all ways, He will bless the land so much that there will be no poor in it. That people will take care of people. Unfortunately, that is not true today. We have poor and starving people across our world. But the Torah has the remedy, and it is outlined in today’s portion. It’s about taking care of each other, feeding one another, hiring help, sharing, and loving. Sure, there must have been people who took advantage of this situation, from both sides. But Hashem has a perfect plan for a whole and healthy world. Today’s challenge is to find ways to help the poor in your community. And how you can make the world a better place by following Torah’s directions.

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.

Re'eh - Day #4

Re'eh רְאֵה - See!  

Torah Portion:

Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Deuteronomy 14:1–21

14:1 You are the children of Hashem your Elohim. You shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to Hashem your Elohim, and Hashem has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.

3 You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, 5 the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the chamois. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof split in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 7 Nevertheless, these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those that have the hoof split: the camel, the hare, and the rabbit. Because they chew the cud but don’t part the hoof, they are unclean to you. 8 The pig, because it has a split hoof but doesn’t chew the cud, is unclean to you. You shall not eat their meat. You shall not touch their carcasses. 9 These you may eat of all that are in the waters: you may eat whatever has fins and scales. 10 You shall not eat whatever doesn’t have fins and scales. It is unclean to you. 11 Of all clean birds you may eat. 12 But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, 13 the red kite, the falcon, the kite of any kind, 14 every raven of any kind, 15 the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the hawk of any kind, 16 the little owl, the great owl, the horned owl, 17 the pelican, the vulture, the cormorant, 18 the stork, the heron after its kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. 19 All winged creeping things are unclean to you. They shall not be eaten. 20 Of all clean birds you may eat.

21 You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself. You may give it to the foreigner living among you who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to Hashem your Elohim. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Today’s Meditation:

In the last verse of today’s portion (verse 21), we read a curious commandment, “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” It’s like it comes out of nowhere. Many commentators agree that this commandment derives from the custom of boiling kid goats for sacrifice. Others will say it is Hashem being so kind to the mother as to not boil her kid in milk. Today I read a new commentary that suggested the kid might represent a new generation or new fruits (or other offerings), and the milk might represent the old generation or older fruits (or other offerings). So, in an offering, it would not be good to mix old fruit with new fruit just to make it larger. Or old wheat with new wheat, etc. Whatever it could mean, in Judaism, you do not mix dairy with meat at a meal. Or even use the same plates or utensils.

Today’s Challenge:

In verses 3 and on, we read about clean and unclean animals. Hashem calls the unclean animals abominable. So, what don’t we get about that? He has set very specific dietary laws for us, and He has His reasons. It could be to test our obedience, or for safety reasons, or for both. The point is that if Hashem declares it, we do it. We don’t question. It’s pretty clear. This is what you can eat, and this is what you cannot eat. We don’t need a theological discussion. We are not permitted to change or delete Hashem’s Laws. My challenge to you today is to review your dietary habits. Are you abiding by Hashem’s Laws? If not, it is time to clean it up. And by the way, here is a whole other discussion. Which products at the store contain pig products?  Do some studying and see what you find out; you may be a little surprised. Marshmallows and gelatin are a big concern. And there are many other food items to check out.