Sunday, April 14, 2024

Metzora - Reading #1

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One

Leviticus 14:1-15:33


Reading #1 - Leviticus 14:1–12


My Thoughts:


This is the most interesting reading on the cleansing of a leper. After doing some brief studying it seems like you could think about the symbolism this way. When the bird is killed it may represent the “death” that the leprosy could have caused or the death/extinction of the leprosy. When the living bird is dipped into the blood of the dead bird, you could look at that as a “cleansing” from the leprosy. And when the bird is let go to fly away, you could think of that as the healed person now is experiencing freedom and new life! These are some interesting things to think about.


Challenge:


Do you need to be cleansed and set free from something you are enslaved to? You could go to Hashem and ask Him to “wash” or immerse you in forgiveness. And you could pray that He would set you free from the unsettling issue. It is sometimes surprising that when you talk to Hashem, that He will direct your path toward freedom.

Reading #1 - Leviticus 14:1–12


14:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying,


2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp. The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. 5 The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water. 7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field.


8 “He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days. 9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his body in water. Then he shall be clean.


10 “On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without defect, one ewe lamb a year old without defect, three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mixed with oil, and one log of oil. 11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before Hashem, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.


12 “The priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer him for a trespass offering, with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before Hashem.


Metzora - Week #9

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One

Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Haftarah: II Kings 7:3-20

Apostolic Reading: LUKE 2:22-35; MARK 1:35-45


1.1 First reading — Leviticus 14:1–12

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 14:13–20

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 14:21–32

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 14:33–53

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 14:54–15:15

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 15:16–28

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 15:29–33


Saturday, April 13, 2024

Tazria - Reading #7

Tazria - תזריע

Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:42–5:19

Apostolic Reading: Luke 2:22–35


Reading #7 - Leviticus 13:55–59


My Thoughts:


Plagues not only affect people, but affect clothing, homes, dishes, pots, etc. All must either be declared clean or destroyed. It reminds me of when we sin. We not only affect ourselves but we affect others around us. For instance, someone who has an abortion and does not understand that she was carrying a tiny human being -- not only destroys a life, but takes away a part of the woman who was pregnant. And the generations that would have been continued through this new life that was taken, are also taken. What we do in our everyday life affects so many others. We need to think about that the next time we sin or do something hurtful. Repent and ask Hashem to forgive you. And go to those you have hurt and ask their forgiveness. Then give something you value away to pay the price.


Challenge:


Talking about abortion is so difficult as I did above. Do you know that approximately one in four women have had an abortion? If you have had one or know someone who has, there are support groups out there for you. If you have not resolved the pain you have gone through please try and contact a group. You can go to: Abortion Help. Read through the website and see if it helps you or refer it to someone you know. I hope and pray you find healing.


Reading #7 - Leviticus 13:55–59


13:55 Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn’t changed its color, and the plague hasn’t spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside. 56 If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof; 57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn what the plague is in with fire. 58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean.”


59 This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.


Haftarah


My Thoughts:


Sometimes Hashem sends “messengers” into our lives to tell us important things. Just like Naaman we may be suspicious and not trust them that they heard from Elohim. We may need encouragement from a friend that we should do what we have been told, that it truly is from Hashem. Just like Naaman and his servants did. Maybe we should pay more attention to these important moments in our life. They could change history! Maybe those who have spoken some “words” to us really did hear from Hashem! I have a friend that has a very close relationship to Hashem. When she tells me something that she thinks she has heard from Hashem, I listen and pay close attention. And it has proved to be true and beneficial and wonderful!


Challenge:


After Naaman receives his miracle we read in verse 5:15 “I know that there is no Elohim in all the earth, but in Israel.” That’s how miracles change us. We see a miracle and we remember or discover that there is only one G-d in all the universe, and that is the G-d of Israel. That makes me think about how I want to be “joined” to Israel to serve the one true Holy Elohim. Don’t you? The best way I know to be a part of Israel is to say to Hashem, “Whatever you tell me to do, I will do.” And that means following the Torah. That means committing to the instructions and way of Hashem. Forever. That is what the Israelites did and do today. And when you disobey the instructions and rules of Torah -- you repent. Think about “joining” Israel today and claiming what Naaman did, that there is no other God in all the earth, except for the Elohim of Israel. And think about choosing to follow Him today and all of His Commandments. The Torah. It brings life.


Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:42–5:19


4:42 A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of Elohim some bread of the first fruits: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.”


43 His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?”


But he said, “Give the people, that they may eat; for Hashem says, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’”


44 So he set it before them, and they ate, and had some left over, according to Hashem’s word.


5 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Hashem had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”


4 Someone went in, and told his lord, saying, “The maiden who is from the land of Israel said this.”


5 The king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”


He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”


7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes, and said, “Am I Elohim, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”


8 It was so, when Elisha the man of Elohim heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”


9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”


11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Hashem his Elohim, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ 12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them, and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.


13 His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”


14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Elohim; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 He returned to the man of Elohim, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, “See now, I know that there is no Elohim in all the earth, but in Israel. Now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”


16 But he said, “As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.”


He urged him to take it; but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ burden of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Hashem. 18 In this thing may Hashem pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon. When I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Hashem pardon your servant in this thing.”


19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”


So he departed from him a little way.


Apostolic Reading


My Thoughts:


In verse 22 we read, “... according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to Hashem.” Yeshua’s parents, Mary and Joseph (English names) brought Yeshua to Jerusalem to be brought into the Temple along with a sacrifice. All according to Hashem’s laws. Does this make you think at all? Yeshua’s parents were fully Jewish – the chosen people of Hashem. They followed Torah and raised their Son to do the same. And when He ministered, He taught Torah and pointed only to Hashem. Again, I say, what don’t we get about this? If you truly want to follow Yeshua, then you will follow Him in ALL WAYS. As He followed Torah, so do we.


Challenge:


Verse 26 reads, “It had been revealed to him by the Ruach Hakodesh that he should not see death before he had seen Hashem’s Mashiach.” Can you even imagine. First of all, to hear from Hashem so clearly. And secondly, that he would live to see the Mashiach. Wouldn’t that be wonderful today? If we would all live to see the Mashiach? It should be our prayer every day that the Land (especially the temple mount) would be given back to His people. That the Temple would be rebuilt. And that the Mashiach would come and restore the world. Then the glory of Hashem would fill the earth! Amen? Let’s pray for that today!


Apostolic Reading: Luke 2:22–35


2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present him to Hashem 23 (as it is written in the law of Hashem, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to Hashem”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of Hashem, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”


25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Ruach Hakodesh was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach Hakodesh that he should not see death before he had seen Hashem’s Mashiach. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yeshua, that they might do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received Him into his arms, and blessed Elohim, and said,


29 “Now you are releasing Your servant, Master,

    according to Your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation,

31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations,

    and the glory of Your people Israel.”


33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”


Friday, April 12, 2024

Tazria - Reading #6

Tazria - תזריע

Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59


Reading #6 - Leviticus 13:40–54


My Thoughts:


The contaminated person has to dwell outside the camp for seven days by himself. Can you imagine? First of all you must not feel good, then you have to leave your family and community to be all by yourself and quarantine seven days. Any time this happens to any one, it is awful. But, here is the thing. Hashem is always with us. So, really, we are never alone. He dwells alongside us and all we have to do is reach out to Him. It’s true. If you love and serve Adonai -- He will always be with you. You can experience that today. Just pause and reflect. Slow down and “smell the roses” and you will sense His presence.


Challenge:


When was the last time you experienced Hashem? I challenge you today to get to a quiet place. Close your eyes, pray and see if you sense His presence. If so, then take some time to worship Him. He is the One and Only Elohim of the Universe. It is a privilege to be with Him. So enjoy it as it is a precious time. And praise Him for being there!


Reading #6 - Leviticus 13:40–54


13:40 “If a man’s hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean. 41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean. 42 But if a reddish-white plague is in the bald head or the bald forehead, it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him. Behold, if the swelling of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head.


45 “The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ 46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. His dwelling shall be outside of the camp.


47 “The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment; 48 whether it is in warp or woof; of linen or of wool; whether in a leather, or in anything made of leather; 49 if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the leather, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of leather; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest. 50 The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days. 51 He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a destructive mildew. It is unclean. 52 He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of leather, in which the plague is, for it is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire.


53 “If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing that the plague is in, and he shall isolate it seven more days.


Thursday, April 11, 2024

Tazria - Reading #5

Tazria - תזריע

Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59


Reading #5 - Leviticus 13:29–39


My Thoughts:


More on plagues. It is important to take care of your community when a plague hits. Rules have to be enforced that are of course reasonable, to take control and end it. Medical people have to be put in place. And the most important thing is that the people have to trust those in authority. That seems to be a problem today, with people in office with ulterior motives. Who do you trust? We know that Hashem is truly the one to direct our paths. Pay attention to what He does and tells you.


Challenge:


How are your “trust” issues? Do you trust those in authority over you? Do you have reasons not to trust them? Always try to keep your communications open (with respect) to those who are in charge. And that also includes those in our relationships that we are to respect and trust. The challenge today is to respect and honor those who are in authority in our lives -- just like the people respected the priests.


Reading #5 - Leviticus 13:29–39


29 “When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard, 30 then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch. It is leprosy of the head or of the beard. 31 If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate the person infected with itching seven days. 32 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn’t deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch. Then the priest shall isolate the one who has the itch seven more days. 34 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn’t spread in the skin, and its appearance isn’t deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.


38 “When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots, 39 then the priest shall examine them. Behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash. It has broken out in the skin. He is clean.


Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Tazria - Reading #4

Tazria - תזריע

Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59


Reading #4 - Leviticus 13:24–28


My Thoughts:


The Torah is full of numbers. In today’s reading we hear about examining a person on the seventh day. You could be declared clean or unclean at this time. Think about it. Seven days. The seventh day of the week is a holy day. Maybe Hashem is trying to tell us something here. Torah seems to be “cyclical” and a skin disease can seem to repair itself in seven days. I don’t want to go too deep on all of this. But, just give it some thought and see if you get some insight. Why seven?


Challenge:


Challenges are hard for me to give you during these readings this week, because basically every day we are reading about leprosy and skin disease. I guess today I would just challenge you to take good care of yourself. Eat healthy clean foods, take vitamins, rest on Shabbat, be kind to your family and friends, and remember to worship Hashem throughout your day. And importantly, remember to follow Torah. These things will guarantee you a good life.


Reading #4 - Leviticus 13:24–28


13:24 “Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white, 25 then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin, it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 27 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. 28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.


Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Tazria - Reading #3

Tazria - תזריע

Leviticus: Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59


Reading #3 - Leviticus 13:18–23


My Thoughts:


More on skin diseases in today’s reading. It is all about protecting people from diseases and being unclean for Tabernacle worship. Hashem cares about every single facet of our life. And He wants us to be “clean” when entering His presence. The priests have the role of making sure all is safe. It would be comforting to have someone in that role in your community, don’t you think? Someone to make sure the people are being cared for and watched over.


Challenge:


Plagues affect people and communities, in disastrous ways. When Covid 19 went around the world it affected governments, economies, religious organizations, families and individuals. We did not have local trusted religious authorities telling us what to do (although hopefully you did!), instead we had the government telling us what to do. Wouldn’t it be so nice to be able to rely on people we know and trust to advise in situations like this? Maybe we need to seek out and look for people we can go to for advice. Maybe this is evidence of how important it is to be part of a synagogue. Take today to think of how you can join a community that has trusted G-dly authority.


Reading #3 - Leviticus 13:18–23


13:18 “When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 The priest shall examine it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn’t deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days. 22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn’t spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.