Bits of Torah Truth

In this week’s Torah Portion, Parashat Ekev, we read about the promises of God (Devarim / Deuteronomy 7:12-26), God’s gracious dealings with His people (Devarim / Deuteronomy 8:1-20), how Israel provoked God (Devarim / Deuteronomy 9:1-29), how Moshe made a second set of tablets for the Ten Commandments (Devarim / Deuteronomy 10:1-22), and we learn about the rewards for...

  This weeks reading is from Parsahat Nasso (Bamidbar / Numbers 4:21-7:89). the Lord speaks to Moshe telling him to number the sons of Gershon and the fathers of their household by their families.  Moshe obeys the Lord and numbers the Gershonites and details the duties of the sons of Levi in their work in carrying the Mishkhan (Tabernacle) in...

This weeks reading is from Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot / Exodus 21:1-24:18), is titled “Mishpatim” meaning ordinances (הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים).  The Torah tells us how one is to treat a Hebrew slave (21:2), if a man is forced to sell his daughter because of debt, what is he to do (21:7-9), if a man has a wife he is not allowed to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0envmeTCK0&feature=youtu.be In this week’s Torah portion we read the following from Bamidbar / Numbers 4:15-20, וכלה אהרן־ובניו לכסת את־הקדש ואת־כל־כלי הקדש בנסע המחנה ואחרי־כן יבאו בני־קהת לשאת ולא־יגעו אל־הקדש ומתו אלה משא בני־קהת באהל מועד 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sacred objects and all the furnishings of the sacred objects at the breaking of camp,...

This week’s Torah portion opens with the Lord revealing himself in a new way saying, ב   וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְהוָֹה: ג   וָאֵרָא אֶל-אַבְרָהָם אֶל-יִצְחָק וְאֶל-יַעֲקֹב בְּאֵל שַׁדָּי וּשְׁמִי יְהֹוָה לֹא נוֹדַעְתִּי לָהֶם: 6:2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, ‘I am the Lord; 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as...

Watch Video here I read a recent news article that stated “Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed bacteria to destroy tumors in mice.” The idea is to use a reprogrammed bacteria as a cancer therapy that is capable of treating the disease more precisely with the hopes of eliminating the side effects of conventional therapies. The up-side is this is...

Watch Video Here The most frequent sin mentioned in the bible is idolatry and the adoption of foreign gods into one’s life. The forbidden nature of worshiping foreign gods is at the core of the Torah teaching us to serve and worship the God of Israel alone. In this week’s Torah portion, we read the Lord God telling Jacob to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=413y0ZexKA0&feature=youtu.be In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Miketz, we read the following, Bereshit / Genesis 42:5 So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. 42:6 Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of...

In this weeks reading from Parsahat Chukat (Bamidbar / Numbers 19:1-22:1) the Lord speaks to Moshe about the “red heifer” regarding ritual purity.  The High Priest Eleazar took the heifer outside of the camp, slaughter the animal, and sprinkle the blood towards the front of the Ohel Moed (אֹהֶל-מוֹעֵד, Tent of Meeting) seven times.  The entire heifer is burned...

In this week’s reading from Parashat Bo (Shemot / Exodus 10:1-13:16), we learn about the last plagues that God brought upon Egypt and causes Pharaoh to drive the Children of Israel out of Egypt. The Lord tells Moshe, א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָֹה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בֹּא אֶל-פַּרְעֹה כִּי-אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת-לִבּוֹ וְאֶת-לֵב עֲבָדָיו לְמַעַן שִׁתִי אֹתֹתַי אֵלֶּה בְּקִרְבּוֹ: 10:1 “... ‘Go to Pharaoh,...

Watch Video here The Torah begins with the power of God in creating the world simply by the spoken word, Bereshit / Genesis 1:3 Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. (NASB, ג וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי-אוֹר וַיְהִי-אוֹר:) The first of God’s creation was not the sun, moon, and stars. The first of His creation, according to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c1NPb2nUTw&feature=youtu.be In this week’s Torah portion, we read the following, יב וְהָיָה | עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִֹיתֶם אֹתָם וְשָׁמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ אֶת-הַבְּרִית וְאֶת-הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ: יג וַאֲהֵבְךָ וּבֵרַכְךָ וְהִרְבֶּךָ וּבֵרַךְ פְּרִי-בִטְנְךָ וּפְרִי-אַדְמָתֶךָ דְּגָנְךָ וְתִירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ שְׁגַר-אֲלָפֶיךָ וְעַשְׁתְּרֹת צֹאנֶךָ עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ לָתֶת לָךְ: 7:12 ‘Then it shall come about, because you listen to these...

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about the zeal of Pinchas (25:10-18), the census of a new generation of people (26:1-65), the Torat of inheritance (27:1-14), Joshua to succeed Moshe (27:15-23), the Torat on the offerings (28:1-31), and the offerings of the seventh month (29:1-40). It is interesting what the Torah has to teach us this week that...

This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayikra (Vayikra / Leviticus 1:1-5:26), the Lord calls to Moshe from the Tent of Meeting saying 1:2 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of animals from the herd or the flock. 1:3 ‘If...

This week is a double portion, Parshiyot Vayakhel and Pekudei, where we read of the construction of the Tabernacle and the priestly garments.  While reading through this section of Scripture, it is interesting to note how the priestly garments were constructed using “mixed threads.”  When we hear the phrase “mixed threads” we are generally reminded of two places in...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeShOqSQ6tU&feature=youtu.be In this week’s Torah portion we read the following, וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר נְאֻם בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְעֹר וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן: 24:15 He took up his theme, and said: Word of Balaam son of Beor, Word of the man whose eye is true, נְאֻם שֹׁמֵעַ אִמְרֵי-אֵל וְיֹדֵעַ דַּעַת עֶלְיוֹן מַחֲזֵה שַׁדַּי יֶחֱזֶה נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם: 24:16 Word of him who...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV3D9x63dvU

The Song of Haazinu in Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-43, also known as Shirat Haazinu, opens with an invocation of the heavens and the earth to listen (to give ear, א הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וַאֲדַבֵּרָה וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ אִמְרֵי-פִי). Here the heaven and the earth are called as witnesses.  In the verses preceding Parashat Haazinu, the Lord tells Moshe to call all...

In this week’s Torah portion we read about the great sin of Israel at Sinai and the great mercy of God to His people. We read the beginning of this situation according to Shemot / Exodus 32:1, א וַיַּרְא הָעָם כִּי-בֹשֵׁשׁ מֹשֶׁה לָרֶדֶת מִן-הָהָר וַיִּקָּהֵל הָעָם עַל-אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו קוּם | עֲשֵֹה-לָנוּ אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר יֵלְכוּ לְפָנֵינוּ כִּי-זֶה | מֹשֶׁה...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czqQla-hlks&t=7s

Watch Video Here There is a very important message that is being told in the book of Vayikra / Leviticus that comes to light as we continue to study the Torah year after year. The book of Leviticus opens on the bringing of a sacrifice due to various sins. These words in the opening chapter of the book of Vayikra...

This week reading is from Parashat Emor (Vayikra / Leviticus 21:1-24:23); the Lord tells Moshe to speak to the Priests about the sons of Aaron to be careful not to defile themselves by touching a dead person among his people.  Scripture also says 21:5 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of...

In this week’s reading from Parsahat Ki Tavo (Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8), Moshe tells us that the Lord has brought His people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; with great terror, signs, and wonders He delivered His people. We are told disobedience to the commandments is punishable since failing to observe the commands is...

Watch Video here Judah (יְהוּדָה) was, according to the Torah in Bereshit / Genesis, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the tribe of Judah. The Kingdom of Judah in the land of Judea was named after this tribe. The Hebrew name for Judah, Yehudah (יהודה), literally translates as “thanksgiving” or “praise,” and is...

In this week’s Torah Portion Parashat Shelach recounts the spies who went into the Promised Land (13:1-24),and the spies report on what they saw (13:25-33). Then we read how the people rebelled (14:1-12) and then Moshe interceding for the people (14:13-19),and the Lord promises judgment (14:20-38). The people rebelled and decided to go up to make war with the...

The word Philosophy (from Greek: φιλοσοφία, philosophia) means the “love of wisdom” and is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. When studying the Hebrew scriptures, at times one may run across the concept of the “Hebraic mind-set” and...

The title for this study opens stating, “Judaism teaches we will know the Messiah when He makes peace in the world!” and then asks the question “Is Yeshua really the Messiah?” This is a very important question as it is related to “why we should be involved in studying the Rabbinic literature.” The reason being there are many anti-missionaries...