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.

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!”

Metzora - Reading #7

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

Reading #7 - Leviticus 15:29–33

My Thoughts:

It’s all about not “defiling” the Tabernacle (verse 31) and “separating” from uncleanliness. Isn’t that what holiness is all about? We may not have a Tabernacle (Temple) yet, but we will someday. And all these laws will make sense to us. When we see the Holy One sitting on the Throne and His shekinah glory emanating from the Temple -- we will see every knee bow before the King -- and we will WANT to be holy. I believe every sin and every piece of “dirt” we carry will be exposed and will make us so sad of what we have done. We will repent will all our hearts, immerse in a mikvah and prepare to present ourselves to Hashem. Maybe we should be practicing today and get ready for all of this. It is time to being separating ourselves from every “unclean” thing/issue in our lives.

Challenge:

In reading “My Thoughts” above, I want to challenge you today to start changing. Me too. As I write this it makes me think about one “continual” sin I have in my life. No matter how I pray, or hard I try it is so difficult to get rid of this sin. I really hope and pray that Hashem sees my heart and that I am trying. That is what you must do. Keep trying. When I quit smoking several years ago, I believe it took me about 3 years to fully quit. And it seemed like when I got the most desperate and ready to give up, that is when Hashem took away my desire for nicotine. He knows our hearts and I believe He wants to help us to “separate ourselves from  uncleanliness”. We all must persevere in cleaning up our lives. Ask for Him to help. Ask for others to help you or to make you accountable. Amen?

Reading #7 - Leviticus 15:29–33

29 On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting. 30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Hashem for the uncleanness of her discharge.

31 “‘Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.’”

32 This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean by it; 33 and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

In verses 8 and 9 we read in this portion where the lepers are discussing the issue of “keeping quiet”. They have good news about the Syrians retreat and the goods left behind, yet they are keeping it to themselves. They come to their senses when they realize they might be punished for doing this. It makes me think about the miracle that Hashem does in our lives or how we might be experiencing a faith-filled day. Yet we don’t tell others about it. We keep the “bounty” of the miracles to ourselves. It’s time to share with friends and family all the good things Hashem does for you, including His sending a Mashiach. We have a responsibility to be “lights” and to share Elohim. Not to keep Him and all He does to ourselves. Start doing this today!

Challenge:

The big miracle in this ready is in verse 6. Hashem makes the enemy “hear” the sound of many warriors. So much so, that they flee!!! Can you imagine? There are miracles today like this in modern Israel. You can read about the wars, including the 6 day war in 1967. Many times Israel troops would be smaller then the enemy, yet something would happen and all of sudden the enemy would run away! I challenge you to do a study on the 6 day war and read about it. Here is an interesting video to view: Miracle of the Six Day War

Haftarah: II Kings 7:3-20

7:3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let’s surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there. 6 For Hashem had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried things from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”

10 So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”

11 He called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s household within. 12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”

13 One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let’s send and see.”

14 Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”

15 They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. 16 The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to Hashem’s word. 17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of Elohim had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened as the man of Elohim had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;” 19 and that captain answered the man of Elohim, and said, “Now, behold, if Hashem made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.” 20 It happened like that to him; for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.

Apostolic Reading

My Thoughts:

What a beautiful miracle when Yeshua cleanses the leper. The person with leprosy asks Yeshua if He would want to heal him, and Yeshua says He does -- He does want to heal him. See this wonderful clip from The Chosen: Yeshua Heals the Leper  It is clear that Yeshua through Hashem wants us all to be healed. We must go to Him and ask. If you need healing please go to a quiet place, go before Hashem and ask Him to heal you , just like the leper in this reading was healed. Then wait for His miracle. Do not give up. Just praise Him for what He is going to do.

Challenge:

Simeon believed that he had heard from the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and it is clear that he did. He was promised that he would witness the Mashiach before he died. And he was able to hold Him in his arms. What an amazing day that was! Have you ever heard from the Ruach Hakodesh, the spirit of Elohim? If you have then you know how wonderful and amazing that can be. He will give you instructions, He will bless you, He will fill you with His love. You just have to get quiet and wait for Him. Ask Him to speak to you and listen. He will. You will be amazed just like Simeon was. And you will be super blessed. Do this today.

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

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 Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit 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.”

MARK 1:35-45

1:35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. 36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him. 37 They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.” 39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

40 A leper came to him, begging Him, kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, “If You want to, You can make me clean.”

41 Being moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.” 42 When He had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. 43 He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Yeshua could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.

Metzora - Reading #6

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One
Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Reading #6 - Leviticus 15:16–28

My Thoughts:

Another reading on cleanliness after sexual activity. They sound like such strict rules, but they are for a reason. All of Hashem’s laws regarding cleanliness are ultimately for entering the Tabernacle area for sacrifices and all. He is looking for excellence and holiness. So, He gives us instructions. Let’s follow them to the best we are able. That’s about all I can say today with this delicate subject.

Challenge:

It is interesting that a woman’s most fertile time is in the middle of the month. Torah Law says she is to be “unclean” for 7 days after her period, which brings her to the “middle” of the month. Since Hashem’s desire is for us to be fruitful and multiply, it makes perfect sense that after this waiting period she then becomes clean and also fertile. A good time to conceive. My challenge to you today is to think about having children. Are you restricting getting pregnant in your relationship with your spouse? Or are you following Hashem’s instructions, waiting until the middle of the month and being “fruitful”. Nowhere does He tell us to have child after child, so there is something called “natural family planning” when you remain abstinent during a woman’s fertile time of the month. Just some things to think about. If you are beyond having children or single, this is information you can share with family and friends -- so that they can get on Hashem’s “page” for a family!

Reading #6 - Leviticus 15:16–28

15:16 “‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. 17 Every garment and every skin which the semen is on shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. 18 If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

19 “‘If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days. Whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.

20 “‘Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean. 21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 23 If it is on the bed, or on anything she sits on, when he touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.

24 “‘If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed he lies on shall be unclean.

25 “‘If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her period, all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall be as in the days of her period. She is unclean. 26 Every bed she lies on all the days of her discharge shall be to her as the bed of her period. Everything she sits on shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period. 27 Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

28 “‘But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

Metzora - Reading #5

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One

Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Reading #5 - Leviticus 14:54–15:15

My Thoughts:

A sensitive, hard to discuss subject today. Most believe the discharge in today’s reading relates to sexual activity. So, why all the rules? We know that reproduction is very important to Hashem, even a commandment to “go and be fruitful and multiply”. It makes sense that there would be some cleanliness rules surrounding this commandment. Hashem wants ALL of our being to be clean before Him -- inside and out. Because many humans do partake in sexual activity (meaningfully with a spouse) then we are now given instructions on how to become “clean” when we go before Hashem. It all makes sense. Just a delicate subject.

Challenge:

So, here is an odd challenge for today. Because in today’s reading we are discussing cleanliness rules after sexual activity, it may be a good time to review this area in your life. We live in a world that looks at sex as in a very different way then the one true Elohim. There is perversion, sex outside of marriage, multiple partners and disregard for honoring the sacredness of marriage. This is a good time to take a look at this area in your life. Are you giving honor to Hashem? Are you following His commandments? Review, repent, ask for forgiveness and change. That is why we have Torah -- to give us life. A life that is clean in all areas and close to Him.

Reading #5 - Leviticus 14:54–15:15

14:54 This is the law for any plague of leprosy, and for an itch, 55 and for the destructive mildew of a garment, and for a house, 56 and for a swelling, and for a scab, and for a bright spot; 57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean.

This is the law of leprosy.

15 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When any man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is unclean. 3 This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his discharge, it is his uncleanness.

4 “‘Every bed on which he who has the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean. 5 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. 6 He who sits on anything on which the man who has the discharge sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

7 “‘He who touches the body of him who has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

8 “‘If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

9 “‘Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall be unclean. 10 Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

11 “‘Whomever he who has the discharge touches, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

12 “‘The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.

13 “‘When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

14 “‘On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before Hashem to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest. 15 The priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement for him before Hashem for his discharge.

Metzora - Reading #4

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One

Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Reading #4 - Leviticus 14:33–53

My Thoughts:

Hashem not only cares about us physically but He also cares that the place we live is clean. It is important that there is not mildew or mold in our homes. It might be wise to go through our homes once or twice a year and do a deep cleaning. Especially in our bathrooms. I know that bleach is a good way to get rid of any mold or mildew. Keep up on it, and keep your house clean! Hashem has us do these things for special reasons. To keep us healthy and clean.

Challenge:

A few years ago we had a roof that leaked into our kitchen. It took awhile for us to fix the roof, but finally we did. But then we had a mold issue in the walls in the kitchen. I was surprised at what clean up and repair looked like. We called our insurance company and workers came in with masks and put plastic up to protect other rooms. Drywall had to be cut out, just like the stones were removed in our reading today. It was quite an ordeal. We really should have taken care of it sooner. So, here is my challenge. If you have some walls or ceilings that need repair, take care of it today! Call your insurance company or do the work yourself. Just take care of it now! Or it will spread and might make you unhealthy!

Reading #4 - Leviticus 14:33–53

14:33 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 34 “When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put a spreading mildew in a house in the land of your possession, 35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, ‘There seems to me to be some sort of plague in the house.’ 36 The priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes in to examine the plague, that all that is in the house not be made unclean. Afterward the priest shall go in to inspect the house. 37 He shall examine the plague; and behold, if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and it appears to be deeper than the wall, 38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. 39 The priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look. If the plague has spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the plague, and cast them into an unclean place outside of the city. 41 He shall cause the inside of the house to be scraped all over. They shall pour out the mortar that they scraped off outside of the city into an unclean place. 42 They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.

43 “If the plague comes again, and breaks out in the house after he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it was plastered, 44 then the priest shall come in and look; and behold, if the plague has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew in the house. It is unclean. 45 He shall break down the house, its stones, and its timber, and all the house’s mortar. He shall carry them out of the city into an unclean place.

46 “Moreover he who goes into the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening. 47 He who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.

48 “If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn’t spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. 50 He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water. 51 He shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet; 53 but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.”

Metzora - Reading #3

Metzora מְּצֹרָע - Infected One

Leviticus 14:1-15:33

Reading #3 -  Leviticus 14:21–32

My Thoughts:

Hashem makes a way for the poor. Worship of Him is not just for those who have careers and money, but for those who have been more unfortunate. That is how kind and just Elohim is. You see this throughout the Torah. He will make sure you leave food in your fields for the poor, that you take care of the poor and now that the poor can bring special sacrifices for atonement -- whatever they can afford. I really believe that Hashem looks at our hearts when He is considering us. Not what we wear or where we live or what we have. Those things are just temporary and of the world. He wants deeper things from us. He wants us to love those around us, more than we do ourselves!

Challenge:

If you think about it, if we are following Torah, then the poor around us should just be temporary. If we are really watching out for our neighbors, then if they have trouble we should be there to help. We can help train, and take people under our wings. Just think if each one of us helped just one person who was down and out -- the whole earth could be transformed. Poverty could be erased. See who Adonai is putting in your life today to help out. And then take action.

Reading #3 -  Leviticus 14:21–32

14:21 “If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil; 22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.

23 “On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before Hashem. 24 The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Hashem. 25 He shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand; 27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Hashem. 28 Then the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the trespass offering. 29 The rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Hashem. 30 He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, which ever he is able to afford, 31 of the kind he is able to afford, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal offering. The priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before Hashem.”

32 This is the law for him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who is not able to afford the sacrifice for his cleansing.