Acharei - Reading #7

Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19

Apostolic Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20; Mark 12:28-34

My Thoughts:

Hashem is teaching here that sexual sin brings defilement to the land. In other words, sin is so detrimental it affects the land you live in. And as the new Israelites were getting ready to inhabit the promised land (that was promised to their fathers) with that came a set of laws. How to live in the land in a peaceful, loving and G-dly way. A way that would honor Hashem and would not take away from Him. I think we forget how when we sin it affects literally everything and everyone around us. Hashem wanted His people to come into a special place, serve Him, love Him and live together in G-dliness. If you study Torah you will see His commandments to be so fair, so gracious and full of compassion. Just like Him.

Challenge:

In verse 30 we read, “Therefore you shall keep My requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you…”. Again, Hashem is preparing His people to go into a land where sin abounds. But, He doesn’t want them to be influenced or affected by the sins of the people who inhabited the land before them. Just like now. I believe Hashem does not want us to be “influenced” by others in the world around us and fall “prey” to the same sins as the world permeates. Instead He gives us His eternal word, His Torah, to follow to keep us on His path. Review your life today and see where you are faltering in following Hashem. Then make the necessary corrections. His way is the only true way. And we know this in our hearts.

Reading #7 - Leviticus 18:22–30

18:22 “‘You shall not lie with a man as with a woman. That is detestable.

23 “‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.

24 “‘Don’t defile yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled. 25 The land was defiled. Therefore I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out her inhabitants. 26 You therefore shall keep My statutes and My ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you 27 (for the men of the land that were before you had done all these abominations, and the land became defiled), 28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

29 “‘For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore you shall keep My requirements, that you do not practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them. I am Hashem your Elohim.’”

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

What are the consequences for disregarding the Law? Verse 15 clearly displays the wrath of Hashem, I will scatter you among the nations, and disperse you through the countries. I will consume your filthiness out of you.” As we have learned throughout Scripture, when Hashem’s people are in disobedience – He scatters them. He allows them to be conquered and dispersed among the nations. This happened two thousand years ago when Rome came and destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish people fled to the mountains. And it has taken all this time of repentance and prayers to return.That’s the awesome thing about Hashem. He is a G-d of second chances. We are witnessing the returning of the Jews to their homeland for the past 75 years or so. It is amazing and it is miraculous. But, it requires obedience to be sustained. I pray that Hashem’s people will honor and obey Him and stay in the land. Amen.

Challenge:

Hashem requires love and obedience. In return, He blesses us abundantly. That seems pretty fair to me, does it to you? It shouldn’t be so hard to follow Hashem. To be set apart, is a privilege not a burden. Look at your own heart today and see who you are following. I say, choose Adonai.

Haftarah: Ezekiel 22:1-19

22 Moreover Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 2 “You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations. 3 You shall say, ‘Adonai Hashem says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her! 4 You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come even to your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. 5 Those who are near, and those who are far from you, will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.

6 “‘“Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood. 7 In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow. 8 You have despised My holy things, and have profaned My Sabbaths. 9 Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you. 10 In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity. 11 One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife; and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. 12 In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten Me,” says Adonai Hashem.

13 “‘“Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at your blood which has been within you. 14 Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with you? I, Hashem, have spoken it, and will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations, and disperse you through the countries. I will consume your filthiness out of you. 16 You will be profaned in yourself, in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am Hashem.”’”

17 Hashem’s word came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver. 19 Therefore the Adonai Hashme says: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the middle of Jerusalem.

Apostolic Scripture:

My Thoughts:

In the Mark scripture, Yeshua is summarizing the Torah. First and greatest commandment is to love Hashem with everything you have. The second is to love one another. I really believe Yeshua came to teach the “heart” of Torah, that HE IS the heart of Torah! He doesn’t teach that we are to just “do” the commandments but we are to follow the heart, the essence of them. Isn’t that so beautiful?

Challenge:

So, in Matthew here Yeshua is saying that what is really important is what you speak. Yes, it is important to follow the dietary laws, of course. To disobey them is sin. But, again, He goes to the heart of Torah and says what affects the world around you is what you say. Today I was standing in front of an abortion clinic holding a sign that said, “Pray to End Abortion.” That’s it, no graphic pictures or condemnation. Just pray. And people would go by and yell out obscenities and mean words to us. Along with finger gestures. It was so hurtful and felt so sad. That people could be so angry about someone standing in front of a place that literally rips apart babies in the womb – only ironically not angry at the doctors or nurses – but at me. The person praying in front of the clinic for the women and men in this difficult situation. Words are powerful and we need to be so careful about what we speak, myself included. Hashem forgive me for the times I have spoken out and hurt people. And Adonai bless those who were angry today – that they may find the eternal love of the Master.

Matthew 15:10-20

10 He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11 That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”

12 Then the disciples came, and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. 14 Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

15 Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”

16 So Yeshua said, “Do you also still not understand? 17 Don’t you understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly and then out of the body? 18 But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”

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 Adonai Hashem 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 Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.”

No one dared ask him any question after that.

Acharei Mot - Reading #6

Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Reading #6 - Leviticus 18:6–21

My Thoughts:

“Uncovering their nakedness” in the Bible usually refers to some sort of sexual sin. Hashem is not very specific what this would be, except anything that is outside acceptance of sexual activity in the marriage relationship. Remember they were coming in to a land where there were pagans – people not following Hashem. And many of the pagans sexual activities were not approved by Hashem. In fact, He wants you to strongly avoid them. In our world today that would include things like sex outside of marriage, sexual molestation of others, pornography and even watching a movie with sexual sin. Remember Hashem is trying to protect us and show us the better way. He wants us holy as He is holy. Make sure you are obeying Him in this area today.

Challenge:

In verse 18:21 Hashem commands His people not to sacrifice their children to other gods, “‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech.” If you study this practice in those times (and other times) it was especially horrific. When I visited Israel, our tour guide took us to some of the “high places” where babies were put in the burning hot metal arms of a statue and tortured to death. All as a “gift” to some god. This may seem appalling to us today, but look at what we do with abortion. A very popular abortion procedure is called “dilatation and curettage” where a suction tube is inserted into the woman and the developing baby inside of her is ripped to pieces – and then suctioned out. I have posted some abortion procedure videos online. My prayer is that women and men will look at these procedures and decide to allow their babies to live. Take a look and see what you can do to stop this atrocity. Go to: Abortion Video. This is our modern day sacrifice to false gods. Hashem please forgive us. (If you have had an abortion or particpated in someone getting one, you can go to Hashem and ask forgiveness. Praise Him that forgives us for all we do.)

Reading #6 - Leviticus 18:6-21

6 “‘None of you shall approach any close relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Hashem.

7 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

8 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife. It is your father’s nakedness.

9 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.

10 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness; for theirs is your own nakedness.

11 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, conceived by your father, since she is your sister.

12 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister. She is your father’s near kinswoman.

13 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s near kinswoman.

14 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt.

15 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You shall not uncover her nakedness.

16 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife. It is your brother’s nakedness.

17 “‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter. You shall not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near kinswomen. It is wickedness.

18 “‘You shall not take a wife in addition to her sister, to be a rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is still alive.

19 “‘You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

20 “‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.

21 “‘You shall not give any of your children as a sacrifice to Molech. You shall not profane the name of your Elohim. I am Hashem.

Acharei Mot - Reading #5

Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Reading #5 - Leviticus 17:8–18:5

My Thoughts:

Whose law are we to live by? Hashem’s FIRST. In 18 verse 4 we read, “You shall do My ordinances. You shall keep My statutes and walk in them. I am Hashem your Adonai.” And in the following verse we read that if we follow His statutes and not the “world’s” that we will LIVE. Here is the good news. Hashem’s words are eternal. He has given us forever instructions. We are not to do what everyone else does, who does not follow Hashem. We are to keep our eyes and our heart on Hashem. We are to do what He says. And here is the blessing. If we do follow Him – we live. Forever. Here and in the olam haba. Thank you Adonai!

Challenge:

Here we have some commandments regarding “blood”. In verse 17:12 we read, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood.” Who wants to eat blood? Well if you are in a land where people do not worship the true Elohim, you will see and learn some strange practices. And one of those is eating, drinking blood. That is strictly not approved of by Hashem. So, he tells them. It would be like today and Hashem would say to us “Do not eat a bacon burger”. Even though everyone else, it is forbidden to us. If you are following some commands that are not Hashem’s, I encourage you today to stop doing them. Ask for forgiveness and teshuvah. Ask for His help to be better. Obedience is valued by our Hashem. Let’s all try to become more obedient. Life will look different if we do.

Reading #5 - Leviticus 17:8–18:5

8 “You shall say to them, ‘Any man there is of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and doesn’t bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to Hashem, that man shall be cut off from his people.

10 “‘Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any stranger who lives as a foreigner among you eat blood.”

13 “‘Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, “You shall not eat the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.”

15 “‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. Then he shall be clean. 16 But if he doesn’t wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.’”

18 Hashem said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘I am Hashem your Adonai. 3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived. You shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes. 4 You shall do My ordinances. You shall keep My statutes and walk in them. I am Hashem your Adonai. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Hashem.

Acarei Mot - Reading #4

Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Reading #4 - Leviticus 17:1–7

My Thoughts:

Moses and Hashem are preparing the people to be a nation. Hashem is giving instructions on how to live in the Holy Land of Israel as a community, a large community. He is getting them ready to be among other peoples who do not worship the same G-d. As we know, it is easy to be influenced by others. And Hashem wants to protect us against that. He says over and over that they will be tempted to worship false idols (as they were also tempted in Egypt) – but ultimately they must seek and serve only Hashem. He provides a way to sacrifice a part of what they own to keep them close to Hashem. If we are “close” to Him we are less likely to go astray. Thank you Hashem for your Commandments. Please help us to follow You and Your instructions today.

Challenge:

In Judaism we study that the Commandments are numbered at 613. That can seem so overwhelming. But, it is not. It is a total joy to know how and when to serve Hashem. We do not have a Temple, so we should be praying every day for the Temple and Mashiach to return. In the meanwhile, we do the best we can do. We can daily offer up the sacrifice of prayer and worship. We honor the commandments that are possible. We try hard to love Hashem with our whole heart, soul and strength. Amen.

Leviticus 17:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘This is the thing which Hashem has commanded: 3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel who kills a bull, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, 4 and hasn’t brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting to offer it as an offering to Hashem before Hashem’s tabernacle: blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood. That man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to Hashem, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to Hashem. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on Hashem’s altar at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Hashem. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.’

Acharei Mot - Reading #3

Acharei Mot - After the death אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 

Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Reading #3 - Leviticus 16:25–34

My Thoughts:

This is a once a year cleansing for the nation. We read in verse 34, “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” What a beautiful thing to cleanse a whole group of people once a year. Of course we repent and teshuvah individually – but this commandment is for the whole nation of people! I live in the USA. Can you imagine if once a year we had a national holiday where everyone took off from work and went to synagogue or church to confess their sins and beg for forgiveness for our land? As a group? The purpose of this national holiday would be to cleanse the nation? What would that do? Can you imagine? Maybe we would go into “revival” and rediscover Hashem! Something to think about. And promote?

Challenge:

Hashem really cares about our “nations” (His priority being Israel). Should we then as followers of Him, also care about our nation? Of course we should. We are being taught that it’s important who we are as individuals - we are taught to be selfish. We see this throughout our media. It’s time to promote the idea that we should “love our neighbor as ourselves.” It is a point in history when we have got to start considering the needs of others before our own. If we don’t we will continue down this slippery slope of destruction of “community” and “family”. My challenge to you today is to start looking out for others. Do it sacrificially. And we will begin to change the world. It will become a much better place. Amen.

Reading #3 - Leviticus 16:25-34

16:25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

26 “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

29 “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you; 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Hashem. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments. 33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

34 “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.”

It was done as Hashem commanded Moses.

Pesach

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,

    nor stand on the path of sinners,

    nor sit in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in Hashem’s law.

    On His law he meditates day and night.

3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,

    that produces its fruit in its season,

    whose leaf also does not wither.

    Whatever he does shall prosper.

4 The wicked are not so,

    but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment,

    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For Hashem knows the way of the righteous,

    but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Week of Pesach - Reading #8

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 10:32-12:6

My Thoughts:

The three wonderful, blessed feasts Hashem commands us to follow are written in this portion. I was thinking that in the world we celebrate holidays and give gifts to our kids and to each other. But, in these feasts Hashem asks us to give gifts to HIM and to the poor. What a difference! At Pesach we are remembering His miracles and redemption. In the Feast of First Fruits and Tabernacles we are thanking Him for the harvests and bringing Him gifts from our abundance. The coolest part is – when you do this – you are blessed by Him! I have been doing some very difficult volunteer work. Sometimes I doubt whether I want to continue, but I feel compelled that it is all from Him to do this work. And every time I volunteer, I see abundant blessings afterwards. I know it is because of my obedience to Him for what He has called me to do. Review your life and what you do. Are you doing what He has called you to do? Are you giving back to Him a part of what He has blessed you with? Review, change and do what is right. Amen.

Deuteronomy 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 Adonai, 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 Adonai 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 Adonai shall choose to set His name there is too far from you, when Hashem your Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai, 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 Adonai may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

15 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 Adonai gives you for an inheritance to possess) 5 if only you diligently listen to Hashem your Adonai’s voice, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you today. 6 For Hashem your Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai will bless you in all that you do. 19 You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Hashem your Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Pesach to Hashem your Adonai; for in the month of Abib Hashem your Adonai brought you out of Egypt by night. 2 You shall sacrifice the Pesach to Hashem your Adonai, 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 Pesach within any of your gates which Hashem your Adonai gives you; 6 but at the place which Hashem your Adonai shall choose to cause His name to dwell in, there you shall sacrifice the Pesach 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 Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai with a tribute of a free will offering of your hand, which you shall give according to how Hashem your Adonai blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before Hashem your Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai seven days in the place which Hashem chooses, because Hashem your Adonai 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 Adonai 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 Adonai blessing which He has given you.

Haftarah: Isaiah 10:32-12:6

Isaiah 10:32 This very day he will halt at Nob. He shakes his hand at the mountain of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.

33 Behold, Adonai, Hashem of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

11 A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse,

    and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.

2 Hashem’s Spirit will rest on Him:

    the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    the spirit of counsel and might,

    the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Hashem.

3 His delight will be in the fear of Hashem.

He will not judge by the sight of His eyes,

    neither decide by the hearing of His ears;

4 but He will judge the poor with righteousness,

    and decide with equity for the humble of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth;

    and with the breath of His lips He will kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be the belt of His waist,

    and faithfulness the belt of His waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,

    and the leopard will lie down with the young goat,

    the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together;

    and a little child will lead them.

7 The cow and the bear will graze.

    Their young ones will lie down together.

    The lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child will play near a cobra’s hole,

    and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den.

9 They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain;

    for the earth will be full of the knowledge of Hashem,

    as the waters cover the sea.

10 It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and His resting place will be glorious.

11 It will happen in that day that Adonai will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. 12 He will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 13 The envy also of Ephraim will depart, and those who persecute Judah will be cut off. Ephraim won’t envy Judah, and Judah won’t persecute Ephraim. 14 They will fly down on the shoulders of the Philistines on the west. Together they will plunder the children of the east. They will extend their power over Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon will obey them. 15 Hashem will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His scorching wind He will wave His hand over the River, and will split it into seven streams, and cause men to march over in sandals. 16 There will be a highway for the remnant that is left of His people from Assyria, like there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

12 In that day you will say, “I will give thanks to you, Hashem; for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you comfort me. 2 Behold, Elohim is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Adonai, Hashem, is my strength and song; and He has become my salvation.” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say, “Give thanks to Hashem! Call on His name! Declare His doings among the peoples! Proclaim that His name is exalted! 5 Sing to Hashem, for He has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth! 6 Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion; for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”